Actors spend years honing their craft, but many miss one critical piece: learning how to communicate in the Language of the Agents and the Casting Directors. This isn’t just about vocabulary. It’s about aligning your training, business practices, and mindset so the industry sees you as the solution—not the problem.

As a casting director, I see it firsthand. Actors who know how to speak this language get representation, book roles, and build sustainable careers. Those who don’t? They’re quickly overlooked.

A thriving career rests on three equally important pillars:

1. Training – Building your instrument as an actor so you know you’re good at your craft.

2. Business – Getting your materials, schedule, and communication in order.

3. Core Energy Work – Tackling mindset blocks like procrastination, perfectionism, and fear so you actually do what you know you need to do.

Neglect any one of these, and your career wobbles. Balance them, and everything starts to flow.

Casting directors are solution-oriented. They need actors who are:

• Prepared, confident, and easy to direct

• Clear and concise communicators (no long-winded emails)

• Professional and drama-free

• Confident in their abilities without needing validation

Agents and managers, on the other hand, prioritize placement and revenue. They want clients who understand their product (themselves as actors) and know where they fit in the market. They love actors who are:

• Low-maintenance (professional, proactive, not needy)

• Consistent with follow-ups (every 2 weeks if signed, every 3–4 weeks if freelancing)

• Quick to respond (within 15 minutes when possible)

If you can show up as a reliable, confident professional who respects their time, you’ll stand out.

The “language” isn’t just about using terms like clips, reels, avail, or first refusal correctly. It’s about mirroring the way agents and casting directors think. Shift from actor-centric to project-centric. Instead of saying, I felt this choice worked for me, reframe to, I believe this choice serves the director’s vision.

That shift alone can make you the actor they trust.

In my Weekly Accountability Group for actors, we focus on all three pillars:

• Training: What did you do to become a better actor this week?

• Business: What actions did you take to move your career forward?

• Core Energy Work: What mindset challenges came up, and how did you respond?

By setting intentions and following through week after week, actors create real momentum—and book more work.

The industry is full of talented actors. The ones who book consistently aren’t always the most gifted. They’re the ones who communicate well, respect the process, and show they’re confident, reliable professionals.

That’s the power of learning the Language of the Agents and the Casting Directors.

• 🎯 Book a Free Consultation

• 🎬 The Working Actor Road Map

• 🗓️ Weekly Accountability Group for Actors

• ⏰ Time Management for Actors Course

Hey there, it’s Mandy Fisher. Welcome back to the Acting Business Boot Camp Podcast. I’ve been in the voiceover world for over 20 years, and if there’s one thing I repeat over and over, it’s this: all voiceover is character work.

Yes, even that five-second toothpaste ad. Even the audiobook that goes on for twelve hours. Even the one-liner in a loop group session. If I don’t believe in the character I’m creating, the audience won’t either—and you’d be surprised how quickly people can tell when something feels fake.

Voiceover isn’t just about funny voices or nailing impressions. It’s about embodying choices. A toothpaste spot is still persuasion. An audiobook requires sustaining multiple characters. A video game audition? They always want grounded realism now.

The throughline is the same: I’m acting. I’m building a character.

When I create characters—whether for a 30-second commercial or a video game villain—I run through six categories that keep me grounded and specific:

1. Environmental: Where am I? A bar? A dungeon? A grocery store?

2. Emotional: How do I feel right now?

3. Contextual: What just happened before this line?

4. Physical: What am I wearing? Am I tired? Am I strong?

5. Psychological: What’s on my mind? Do I have a secret? A conflict?

6. Social: How do I interact with others in this world?

Answering even two or three of these quickly can transform a flat read into something alive.

Sometimes I get copy for something I couldn’t care less about—say, an oil change. In those moments, I swap it out in my imagination for something I do care about, something that actually excites me. My body, my breath, even my voice instantly shift. Suddenly, I’m connected, and the listener feels that.

Every spec I see these days calls for “grounded” performances. Realism, emotional core, choices that feel intentional. Bold doesn’t mean fake—it means clear. It means believable.

When you make that one strong emotional choice and commit to it, you create something that lasts beyond the audition.

Next time you step into the booth, hit record right away. Play with one big emotional choice. Answer a couple of my six category questions. Even in a short spot, let yourself lean into the invisible audience, into the story you’re telling.

You’ll feel the difference—and so will the people listening.

I put together a 45 Character Question Checklist to help you build characters fast. It’s a quick reference to keep you grounded and connected no matter the script.

📩 Want it? Email me at mandy@actingbusinessbootcamp.com and I’ll send it to you.

If you’re looking for coaching in voiceover or creative entrepreneurialism, that’s my wheelhouse. And if you’re focused on on-camera, legit, or core work, my co-host Peter Pamela Rose is your person—email her at peter@actingbusinessbootcamp.com .

Helping actors tell stories and follow their dreams is one of my favorite things to do. So go kick some ass this week, and remember: all voiceover work is character work.

This week’s episode is all about documentary narration. Voiceover actor Paula Tiso joins me to share her journey from sketch comedy in Los Angeles to working steadily in promos, radio imaging, true crime, and documentary series.

We talk about training, the shift from “perky” reads to grounded storytelling, and what it really takes to support a story with your voice.

About Paula:

Paula Tiso is a veteran voiceover actor whose work spans documentary narration, true crime, television affiliates, video games, and more. She’s voiced Smithsonian Channel documentaries, Oxygen and ID series like Living with a Serial Killer and The Devil Speaks, and brought characters to life in games including Final Fantasy X, No More Heroes, and Fallout 76.

Whether narrating history, guiding audiences through true crime, or connecting viewers to their local TV stations, Paula’s voice combines warmth, authority, and authenticity.

Paula started out in sketch comedy and found her way into voiceover through commercial training. She explains how those early skills built the foundation for narration work across genres.

Narrating true crime requires neutrality and steadiness. At the same time, it calls for empathy when addressing victims and families. Paula shares how she prepares for heavy scripts and keeps her delivery both clear and compassionate.

• Commercial training as a base for timing and clarity

• Adaptability when scripts change mid-session

• Authenticity in the read, not a “performance”

• Curiosity to keep learning and exploring new material

• Preparation that marks cues and supports clean delivery

• Nature: slow pacing, voice supports the picture

• History: sometimes includes character inserts, with age shifts in voice

• In-show and lifestyle: friendly and helpful

• Promos and affiliates: concise and reliable

Paula describes narration as building a career vine by vine, one connection leading to the next. She emphasizes curiosity, preparation, and adaptability as the keys to staying relevant.

Paula also discusses how AI is impacting voiceover, and the work organizations like NAVA are doing to protect performers through transparency and consent.

• Let the voice support the picture

• Documentary reads today are grounded and authentic

• Empathy without bias is essential in true crime

• Preparation and adaptability make sessions run smoothly

• Careers grow step by step, connection by connection

• National Association of Voice Actors (NAVA)

• Living with a Serial Killer on Peacock

• Paula Tiso’s narration shorts and blog

If you’re enjoying the Acting Business Boot Camp podcast, please leave us a 5-star review wherever you listen. We’re close to reaching 100 reviews, and your support makes a real difference.

Email: peter@actingbusinessbootcamp.com
Coaching and classes: Acting Business Boot Camp