HD CASTING Course Director for Producing: Michael Wotherspoon “Spoon” X1623 & [email protected]

HD CASTINGHD CASTING

Course Director for Producing:Course Director for Producing:

Michael WotherspoonMichael Wotherspoon

““Spoon”Spoon”

X1623 & [email protected] & [email protected]

www.fsproducingclass.com/castingwww.fsproducingclass.com/casting

Typically, a host style/talk show is built around Typically, a host style/talk show is built around the host(s) and/or around a theme or topic.the host(s) and/or around a theme or topic.

Writers, Show Runners, Segment Producers, Writers, Show Runners, Segment Producers, Crew Crew and other production support are all and other production support are all brought on board because of our talents in brought on board because of our talents in support of the support of the Host/Theme/TopicHost/Theme/Topic..

At Full Sail, our HD class develop three styles of At Full Sail, our HD class develop three styles of shows:shows:

Standard News/Informational Show

“Entertainment Tonight” type of Show

A “Tonight Show” talk Show


1.1. The Casting Flyer and NoticeThe Casting Flyer and Notice

2.2. The Casting SessionThe Casting Session

3.3. The Casting TeamThe Casting Team

4.4. Becoming a Good HostBecoming a Good Host


The Casting Flyer PostedThe Casting Flyer Posted

• Casting Notice. Casting Notice. (Only Post after approval)(Only Post after approval)

• Mass email database.Mass email database.• Myspace Casting site.Myspace Casting site.

• http://www.myspace.com/fullsailcastinghttp://www.myspace.com/fullsailcasting

• Craiglist.orgCraiglist.org• GreenroomOrlando.comGreenroomOrlando.com

• NOTE:NOTE: Do not post flyers on Full Sail Campus. We Do not post flyers on Full Sail Campus. We discourage the use of Full Sail students and discourage the use of Full Sail students and instructors as talent.instructors as talent.

• When posting on other School’s Campuses, please When posting on other School’s Campuses, please get the “permission” stamp first.get the “permission” stamp first.


THE CASTING TEAM:THE CASTING TEAM:

• The Casting SecretaryThe Casting Secretary• The Casting RunnerThe Casting Runner

•(2 Runners if possible so that you can have (2 Runners if possible so that you can have the break for lunch and provide lunch)the break for lunch and provide lunch)

• The Casting CameramanThe Casting Cameraman• The Casting Assistant The Casting Assistant

•To be interviewedTo be interviewed

• The Show Runner The Show Runner (Casting Director)(Casting Director)


The Casting Session: The Casting Session: (Call time Noon)(Call time Noon)1.1. Casting Secretary sign-in talent, hands out topics and show Casting Secretary sign-in talent, hands out topics and show

subject matter.subject matter.

2.2. Give the host Give the host 10 to 15 minutes to absorb information10 to 15 minutes to absorb information

3.3. Casting Runner introduces host to team.Casting Runner introduces host to team.

4.4. Show Runner introduces team.Show Runner introduces team.

5.5. Slate.Slate.

6.6. Show Runner asks about the host.Show Runner asks about the host.

1.1. Performance backgroundPerformance background

2.2. Interesting relatable topic experiencesInteresting relatable topic experiences

7.7. Show Runner discuss subjects & topic in the area of the Show Runner discuss subjects & topic in the area of the show theme.show theme.

8.8. Host asks related questions. Host asks related questions.

9.9. Thank them for their time and move on to next hostThank them for their time and move on to next host..


Have a teachable attitude.Have a teachable attitude.

Be willing to learn about your surroundings, Be willing to learn about your surroundings, whether in the studio or on location. A good whether in the studio or on location. A good host is capable of host is capable of reviewing scriptsreviewing scripts, , understanding briefings understanding briefings and and taking direction taking direction from the producer and stage manager, from the producer and stage manager, sometimes simultaneouslysometimes simultaneously..

HD CASTING: HD CASTING: Becoming a Good HostBecoming a Good Host

Pay close attention to the stage manager Pay close attention to the stage manager and follow their direction when reading and follow their direction when reading the teleprompter.the teleprompter.

A television host must also know their stage A television host must also know their stage locations. The stage manager gets their locations. The stage manager gets their instructions from the (technical) directorinstructions from the (technical) director..


Work closely with the producer. Work closely with the producer.

Producers are the ones to give you the Producers are the ones to give you the information needed information needed to successfully host a to successfully host a show. They will supply you with pertinent show. They will supply you with pertinent facts about your guests. Producers also give facts about your guests. Producers also give you specific questions to ask your guest, you specific questions to ask your guest, based on pre-interviews they have based on pre-interviews they have conducted.conducted.


Casting Director provides informationCasting Director provides information

Information provided should be:Information provided should be:• Basic FactsBasic Facts• Dates: Important historical eventsDates: Important historical events• People: Who are major influencesPeople: Who are major influences• Current Info: What is currently happening?Current Info: What is currently happening?• QuestionsQuestions


Begin your interviews with brilliant and Begin your interviews with brilliant and descriptive words, especially if you are descriptive words, especially if you are on location and are responsible for on location and are responsible for creating your own introductions. creating your own introductions.

Pretend that your audience does not know Pretend that your audience does not know much about the subject matter. much about the subject matter.

Use vibrant details when describing people Use vibrant details when describing people and events.and events.


Have a conversation with your guests. Have a conversation with your guests.

Unless you are interviewing the president of Unless you are interviewing the president of a major corporation or the chief of police, a major corporation or the chief of police, make the interview more relaxed. make the interview more relaxed.

When you warm up to your guests and talk When you warm up to your guests and talk to them with a sense of familiarity, it comes to them with a sense of familiarity, it comes across well on camera.across well on camera.


Ask your guests intriguing questions.Ask your guests intriguing questions.

Your job is to ask questions that prompt Your job is to ask questions that prompt more than a more than a yes or no yes or no answer. answer.

If your guest is wearing a particular piece of If your guest is wearing a particular piece of stunning jewelry, you may want to ask,stunning jewelry, you may want to ask,

• ““Where did you find such an exquisite ring?”Where did you find such an exquisite ring?”• or even “When do you first…?”or even “When do you first…?”• or even “Who has been a major…?”or even “Who has been a major…?”


Talk with the Guests during the Talk with the Guests during the Commercials.Commercials.

This is a great way to make the guest feel This is a great way to make the guest feel more comfortable and relax. It builds more comfortable and relax. It builds towards a better conversation when the towards a better conversation when the cameras are rolling again.cameras are rolling again.


Always listen to your producer. They are Always listen to your producer. They are hired to help you.hired to help you.

Remember to keep your chin down when Remember to keep your chin down when looking at the camera. looking at the camera.

If your chin is held too high, it gives the If your chin is held too high, it gives the appearance that you are a “appearance that you are a “snobsnob”.”.


Try not to offend your guest. Try not to offend your guest.

If you sense that you have offended your If you sense that you have offended your guest, quickly move on to the next question. guest, quickly move on to the next question. Spending time apologizing could lead to Spending time apologizing could lead to more of a hassle than it is worth. more of a hassle than it is worth.

Simply ask the next question.Simply ask the next question.


Thank your guest for appearing on your Thank your guest for appearing on your show. show.

Pleasantries will get you a long way in this Pleasantries will get you a long way in this business. business. Once you have thanked your Once you have thanked your guests, offer them a chance to come back in guests, offer them a chance to come back in the future. the future. This will not only show your This will not only show your appreciation, but it will also build a working appreciation, but it will also build a working relationship in the near future.relationship in the near future.


Look directly into the camera lens. Look directly into the camera lens. Staring anywhere else will not look Staring anywhere else will not look professional.professional.

Keep notes handy. Keep notes handy.

Always refer back to your notes, especially if Always refer back to your notes, especially if you have time to ask a few more questions.you have time to ask a few more questions.


Documents

HD CASTING Course Director for Producing: Michael Wotherspoon “Spoon” X1623 & [email protected]