Spotlight News

 

Articles tagged with casting

Spotlight at the BAFTAs and Golden Globes

The acting awards are coming thick and fast. No sooner had the Golden Globes winners collected their awards, than the shortlist for the BAFTA film awards were released, and Spotlight has played a part in several of the nominated films and performances. Joe Cornish’s Attack The Block, which is nominated for Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director Or Producer, has a strong association with Spotlight. Casting director Nina Gold cast the film here at Spotlight’s Studios in Leicester Square, after first using the Spotlight Link for her breakdown. With a strong Spotlight presence,...

posted on 17th January 2012 Read full article >>

Spotlight Studios upgrade package for casting professionals

Spotlight Studios have made it easier for casting professionals to watch and review their casting sessions in high-resolution with the launch of our new Studios Casting Package. The new software improves the casting experience – from better video to greater usability - for those using our studios to cast new projects. Casting professionals can now download a casting session with one click, watch high-resolution footage in full-screen and access Spotlight CVs for everyone they audition. As well as improvements to our market-leading video, our casting websites are now more user-friendly and functional, as well as now being iPhone and iPad compatible. Spotlight’s casting studios...

posted on 21st November 2011 Read full article >>

Auditioning for commercials: The casting director's view

To tie in with Spotlight’s Approaching Commercial Castings workshop, we’re publishing a series of essential tips every actor needs to know about how to audition for commercials. Today, we hear from casting director Anna Kennedy. Anna has a wealth of experience in casting a range of varied projects, including numerous award-winning commercials. She’s worked with a range of clients, including Ikea, McDonalds, Yeo Valley (below), Sainsbury’s, Porsche and Vodafone. Here, she passes on her top tips for actors at commercial castings. Dress for the occasion A casting director will usually tell the agent how the actor should dress – for example, directions like...

posted on 15th November 2011 Read full article >>

Cast via Spotlight: John Lewis' Christmas advert 2011

You know a TV commercial is an instant hit when it becomes a hot topic of conversation on Twitter and around the water cooler at work, and this year’s John Lewis Christmas advert is definitely one of these. The 90-second commercial, which debuted during this weekend’s X Factor, has already received over 900,000 views on YouTube, also well as trending on Twitter last week, and Spotlight is proud to have played a part in bringing the popular advert together. The commercial by advertising agency Adam & Eve was brilliantly cast by casting directors Sophie North and Beverley Keogh, via The Spotlight Link,...

posted on 15th November 2011 Read full article >>

Working as an actor in LA: The casting director’s view

This week Spotlight is hosting the first of our professional development pilot workshops, offering valuable insights and essential industry advice. The first workshop is all about Working In LA and is hosted by actors Tam Williams and Alexandra Boyd. To tie in with this, we’ll be running features from some of the best-connected people in the industry. First up, top casting director Carol Dudley from Cannon Dudley & Associates gives us her advice on the difference between UK and US taped castings. Ah, the difference between US and UK auditions. Let's just deal with taped...

posted on 7th November 2011 Read full article >>

Spotlight Dancers 2011-2012 is now available

The new edition of Spotlight Dancers has just been released. With new colour head and full-body shots and contact details for over 300 professionally trained and experienced dancers, the books are an invaluable aide-memoire when looking for casting inspiration. Spotlight’s iconic, glossy books are an unrivalled industry resource. They are used daily by casting directors, producers, directors, choreographers, commercial and musical theatre production companies to source dancers and musical theatre performers for their productions. Are you an industry professional looking for dancers for your new project? Spotlight Dancers is available as part of a casting subscription...

posted on 27th October 2011 Read full article >>

Spotlight Actresses 2011-2012 is now available

The new edition of Spotlight Actresses has just been released. Spotlight’s iconic, glossy books have been on the desks of casting and production professionals since 1927 and are an unrivalled industry resource, used daily by casting professionals worldwide. With new photographs and contact details for over 15,000 professionally trained and experienced actresses, the books are an invaluable aide-memoire when looking for casting inspiration. Are you an industry professional looking for actresses for your new project? Spotlight Actresses is available as part of a casting subscription to Spotlight.  As well as receiving a...

posted on 26th October 2011 Read full article >>

The Spotlight interview: Lissy Holm, casting director

One of the highlights of the BFI London Film Festival is Anonymous, the new film from Roland Emmerich, which takes the idea that Shakespeare’s works were not his own and spins a fictional tale out of this. Anonymous is also a film that has a strong association with Spotlight. The majority of the film was cast via Spotlight, first via the Spotlight Link and then at Spotlight Studios near Leicester Square. Leo Davis and Lissy Holm of Just Casting cast the entire project. Ahead of Anonymous’ gala screening on Tuesday 25th October, Spotlight’s Joe Bates caught...

posted on 24th October 2011 Read full article >>

Spotlight’s weekly news roundup: 21st October

Welcome to Spotlight’s weekly news roundup, where we highlight the news and blogs we’ve enjoyed and want to share with the industry. So kick back and read what’s snagged our interest this week.   All about acting and auditions On Tuesday, Spotlight held our Casting Symposium at the London Film Festival, with three top casting directors – Lucinda Syson, Reg Poerscourt-Edgerton and Karen Lindsay-Stewart. We’ve rounded up the top tips and points from the panel, which are essential reading for performers. If any casting directors have any more they want to add...

posted on 21st October 2011 Read full article >>

The Spotlight Podcast: How to approach auditions

Want to learn the secret of how to approach an audition from those doing the auditioning? After Spotlight’s Casting Symposium, we asked our trio of top UK casting directors for their advice on approaching auditions. The panel of Lucinda Syson (W.E., X-Men, Kick Ass), Reg Poerscout–Edgerton (Sherlock Holmes, RocknRolla) and Karen Lindsay-Stewart (The Other Boleyn Girl, Submarine, Marie Antionette) spoke to Spotlight’s Frances Mordue about their dos and don’ts for auditions, as well as their one tip for actors to make themselves more employable during auditions. Don’t miss this value insight from some of the biggest names in...

posted on 21st October 2011 Read full article >>

Cast via Spotlight: London Film Festival special

Here at Spotlight, we’re thoroughly enjoying the London Film Festival. It’s not just that there’s so much activity outside our Leicester Square offices, or our fantastic Casting Symposium at the BFI earlier this week. It’s that Spotlight had a hand in many of the fantastic films on show at the festival. Many of the films were either cast at Spotlight’s rooms and studios or advertised as exclusives via the Spotlight Link, the quickest and easiest way for casting and production professionals to get their briefs into the inboxes of leading UK agents and performers. There are...

posted on 20th October 2011 Read full article >>

Top tips from Spotlight’s Casting Symposium

Spotlight’s Casting Symposium at the BFI yesterday (Tuesday 18th October) was one of the hottest industry tickets of the London Film Festival, with over 400 performers gaining valuable insights from our panel of top casting directors The panel was made up of Lucinda Syson (W.E., X-Men, Kick Ass), Reg Poerscout–Edgerton (Sherlock Holmes, RocknRolla) and Karen Lindsay-Stewart (The Other Boleyn Girl, Submarine, Marie Antionette), while the session was co-ordinated by Spotlight’s Pippa Harrison and Emma Dyson. Topics covered included the casting process in full, an insight into important audition dos and don’ts and a Q & A...

posted on 19th October 2011 Read full article >>

Cast via Spotlight: Cool Hand Luke

Marc Warren has been receiving rave reviews for his performance as Luke Jackson in prison drama Cool Hand Luke at the Aldwych Theatre, London – not least due to the famous scene where Luke eats 50 boiled eggs in an hour for a bet. Hustle and Mad Dogs star Marc is the lead in a cast packed full of Spotlight members, as his World War II veteran-turned-convict Luke Jackson refuses to be broken by the system and becomes part of his fellow convicts’ mythology of survival. But our members, including award-winning actress Lisa Eichhorn and Coronation...

posted on 12th October 2011 Read full article >>

Win tickets to Spotlight’s casting symposium at the LFF

The 55th BFI London Film Festival starts today, and Spotlight will, once again, be a large part of the celebrations. Over the two-week period, we’ll be running competitions and a casting symposium, as well as taking pride in all the projects cast via Spotlight and the large numbers of Spotlight members appearing on the big screen during the festival. The highlight of the festival for us is Spotlight’s Casting Symposium at 10.30am on Tuesday 18th October in the BFI’s National Film Theatre 1 on London’s Southbank. Meet The Casting Directors sees a panel of...

posted on 12th October 2011 Read full article >>

Spotlight casting of the week: Contraband

Here at Spotlight, we were rather excited to have a first look at the trailer (below) for Contraband, the new Mark Walhberg feature film. Why? A young man called Caleb Landry Jones, that’s why. You may recognise Caleb from X-Men: First Class, where he played mutant superhero Banshee. When Caleb was over in the UK for the filming of X-Men, he stopped by Spotlight Studios to tape an audition for Contraband. Caleb is one of a number of performers who’ve taken advantage of our Actor On Tape facility in Spotlight Studios. If you can’t get to the venue...

posted on 5th October 2011 Read full article >>

Recently cast projects via Spotlight

Every week at Spotlight, we have a hand in hundreds of castings, ranging from film to stage, and TV to commercials, along with other performing arts-related work for our members. Whether it’s a job posted by a top casting director through our Spotlight Link, or all manner of projects using Spotlight’s rooms and studios to audition and cast the perfect performer in their production, Spotlight plays a large part in getting the right performers into the right roles. As part of this, each week we’ll highlight some of the great productions that have been cast via Spotlight, either...

posted on 22nd September 2011 Read full article >>

BBC renews its Spotlight Interactive subscription

The BBC has renewed its casting subscription for 2011. Every BBC production employee has instant desktop access to our database of more than 35,000 actors, dancers, presenters and child performers.  Production teams across the BBC search the Spotlight database to cast shows including EastEnders, Holby City, Casualty and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, to name but a few. At the click of a button, they can view Spotlight members’ photos, credits, contact details, showreels and voice clips. BBC teams also regularly use The Spotlight Link to advertise their casting requirements to agents...

posted on 7th January 2011 Read full article >>

How to Cast : Free evening at Spotlight

Spotlight is holding an exclusive and much-requested evening for Theatre, Commercial, TV, Film and Corporate Production Companies to answer frequently asked casting questions. 'How to Cast' will take place on 24th November, from 6-8pm, at Spotlight (7, Leicester Place, WC2H 7RJ) Places are limited to one representative per company and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Successful applicants will learn everything about the casting process, from start to finish, from a line-up of Industry experts. The evening will include: Q&A with casting directors Demo of Spotlight's...

posted on 29th October 2010 Read full article >>

Recent actor, dancer and presenter projects cast via Spotlight

The following are just a selection from the many hundreds of projects which have been cast via Spotlight recently: Film and Television The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo X Men: First Class Just William Waterloo Road Merlin ...

posted on 22nd September 2010 Read full article >>

Interview with Lauren O’Neil – 2009 Spotlight Prize Winner

In 2009 Lauren O’Neil graduated from Guildhall School of Music and Drama and won the Spotlight prize for best actress. This year she opened in her first professional stage role in ‘Women Beware Women’ at the National Theatre and will also be appearing on our TV screens in ‘Lewis’ on Sunday.  Will Davies, Spotlight Casting & Agent Liaison, spoke with her about her origins as an actress, her training at Guildhall and her industry experiences since winning the Spotlight prize. · Obvious question but did you always know you wanted to be an actress? Not at all, when...

posted on 20th May 2010 Read full article >>

Five top tips for musical theatre casting from David Grindrod

At this week’s Spotlight Graduate Programme event, casting director David Grindrod spoke to final-year musical theatre and dance graduates about casting for musical theatre. David’s vast theatre credits include Mamma Mia, The Phantom of the Opera Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, West Side Story, Saturday Night Fever, Starlight Express, and he is currently appearing on the BBC’s Over the Rainbow. Topics covered included how to approach a casting director, what to expect in an audition and common pitfalls to avoid.  For anyone wanting to break into musical theatre here are his top five tips:...

posted on 21st April 2010 Read full article >>

Actors 2010-2011 – New directory out now

Spotlight Actors 2010-2011 is now available. With new photographs and contact details for over 14,500 professionally trained and experienced actors, the books are an invaluable aide-memoire when looking for casting inspiration. To browse a preview or to order a copy, visit the Spotlight Shop. Tags: actor, casting, directory

posted on 19th April 2010 Read full article >>

RSC casting assistants give auditions advice

Janine Snape and Jim Arnold, casting assistants at the RSC, were guest speakers at the Spotlight Graduate Programme this week. The event was a brilliant opportunity for graduates to meet them and to hear about the casting processes at the RSC. Janine and Jim’s top tips: In an audition, respond to the director’s instructions and adapt your performance accordingly. Choose audition pieces that are appropriate to your age and gender. Make sure you have your showreel and voice clip uploaded onto your Spotlight page. ...

posted on 23rd March 2010 Read full article >>

Recent actor, dancer and presenter projects cast via Spotlight

The following are just a selection from the many hundreds of projects which have been cast via Spotlight recently: Film and Television The Sarah Jane Adventures The IT Crowd Taggart Merlin 4321 Inbetweeners River City Untitled Ken Loach Project 2009 Hollyoaks Sex and the City 2 Stage Dunsinane (Hampstead Theatre, London) Enron (Noel Coward Theatre, London) The 39 Steps (National Tour) Really Old, Like Forty Five (National Theatre) Columbo (National Tour) Canterbury Tales (West Yorkshire Playhouse, Liverpool Playhouse,...

posted on 19th March 2010 Read full article >>

Five Top Tips for TV and Film Casting from Kate Rhodes James

At this week’s Spotlight Graduate Programme event, casting director Kate Rhodes James (Bleak House, Cold Feet, Into the Storm, Mo Mowlam, The Fattest Man in Great Britain) spoke to final-year drama graduates about casting for film and television.  Topics covered included how to approach a casting director, what to expect in an audition and how best to present yourself (CV’s and photographs).  For anyone wanting to break into television and film here are her top five tips:  Research each casting director before you meet or contact them.  If you’re...

posted on 17th March 2010 Read full article >>

One-month Spotlight casting subscription now available

Need to find actors? Need to send a casting brief? One-month subscriptions to Spotlight Interactive can now be purchased online. A subscription gives you all the services you need for every stage of the casting process, making it quick and easy to find the perfect performer for any role. Visit the Spotlight Shop to subscribe now. Tags: casting, spotlight.com

posted on 15th March 2010 Read full article >>

How to succeed at commercial castings

2010 has got off to a great start at Spotlight Studios with numerous film and television projects using our facilities. Just recently feature film directors Roland Emmerich (2012, The Day After Tomorrow) and Taylor Hackford (Ray, Proof of Life) were in casting for their latest projects. It’s pilot season too which means plenty of actors have been in to tape their auditions for American casting directors. Commercial castings include Orange, John Lewis, McDonalds, Shell and Nintendo. To help you with landing that commercial, here are some top tips: Check that you’ve...

posted on 10th March 2010 Read full article >>

Success at commercial castings – free workshop for Graduates

Spotlight’s next Graduates Programme event, on Monday 8 March, aims to give students a crash course in the world of commercial castings - debunking myths, telling you what to expect and how to prepare for the castings you’re most likely to encounter as a graduate entering the industry. The free workshop will be hosted by Thom Hammond, who manages Spotlight’s busy casting studios and brings experience as a freelance casting assistant and an actor to this informal, interactive session. Some places are still available at the event, which is open to students graduating from CDS drama schools in...

posted on 4th March 2010 Read full article >>

Top television audition tips from BBC casting executive

Julia Crampsie, casting executive at the BBC, was guest speaker at a Spotlight Graduate Programme event last week. The seminar was an amazing opportunity for the graduates to meet Julia and to hear all about casting at the BBC. Julia’s top tips: Always prepare your script – you must be familiar with all the text Practise sight reading to camera – record yourself and learn from your mistakes If you are not sure about anything in an audition, ask Keep...

posted on 23rd February 2010 Read full article >>

ITV renews Spotlight subscription

Good news for all Spotlight members  - ITV has renewed its subscription to Spotlight's casting services again, continuing to give all ITV employees instant access to our database of 35,000 actors, dancers, presenters and child performers. Spotlight is used to cast a wide variety of ITV shows such as Law & Order, The Bill, Coronation Street, Primeval and Whitechapel.  At a click of a button, ITV production teams can view photos, CVs and showreels for every Spotlight member, directly from their computer desktops. They can also send out their latest casting briefs exclusively to Spotlight agents and...

posted on 4th February 2010 Read full article >>

Last few places at Graduate Programme events

Casting professionals working in television, film and theatre will offer free career advice to drama students in a series of free Spotlight seminars in the coming weeks. The Spotlight Graduate Programme gives students a chance to meet and put questions to industry professionals and Spotlight’s own expert advisers. Some places are still available at the following events: Monday 8 February - Meet the Casting Director (musical theatre) Pippa Ailion (Wicked, The Lion King, Billy Elliot). A Q&A session with this highly acclaimed casting director – do not miss the...

posted on 3rd February 2010 Read full article >>

Graduates given career advice from leading casting director

Sam Jones CDG met final year drama students last night as part of the Spotlight Graduate Programme 2010.  Jones, who is currently casting for National Theatre Wales, drew on her vast experience of theatre casting (with the RSC, Almeida and Shared Experience) to answer questions on a variety of topics including: selecting showcase pieces; networking in the industry; and the importance of showreels. At the next Spotlight Graduate Programme event, on 8 February, casting director Pippa Ailion will share tips and advice on...

posted on 26th January 2010 Read full article >>

Introducing Spotlight’s Actor on Tape service

With the US pilot season under way, Spotlight’s Actor on Tape service offers a quick, easy and cost-effective way to get a performer’s audition to US producers. If you have an American casting confirmed and a script ready then simply book your Actor on Tape session to record your audition. We can upload DVD-quality clips and send links to your casting director in minutes. One of the great benefits of Actor on Tape is that it allows an actor to pursue UK opportunities and compete for American roles at the same time. Make sure...

posted on 15th January 2010 Read full article >>

Top ten tips for Spotlight portfolio photos

We’ve asked casting professionals what they look for in portfolio photos, and here are our top ten tips: 1. Always make sure the photo looks like you.  Don’t include overly airbrushed shots as they can be misleading. Update your photos every 3-5 years, so they are current. You don’t look the same as you did in 1997 so why does your photo? One casting director put it very eloquently when they said: ‘All I want is someone who looks like their photo to walk through the door. Anything else is a waste of my time.’ 2. Get professional...

posted on 1st December 2009 Read full article >>

Spotlight Studios special offer

Spotlight’s winter studios promotion is to be extended. Its state-of-the-art casting facilities are now available at the special hourly rate of £95 for any bookings made by the end of the year. Spotlight Studios are ideal for casting commercial, film and television projects. Highly skilled studio operators are on hand to film auditions, post DVD-quality clips online and assist with any other casting needs that might arise on the day. What's included in the price? Upload to casting website DVD copy upon request High quality digi prints...

posted on 1st December 2009 Read full article >>

Spotlight at Actor Expo in Scotland

Spotlight will be in Scotland on Saturday June 27th as part of Actor Expo, Edinburgh. We'd love to see you there! We've got lots going on for our members, including: Spotlight Seminars We'll be offering two free seminars for Spotlight members: GETTING WORK AS A PROFESSIONAL ACTOR Will Davies and Thom Hammond (Spotlight) 11.30am - 12.30pm and 1.30pm - 2.30pm (identical sessions) Two Spotlight experts will provide invaluable advice on how actors can improve their chances of finding work. Topics discussed will include photos, CVs and cover letters, showreels, basic networking and how to...

posted on 1st June 2009 Read full article >>