The brand new 2017 Toronto Actors Resource Guide eBook is now available! This is the 22nd location in the series, and the eBook contains the most up-to-date, accurate, and comprehensive resources available for actors in Ontario, Canada. There is now a very large amount of major studio feature films and network television series in production in Toronto. The Toronto Actors Resource Guide eBook includes the following information and documents for adults, minors, and foreign talent who would like to work as an actor or extra on film and television productions in Toronto, Ontario and in Canada:
• Toronto Casting Directors
• Toronto Extras Casting Directors
• Toronto Talent Agents
• Toronto Acting Schools and Coaches
• Toronto Headshot Photographers
• General Talent Agent Information
• Miscellaneous Toronto Actor Resources
• Audition Tips
• How to make an Audition Video
• Sample Actors Resume
• Sample Beginning Actors Resume
• Sample Cover Letter Casting Directors
• Sample Cover Letter Talent Agents
• Glossary of Entertainment Industry Terms
• Canadian Work Permit Overview
• Applying for a Work Permit outside Canada
• Canada Work Permit Information for Foreigners
• Canadian Document Checklist for a Work Permit
• Temporary Canadian Foreign Worker Program
• Canadian Application for Temporary Resident VISA
• Canadian Visa Photo Specifications
• Information for Parents of Child Performers
• Canadian Family Information Form
• Canadian Use of a Representative Form
• Guide To Canadian Child Labor Laws
You can now order your copy of the 2017 Toronto Actors Resource Guide eBook for $19.95 through Amazon Payments at the following - http://www.actorsresourceguides.com/toronto-actors-resource-guide-ebook.html
You can also now order using Square Cash (https://cash.me). My email address to send your payment through Square Cash is alan.baltes@gmail.com and my Square Cash username is $AlanBaltes. Simply enter "TORONTO" and your EMAIL ADDRESS in the "FOR" box when sending the $19.95 payment. I can also send a $19.95 payment request if you give me your email address or cell phone number. Contact me at alan.baltes@gmail.com if you would prefer a payment request with a link that you can use to pay.
Once payment is received, your eBook will be emailed to you.
Child Background Acting Information - "Being an Extra"
I personally feel that if a person does not have experience, doing extra work is a fantastic way to get used to being on a film or TV set. It gives you an idea of how things work and allows you to become comfortable on a set without risking "burning bridges" if you get nervous and a little stage fright. I myself did extra work in the beginning of my career and it helped me tremendously. I had terrible stage fright, but I became very comfortable after doing background work for a while. So the answer is yes, doing extra work will help you. It doesn't pay a whole lot, but the experience you get is valuable.
Acting is like any other job, the more training and experience a person has, the better chance of getting the job. But at the same time, we all have to start somewhere!
The following three companies cast the vast majority of child extras in the entertainment industry:
Kids Background
207 S. Flower St
Burbank, CA 91502.
www.kidsmanagement.com
(661) 964-0131
Studio Kids Management
Send Inquiries To Mailing Address
15068 Rosecrans Avenue #198, La Mirada, CA 90638
Office (562) 902-9838 / Fax (562) 902-0498
Screen Children's Casting
4000 W Riverside Dr
Burbank, California, 91505
(818) 846-4300
To get your child started doing extra work, you will need the following:
Work Permit
Coogan account
Social Security Card
Cell Phone (with text messaging) so you can receive your call time and location.
Background Acting Guidelines
* Buy a Thomas Brothers Map Book. The casting people will give you these map coordinates when giving you your call time and location.
* Bring a small folding chair, something to read, sunscreen, a couple of light snacks, a notepad, and two pens.
* Follow the wardrobe instructions and requirements, as you will be checked by the wardrobe department when you arrive on the set. Bring an extra jacket (even if it’s summertime). It's always cold on a sound stage, where you might be working. Ladies, take a pair of flats to wear when not on the set (your feet will thank you).
* ALWAYS show up at least 1/2 hour early. NEVER be late. Allow plenty of time for traffic, etc.
* When arriving at the location, immediately check in with the AD (assistant director), or whoever you were told to check in with. Fill in your name and address on the payment voucher. Make sure to fill in the hours worked and have the AD sign it at the end of the day.
* Never bring cameras or pets unless asked to do so. Also do not bring friends.
* NEVER take photos on the set with your cell phone. If caught, you will be fired and will most likely never work for that casting director again.
* NEVER ask for autographs or bother the actors. This is a professional work environment and not an appearance.
* Network with other background actors. If you obtain one good tip or referral, it could lead to a lot more background acting jobs. More work gives you more opportunities to get the necessary vouchers (three) to qualify to join SAG (Screen Actors Guild). Being a member of SAG gives you benefits you would not have as a non-union extra, e.g. double your pay and medical, dental and vision benefits.
* Always remain alert and ready to go to the set when asked. Do not leave the set unless you are given specific permission from the AD. Do not listen to headphones, as you will not be able to hear the AD when calling you to the set.
* ALWAYS be prepared to stay and work long hours (unless you are a minor, there are child labor laws which prevent minors from working too many hours).
* Pay attention when you are on the set being given your "marks" and "blocking". "Marks" are the spots where you position yourself on the set during filming. "Blocking" is the exact movements you will be making so as to remain in or out of the view of the camera.
* And ALWAYS remain quiet when in a sound stage, especially when filming. "Quiet On The Set" means "QUIET ON THE SET"! The microphones can pick up even the slightest whisper. Also, when the crew is setting up for shots, they need to be focused and hear each other. It can be loud enough for themselves, let alone the chatter of extras on top of it. So do not make noise or talk loudly in between filming.
* NEVER talk badly about anyone on the set, including the actors REGARDLESS of how you may feel about someone. Use tact when speaking about others. It is extremely poor character when speaking badly or disrespectful of or to others. If you hear someone else talking badly, ignore it. If someone speaks badly to or about you, just turn your cheek and do not return the bad character behavior, as the AD may end up only hearing YOU speak badly. Take this advice to heart if you wish to go far in the entertainment industry.
* When being fed lunch or dinner, ALWAYS let the cast and crew members get their food first. This is not because extras are less important, as many people who work on a film set may treat you. This is because the cast and crew need to get back to work as soon as possible, where the extras usually have by far the most "down time".
* And most importantly, HAVE FUN! There are huge egos on a film set. I mean gigantic monster stuck-up HUGE egos, and I'm not talking about just the actors! Take those people with a grain of salt... look at them as kind of like a cartoon character, then you can just smile at them. After all, isn't it pretty ridiculous to have a giant ego anyways? There are many people who will brag and brag about what they have done and what they are doing. There are long periods of standing and waiting. But hey, you are working on a movie or television set! How fun is that!! And you are learning about what happens on a set, becoming more and more comfortable in front of a camera. So enjoy the experience, as it can be VERY exciting.
* If you take my above advice to heart and give background acting your best shot, you'll enjoy it, make money at it and continue to work. And what's more fun than being with people, in the middle of the action and, later, seeing yourself on the silver screen?
Acting is like any other job, the more training and experience a person has, the better chance of getting the job. But at the same time, we all have to start somewhere!
The following three companies cast the vast majority of child extras in the entertainment industry:
Kids Background
207 S. Flower St
Burbank, CA 91502.
www.kidsmanagement.com
(661) 964-0131
Studio Kids Management
Send Inquiries To Mailing Address
15068 Rosecrans Avenue #198, La Mirada, CA 90638
Office (562) 902-9838 / Fax (562) 902-0498
Screen Children's Casting
4000 W Riverside Dr
Burbank, California, 91505
(818) 846-4300
To get your child started doing extra work, you will need the following:
Work Permit
Coogan account
Social Security Card
Cell Phone (with text messaging) so you can receive your call time and location.
Background Acting Guidelines
* Buy a Thomas Brothers Map Book. The casting people will give you these map coordinates when giving you your call time and location.
* Bring a small folding chair, something to read, sunscreen, a couple of light snacks, a notepad, and two pens.
* Follow the wardrobe instructions and requirements, as you will be checked by the wardrobe department when you arrive on the set. Bring an extra jacket (even if it’s summertime). It's always cold on a sound stage, where you might be working. Ladies, take a pair of flats to wear when not on the set (your feet will thank you).
* ALWAYS show up at least 1/2 hour early. NEVER be late. Allow plenty of time for traffic, etc.
* When arriving at the location, immediately check in with the AD (assistant director), or whoever you were told to check in with. Fill in your name and address on the payment voucher. Make sure to fill in the hours worked and have the AD sign it at the end of the day.
* Never bring cameras or pets unless asked to do so. Also do not bring friends.
* NEVER take photos on the set with your cell phone. If caught, you will be fired and will most likely never work for that casting director again.
* NEVER ask for autographs or bother the actors. This is a professional work environment and not an appearance.
* Network with other background actors. If you obtain one good tip or referral, it could lead to a lot more background acting jobs. More work gives you more opportunities to get the necessary vouchers (three) to qualify to join SAG (Screen Actors Guild). Being a member of SAG gives you benefits you would not have as a non-union extra, e.g. double your pay and medical, dental and vision benefits.
* Always remain alert and ready to go to the set when asked. Do not leave the set unless you are given specific permission from the AD. Do not listen to headphones, as you will not be able to hear the AD when calling you to the set.
* ALWAYS be prepared to stay and work long hours (unless you are a minor, there are child labor laws which prevent minors from working too many hours).
* Pay attention when you are on the set being given your "marks" and "blocking". "Marks" are the spots where you position yourself on the set during filming. "Blocking" is the exact movements you will be making so as to remain in or out of the view of the camera.
* And ALWAYS remain quiet when in a sound stage, especially when filming. "Quiet On The Set" means "QUIET ON THE SET"! The microphones can pick up even the slightest whisper. Also, when the crew is setting up for shots, they need to be focused and hear each other. It can be loud enough for themselves, let alone the chatter of extras on top of it. So do not make noise or talk loudly in between filming.
* NEVER talk badly about anyone on the set, including the actors REGARDLESS of how you may feel about someone. Use tact when speaking about others. It is extremely poor character when speaking badly or disrespectful of or to others. If you hear someone else talking badly, ignore it. If someone speaks badly to or about you, just turn your cheek and do not return the bad character behavior, as the AD may end up only hearing YOU speak badly. Take this advice to heart if you wish to go far in the entertainment industry.
* When being fed lunch or dinner, ALWAYS let the cast and crew members get their food first. This is not because extras are less important, as many people who work on a film set may treat you. This is because the cast and crew need to get back to work as soon as possible, where the extras usually have by far the most "down time".
* And most importantly, HAVE FUN! There are huge egos on a film set. I mean gigantic monster stuck-up HUGE egos, and I'm not talking about just the actors! Take those people with a grain of salt... look at them as kind of like a cartoon character, then you can just smile at them. After all, isn't it pretty ridiculous to have a giant ego anyways? There are many people who will brag and brag about what they have done and what they are doing. There are long periods of standing and waiting. But hey, you are working on a movie or television set! How fun is that!! And you are learning about what happens on a set, becoming more and more comfortable in front of a camera. So enjoy the experience, as it can be VERY exciting.
* If you take my above advice to heart and give background acting your best shot, you'll enjoy it, make money at it and continue to work. And what's more fun than being with people, in the middle of the action and, later, seeing yourself on the silver screen?
Top 3 Acting Camps For Kids and Teens
The frenzy that many children face to get into the right acting school is acute for those who aspire to a career in the performing arts, and attending acting camps can be a steppingstone to Broadway or even Hollywood. The competition among these children, and among the camps vying for their tuition money, is more heated than ever.
According to the American Camp Association, the number of accredited performing arts camps grew to 804 in June 2007 from 527 in December 2001, a jump of 40 percent. Peg Smith, the organization’s chief executive, said the increase could be attributed in part to the elimination of school arts programs and the popularity of films like “High School Musical” and reality shows like “American Idol.”
Theater camp is pushing its way into mainstream pop culture. MTV recently filmed a documentary at the French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts, a camp in Hancock, N.Y. Last month, Disney’s made-for-TV movie “Camp Rock” opened to 8.9 million viewers; a sequel is under way. Not be left out, 19 Entertainment and Fremantle Media, the companies behind “American Idol,” founded Idol Camp, where series castoffs like Bucky Covington hold master classes.
To compete in this marketplace, camps are expected to offer top-notch facilities and professional staff. French Woods recently installed a second recording studio. Last summer, campers at Stagedoor Manor participated in a youth-friendly adaptation of “Sweeney Todd,” with Stephen Sondheim e-mailing changes to the score.
Stagedoor Manor is tops in Acting Camps for Kids
Considered the gold standard of theater camps. Stagedoor, founded in 1975, caps its enrollment at 288 children a session, and spots fill up nine months ahead; campers — from precocious West Virginians to Ron Howard’s daughters — are admitted first come first served (with returning campers getting a first shot). The program is for young performers ages 10-18. Stagedoor Manor located in Loch Sheldrake, New York.
Variety article about Disney and Stagedoor Manor
Playbill article about Stagedoor Manor
Movie Maker article
Notable Alumni:
Mandy Moore
Robert Downey
Natalie Portman
Jon Cryer
Zach Braff
Jennifer Jason Leigh
Amy Ryan
Bijou Phillips
Mary Stuart Masterson
Jennifer Rudin (Director of Casting and Talent Development for Disney Theatrical Productions)
Stagedoor Manor Website
French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts
French Woods, founded in 1970, enrolls at least twice as many children as Stagedoor; over 12 weeks some 2,400 will attend the camp. French Woods is located on a private lake in the western Catskill mountains of New York State near the Delaware river and the Pennsylvania Border.
Campers are able to focus on one particular area of interest, or they may choose to select a variety of activities. We are at the same time, a theater camp, an art camp, a dance camp, a circus camp, a horseback riding camp, a sports camp, a magic camp, and a camp that offers all the traditional camp activities, with world class programs that each child can choose a-la-cart.
Notable Alumni:
Zooey Deschanel
Jon Favreau
Adam Levine
Nat Wolff (The Naked Brothers Band)
French Woods Website
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Center for the Arts is a privately owned, 1,200 acre arts education institution in Interlochen, Michigan, roughly 15 miles southwest of Traverse City. Interlochen draws young people from around the world to participate in intensive study of music, theater, dance, art, creative writing, and motion picture arts.
In addition to participating in artistic endeavors, campers also are able to take part in traditional summer camp activities such as swimming, canoeing, sailing, camping, crafts, ping pong, billiards, cook-outs, mixers, trips to Lake Michigan, and playing sports such as soccer and softball in organized leagues, as well as tennis and basketball. Campers live in rustic cabins with up to 16 campers and one or two counselors. Campers begin their day at 6:30 in the morning to listen to announcements for that day, and end their day with slumber tunes. Slumber tunes rotate, and each night a different cabin is responsible to put something together for their cabin mates to fall asleep to.
Notable Alumni:
Felicity Huffman
Tom Hulce
Norah Jones
Kim Kashkashian
Jackson Rathbone
Interlochen Center for the Arts Website
While the average overnight camp costs $400 to $700 a week, according to the American Camp Association, Stagedoor Manor and French Woods charge closer to $5,000 for a three-week session. “Parents want to get quality for their money,” said Jennifer Rudin, the director of casting and talent development for Disney Theatrical Productions (and a Stagedoor alumna herself).
Nothing brings out the self-imposed competitiveness of these campers like a visit from an industry professional. Ms. Rudin of Disney has scouted at Interlochen and refers to Stagedoor as “one-stop shopping.”
According to the American Camp Association, the number of accredited performing arts camps grew to 804 in June 2007 from 527 in December 2001, a jump of 40 percent. Peg Smith, the organization’s chief executive, said the increase could be attributed in part to the elimination of school arts programs and the popularity of films like “High School Musical” and reality shows like “American Idol.”
Theater camp is pushing its way into mainstream pop culture. MTV recently filmed a documentary at the French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts, a camp in Hancock, N.Y. Last month, Disney’s made-for-TV movie “Camp Rock” opened to 8.9 million viewers; a sequel is under way. Not be left out, 19 Entertainment and Fremantle Media, the companies behind “American Idol,” founded Idol Camp, where series castoffs like Bucky Covington hold master classes.
To compete in this marketplace, camps are expected to offer top-notch facilities and professional staff. French Woods recently installed a second recording studio. Last summer, campers at Stagedoor Manor participated in a youth-friendly adaptation of “Sweeney Todd,” with Stephen Sondheim e-mailing changes to the score.
Stagedoor Manor is tops in Acting Camps for Kids
Considered the gold standard of theater camps. Stagedoor, founded in 1975, caps its enrollment at 288 children a session, and spots fill up nine months ahead; campers — from precocious West Virginians to Ron Howard’s daughters — are admitted first come first served (with returning campers getting a first shot). The program is for young performers ages 10-18. Stagedoor Manor located in Loch Sheldrake, New York.
Variety article about Disney and Stagedoor Manor
Playbill article about Stagedoor Manor
Movie Maker article
Notable Alumni:
Mandy Moore
Robert Downey
Natalie Portman
Jon Cryer
Zach Braff
Jennifer Jason Leigh
Amy Ryan
Bijou Phillips
Mary Stuart Masterson
Jennifer Rudin (Director of Casting and Talent Development for Disney Theatrical Productions)
Stagedoor Manor Website
French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts
French Woods, founded in 1970, enrolls at least twice as many children as Stagedoor; over 12 weeks some 2,400 will attend the camp. French Woods is located on a private lake in the western Catskill mountains of New York State near the Delaware river and the Pennsylvania Border.
Campers are able to focus on one particular area of interest, or they may choose to select a variety of activities. We are at the same time, a theater camp, an art camp, a dance camp, a circus camp, a horseback riding camp, a sports camp, a magic camp, and a camp that offers all the traditional camp activities, with world class programs that each child can choose a-la-cart.
Notable Alumni:
Zooey Deschanel
Jon Favreau
Adam Levine
Nat Wolff (The Naked Brothers Band)
French Woods Website
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Center for the Arts is a privately owned, 1,200 acre arts education institution in Interlochen, Michigan, roughly 15 miles southwest of Traverse City. Interlochen draws young people from around the world to participate in intensive study of music, theater, dance, art, creative writing, and motion picture arts.
In addition to participating in artistic endeavors, campers also are able to take part in traditional summer camp activities such as swimming, canoeing, sailing, camping, crafts, ping pong, billiards, cook-outs, mixers, trips to Lake Michigan, and playing sports such as soccer and softball in organized leagues, as well as tennis and basketball. Campers live in rustic cabins with up to 16 campers and one or two counselors. Campers begin their day at 6:30 in the morning to listen to announcements for that day, and end their day with slumber tunes. Slumber tunes rotate, and each night a different cabin is responsible to put something together for their cabin mates to fall asleep to.
Notable Alumni:
Felicity Huffman
Tom Hulce
Norah Jones
Kim Kashkashian
Jackson Rathbone
Interlochen Center for the Arts Website
While the average overnight camp costs $400 to $700 a week, according to the American Camp Association, Stagedoor Manor and French Woods charge closer to $5,000 for a three-week session. “Parents want to get quality for their money,” said Jennifer Rudin, the director of casting and talent development for Disney Theatrical Productions (and a Stagedoor alumna herself).
Nothing brings out the self-imposed competitiveness of these campers like a visit from an industry professional. Ms. Rudin of Disney has scouted at Interlochen and refers to Stagedoor as “one-stop shopping.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)