If you want to make a good movie, one thing is certain: the gear won’t stand in your way. Smartphones and related low-cost equipment come close to equaling the tools used in big budget productions. The real challenges are creative. Of these, the one most likely to sink a project is casting. No amount of clever filmmaking will overcome a weak performance. Luckily, just as technology provides affordable yet astonishing gear, online casting has greatly reduced the cost of finding superior talent.

With online casting websites such as Backstage, for a small fee (as low as $25) you can post the role you want to fill, tell where and when your shoot will happen, and list the remuneration (if any). Most important, you can request exactly the audition material you want—for example, a sample video. Unlike in the old days, when you’d have to rent a studio for auditions and schedule sessions, everything happens online.

The Four Secrets

1. Recognize the importance of casting. This may seem obvious, but very often producers of low- or no-budget videos undervalue talent and put friends, relatives, or colleagues into their productions. While a few people are natural hams, generally being effective on camera requires years of training and practice. This is not only true for dramas but also for nonfiction projects. For proof, take a look at many YouTube tutorials where the “teacher” comes across as awkward and unconvincing. A commonplace in Hollywood is that actors contribute about half of what makes a character worth getting to know.

2. Before casting, polish your script. Talented actors will not want to work with you if you’re not perfectly clear about the project.

3. Be picky. The key to finding someone just right for your project is to look at lots of candidates. If you find someone who seems to have what you want but you’re not sure, give the person some feedback and ask for a second performance.

4. Treat the talent with respect. Acting is difficult, and likely you won’t be paying your talent big bucks. They will value getting the opportunity to be in your movie—actors need to perform in order to advance. But in the moment, they should be treated with respect.

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If you’ve had luck using an online casting website, we’d like to hear from you: info@mobilemoviemaking.com. We’d especially like to see audition video that persuaded you to choose a performer.

 

 

Professional filmmakers have conclusively demonstrated that really good movies can be made using mobile devices. Depending on the project, you may need a small amount of additional gear—camera app, stabilizer, external mike, and lights. But clearly, equipment won’t get in your way. The real challenges are creative, and of these, the one most likely to sink your project is casting. This is true for story pictures, instructional videos, and every other kind of project. If the person in front of the camera or narrating the action is weak, no amount of clever filmmaking will save the production. Luckily, just as technology democratized the gear, the digital revolution has transformed casting. Online casting websites