John Frank Levey is a casting director for John Welles Productions and is one of the most respected in the industry. Levey has won four Emmy awards (ER and West Wing) and is the recipient of the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the Casting Society of America. Levey is best known for his casting credits for hit TV shows like Southland, ER, The West Wing, China Beach, Third Watch, and Shameless (currently airing on Showtime). Levey started his career as a theater director with the NEA fellowship at the Mark Taper Forum and continues to direct theater in Los Angeles today.
John Frank Levey, Casting Director C.S.A
Emmy Winner | E.R., The West Wing, Shameless
What is a fun fact about you that people may not know?
Where did you grow up?
How did you become a casting director?
What do you love about casting?
What were your favorite casting jobs and why?
Is there a...
John Frank Levey, Casting Director C.S.A
Emmy Winner | E.R., The West Wing, Shameless
Where do you post breakdowns for auditions?
Do you audition non-union actors?
How Should An Actor Portray a Gun In An Audition
Where Do You post Breakdowns?
Where do you find readers for your audition sessions?...
John Frank Levey, Casting Director C.S.A
Emmy Winner | E.R., The West Wing, Shameless
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 from a new actor in an a...
John Frank Levey, Casting Director C.S.A
Emmy Winner | E.R., The West Wing, Shameless
Should I send a second option on a self tape?
Does casting watch second takes on self tapes?
Should my self tapes have a take 2?
Should I include a take 2?
Do you suggest I post a second take on an audition?
Sh...
John Frank Levey, Casting Director C.S.A
Emmy Winner | E.R., The West Wing, Shameless
Why am I nervous in an audition?
Why are first time actors nervous at audition?
What makes an actor nervous in an audition room?
What does nerves mean for an actor in audition?
Why do I get nervous at casting?
...
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 hands with casting at an audition?
Should I be shaking hands with casting at auditions?
Should I be sh...
Should 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 audition?
At an audition, can I wear full costume?
Is full costume encouraged at an audition?
How extre...
John Frank Levey, Casting Director C.S.A
Emmy Winner | E.R., The West Wing, Shameless
What 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 best for backdro...
John Frank Levey, Casting Director C.S.A
Emmy Winner | E.R., The West Wing, Shameless
How do I shoot a winning headshot?
What do you look for in a great headshot?
What is the recipe for success of an effective actor headshot?
How do I make my face stand out in my headshot?
Any tips on how to tak...
John Frank Levey, Casting Director C.S.A
Emmy Winner | E.R., The West Wing, Shameless
Do you like actors sending a thank you present when you hire them?
Do you expect actors sending a thank you present when you hire them?
What are your thoughts on thank you card presents from actors?
Are thank y...
John Frank Levey, Casting Director C.S.A
Emmy Winner | E.R., The West Wing, Shameless
What makes an effective demo reel?
What should I not do in my demo reel?
What should I avoid in my demo reel?
What makes a great demo reel?
Is my demo reel good enough?
Is my demo reel effective?
How can I put ...
John Frank Levey, Casting Director C.S.A
Emmy Winner | E.R., The West Wing, Shameless
Is there a wrong quality for a self tape reader?
What kind of quality should I look for in my self tape readers?
What makes a good self tape reader?
What kind of quality should I search for in choosing a self t...
John Frank Levey, Casting Director C.S.A
Emmy Winner | E.R., The West Wing, Shameless
John Frank Levey, Casting Director C.S.A
Emmy Winner | E.R., The West Wing, Shameless
If the scripts calls for a gun, what do I do in an audition?
Do I bring a gun to an audition?
Should I make a gun for my audition?
Will the CD provide a gun for my audition scene?
Do casting directors expect me...
John Frank Levey, Casting Director C.S.A
Emmy Winner | E.R., The West Wing, Shameless
John Frank Levey, Casting Director C.S.A
Emmy Winner | E.R., The West Wing, Shameless
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 Meg Morman see non-union actors?
If I am non-union, can I still get aud...
John Frank Levey, Casting Director C.S.A
Emmy Winner | ER, The West Wing, Shameless
Would you watch a tape you didn't ask sent by agents?
Will you watch a tape randomly sent by a management company to you?
If an agency sends you a tape you didn't ask, will you watch it?
Will you watch a tape ran...
John Frank Levey, Casting Director C.S.A
Emmy Winner | ER, The West Wing, Shameless
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 John Frank Levey see non-union actors?
If I am non-union, can I still get...
John Frank Levey, Casting Director C.S.A
Emmy Winner | ER, The West Wing, Shameless
Has an unsolicited tape ever led to a booking?
Have you booked from a tape you didn't ask for before?
Has your office hired actors from tapes you didn't request before?
Would you ever hire an actor from a tape th...
John Frank Levey, Casting Director C.S.A
Emmy Winner | ER, The West Wing, Shameless
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't too much in ...
John Frank Levey, Casting Director C.S.A
Emmy Winner | E.R., The West Wing, Shameless
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 offices?
Do y...
John Frank Levey, Casting Director C.S.A
Emmy Winner | E.R., The West Wing, Shameless
Do I need a hard copy of a headshot at John Frank Levey’s office?
Do I need hard copy of a resume when I go to John Frank Levey’s office?
Does John Frank Levey require hard copies of photo and resume?
Does John...
John Frank Levey, Casting Director C.S.A
Emmy Winner | E.R., The West Wing, Shameless
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 follow the script...
John Frank Levey, Casting Director C.S.A
Emmy Winner | ER, The West Wing, Shameless
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 make my sel...
