What do these upcoming movies “The Sound and Fury,” “As I Lay Dying,” both directed by and starring James Franco and “Blackbird” starring Oscar winner Mo’nique and “Sticky Notes” starring Rose Leslie from “Game of Thrones” and “The Hollars” directed by and starring John Krasinski with Anna Kendrick have in common? Matthew Morgan.
Morgan is a member of Casting Society of America and has cast many roles in these aforementioned movies as a casting director. He and his team at Morgan Casting, Inc. will be in Oxford at the Powerhouse this Saturday for a casting bootcamp. It is called a bootcamp because it does not sugarcoat the world of casting and auditioning for aspiring actors. Participants will learn how to do both live and video auditioning with several exercises that can include improvisation, on-camera scene work and auditioning do’s and don’t’s. Actors will be sent slides from which to choose a scene to prepare for and then upload a video audition to Breakdown Services prior to attending the bootcamp. The actors are also requested to arrive with a 60-90 sec monologue of their choice and prepared to perform the monologue at the workshop. The workshop will end with about 15 to 30 minutes of questions and answers from the participants for Matthew & his team.
“My workshops are fun!” Morgan said, “They are a mix of really useful information that will help someone auditioning have the best chance possible to land a role and impress a casting director. I’ll share my honest insight on exactly what a casting director looks for when auditioning talent. Furthermore we get physical and creative too! Lots of improve and fun games that all teach valuable concepts and skills needed to succeed in this business.”
The bootcamp will begin at 12 p.m. and go on until 4:30 p.m. for 13 years and up. The cost for this workshop is $100 with limited space. There is also an acting workshop for children ages six to twelve beginning at 9:30 a.m. and go on until 12 p.m. The cost for that workshop is around $75 with a fee of $2.87. The tickets are available here. Snacks and refreshments are provided for and covered in the ticket price.
“I am a proud Mississippian,” Morgan said, “Born in McComb and grew up in Canton, MS. I currently live in Toronto, Canada yet spend a great deal of time in Mississippi and Louisiana doing what I love most: casting movies.”
Morgan is a worldly man. The Mississippian-born lived and studied in Canada, France and Spain. With degrees in international business and foreign languages, Morgan worked for a model and talent agency in Toronto along with another casting company. He realized his passion in finding talent. With over a decade of real-people casting experience under his belt he opened Morgan Casting, Inc. in 2004. He proudly celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. His company not only does movie casting but also shorts, documentaries and T.V. shows and T.V./web commercials and print ads and voice overs and music videos and live events. Morgan Casting, Inc. also offers services in English, French and Spanish. Its offices are in Toronto, Ont.; New Orleans, Louis.; and Canton, Miss. ​ Morgan described his casting for this year: “We auditioned lots of talented people for these (recent) films. It was my job to find the very best and present them to my directors. I’ve been very blessed to work with some talented clients. James Franco and John Krasinski, to name two directors, for whom I’ve cast.”
For more information on Morgan Casting, Inc. go here and more information about the casting bootcamp here.
Callie Daniels is a reporter and staff writer for HottyToddy.com For comments, criticism or story ideas write her at callie.daniels@hottytoddy.com.
Morgan Casting Bootcamp at Powerhouse This Weekend
