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Photo courtesy of Rosetta Tate.
Acting Advice , Interview , Success Stories

Success Story: How Rosetta Tate’s Adaptability Keeps Her Acting Career Flourishing


November 8, 2024

Rosetta Tate is a gift that keeps on giving. The actor, who volunteers with Kids in the Spotlight, gets back what she puts in, while also serving her acting community. Being a character helps as well, and Tate will tell you so herself.

Rosetta’s fearlessness and adaptability have helped her land multiple roles on Casting Networks for Dhar Mann Studios, CarBlip and a Babyface Ray music video. Tate even landed a supporting lead role in the David Skato film Fractured, available on Prime Video.

Tate shares her acting origin story, how she booked all these roles on Casting Networks, and spills the tea on the acting advice that got her there.

Insights: Lessons from Rosetta Tate

  • Be open to varied opportunities and not shy away from roles that may be outside their comfort zone.
  • Regularly update your Casting Networks profile, headshots and resumes, and use available tools to their advantage.
  • Look for opportunities to volunteer and collaborate, as these experiences can lead to valuable connections and further their careers.

How did you decide to become an actor?

I am a character in real life. I’m an animated, high-energy personality. I’ve always been that way since I was a kid in church, singing in the choir.

Public speaking played a huge role in who you’re looking at today. Being a cast member at the Disneyland Resort for almost a decade helped, too. As a travel agent, everyone thought I was Princess Tiana.

I [booked many] Disneyland Vacations, and being one of the top sales [reps], a lot of the folks were like, “Have you ever thought about being on camera?” I became the unofficial industrial presentation for the department. I was giving the other cast members the news, going into the parks and working with Disney’s youth education series every week.

Growing up, there were so many different outlets that led me to acting. I wrote a speech for my first speech contest at nine years old, not a scared bone in my body. My family cultivated that. They were always pushing me to go on stage and find a profession where I can get paid to be me and bring different ideas to the table.

How did you first discover Casting Networks?

Casting Networks was introduced to me by my agent, Peter Kallinteris. He told me, “Hey, I’ll rep you. These are the requirements we’re going to need. You’re going to need to sign up for Casting Networks. It’s a very user-friendly site.” I was like, “This is so great. I can self-submit, and then I’m also getting submission requests from my agent.”

It’s about checking my emails every day. I quickly found out that being organized and setting alarms for submitting auditions has helped me become accountable, instead of leaning on my agent to submit me.

I signed with my agent two days before Thanksgiving 2019. Fast forward to the pandemic in March 2020. Going from in-person to self tapes was amazing, because everything is online anyway. You can upload your clips and headshots directly from your device, which helped me understand how to put everything together, as opposed to leaning on my agency.

Casting Networks allows you to filter what types of roles you’re looking for. You can change out your different profile photos and videos, you can update your resume right away, and support is 1,000% helpful. I love that personable service with Casting Networks. I just wish they helped me check my emails because I get so many!

One of the latest features I love is that you can find agents through Casting Networks. An actor friend of mine found her representation and another found a manager [through Casting Networks].

Actor Rosetta Tate taking multiple photo ops in a green shirt, sunglasses and a fun, multicolored jacket. Photo courtesy of Rosetta Tate.

You were able to book a role with Dhar Mann Studios and a CarBlip commercial on Casting Networks. What was the audition process like for Dhar Mann?

The amount of content Dhar Mann Studios puts out is amazing. We’re filming 10 to 15 short episodes every day. He is up there with MrBeast as far as content creation. Being a Dhar Mann actress truly changed my life.

It did not mention Dhar Mann [on the casting call]. It was like, “Here’s the working title of the project, here’s the role.” The role was for a mom. It’s part of a flashback or scene where there’s acting, but there aren’t any lines. Dhar Mann casting reached out to me. All I had to do was send a headshot and a clip.

This was 2020. I had just joined Casting Networks, and I may have had one or two independent projects [before] receiving that email from Dhar Mann. I started to become a part of their roster, which is so great about Casting Networks. Casting Networks is that bridge to recurring roles. I started to do a lot of background roles and it may be like, one line here and there to becoming a main support lead.

Now, I’m getting contacted regularly by Dhar Mann, almost weekly. These are roles that are really, really hefty. I’ve played a teacher, moms, board members, even a nail technician. All of these are on YouTube.

When Dhar Mann first started, he wasn’t at the studio where we’re filming now. He was at his condo in downtown LA. That enterprise has expanded so much over the four years I’ve been with them. It’s so exciting because I’m meeting so many folks that I watch on a regular basis and I’m like, “You’re my co-star for today!” It’s like a family.

What was the process like for the CarBlip commercial?

Fun fact: I never heard of CarBlip before I saw the casting call. I thought [the role] was great because it meshed with my personality. It was [for] an energetic, nosy neighbor type of role. I had to submit a self tape.

I’m all about using props as long as I don’t let the prop overtake the audition. I have a clip of my self tape on Instagram. I like to show folks, “Hey, this is what it looks like before the actual commercial.”

There was not a lot of dialogue. The audition was more about the actions of the neighbor getting someone’s attention. The plot is that there’s something going on next door, where this teenage girl is trying to decide on what car she wants. As all this is happening, the neighbor is being nosy and she grabs her popcorn. I’m there with my Universal Studios popcorn cup, but I wanted to make sure I stayed in the essence of the character. I said, “Well if I was this nosy neighbor, I would give facial expressions.”

When you work with advertising agencies, you really become like a family. They get to know you through your audition, and when you meet them in real life, they’re like, “It’s really you.” It resonates off-camera, like in person.

It was so easy working with the directors and the writers, and then meeting the owners of the company was great because they’re the ones that chose you. These projects have hundreds to thousands of submissions. At every level, it’s a win because it’s like, “Wow, my audition stood out amongst however many.”

You also mentioned other roles that you’ve booked on Casting Networks. Tell me about the Babyface Ray music video.

I didn’t know who Babyface Ray was before I booked it. He’s a super nice guy and an amazing lyricist. I had heard of Pusha T. I didn’t know who the other young man was. It was a really cool experience and also my very first music video. It’s crazy because I know some of the other actors in the video from other acting jobs.

Fun fact: I didn’t even apply for [the] role [I wound up getting]. The role I applied for was the aunt. The lady who plays the mom—shout out to Michelle—she’s like, “You’re the aunt? You’re too young to play the aunt,” so they made me the sister. They asked me if I could cry on cue. I was like, “Yeah. Can you put this song on?” I got into character and it was magical.

Tell me about the film Fractured, the first feature film you booked as a supporting lead, also through Casting Networks. How did you book that?

We filmed that last May. On this particular production, the director-writer [put out the sides for] at least three or four different scenes. I’m at work. I have to do a self tape on my lunch break. I’m just like, “How the heck do I do three or four scenes?” I did maybe two out of the three or four and gave them the essence of the character. I even called a friend like, “Hey, I really need you to read for me. I know it’s last minute, let’s meet up. I’m just going to go for it because I’d rather submit something than nothing.”

Oftentimes, if they send sides, they want you to put it on tape, and they want to see the character instead of just [having you send] a reel. I did both. I sent my reel, and I also wanted to send the self tape.

I received a call within, I would have to say two days, spoke with the director-writer—shout out to David Skato—and I’m all in. Come to find out we’re filming it and the production will be over one week, a feature film. Not only that, he brought me on as crafty, meaning I provided the crafty for the film.

Sometimes, opportunities will present themselves if you speak up and say, ”Hey, these are my [areas of] expertise. Working as an indie filmmaker, you wear several hats. That’s another thing I’m learning—how to become an asset to the indie filmmaker. Whether it’s wardrobe or set design, just being available and being service-friendly has opened up so many doors for me.

Casting Networks builds community. If you don’t know where to start, I tell everybody to join Casting Networks. It’s pennies a day compared to how much you spend on a lot of things. It’s valuable because once you start booking the roles, that money comes back to you, so it’s a win-win. I tell everyone, “Do not stop or prevent yourself from going to that next level because you can do it on your own.”

What would you say helps somebody succeed on Casting Networks, and what general advice would you give to your peers for that?

Leave no stone unturned, don’t question it and don’t think [about rejection]. Sometimes we get into our heads, but there are practical things you need to look at. Check to see if you’re available for the scheduled shoot dates, and also look at the specs and be realistic about what roles you can play.

Fun fact: I still do unpaid roles from time to time, so take an opportunity to give back. When I do things pro bono and I just give my time and my energy, I’m still gaining something. I’m learning. I’m working that acting muscle. I’m making connections, which are invaluable in this industry. I also volunteer with the The Pan African Film & Arts Festival, Habitat for Humanity and the Micheaux Film Festival.

Bills are real, and we are working actors, but my primary advice would be to take every opportunity. Jump in there and apply for everything. Once you cast out the net, you’re guaranteed to get something back [whether you book the role or not]. Put out that good energy and offer to help others.

I am affiliated with Kids in the Spotlight. I’m a volunteer with them. We foster children in writing scripts, and industry pros help them take those words off that paper and put them on the screen to light. It’s invaluable. Last year, our cast won best ensemble cast for In This House—shout out to the entire cast and director Julia Verdin.

Thinking about joining Casting Networks? Sign up for a free trial today!

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Chris Butera is a voice actor specializing in commercial, eLearning and corporate narration voiceovers. When he’s not helping clients achieve their goals, he’s playing guitar and bass.



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