Random Bits
and Pieces......Lots of Good Information
First, I want to pass on my sincere thanks to all clients
of all ages - and especially to the parents. This is not
the easiest business in the world to pursue and I am very
much aware of how frustrating it can be. And how, at times,
it can play absolute havoc with your schedule. Through out
my 'show biz' career, I have worn many hats: as a parent of
a child actor, as an agent, as a manager, as a producer, as
a casting director, a photographer and as a writer. So,
when I say, I understand how it is for you, it comes from
experience. I truly do appreciate those of you who receive
a last minute text for an audition and respond quickly. I
really do appreciate those of you are quick to respond to
the sometimes numerous requests made for filling out forms,
updating information, doing resumes, changing pictures,
when not available, etc. etc. I especially appreciate those
of you who (for whatever reason) do not get nearly as many
auditions as we all would like, and yet continue to go
about this in a professional manner. So, to all of you who
try your best to stay on top of this - even when it's not
going your way - thanks. You are very much appreciated.
Next, I want to cover the question most people are
interested in: Are we going to get busier? Well, as usual,
that's tough to answer. As I have written about before,
there are so many things which affect our business. But
mostly, it comes down to the economy. And I don't think I
need to go into that. Unless you've been living on the
International Space Station for the last couple of years,
you're very well aware of how that's going. My feeling is
that we will continue along like this for some time.
Meaning that we will have short busy spells with a fair
amount of activity and other times when we are just
dragging along - like now. We are now in the fall/winter
season and as we get closer to the holidays, we will be
affected by that. So for most of you, that means an
audition here and there, sometimes a busy week and
sometimes a long wait with nothing going on. This is the
main reason why I urge all actors to follow through on all
the suggestions I pass on. When the opportunities do come
up, you want to be sure that your talent rep has ALL the
tools necessary to get you out there.
What are ALL the tools? It begins with the photos. That is
your number one priority. But equally important is having
an up to date resume posted, having all of your online
profiles and skills posted, having video footage of you
performing your best skills (sports, music, stand-up
comedy), making sure that current height, weight, clothes
and shoe size are posted. Each of these items can and do
affect your audition potential. Something as simple as not
having a current passport may cause you to not be submitted
for numerous well paying jobs.
The business part of 'show biz' is tough. Being an actor
should not be. That's supposed to be the fun part. I'm
still surprised when I hear an actor tell me how tough it
is to get to an acting class, or how it may be inconvenient
to get to an audition, or it's just impossible to replace
out of date head shots, or it takes too much time and
energy to try and build a resume and experience by doing
local plays and student films, or I don't have time to
check my emails or texts throughout the day, etc. etc. My
response is usually along the lines of, "Really, you want
to be an actor (an artist - something you supposedly love
doing), but not invest anything into it? Well then, why are
you bothering with this?" I know that may sound a little
harsh to some, but being an actor is not like getting a job
at a super market, or working at The Gap. Actors (no matter
what the age) choose to be actors. Not the other way
around. I doubt you will ever hear an actor say, "yeah, I
was really hoping to get that job driving trucks for the
city, but I wound up in this acting thing instead". No one
should have to talk you into doing things that will help
with getting more auditions and possible bookings.
And here is a good place to once again remind all actors
that the badgering you sometimes get from your talent rep
is for one reason and one reason only - to get clients seen
by casting directors. Actors and the parents of young
actors who really understand this and work with their
representative, are almost always the one's who get the
most opportunities. And even if those opportunities do not
result in a lot of bookings, at least you know that you are
doing all that you can and you are doing it because you
chose to be an actor or a parent of a child actor.
............................................................................................................................................................................................
A FEW OTHER TOPICS:
1.
Sag....Sag Eligible....Non Union
I often hear a lot of confusion regarding the Screen
Actor's Guild - when to join, how to join, why join, etc.
So, here's a quick rundown:
You cannot join the union unless you are invited by the
union to do so. This is called a Taft Hartley and makes you
SAG eligible. An actor usually receives his/her Taft by
working as a principle on a SAG job. However, getting a
Taft Hartley to join does not mean you should do so right
away. Once you join SAG, you are no longer allowed to go
out for Non Union jobs and there are many well paying Non
Union jobs out there. Being SAG eligible makes it easier to
get an audition for another SAG job, but still allows the
actor to go out on Non Union jobs - kind of the best of
both worlds. However, once you book your second SAG job
(after a certain time period), you are required to join at
that point and to pay the initial joining fee. Once in SAG,
all Non Union work is forbidden.
2.
Read All Audition Information Carefully
When you receive your audition notice via email, be sure to
read every bit of it. Don't find yourself surprised that
you went to the wrong casting location, or show up on the
wrong day or wearing a completely wrong wardrobe. Check to
see if there is a time frame listed. Your call time may be
for 4:15, but casting may allow a time frame for your
category from, say 3:30 to 5:00. Although casting still
would like for you to arrive at your appointed time in
these situations, it allows some leeway for you. Look for
information regarding what type of wardrobe to wear, if
there are any sides (copy/script) and where to find them,
if there are any conflicting out of town dates you may have
with the schedule, the exact location and who is casting,
what the character description says about the part you are
reading for and any other 'casting notes'. In most cases
you will be able to see the photo that was submitted for
the audition. Use that as your guide as to hairstyle and
wardrobe. That's the picture that got you the audition. Be
sure to read any additional notices that come in regarding
the audition. Sometimes, the casting director may change
your time, or give you notice that the sides are now
posted, or the location of the audition has changed. Never
ignore audition notices, even if you think everything is in
order and you've already confirmed.
3.
Casting Projects From The Casting Sites
Once you are in the casting sites systems, you will receive
audition notices from casting directors for you to submit
yourself. Many, if not most, of these jobs are non-paying
(copy and credit only) or low paying non union jobs. Your
talent rep usually does not see most of these projects.
Actors should submit themselves for these projects to gain
experience and to build the resume, and maybe make a few
bucks. Try and avoid projects that are not really going to
help you. Booking a background (extra) role in a non paying
commercial is not going to give you much experience or
boost your resume. Always inform your rep if you have
picked up an audition in this way and be sure they are
aware of the audition and shooting dates. Sometimes the
casting director will put a nice job (SAG or well paying
non union) out to the agents/managers and also directly to
the actors. In this case, the casting director is usually
looking for something very specific to cast such as an
entire family, a one man band, or someone with a particular
skill or sport, or perhaps a very unique look. The actor
should also submit themselves for these types of projects
even if they think their agent or manager has already done
so. You never know where the audition may come from.
4.
Reasons Why You May Not Be Going Out On Auditions As Much
As You Like
Although I have touched on this subject in other
newsletters, I'll try and expand on the 'why's and why
nots'. The following are a few things which can affect how
often an actor gets called.
Age:
For kids and teens, age can
be a huge factor. California work laws clearly define how
long a minor may be on the set. Being 4 or 5 can be tough
because they very often would rather hire a 6 year old
because he/she can be on the set longer - especially if the
6 yr old looks younger. Same thing with being 9 years old.
If casting says they are looking for 9 to 12, we know not
to submit 7 or 8 yr olds, even if they look 9. Why? The
work laws change again at 9. If casting is looking for 8 to
10, then we are free to open up our range of submissions.
If you are 16/17, casting often wants to go with 18/19 year
olds. There is really not much you can do about this - work
laws prevail. Remember also that there are a lot of young
actors out there who have been doing this for awhile. Odds
are that casting will bring in 'veteran' 16/17 year olds
over new comers because they have more experience and the
casting director has seen them several times before. Just
keep plugging away at your skills and training. Build your
resume. Your time will come.
Photos:
Photos can be very fickle.
Some common situations:
You have a great set of pics, everyone agrees (even
casting) and yet, you rarely get an audition....or photos
that were working for you a few months ago are not getting
any attention now. If you are fairly well convinced that
your rep is submitting your pictures for everything you are
right for, then the most obvious solution is to get new
pics, try a different look. Sometimes that's just the way
that it is. Great pictures, but few auditions. For whatever
reason, those pics just aren't clicking.
Other than the fact that your head shot looks good, the
most important part of your picture is that it is current
and looks like you do now. Even if you have managed to get
a few auditions using old photos, casting will remember
that you do not look the same and will probably not bring
you back in. It's very important to be objective about
pictures. Saying that a 10 year old still looks the same as
when he was 7/8 just doesn't work. Being 40 and walking
around with pictures from when you were 35 is a no-no.
Mixed Ethnicity:
An actor who is
caucasian/asian or hispanic/african american or any other
mixture may not 'fit' many of the roles casting is looking
for unless they are specifically calling for mixed race
actors or ethnically ambiguous.
Physical
characteristics: All
of the following can determine whether or not an actor may
be submitted for a part. Braces on teeth, Weight and
Height, Having good teeth, Body size and type, Clothes and
shoe size. Even your hair and eye color will affect your
being submitted on some jobs.
Other things which can affect what casting looks for: (keep
in mind that the following can and will change)
*Current popular trends in sports and entertainment.
*Current demographic trends.
*Current trends in politics and the economy
All of the above affect how often an actor may be
auditioning. And I haven't even touched on being in SAG, or
if you have strong credits, or are highly trained in
improv, or if you have lots of skills in sports or
languages or musical instruments, or have years of song and
dance training with performances to back it up, and if you
have video of yourself performing some of these skills and
sports, or if you have a dog or baby brother or a
grandfather who can audition with you. You get the idea.
Casting may be looking for a very generalized category of
ages 10 to 12, and 35 to 50, all ethnicities, all
types....which will results in several thousand submissions
and more competition to get an audition. Or, they can be
very specific and look for a 35/40 ethnically ambiguous
male, with long dreads, adept at water skiing and who
speaks with an authentic Caribbean accent. If you fit this
one, odds are you're getting called in.
........................................................................................................................................................................
We (the entire industry) are truly an internet - texting -
emailing - scanning business now. The vast majority of all
auditions, casting notices, communications, billings,
submissions and even bookings are done in this manner. But
this is the way most of the planet works now. So, please
understand that we rely on this technology for most
everything we do. On your side of things that means paying
attention to text messages and emails. This is our primary
method of communication and in many ways, actually works
better. The actor now has, in writing, all of the
information he or she needs about an audition and instant
access to any scripts needed. With the click of a
mouse, the actor can confirm the audition and even ask for
a time change. With a few key strokes, the actor can let
the agent or manager know they will be at the audition
and/or get any questions answered. The actor can now sit
down at their computer and in a few minutes submit
themselves for something sent to them from one of the
casting sites, bring resumes and profiles up to date, add
and delete photos and post a link to a YouTube video of
themselves doing skateboarding tricks.
With all of that said, we still do like to talk to people.
Don't hesitate to give us a call if you need to discuss
something. I also really like seeing my clients now and
then. Don't be a stranger. Come on by for a chat.
Thanks for reading. If you have specific questions about
any of the topics discussed, please let me know and I'll be
sure to get an answer for you.
Wishing you all much success and more importantly, I hope
you are enjoying the process.
David