04.22.07
Posted in An Actors Life at 10:08 am by admin
Famous actors do not really need to audition for movie parts, everyone knows who they are and what they can do. What might happen instead is that the actor wll get a private call to meet with the producers and see if he is interested in working on a particular project - then often the script will be rewritten to suit the actor.
Mostly this is how it goes - the actor is contacted with an offer, and if the actor likes the role then negotiations can begin.
Negotiation usually refers to the payment offered, but can also work in any number of factors, most importantly would be time - ie for a lower budget the actor might only be free on certain dates between other commitments. Some famous actors ‘give’ their time to low budget productions they like if they like the script and to ‘give something back’ to the industry by helping out less experienced people. I have been told by a friend in the know that Jack Nicholson is one such generous actor.
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04.06.07
Posted in Extras at 10:29 pm by admin
There are two strong cases here, one for and one against. You will have to decide on the route to take and then stick with it 100%. If you take any other option then you are hurting your career.
Established actors should NEVER in any circustamce take a job as an extra, even if you need the money, you are basically telling the agents and directors that you will work for cheap, this will come to bear on any future negotiations. In non union jobs you may find yourself hired as an Extra but then asked to say a few lines (ie acting for Extra pay).
However as a beginning actor the rules are much different.
Either you can take the Extras work to meet people and make contacts, also to gain experience of being on set, as well as collecting the pay.
Or you can avoid Extras work as you are an Actor / Actress, this follows my personal belief given to me by Michael Caine - take a job for the role offered and not the money - it will be better for your future in the long run.
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Posted in Acting Agents at 10:28 pm by admin
This is one of the most difficult things for a beginning actor/actress - finding the right acting agent. Which agent can you trust? Which agent is the best? Which agent will work with you?
First point, if an agent want to charge you a fee to list you then listen to the details, decline and walk out. These ‘agencies’ live by the money young hopefuls pay them for ‘representation’, good agencies will make enough money finding you work to survive without charging you a joining fee.
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Posted in An Actors Life at 10:15 pm by admin
As an actor you could be called upon to play a variety of roles,if you give yourself a unique haircut you’ll cut your chances a lot.
If you are known as the guy with the bright green mohawk then maybe you’ll hit that role as a circus performer for this weeks TV Commercial, but how many times do you think you will be hired after that? If they need you with a bright green mohawk for a decent role then they will do your hair for you.
To be prepared as much as possible for whatever role appears many actors let their hair grow and have a short beard, this way they can cut back to whatever is required of the next role.
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04.03.07
Posted in An Actors Life at 5:13 am by admin
When my friends ask how much I earned for a 1 day TV commercial (TVC) they stare in astonishment at the high payments for a single days work. Yes acting is high pay on an hourly basis but there is very good reason…. the down time between jobs.
Professional actors are hard to come by, it is a major struggle through initial low payments, irregular work, delayed payments, bad agents and terrible working conditions and long hours. Not to mention all the outlays as you get experience acting for free and paying for lessons.
The problem I see time and time again from inexperienced actors is to get a job earning good money and then instantly adjust their spending to match their income. The go from a subsistance lifestyle to a movie star lifestyle as soon as first pay day hits.
The money is good because it is supposed to hold you until the next job, whenever that might come along. It is supposed to be for additional training and practise you undertook for this role.
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04.02.07
Posted in Auditions/Castings at 11:11 am by admin
You have gotten your first audition, what do you need to do to prepare for the casting?
Many people have different theories on how to get past the audition successfully, and there are other methods, for example, knowing the producer certainly helps, but then if you know him well enough you won’t even need to go to an audition. The only problem is that the most common way to get to know movie producers/directors is to pass an audition in the first place and work with them.
So back we go to the start, nobody gets ‘lucky’ in this industry, everybody works hard to make their own luck.
As such here is a list of the top 10 things you should ALWAYS do at a casting to make sure you give yourself the best chance.
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