Find a formula, a couple of big names and, bingo, you’re rich. The reality is you’re a piece of plasticine with no feelings. And that’s the upside. Louis Nowra: on the joys of writing film scripts.

Written by Louis Nowra. From Saturdays Sydney Morning Herald April 12 2003.

Louis Nowra’s screen credits include Map of the Human Heart, Cosi, Heaven’s Burning, The Matchmaker, Radiance, K-19: the Widowmaker and Black and White.

The food chain

The first lesson is to know where you are on the food chain. Let’s begin with a true story. I wrote the screenplay for Cosi based on my play. On the night of the premiere, I assumed that one of the seats with reserved written on them was for me. I had just sat down when an usher asked me for a slip of paper that entitled me to sit where I was. I didn’t have one. “But I wrote the screenplay,” I protested. The usher smiled condescendingly and said: “These seats are for special people, sir.” I ended up in the front row in a seat so far to the right that I had to twist at an angle to see just some of the screen. I noticed that the people sitting in the reserved seats were a motley collection of producers, actors, B-grade celebrities and others who had nothing to do with the making of the film.

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After all you do not want to be a low paid movie extra for all your life do you, it is much more enjoyable as an actor

Link is here Movie Extras Tips

It tells the Casting Director that you are a keen and professional actor. It shows you are prepared and serious about your acting career. This in turn a better profile in the eyes of the Casting Director and therefore a better chance at securing the job at the acting audition.

When you go to an acting audition and you have the script given to you before the acting audition you should read the lines again, again and again. Memorize your lines. This can’t be stressed enough.

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It tells them why you’re sending the package and it allows you to sell yourself quickly before the whole lot goes into the trash. You should make it a hard hitting sales letter with the only aim to get them to view your photos/showreel/bio.

Much like a job resume, a cover letter will vary between one acting agent and another. Customise it for the peron you are sending it to.

Here are some ideas when writting a cover letter to an acting agent / casting director.
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An acting agent in the carries out activities on behalf of you, the performer in return for payment, usually a percentage of what they make for you. The main role of an acting agent is to negotiate with employers about possible acting jobs on your behalf. An acting agent is responsible for getting acting auditions and jobs and fixing the terms and conditions for those acting jobs.

How Do I Get An Acting Agent?

If you’ve graduated from a good acting school, then there should have been acting agents invited to see your performance in the final year production to showcase yourself and other graduates.

You should contact acting agents upon graduation at the latest, I would recommend being on the books of some lower tier agents well before that to get some additional experience and pay.

Your local Actors Union can provide a list of acting agents in your area, if you have completed a recognised course with a reputable school this should be enough to get membership, otherwise you’ll have to get some work by working the lower tiers (extras / TVC’s, etc)

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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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When you go to ‘go sees‘, the actors agents will be looking to meet you in order to see what you have to offer with regards to casting suitability for acting roles in movies, television, theatre, etc.

They want to see if you have the ability to act and make the grade if they send you out to an acting audition, because if you do, they’ll keep asking you in to audition.

Take along your showreel and a printed copy of your Bio and some profesional photographs. I always include one montage of photos of the work I have already done as photographic support for my Bio. The actors agent might look at your showreel then (or they might not, leave it with them either way) with you and discuss the work.

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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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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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