The Unknown Side of Auditions. Insights from Casting Director John Frank Levey
01/16/24 • 68 min
They're not really accidents at all. It's not some lightning strike of good fortune that's bashing you in the head; it's a result of your being on a journey.
John Frank Levey didn't know it, but his life was about to radically change the afternoon his mother took him to the theatre. He was a confused 12-year-old boy, unsure of his role in his family, school, and friendships, and emotionally unstable as he helplessly saw his parents' marriage falling apart. When the curtains opened, and the lights hit the stage, he knew he wanted to be part of the storytelling art. Fast forward many years, John became a four-time Emmy Award-winning casting director; he worked in iconic TV shows like China Beach, ER, The West Wing, and Shameless. He is also a five-time winner of the Casting Society of America's Artios Award, the recipient of its prestigious Hoyt Bowers Award, and recently published his debut book, "Right for the Role."
Throughout our conversation, John gifted us a casting director's perspective on live auditions, self-tapes, and demo reels, and he also shared his thoughts on the pros and cons of technology for auditions and how self-tapes transformed the casting process. John also talked about his journey in the industry and how learning the language of actors, directors, and playwrights helped him hone his craft as a casting director.
Additionally, you'll hear how he handled the process of writing a book, the importance of headshots, what every actor should bring into an audition, the things that turn him off as a casting director, and much more.
Tune in to Episode 96 of Hollywood Dream Maker and discover what happens on the other side of an audition.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
- It's not just dreaming about it; you must put the work in (2:20)
- How John figured he wanted to be a casting director (10:10)
- Don't bring your needs into an audition (22:20)
- People have fun playing the darkest roles (27:00)
- How self-tapes transformed the audition process (32:10)
- Let your performance surprise you (42:00)
- How important is a good headshot? (49:20)
Connect with John:
Let's Connect:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
They're not really accidents at all. It's not some lightning strike of good fortune that's bashing you in the head; it's a result of your being on a journey.
John Frank Levey didn't know it, but his life was about to radically change the afternoon his mother took him to the theatre. He was a confused 12-year-old boy, unsure of his role in his family, school, and friendships, and emotionally unstable as he helplessly saw his parents' marriage falling apart. When the curtains opened, and the lights hit the stage, he knew he wanted to be part of the storytelling art. Fast forward many years, John became a four-time Emmy Award-winning casting director; he worked in iconic TV shows like China Beach, ER, The West Wing, and Shameless. He is also a five-time winner of the Casting Society of America's Artios Award, the recipient of its prestigious Hoyt Bowers Award, and recently published his debut book, "Right for the Role."
Throughout our conversation, John gifted us a casting director's perspective on live auditions, self-tapes, and demo reels, and he also shared his thoughts on the pros and cons of technology for auditions and how self-tapes transformed the casting process. John also talked about his journey in the industry and how learning the language of actors, directors, and playwrights helped him hone his craft as a casting director.
Additionally, you'll hear how he handled the process of writing a book, the importance of headshots, what every actor should bring into an audition, the things that turn him off as a casting director, and much more.
Tune in to Episode 96 of Hollywood Dream Maker and discover what happens on the other side of an audition.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
- It's not just dreaming about it; you must put the work in (2:20)
- How John figured he wanted to be a casting director (10:10)
- Don't bring your needs into an audition (22:20)
- People have fun playing the darkest roles (27:00)
- How self-tapes transformed the audition process (32:10)
- Let your performance surprise you (42:00)
- How important is a good headshot? (49:20)
Connect with John:
Let's Connect:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Previous Episode
End of the Year Recap and Gratitude, Advice, and Tips To Make 2024 your Year In Hollywood
I don't teach acting; I don't want to see anybody act. I want to see you be real. The camera is a lie detector, but it's also a truth detector.
In today's episode, the last one before the end-of-the-year break, I take a moment to look back at the fantastic things we've accomplished with this pod, thank every one of you, the audience, for supporting and sharing the show, and review some of the most valuable tips we've learned from the almost a hundred interviews with the talented actors, acting students, producers, writers, and directors that visited us.
Today's show is also a reminder that accomplishing whatever you dream to achieve depends solely on you, on writing down your goals and going after them with a vengeance; stop wasting time strolling anywhere on social media and working on your instrument every single day.
Tune in to Episode 95 of Hollywood Dream Maker, take some time to set your goals, believe in them, see them become true, and go after them like you mean it.
Resources Mentioned:
- Episode #44 - From the Manhattan Actor Studio to Landing Hollywood Roles with Robert Zoppo and Hunter Shigley
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
- Burn the boats. Get used to rejection and never take it personally (2:50)
- There are plenty of FREE resources to hone your craft; use them (6:00)
- Why it is crucial to write down your goals (9:50)
- Acting requires you to give your 100% (13:00)
- Use the acting studio in your pocket (17:50)
- Safe is boring, don't be safe, be dangerous, be truthful (19:00)
Let's Connect:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Next Episode
Anastasia Griffith. What Is Acting Healing You From?
What I love about the stories of how people become actors is that we were filling wounds, and when we get underneath, we understand there are subconscious beliefs that brought us here.
Anastasia Griffith is a film and TV Actress and an Empowerment Coach for Actresses, known for starring in the award-winning dramas "Damages" and "Once Upon A Time." Despite her success in Hollywood and the UK, where she masterfully embodied all kinds of roles from CIA villains to fairy tale princesses, Anastasia considers being a single mom to her 8-year-old son her most prominent role. Her passion for psychology and interest in understanding the self-sabotage component, always present in her personal life and professional career, led her to become a coach and focus on supporting and empowering other actors to step into their power and live their greatest potential.
Throughout this episode, you'll hear about Anastasia's journey into acting, the moment she was recognized in the streets of London after her first performance that started everything, and the transformation she underwent many years after realizing she wasn't happy even though she was "living the dream."
You'll also hear about Anastasia's new facet, her work as an Empowerment Coach, how she sees acting, and what makes people become actors. Additionally, Anastasia shares practical tips to overcome pre-audition anxiety, her thoughts on the power of visualization, and more.
Tune in to Episode 97 of Hollywood Dream Maker and discover how accepting you as the co-author of your story can help you take your power back.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
- How Anastasia discovered she wanted to be an actress (2:40)
- Most actors are seeking to fill a wound (7:10)
- Anastasia talks about the retreat that changed her perception of the world (15:40)
- How to use your body to connect with your subconscious mind (22:00)
- Owning who you really are is the cherry on top (33:00)
- What resources can actors rely on to deal with pre-audition anxiety (43:00)
- Anastasia talks about the best way to deal with self-sabotage (52:10)
Connect with Anastasia:
Let's Connect:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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