Patrick Higgs is an aspiring actor who grew up in Newburgh but has
spent the past 10 years in Evansville. Higgs has long sought the drama
limelight,from the days when he dressed in drag for showings of the
"Rocky Horror Picture Show,"first in the 1980s at Ross Theatre and
eventually at Mesker Amphitheatre. In the process, according to the show
description, he alienated his family.
For the past six months, however, Higgs has refocused on his acting career.
Courtesy CMTPress.com
On board to join his family for a camping trip, Patrick must
adjust to
his new surroundings of dirt, guns and beer. While he may complain along
the way, thereís no denying the redneck in his blood as his family
welcomes him back with muddy arms and reminds him that thereís no shame
in this rowdy lifestyle.
Contributed photo / Erin Ivie
Patrick Higgs has a redneck intervention on the new CMT series.
Higgs says his ultimate goal is to make it big in the world of acting
and lead the luxurious lifestyle while remaining true to himself.
"My agent is trying to focus on films, TV series and just trying to
take it to that next level for me," Higgs said. "I haven't really worked
(in the business) for the last 20 years, so I'm still a fresh face."
The road to that has him scouring casting calls for opportunities. It
was on one of his regular visits with his Nashville agent at The Avenue Agency that he
learned about the CMT show.
No, we're not talking baseball here. We are talking the leaders vs. the followers. The most important note to make is that as a talent, you must learn how to be both. The next step after that is learning how to know when to lead and when to follow.
Casting Director Scott Powers shares his advice on the subject of how to follow and when to lead.
The hallmark of a good actor is "takes direction well." Makes adjustments. As performers, we are many times on the receiving end: being told what to do by a director, photographer, agent, casting director, your teacher. Mom might even figure in there somewhere.
What can happen is that the actor insidiously falls into a trap: the permanent mode of always expecting to be told what to do. And can't move until. This is where obviously an actor runs into trouble. And can't quite understand why things aren't clicking, especially after being so obedient. Remember: only you can advance your career. So much has been written about the necessity of being pro-active [get-off-your-butt] that we won't re-hash that one more time. But what is most important is: knowing how and when to shift out of the Follow mode and into the Lead mode.
A good rule of thumb: in the in-between times of their not telling you to do something, you should automatically be telling yourself to do something.
Taking this concept one step further: know when to think and when not to think. Many actors have been in acting classes where the instructor says, "Don't think," "Get out of Your Head," "Don't Intellectualize," "Be in the Now." They are correct when trying to get a truthful performance out of an actor. Here's what's forgotten: when you're finished acting, turn your thinking switch back on and then continue to be able to take care of yourself. Some actors, in learning the craft of acting, have little by little unlearned how to think, dumbed themselves down and have insidiously become helpless, hopeless individuals requiring the care and supervision of friends, family and the kindness of strangers. Do not do this to yourself.
Knowing when to shift gears is a big key to success and longevity. If you're looking for an industry that runs on yin/yang, right brain/left brain, lead/follow, think/don't think, passive/aggressive, and an undercurrent of S/M thrown in for good measure; congratulations, YOU'VE FOUND THE RIGHT BUSINESS!
When should you take the lead? And when should you take direction?
Mercedes Rose, blogger for Backstage Unscripted provides perspective on
other things the casting directors look for. As obvious as it sounds, headshots are one of the biggest headaches CDs deal with. She says . . .
Many
actors do not look like their headshots. Or forget them entirely so I
have no idea if they look like their headshots or not. This is such a
no-brainer I can't believe it is still an issue... bring a headshot and resume
already stapled to every audition NO MATTER WHAT. Better to have it and not
need it then need it and not have it. And that headshot that you remembered to
bring every time should look like you. And preferably it shouldn't have a
coffee stain right across your forehead. This is your calling card. What is it
saying?
I am sure I haven't heard every excuse in the book . . . yet, but I don't deal with as any talent as a CD would. Each time a CD hears an excuse, (s)he becomes more callous, which means you could be the next unfortunate soul to have all the negative feelings of prior irresponsible actors or models thrown at you. No one wants to be the straw that breaks the camel's back when it comes to explosive anger. Set yourself up for positive feedback and positive experiences - be professional and prepared!
How do you keep your headshots available and in good condition for last minute audition opportunities?
Social media becomes a bigger factor in booking on almost a daily basis. Repeatedly in the past few months, I have heard producers, directors, and photographers say things like, "I wanted to know more about [insert your name here], so I checked out his/her facebook page and saw . . . " That lead in has ended with some really positive statements and translated into a booking for the named talent. It has also sometimes began a displeasurable rant about politics, sexuality, religion, and other topics.
Social medias are a new front for marketing, entertainment, and communication. Like most new things, we are going to have to learn some lessons the hard way before the younger generations are coached on how to use them effectively. Since most of us are already adults and making an effort to join the technological era, these words from BackStage blogger Mercedes Rose are well-timed.
Social
media does make a difference. A producer in the room for
final callbacks recalled a recent very negative Facebook posting
one of the actor had recently done. The producer immediately said he wasn't
"overly excited" about the prospect of that negative energy coming to
set. Now, I totally understand that one negative FB status does not a negative
actor make. The point is: this producer didn't want to take that chance. And
that is his right as the one doing the hiring.
In his new book, Talking Back to Facebook: A Common Sense Guide To Raising Kids in the Digital Age,
Steyer explores some of the effects of digital media and
outlines strategies for avoiding what he calls
RAP — relationship issues, attention/addiction problems and privacy
pitfalls — while navigating the digital world. "Young people in particular often self-reveal before they self-reflect," Steyer tells Fresh Air'sDave Davies. "There is no eraser button today for indiscretion."
There is a place for personal discussions in life - it is between those involved and in private. There is also a time for venting and bouncing ideas off of trusted sources - it is again, between those involved and in private. Social medias are too easily accessible, too quickly completed, and too likely to not be filtered based on statistical analysis noted in the book, Talking Back to Facebook.
There are ways to make certain posts visible to a specific group of friends; say, your family of origin, for example. Keep in mind, though, that the information you posted may only be immediately visible to those you choose, but it is still accessible out there on the worldwide web. No need to have haunting things pop up later when you make it big, right?
How are you using your social media positively? What results have you seen?
Open any major fashion magazine this month and you will see the face of
The Avenue's Meghan Wiggins in Guess' latest campaign. Elle Magazine
features a full spread in the front cover! Watch for more Meghan in future weeks on your local billboards and store campaigns.
Surprising as it is, there are a lot of models and actors in entertainment are rather quiet when off screen. These introverts can be successful in the industry, even if they aren't peppered throughout the tabloids for spouting off in public. Being heard is important, but more important still is being understood.
As an actor, the audience can't follow your character if they don't understand your speech (as well as movement and expression). For those who aren't naturally going to project their voices, learning how to be heard effectively can be as simple as a little practice.
Then start weight lifting with your lips! One very simple exercise Susan recommends is using tongue twisters to polish your clear vowel and consanant sounds. Try these several times a day for the next week and give your lips and tongue a good workout, too!
Green tea ice cream is a treat to eat
Mean men may cause harm
Go with the flow to stay in the know
Ed said get into bed
She lost her poise after hearing the noise
I knew the crew in a blue canoe
The next time you're in front of the camera, your lips will be primed and confident -- and everyone will know exactly what you are being hired to share (which will get you hired again soon)!
Huge SAG-AFTRA news regarding commercial and music videoresiduals. "What residuals," you ask? Keep reading to find out more . . .
“This agreement . . . delivers good terms for dancers and other performers who work in music videos (and) sets the first industry-wide standard for wages and working conditions in music video production,” said negotiating committee member and dancer Sharon Ferguson, who has worked with music video artists including Prince and No Doubt.
“That’s huge!” she added.
On the commercials front, rather than begin negotiations in October as previously planned, SAG-AFTRA and the advertising industry will “pursue a ‘Clearinghouse Project’ designed to address some of the data challenges encountered during the (GRP) Pilot Project,” according to the union.
The GRP concept, which has been under study for over three years, could result in a large change to the way commercials residuals are calculated. It would have no effect on the calculation of the entertainment residuals that are more familiar to Hollywood.
The above clip is from the movie "The Luck of the Irish" that premiered on Disney Channel. Pay attention to the dark haired man that barges in on the bus as well as the grandpa. Both are speaking with an irish accent. Now these two men don't necessarily seem like the typical irish characters that would be cast (they're missing the red hair, light skin and freckles) but hair and makeup has made them look the part. Looking the part is only half the battle, though, when auditioning.
Gareth Jameson, an actor and voice coach, has made several YouTube videos to teach you certain accents. Check out this video where he teaches the basics of an Irish accent:
Give yourself the "Luck of the Irish"! Listen, imitate, and practice your Irish accent to nail your next big audition! Have you been passed over because you didn't have Irish Accent listed on your resume?
How do casting directors know who to choose for certain roles? What sorts of preparation can you do in order to make sure you are in contention for the roles you want? Rock of Ages Casting Director Seth Yanklewitz explains what he looked for when he held auditions for this flick.
One of the biggest questions surrounding the star-studded cast of the upcoming movie musical "Rock of Ages," based on Broadway's jukebox hit of the same name, is "Can they sing?" Tom Cruise, Paul Giamatti, Bryan Cranston, Malin Akerman, and Will Forte are not exactly known for their musical prowess, but they'll be belting out '80s hits such as "Paradise City" and "Pour Some Sugar on Me" on big screens this summer.
Casting director Seth Yanklewitz, who worked with longtime casting partner Juel Bestrop and director Adam Shankman to cast the film, says, "Nobody wanted to make a fool of themselves." So although some of the biggest names in the cast never stepped into the audition room, it was because he already knew they could sing. Alec Baldwin's theater background, Catherine Zeta-Jones' Oscar-winning performance in "Chicago," and Mary J. Blige being, well, Mary J. Blige were proof enough for Yanklewitz.
On the other hand, "if you couldn't sing, there was no point in seeing you act," Yanklewitz says of the casting process. "So it kind of doubled the length of the process, because we had singing auditions, then acting auditions."
Akerman and leading lady Julianne Hough were among the actors who had to prove their singing ability in their auditions. "The second she did the first scene, you knew she was the girl," Yanklewitz says of Hough. "Full-body chills, the sky goes clear, and you just say, 'We're done!' "
So did Tom Cruise have to audition to prove he could hit the high notes?
"Noooooo," Yanklewitz breathes. "No. No. I mean, no. No."
He also acknowledges that the idea of using the original Broadway cast for the film version was heavily debated, but in the end the producers made the difficult decision to start over. "They wanted to age it down, which basically aged all those people out of it," Yanklewitz says.
To fill the leading role of Drew Boley, originated by Constantine Maroulis in the Off-Broadway and Broadway productions, Yanklewitz and Bestrop widened their search with a nationwide call for online video auditions. They found Mexican pop star Diego Boneta, a relative unknown who had appeared in episodes of "Pretty Little Liars" and "90210" in the U.S. "I didn't know who he was," Yanklewitz says, "and many people didn't know who he was. I guess you could say I gave him his break, but I didn't discover him."
A year before the months-long online search that produced Boneta, Yanklewitz and Bestrop had also combed through thousands of online video submissions for "Project X," the recent "found footage" film from producer Todd Phillips ("The Hangover," "Old School").
Jonathan Daniel Brown was one of the actors cast after he submitted his audition online. "Granted, he then went through 11 rounds of auditions in person," Yanklewitz says. And Bestrop had noticed Dax Flame in YouTube videos a couple years earlier, so she brought him in for a small part in "Project X."
Each year Yanklewitz attends college graduation showcases in L.A. and meets with students from schools such as Yale, Juilliard, USC, and NYU to evaluate talent and offer advice. "I always tell young actors to get demos and put material of themselves online," he says. "If they're comedy people and they're just starting out, produce a sketch, or do a bit. Just get it up online. Because now more than ever, obviously, the Internet is a way in."
Watch the "Rock of Ages" trailer below:
What will you do to stand out and book that big role?
Tennesseans have worked hard these past few years to get the capitol’s attention in an effort to bring more film and television work to the state. It continues to be a concerted effort, but every little pay off is worth the struggle. Recently, Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris has given us something to hope for.
Jan Austin, from the Association for the Future of Film & Television Tennessee says,“As the Legislature prepared for adjournment, Senator Mark Norris (Memphis) was able to secure $2 million per year RECURRING funds to go to the present film fund, Additionally, the fund will raise the percentage of rebate for qualifying projects from 17% to 25%. As a result of this appropriation, the HQTS incentive overseen by the Dept of Revenue was repealed. Any further changes in qualifying criteria will be made by the film commission and ECD.”
Take a moment to write Senator Norris a thank you note for supporting the film community and encourage more positive efforts from our state legislature!
