Customer Reviews

Casting Qs: A Collection of Casting Director Interviews

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After my dictionary, this is most useful book on my bookshelf. When I get an audition, I open up this book and read what the casting director likes and hates. When I want to submit on a project, I look up the casting director in this book to see their views on actor submissions. Bonnie's writing lets each casting director's unique voice and opinion shine through with wonderful clarity. Even if you aren't in LA and will never meet these specific casting directors, their words still resonate and hold true for anyone in the acting profession.

This book is a huge tool to anyone trying to seriously pursue a carrer in the Hollywood industry! It's a key to anyones success. It lets you know the minds of the people who decide your future. How to impress them. How to get thier attention. Things they like and things they don't. I have read this book and recomened it to every actor, model, and manager I know. I read this book when I decided to start my own talent managment company and it has been one of my greatest tools!!

How do you start off a review when you just want to quote every word from the book; to share it with every performer out there...

Whether you're just starting out, or you're a seasoned pro: you simply must have this valuable resource – especially if you want to land that role for your next audition. In fact, you would be best to have Casting Qs long beforehand. It may just help make the difference to earning that desired audition.

Packed, cover to cover, by in-depth interviews with over 70 prominent Casting Directors, Casting Qs takes you right inside the guarded domain of the brilliant, unsung people we, as actors, depend upon yet most often fear. We want to meet them, but our nerves quiver with every audition: the pressures build, knowing that to screw up now may mean never getting a second chance.

Schmoozing, gimmicks, pretentious friendliness and egotistical confidence: these are the things that will kill your chances rather than gaining access to repeated auditions. Casting Directors have seen it all, and they don't like games. So, what do they like? What's the key to grabbing their attention? Professionalism!

The interviews are all directly spoken in the words of each Casting Director, rather than just a compilation of random thoughts. This lends an incredible, and very personal feeling of sitting in the room and hearing them offering their thoughts and advice -- live and in person.

We sit in on very private secrets – likes and dislikes, keys to winning the attentions of both the CDs and the Directors... and, most importantly, how NOT to make an absolute fool of yourself by destroying your chances for more audition calls.

What immediately becomes impressive about Casting Qs is the wonderful variety of specialists interviewed. There's an absolute abundance of information including solid insight to theatre, voice work and jingles, young performers, reality show casting, host casting, soaps, series, films, Indies, etc etc etc – In other words, Bonnie Gillespie has included the full gambit in this amazing volume. Whatever territory of performing you're hoping to work in, you'll find Casting Directors candidly detailing the inner workings of the industry.

One of the greatest accomplishments of Casting Qs is the absolute respect brought forward to the incredible people who grant us the opportunities to be seen. You quickly realize that these aren't flash-in-the-pan egotistical power-hungry terrors – Rather, they are people, like any other, who have spent years learning their trade, training and climbing up with each successive challenge.

Most of all, the Casting Director is not the enemy – They're the performer's biggest fan and supporter. Almost all openly admit the greatest reward of their career is when they can help a performer to get the role.

Though focussed primarily on U.S. based Casting Director interviews (Bonnie has already asked that we Canucks put together our wish list of Canadian based Casting Director interviews), you'll quickly find yourself relating the U.S. names to the personalities and habits of our own locals CDs. Even more, take a close look at the bio credits (such as for Shawn Dawson, CSA) and you'll quickly recognize some very familiar productions.

For U.S. performers; I can honestly state it would be pure folly not to have Casting Qs on your shelf. Bonnie has laid out all the specific information you need to submit and be seen by all the major players – as well as how to best shoot your career in the proverbial foot if you don't following each individual's protocol. If you have an audition coming up, you had better make sure you read the CDs requirements of what they demand for you to be called back again. Without Casting Qs in hand, you'll be walking a fine line blindfolded, and will have nobody to blame but yourself when your career falters.

And Yes, this is a book for we Canadians as well. The key to the industry is learning not just the artistic side (which we performers tend to place all our focus upon), but also the absolute necessity of treating our career choice from a business perspective as well. Casting Qs will provide you incredible insight into the inner workings of our industry.

This isn't a "How To" manual, nor is it a "One Method Fits All" – instead, you'll come away with a true appreciation and understanding in how Casting Directors operate, as well as what leads them to bringing you in on their shortlists for prime roles. You are now armed with the wisdom and intelligence to meet the challenges of your career – to ignore the valuable information deems no excuses: you've only yourself to blame if you fail.

I would seriously recommend every Agent out there insist their Talent read and use Casting Qs – you'll find your bookings so much more frequent.

The most fascinating book on auditioning that I've ever read. Nearly 100 casting directors share their thoughts on what they like, hate, and everything else that falls inbetween. The most incredible aspect of it all is how often the casting directors say the same things.

I learned things in this book I wouldn't (and couldn't) have possibly learned without it.

Author Gillespie obviously knows her stuff when it comes to the business of show business. Written with humor and candor, this collection of interviews with industry insiders will enlighten entertainment novices and veterans alike. Definitely a new must-have for people who want an objective look into a surreal and unpredictable profession-- Well done!

Bonnie Gillespie's "Casting Qs: A Collection of Casting Director Interviews" is the most important book to have on hand if you are an aspiring actor in the entertainment industry. This book has been referred to numerously by myself and my daughter, a child actor. Bonnie's format is non evasive yet to the point - a perfect blend of insight for a new person to this business or a seasoned professional. This book should be in the hands of everyone with a true passion for "making it". Each Casting Director that is featured offers an enormous amount of hits and misses to their daily grind. Anyone wishing to embark on this business would be a fool to ignore the straightforward words from these top casting directors....I give it two thumbs up...but if you ask our whole family (immediate and who have read it) WE give it 10 thumbs up!!!

Ms. Gillespie's book is not merely useful, it is a delightful read as well. She offers information which is tangibly beneficial, and organized in such a way that this book is an incredibly reader-friendly reference. The information presented allows actors to more effectively target their resources(both time and money). Ms. Gillespie's questions elicit common denominators as well as CD specific preferences, again, making this book a must-have reference handbook for actors. Included is an index, and a listing of pertinent internet addresses.

With all the research that has been done for me in this book I've been saved a lifetime. I've just started utilizing some of the words of wisdom gathered and have a new perspective and energy on the industry because of it.

The book has given me a clear picture of what is expected of me in this profession. I know now how to approach agents, casting directors, and how to promote myself. I recommend you buy this book in conjunction with "Your Film Acting Career" by M.K. Lewis. Both give a great overview of how the business is run.
Bonnie also answers questions on Backstage.com.

Bonnie Gillespie's book "Casting Qs" is a totally invaluable resource if you're an actor in LA. Every actor needs a leg up and every casting director is different - how great to have a resource that allows you to differentiate yourself while appealing to the Casting Director's own sensibilities! I go to this book every time I read for a new casting director, and also for ideas on how to gain access to casting directors I don't know yet. It's not what you know, it's who you know - so why not learn how to know the people you need to know? This book helps you do that. One casting director says flat out to send in your headshot with Casting Qs on the outside of the envelope, he'll know you know a little bit about him and he'll take a look at you. I took him up on the offer, and he's serious! But you'll have to buy the book to find out who.