Jul 30 2009
Casting Actors on the Cheap
If you’ve got a tiny budget for your film, chances are you won’t be able to hire Megan Fox or Patrick Dempsey as your lead. That doesn’t mean that you should give up; on the contrary, plenty of great films have been made with no-name leads–and later, those no-names turned into stars. Just look at Gerard Butler, who played the title character in Dracula 2000–his name wasn’t even highlighted on the film’s cover! Today, he’s a highly sought-after actor.Everyone has to start somewhere. Why not with your project?
As with just about anything, the first people to approach are family, friends and coworkers. Even if your brother has no talent, maybe he can play a background character, or a person being eaten by the creature in your movie–because, let’s face it, how much talent does screaming and being eaten require?
Maybe your sister has a roommate or classmate who is studying film and would love to get involved. Maybe there’s a person in the drama club who would love to be a part of your fun project. He or she may even be able to use it as part of a class project, thereby eliminating most or some of the pay that may be requested.
Try holding auditions on the spot. Hand people a copy of the script and ask them to act out a scene. You could find someone extraordinary. Try any place, but if there is a line of people waiting somewhere for a local casting call, that would be an excellent start. They are all just waiting for a few minutes of fame, and many of them may have some talent, too.
Try hanging up flyers, either at your school or a local school–particularly in the art and theater departments. Include a number where you can be reached, or a date and location for tryouts.
If you have a website or wish to create one, be sure to post that you’re looking for actors. Include high-traffic keywords such as actors wanted or models wanted.
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