Still no 'Best Casting By' award at the Academy Awards

Why don't casting directors have a category for "Best Casting By" at the Academy Awards?

To comprehend this issue, you have to have a deep understanding of how the casting process works.

Casting directors are contracted by production companies and/or studios to cast specific projects. The casting directors (and their associate casting directors and assistants) filter through massive amounts of submissions for specific roles, mainly through talent agents.

The casting directors then audition actors for the specific roles being cast. They then choose what actors that they personally deem "right for the role", at their discretion, and they subsequently advance those actors to a "call back", to audition for the director, writer(s), producers, and for major roles.. the studio executives.

Eventually, the right actor for the role is hired. The actor is not hired directly by the casting director, but rather the director/production company/studio.

Other than for small speaking roles on TV series, the casting director does not have the ability to hire actors, they simply select a certain group of actors to advance in the casting process. I am not talking about extras. Extras are cast directly by Extras Casting Directors/Companies.

For there to be an Academy Award category for principal actor casting directors, the voting members of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences would have to be able to see all of the hundreds (and even thousands) of actor's auditions for each role by the "Best Casting By" nominee, to be able to judge whether or not each casting director nominee did the best job.

And just to narrow down the casting nominees, there would have to be a massive amount of that material available to the Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences nominating committee. That is a logistical impossibility.

Directors, producers, writers, and studio executives have the final say in who is cast in specific roles, not casting directors. The best casting directors do a great job, and they have a great collaboration with those who do hire the actors, however there is no definitive way to establish a criteria for an Academy Award category for "Best Casting By".

I can elaborate much more about the casting process, however that would require much more than I can post here, it would be a complete eBook. I do want to elaborate about why casting directors are never credited in films as a Casting "Director", but rather credited as "Casting By".

The Directors Guild of America does not allow, by contract, any other persons on a film being credited with the word "Director", unless they are actually a "director" i.e. 1st AD (First Assistant Director, etc). That includes the Cinematographer (widely called "DP" or "Director of Photography" on the set).

Casting directors are some of the hardest working people in the entertainment industry, but there you go, that is why there is no Oscar Award category for "Best Casting By".

Open model call for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue

For the first time ever, SI Swimsuit is conducting an international talent search looking for the next models to appear in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. The Sports Illustrated editors are looking for "women who are enthusiastic about representing and being a part of the legendary SI Swimsuit brand."

Through the years, many models, such as Cheryl Tiegs, Christie Brinkley, Paulina Porizkova, Elle Macpherson, Rachel Hunter, Rebecca Romijn, Petra Nemcova, Valeria Mazza, Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks, and Marisa Miller, have been featured on the cover. Other models within its pages, but not on its cover, include Cindy Crawford, Stephanie Seymour, Niki Taylor, Angie Everhart, and Naomi Campbell.

SI Swimsuit is looking for fresh, beautiful faces, and people with personality. But they ate also looking for DIVERSITY, both in size and ethnicity.

Note: The most beautiful women in the world are not represented by modeling agents. They are out there in the real world. That is what the editors of SI Swimsuit realize. If you are a woman who has had kids, with maybe a "stretch mark" or three, with "curves", do not hesitate to do this. A stretch mark can be covered up with makeup and/or photoshop. Make no mistake that all of these past "perfect" SI Swimsuit models have had the use of makeup and/or photoshop to make them look as great as they have in the pages of SI Swimsuit. Just go for it, you never know what might happen!

FIRST ROUND

To be considered in the first round, please submit a 60-second video on Instagram by tagging @si_swimsuit and using the hashtag #SISwimSearch. Your video is your opportunity to convince SI Swimsuit why you should be a part of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. So get creative and show them who you are!

SECOND ROUND

All applicants must be 18+ and able to travel to New York at their own expense for a second round of in-person interviews in the month of May. By uploading a video to Instagram and using the designated tags, you represent that you have, and grant to Time Inc., the worldwide perpetual rights to use the video in all media for all purposes. All submissions will be reviewed by SI Swimsuit staffers. Those being asked to come in for in-person interviews will be contacted by direct message on Instagram.

2017 Toronto Actors Resource Guide eBook is now available!

The brand new 2017 Toronto Actors Resource Guide eBook is now available! This is the 22nd location in the series, and the eBook contains the most up-to-date, accurate, and comprehensive resources available for actors in Ontario, Canada. There is now a very large amount of major studio feature films and network television series in production in Toronto. The Toronto Actors Resource Guide eBook includes the following information and documents for adults, minors, and foreign talent who would like to work as an actor or extra on film and television productions in Toronto, Ontario and in Canada:

• Toronto Casting Directors
• Toronto Extras Casting Directors
• Toronto Talent Agents
• Toronto Acting Schools and Coaches
• Toronto Headshot Photographers
• General Talent Agent Information
• Miscellaneous Toronto Actor Resources
• Audition Tips
• How to make an Audition Video
• Sample Actors Resume
• Sample Beginning Actors Resume
• Sample Cover Letter Casting Directors
• Sample Cover Letter Talent Agents
• Glossary of Entertainment Industry Terms
• Canadian Work Permit Overview
• Applying for a Work Permit outside Canada
• Canada Work Permit Information for Foreigners
• Canadian Document Checklist for a Work Permit
• Temporary Canadian Foreign Worker Program
• Canadian Application for Temporary Resident VISA
• Canadian Visa Photo Specifications
• Information for Parents of Child Performers
• Canadian Family Information Form
• Canadian Use of a Representative Form
• Guide To Canadian Child Labor Laws

You can now order your copy of the 2017 Toronto Actors Resource Guide eBook for $19.95 through Amazon Payments at the following - http://www.actorsresourceguides.com/toronto-actors-resource-guide-ebook.html

You can also now order using Square Cash (https://cash.me). My email address to send your payment through Square Cash is alan.baltes@gmail.com and my Square Cash username is $AlanBaltes. Simply enter "TORONTO" and your EMAIL ADDRESS in the "FOR" box when sending the $19.95 payment. I can also send a $19.95 payment request if you give me your email address or cell phone number. Contact me at alan.baltes@gmail.com if you would prefer a payment request with a link that you can use to pay.

Once payment is received, your eBook will be emailed to you.

Model call in Los Angeles for $1,600 photo shoot

Female Models needed for Professional Photo shoot Los Angeles.

Pay is $1600

Casting Information 1:

Monday, August 4, 2014 10:00AM SHARP!

Prep Information:

Wednesday, August 13, 2014 – 8:00AM-4:00PM

Event Information:

Thursday, August 14, 2014 – 8:00AM-5:00PM

Special Instructions:

Wardrobe and Make-up will be provided.
We need 4 Female models.
1 African American,1-Latina,1-Caucasian,1-Eastern European; 25 to 35 years of age; size 2-4. Caucasian model willing to go medium blonde with highlights; African 1 American model willing to have red and fuschia fashion tones highlighted throughout the hair, cut into a long bob; Latina model with long hair willing to go deep, red violet;

1 Eastern European model.
Willing to have ombre hair color with medium to light brown tones. All model’s hair must be in healthy condition.

1 Caucasian or African American model must be open to cut, if their hair is long.

NO: weaves, extensions or henna treated hair.

Rate Information
Project Rate :
$1600.00
inclusive of 2 year image rights with option to renew
Non-trade / consumer publication .

Casting 2 for COLOR CHARM SHOOT:

Monday, August 4, 2014 11:00AM SHARP!

Prep Information

Thursday, August 14, 2014 – 8:00AM-4:00PM
Event Information:
Friday, August 15, 2014 – 8:00AM-5:00PM

Wardrobe and Make-up will be provided.

We need 2 Female models
1-Latina, 1-Caucasian, 25

to 35 years of age; size 2-4.
Caucasian model willing to go light, golden blonde with rose gold highlights; shoulder to medium length haircut.
Latina model willing to go to a dimensional red and cut above the shoulders.
All model’s hair must be in healthy condition.
NO: weaves, extensions or henna treated hair.

Rate Information

Project Rate :
$1,600.00
inclusive of 2 year image rights with option to renew. .

Non-trade / consumer publication .

Models will be screened via image submissions.

If you qualify to attend, wait to receive the address for this event via email, and

MARK THE DATE in your calendar.

REQUEST A MODEL APPLICATION AT michaelk@hairmodelexpress.com

Open call in New York for Dorothy Combs Models seeking beautiful plus size women

Dorothy Combs Models is one of the worlds top Plus Size Modeling Agencies.

Dorothy Combs Models is searching for beautiful new faces to be part of their world renowned agency! 

They have announced that they will be having an open call Saturday March 1st in New York City. They are looking for curvy ladies who are height 5”9 and over and who wear sizes 10 and up. Their top pick will win a test with the amazing photographer Jessica Lavoie and a photo from the test will be featured in their May Plus Model Magazine ad! If you are interested in becoming a plus size model, then please do attend the following open call.

Where:

Jessica Lavoie Photo Studio
1201 Broadway #708
New York, NY 10010

Between 28th and 29th Streets.
Click here for directions.

When:

Saturday March 1, 2014
10:00am - 12:00pm and 1:00pm - 3:00pm


About Dorothy Combs Models

Dorothy Combs Models was founded in 2005 by Dorothy Combs who has been a booking agent for over 13 years. They represent women who are sizes 10 and up with a height requirement of 5'9 and over. They are located in Miami, Florida and New York City and deal with a wide range of international cliental.

The plus size modeling agency deals with a wide range of international clientele. The models they represent are booked on jobs all over the world including exciting locations such as Austria, Brazil, Chile, Canada, Dubai, England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey as well as locations all over the United States.