05.22.07
Posted in An Actors Life at 10:25 am by admin
Elements of a Contingent Compensation (Profits Participation) Deal
A contingent compensation deal is one in which a participant in the film receives a
percentage of the revenues made by that film in addition to, or in lieu of, their fixed
payment. There are four main elements that might have to be taken into account in
determining the payment due under such schemes:
• gross receipts
• distribution and sales fees
• distribution expenses
• cost of production
Before entering into a contingent compensation deal, it is imperative that all parties
understand precisely the terms of that deal and that the contracts are crystal clear and
agreed by all parties.
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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 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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03.15.07
Posted in An Actors Life at 9:31 pm by admin
Being a Movie Star is everyone’s dream life. Money, fame, girls (or boys) everyone likes you and wants to know you. You are interesting and your life is full of adventures…. or is it?
To get to be a Movie Star you first need to climb the ladder. Like the NBA Star you also need to play little league, local then state, then national amateur then fainally you MIGHT be accepted into a second stream division.
As a beginning actor you are going to have to do lots of amateur practise first, you are going to have to work for free and fork out your own money for lessons, travel, getting costumes and paying for photos and for shooting your own showreels.
You are going to have to study and work for free.
Then when you finally make it into your first ‘big break’ and you get to serve coffee to the lead actors at a coffee shop while they discuss the plan - then you find out what acting is really all about.
“We don’t get paid to act, we do that for free because we like it, we get paid to wait around” - Attributed to John Candy
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