Actor Workout: TV Drama with Kendra Castleberry

KENDRA CASTLEBERRY is a Casting Director at Castleberry/Murphy Casting. Hailing from Louisville, Kentucky, Kendra Castleberry always loved TV and dreamed of a day when she would be a part of making it. Years later, she transplanted to Los Angeles, and discovered her passion for casting. Past television projects include: "Grimm", "Zoo", "Castle", "Warriors" (pilot), "Star-Crossed" (pilot), "Matadors" (pilot), "Happy Town," "The O.C.," "Wildfire," "October Road" and the series regular recasting of "Life on Mars." She is currently partnered with Billy Murphy, and recently completed work on "Limetown" (starring Jessica Biel, Stanley Tucci and Marlee Matlin) for Facebook Watch and "Take Two" (starring Rachel Bilson and Eddie Cibrian) for ABC.

LESSON PLAN:

This 3-week online class will focus on scene work for Television Drama auditions. Special attention will be paid to script analysis, character development, and technical adjustments. 

Each class will begin with a short lecture pointing out specifics of the sub-genres and formats we are working on. For weeks 1 and 2, each actor will get a chance to perform their scene, get verbal feedback and redirection from me, and do the scene again. For week 3, actors will submit self-tapes of their scenes and receive written feedback. All actors will watch the work of their classmates, so as to learn from each other.

WEEK 1 - PROCEDURALS:

Lecture covering the following topics:

•  My casting background
• What is a procedural?
• The basics of script analysis (who, what, where, when, why?)
• How to analyze the power dynamics in a scene
• How to identify and highlight important facts
• How to color the story with your point of view
• How does your role fit into the larger story?
• The importance of wardrobe/hair/make-up choices

Scenework: Guest Star scenes from Procedurals. A collection of sides will be sent out 48 hours prior to class and the actor will be able to choose which scene to work on.

WEEK 2 – SERIALIZED DRAMAS & PRIMETIME SOAPS:

Lecture covering the following topics:

• The importance of defining relationships
• Finding clues within the script to your character’s history
• Defending your character
• Living in the moment
• Feeling and conveying confidence in the audition room

Scene Work:Guest Star scenes from Serialized Dramas and Primetime Soaps. A collection of sides will be sent out 48 hours prior to class and actor will be able to choose which scene they wish to work on.

WEEK 3 – FANTASY AND SCI-FI:

Lecture covering the following topics:

• The importance of physicality and character movement
• Clarifying the rules of the world
• Proper pronunciation and not getting tongue-tied
• How to interpret confusing direction

Scenework: Guest Star scenes from Fantasy and Sci-Fi series. A collection of sides will be sent out 48 hours prior to class and actor will be able to choose which scene to self-tape. Written feedback will be provided no more than 48 hours following.

Actors will have an opportunity at the end of each class to ask questions, so as to address specific concerns and gain further understanding of the day’s lesson. 

NOTE: Video recordings will be made of actor’s scene work only, and distributed to them after class is completed for their educational review. No video or audio recordings of any other portion of this class are allowed.