NAN DUTTON Intensive: THE ACTORS CO-OP

cost: $60
time: 12-7pm
actors called in:??
actors booked: ??

location: The Actors Co-Op
(for other locations see entry on FACILITIES)


Nan Dutton is considered a Hollywood casting legend! (see her IMDb) I'm not sure why she does these intensives, but I'm sure glad she does!  Very Very helpful and insightful!

First, She puts a ton of work into prepping for the workshop by selecting 3-4 sets of sides for each actor based on our headshot & resume that is mailed to her the week prior.  After she goes through our headshots and meets the real us face to face, we each choose two of those sides to work on for the day.  

I totally got laid in to for my headshot not looking anything like me!  It's okay.  I knew they weren't working since 1) I wasn't getting called in from them in the last year and half and 2)we actually ended up switching back to my prior commercial headshot!  (Maybe this would be a good separate entry on photographers!!)  She thought I was overweight and older than I am in person.  Always good to know.

We read opposite a reader, just like it would be in an audition.  (I totally prefer this method for workshops over the type that put two actors up in a scene together.  I mean really, when does that EVER happen for theatrical auditions??!?)  She spent probably 15minutes with each actor present that day, giving her insights on everything from the actual performance and acting choices, to rants about the state of casting today using electronic submissions & that her biggest reward is discovering great actors who go on to do excellent bodies of work.  Super high energy, emphatic and demanding lady---i loved it!

After we each went twice, she offered a quick exercise on one-liners that boiled down to get in, get your lines out, and move on.  A few tips: don't look at your sides for these small roles in producer sessions!   Within four lines in to your script, if you flub, just say, "I'm starting again" and don't say sorry!  If its a cop scene, be sure you hold your gun below your face so camera can see you--Always Cheat for Camera!

A woman who has been here a long time and will be.  Some great insights to, "Hang in there!  Weather the storm...and this has been some financial storm.  They're not making movies and it all trickles down to everyone else."

Finally, make sure your agent tells the truth on your quote with Nan--NAN CHECKS QUOTES!  and won't bring you back if you lie.

THE FACILITY: The Actor's Co-Op facility is poorly insulated for both heat and sound.  Noise interference has been commented on by a few of the workshops I've gone to here.  The winter months proved for a very cool room, which is always hard for me to deal with because then i'm not sure if i'm cold and jittery or nervous and jittery.  Their bathroom is pretty gross and I've heard casting director Dan Shaner comment on it in a negative way.  (but then again, he seems to complain about a lot of things).

OVERALL: Totally worth it!  I left feeling a stronger actor and re-inspired for the business of acting! 

 success4actors!