Open Casting Calls on Facebook

Just a quick post to remind everyone the reasons that we post status updates requesting non-members for castings in what we call an 'open casting call'.

The main purpose of an open casting call on Facebook is to reach an audience of talent that we do not already represent. Sometimes we receive briefs from clients that request ages and categories that we can not fulfill from our talent pool such as parents, grandparents and newborn babies (we represent talent from 5 months of age). We find that Facebook is a great way to meet our client's needs while also giving someone an exciting opportunity.  

An example of an open casting call will look like this:

So from this instance, you can see that not only are we looking for talent in a state where we do not represent any talent; Adelaide, but we are also needing newborns AND parents. 

Another situation where we would post a request on Facebook is if we are after a very particular and specific skill or ability which is not stated on any current members' profiles, or only on a few profiles and we want to ensure no-one misses out if they newly have the skill or failed to list it. 

Here is an example:

In this instance, we wanted to ensure that we have covered all of our bases in submitting Spanish speaking children to the client. These types of posts are for members only and the distinction is clear with the post addressing 'Melbourne members' as opposed to 'Attention any Adelaide families!'

Lastly, many thanks for all of your ongoing help with open casting calls and please contact us if any of the above is unclear XX

Casting 101 - Part 3 of 3

After

Waiting

Once the excitement of the casting is over, a waiting period will commence. Patience is a virtue - that we need to have too! Clients can sometimes take days or weeks to call back to select the children they would like to use, or sometimes they simply call back straight after the casting. Unfortunately there are no designated time frames where we can say 'it always takes 3 days' or 'you will definitely hear tomorrow', because all production companies and clients have their own time schedule to work towards, and these vary. Some are pressed for time to meet deadlines, whilst others are planning well in advance. However, there are times when a client will let us know when the shoot is scheduled for, and in these cases we have a rough idea as to when we would be expecting a call. Especially if we have had to check your availability for shoot dates prior to attending the casting!

Why we can't promise to call you

This is an ongoing process, we have many children attending castings and unfortunately we do not physically have the man power in the office to call each and every parent to let them know that their child was not successful. We are constantly focusing on new jobs coming in, and organising current castings that are happening that week. Also, in light of the above detailed 'waiting' period - we do not jump the gun if we haven't heard back from the client in a week and assume that your child hasn't been selected, so we don't call to tell you 'we still haven't heard anything yet.' We encourage you to call us after a few days if you are dying to know (completely understandable!) and we can let you know the progress, if any thus far.

On not getting the job

Don't be disheartened, not everyone can get the job! That's the whole point of a casting - to meet everyone in person and assess who would be the best fit for the product or campaign. There is a lot more that goes into it than what meets the eye! Attending a casting or audition will help you to gain practice and an understanding of how everything works while building on your experience.

On getting the job

Congratulations! Whether it be your first job or your seventh, that rush of excitement is still the same. Be proud of yourself! You must have impressed the client on the day and can now relax and look forward to being featured in a catalogue or commercial - and get paid for it!

Booking process

The booking process will begin as soon as we have the confirmed date of the shoot. Depending on which state you live in and what age your child is, will depend on the relevant forms you will need to fill out. The day before a shoot we receive a 'call sheet' which will outline the times and location for the following day. More often than not, this will arrive in Anna's inbox closer to the end of the day than the start! We do call you as soon as we have the information, we will never purposely keep you in the dark with information you need to know so hang in there!

And when all the hard work is over....?

Casting 101 - Part 2 of 3

During

We have looked at what happens before a casting, now let's look at what happens during the casting.

We have gathered a few important guidelines for you to follow so you can maximise your chances of making the best impression possible.

Our National Casting Manager Anna Armstrong shares her wise words and important tips:

'Punctuality is key. You have to be careful not to be too early, but you most certainly can't be late! Five minutes is early enough, there will usually be lots of kids attending the casting so the less crowded the better. Be prepared with scripts for acting auditions and be sure to practice prior to the casting and again in the car on the way there. 

If your child is at an appropriate age (around school age, 6-7 years old) encourage them to go into the casting room alone when they are called. This will display confidence, leadership and the capability to be separated from Mum or Dad for a short period of time and will give the client assurance that if picked for the job, they will be happy and at ease to do it. In saying that, by all means if you are not comfortable with your child going in on their own to read their script or meet with the client, do go in but be sure to try and stand at the back of the room so as not to probe your child with their lines. 

One of the other things I love the kids to do is to introduce themselves. A simple 'Hello, my name is _____ and I'm from Bettina Management' again demonstrates a high level of confidence with just a simple sentence. It is also really nice to thank the casting directors when you leave, try to remember to call them by their name (especially for the older kids). 

Lastly, stay away from the temptation of school uniform as much as possible! If your casting is after school, take a spare change of clothes and get changed in the car beforehand - neat and casual is a must, unless specified otherwise when relaying casting details. Even if you have to give your shoes a bit of a scrub and your hair a bit of a brush, your neat appearance will make all the difference!' 

Thanks Anna!

So, let's summarise:

- Punctuality
- Manners
- Confidence/Preparation
- Neat appearance

Also bear in mind, your presence at a casting will reflect on us as an agency and we have a lot of trust in our members to help us maintain our strong ties with our clients. If you have any questions at all pertaining to a casting, we are always happy to help. Remember, preparation and punctuality is key! XX

Should I take advantage of unpaid work?

AT2 is a great space for interacting with the future leaders of the entertainment world. Everyone needs to start somewhere, and more often than not - they need our help. Opportunities are endless with upcoming directors, photographers, independent clothing labels, independent music labels, boutique companies, university students and charity organisations using AT2 as a platform to find suitable talent for their projects. 

Messages that you receive in your Brief Inbox (in AT2) will always be from non-paying clients and will always stipulate 'NON-PAID project' on the brief. These will be from AT2 (not us) and you need to contact the client directly for further information. For all paid work opportunities you will be contacted directly by the Bettina office.(Refer to this blog post for more: Casting 101).

Even though there is no money involved, there are many benefits to participating in unpaid work:

1. Experience and resume building
2. Confidence building 
3. Attending auditions helps to improve skills so you can learn to nail it every time
4. Keepsakes in the forms of photographs, videos, music clips for bragging rights and your own hall of fame!

Here are some beautiful examples of just some of the unpaid work our talent have been involved in this year:

AT2 is a secure and trusted site. All potential clients undergo security and working with children checks required by law. If you ever have concerns or questions about a particular client or job offer, don't forget that we are here to guide you through the processes. We are here to give our advice about age appropriate projects, content you are unsure of and things like time expectations for filming/shooting to ensure you are partaking in what will promise to be a highly enjoyable experience. 

At the completion of any such project, we would love to hear from you if we haven't already. Please send any Behind the Scenes shots or completed works to: info@bettina.com.au and be sure to add it to your child's profile for maximum exposure. You can check out this post on AT2 photo uploading or this post on AT2 video and resume uploading for assistance if required.  

Video above: Special thanks to (in order of appearance) Amelia, Annalise and Ella all Brianna Lehrke Photography, L'oreal Fashion Festival 'How to be a Fashionista' expo with (L-R) Mia, Amber, Mimi & Tyler, followed by Imani, Isaac and Joey for Brianna Lehrke Photography, Jonathon in the paper for a short film, Jonathon in a still from a music video clip for Rufus - Take Me, Romani shooting a short film, Shakaya for RMIT fashion shoot, Shalyn for Caitlin Morey Photography and Mariam for papier mache magazine.

Casting 101 - Part 1 of 3

Before

The notice we receive for castings can vary from a few days to a few hours. To meet our client’s expectations we always try as best as possible to fulfill their needs and requirements, in turn, we are exceptionally grateful to the mums and dads who make these short notice castings possible.

We will always call both parents as first mode of contact; we will leave a voicemail followed by a text if no one answers (also bear in mind we call from a blocked number). All castings are considered urgent. 

You will receive a text message such as the one to the right:

If the casting is for today or tomorrow the message will say:

‘Please call Amanda regarding a casting request for your child ASAP. Phone Bettina Management on 1300 888 611.’

Please treat all casting correspondence with a sense of urgency even if the message does not stipulate what day the casting is. We still need to get back to the client as soon as possible with the confirmed children. Upon not hearing back from you, we will have to let the client know you are unavailable and proceed to choose other children in your place so it is always in your best interest to call us back ASAP so that you don’t miss out.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you receive all relevant information about the casting – after speaking to you on the phone, we will email you all the information including date, time, address, map (if applicable), and other relevant information you need to be aware of prior to attending. If you do not receive this email, please contact us immediately! We don’t know that you haven’t received the email unless you tell us. This is also not a plausible excuse if you fail to attend the casting based on the premise that you didn't receive the details. 

If you cannot make a casting due to illness/ changed circumstances you will need to let us know immediately. 

Please refer to/ refresh your memory with this blog post on First Casting Jitters to help with preparation once your casting has been confirmed! 

Let your Bettina Rewards card reward you!

As Bettina members, you become the new owner of a shiny black, white and purple card with the words 'Bettina rewards' splashed over it. Your Bettina Rewards card is exclusive to you. It offers benefits and savings with thousands of retail outlets and service providers throughout Australia. So how much power does this new addition to your wallet actually have? Where are the rewards and how can you use them accordingly?

Let's look at the boring stuff first: logging in. (NB. You will receive this card in the mail with a welcome letter)

Above is a picture of a rewards card. As you can see there is a Card Number and an Expiration date.

Go to this website:

https://bettina.clublifestyle.com.au/auth/login

Enter username and password as follows:

Username: BTM12345 (your card number)

Password: CITIZEN (your surname in capitals)

Once done successfully, this discount filled page should appear:

So where to from here?

As you will be able to see, the opportunities are endless. There are theme parks, electronics, automotive, fashion, fitness, health, beauty, travel and many more outlets to get serious discounts and serious savings from.

What can get kind of confusing though, is whether you need to pre purchase the product on line to redeem the savings or if you can simply wave it at the cashier as you casually stroll out of the shop.

The difference is clearly defined in the product that you choose, for example if you wanted the Speedo 15% off deal; you can see that it says: 'Present your membership card displaying the Club Lifestyle logo to receive 15% off full priced merchandise. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.'

Similarly, to redeem  your 25% discount for Phillip Island Nature Parks - it states: 'To receive 25% discount on 3 Parks Pass present your member card at Churchill Island, Koala Conservation Centre or Penguin Parade to redeem your discount'.

Now, for purchasing online - it is also quite clear on how/when to do this. Let's look at movie tickets (yay) and in this case Village Cinema discounts:

As you can see, the 40% discount (how great is that?) is only redeemable by purchasing online and then printing off and presenting to cashier.

Some of the bigger brands on the site are: Coles, Ishka, OPSM, Sydney & Melbourne Aquarium, Gold Coast theme parks, Bras & Things, Bevilles, Hairhouse Warehouse etc. etc.. The list goes on!

Please be aware though, that these brands are susceptible to change and you must adhere to the terms and conditions before purchasing to ensure that you fully understand the limits of the purchase (such as how long it is valid for, if there are designated stores, when it is exempt and so on).

Also, Club Lifestyle has gone mobile! You can download the app from the App Store for easier deal searching for free. You can follow this link to download it here if you haven't already: Download App You can purchase deals, enter competitions, search hot offers and check out what's new.. a really fun (and maybe dangerous) way to shop, no matter where you are.

We want you to benefit from the rewards card as much as possible. As usual, contact us with any issues or you can contact Club Lifestyle directly. Call the Rewards Customer Service Centre on 1300 886 787.

Thanks everyone x

A Fool Proof Guide to AT2 - Part 3

The Nitty Gritty

Part 3 of 3

This last section on our guide to AT2 will focus on the Video and Resume features that are available. The most commonly asked question about these features is 'Are they necessary?' There are certainly uses for both of them, regardless of experience. The more information the better!

Luckily with our AT2 package, the video function is accessible to us all. The video could contain a few things:

1. The most common video is a 'Showreel'. A Showreel is a collection of featured work and is always requested in the adult acting world. If your child has a few TV commercials or featured work examples under their belt, collate the clips together to create a visual example of all recent jobs. If your child has completed one TV commercial (or video clip, featured in TV series, background of TV series, extra in film etc.) simply show a video of just that experience.
2. If your child hasn't received any work, the video could be one of a dance concert, school concert, musical production performance or something similar that demonstrates skills and abilities.
3. With the absence of both of the above, it is acceptable and often helpful to upload a video of your child talking to the camera or playing/laughing/moving so that clients can visualise outside of the limits of a photo to gauge interaction skills.

Uploading a video is similar to uploading a photograph (please refer to Part 2). Simply go to the 'Video' tab > press 'Edit' > and upload your video.

Once it is uploaded - your child's profile will look like this:
Sorcha has uploaded a video of her acting at home to display her skills:

And Dominic has uploaded a video of a Worksafe TV commercial he is featured in:

Let's move onto the Resume section.

There are two types of resumes that you can use on the AT2 site - one is a generic PDF resume, and the other is a credit resume which means you can secure attachments of examples of work.

When you click the Resume tab this will appear:

PDF Resume: Irrespective of whether your child has experience or not - it is still possible to have a resume should you so desire. For a child without any experience it can be helpful to simply fill out a resume detailing your child's hobbies, interests and personality. Make sure that you include any extracurricular activities or achievements to date as well. For children that have had work, make sure that you put all of the jobs and dates in chronological order. You may also jot down the castings you've attended (even if you didn't get the job!) because every bit of experience counts, and all castings contribute to confidence and as a stepping stone for the next one.

See below for an example of a PDF resume for Dominic detailing paid work:

 Example of a PDF resume for Keshika complete with all skills, education and relevant experience:

A Credit Resume is a great way to show examples of work your child has completed to correlate with the written description. Click 'Add Table Section' to start. The below will pop up and this is where you enter the names of jobs:

So for example, you could put in: Target May 2013 or Australian Country Spinners 2010
On the right hand side is a little icon of an image - this is where you click to upload the Target image or the Australian Country Spinners image.

Once entered it should look like this:

This type of mini resume is probably ideal for parents who have lots of copies or images of printed work or links to videos of ads. It is a quick, concise way to get an overview of all experiences. For other children, a simple PDF resume will suffice.

Last important things to note:

There is a tab for Skills that has an array of tick boxes from accents to dance experience to singing to sporting ability. Whilst we do have on our file most of your child's abilities, these do change or exceed (for example beginner, intermediate, advanced) - be sure to edit when needed. This will make it easier for clients when they are searching for specific abilities on the AT2 database. 

Finally, of course any help needed with any aspect of AT2 can be directed to our Bettina HQ to email address: info@bettina.com.au. We want everyone to make the most of their AT2 membership. Hopefully this 3 part series has been able to help some of you to gain a stronger grasp of the AT2 site. Remember, if you have any ideas or questions that you would like to see in further posts please email: jade@bettina.com.au

Thanks everyone!