Casting Calls: Male Aged 30-45 for Short Film

Warhol is an award winning dark comedic script with a run time of 15 minutes, during which it holds a mirror up to the celebrity obsessed world within which we live. How far will a person go, or allow themselves to be pushed in order to achieve their fifteen minutes of fame? ‘Warhol’ demonstrates how the media can influence, and in this case manipulate their audience, at times with disturbing consequences.

You will be working with an award winning script and a team that have worked on the following programmes. A Director, who has worked on everything from Robin Hood Prince of Thieves to Mr Selfridge. Craig Shaynak – You may know him from the hit show ‘Ray Donovan.’ Anil Desai – The Kumars (BBC) Stuart White Nichols – BBC Timothy David – HBO’s Game Of Thrones, Benjamin Crellin – Xena Warrior Princess and Young Hercules. Thomas Johnson – Art Director on the last four JLS Videos. And me… Adam, who’s written for The BBC, Buena Vista, ITV and others. We also have a genuine hollywood actor reading for the lead.

Character: Dave Dawson

Must be American or Canadian! Must! Age 30 – 45. Dave is a Howard Stern wannabe. Banned from broadcasting in America after a stunt backfired, Dave jumped the pond in search of a fresh start, forcing him to take a job at a small regional station in East Anglia where his right-wing, straight talking persona is more than the suburban town can handle. The lack of night owls, insomniacs and lovelorn housewives, means he is having trouble flexing his tabloid muscles.

Pay: £60 p/day

Shoot Date: 4th Nov 2013 – 6th Nov 2013

Production Company: http://www.dittoproductionslimited.com/_/Welcome.html

Apply: adam@dittoproductionslimited.com

Casting Calls: Young Cast Required for Moroccan Film

Thief

The film is a moving story about a homeless boy who desperately needs money to pay for his sick brothers operation. Miraculously he lands his dream job working as a bellhop at an international hotel, but someone steals his uniform which is vital for the job. The story follows Youseff and his friends as they search the souks of Marrakech in a desperate bid to try and get it back.

Shoot dates:  1st Dec 2013 – 18th Dec 2013

Pay: £380+ P/week (plus flights, accommodation & expenses)

Available Roles:

Youseff
Ernest, slim, caring for his brother, homeless, honest face

Adbel
Disabled, frail, honest, fighter, funny

Kaz
Hard, bully, muscular, frightening, intimidating

Rao
Kind, hard working, appears older than her years, attractive, loyal.

Nabil
Friendly, funny, not very fit, side kick character

To apply: currently applications are only being taken through Shooting People – https://shootingpeople.org/production/work/project/6484

Casting Calls: Male Actor for Short Film

Big Grail

A short scripted dark comedy with 2 actors. A married couple in a chauffer driven car find themselves stuck at a security checkpoint.. Both are business executives in the same multi-national company. A dispute ensues about issues as wide ranging as ecology, capitalism and marital infidelity drawing out themes around convenience, consumption, good taste and etiquette. This is an artists’ film commission produced for a contemporary art context, opening at a London gallery early 2014.

Character: Business Man (Lead)

Adult white male aged late 30s-50 yrs old. Must have British accent, indistinguishable not too posh. He is a senior brand manager within a multinational food technology corporation. Must have a professional look someone with confidence and authority. He is colleague and romantic interest to female lead. Role requires good comedic acting, with some serious elements. Verbal role with good facial acting acting and hand gestures. Not too caricature. 2 shooting days + 1 rehearsal day. Early Dec 2013.

Shooting dates: 4th Dec 2013 – 5th Dec 2013

Location: London

Pay rate: £175-£300 per day (negotiable), inc. agreed travel expenses

Apply: Alexandra Roche: ali.roche@spikeisland.org.uk

Acting Jobs: Drama Tutor Needed

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland are looking to hire a part time Drama Tutor.

They are looking to employ an experienced Drama Tutor, they will be responsible for the design and delivery of a 21 week programme of weekly drama classes taking place on Friday mornings from January 2014 – May 2014 on site in HMP Perth.

Applicants should have a degree level education, skills in devising performance and experience of teaching/creative facilitation.

Part Time
Hourly Paid £21.61

You can find out more information about this vacancy and apply on: bit.ly/xnDnBy

Production Crew: Steady-Cam Operator

Stereotype

A teenage boy goes out into the night to avenge his brother death and finds himself in an unexpected situation that changes his life forever. It is a 10 minute film that is slick, fast based with a beautiful twist that will change the audiences mindset of street life.

We are looking for a newly qualified Steady cam operator that wants to work with a good quality team on high production value films. This job is an indie short however we do have more lucrative commercials that will offer better wages.

Pay: £100-175 p/day

Shooting Dates: 29th Nov 2013 – 2nd Dec 2013

Shooting Location: East England.

Apply: Contact via Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mcgibneybrothers

Production Crew: Multiple Positions for Filming in Morocco

Thief

The film is a moving story about a homeless boy who desperately needs money to pay for his sick brothers operation. Miraculously he lands his dream job working as a bellhop at an international hotel, but someone steals his uniform which is vital for the job. The story follows Youseff and his friends as they search the souks of Marrakech in a desperate bid to try and get it back.

Shoot dates:  1st Dec 2013 – 18th Dec 2013

Line Producer
We are looking for a line producer who has some experience working on location in Marrakech on a low budget

Pay: £500+ p/week plus flights, accommodation and expenses)

Casting Director
We are looking for someone with experience of casting a low budget film shooting in Marrakech. All the actors and extras need to be based in Morocco

Pay: £500+ p/week plus flights, accommodation and expenses)

Location Manager
We need someone who has a very good knowledge or ideally lives in Marrakech to help us find several key locations for our low budget film

Pay: £380+ p/week plus flights, accommodation and expenses)

Director of Photography
We are looking for a DOP who has some experience of shooting in Marrakesh. This is a low budget feature, filming on the streets over a short schedule. So the right individual needs to be fast and able to work in restrictive places with actors only going for a few takes. We need someone who has experience and can help us get deals using either the Alexa or Canon C300.

Pay: £380+ p/week plus flights, accommodation and expenses)

To apply: currently applications are only being taken through Shooting People – https://shootingpeople.org/production/work/project/6484

Production Crew: Motion graphics Designer

I am looking for an after effects editor to come on board a high profile museum project. I’d love you to bring your creative flare and offer ideas rather than need to be told exactly what to do. The final film will be 10-15 mins in length and projected large over a series of nights for an emersive installation but will stand alone as a short film as well. I’d like to hear from anyone who thinks this appeals to them. The rough budget we had in mind was £300 per day.

For more info and to apply: contact@indivisionfilms.com

Production Crew: Director and Co-Producer

Full Marx

A budding London-based director and co-producer to jointly apply with this short for London Calling production awards (filmlondon.org.uk/londoncalling):… Karl Marx and Groucho Marx materialise in old haunts in London, but in the present-day. Finding common ground, they determine to be more successful this time around. They head for the Soho pub where Karl once got a break, sure they’ll be listened to there, in the current economic climate. apply to: barry@desertratfeatures.com

Director:

Someone to bring flair and vision to the script. The funding is intended to support the next generation of filmmakers and so an applicant needs to be ‘breaking good’ but not so experienced as to invalidate the application.

Pay: £200 p/day approx

Producer:

A co-producer who knows how to make every penny count. The proviso stated under ‘Director’ also applies here.

Pay: £200 p/day approx

Shoot dates: 14th Feb 2014 – 14th Feb 2014

Location: London

Media Jobs: ICA Manager

The ICA are looking to hire a Development Manager to join their development team.

The role requires the ability to work across the Development Team and be involved in all aspects of funding activities. Thy will be able to collaboratively devise an innovative grants fundraising strategy to support the ICA’s creative programme.

Full time position
London
salary range £26,000 – £30,000 (depending on experience)

Closing date for applications: Sunday 20 October 2013.

To find out more and to apply take a look at: bit.ly/1gaz3BT

Media Jobs: Distribution Manager

LUX is looking to hire a Distribution Manager for their international artists’ film and video distribution service.

Their main responsibilities would be to manage the film bookings for the LUX distribution service, providing an efficient and friendly service for exhibitors, buyers and artists and working closely with the Collections Manager to fulfil orders in a timely and well-organised manner.

– Deadline for applications: 28 October 2013 5pm
– Wage: £25,000 pa (pro rata 0.8) plus 5% pension contribution
– Working Hours: Part time (4 days a week). 10am-6pm with 1 hour lunch break. evening and weekend work will be required, with time off in lieu.
– Holidays: 25 days per year pro-rata (5 compulsory days (pro rata) must be taken during the office closure at Christmas) with an increase of 1 day per year worked up to a maximum of 30 days.
– Contract: Permanent (with six month probation period)

To find out more and to apply, please head to: bit.ly/qq88A9

The post Casting Calls: October 11th 2013 appeared first on Aimee Spinks Photography.

I must admit I am a fan of both, though they each have their pros and cons.

Outdoor Headshot Photography:

Shooting outdoors has the advantage of making photos, particularly headshots, look more natural than their studio counterparts. This is largely because a studio backdrop is a contrived space, so no matter how natural an actor’s expression might be, we are instantly aware they have deliberately posed for a camera. A good photographer knows how to put an actor at their ease to achieve a great result no matter what the space however there’s just something instantly more natural about seeing a shot taken in the great outdoors.

Outdoor Headshot Photography: The Pros

• A world of backdrops to choose from…
  • Whether you’re a fan of the brick wall, leafy haze or sky; there are so many different locations you can use as a backdrop to your headshot.

• Bring the photographer to you…
  • Are you an actor living in London but absolutely love the work of a Birmingham headshot photographer? By having your headshot photography session outdoors, the photographer can come to you without having to worry about additional studio hire charges.

• Flattering light…
  • If you’ve got yourself an overcast sky, you’ve got yourself some instantly soft and flattering light to work with without having to spend ages working out a complex lighting setup – giving you more time to work on your perfect headshot look.

• Save money…
  • A lot of headshot photographers will charge less for outdoor photoshoots as there are no studio costs to take care off. It’s also a great way for photographers without studio access to create great images.

• Bokeh
  • You know that nice out of focus haze you get on headshots taken outside? Gorgeous isn’t it? Good luck matching it in the studio.

Outdoor Headshot Photography: The Cons

• Rain!
  • Arranging a headshot photoshoot outdoors leaves you to the mercy of the unpredictable British weather. Even in summer you never know when it might rain: that’s why all of my outdoor headshot photoshoots have a backup plan so that you’re shoot can go ahead uninterrupted and without your images suffering in quality!

• Lack of privacy…
  • Most outdoor locations are often public spaces so there’s never a guarantee that you won’t have an audience or find that the area you wanted to shoot in isn’t occupied by happy picnic-ers. Again, always have a back-up plan! A good location is one that has many opportunities for a range of backgrounds should one not be ideal or available.
  • Want to have a change of outfits? Need a full length mirror to check your hair or touch up your make-up? This is another consideration to be aware of when booking your headshot photography outdoors. Make sure your photographer has an area where you can make all your necessary adjustments!

• Background Distractions…
  • If you’re lucky enough to not be distracted by others during an outdoor photoshoot, you need to make sure your image has no visual distractions. A good actor headshot is all about showcasing the actor and not letting the viewer be distracted by a rogue leaf, conflicting colours or that annoying strand of hair the wind blew across your face. To help prevent these problems, I always recommend what clothing options to consider so that a cut or colour doesn’t prove distracting as well as reviewing each image as I shoot to check for other tiny distractions.

• Fewer lighting options…
  • Though I have my own flash lighting I can take out on location, most photographers’ kits don’t have anything powerful enough to overpower the sun. So if you want something dark and dramatic and are only free to shoot around midday, you’re probably best having a studio headshot photography session.

• Limited working hours…
  • Once the sun goes down, unless you want a dramatic night shoot (probably not the most ideal for a Spotlight-ready actors headshot) you’re pretty stuffed. Especially if you need your headshot session to fit around your crazy schedule during the Autumn/Winter months!

Studio Headshot Photography:

Many headshot photographers favour the studio over using an outdoor location as it provides them with a secure, tried and tested space that is within their full control. Though this is the case, a good studio headshot requires much more technical understanding by the photographer in order to achieve a great look as they are responsible for moulding the light from scratch for every set-up.

Studio Headshot Photography: The Pros:

• Privacy…
  • Unlike shooting outdoors, a headshot session within a photography studio provides full privacy; great for the more camera shy subject!

• Make-up and changing areas…
  • Following on from the privacy point, by having you headshot taken in a studio, you also have access to changing areas and make-up rooms to make preparing for your session nice and easy.

• Lighting control…
  • Based in a fully equipped photography studio, I have access to all the lighting equipment I could need to create a vast range of looks. From dark and dramatic to bright and cheery, no matter what your preferences, chances are I can create the right look for you.

• Review your images on a big screen…
  • It’s all well and good checking out your headshots on the back of a camera, but why do that when you can take a seat with a cup of tea and have a proper look at your photos on a big screen?

• Full Control…
  • Once you book a studio headshot photography session, it’s booked. No having to worry about the weather or if the area you want to shoot in is available – by shooting in the studio you are guaranteed a fully professional working space without any distractions (including freezing temperatures)!

• Any time…
  • Do you have a busy schedule to fit your headshot session within? Though we may not have much sunlight in the wee hours of the morning or late at night, the studio can provide all the light you need any time; day or night.

• Background choices…
  • Though most headshot photographers only offer one or two (usually just black and white) coloramas to have your headshot against, book your headshot session with me and you’ll have access to a studio containing almost every colour backdrop you can think of as well as wallpapered room sets should you want to mix up your headshots with some more contemporary portraits.

Studio Headshot Photography: the Cons

• Price…
  • Studio photography sessions are often more expensive than their outdoors counterparts due to studio rental costs. If you want the best of both worlds however, I offer up to 90 minutes of photography both in a fully equipped photography studio as well as outdoors for just £175. This includes your 5 favourite images fully edited and supplied as full res JPGS in colour as well as black and white.

To be honest, I’m struggling to find more cons about studio headshot photography. Of course a lot of it comes down to your choice of photographer – I have seen many studio headshots over the years shot by photographers who just don’t know how to use lights creatively. They often shoot completely flat images against a plain black or white background or go for a completely blown-out high key shot usually used for catalogue or product photography.

A good studio photographer knows how to craft their lighting to create an intimate looking headshot that makes the actor stand out. But in this regard, it’s not just about the lighting. You know that sharp-eyed focused look you find in some actors headshots that just make them jump out from the page? I have several tricks, tips and exercises I often get actors and models to try in order to make their headshot appear much more striking than their competitors and make their eyes really speak out.

Since I’m deviating slightly from the original topic of outdoor photography vs studio headshot photography, I will call it a day on this blog entry and look forward to your thoughts on your own preferences.

So, let me know – do you prefer your headshots taken outside in natural light or done in a photography studio?

The post Actor Headshots: Studio Photography vs. Natural Light appeared first on Aimee Spinks Photography.