COVID-19 has brought new elements to our lives and also sped up some changes which were already underway. Working practices are shifting.
Ideas like working from home, flexible hours and video conferencing are not new ideas. The move towards flexibility, finding a work-life balance and consideration of the environment sped up.
At Kayos, we’ve experienced the acceleration of changes which we were introducing gradually. The best example of this is our virtual casting service. As the pandemic hit, we were using elements of this online approach, and overnight it is now our most viable version of casting!
Our virtual casting service offers risk-free casting. From first audition, through callback, to cast confirmation. We’re confident that it delivers the same quality as our traditional castings: Our casting team direct talent live, focus on finding and preparing the best performers for each project, and deliver casting footage which answers the needs of each specific project.
We recently attended the CPA-hosted Zoom meeting, along with agents, crew, and other casting directors. It was great to connect with members of our film community. We value the social element and the collaborative approach of the film industry!
Several key concerns were raised, about the future of our industry. Three main issues relevant to the casting process were:
1. Talent spreading COVID-19 and increasing risk to others, from home to studio casting and to set.
2. The CPA COVID-19 task force and the Labour Department have worked on the best way to issue permits for adults and children to get to and from castings.
3. The impact on the quality of casting, when basing casting decisions on self-tapes. The impression is that talent who are not directed in the traditional studio manner will not be able to offer their best performances. Also discussed was the delays that can happen with self-tape castings, as they can take several days to turn around, with the quality of performance footage not guaranteed.
Our virtual studio service answers all these concerns, and ensures a risk-free casting from the initial audition, through callback, to cast confirmation:
1. The talent audition from home, so there’s no risk of transmission or spreading of COVID-19.
2. No permit required to do a virtual casting! This reduces costs. It also means that a successful casting is not subject to smooth administration by the relevant municipal body.
3. Performance in our Virtual Studio is directed live by our Kayos Casting Directors. This answers the challenge around maintaining quality of performances and footage. We have done over 50 virtual castings, so already have extensive experience in live direction in the virtual studio. We focus on the best performances and footage possible.
Our job is to guide the talent, so as to be their best in the studio. Although everyone is getting used to finding their strongest angle for zoom quizzes and parties, we’ve got a few magic tricks up our sleeves! We’ve been collaborating with the talent to find the best camera angle and lighting in their home.
We prepare the talent ahead of time with video performance briefs. This allows the requested talent to prepare ahead of time, and be further directed, live, by our casting directors. Using our virtual casting service allows clients to see the most appropriate people, regardless of where they’re currently based. This improves our chances of finding what you’re looking for.
At the end of the virtual casting day, you will receive the casting footage in a standardised, easy- to- view presentation.
If the traditional physical studio is required and allowed by regulations at that relevant time, we will follow the CPA gazetted protocols at the physical studio. There will be an effective execution of sanitisation. However, we encourage the use of the Virtual Studio service as it will minimise these Covid-19 related factors.