Secret Correspondence With Casting Director Leaked

I’m going to show you the email exchange I’ve been having with one of NYC’s top movie and television casting directors, Paul Schnee, from Barden Schnee Casting.

By sharing this email exchange not only will I fulfill my obligation to write a blog post for the new year. But I’ll get to nurture the yummy/lazy part of myself. ahhhh.

Just to give you an idea, Paul Schnee and Kerry Barden have 20 movies that are currently in production. That’s extraordinary.

Over the years they’ve cast me in the mini-series, The Bronx Is Burning, and many movies including Teeth, The Normals ( which I just finished) and Price Check ( the movie I’m starting in 3 weeks playing opposite Parker Posey).

Schnee understands the power of Committed Impulse and wants to be part of the next weekend workshop in NYC.

I am sooo excited to have him join us!

Here we go…

The email exchange started with a lovely E holiday card from Barden/Schnee Casting.

On Dec 17, 2010, at 4:23 PM, Barden / Schnee Casting wrote:

HAPPY HOLIDAYS From
Barden / Schnee Casting

On Dec 19, 2010, at 8:14 PM, Josh Pais> wrote:

You Guys are the best.
You constantly renew my faith in our business.
But can you please start doing films that pay something??
I love you
Josh Pais

NOTE: Of course the movies they cast pay the actors – it’s just not always on the scale of a blockbuster Hollywood movie. ( These days a lot of blockbuster Hollywood movies don’t pay on the scale of blockbuster Hollywood movies – but that’s another story.) I’m back.

On Dec 27, 2010, at 10:18 AM, Paul Schnee wrote:

The love is returned. As for the pay, well, we like to keep doing these movies where we don’t make anything either, so as to keep our indie cred.
When is your next committed impulse class in NYC? You and I had talked about my coming in one time, I guess toward the end to talk about ci and applying it to auditions, etc….
Happy, happy.
Paul

On Dec 27, 2010, at 12:00 PM, Josh Pais> wrote:

Yes
I’m doing an on camera weekend workshop March 4, 5 & 6, 2011.
If you’d be up for coming and talking, answering questions for 45 minutes or an hour – that’d be awesome.
I’d be honored to have you there, and I know everyone would get such value from your presence.
Let me know.
Josh

On Dec 31, 2010, at 12:02 PM, Paul Schnee> wrote:

Cool. I would love to. I really think, at least from what I can tell, that the committed impulse work is very applicable to auditioning, since we sit through sooooooo many people making zero choice and therefore not having an opinion, attitude, whatever you want to call it. I think you know what I mean. I would love to sit in on the on camera part, maybe and work in a q and a to that, so it’s not just me blabbing.  I suspect that everyone gets more out of it if the q and a is done in and amongst the work so it’s a little more alive…
But whatever you want to do with me, I’m at your disposal….
Happy new year to you and yours..
P

On Dec 31, 2010, at 12:02 PM, Josh Pais> wrote:

Hey can I use part of your last email in a lil article I want to write for the CI peeps.
I think it’s such valuable info for actors.
RE: fear of making choices.
Lemme know.
J

On Dec 31, 2010, at 1:29 PM, Paul Schnee> wrote:

Sure. Geh head.

End of email exchange…

So there you have it.

So many actors get caught up in the trap of trying to be natural and real. What that ends up being is dead and quiet. Not interesting. Not going to get you hired. There is a vast world between trying to be natural and real compared to being honest and available to your impulses. And, the Committed Impulse approach reveals all the tools you need to be both honest and make bold, dynamic choices.

This year, let’s step into the light. Let’s make those bold choices that reveal our truth. Let’s trust in the gift of our impulses and make a difference in the world through our art and our business.

As you can see, it looks like Paul will be joining us in New York for the On Camera weekend workshop.

There are still some spaces (this is a limited enrollment course) if you want to be there as well:

http://committedimpulse.com/nyc-camera/

And you can be sure that this year we will be bringing more top notch directors and casting directors into the Committed Impulse classes to continue the exploration of creating from truth and impulse.

This is only the beginning.

2011 will be a year of creativity and wonder. It’s a new game. Let’s play.

Josh Pais