Cool and Collected

When I spent time with Donald Paul Pemrick for the Talent Managers Association Symposium, Casting from A to Z, in November, I knew I wanted to meet the other half of Pemrick/Fronk casting office. Pemrick spoke about sending postcards straight to the trash bin, but said his partner, Dean Fronk, loved receiving postcards. Pemrick mentionedusing technology on a very minimal basis in his office, but I knew he and his partner had cast the hugely succcessful CD-Rom Diablo 2.

To learn about the partnership, I visited Pemrick and Fronk in their penthouse office in Sherman Oaks, where their reputation for being actor-friendly shines through.

First Casting Job Together: Fronk's first job with Pemrick was as casting assistant for Cyber Bandits. "I came from Breakdowns. I covered all the casting directors in the valley, which was Don's territory. He really let me sit in and learn a lot about what he was doing. He loves to talk." Fronk continued, "He was doing Cyber Bandits, one of four films for IRS Media , and Donald offered me the job of assistant, or office PA, in his office."

"His rise to partner was fairly quick." Pemrick said of Fronk. "I knew he was capable of doing it. Everything, I threw onto him, he picked up on it. He could communicate really well and wasn't intimidated to stick up for who he thought was good for the role. He was running sessions within four months." Fronk recalled of his first casing director credit: "When I came on with him, IRS was in the process of expanding. Don was so busy doing six MOW's for showtime, four sci-fis for Columbia Tristart, and the Miramax film Children of the Corn. He had to have somebody else running the sessions. In seven months, we were doing Crosscut." "I had a similar situation in becoming a casting director." Pemrick explained. I was working with Marc Schwartz in the 1980's and he had me go help with a pilot at Universal. We had been doing co-casting on Three's Company, and Marc's request that I go do a pilot led me to my staff position at Universal."

Coolest Casting Gig:"One False Move", Pemrick volunteered without hesitation. (Producer) Jesse Beaton and (Director) Carl Franklin allowed me to be as creative in casting as they were in what they did." Pemrick continued his list: "Family films are also fun to cast. Kids are so unpredictable. We just did five family movies this year and that's just different kind of casting." Said Fronk, "My favorite(casting gig) was House of 1000 Corpses. It's the Rob Zombie film we did for Universal. (Zombie) let us find the most creative people we could, focusing on the look and acting ability, not on what they'd done. When it comes out it'll be a cult classic, with this eclectic cast."

Another favorite for Fronk was 2000's No. 1-selling entertainment CD-Rom, Diablo 2. "Even thought it was voices we were casting, we wanted actors to bring the characters to life." he recalled. "I'm a video-game nut, so, for me, it was a great experience."

Key Things They Look for in an Actor:"A sense of professionalism," said Fronk. Actors need to know how to conduct themselves from the moment they get off the elevator. That time in the lobby during their read, they should be 100 percent professional. "If you're nervous," Fronk continued, everybody else senses it. There's a level of poise that comes with confidence in your ability. If your nervous, it affects your read." As for what an actor should do with that nervous energy, Fronk advised, "Use that flow of energy to hit your mark, but not so that we pick up on the fact that it's your nerves driving you." Pemrick interjected, "Being in the room longer does not mean you are more likely to get the job. Don't assume if someone ahead of you is in here with us for a few more minutes than you are that you need to ask questions to get to stay longer. The length of time you're in the room really has nothing to do with how well you've done."

Pet peeves:"Bring your photo, always," Fronk requested. "Even if your agent has sent one, bring another. A client may take the one your agent sent, and if, after everyone is gone, we're looking through the headshots and your's isn't in there, we're not going to spend a lot of time tracking another one down. It's Marketing 101. Have photos with you." Fronk continued:Treat the audition like a job. You wouldn't show up late to your job or unprepared to do your job. Be professional."

"At every opporunity you should be 100 percent together." Pemrick added. "We book our appointments three or four days in advance. Get those sides and know the tone of the film. We try to make the entire script available to our actors, so that the actors have the most information possible by the time they audition. With television it is our duty to watch the show you'll be reading for. Know whether it's two-camera, three-camera, live audience, filmed. This is all part of your job."

Advice for Actors"Confidence comes from the versatility of your training. Make choices, follow your intuition, and make sure your intuition is founded in training." Fronk summarized. "Build a strong network of support around you. This should be friends, directors, writers, other actors, whoever, so that you can bounce things off one another. It's a creative industry, but the business end is about generating dollars. It's not all by-the-book, so you'd better have a great support system and sense of humor, or you'll go crazy here."

"Diversify," Pemrick added. "Doing that has kept me sane." Pemrick has written two television pilots, three films, and worked as a director of a theatre company. "I've worn these other hats, and that gives me a sense of perspective on the business. There's no normal promotional ladder in this business. Remember that work begets work. We have cast musicals, consulted on student films-all sorts of things. You never know. If you like the material, never say no. You never know what little gem you may be working on."

Currently Casting:Indie and studio films: 4th of July Christmas(family holiday film for 2000);Tuck, the Movie(a black comedy); East of Pixley(an intense drama): Stardust(a studio film for RayStar), and a family film for Porchlight Entertainment.

Best Way to Get Seen by Them:"Let us see your tape," Pemrick instructed. Demo reels, according to Pemrick/Fronk Casting, should only have an actor montage at the end of the tape, if at all. "Also include some credits, especially the director's names," Pemrick suggested. "If you've worked with someone I know, I'd like to ask them about your work."

"It's a very small town," Fronk added. We know those indie directors. And, if you want, send over a work in progress and let us tell your manager or agent how to help you make it a better reel."

Fronk further indicated that persistence is the best way to be seen. "If you're in a play, hound us. We get five or six offers a day to see shows. If you're persistent enough about your show, we will give you a chance."

What about unsolicited mailings or drop-offs? "All headshots are looked at," insisted Pemrick. "Personalize your submission a little bit, though. We read it all. Let me know that you've seen on cable something we cast and tell me what you thought of it. There's never a time we're not casting something, so just go ahead and send (your headshot and resume')."

Trends in Casting:"A trend in casting sessions, I've noticed, is that there is much more filming of sessions."Fronk said. "Actors need to learn more filming of sessions," Fronk said. Actors need to learn how to do on-camera auditons. We're sending tapes to producers now, rather than having actors in repeatedly for sessions. So don't assume that no producer will see it just because you're doing a read in front of the camera. Don't be bummed out that the director isn't in the room. In fact, more people will see your audition when it's taped."

Pemrick agreed: "Prereads don't really exist anymore for us. Be ready by knowing what colors to wear on-camera. Have the mindset that you're going to be on-camera, even if you haven't been told that, coming in for the audition."

Pemrick/Fronk Casting
14724 Ventura Blvd., Penthouse
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
www.pfcast.com