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I have always thought castings important. If it's just one girl turning up it's a very good chance to find out who she is and what she is capable of doing. Even at the other end of the scale and 50 girls turn up it's still better than shooting a model from a picture she sent.
But you have to be organised and look like you know what you're doing. Otherwise it's a good chance to screw up everything.
So again prepare yourself.
Write out a script of what has to be said, so you can give them to models rather than waiting to fill the room and keep going back and starting again. It has to include how you work, where you work, when you work (so they know they can't turn up 3 hours late), what action you shoot in the different categories which she agrees to or not on the models form. How much you pay and anything else you can think of that's important. Why?
So the model can't say "You never said that on the casting."
If you're doing a casting for 50 have models forms and scripts laid out. These are the models details like name, phone number, age, size, what she will do, have it written down what you shoot and get her to yes or no to EVERYTHING. Saves any misunderstandings when she tells you on the shoot she does not do that.
And all this has to be done in a gentle, friendly but firm way. Introduce yourself, confirm their name or ask. Sit them down, thank them for coming and all with a smile. Offer a coffee, tea, juice or bottled water. Have ash trays ready. Sit them down and tell them who you are and what happens today. Including taking test shots.
These should be done in a very matter of fact way yet not cold. You need to see her naked and how she poses. Put her through a dozen or more poses. If you're shooting teens check their IDs before you do this and I do mean CHECK them. If they query you might sell the pictures. Explain because you're not doing an ID shot and getting a model release you can't sell the pictures. And there is not market for 12 pictures of a person posing solo for test shots.
You're establishing you're a professional guy who knows what he's doing and in control. But a nice guy as well.
This is your chance to evaluate if the model is right for the part, will do it as you need and not someone who will screw the day and waste your money. Get it right and you should have a good days work, easy, fun and profitable. Get it wrong and you're wasting your time.
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