Listen to the recorded podcast from May 31, 2011 here on Blog Talk or here on itunes

This written transcript is provided for my friends in the deaf community.

Louise (L): This is my debut show .I hope you will join me her every month on Blog Talk Radio.  I have a very special guest from the Bohemia Group- Susan Ferris .  Morning this is early for Hollywood- It is 11 am est only bright, sunny  8 am on PST

 Susan Ferris (SF): The world doesn’t start until 10 am, but my office starts at 8

Louise: Reason I am doing this show is because I am the parent of the talent, my daughter Natasha Sattler(NS) has acted since the age of 12.   She wanted to act for years and years.. we did plays, recreation programs, gymnastics, modeling, vocal lessons and at 12 she said you promised to get an agent

Darn if that child didn’t book the show THE WEST WING, so when you are on the show that wins the Emmy that year it help to jump-start your career, which it did for her here in the Washington DC area.

So, when we started I had no one to help me.  Other than the info on the screen actors guild page. That is the catalyst as to why I am doing this show for 411 Voices and to get terrific guests, like Susan.  I want others to learn from my mistakes and get some wisdom from people in the know.

 SF- I represent from 5-70

LS- Let’s start with the 5 year olds.  I don’t think anyone is out there parenting the 70 year olds.

SF- Maybe they should

LS- I know after working with a lot of people in the business, there is a lot of difference as to what I think you would do to guide a parent of a five-year old than a parent of a 15-year-old.  How to prepare the child for headshots, audition process, etc.

SF- No one is expecting a five-year old to go in to an audition prepared.  What they are looking for are they personable, take direction, in that respect. If your kid is like that – great.  Take a regular shot, not a glamour shot, not a professional shot. If kid is cute- great. Not cute- that is your kid. I do like to know if a child is doing this cuz he thinks this is really cool or his parents are pushing him in to this.

LS- I have been with casting directors and they ask a kid do you want to do this and the kids says, no not really my mom made me dress up like this.

 SF- Let the kid be a five-year old kid

LS- Do you know which kids are natural, have that intuitive talent? Or which one is there cuz mom, group all think they are cute.

SF- I do after 25 years of “profiling”.  I guess I can tell you that one client, just turned 8 I believe, there is no doubt that she is energetic, charismatic and mom is in the background and no doubt this is what she wants to do for many years.  Really neat.  Still a kid  vs the six-year-old whose folks think this is very cute. It is a struggle

LS What about the middle school age?

SF :Eleven?

That is the age where the kids come into their own little bodies, the thing to do, is the friends are really are really interested, do you have a glut, my hair is looking pretty good, body shaping up, want to be on Disney… is that when you get a glut of phone calls from tween girl

SF- pretty even between girls and boys.  Cuteness is short.  Go from really cute and look at me shine. I want o be on icarly to hormones, anger and the awkward stage.

 LS- Braces a go or no go?

 SF- Absolutely!  Why not!!?

LS_  What about the casting director who sees a kid has  BRACES-  and says- you are out!

 SF- Kids have braces that is a fact of life

LS- Funny story, sorry for interrupting… my daughter usually is lucky.. we always said she was one of the luckiest kids in the biz… but one time she got asked to go for an audition the week after she got her braces off.  Darn if she didn’t get the role because she doesn’t have braces

SF- I think parents become so enamored -  for the kid its fun- parents who are going through.. they are growing up.. oily hair pimples, but they got them on drugs for adults cuz of acne. Let the kids be kids.

LS- Now I have a production company- Signing Families = and I tell parents not to send their kids with make up or nail polish.  So, for you makeup or no makeup?

SF- I tell my adults- no makeup.  If you are twelve you need to look 12.

Kids just don’t do it.  This is why I think we had so much success with kids in the tween market.  Kids are kids and you see them grow up and that is wonderful.

 LS- What do you do with the tween market with rejection. They have an emotional and intellectual brain.  They know if there is a 100 kids at an audition and only two parts, that the statistics are against them.  But they are emotional and can be a wreck if they don’t get a callback.  So can you explain what is a call back and how to deal with the rejection?

SF  A call back is you gone in to the first read or preread. Want to bring you in to to see producers or directors. Second opportunity or more.  Sometimes more if TV show

Rejection- every kid handles it differently.  Hardest people are the parents. Kids are resilient. Only time I have seen a real issue is when they tested (before becoming a series regular) and they weren’t the ones picked. You see the bummer part,  Sad, Cry.But if there is an audition the next day they pop back. Their parents become more upset than the kid

 LS- I always liked the great scene in FAME- when the mom screams WE MADE IT! When parents think it is a WE process.  No WE, they are the talent and in their with the producer.

LS-  For every 100 auditions you are lucky to score one or two roles when you starting?

SF- I tell everyone it is a numbers game.  The more you audition the better your numbers.  I tell kids keep your feet firmly planted on the ground and enjoy the experience of it all- it is a lot of fun. Kids are really great. Really the parents.. that become the issue.

LS- I resemble that remark. I remember when Natasha was on the West Wing there were very strict guidelines.  No photography don’t interrupt. Even if they are sitting up the scene.  Standing with BW we didn’t engage him, we knew he was getting ready.. Another dad whips out a camera, rushes the kid in to his spot, and they were removed from the set

SF-Parents forget you need to do nothing. You are a glorified babysitter on the set.

LS: Why parents need to be on the set?  Some parents think it is a drop off.It is a long day.  I’ve been on sets 12-14 hours.

 SF- No matter how old your kid is until they are 18 you need to be there, a studio teacher on the set. I think it was common knowledge.  Their was a client where the mother was asked to leave- horrible- she had her nose in everything.  Bring chair, book, sit in the corner and shut up.  They sholdn’t know you are theire. They hired yor kid . didn’t hire you.

Faster parents learn that the better the kids will be and everyone else. My job is to sit in the corner and read

I brought headphones and DV player.  A lot of people hovering around my portable DVD player

Difference between the manager, agent casting director>>

Let’s lay it out for our audience.

SF- we tell our audience  agent is to smile and dial.  Get you work

Usually have 4-500 clients.  Get you work. Not a personal thing.  They are responsible to get your work.

Managers we  also take it more personal.  We also smile and dial. Help get you from one level to next level to next level.  We oversea.  We are the communication hub.  Some people have more than one agent- commercial, print, theatrical

We are the communication hub, everyone comm. With us and we comm. With the client

Casting director puts you on the show.

LS- Tough to get on the show. It seems to me looking at the trend that since the writer’s strike a few years back there was surge in reality television than scripted shows and that wasn’t good for actors.  Not scripted with full cast, rotating

SF- Real actors- reality tv is ruining your career.

LS:  Pendulum swinging back?

 SF- absolutely seeing the swing back. Our seasons are unconventional now mid-July episodic season starting until mid-December than pilot season, etc, etc.

SF- Last year the first full year we saw lots of TV!

LS: Right

SF- More opportunity, especially for kids with ABC family, Nick at Night, Hub  -  All these networks opening up specifically for kids I think this year you will see not only see Nick and Disney with kids, but you will see on regular tv a lot more actors at work. Almost back to normal.  Looks like we will have a lot of opportunity for people to work.

LS_I am crossing my fingers and toes.

 SF- I am too

LS- I have heard this scenario a million time.. My kids have had a modicum of success.  We will drive to Hollywood. And live in a well-known apt, won’t say where so I don’t get any legal letters.  I didn’t do this for Natasha .I think education comes first, Has to

.SF- agreed

LS- This has been a lot of fun.. our time is up.. Next is Dara Blaker who has on her show Sharon