Jason Buyer

Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department alumnus and faculty member Jason Buyer ’95, an actor, acting coach, casting director, and teacher in Columbia College’s renowned “Semester in LA” program, has just launched “Need A Reader Actor App,” an online app designed to connect reader actors for auditions, tapings, classes, rehearsals, and practice. “Readers” are professional actors who work with other actors and casting directors to read scripts aloud during or in preparation for auditions, providing scene partners for the actors who are auditioning.

Need A Reader Actor App is the first app to service the market for readers. Says Buyer: “Actors get the help they need, and readers get paid. This free download allows you to join the Need A Reader acting community, and choose a reader that works for you, or even become a reader yourself. Review an actor’s resume, skill set, and personal rating with just a few quick taps on your phone. Swipe right, add your job details, hire and schedule – it’s that easy!”

The Need A Reader Actor App is available for free download from the Apple Store and Google Play. For more information, click here.

Buyer, who graduated from Columbia College with a BA in Theatre with an Acting concentration, leads Columbia College Chicago’s Semester in LA (SILA) program for the Theatre Department. The multidisciplinary program, led by industry such as Buyer, allows Columbia students to spend a semester studying and interning in the Los Angeles film and TV markets. This immersive experience provides real-world skills and network-building opportunities. For more information on this program, click here. Buyer also teaches on-camera acting classes at Anthony Meindl’s Actor Workshop in New York City and is also the school’s studio manager. He also is the author of the book Inside the Audition Room: The Essential Actor’s Handbook for Los Angeles, a step-by-step manual specifically designed for actors looking to break into the film and television industry.