Production Casting

[Tom]

This is just a little rant about casting projects... When producers finish casting their project, why don't they send E-Mails to everyone who auditioned with the information? At least... this is how we used to do it a while back. And I think it's much more organized that way.

Nowadays, people just cast you and expect you to return to the audition thread and confirm there, without any E-Mail or anything. This might be a problem to some people because not all of us check the board every other minute to find updates.

I'm not saying that everyone HAS to do this... I just think it would be more professional.

[ig.]

How odd that most of the people I do talent for actually do email prospectives and cast alike about casting announcements.

But then, I usually associate myself with the best don't I? :b

[Azure]

I e-mail those cast, and I used to email everyone else too but it did encourage some flaming, so I tend to avoid it unless I want to use that persons voice for something else. I do send emails when I recieve auditions though.

[topleka]

Well, I typically email my cast immediately after casting with scripts and suchforth, so that's sorta like a notice? I used to wait for everyone to confirm, but by now I figure that if they auditioned for the character, then they'll confirm. Do you think it's better to email everyone, including those who were not cast?

[Matt Alan]

As an AVA, when I get an email from a producer after auditions, I assume I'm part of teh cast, scroll down....and I'm not. Kinda hurts. But considerate of the producer to think enough to do so. And occassionally I get an email from a producer with the subject of "New Clip Posted!!" Only to realize, I wasn't even in the clip. u.u; Slightly annoying.

As a producer, the only time I held auditions and was able to cast, Paradise Kiss, I posted the list on the board and sent an email to just the cast and understudies. Afterwards, I make sure to pester/annoy my cast when the deadline was coming up, besides the weekly notice/warning.

I found it worked out quite well. :D

[Allison Rose]

I agree, Tom! What happened to email? I like emails for the cast only; I agree with others here that emails to all who auditioned can only rub salt in the wound of those who were not cast.

Another thing I find odd about casting- not bad, just odd- is the expectation for the actors to confirm that they'll accept their role. That's new to me since I returned to the community. Did the community have a problem with people auditioning and then disappearing by the time they were cast? In the "old days," it seemed to be straightforward that if you auditioned for a role and you were cast, you would be playing the role. In other words, by auditioning, you agree to play the role if cast. Like I said, the practice of confirming isn't bad at all- it's an effective way to see if people are still on board- but I was wondering if something happened to trigger it or if it's just a trend that caught on.

[Sukisho]

Did the community have a problem with people auditioning and then disappearing by the time they were cast?

Yep, yeah cast someone then ya never hear from em again (happens all the time ta me).

[topleka]

Another thing I find odd about casting- not bad, just odd- is the expectation for the actors to confirm that they'll accept their role. That's new to me since I returned to the community. Did the community have a problem with people auditioning and then disappearing by the time they were cast? In the "old days," it seemed to be straightforward that if you auditioned for a role and you were cast, you would be playing the role. In other words, by auditioning, you agree to play the role if cast. Like I said, the practice of confirming isn't bad at all- it's an effective way to see if people are still on board- but I was wondering if something happened to trigger it or if it's just a trend that caught on.
I'm not really sure when "confirming" started, although it's a practice I had for awhile because I thought it was the norm, only to drop it because I realized it was kinda dumb. As far as I can tell, it started when some producers started casting people in roles they didn't audition for because they thought the voice fit better. Thus, the producer would ask for cast members to confirm because the person who was cast might not actually want the role they were given.

[Nikki Wright]

I don't mind the confirming; however:

The bottom line is, it's titled "Auditions and Casting," so people can post their auditions and casting announcements. Whenever I see someone discussing the thread, or saying "Script sent" or whatever, I tell them "This is not appropriate for this section, PM or e-mail your cast."

Shockingly enough, a lot of the response I get back is, "But I didn't save their e-mail," and, really, that's usually an indicator of where that production is going [answer: nowhere].

The auditions and casting section is not for talking about wanting lines from certain people, posting up the script or telling about updates or asking for updates. I saw Azure lock a post similar to it earlier, and I think that's a practice I'll start adopting. I'm going to do it because...

1. It's unfair to the productions that are in need of auditions to be pushed down towards the page while already cast/in production things are constantly being pushed to the top, and...
2. It will give people the impression that the production is still open. :/

[Azure]

The whole confirming thing i don't mind for a couple of posts, it keeps te thread active so auditionees can check, what annoys me is when weeks old threads reappear XD

[Nikki Wright]

The whole confirming thing i don't mind for a couple of posts, it keeps te thread active so auditionees can check, what annoys me is when weeks old threads reappear XD
That annoys me, too! >D I really hate it when people bring back posts from, like, MARCH and say "OMGIAUDITIONEDFORYOU!" e.e

[ig.]

I will initiate a secret underground cabal of ava productions relying solely on email as the preferred form of communication, circumventing the boards completely. Much like the French Resisitance.

[Zankoku no Yami]

The second i decide who is going to be in the cast I send an email to them asking for comfirmation ^^ just incase something happend and they are no longer able to do it. And then i send their lines immiately after their confirmation. I also post who got what and the cast list in the thread, just incase they didnt check their email yet. And I would send an email to everyone who auditioned... but I feel kinda bad cuz i feel they might think they got it and didn't. I try to do things conciderate if i can @_@ but I am not always sure what is the best approach to things >.>

[Nikki Jones]

The reason I always try to email all who audition is simply because I like to get an email wither I got a part or not. I'm very appreciative of all the auditions I've gotten and I want to be sure to thank them one more time for all the hard work they did. And also to encourage them to audition again for my future projects, "when at first you fail, try, try again". It has always bothered me when you go in for a job interview and then they never get back to you on wither you got the job or not. You’re not going to spare people's feelings in any way you try to go about it. They are just going to have to suck it up and deal with it ;p. If they can't, be glad you didn't cast/hire them.

Why I started to ask for confirmation is because I wanted to hear from the voice actor and make sure any life changes have not come up since I started the auditions. We all know lives change quickly ^^

~Nikki~

[CristieJ]

I agree, Tom! What happened to email? I like emails for the cast only; I agree with others here that emails to all who auditioned can only rub salt in the wound of those who were not cast.

Another thing I find odd about casting- not bad, just odd- is the expectation for the actors to confirm that they'll accept their role. That's new to me since I returned to the community. Did the community have a problem with people auditioning and then disappearing by the time they were cast? In the "old days," it seemed to be straightforward that if you auditioned for a role and you were cast, you would be playing the role. In other words, by auditioning, you agree to play the role if cast. Like I said, the practice of confirming isn't bad at all- it's an effective way to see if people are still on board- but I was wondering if something happened to trigger it or if it's just a trend that caught on.

Ya.. I was gone for a good three years. I've been back for only about 3 months. And I was wondering just these things since then. I was like ... WHOA?! Confirm? I got the part? Expecting to be e-mailed. Most producers, however, do e-mail the cast but the ones who don't usually don't end up going anywhere with the productions anyways. So ya... ^^;;

I can't think of what triggered all of this but I can guess why we didn't have it back then. I mean, audition threads got to the point where at SDUBB they had to stop allowing people to reply to them... Too many people would talk about things other than auditioning just to keep thier posts bumped.

[Lady Plantagenet]

That is true. Producers should e-mail their cast and not clutter the board asking for confirmations. It does and can hurt the feelings of those who really wanted to be casted. Not to mention, as Tom said, not everyone checks the board or can get to the board everyday. The morning is about the only time I can post, and I do not spend all day, every hour on the hour checking it. E-mails are much easier because you can respond quicker and most people check them throughout the day a few times. Not to mention the fact, in order to communicate producers and cast members have to use e-mail anyway, so mine as well start using it.

Over my years of AVAing, I think in the old days when SDUBB was still around the commmunity was smaller, and everyone knew everyone else so there was a sense that you could count on certain people. Today, the community is a lot bigger, and everyone does not know everyone else so producers are never totally sure if they can count on the people they cast. So, I think it does not hurt to ask for a confirmation to be sure the cast still wants to be in the project. A lot can happen between the time you hold auditions to the time you cast.

[Allison Rose]

Thanks for the insight about the confirming trend, Sukisho and Topleka! It makes sense. And Cristie and Stacy, thanks for chiming in to confirm that we didn't do that in the past- so it's not just me! I thought maybe my memory was getting hazy. ;)

[Nikki Jones]

I find it intersting on how everyone handles the casting for their own productions, as well as what voice actors think of casting methods. I may just restructure mine a bit ^^ of course that is when I hold auditions again XD

~Nikki~

[Jessica Adnee]

I've never recieved an e-mail that was like that. I had always assumed that you were supposed to check back to the audition thread.

I suppose that does make more sense. XP

But after casting mine, I had just figured that people would confirm in the thread. That's just how I had learned it as.

We should start the e-mail thing again! Makes it a lot less stressful. -_-;

But wait, Nikki, how do they send the script if they don't have the person's e-mail? O.o;

[Nikki Wright]

But wait, Nikki, how do they send the script if they don't have the person's e-mail? O.o;
Asking me? o.o;

And that's a good question! I don't know how they receive the script if they don't have the person's e-mail. And that's why I mentioned productions like that going down the Producer Black Hole, mostly due to horrid organization.. >D;

This is also why you ask for a zip file containing the auditions AND a text file, with your contact information.

[Haushinka]

It makes sense that people should check the thread to see if they were cast, but I always find it a bit annoying when they just post the script and expect all their voice actors to see it there and then send the lines..because chances are, after checking to see the cast list, they're not going to return to the thread again. Asking for a .txt file is not that hard :/

[Matt Alan]

What irks me more than anything and I tend to shy away from productions that require this, is when the producer casts you, and says you must check a Yahoo Grouppage, or a forum of their own, to get your scripts and everything else. And they refuse to use email for this...

:D No, not talking about any things I was cast in recently. Nope. Not a bit.

[Lady Plantagenet]

Yeah, I tend to want to stay away from productions that want to use Yahoo Groups too. Yahoo Groups keep things organized which is nice but at the same time to refuse using e-mail seems lazy. Not to mention, when lines are sent in the Yahoo Group only has so much space to upload lines. So, it seems to take forever for people to get in their lines because space is always filling up.

[CristieJ]

But wait, Nikki, how do they send the script if they don't have the person's e-mail? O.o;

I'm not Nikki... but.... I think I have an answer for you.

Why wouldn't the producer have their cast's e-mail addresses???? I mean... they do have to E-MAIL the auditions to their producer? If the producer doesn't save their e-mail addresses and/or take the necessary steps in order to obtain it (ie. a txt file with contact information), then it just tells the cast that producer isn't very responsible and the production is headed to..... nowhere.

[Miki-Chan]

For most of my projects, I've sent an e-mail to everyone who auditioned. However, it has resulted in some free flaming of me, which I don't much appreciate. Of course, if I only post the castlist, people may end up flaming me individually through e-mail or PM anyway. ^^;

I do agree that e-mailing people would be the most efficient way to get a confirmed cast without a billion "confirm" replies and also without a never-confirming cast. XD I hate when you cast somebody and they don't "confirm" until four months later, after you'd sent them continual e-mails and what not!

Anyway, nice discussion topic, Tom.

[Haushinka]

Well, flaming you because they don't get a part seems incredibly immature - obviously not everyone can be chosen (I had 40+ auditions for Tokyo Mew Mew!), and a big part of voice acting is learning to deal with rejection. Don't let it get you down, even if it means saying something in future audition posts like "Please do not try out for this production if you cannot handle the possibility that you may not be chosen." XD

Yeah, asking people to sign up for entire forums just to get their lines is very annoying.. after all, it seems like it would be *more* work for the producer to check and maintain a whole forum than simply worry about their own inbox.

[Masako-kun]

Hmm, you have to be very humble when it comes to rejection. It is the thing that makes you stronger so you learn from it. Like when I audied for Aoyama for your Mew Mew dub, I realised afterwards I totally sounded way off and over-the-top and basically just laughed at myself! XD But still, it helped me realise that I need to keep a level tone and it made me better because of that.

All the criticisms on the VAA are meant to be constructive and aid you instead of hitting you in the face.

I suppose the only time that forums for projects are viable are if they are long-lasting and go on for a long time, it's easier to keep a tab on people if it's for a series or a long-haul dub. Not for short-term projects, that's when it gets pointless imo.

[Windy*]

What irks me more than anything and I tend to shy away from productions that require this, is when the producer casts you, and says you must check a Yahoo Grouppage, or a forum of their own, to get your scripts and everything else. And they refuse to use email for this...


I see absolutely nothing wrong with that. It's easier than e-mail and it keeps everything organized so you don't have a huge cast of people losing their scripts or reference clips and people losing track of everything in the project. It's just better for long-term, IMO. E-mail is not always the most convenient way to do things.

However, it is definitely necessary if it is your only way of communicating to your cast; the VAA shouldn't be a means of handing out scripts, etc. It just turns into a big mess.

[Windy*]

Yahoogroups gives you various options for receiving e-mails; no one has to get every single one as a separate message in their inbox. If you do receive them individually like that, that's entirely your choice.

My point about e-mail is that it isn't as reliable. With any e-mail service I use and a large cast involved, a quarter of the cast will contact me after the deadline date saying, "I never received anything from you!" when I clearly sent the message to the entire cast. In big group projects it can just be a pain keeping everyone informed, especially if some don't have the best services to receive e-mail with (obviously, not the producer's fault).

I'm not overcomplicating things; I think my statements can be pretty well-supported by asking others who have had experience with projects like that as well. I think we all just want the most convenient and reliable method of keeping in contact with our cast; obviously our opinions differ on what that method is.

[Fiona C]

E-mail is about as reliable as the person you're trying to get a hold of... I say this because many people overload themself and either don't have time for some projects, or are simply too lazy to do it, but do not want to fess up to either excuses. It's pretty much the same as a dead-beat bidder on eBay: "I sent the cheque weeks ago!!" to save face for not paying up and not wanting negative feedback. Think about that for a second.

....which is e-mail, either way. *shrugs* Sure, Yahoo group is all well and good, but so is uploading everything to a website and just.. *gasp* e-mailing your cast! And if they make up some excuse and you're not wanting to put up with it? Recast them. Regardless, you are the producer and project manager -- it is up to you to do what it takes to complete your production. PM them, AIM them, MSN them. Ultimately, it's your responsibility -- and no fancy gimmicks trying to organise your project to the point of disorganisation is going to help unless you take the initiative personally to motivate the people under you. O_o

Generally, I've only had one person that I've ever had the problem of them "not getting the script". ^.^ I also tend to make sure I can get hold of my cast via AIM/MSN. In fact, on the whole, the folks I work with are remarkably reliable (usually. Usually.) But then again, my own audition threads don't tend to get much attention, so I know that the folks who have auditioned tend to be the ones who are willing to put in the effort. Which is a comforting thought, I have to admit. I still get them to confirm via the thread, but after that, it's email and IM all the way.

~Fif

[Drake]

So that producers don't have their cast members saying they never received the script months after it was sent, they should write something like this when they send everyone the script:

Please respond to this email. If you do not, I will assume you never received it and will resend it to you.

[Haushinka]

The not-receiving-script problem tends to occur most frequently with Hotmail users, because Hotmail seems to enjoy putting things with attached files into the junk folder, and not everyone checks theirs to click "not spam".

I suggest people just get a Gmail account because its spam-filtering system is accurate and anyone can get an invite these days. :/

[Zankoku no Yami]

Yeah, I am a hotmail user. I should definately tell them to respond to my emails... I never thought of that, lol. But I have had trouble recieving others emails, so I usually tell my people that if i dont respond within 24 hours, to resend the email. Since i am at my computer at once a few hours each day, and check my mail frequently.

I should get gmail... many people have it, and it sounds good. I use hotmail simply cuz it gives me a message when i get mail. And it also tells me up at top how many emails i have waiting for me. So i can just leave MSN on all day and just look for the number or something. Thats why I use it at least >.> though its who junk mail thing is crap. I often check my junk mail cuz it seems to love randomly putting main in the junk file. ><

[Jessica Adnee]

Get g-mail. You can send larger attachments too and it's just better... like... a lot better.

[Ayame]

I use hotmail simply cuz it gives me a message when i get mail.

So does gmail ^.^ PM me for an invite!

[Haushinka]

Same here, I've got 100 invites.
[/slightly off-topic]

[Hikuro]

Hahaha I got in trouble for this lastnight.

I generally request resumes from people auditioning. Course like a professional resume, should include ways of contacting you via messangers or email....should be a no brainer.
But sometimes people think, "Well I'm emailing it so they'll have my addy"
True, but some email providers will terminate an email saved after a period of time......or there's a glitch and emails and addresses get erased, I've had that happen before.
So the producer thinks to themselves going "Well, I'm sure they joined my group site!" So you go thru the group site and you see ".......2 members.....none of them are the SN they use on the VAA" *scratches head* "Okay so lets check the VAA itself"
So producer goes to member list, finds their name 30 minutes later .....*cough* and you see the "Would you like to send an email to this member?" So ya click okay, and wham "Sorry this persons email is kept private."
You then think, "No problem, I'm sure they'll come on messanger!"........3 weeks later.......nope....or when they are on they're away. So you send them a message, but they never get it, power goes out, family member uses the computer and turns it off or click off the message windows.....etc.

So FINALLY one day, after waiting a month, you find that person and you go "Hey! I was curious, don't wanna push ya here, but have you finished your lines yet? It's past the due date." And you hear the classic, "Oh I'm sorry, I've been busy."
We all hear that, and we even all use it, I use it, not alot but I do.
I generally say, "Okay, so why didn't you contact me and let me know?" "I'm sorry I've just been busy, please don't be mad at moi"
That's when I get a lil irritated, "You didn't answer my question. There's 24 hours in a day, you can't be busy for 24 hours of that day, 16 hours I can believe, not 24." All one has to say is, "I'm sorry, I've been busy and haven't done the lines. Can I get an extention?"
That's when you'll either hear from your producer going "No. I'm going to recast you, you're far to slow." or "Yes, I'll give you 2 more weeks, that should be sufficient"....

Now if you recast, you just set yourself up to waiting either way.....regardless if its another day or another 3 weeks, you could of still used that other cast member who might of actually turned in his/her lines by then.


I've noticed, cast members will come here to the VAA more then their producers website/group site for a few reasons:
1) They're too lazy.
2) They don't know the group site.....yet it could be in that producers signature*cough* or on the audition site.
3) They just don't care.


I have also experinced this, "I didn't get the script".......my reply "The subtitles act as the script" "Oh..." "Thought I told you that?" (Cause I always warn others about that) "Can I have the txt version?" My reply "No. The txt version is a rough draft form while the subtitle version is the final revision."......."Oh, well I'd feel more comfortable." Why? Its not the same script, it wont work correctly compared to the revision, why don't people understand that? It's completely pointless.
If you got eye problems and can't read the text off the subs lemme know....I'll make them BIGGER like that.
As someones producer I should be told something isn't right. I need to have my cast members approach me with calmness and curiousity going "Hey something isn't right. In Scene 3 part 2, my character says XYZ.....yet I think it should be ABC, cause it just fits better." Then I'll think about it, "Perhaps that would work better." or "No, its XYZ for this reason, _____"

My cast members should freely come to me and go "Hey I'm about half way done with these lines, but I'm not going to have time to finish them on the due date. But I can have them done by the weekend is that okay?"
Hey if you even touched your lines and just want a few more days, okay sure, thanks for letting me know!

This is not what I want to see, "Hey, I just wanted to make sure you got your things just fine for doing your lines." "............." <<<<no response
"If you got any problems let me know, there's only a week left and I'm worried since you haven't told me how your doing." "................" no response.
Week passes, "Do you have your lines?" "No, I'm sorry, I got to go bye."



Now then, I understand, people have lives, this is all for fun....we all have jobs, school, families, etc. But it doesn't hurt to let someone know, you've got other things going on and too apologize and let them know, it'll be a bit longer, or maybe you can find someone else.

This is sort of the reason why I dislike holding auditions and rather scout. However I don't know alot of people or worked with many to scout. And there are lots of ppl here who never audition cause they're embarassed or nervous or what ever to come out of their shell.
Even I admit, unless its something I really want to work on, I wont audition. I'm not much into auditioning cause I'm more into producing.

And you also got those issues of "Damn another Sailor Moon" or "Another Naruto audition.....................shit 1,000 hits?! Final Fantasy Advent Childern.......2,453?! AH DAMMIT!"
And you look at your audition section, "...........12 hits.....YEAH! Well better bump it!"

Does this sound like I go through this problem often? :P

<_< ..................>_>..........^_^() I love you all!

[Drake]

A lot of producers for one reason or another seem to have trouble contacting their members after casting them. I was thinking that maybe all production threads should be moved to their own special sub-forum after the casting process is over. That way people involved in that production can keep posting questions and stuff and they

1) won't be bumping down other productions that are still casting

2) won't give the impression that they're still open for auditions

[Azure]

Hikuro I don't see why you're moaning if people are constantly telling you it's easier to have a txt file then why not take some effort to make one with the correctlines? a lot of Vas like to print out the lines rather than read directly off the screen. I like to have the lines in a file so I can get familar with them.