Tune into Sheila Hamilton‘s March 26th interview with Casting Director Lana Veenker on 101.9 KINK FM about Oregon’s film and TV industry, its film production incentive program, and Cast Iron Studios upcoming workshops for kids and parents:
To register for our “Acting Like a Pro” workshops featuring LA Kids’ Casting Director Christine Scowley, click here.
Cast Iron Studios and its educational division, Tools for Actors, are thrilled to announce an upcoming master series of workshops featuring prominent LA and NY casting directors. Even more exciting, the first of the series is aimed at KIDS and their parents! Don’t miss this rare opportunity.
ROUND ONE: Kids’ Casting Director Christine Scowley CSA
Young actors can join us on April 6-7, 2013 for a two-day acting workshop (morning sessions for ages 8-12; afternoons for ages 13-17) with Kids Casting Director Christine Scowley CSA.
We’re also offering a PARENT ONLY night on Friday, April 5th, featuring a panel with CDs Christine Scowley of Christine Scowley Casting and Bizzy Blondes Entertainment, and Eryn Goodman and Lana Veenker of Cast Iron Studios. This will be your opportunity to learn straight from casting directors how to help your young actor succeed in film and television.
Your child does not need to be enrolled in the weekend workshop in order for you to enroll in the Parents’ Boot Camp. Please also note that the parent night is at a different location than the workshops. UPDATE: Both events will take place at Cast Iron Studios.
More information on future Master Series guests coming soon. (We could tell you whom we’ve lined up, but then we’d have to kill you! Suffice it to say that we’re FREAKING EXCITED.)
BIO: CHRISTINE SCOWLEY CSA
Scowley is the Casting Director of the hit Nickelodeon series HOW TO ROCK and Disney Channel’s MOVIE SURFERS. She also cast the series SMASH CUTS for the CW and conducted the nationwide search for the pilot HUGE for ABC Family.
Her Nickelodeon credits include pilots such as BIG TIME RUSH and EVERY WITCH WAY (to air this coming year), and a special episode of TRUE JACKSON, VP. Scowley also casts for DisneyFamily Online. She has several upcoming projects in the works for various networks and she’s currently consulting on a music project for Sony Music International.
Additionally, Scowley created and produced the series ROCK THE CRADLE with Fremantle Media for MTV, which featured the children of rock stars competing in a sing-off.
She often conducts nationwide searches, traveling the country to uncover new talent. She loves working with actors and music talent, and is continually inspired by all those who work tirelessly at pursuing their creative goals!
A chance for parents to learn everything they ever wanted to know about navigating the shark-infested waters of the entertainment industry and preparing child actors for a potential Hollywood career (or not!). You’ll hear the Northwest perspective as well as the Los Angeles one, and have plenty of opportunities to ask your burning questions about kids and acting. Topics may include marketing materials, representation, training, resume building, managing a child’s acting career and more.
Friday, April 5, 2013
7:30 PM to 9:30 PM
University of Oregon Portland Extension
White Stag Block
70 NW Couch Street
Portland, OR 97209
map
UPDATED LOCATION:
Cast Iron Studios
1430 SE 3rd Ave, Suite 100
Portland, OR 97212
map
ANY PARENT OR INTERESTED ADULT CAN ATTEND. REGISTER NOW!
$75 for up to two parents or guardians (OPTION E)
*$49 for up to two parents or guardians, if child is registered for Acting Like a Pro (choose OPTION B or D)
This workshop will feature a business of acting component tailored especially for kids to help them navigate the adult world of show biz. Christine will engage them in improvisational exercises, teach the art of hosting for kids’ shows, and cover audition and cold reading techniques. Then they’ll be assigned scenes to rehearse and perform for the Sunday session in a mock audition setting, using sides from real projects that Christine has cast. Young actors will have ample opportunities to ask questions and get advice from one of LA’s top kids casting directors!
Saturday, April 6, 2013
10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
&
Sunday, April 7, 2013
10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Cast Iron Studios
1430 SE 3rd Ave, Suite 100
Portland, OR 97212
map
ONLY 16 SPACES AVAILABLE. REGISTER NOW!
$199 (OPTION A)
Add on Parents’ Boot Camp for only $49 (a 35% discount), total $248: choose OPTION B
This workshop will feature a more prominent business of acting component, tailored especially for teens to help them navigate the adult world of show biz. Christine will cover audition and cold reading techniques, and teach attendees the art of TV hosting. They’ll learn how to break down a script, and take home scenes to rehearse and perform for the Sunday session in a mock audition setting, using sides from real projects that Christine has cast. Actors will have ample opportunities to ask questions and get advice from one of LA’s top kids casting directors!
Saturday, April 6
2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
&
Sunday, April 7
2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Cast Iron Studios
1430 SE 3rd Ave, Suite 100
Portland, OR 97212
map
ONLY 18 SPACES AVAILABLE. REGISTER NOW!
$199 (OPTION C)
Add on Parents’ Boot Camp for only $49 (a 35% discount), total $248: choose OPTION D
Due to the vagaries of the film and television industry, guest facilitators may occasionally have to cancel their appearances. Cast Iron Studios and Tools for Actors reserve the option to replace a canceled guest facilitator with an industry professional of equal or greater caliber.
REFUNDS: A full refund will be issued if registrant cancels at least one week prior to start of workshop. All hardships will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. For any cancellations or refund requests or concerns, you must contact us directly at toolsforactors[at]castironstudios.com.
As Lana heads to Europe once again for European Film Promotion’s Shooting Stars program at the Berlinale, she makes her yearly stop in Vienna and will speak this time at Webster University.
All aspiring actors and filmmakers are encouraged to attend. If you are a student of Webster University, please contact Holger Lang in the Media Department for your promo code, and bring your student ID to the event.
Tools for Actors
and
the Media Department of Webster University Vienna
present
Tuesday, February 12th, 2013
16:00-17:00
Webster University
(Private University)
Berchtoldgasse 1
1220 Vienna
Conference Center (3rd Floor)
€25 General Admission
(Free to Webster Media Students with Promo Code from Instructor and Student ID)
THE BUSINESS OF SHOW BUSINESS
Whether you are an aspiring filmmaker or actor, gaining access to the entertainment industry can be daunting, particularly if you have no professional experience. Casting Director and Producer Lana Veenker CSA has a few tips for you. Originally a stage actor and director, Veenker has worked in show business for over 25 years and on three continents, including 14 years as a film and television casting director.
In “The Business of Show Business,” Veenker will help you identify your professional goals in this challenging and rewarding industry, and develop a strategy to reach them. This lecture and Q&A is appropriate for anyone looking to gain insights on working in television, film and new media.
ABOUT LANA VEENKER
After a decade of living, acting and directing in France, England, Venezuela, India and the West Indies, Veenker took a job at a London casting office, helping to hire European leads on features and mini-series for major studios and networks. In 1999, she returned to her roots and launched Cast Iron Studios, which is now one of the top location casting companies in the United States.
Her film division has cast for directors such as Gus Van Sant, Robert Benton, Guillermo Arriaga, Catherine Hardwicke, Tim Robbins, and Sean Penn. Her commercial division boasts countless award-winning projects for brands such as Nike, Apple, Facebook and Nintendo.
She is one of the casting directors of the NBC hit series Grimm, now in its second season, and TNT’s Leverage, with 64 episodes under her belt. Other projects include Extraordinary Measures starring Harrison Ford, Catherine Hardwicke’s Twilight, Gus Van Sant’s Paranoid Park, and the Amanda Seyfried thriller Gone.
As a member of the International Casting Directors Network (ICDN) and the Casting Society of America (CSA), she has strong partnerships around the globe. She frequently lectures across the United States and Europe, most recently at The Actors Platform in London, IfiF Productions in Vienna, The Acting Studio in Berlin, Studio Bleu in Paris, Prague Film School, and in ports of call from Tonga to Trieste aboard the luxury liner M.V. The World.
Lana has been featured in the Hollywood Reporter, USA Today, Access Hollywood, MSNBC.com, MTV.com and Wired, and is a regular contributor to Backstage. Follow her on Twitter @lanaveenker.
Prague Casting Director Nancy Bishop CSA has invited Lana to help coach actors at her annual Casting Workshop during the Berlinale. This will mark Lana and Nancy’s fifth year of collaboration in Berlin.
Please note: This is not a Cast Iron Studios or Tools for Actors event; you must register directly with the organizers at the email address below.
CASTING WORKSHOP – BERLIN, 11 February 2013
Nancy Bishop, CSA, is teaching her annual casting workshop during the Berlinale
Special Guest: Lana Veenker, CSAIn this workshop, actors will have the opportunity to collaborate with top European and American casting directors. Ideal for actors who wish to improve auditioning skills in English and make valuable connections for international work. Actors will be assigned scenes to prepare in advance. Nancy Bishop (US/Prague) will coach the scenes, with her proven technique, outlined in her book, Secrets from the Casting Couch. Subsequently, the scenes will be taped and critiqued by US Caster Lana Veenker.
Nancy Bishop, CSA, has cast more than seventy films from her base in Prague ranging from large scale studio pictures, such as Mission Impossible IV, Prince Caspian, Bourne Identity, to independent films such as The Illusionist. She just finished the European casting on The Last Knights, starring Morgan Freeman and Clive Owen. She was nominated for an Emmy Award for her work on Anne Frank the Whole Story. She is also a top ranked acting coach, and her workshops are in demand internationally from Rio De Janeiro to Istanbul. At the Prague Film School, she founded the Acting for Film Program, and penned the best-selling book, Secrets from the Casting Couch. Currently she is working on an international Tandem TV series, Crossing Lines, starring Donald Sutherland.
Casting Director Lana Veenker began her career in London and, upon returning to her Northwest roots, founded one of the most successful location casting companies in the U.S. She has found her calling in helping actors who live outside Hollywood break into the business. Recent projects include NBC’s Grimm, now in its second season, and 64 episodes of TNT’s Leverage. Gus Van Sant, Catherine Hardwicke and Tim Robbins figure among past film clients. Lana is a member of the Casting Society of America and the International Casting Directors Network. She has been featured in The Hollywood Reporter, USA Today, MSNBC.com, MTV.com, AccessHollywood.com, and Wired, and is a regular contributor to Backstage.com. Follow her on Twitter @lanaveenker.
WORKSHOP INFORMATION:
When: Monday, February 11, 2013
Time: 11-15:00
Where: The Acting Studio, Schillerstrasse 64, 10627 Berlin-CharlottenburgDirections: U2 + U7 Bismarckstrasse or U2 Sophie-Charlotte-Platz, for a detailed map
Please go to: www.acting-studio.de
Cost: 110 EUR for the workshop
Signed copies Secrets from the Casting Couch available for 10 EUR (normally 15 EUR)Registration Instructions: The workshop is limited to 16 actors and we anticipate the workshop to fill up quickly so please register soon. Please contact Joel Kirby (in English or German) with a current CV and Headshot at: application@nancybishopcasting.com
Lana just got back from her Oregon regional tour, where she worked with actors from Medford and Bend on audition technique and the business of acting.
Many thanks to Teresa Pollman and IMD in Medford, and Derek Sitter and The Actors’ Realm in Bend for hosting!
We can’t wait to do it again!
Washington actors: stay tuned. It looks like a Tools for Actors regional tour may be in the cards for your neck of the woods.
Lana recently visited the studios of NBC affiliate KOBI-TV 5 to talk about her upcoming workshop in Medford. Click to view this Five-on-5 segment:
She’s also teaching in Bend on Tuesday, November 13th! Tickets are still available here.
Lana is making a rare tour of Southern & Central Oregon in the coming days, stopping in Bend next week to teach one of her popular Tools For Actors workshops.
Casting Director Lana Veenker to Teach Bend Actors How to Go Pro
Posted Nov. 6, 2012
Location casting director of films such as Twilight, Management, Untraceable and Feast of Love brings her successful business-of-acting workshop to Bend November 13.
Casting Director Lana Veenker will teach at Volcanic Theatre Pub. Veenker is the owner of Cast Iron Studios, one of the most successful location casting companies in North America and, over the past decade, has built a career helping actors outside Hollywood break into the business.
She offers Go Pro and Auditioning for TV & Film in regional markets across the country to help actors learn what they need to do to make themselves attractive commodities in their hometowns and beyond.
After her successful joint workshop with Paul Weber in October, Casting Director Lana Veenker is hitting the road to work with actors in Southern and Central Oregon.
On Saturday, November 10, 2012, she will be in Medford and on Tuesday, November 13, 2012, she will be in Bend.
(Two additional sessions, originally scheduled for the 11th and 12th, have been canceled, due to a scheduling conflict.)
For more information and to register, please visit these links:
Cast Iron Studios & Volcanic Theatre Pub
present
TOOLS FOR ACTORS WORKSHOPS
IN BEND, OR
with Casting Director Lana Veenker
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2012
This workshop has been canceled due to scheduling conflicts; please register for Tuesday.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2012
6:00PM-10:00PM “Go Pro” and “Auditioning for TV & Film” – $200
REGISTER USING PROMO CODE “SUPERSAVER” & PAY ONLY $189!
Volcanic Theatre Pub
70 SW Century Drive
Bend, OR 97702
GO PRO with Lana Veenker
Sometimes talented actors blow their chances, because they don’t understand that it takes more than being a good actor to book jobs. It takes the mindset and focus of a pro. This is not an acting or auditioning workshop. Instead, Lana’s most popular course provides simple, proven techniques to help actors go from amateur to professional. This workshop is appropriate for actors 18 and older, as well as parents of child actors. (Actors age 14 to 17 accepted, if they’re serious about pursuing a career in acting and have prior experience.)
Topics include:
AUDITIONING FOR TV & FILM
Try your hand at auditioning with real film and television scripts. Learn techniques and get feedback on how to improve your chances at getting hired. This workshop is appropriate for actors 18 and older. (Actors age 14 to 17 accepted, if they’re serious about pursuing a career in acting and have prior experience.)
ABOUT LANA VEENKER, CSA, ICDN
With more than twenty years of experience in the entertainment industry, Lana Veenker’s credits span the globe. Before founding her casting company in 1999, she acted in France, England and Venezuela, lived in India and the West Indies, and helped hire European leads for major studios and networks as part of a London casting office.
In the U.S., she has grown Cast Iron Studios into one of the top location casting companies in the country by working with directors such as Gus Van Sant, Robert Benton, Guillermo Arriaga, Catherine Hardwicke, Frank Oz, Tim Robbins and Sean Penn. Past projects include Twilight, Paranoid Park, Gone, Extraordinary Measures, Management, Feast of Love, and many others.
Her company’s commercial division has spearheaded countless award-winning projects for brands such as Nike, Apple, Nintendo, Intel, Kellogg’s and Volkswagen, and has worked on major international campaigns everywhere from Shanghai to Santiago.
As a member of the International Casting Directors Network and the Casting Society of America, Ms. Veenker maintains strong partnerships worldwide. She speaks French and Spanish, and frequently lectures in the U.S. and abroad, most recently at Prague Film School, The Actors Centre in London, IfiF Productions in Vienna, The Acting Studio in Berlin, Studio Bleu in Paris, and in ports of call from Tonga to Trieste aboard the luxury liner M/V The World. An Oregon native and former expat, her passion is helping actors who live outside Hollywood to succeed.
Please note: This workshop is an educational experience. It is not an audition or employment opportunity. The presence of a casting director is neither a guarantee nor a promise of work. As such, casting director will not be retaining, nor be given access to your headshot, resume or any of your other promotional materials. This workshop and its facilitators adhere to CSA teaching guidelines approved by SAG-AFTRA.
Fine Print
REFUNDS: A full refund will be issued if registrant cancels at least one week prior to start of workshop. All hardships will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. For any cancellations or refund requests or concerns, you must contact us directly at toolsforactors@castironstudios.com.
Contact Tools For Actors for event and ticket information.
Cast Iron Studios & Image Modeling Development
present
TOOLS FOR ACTORS WORKSHOPS
IN MEDFORD, OR
with Casting Director Lana Veenker
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2012
10:00AM-2:00PM “GO PRO” (includes lunch break) – $129*
2:00PM-5:00PM “Auditioning for TV & Film” – $129
REGISTER FOR THE SUPER SAVER & GET BOTH WORKSHOPS FOR ONLY $229!
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2012
UPDATE: This workshop has been canceled, due to scheduling conflicts. Please register for Saturday, November 10.
*NOTE: The lecture-style “GO PRO” workshop accommodates more attendees than the “Auditioning for TV & Film” workshop, so a limited number of LECTURE ONLY tickets are available. Please verify whether you want to register for a FULL DAY (SUPER SAVER) or a LECTURE ONLY ticket before completing your purchase.
IMD (Image Modeling Development)
1257 N Riverside Dr, Suite 10
Medford, OR 97501
GO PRO with Lana Veenker
Sometimes talented actors blow their chances, because they don’t understand that it takes more than being a good actor to book jobs. It takes the mindset and focus of a pro. This is not an acting or auditioning workshop. Instead, Lana’s most popular course provides simple, proven techniques to help actors go from amateur to professional. This workshop is appropriate for actors 18 and older, as well as parents of child actors. (Actors age 14 to 17 accepted, if they’re serious about pursuing a career in acting and have prior experience.)
Topics include:
AUDITIONING FOR TV & FILM
Try your hand at auditioning with real film and television scripts. Learn techniques and get feedback on how to improve your chances at getting hired. This workshop is appropriate for actors 18 and older. (Actors age 14 to 17 accepted, if they’re serious about pursuing a career in acting and have prior experience.)
ABOUT LANA VEENKER, CSA, ICDN
With more than twenty years of experience in the entertainment industry, Lana Veenker’s credits span the globe. Before founding her casting company in 1999, she acted in France, England and Venezuela, lived in India and the West Indies, and helped hire European leads for major studios and networks as part of a London casting office.
In the U.S., she has grown Cast Iron Studios into one of the top location casting companies in the country by working with directors such as Gus Van Sant, Robert Benton, Guillermo Arriaga, Catherine Hardwicke, Frank Oz, Tim Robbins and Sean Penn. Past projects include Twilight, Paranoid Park, Gone, Extraordinary Measures, Management, Feast of Love, and many others.
Her company’s commercial division has spearheaded countless award-winning projects for brands such as Nike, Apple, Nintendo, Intel, Kellogg’s and Volkswagen, and has worked on major international campaigns everywhere from Shanghai to Santiago.
As a member of the International Casting Directors Network and the Casting Society of America, Ms. Veenker maintains strong partnerships worldwide. She speaks French and Spanish, and frequently lectures in the U.S. and abroad, most recently at Prague Film School, The Actors Centre in London, IfiF Productions in Vienna, The Acting Studio in Berlin, Studio Bleu in Paris, and in ports of call from Tonga to Trieste aboard the luxury liner M/V The World. An Oregon native and former expat, her passion is helping actors who live outside Hollywood to succeed.
Please note: This workshop is an educational experience. It is not an audition or employment opportunity. The presence of a casting director is neither a guarantee nor a promise of work. As such, casting director will not be retaining, nor be given access to your headshot, resume or any of your other promotional materials. This workshop and its facilitators adhere to CSA teaching guidelines approved by SAG-AFTRA.
Fine Print
REFUNDS: A full refund will be issued if registrant cancels at least one week prior to start of workshop. All hardships will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. For any cancellations or refund requests or concerns, you must contact us directly at toolsforactors@castironstudios.com.
Contact Tools For Actors for event and ticket information.
Cast Iron Studios presents a joint workshop with
Casting Directors Paul Weber CSA and Lana Veenker CSA
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27 — 10:00AM-4:00PM
-OR-
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28 — 10:00AM-4:00PM
SPACE IS LIMITED! REGISTER NOW!
REGISTRATION $300
REGISTER WITH PROMOTIONAL CODE “EARLYBIRD” TO RECEIVE A $50 DISCOUNT AND PAY ONLY $250! *A limited quantity of early bird registrations are available for each session, so register now before they run out
Each session is identical. You need only register for one. Day includes a one-hour break for lunch, during which time attendees may walk to nearby eateries or bring a sack lunch to eat on-site. Appropriate for ages 18 and above.
(Ages 14-18 with prior permission; please contact us.)
CAST IRON STUDIOS 1430 SE 3rd Ave, Suite 100 Portland, OR 97214
Lana Veenker, founder of the Northwest’s top casting company, has teamed up with one of Hollywood’s most respected casting directors, Paul Weber, to present a dynamic, practical and highly effective intensive program that will demystify the audition process, and give you the confidence you need to create a memorable audition experience. The Art of the Audition; The Business of the Art offers actors at every level the winning tools that will help you achieve success in the audition room.
The first half of the workshop, Weber and Veenker reveal:
The second half of the workshop focuses on the actual audition and involves actors in the process, using scene work to experience and illustrate new techniques:
ABOUT PAUL WEBER, CSA
As former longtime Executive Head of Television Casting and Feature Film Consultant for MGM Studios, Paul Weber effectively moved between both mediums with ease. For series television, Weber most notably cast the wildly popular Stargate franchise. Other TV credits include Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, She Spies, Poltergeist, Dead Like Me and The Outer Limits. These series and others have garnered numerous honors including 21 Primetime Emmy Award nominations. For the big screen, Weber has advised on numerous MGM features including the blockbuster James Bond franchise, Fame, Zookeeper with Kevin James, Hot Tub Time Machine, Red Dawn with Chris Hemsworth, Joss Whedon’s Cabin in the Woods 3D, and The Machine starring Vin Diesel. Home entertainment credits include Legally Blonde, Picture This with Ashley Tisdale, Into the Blue 2, Wargames, the Species franchise, as well as the Cutting Edge franchise for ABC Family. Mr. Weber is now a fully independent casting director and producer. Busier than ever, he has multiple feature and TV series projects in the works. For over two decades, Mr. Weber’s keen eye for talent and ability to cultivate and sustain lasting relationships within the entertainment community has made him one of the most sought-after experts in his field. As such, Mr. Weber is also frequently tapped to lead cold-reading audition intensives and scene-study workshops worldwide for performers seeking invaluable practical insight that helps demystify the audition process, giving them a critical edge in an extremely competitive industry. Closer to home, he has taught at UCLA as well as led standing-room only acting workshops at the Screen Actors Guild. Mr. Weber is a member of the Casting Society of America, the Writers Guild of America, and served on the Host Committee for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards. A native of Connecticut, he lives in Hollywood.
ABOUT LANA VEENKER, CSA, ICDN
With more than twenty years of experience in the entertainment industry, Lana Veenker’s credits span the globe. Before founding her casting company in 1999, she acted in France, England and Venezuela, lived in India and the West Indies, and helped hire European leads for major studios and networks as part of a London casting office. In the U.S., she has grown Cast Iron Studios into one of the top location casting companies in the country by working with directors such as Gus Van Sant, Robert Benton, Guillermo Arriaga, Catherine Hardwicke, Frank Oz, Tim Robbins and Sean Penn. Past projects include Twilight, Paranoid Park, Gone, Extraordinary Measures, Management, Feast of Love, and many others. Her company’s commercial division has spearheaded countless award-winning projects for brands such as Nike, Apple, Nintendo, Intel, Kellogg’s and Volkswagen, and has worked on major international campaigns everywhere from Shanghai to Santiago. As a member of the International Casting Directors Network and the Casting Society of America, Ms. Veenker maintains strong partnerships worldwide. She speaks French and Spanish, and frequently lectures in the U.S. and abroad, most recently at Prague Film School, The Actors Centre in London, IfiF Productions in Vienna, The Acting Studio in Berlin, Studio Bleu in Paris, and in ports of call from Tonga to Trieste aboard the luxury liner M/V The World. An Oregon native and former expat, her passion is helping actors who live outside Hollywood to succeed.
Please note: This workshop is a learning experience. It is not an audition or employment opportunity. The presence of a casting director is neither a guarantee nor a promise of work. As such, casting directors will not be retaining, nor be given access to your headshot, resume or any of your other promotional materials. This workshop and its facilitators adhere to CSA teaching guidelines approved by SAG-AFTRA.
Contact Tools For Actors for event and ticket information.
Announcing new fight workshops with Kendall Wells at Cast Iron Studios. Based on feedback we received the last time he was in town, this is not to be missed! More information is below and at http://kendallwells.com.
Contemporary Fights for Film ($175 per person)
Saturday, March 10th & Sunday, March 11th
9:30AM-4:30PM with one-hour lunch break
Period Sword Technique for Film and Stage ($75 per person)
Sunday, March 11th & Monday, March 12th
6:30PM-8:30PM
**** If you have questions about these workshops, please contact Kendall Wells, not us. Our space is being used, but we are NOT coordinating the events. ****
Email: kendall[dot]wells[at]gmail[dot]com.
Cast Iron Studios (formerly Lana Veenker Casting) is always on the lookout to bring new learning opportunities to our talent pool. We are proud to present ACTION FOR ACTORS, a unique and exciting on-camera fight workshop this December.
SEE BELOW FOR EXCITING UPDATE!!
CLASS DESCRIPTION
Most films and TV shows these days have action to help drive the story, and actors need to be prepared to deliver. Fight master Anthony De Longis and Kendall Wells will cover the basics of what all actors need to perform action on professional film sets. From selling punches to taking hits, understanding the story of the fight, to building safety factors, they’ll take you through all you need to know to perform action with the stars.
What’s Being Covered
ANTHONY DE LONGIS 
Actor, Director, Action Coordinator
Anthony De Longis has worked in virtually every aspect of the entertainment industry for over 38 years and counting. Professional credits span film, television, theatre, motion capture and opera and he’s worked with some of biggest names in the entertainment industry, including Harrison Ford, Jet Li, Ron Howard, Yuen Woo Ping, Tim Burton, Michelle Pfeiffer, David Carradine, Patrick Swayze, Angelica Huston, Placido Domingo, and Charlton Heston, to name a few.
As an actor, De Longis portrayed Shakespeare’s immortal villain Iago in OTHELLO, twice, and co-starred in the popular movies FEARLESS, ROAD HOUSE, MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE, CIRCLE OF IRON, JAGUAR LIVES and THE SWORD AND THE SORCERER. He created the role of Kazon leader Maje Culluh for STAR TREK: VOYAGER, guest starring in five of the series’ episodes. Television appearances include GRIMM, LEVERAGE, ER, THE OUTER LIMITS, QUEEN OF SWORDS, THE ADVENTURES OF SINBAD, CONAN THE ADVENTURER, BABYLON 5, and HIGHLANDER: THE SERIES, twice. He stars as Sheriff Leigh Marshal in Rock Star Games’ RED DEAD REDEMPTION, General Serrano in BULLETSTORM, and Mick Cutler in REDEMPTION 3.
As a Fight Director and choreographer, he’s known for his skill and knowledge in a broad range of bladed weapons arts, always building his action from combative truth to tell a more dynamic action story. De Longis introduced the unique style of Spanish rapier fighting to the screen in HIGHLANDER: the SERIES and created a more efficient, effective and visual style of whip work for Michelle Pfeiffer’s “Catwoman” and Harrison Ford’s “Indiana Jones” in CRYSTAL SKULL. He’s demonstrated his practical skills with blade, whip, gun and horse on History Channel’s MORE EXTREME MARKSMEN, LOCK & LOAD and DEADLIEST WARRIOR. View his Fight Director / Action reel and Stunt resume here.
Anthony is a published writer, member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Screen Actors Guild, Actors Equity Association, American Federation of Television and Radio Actors, Academy of Canadian Television and Radio Actors, Union of British Columbia Performers, Society of Canadian Fight Directors and an honorary member of the Society of American Fight Directors. He was honored with inductions into both the Black Belt Hall of Fame and the International Knife Throwers Hall of Fame.
KENDALL WELLS 
Actor, Fight Director, Filmmaker
Kendall Wells graduated a full-time acting conservatory in 2004, and in the same year, became the protégé of Hollywood actor and fight master Anthony DeLongis.
Kendall recently starred as a weapons expert on SpikeTV’s DEADLIEST WARRIOR, 3Net’s new 3D mini-series SCARY TALES, and co-starred in an episode of TNT’s LEVERAGE.
He played the title role in Blue Monkey’s ROBIN HOOD, and MacDuffe and Seyton in Northwest Classical Theatre Company’s MACBETH, for which he also won a Drammy for fight choreography.
Most recently, Kendall worked as an action performer in ROMEO ET JULIETTE with conductor Plácido Domingo and director Ian Judge at LA Opera.
Kendall is a Certified Teacher of DeLongis Combative & Performance Arts, with an extensive martial arts background, and skills in empty-hand, sword, knife, whip, stick, staff, and mounted horseback.
TWO OPTIONS AVAILABLE
You have a choice of either morning sessions or afternoon sessions.
CLASS A (Morning Session): 9:00AM to 1:00PM
Saturday, December 3 & Sunday, December 4, 2011
OR
CLASS B (Afternoon Session): 2:00PM to 6:00PM
Saturday, December 3 & Sunday, December 4, 2011
Anthony and Kendall have decided to offer ONE, FULL-WEEKEND WORKSHOP in place of two half-day workshops. This means you’ll get 15 hours of instruction (17 hours, minus two 1-hour lunches) instead of eight, FOR THE SAME PRICE!
The class will be taught by two instructors and will be limited to a maximum of 30 registered students, ensuring plenty of personalized attention. You must be at least 16 years old to attend. Minors must obtain permission of parent or guardian.
COST: $275.00
This workshop meets on Saturday AND Sunday, from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, and includes a lunch break. See below for registration details.
Note: There is now no difference between Class A and Class B. Register for either one to attend the full-weekend workshop. (We couldn’t delete them, since tickets have already been purchased. We will honor all previously purchased tickets for the full two-day course.)
If you have a discount code, be sure to enter it on the registration page.
For our German-speaking friends: An article on Lana’s upcoming lecture and workshop on Austria’s university portal, Studium.at:
US Casting-Direktorin zu Besuch in Österreich
Gastvortrag an der Webster University sowie Workshop bei IfiF Productions
Studium.at
22 September 2011Lana Veenker (bekannt durch Filme und Serien wie “Twilight,” “Paranoid Park,” “Leverage”) ird am 28. September einen Gastvortrag für angehende Filmemacher an der Webster University Vienna halten.
Lana Veenker war schon an hunderten Filmen beteiligt, darunter solche Blockbuster wie “Twilight,” Gus Van Sants “Paranoid Park,” und über 40 Episoden der TV-Hit-Serie “Leverage” mit Timothy Hutton. Sie arbeitete für so herausragende Filmkünstler wie Robert Benton, Dean Devlin, und Tim Robbins und betreute Stars wie Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Aniston, Harrison Ford, Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron um nur einige der Namen zu nennen. Gerade eben erst hat ihre Firma das Casting für den neuen Heitor Dhalia-Film “Gone” mit Amanda Seyfried abgeschlossen.
Im ihrem Workshop am 29.September bei IfiF Productions wird sie alles Wissenswerte über die richtige Vorsprechtechnik beim Film verraten. Die Unterrichtssprache ist Englisch.
Schauspieler in Wien haben die einmalige Gelegenheit das Vorsprechen für einen amerikanischen Film zu üben, und zwar durch eine prominente amerikanische Casting-Direktorin am 29. September im Studio der IfiF productions im 8. Wiener Gemeindebezirk.
In ihrem Drei-Stunden-Workshop, betitelt “In the Hot Seat: On-Camera Audition Workshop,” wird den Schauspielern gezeigt, wie “auditions” für amerikanische Serien und Filme genau ablaufen. Sie werden lernen, worauf Regisseure, Produzenten und Caster achten und werden in englischer Sprache anhand von Texten aus Lanas letzten Filmen die Situation beim Vorsprechen üben. Das wird – so hofft Lana Veenker – sich auch positiv auf die persönlichen Vorsprechtechniken in jedweder anderen Sprache auswirken.
“Es war immer mein größtes Interesse, Schauspielern, die NICHT aus Hollywood stammen, zum Durchbruch zu verhelfen,” bekennt Lana Veenker. Sie hat sich darauf spezialisiert vor Ort an den Drehschauplätzen zu besetzen, sie sucht Leute, die einheimisch sind. “Ein George Clooney braucht meine Hilfe nicht. Es macht viel mehr Spaß jemandem seine erste Rolle in einem großen Film zu verschaffen, jemandem das Sprungbrett für die große Karriere zu bieten.”
Bis jetzt hat Lana ihre Workshops in Paris, London, Berlin, Prag und Wien abgehalten und natürlich auch überall in den Vereinigten Staaten und hat manchen Stern am Himmel dank ihrer Starthilfe aufgehen gesehen. Dennoch betont sie, dass ihre Workshops als Unterricht gedacht sind. Es sind keine eigentlichen Auditions und eine Garantie für eine Besetzung gibt es auch nicht. “Schauspieler, die etwas lernen wollen, sind bei uns richtig. Es genügt nicht, einfach nur seine Set-Card abzugeben und zu hoffen, gesehen zu werden.” Die Workshops halten sich strikt an die Bestimmungen der Casting Society of America. Somit ist das richtige Ambiente für eine authentische Lernerfahrung gewährleistet.
Detaillierte Infos zum Workshop am 29. September gibt es unter folgendem link:
http://castingscoop.blogspot.com.
Deadline für die Anmeldung ist der 24.September. Die Kosten betragen EUR 95.-
(Quelle: Webster University)
“Chance favors the well-prepared.”
By Jennifer Yocom
Tue, February 9, 2010 1:32pm
When John Rogers, writer and creator of TNT’s Leverage, talked to Portlanders at this weekend’s Leverage Boot Camp, one quote especially stuck out to me. Borrowed from great scientist, Louis Pasteur, he said, “Chance favors the well-prepared.” I can’t remember whether John was referring to the perspective auditioners should keep when trying out for minor roles or to be an extra in Leverage, or if he was attributing it to what I’m thinking of: how do we build a film industry in Portland?
Either way, he’s right.
When I worked in direct marketing, we auditioned actors for photo shoots and infomercials (yes, I worked on infomercials). And when we found the right person, it wasn’t always because he or she met all the criteria we were considering, but possessed that X factor–an element or aspect of his or her personality or “look” that would connect with the relevant audience or acting team. Translated, even if you fit the profile on paper, you might not get the job. The purpose of the Leverage Boot Camp was to get folks as familiar with the TV series as possible, increasing their chances of getting a job with the production. And who’s needed? Athletic or burly men to play cops, security guards and thugs.
“I look at all these strong guys who have lost their manufacturing or construction jobs and think ‘If we could just teach them how to say a line or two and maybe how to do an easy fight scene, they could probably audition for the show,’” says Leverage casting director and local business owner Lana Veenker. “It may be very sporadic work, but nobody’s going to sneeze at a thousand bucks for a day’s salary. That could make the difference between a family covering its mortgage payment or not.”
“Background performers only make minimum wage,” she acknowledges, “but with overtime, a day’s work could help someone who is job hunting pay their cell phone bill or buy a few tanks of gas.”
The Oregonian reported, “In Oregon, which has an 11 percent unemployment rate, the recession has been particularly hard on male workers in traditionally male-dominated industries. At his State of the City speech last week, for example, Portland Mayor Sam Adams said ‘one in three Portlanders’ in the construction industry is currently out of work.”
While Veenker is trying to get the word out to unemployed construction workers that they may have additional options in a tough economy and helping them have the tools they need to succeed at the auditions, she’s also doing a significant service to our City as a whole. In order to continue to attract television series like Leverage to Portland, we’ve got to have a solid pipeline of talent for them to hire.
The state offers fantastic incentives to film production through the Governor’s Office of Film and Television and the City of Portland provides a one-stop resource for permitting through the Mayor’s Office of Film and Video, but Lana’s efforts are a also a key piece to the overall film and tv production ecology in Portland.
So, we’ll continue to work to recruit productions to town with incentive packages but remember, “Chance favors the well-prepared,” so thank you to all those that attended the Boot Camp and thank you, Lana Veenker.
And thank you, Arts & Culture Policy Director Jennifer Yokum, Mayor Adams and the City of Portland, for helping us build this green, clean, high-tech industry of the future!
The Oregonian
January 28, 2010
by Kristi Turnquist
UPDATE: EARLY REGISTRATION DISCOUNT EXTENDED TO FEB 4!
Think you’re pretty tough, do ya’? Well, here’s your chance to prove it. Sign up for Thug Boot Camp! This is a weekend training workshop for guys who’d like to learn basic acting and stunt technique for TV shows and movies. Lana Veenker Casting and Tools 4 Actors are putting on the session. Veenker’s company has handled casting for “Leverage,” the TNT series that has made Portland its location home. The series is set to film 15 more episodes here starting in March. Veenker says there’s “a need to train up a new generation of actors and stunt people — particularly men to play cops, security guards and thugs — in order to keep the jobs local.”
There’s high demand, Veenker says, for men with martial arts and military backgrounds, ethnic diversity and athletic, burly or muscular builds. The Thug Boot Camp is intended to train guys with these characteristics to deliver a few lines and handle uncomplicated fight scenes. The two-day session lasts 16 hours and includes participation in classes, Q&As, a behind-the-scenes session, networking and live teleconference with members of the “Leverage” team.
It happens from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 6-7 at the University of Oregon’s Portland campus, 70 N.W. Couch St. Cost is $275 when registered by Jan. 31 Feb 4. Details: http://regonline.com/leveragebootcamp or http://castingscoop.blogspot.com
Thanks to the Oregonian and Kristi Turnquist for the plug!
Bring Tools for Actors to your city by demanding it on Eventful.
Demand It!