Dave Newman (Interview)

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.

Dave Newman (Interview)
  • A Conversation With Casting Director Dave Newman

    with David Newman, CGA
    CGA Winning Casting Director | Dora the Explorer & LCoG, Tidelands, The Family Law

    In 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...

  • David Newman: Rapid Fire

    David Newman, CGA
    CGA Winning Casting Director
    Dora the Explorer, Tidelands & The Family Law

    Where 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 Can An Actor Make A Good Impression In An Audition Room?

    David Newman, CGA
    CGA Winning Casting Director | Dora the Explorer & LCoG, Tidelands, The Family Law

    How can an actor Impress In the room?
    Any tips for me to make a good impression at my audition?
    How can I make a good impression in an audition?
    How do I make a good impression on a casting di...

  • How Do You Select Which Actors To Audition?

    David Newman, CGA
    CGA Winning Casting Director | Dora the Explorer & LCoG, Tidelands, The Family Law

    How do you select people to audition?
    What makes you decide to bring an actor in to your office to audition?
    What makes you decide to choose an actor to audition?
    What is the selection process...

  • 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 Law

    Is 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...

  • Which Props (If Any) Are Appropriate In Auditions?

    with David Newman, CGA
    CGA Winning Casting Director
    Dora the Explorer, Tidelands & The Family Law

    Can 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 Law

    Do 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...

  • When, If Ever, Can Actors Improvise Or Paraphrase In Auditions?

    with David Newman, CGA
    CGA Winning Casting Director
    Dora the Explorer, Tidelands & The Family Law

    Can 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...

  • Where Do You Find Readers For Your Audition Sessions?

    with David Newman, CGA
    CGA Winning Casting Director
    Dora the Explorer, Tidelands & The Family Law

    Where 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 Law

    Do 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...

  • Where Do You Post Auditions?

    with David Newman, CGA
    CGA Winning Casting Director | Dora the Explorer & LCoG, Tidelands, The Family Law

    Where 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...

  • 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 Law

    I 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 ...

  • What % Of Actors Auditioned Are Working Actors vs New Talent?

    David Newman, CGA
    CGA Winning Casting Director | Dora the Explorer & LCoG, Tidelands, The Family Law

    What percentage of actors you audition are working actors with impressive resumes?
    What percentage of actors do you know?
    Do you ever seen unknown actors?
    Do you see mostly new actors for aud...

  • In An Audition, Should I Talk In The Character's Voice Before & After The Scene?

    David Newman, CGA
    CGA Winning Casting Director | Dora the Explorer & LCoG, Tidelands, The Family Law

    Should I stay in accent the whole audition?
    Should I arrive in character to an audition?
    Should I stay in character during an audition?
    Should I speak in the character's voice before and after...

  • 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 Law

    Do 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 Do You See Seasoned Actors Do Differently To New Actors In Auditions?

    With David Newman, CGA
    CGA Winning Casting Director | Dora the Explorer & LCoG, Tidelands, The Family Law

    What do professional actors do differently to new actors in an audition?
    What separates the professional actors from new actors in an audition?
    How can you tell a professional actors fr...

  • What Has Motivated You To Take A Chance On Auditioning An Actor You Don't Know?

    With David Newman, CGA
    CGA Winning Casting Director | Dora the Explorer & LCoG, Tidelands, The Family Law

    What Made You Take A Chance On An Actor You Don't Know?
    When do you take a chance on new actors?
    Why would you take a chance on a new actor?
    Would you ever take a chance on a new actor?
    Wh...

  • 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 Law

    Will 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 Gifts Do You Love & Not Love?

    David Newman, CGA
    CGA Winning Casting Director | Dora the Explorer, Tidelands & The Family Law

    What 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 Are The Important Aspects Of A Professional Self Tape?

    David Newman, CGA
    CGA Winning Casting Director | Dora the Explorer & LCoG, Tidelands, The Family Law

    What 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...

  • What Is Your Preferred Delivery Method For Self Tapes?

    David Newman, CGA
    CGA Winning Casting Director | Dora the Explorer, Tidelands & The Family Law

    What 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 Law

    Do 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 Law

    Do 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 Law

    Would 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...