Bonnie Gillespie's new book, "Casting Qs: A Collection of Casting Director Interviews," is a compliation of over 120 interviews with casting directors in Los Angeles and New York, all of which originally appeared in her weekly column, "Casting Qs," in "Back Stage West," the actors trade weekly.
Casting directors are the gatekeepers to every producer, director, and filmmaker in the entertainment industry. Their ability to size up and actor's fit to a role is what makes them the ones that filter the thousands of potential actors into the handful the decision-makers will see audition for one role. Actors must have an understanding of this process!
Certain actors have an edge over their competition. Part of that edge comes from being keenly aware of what casting directors are looking for. That awareness--and an actor's edge--starts here.
Other casting director guides on the market are not as comprehensive or as business-minded as "Casting Qs: A Collection of Casting Director Interviews." Bonnie Gillespie's experience as a former actor allows her to ask questions on behalf of working actors everywhere.
Bonnie Gillespie, originally from Atlanta, Georgia, holds a Master's degree in Journalism from the University of Georgia. Her thesis, "Broadcasting in the Elementary School," is an ethnographic study of live television news broadcasts developed and produced entirely by students. Bonnie has worked as Instructional Technology Coordinator for Athens Academy and developed extensive staff enrichment courses in the integration of media and technology in education. As Graduate Advisor to WUOG, 90.5fm, Bonnie was named College Radio Advisor of the Year, 1997, by the National Association of College Broadcasters.
Bonnie's pursuit of acting brought her to Los Angeles, where she soon began working as a freelance writer for several publications. Recent freelance clients include Back Stage West, the Sundance Institute, Roxbury Publishing Company, Hey Anita, Reel Noir, and several online publications including ExtraPadding.com, the home of her humor column, "Don't Get Me Started," and EverythingElse.net, the home of "It's Like This...".
Bonnie has retired from acting, preferring instead to write and teach about the craft of casting and the business of acting. She works as a personal consultant to actors and is a frequent guest speaker at several acting studios in Los Angeles.
Her column, "Casting Qs," appears weekly in "Back Stage West" and she dispenses advice at ActorsBone.com, ActorPoint.com, WildOgre.com, and BackStage.com's Career Chat. Bonnie lives in the Hollywood Hills with her fiancé and two cats.
