03/14/10 01:20 Model Advice
Model Advice
One of the best ways to get on the map as a model is
to be featured in a music video, and the bigger the
artist the better. However,
any music video
that gets airplay on BET or MTV can jump start a
model's career. In this article, I'm going to give
you some basic starting points on how to get into a
music video.
Geography
I get questions all the time from women in the
Midwest asking about how to get into music videos.
The harsh reality is that if you are not in Los
Angeles, Miami, Atlanta, or New York it will be very
difficult to get cast in a
US-based
music video because most of them are filmed in those
cities, and especially Los Angeles. So if you are
serious about being a video vixen and you don't live
in one of those areas, a change in location may be in
order.
Submit to Castings
Almost every major music video is sent out through
the various casting services such as
LA Casting (Talent Signup),
Breakdowns Services (Actors
Access),
Back Stage East & West,
Craig's List, etc. If you
have an agent, they will submit you for castings
and you don't have to worry about this, but
presumably if you're reading this, you don't
have an agent yet. Of course, there is always
some
other way to find out about a
casting, ie., through the music video director,
someone in the artist's entourage, or through a
casting director that sees you somewhere. But
all of those methods are unlikely. Of the
casting sources mentioned above, the one I'd
most highly recommend is LA Casting Network.
There is a fee - $14.95 a month - but all of the
major music videos, and other good jobs, go out
over LA Castings. Once you sign up you will have
to create a profile and submit a picture. Do not
rush through the profile creation. The more
accurate it is, the more information casting
directors will have about you. Also, make sure
your pictures are high quality and showcase your
body nicely. That is very important for music
video castings.
The Audition
You will have to audition to be in a music
video. This will entail showing up at the casting,
signing in, and waiting to be called in by the
casting director.
Be on time for your casting
appointment! You are being judged every step of
the way. In the audition you may be asked to read
lines or dance seductively for the camera. Your
competition will be at the casting, so be prepared to
see other pretty faces. You should come to the
casting dressed in something that showcases your body
(in a tasteful way) and that you can move around in
without embarrassing yourself. You also need to bring
a high quality photo of yourself with your height,
measurements and resume stapled to it. You should
wear natural, light make up and look "fresh faced."
Be prepared to wait some. Click the video clip to the
left to view a brief segment from a VH1 documentary
concerning video vixens and the casting process (it
takes a few minutes to load).
Getting The Role
If you have "the look" you will eventually get cast
in a music video. When I first met Bria, she had gone
to a casting for a 50 Cent video, but she didn't get
the part. Determined, she crashed the video with some
friends who knew where it was. The moment 50 saw her,
he told the director he wanted her in the video.
Music video directors are always looking for super
hot models, and especially new ones. So if you've got
the "It Factor," and go to enough castings, you will
soon be on your way
The Players
In Los Angeles, some of the key music video casting
directors are
Fred Johnson,
Pablo Cornejo,
David Kang, and
Anissa Williams. Fred and
Pablo have cast some of the hottest music videos
by the biggest players. If you think you've got
what it takes, it may be worth it to submit a
headshot and resume to one of these casting
directors, but don't be surprised if you don't
hear anything. These guys have seen the most
beautiful women in LA and their inboxes are
flooded with submissions.
Tags:Music Videos