Brooke and Mary
On-Camera Commercial Intensive Class for Actors
What is it?
Brooke Thomas and Mary Egan Callahan, casting directors at HOUSE Production and Casting in New York City, have been teaching an on-camera commercial intensive class since 2001 under the name “Brooke and Mary.” At each class we work on-camera with cue cards and commercial copy. Class size is limited to 15 students. At the final class, we invite 2 commercial talent agents to watch you work, answer questions and give some feedback. Brooke and Mary also offer some tips on marketing yourself as an actor.
Who should take the class?
Our classes fill up with everyone from unsigned, non-union aspirers looking to get into the business to established actors looking to improve and hone their performance techniques for commercial auditions.
What will I learn in the class?
You will learn how to bring out the best of yourself in a commercial audition. This includes tips, techniques, and personalized suggestions on how to be comfortable reading commercial copy from cue cards directly into camera and making the copy your own by incorporating improvisation into your audition. You'll also learn a few do's and don'ts in the realms of casting directors, directors and agents.
Where are classes held?
The Brooke and Mary classes are held in a loft setting in SoHo. The address is:
155 Wooster Street, Suite 3W
New York, NY 10012
(In SoHo, this is on Wooster Street at the corner of Houston. The subways near here are the F, V, B, D, and 6 at Broadway-Lafayette; the C and E at Spring Street, and the N, R, W at Prince).
What's the cost for this class and how do I pay?
The cost for the entire 3-night class is $425.00. We accept check or money order. Please make check payable to: "Brooke Thomas and Mary Callahan" and mail to our attention at this address:
Brooke and Mary
c/o Rourke Media Group
155 Wooster Street, Suite 3W
New York, NY 10012
When is the next class?
We have seats available in the following class:
November 3, 10, 17 (7pm-9pm) SOLD OUT
December 1, 8, 15 (7pm-9pm) SOLD OUT
January 5, 12, 19 (7pm-9pm) SOLD OUT
January 11, 18, 25 (7pm-9pm) For Broadway and off-Broadway performers only
*Please do not arrive at the loft before 6:45 pm as we are setting up
Is there a wait list?
As our classes sell out very quickly we do not have a formal wait list. Once you sign up for a class and make your payment, if something opens up in an earlier class we offer those seats to our students who have paid in full..
How do I register?
Simply email brooke@houseprod.com and let her know which class you would like to register for then send in your full payment.
Anything else?
Check out Mary’s interview on butterfly.
http://www.myworkbutterfly.com/profiles/blog/show?id=2570712%3ABlogPost%3A21561
Team Brooke and Mary raise over $6000 for Women’s cancers at the Revlon Walk on May 2, 2009
Check out our feature/interview in University of Rhode Island’s QUADANGLE alumni magazine.
http://advance.uri.edu/quadangles/may2008/story04.htm
And our interview on Actorslife.com
http://www.actorslife.com/article.php?id=78
And while we do not offer kids classes, check out the link below if that is what you are looking for.
Additional Workshops Currently Available
Auditioning for Television and Film.
A cold reading and audition technique class
Taught by Stephanie Venditto
Stephanie Venditto has been acting for the past 15 years in LA and NY. She knows both the NY and LA scene. With recurring roles on HOUSE and WITHOUT A TRACE as well as roles in many other episodic shows and films, Stephanie has had her share of time in the audition room. She has also worked with top directors and casting directors and knows the ins and outs of what is expected "in the room". She is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and all around cool gal.
WHAT THE CLASS IS:
The class will focus on TV and Film cold readings. The emphasis will be placed on finding the scene quickly and making smart choices, opening yourself up to be free in the room.
WHAT THE GOAL IS:
Auditions are a "necessary evil" that we cannot avoid in order to get the job. They do not have to be. This class will explore the best process for you in the audition room. Everyone's process is different so the objective will be to find what your process is and expound on it.
You will learn helpful tips, do's and don'ts in the audition room.
Typically for the first half of the class you will be paired up with a partner to work on a cold scene. The second half of the class you will audition. Sides will be emailed to you the night before the class (just like they would be in the real world) and you will bring them in.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN AUDITING THIS CLASS LET ME KNOW. There is currently a class in session.
NEXT CLASS
This is a 6 week class.
Cost: $325.00
Dates: Next class TBD in January 2010
Time: 7:30-9:30 PM
Location: 155 Wooster Street
3W
Email brooke@houseprod.com
Stephanie is also available for private coaching.
$75.00 hour
contact Stephanie at stephvendi@yahoo.com if you are interested
Special workshops and classes with Brooke and Mary
On-Camera Commercial Class for Tweens and Teens ages 11-17
Work on-camera in a small group for 4 weeks with Brooke Thomas, casting director at HOUSE Casting in NYC. During this 4-week class held on Saturdays we will work on-camera with commercial copy. We will cover reading from cue cards, improvising in the commercial audition, working with other actors on camera, talking directly into the camera, storytelling on camera, connecting with the commercial copy and learning how to be yourself while still "selling" products. At the final class 2 additional industry professionals join us to offer opinions, advice, and direction.
Designed for the tween/teens, we'll also go over how to get a good headshot, resume format, marketing tips, audition tips, how the commercial business works in NYC, what it means to be on a first refusal, business etiquette, agents that work with kids, the difference between a manager and an agent and more. Class size is limited to 12 kids.
Schedule:
Saturdays, January 2, 9, 23, 30
10:00 am to 12:00 noon
Location:
Class held in our SoHo loft studio
155 Wooster Street, Suite #3W (corner of West Houston)
NY, NY 10012
Cost:
$350.00
> Register:
Email me for enrollment information or questions.
Brooke Thomas
Casting Director
An evening with Jodi Collins
Legit Casting Director specializing in Comedy
Hosted by Brooke and Mary
Where: 155 Wooster Street 3W
When: Thursday, November 19th
7:00-9:30pm
Cost: $225.00
class size limited
This will be the last Jodi workshop before Pilot season begins.
During the course of the 2.5 hour workshop Jodi will work on legit comedic scenes with each person. She is extremely busy and is always looking for new and interesting funny people. She is currently working on Hickory Nation (feature film) and an upcoming comedy film (cannot be announced) as well as her industry reading series Creative Control so getting in front of Jodi and strutting your stuff would be worthwhile.
Jodi Collins has an eclectic casting company based in comedy, theatre and film. Her casting and scouting work for sketch comedy shows, scripted series and variety style shows includes work for networks A&E, E, Logo, NBCU digital, FOX Broadcast, Comedy Central, Discovery, FX Nickelodeon and The N.
She most recently has cast Delocated and Sheri both which are going to series , Fat Guy Stuck in the Internet and Totally for Teens for Adult Swim on the Cartoon Network, Z-Rock a series pilot for IFC, Starveillance a series for E!, I Never Said That for the A&E Network and The Scariest Show on TV a pilot for Comedy Central.
Of the more visible work is the pilot for Strangers with Candy, all seasons of The Chris Rock Show, all seasons of Viva Variety the short-lived animated comedy series for Robert Smigel TV Funhouse, and season 1 and 2 of the Big Gay Comedy Show for Rosie O'Donnell. Film and theatre credits can be seen on IMDb in the resume section.
Jodi loves dogs, actors and most highly creative people. She is currently the executive producer and creator of a successful downtown industry screenplay reading series called Creative Control.
Of course, Brooke and Mary will be cheerleading and participating in the evening. We will also have some wine and munchies as usual since we love a good party.
Private Coaching with Jodi Collins
Jodi is available for private coaching for comedy auditions for TV and Film auditions. She is also available for “Personality” coaching for public appearances for executives. Email her directly if you are interested. Jodecol@aol.com and put Brooke/Mary in the subject line.
