I did an interview with David Tochterman, who was a casting director when I first met him, in New York. Once I moved out here to Hollywood, I found myself auditioning for him out here…He had moved out to Los Angeles also.
He cast the highest quality productions, only, in theatre, film and television. I always remember him as kind, and bright. It was clear that he saw acting as an artform, and understood the actor’s process. Respected it. I remember he was kind to me, at all levels of my career. This may have helped: I knew that he thought I had talent…I could tell by the way he ran the auditions that I did, and he seemed to know my capablities. Not only did I think he “made room for them”, in the audition; but when I was nervous or, for some reason, thwarted from giving my best, he would give me another opportunity, another read. First, a casting director and Exec Producer at Carsey-Werner (from which came shows such as “Cosby”, “Cybill”, “Roseanne”, “Third Rock”); then he moved to Overbrook Entertainment, Will Smith’s company.
RIght now, David Tochterman is off on his own, as an independent television producer. Like many, he has expanded his expertise to the internet, and is a consultant for internet companies…
David obliged me by doing a chat about the business, free-form. I was doing it as almost a “rehearsal” to give me a grid from which to pull together a few choice questions. I felt he had offered quite a bit, on the chat, so I am copying it, straight. (About a third of it is missing, it somehow disappeared off the top! I do remember what was said, though…)
Just before the following part, Tochterman had remarked that there were always so many talented people that would come to each audition. One after the other. He told me that he enjoyed the work so much, because of that. And that he really loved actors, the depth, the artistry, how serious they were about their craft…
Dana
you know i saw work in ACTING CLASS in new york that was amazing
11:53am
David
then you must realize that it’s also often a numbers game
11:53am
Dana
yeah.
11:53am
David
so many talented people, someone catches your eye, a directors fancy etc
11:53am
Dana
i was a volunteer at ENSEMBLE STUDIO THEATRE
11:54am
David
when i taught, i always told the actors in my class not to think about being cast, just to think about doing great auditions and moving on to the next one
11:54am
Dana
and i got really incensed one day when someone there who wasn’t an actor
in casting or someone i don’t remember who, director
said cream always rises top and i spoke out and said no it doesn t! there are many shy but brillint actors out there…welll…
i think actually what you just said about auditioning is the only way to really succeed
if you are trying to be good, you will suck and sink your audition
and if you keep trying to up your game, as far as using it to practice your craft + up yr skill level. then bravo
okay you have more to say
?
11:57am
David
you’ll never know the intangibles, just get as many at bats as you can and do your best…i’ve heard just as many stories about actors thinking they blew auditions and getting the job as stories about actors thinking they nailed it and never hearing back
11:57am
Dana
that is so true!
11:58am
David
someone once told me that if everyone got all excited during their audition and acted like they were going to cast them, they knew they’d never hear from them again!
11:58am
Dana
nailed it and wanted it in the worst way were big disappointments because expected to get it and shine.
yeah,
i had an audition for voice of betty boop and was sure it was me
11:58am
David
it was like a jinx, the more excited they got in their audition, the lower their odds of being cast
11:58am
Dana
they told my agent i seemed angry
angry?
11:58am
David
lol
betty boop is angry??
11:59am
Dana
i though i was being “confident”–
11:59am
David
well you’re a girl so its hard to tell the difference you know (joke)
just ask hillary-liked hillary
11:59am
Dana
actually angry betty boop is a funny character-didn’t matter anyway-it went to Victoria Jackson
yeah. i was just saying that to someone yesterday–same thing
hillary didn’t know WHAT to be, she thought she was being a confident professional
when she was 1st lady she was slammed for being too tough and for having bad hair, then when she made cookies
12:01pm
Dana
she got reeemed for that and then when she stuck by her cheating hubby she got reemed for that
she couldn’t win. so the way she did it was off putting
i thought she would have been the best choice myself but
it is kind of like an actor who hadn[‘t struck a hit for some time…
her “persona” wasn’t an authentic person
it wasn’t appealing
it was kind of a front
protective too
too bad.
12:02pm
David
yes
12:03pm
Dana
do you wish to talk about anything else–how is producing for you
12:03pm
David
whatever you like and think will be helpful?
12:03pm
Dana
oh wait one more auditioning ques
12:03pm
David
k
12:03pm
Dana
about the interview–part one is always schmooze a little, and then part 2 to flip into the read
the interview–any insights
12:04pm
David
emphasis on “a little”
12:04pm
Dana
oh don’t spend too much social time there?
or in self “sales”
?
12:04pm
David
you have to follow the convo but if someone wants to get to the reading quicker than you wanted to, just go with it
12:05pm
Dana
does anyone ever come “in character”
12:05pm
David
lol that’s very rare…
again, risky choice
12:05pm
Dana
and then do you think they are a nut
12:06pm
David
in general, i would strongly advise against it if you want to be taken seriously
12:06pm
Dana
i think it’s best not to do anything that may make you appear unstable. right:
12:06pm
David
yes, dont brandish weapons
dont kiss the casting director or reader no matter what it says in the script
or punch them etc
12:07pm
Dana
look at my blog! i have a screen test of james dean and he is holding and flipping a knife! i thought oh my! acting mistake number 1
12:07pm
David
“indicating” was invented for those moments in an audition
how am i doing so far?
12:08pm
Dana
wow. yeah, i guess after you do it for a while, you know the “ettiquette” –that sounds absurd to me
you are doing great!
and saved me some time from something i would have rushed to edit to put up, because i like to be very productive in regularly putting up content, and often;
we can even quit now if ya want.
does it matter if they learn the copy
12:09pm
David
well i have a lunch meeting, we can continue later if you want?
12:09pm
Dana
yeah , just tell me this
the lines, do they need to learn them completely
12:10pm
David
only if they specifically request it, otherwise i always advise to hold the sides even if you memorized them in case you forget or lose your place…it’s an audition not a memory test
12:11pm
Dana
weeeoooh
12:11pm
David
is that good or bad lol
12:11pm
Dana
everything you said is golden, tochterman.
i will copy and send the transcript in email, have a delicious lunch…
12:12pm
David
coolio, will look for you later
12:12pm
Dana
that was just an unexpected delight, by the way!!!!
bye ..talk later!
12:13pm
David
i agree, i enjoy talking about it…i loved those days..
12:13pm
Dana
me too
12:13pm
David
k see ya lata
12:13pm
Dana
lata gata
