How to Get the 411 on New York Casting Calls

In New York each day there are opportunities to audition for paid and non-paid casting calls. With the emergence of more smaller production companies, independent film producers. Casting calls are no longer limited to the big advertising agencies, casting directors, or networks.
You can go on an audition in New York today and be on an airplane tomorrow to Alaska to be a part of a small film. You can sit in a stadium and be a part of a big game scene in a movie and accept a bagged lunch as your payment. There are many opportunities for casting for those who are doing it for fun and those who are doing it for the money.

The prime source of casting information comes from Ross Reports, Ross Reports is not limited to New York Casting. Ross Reports offers its subscribers the ability to sign in online and gain inside access to casting calls, and information on where to submit head shots and resumes to casting directors hunting for their next star for television and film. you will also want to get a list of New York casting directors and contact requirements for submitting your head shot and resume to be considered on file for current and future casting calls. You will want to make sure your head shot is recent and not more than one year old. You will also want to make sure that your resume is current. No one wants to know that you played the willow that could bend in second grade. If you have no experience, just list your height, weight, clothing size, show size, contact address, phone number, email address and skills/talents/languages/dialects on an 8X10 piece of white stock paper attached to the back of the head shot. Make it classic resume format. Keep your resume simple with easy to read fonts and concise information. It is important that you do not waste the clients time. Do not send old pictures on hot pink paper, crafted at Kinkos. Your head shot and resume is your calling card. Let it represent you in the best light.

Another source of free casting information is craigslist.org. One bit of advice when searching on craigslist. Carefully screen out ads. Make sure you have read the fine lines if the gig offers pay or no pay. Make sure you investigate the hiring party through the Department of Labor or States Attorney's office to ensure they have no complaints against them. Carefully read over contracts before you sign. It may be a good idea to hire an entertainment attorney to peruse it fore dotting the i's and crossing the t's.

One of the best sites I have seen to get the reputable 411 on all filming in New York, is the New York Film Office. You will know if you are dealing with an extra's casting agency or production company, you are dealing with a viable project because they went through the time and energy to apply for proper permission to film in New York. http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/html/index/index.shtml

Now all that is left for you is to go and get in the know. Are you ready for your close-up?