Artist ID:

Artist Guide

3Welcome to Mad Dog Casting! Thank you for coming in today and we hope that you are as excited as we are about working together.

This Artist Guide has been put together so that you will have all the information you need while being registered with us. Please take the time to read this as it does contain important information.

We love being involved in casting and work hard to provide interesting and varied work opportunities for our artists. However, because the industry can be so erratic there are a few things that are important to know:

It is impractical to regard background work as a full time job, so please do not be upset if you are not booked as often as you would like.

If we have put you forward for a job we may not hear whether or not you are confirmed until the evening before the shoot.

The details for a production that you have been booked on will more than likely be given to you around 6pm the night before the shoot.

Mad Dog Casting has been operating for over 10 years and we pride ourselves on the work that we do. Mad Dog has worked on some of the biggest feature films in the world as well as popular television series and numerous commercials.

pencils

4 5

Maziar Yazdanian Director Formerly from the City, Maziar is co-founder and Commercial Director of the MyJam Group. A media organisation specialising in talent management, Maziar is involved across all of the companys activities, particularly in helping clients with their business affairs. Maziar has recently taken over the overall operations at Mad Dog. When not working he can be found sampling some of the culinary delights that London has to offer.

James Bulmer Director James co-founded the MyJam Group with the aim of creating a one-stop-shop in the media world. James manages the commercial affairs of a number of clients in the talent division of MyJam, directly overseeing opportunities that fall outside of their normal working environment, which includes publication contracts, television appearances and product licensing agreements. James now helps oversee Mad Dogs daily operations, and when it is time to relax you can usually find him at some sporting tournament.

Tyler Slade Project Manager Commercials

Tyler is from the sunny South-coast town of Bognor Regis, but upped sticks and moved to London in 2002. The longest standing member of the Mad Dog team, Tyler manages the commercials projects. When not injecting his energy into casting, Tyler enjoys music, football and likes to socialise over a Guinness.

He likes to partake religiously in afternoon tea at 4pm, a tradition he inherited from the legendary office manager RMBB.

Lucy Lund Project Manager TV

After working in the Producers Office for the final two Harry Potter films, Lucy swapped the rural backdrop of Leavesden Studios for the hustle and bustle of Central London. Having joined Mad Dog as the Accounts Administrator, she has now teamed up with Tyler to project manage TV and commercials. Aside from charity shopping, Lucy enjoys dancing badly to good music.

Kate McLaughlin Head of Casting

Kate moved to London from Dublin four years ago to work as a Crowd 2nd Assistant Director on feature films such as How to Lose Friends and Alienate People and Me and Orson Welles. Kate came to Mad Dog in 2010 to manage the day to day running of the company and run the feature film projects. She kicked off her time at Mad Dog with Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. Out of the office, Kate likes board sports and films with sad endings.

We often have freelance project managers and project assistants working with us. An up to date list can be found on our website in the about section under who we are.

6 7

VODAFONE WED 23rd @ 0700 AM Location: Vodafone Store Kensington High St W8 1AH Wardrobe: Plz take 3x smart casual options. No Logos! Plz txt back name + Vodafone to confirm

Joe Bloggs + VF

Our database is our lifeline! It holds all of our artists phone numbers, measurements and photos and allows us to send texts out to hundreds of people with the click of a button. However, in order for our system to be effective there are some things you need to know.

MADDOG: R U free Wed 23rd Sept for a VODAFONE shoot in Kensington. 90 B/Ground If YES plz txt back ur name + VF by 4pm.

Example Message 1:

PLEASE NOTE: The letters that we ask you to text back with after your name do not concern you. In the example text message VF obviously refers to Vodafone but please dont worry if you dont know what they stand for. It is so our system knows which job you are replying to.

Please reply before the cut off point that has been specified in the message e.g. in the example message the time given is 4pm. If you reply AFTER this time you will not be put forward for the job so dont waste a text.

Sample Reply: You must make sure that you reply with your FIRST and LAST name. We have a lot of people with names such as Sheila, Kate, Paul and Philip so we need full names so we know who is who.

Example Message 2: When you are confirmed on a job , the details will also be sent out via text message and we will ask you to respond to confirm that you have them all and know where you are going.

Sample Reply: When you receive a text message with details please text back to confirm IMMEDIATELY so we know that you are all ready for the next day. This is NB as we can not leave the office until everyone has checked in for the following day.

Joe Bloggs + Vodafone

When we need to contact you about a job, we will do so by text message. The messages are heavily abbreviated in order to fit in lots of information. Please see example below.

8 9

Please remember that when you text back to say that you are free for a job you are immediately on a pencil. We will tell our clients you are free, so please KEEP all dates free! We look bad if we try to confirm you and then you say you cant do it.

If you have put yourself forward for a job (ie are pencilled) and something comes up please just call and let us know so we can tell our client that you are no longer available - though please try to avoid pulling out of pencils.

You would expect us to tell you if you dont get chosen for something so please give us the same courtesy and let us know if you are not free anymore.

If you have not done work like this before you will need to know how the process works:

Artists receive texts asking their availability

Artists reply back with their name to say they are available for the shoot. These artists are

now on a pencil.

Project Manager sends photos to client for them to choose from

Client comes back with list of chosen artists for the shoot

Project Manager sends out a text to confirm selected artists and another to

release those not selected (artists that are confirmed are now BOOKED)

The day before the shoot (around 6pm) you will receive a text message with the details

for the shoot

The confirmed artists text back to confirm they have all the details for the next day

Once you are booked on a job you are committed to work that day. We do not look lightly on people who pull out of a booking - it will be noted on your profile. If you let us down more than once you may be removed from our books.

On a work day there are a few things we expect of you:

Show up to set on time! If you have any problems getting to set, you can call the contact number you will have been provided with. This may be a production company number or one of the Mad Dog mobiles. Each project manager has a mobile; numbers can be found at the back of this booklet. The easiest way to communicate with Mad Dog staff out of hours is by text to one of these numbers.

Be presentable and bring what you were asked to e.g clothing, passport, NI number and props.

Be patient and bring something to occupy your time e.g a book or iPod. Sometimes you may be onset for hours before being used.

Listen to the instructions and directions from the production team.

Respect other background artists and members of the production team, otherwise you can create a bad name for yourself, which may result in being removed from the books.

If you are booked on a shoot and DO any of the following, Mad Dog reserves the right to terminate your contract with our agency without notice:

Show up intoxicated.

Abuse member of the production team or other background artists.

Take any illegal substances.

In general, if an artist displays any form of conduct that has a NEGATIVE impact on Mad Dog Castings name or reputation with any of its clients, this will result in the IMMEDIATE termination of the artists contract.

pencils...

10 11

On the set of television productions you may be given one of our salary vouchers or a release form that the production company has created. Dont worry if these are different to what you are used to BUT please read them carefully!

You must sign this before you leave so that the production you are working on can be broadcast.

You usually get a release form on the set of a commercial, Ident or Viral. Dont be worried if you dont get one though.

The release form for these shoots will usually contain the BASIC daily rate you are getting e.g. you may be on a Vodafone shoot and you have been booked for 10 hours for 90. On your release form it will say that your all inclusive rate is 90, BUT dont panic if you go into overtime. You will still be paid the overtime no matter what the release form says.

Sometimes, we may do special deals for shoots e.g. 12hrs for 90; you will be advised of this when you receive a text from us asking availability so it WONT change on the day.

Always keep a record of the hours you do on set. We may contact you when we are invoicing the production company to verify overtime.

When you arrive on the set of a film you will receive a Salary Voucher. In most cases you will be asked to hold onto this for the rest of the day and will then hand it back when you have been wrapped.

The salary vouchers have their own terms and conditions on them so please read them before you sign off at the end of the day, but bear in mind that these are industry standard and rarely contain anything irregular.

Please make sure that all the amounts on the salary voucher are correct before you sign out. This is a legal document and if you sign to say its correct when its not, it is difficult to go back and get the money you think you are owed.

There are 3 copies of the salary voucher: WHITE = Production Copy PINK = Mad Dog Copy GREEN = Artist Copy Be sure to hold on to your copy, it is your record that you are owed money.

If you do go and get something changed on your copy of the voucher try to make sure production change it on all of the copies, otherwise there may be confusion when it comes to invoicing.

Sometimes our copy of your voucher may go missing in the post or on set. If we call you asking for a copy of yours dont be alarmed, but NEVER send in the original! Always photocopy or scan it.

12 13

APPEARANcE: You are able to update your hair (length, style and colour), tattoos and body piercings. As mentioned before, you will not be able to change your measurements online. If you feel your measurements have changes in any way, do not hesitate to come in and see us, as we will be happy to take these for you.

SKILLS AND LANguAgES: You are able to update and add any new skills you have acquired. If you do not see a skill you would like to add, please specify this skill under [Other Skills].

Please remember to be as honest as possible with your skills levels as you do not want to be booked on a job to go scuba diving with James Bonds stunt double if you have only ever tried it out once!

PAYMENT: You are able to update your banking details. Your bank details are required to make electronic BACS payments when your money has been paid in to us. Please be assured that this is a secured site. Your bank details can only be viewed by yourself and Mad Dogs staff. When you make any changes to your bank details, you MUST either call or email accounts to let them know that YOU have changed these. Until you do this you will be paid by cheque.

OThER: You are able to change information relating to children, pets and wardrobe as well as any other information you feel may be relevant to your work with Mad Dog i.e. your work experience with other agencies, a second address, additional cars you have access to, a family member that is also registered etc.

PhOTOS: In addition to the professional photos we will take, some productions request further photos. It is very useful if you can upload recent and clear photos for any of the categories listed that apply to you.

This is a great function, which will allow you to print off your CV containing all the work you have done through Mad Dog as well as your photos.

Your CV will appear with starter information. This will include your name (or stage name if you have provided one), your measurements as taken by our staff, skills you have listed and contact details.

When customising your CV you may tick any Mad Dog jobs that you have worked on that you want to appear on the CV. Only the name of the production and the type of production will appear. You are also able to add additional skills such as formal acting training and any notes you feel are important.

You may choose to add in the Notes section, jobs that you have done with other agencies.

When our clients look through our artists CVs, Mad Dogs contact information will appear and if there is an interest in you, we will be contacted on your behalf to book you in for a job.

Where you look at or print your CV, your personal contact details will appear. This will be a useful tool if you are going to a casting and want to bring an acting CV with you.

PLEASE NOTE: Mad Dog Casting reserves the right to remove any information deemed inappropriate.

be amazed at how many people have tried to make themselves taller, younger etc... ie into people they are not!)

PLEASE NOTE: Where you wish to amend details that you cannot edit yourself online, please email info@maddogcasting.com and we will do so.

MY detAils...When adding or changing any information it is vital that you apply the [SAVE] button to record the new data. WITHOUT applying the Save button, your changes will not be recorded.

In this section you can view all your personal details and make changes to the following:

BASIc: You are able to update your e-mail address, postal address, contact numbers, car information, Bectu/Equity/Spotlight status and stage name.

Mad Dog has an interactive database that our artists can use to keep them in the loop. Basically, it is a way in which you can manage your bookings, update your availability and check payments.

When you were invited to register you were given your username and you set yourself a password.

Go to www.maddogcasting.com and put in your username and password. Once you have logged in, you have a few choices of what information you can access. This summary will take you through each of these options.

Below we will outline which details you are able to update. There are some details you are not able to change, such as your name, date of birth, National Insurance and measurements (after many years in the business you would

14 15

You are able to view your Mad Dog diary to review all your past bookings for work completed and any future bookings for upcoming jobs.

Future Bookings: will show any upcoming jobs that you have been confirmed on.

You will be able to access all relevant work details for the job as soon as these become available, probably the night before you are due to work (in the case of work taking place on Sunday or Monday, these will usually be available on the Friday before).

Job Details: you are able to see the date you are working, the name of the production, job status, call time, character and instructions, which provides basic information i.e. the unit base and on-set contact.

There is also a [MORE DETAILS] link that pops up as a new window, which includes all of the information above as well as other details, such as your wardrobe brief, the movement order, links to maps and any other relevant information.

You are able to set your own availability, letting Mad Dog know when you are free or not free.

Days that you list as free will appear in GREEN, days that you are unavailable will appear in RED and days that you have been confirmed on a job by Mad Dog will appear in PURPLE.

This status update is directly connected to our working database in the office, letting us know immediately if you are busy on a given day. We can search for people who have set their calendar to available, so please make use of this facility - you will be more likely to get work.

You calendar is only updatable for the duration of your registration i.e. if you are registered from 01 November 2009 you will not be able to inform us of a holiday taking place after 31 October 2010.

There are different job statuses and they are listed below:

Booked: means you have recently worked on a job.

Fitting: means you have attended a fitting on this day, and this has been included on the salary voucher when you attended the applicable job, so will not be paid out to you separately.

Special Payment: this is an exceptional payment situation.

Cancelled Without Pay: means a booking has been cancelled and no pay is due to you.

Cancelled With Pay: means a booking has been cancelled at late notice (as per FAA/ Pact) and you will be paid a fee.

No Show: means you did not attend or complete the days work.

Processing: means that Mad Dog has invoiced for your day of work and we are awaiting payment.

Next Payroll: means that Mad Dog has received payment, the money has been cleared into our account and will be paid out to you in the next pay run. Mad Dog has pay runs every second Tuesday.

Paid to Artist: means that you have been paid for this job and a Remittance Advice has been made available to you.

If you have any queries about the status of a job you have done, or do not see a day of work in your Diary, please contact us immediately.

You are able to change your password at anytime, following these steps:

1. Click the [CHANGE PASSWORD] button and a new window will pop-up.

2. Enter you current password, your new password and your new password again to confirm the spelling is the same.

3 Click [OK] to confirm the change or [CANCEL] to not make any changes.

16 17

Tips for Mad Dogs at hOME

If one of the Mad Dog staff ring you please 1. ring back asap, we will be waiting for your call. Remember to check Voicemails first, so you ask for the right person.

You must reply to Mad Dog texts 2. IMMEDIATELY. If you are checking in for a job, we will be waiting for your response. If we are checking your availability, those who respond quickly are more likely to get work.

If you are pencilled - KEEP THE DATES FREE 3. including the pencilled WEEKENDS and be warned they can change, thats the nature of the business.

Processing chits is a long process, we 4. endeavour to get your money to you as quickly as possible but it can take up to eight weeks, sometimes longer.

You will be booked on the basis of 5. the photographs we hold of you. We encourage people to maintain the look they hold in this photograph. If you change your hairstyle dramatically, please indicate this on your profile and mention it in any texts.

Tips for Mad Dogs preparing for SET

Every background artiste has been booked 1. for a reason. If you do not show up for a booking you are letting us down and will consequently be removed from our books.

It is essential that you are always on time, 2. regardless if it is for a fitting or a booking.

Please stick to whatever costume and 3. makeup said about your facial hair/hair or eyebrows, these instructions are to make sure you fit the style of the film.

Do not bring any valuables and bring as 4. few belongings as possible.

No jewellery, no makeup, no nail varnish 5. and no tan unless otherwise instructed!

Tips for Mad Dogs on SET

It will take time to sign in, in the morning 1. and out at the end of the day. You MUST sign in and out (i.e for film get a chit in the morning and return it at the end of the day) this is how we know you worked and how you get paid.

You must do all the hours on set. You 2. have to stay until released. The days may be longer than you expect, please be prepared for this.

Never take mobiles or cameras to set, 3. leave them at the unit base.

Do not speak to the actors unless they talk 4. to you.

If you are wearing a wig/hair accessory 5. never remove it yourself. Please wait for costume or makeup to remove it for you.

The ADs (assistant directors) are in charge, 6. do what they or the runners say.

Do not leave set even to go to the loo 7. unless you check with a runner first.

Please be professional, you are our 8. representative and the better you do the more chances you will have to work in the future!!

...

Mad Dog Casting has its own dedicated accounts department. This department is in charge of invoicing the agencies and paying out the artists. They are easily contactable either by phone or email. The accounts department is open Monday to Thursday 10am until 12 noon, see details on the back page.

When you contact accounts please make sure you know which job or project you are calling about. We receive lots of calls daily so please be prepared when you call so we can deal with your query as efficiently as possible.

We work hard to get you paid within a reasonable time frame. Most often payment will be made to artists within 2 months of the date that they worked.

Sometimes payment can take longer. This may be for many reasons, so please try and understand that we are doing our best to get the payment in as soon as possible. Your patience is appreciated.

When you are paid for a job you will receive a text message or an email saying that you have been paid. You can access your remittance advice by signing into your online profile.

Accounts can also print off a statement of earnings for the tax year if you need one. We do not post these out, but can email it to you.

Mad Dog does a pay run every fortnight and we prefer to pay straight into your bank account. If this is a problem please call the accounts department.

Remember that the accounts department is here to help you so please be polite when you call.

Accounts...

Below we have listed numbers that you will need to have SAVED in your phone. It is important that you have these in case of an emergency or so you know who it is that is contacting you.

MAD DOG CASTING (open Monday Friday 1000 1800)

2nd Floor, Holborn Hall 193-197 High Holborn

London, WC1V 7BD

t: +44(0)20 7269 7910 f: +44 (0) 20 7831 7267

e: info@maddogcasting.com www.maddogcasting.com

MAD DOG ACCOUNTS (Open Monday Thursday, 10.00 12 Noon)

t: +44(0)20 7269 7913 e: accounts@maddogcasting.com

In an EMERGENCY, outside of office hours please contact the relevant project manager. It is advisable to text your query as

project managers may not always answer calls at the weekend.

Tyler Slade: +44 (0)7900 694 902 Kate McLaughlin: +44 (0)7796 436 652

Lucy Lund: + 44 (0)7500 222 758 Project Assistant 1: + 44 (0)7917 222 581 Project Assistant 2: + 44 (0)7833 448 721 Project Assistant 3: + 44 (0)7917 664 021

THANK YOU FOR REGISTERING WITH US. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU!

www.maddogcasting.com