Eco Cast Comes to Mod Media - Where Technology Reigns Supreme.

Mod Media has recently become a client of Breakdown Services Eco Cast. Essentially the program is a device that permits Casting Directors to audition talent from virtually any location at any time for a given role. Reportedly, the application is employed on the East Coast and Mid West, regions. Its is soon to become the standard in West Coast Casting as well. Instead of attempting to explain the process myself, I think it best to reprint the original cop of the application itself.

What is Eco-Cast?

Eco-Cast is a "virtual pre-read system" provided by Breakdown Services. With it, Casting Directors can send invitations to Talent Representatives or Actors directly to record an audition themselves, expanding the range of people Casting Directors can see for each role.

How does it work?

Eco-Cast is entirely managed within Breakdown Express and Actors Access. So you don't need to email anything or mess with confusing file-transfer sites. And for Casting, the auditions arrive in one location automatically.

As a Casting Director: You release a project and receive electronic submissions just like normal. But now, you can create a new Eco-Cast directly from your selected talent and send all of them or a small group of them an invitation to tape themselves, complete with sides, instructions, and a deadline. Then, as the auditions come in, you can view them, rate them, and send the ones you like on to your Producer or Director.

As a Talent Representative: You continue to submit your clients for roles on Breakdown Express. Then, with any luck, you will receive an Eco-Cast Invitation in your cMail account. You can now either forward the Invitation to your client, if they have an Actors Access account, or upload the audition directly from your account. Either way, you can then review the uploaded video to ensure quality and submit it to the Casting Director.

As an actor: You continue to submit yourself for roles on Actors Access. Then, with any luck, you will receive an Eco-Cast Invitation in your cMail account. Also, if your Talent Representative has received the original Invitation, they can forward it to you. You can now upload the audition directly from your account, review it to ensure quality, and submit it to the Casting Director or back to your Representative for approval.

Resource:
http://www.breakdownexpress.com/content/ecocast.html

I agree with Lana, watch out for the ol' bait and switch'

Has this ever happened to you? You're perusing craigslist, your favorite source of 'get what you pay for' classifieds, then there you spot it: 'Feature Film Production Seeking Female, Male and Child Talent'. You immediately cut and paste the address to your e-mail New Message field, with a professional head shot and a lot of la dee da about your supporting role in a high school production umpteen years ago. Finally, your big break is coming! This part is tailored for you and you alone. All you need to do is show up at the agency advertising the gig and sign a contract for Union wages and residuals. You call, make an appointment and spend several hours deciding on what to wear, make up and hair accessories. You arrive, even a bit early for your appointment and ring the bell. After a few nerve wracking moments, you are led by a young girl in heels she can barely walk in to the 'Manager', who immediately starts to explain how important professional pictures are. 'Everything from the lighting to the brand of make up must be right or the casting directors won't even look at you. Now all you have to do is put down half and...' Before you know it, you have signed your life away and not even the slightest hint of any film role or project has come into the conversation. This is what is called the famous 'bate and switch' technique. Its one of the oldest and most successful albeit dishonest sales tactics in the history of man. In my next post I will discuss ways to avoid being suckered into something you're not sure of and questions you should ask when approached by unsavory types. Also, I'll answer the question: Are professional photos needed?

For more information and actual cases to read go to Casting Director, Lana Veenker's website at: http://slateplease.com/ and click on Press:

Bye now, and always stay tuned for more Drama.