Dave Newman (Interview)
David has worked in various aspects of the industry for the last 30 years, the last 20 years in casting, including 7 years working with Christine King Casting. Having started his casting career with hundreds of commercial projects he then progressed to work on some of the biggest and most successful feature film & long-form drama projects to shoot in Australia.
He spent 15 months as the Australian Casting Associate on 'The Pacific' (Stephen Spielberg, Tom Hanks, HBO), scoured the country and personally conducting well over 3000 auditions on this project alone. 'The Pacific' won the 2010 Emmy award for Outstanding Casting for a Mini Series, Movie or Special – Dave calls The Pacific his ‘degree in casting’. For the past two years Dave has been honoured to represent his peers as Vice President of the Casting Guild of Australia.
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A Conversation With Casting Director Dave Newman
with David Newman, CGA
CGA Winning Casting Director | Dora the Explorer & LCoG, Tidelands, The Family LawIn 2012, Dave Newman joined forces with fellow casting director, Tom McSweeney to form McSweeney Newman Casting, with offices and studio space in Sydney, Queensland and an 'at need' stud...
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David Newman: Rapid Fire
David Newman, CGA
CGA Winning Casting Director
Dora the Explorer, Tidelands & The Family LawWhere do you post auditions?
Do you audition non-union actors?
Does SAG-AFTRA vs SAG-AFTRA Elligible make a difference?
Where do you find readers for your audition sessions?
Do you ask for headshots an... -
How Important Is It To Be Off Book In An Audition?
with David Newman, CGA
CGA Winning Casting Director
Dora the Explorer, Tidelands & The Family LawIs it important to be off book at an audition?
Is off book important in an audition?
Do you expect actors to be off book in an audition?
Should actors be off book at auditions?
In castings, can I r... -
What Are The Qualities Of An Agent That Will Attract You To Their Client List?
David Newman, CGA
CGA Winning Casting Director | Dora the Explorer & LCoG, Tidelands, The Family LawWill you ever discount an actor with a difficult agent?
Are there agents you won't work with?
Would you ever not bring an actor in if they were represented by a bad agent?
Is an actor has a di... -
What Are The Important Aspects Of A Professional Self Tape?
David Newman, CGA
CGA Winning Casting Director | Dora the Explorer & LCoG, Tidelands, The Family LawWhat are the do's and don't's of self tapes?
Can you tell me the dos and don't of self tapes?
Are there some dos and don'ts of self tapes?
What are a few dos and don'ts of self tapes?
Do you... -
Do You Like When Actors Send Thank You Notes After An Audition?
David Newman, CGA
CGA Winning Casting Director | Dora the Explorer, Tidelands & The Family LawDo you expect an actor to follow up with a thank you note after an audition?
Should actors follow up with a thank you note after an audition?
Do casting directors expect an actor to follow up with a th... -
What Gifts Do You Love & Not Love?
David Newman, CGA
CGA Winning Casting Director | Dora the Explorer, Tidelands & The Family LawWhat gifts do you not like?
What gifts are too much?
Do you expect thank you gifts as a casting director?
Are cards enough as a thank you gift to casting?
Do cards look cheap from a casting director ... -
What Is Your Preferred Delivery Method For Self Tapes?
David Newman, CGA
CGA Winning Casting Director | Dora the Explorer, Tidelands & The Family LawWhat method should I submit my tape via?
Should I post my self tapes to You Tube to give to casting?
Should I post my self tapes to Vimeo to give to casting?
Should my self tapes be downloadable?
Do I ... -
Has A Bad Self-Tape Reader Ever Cost An Actor A Job?
David Newman, CGA
CGA Winning Casting Director | Dora the Explorer, Tidelands & The Family LawDo bad self tape readers ruin self tapes?
What is the impact of a bad reader in a self tape?
Should I retape if my reader is bad?
Are bad readers on a self tape a deal breaker?
Can a bad self tape read... -
Have You Hired An Actor From An Unsolicited Self Tape?
with David Newman, CGA
CGA Winning Casting Director
Dora the Explorer, Tidelands & The Family LawDo you remember hiring from an unsolicited self tape?
Do unsolicited tapes work?
Do actors book from unsolicited self tapes?
Can I book by sending an unasked for tape to casting?
Would you ever boo... -
Do You Ever Watch Unsolicited Self Tapes Sent By Representation?
with David Newman, CGA
CGA Winning Casting Director
Dora the Explorer, Tidelands & The Family LawWould you watch a tape you didn't ask sent by agents?
Would you want a tape that you didn't ask for if it was sent by an agent you trusted?
Do you watch tapes sent by management if you didn't reque... -
What Backdrop Colors Do You Prefer In A Self Tape?
with David Newman, CGA
CGA Winning Casting Director
Dora the Explorer, Tidelands & The Family LawWhat backdrop colors are best for self tapes?
For self tapes, what backdrop color should I choose?
Is blue best for self tapes?
Is a grey background best for self tapes auditions?
What color is bes... -
Which Props (If Any) Are Appropriate In Auditions?
with David Newman, CGA
CGA Winning Casting Director
Dora the Explorer, Tidelands & The Family LawCan I bring props to an audition?
Who provides props at an audition?
What props should I bring to a casting?
What props can I use at a casting?
What props is OK to bring to casting?
What props aren... -
How Do You Feel About Actors Shaking Hands At An Audition?
with David Newman, CGA
CGA Winning Casting Director
Dora the Explorer, Tidelands & The Family LawDo you expect actors to shake hands with you at an audition?
Should actors shake hands with you at an audition?
Should actors avoid shaking hands with you at an audition?
Is it rude to not shake ha... -
Do You Ask For Headshots & Resumes In Hardcopy?
with David Newman, CGA
CGA Winning Casting Director
Dora the Explorer, Tidelands & The Family LawDo I need a hard cop of a headshot at David Newman‘s office?
Do I need hard copy of a resume when I go to David Newman’s office?
Does David Newman require hard copies of photo and resume?
Does Davi... -
When, If Ever, Can Actors Improvise Or Paraphrase In Auditions?
with David Newman, CGA
CGA Winning Casting Director
Dora the Explorer, Tidelands & The Family LawCan actors improv in audition?
Can I add a button at the end of my audition?
Can I paraphrase in auditions?
Can I improvise in my audition?
How much can I paraphrase in auditions?
Do I have to foll... -
If I Can't Find A Reader, Can I Pre-Record The Other Character's Lines Myself?
with David Newman, CGA
CGA Winning Casting Director
Dora the Explorer, Tidelands & The Family LawCan I tape my own voice reading the other role's lines for a self tape?
When I can't find a reader can I record on my own?
Can I tape a self tape without a reader?
If I can't get another actor to r... -
Where Do You Find Readers For Your Audition Sessions?
with David Newman, CGA
CGA Winning Casting Director
Dora the Explorer, Tidelands & The Family LawWhere do you look for readers?
Who read for your actors in auditions?
At auditions, who is the reader?
Can I be a reader for your auditions?
Where can I regifted to be a reader for auditions at CD ... -
Do You Audition Non-Union Actors?
with David Newman, CGA
CGA Winning Casting Director
Dora the Explorer, Tidelands & The Family LawDo you see non-union actors?
Do you only see union actors?
Do you see union and non-union actors?
If I am non-union, will you see me?
Does Dave Newman see non-union actors?
If I am non-union, can I... -
Does MEAA Membership Make A Difference For Actors?
with David Newman, CGA
CGA Winning Casting Director
Dora the Explorer, Tidelands & The Family LawWill you see non-MEAA actors?
Are non-MEAA actors still able to audition?
Is not being MEAA a deal breaker to auditioning?
Will you audition someone who is not with MEAA?
Will you audition someone ... -
Do You Like Actors To Wear Costumes Or Dress The Part?
With David Newman, CGA
CGA Winning Casting Director
Dora the Explorer, Tidelands & The Family LawShould I dress in full costume at a casting?
Can I costume for an audition?
Should I wear full costume at a casting?
At a casting, can I go full costume?
Would you recommend, full costume at an aud... -
Where Do You Post Auditions?
with David Newman, CGA
CGA Winning Casting Director | Dora the Explorer & LCoG, Tidelands, The Family LawWhere does David Neman post auditions?
Where can I find auditions for David Newman?
How does my agent see auditions from David Newman?
Where can I find auditions notices from McSweeney N... -
How Many Megabytes Should A Self Tape Be When Sending To Casting?
with David Newman, CGA
CGA Winning Casting Director | Dora the Explorer & LCoG, Tidelands, The Family LawShould I export my self tape at the highest resolution?
How big is too big when exporting my self tape?
Should I send low res self tapes?
What is the ideal size for casting in regard to ... -
If An Actor Truly Bombs An Audition, Should They Reach Out To Apologize?
David Newman, CGA
CGA Winning Casting Director | Dora the Explorer, Tidelands & The Family LawI bombed my audition - what should I do?
Should I apologize to casting about a bad audition?
After a bad audition, should I apologize?
Should I check in with casting if I bomb an audition?
I bombed an ...
