Go-see for a country club print job in Pennsylvania
I really love to work. There have been very few times where I have
turned down a job that was offered to me. I turned one down today.
I was contacted by an agent about being hired for an in-house video. That means it is not being seen by the general public,
but instead, only for the employees of the company.
There were no lines in the video, I just needed to look like a doctor. I asked if this was a Union job. I was told that
since it was just in-house there was no Union jurisdiction for this job. That did not sound quite right to me.
I was also told that since it was only for in-house usage, no one outside the company would even see the video.
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and The American Federation of Television
and Radio Artists (AFTRA) have a very strict policy about the jobs we accept.
Union members are only allowed to work on Union acting jobs. The Unions don’t care about accepting
commercial modeling work, but the acting jobs need to be Union gigs.
I contacted my local SAG-AFTRA office, explained the details, and was told, that this definitely
falls under the guidelines of a Union job. Since the company was not paying Union wages, or
following Union guidelines I would not accept the booking.
So, even though no one would even know if I did this job, still, I will not break Union
rules, and had to turn this job down.
Let me know your thoughts. Have you ever turned down a job? Add a new comment below.
TELEVISION:
Wicked Attraction Nick Lewis (Supporting) Investigation Discovery
VOICE OVER:
Meet the Nicktooks Live! Show Announcements Kings Dominion
FILM:
Pitch Perfect Harmonious Head (Featured) Dir. Jason Moore
Signed: Wilhelmina
TV Commercial
Credit Karma
Since 1984, when I first got started in the acting and modeling industry (while I was a full-time college student), I always listed the character name for any TV or film projects, on my resume. I knew that on the West Coast, most actors would not have a character name (unless it was a recognizable character on a TV show or film), but instead they would list Lead, Co-Star, Supporting, etc…
Recently, I have been advised that many casting directors and agents on the East Coast are expecting that same format. Casting directors and agents have no idea of the importance of the role if I list let’s say, Adam Miller on my resume, as the character I played in “A Modest Suggestion” (an independent feature that I recently completed). However, they will understand the importance of the role if I have Starring or Lead on my resume.
Sometime old habits are hard to break, but I think the suggestion that was offered to me about changing my resume is a great one. So now, I will place the characters name, but also add the type importance of the character in parenthesizes next to the name. Yesterday, I spent hours completely re-editing my resume.
You can see a great sample of resume and use it as a template for your resume in my book, How to Become a Successful Actor and Model.
Speaking of changes, with the new technologies and ways of doing things today, we all need to learn, adapt and embrace the changes that have occurred in the acting and modeling industry.
How have you created your resume? Add a new comment below.
Signed:
with Agency Models and Talent – MN
Film:
The Devil’s Hour – Janice – Brewtown Productions
Eleonora Busia – Doctor – Director of film Memory Project
University of St. Thomas Holiday Video produced by Fivehead Productions
Agent Signing:
Signed with – Lori Lins Ltd – Milwaukee, WI
Film:
“The UnMiracle” – flirty customer – Andy Papke (director)
Transformers 4 – Extra
Last week I had an audition for a feature film being directed by Peter Jackson (King Kong and The Lord of the Rings).
My agent submitted my head shot for the role of a doctor, and told me I was reading for that role. Well, when I got to the audition, I was given the sides (the short section of the script I would be reading), for a different character. It was actually for the role of an uneducated rural man who buries old junk in a sinkhole behind his house!
Turns out the producers did not want any information about the script going out to the public, so everyone read the same sides no matter what part they were being considered for.
I had to make a tough decision. The character they asked me to read for was a part I would never book; I just don’t look like a rural junk collector type of guy. If I tried reading “in character,” it would look silly. If I tried reading it as a doctor, that would be equally ridiculous.
I decided not to follow the description of the character. Instead I created a different character I could reasonably be considered for and changed a few words so that it made sense. It was very clear that the director was really just looking for a certain type of personality, so the words we read were irrelevant. The movie is called The Lovely Bones. Since I was not cast, I guess I did not possess the look or personality needed for this film.
Have you ever had an unusual audition? If so, share it with others. Leave a comment below.
Theater:
Aesop’s Fables – Country Maid
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – BethPrint:
Modeled twice for Hamrick’s
Aesop’s Fables – Country Maid
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – BethPrint:
Modeled twice for Hamrick’s
I decided to start working with an agent who I
had known about for many years. The agency has a great
reputation, and has been in business for many years.
They are located about 8-hours from my home, so I knew
that getting work with them would be somewhat limited.
They told me that I needed to work exclusively with them
in their market. I did not have a problem with that
agreement. All of the materials they requested were
sent, and I was on their web site as well. However, I was
not getting any calls from them.
Whenever things are slow with an agent, I always
contact them and ask if there is anything I can
do to help make more work happen. I listen to their
suggestions, and take their advice.
After a year went by and I was still not getting
any calls about auditions, go-sees or bookings,
so I contacted them again. I would stay in touch,
let them know what I had recently worked on,
sent some new photos, and still heard nothing.
After being with the agent for two years,
and not getting any calls for auditions, go-sees
or work, I decided it was time to make a change.
I don’t take switching agents lightly. When I find an
agent who I personally like, I want to stay with them.
However, sometimes you do everything you possibly
can to make the “relationship” work, but still sometimes
you have to move on.
I contacted the agent to let them know that unfortunately,
I could not continue to work with them. Within a month of working
with a new agent in that market, I got a chance to audition for a TV series.
I just E-mailed the audition for the show, so wish me luck.
I always do whatever I can to try and stay with an agent. However,
sometimes, after doing everything you can to make things work,
still, you have to make a change.
So, before you seriously consider switching agents, here is what I
would suggest you do first.
1. Arrange a meeting with the agent to see what you can do to help bring in more auditions, go-sees or bookings.
2. Follow the agent’s suggestions
3. Give the agent time, and ask if he/she has any thoughts as to why you are not getting any activity.
4. If after a year or 18 months, and you have done everything you were asked to do, and still, no calls,
then consider looking into other representation.
Let me know your thoughts. Have you ever had to switch agents? How and why do\id you make the change? Add a new comment below.
Signed: with Gage Talent – Knoxville
I got a phone call from my Pittsburgh agent (Docherty Talent) to audition for a film
called “Love and Other Drugs.” It was a 5-hour drive (each way) for me, but I always
like auditioning at Donna Belajac Casting. Donna is wonderful with actors and even
though I could have shot and emailed in the audition, when I have the chance to
audition with Donna I will make the long drive. She always gives me
information that makes my audition stronger.
My role was for a seminar presenter in a scene with Anne Hathaway, Jake Gyllenhaal
and a number of other people who were attending my seminar. I had a good sense of
what this character was all about and who I was talking to in the scene. I thought the
audition went really well. I have learned over the years that quite often there is little correlation
between doing a great audition and booking a job. There are so many factors that go into getting
and not getting the part, that my number one goal for every audition is not booking the job. Instead my goals are:
1. To enjoy myself.
2. Learn from the audition.
3. If I book the job, that is simply icing on the cake, but not my number one goal.
So a few days after the audition I get a call from my agent saying I have a call back.
Now I will be reading for the director of the film, Edward Zwick. I am excited about
getting a chance to read for Mr. Zwick. I am ready, have my lines memorized, blocked out the
day for travel, and the night before the call back, I get a call from the agent saying that my part
was cut from the script, so there will be no call back.
That was too bad, but as I said earlier, there really are so many factors that go into
booking a job, that you have to really keep your emotions in check until after you
have actually been cast and shoot your scene.
Let me know your thoughts. Do you have an interesting story to share from an audition? Add a new comment below.
TV CommercialsTime Life Doo-Woop Collection Principal Time Life Productions
Liberty Ford Principal JoMar Productions
Von Paris Moving & Storage Principal Preston Productions
Mash’s Ham Grandmother Preston Productions
Colorectal Cancer Spot Concerned Friend WMAR – TV 2
Liberty Ford Principal JoMar Productions
Von Paris Moving & Storage Principal Preston Productions
Mash’s Ham Grandmother Preston Productions
Colorectal Cancer Spot Concerned Friend WMAR – TV 2
TV Commercial: Furniture Store – Kansas City
I just returned from giving my Becoming a Successful Actor and a Commercial Model Workshop in Florida, Los Angeles, Sydney, Australia and Des Moines, Iowa.
There were a number of great learning experiences I gained through my travels. At one of the events, the director of the event was very upset. She told me that one of her guest speakers canceled his talk just one day before his scheduled time. He left her a phone message saying that he just got an acting job that he did not want to turn down. Essentially, something “better” came along.
I understand how difficult it can be to turn down work. However, if it were me, I would have called the director and started off our conversation as such: “I want you to know that I will not cancel my talk at your event. I do have a situation to discuss with you in the hopes of making things work for both of us. I just got a booking for the same date as my talk. Is there any way to change that date or time?” If that request was not possible, then I would have said “OK, see you at the event.”
Even though the acting and modeling world is pretty big, in some ways it is very small. You can bet that the event director will talk with her other special guests about this actor. She will describe to some photographers, casting directors, agents, managers, and producers how unprofessional this particular actor was. This negative news will spread fast.
Your word is one of the few things you have complete control over. Be honest and dependable; it can help you tremendously.
Let me know if you have ever experienced anything like this. Leave your comment below.
Imaginary Me Beautiful Girl (lead) Joshua Mims
Toe To Toe – Student (featured) Emily Abt
Lives & Deaths of The Poets – Tolstoy Daughter (lead) Leland Steigs
My Amulet – Friend (lead) Family Cave
The Happening – High School Student M.Night Shyamalan
Theater
Mary Poppins(nominated for Rita Moreno’s Best Overall Musical) [Jane Banks}
Seussical Jr [Mayzie]
Elf the Musical Jr. [Jovie]
Cinderella G2K [Joy/Cinderella understudy]
The Crucible [Susanna Walcott]
I just finished shooting an independent feature film. I was having a very
difficult time figuring out my character. I knew that this film was a dark comedy,
but I still needed to make sure that my character was real, believable and not a caricature. My
character gets kidnapped. My first inclination was to play this guy scared to death.
I was constantly thinking please don’t hurt me, don’t hurt my family. Something did not
feel right about this approach. This was my mind set throughout rehearsals, but I knew that
I had to make a change.
The weekend before we started shooting, I had this interesting idea. What made much more sense
for me was instead of the character showing extreme fear, he actually was a fighter. Although he was scared,
he expressed a toughness that the older version did not show. I talked with the director about the new concept,
and he liked my idea. That is how it was shot.
When you are working on a character and something is not quite sitting right in your gut about
how you are playing the character, trust your instincts. Spend some time and figure out what makes
sense to you. Make sure that you honestly believe that your words and action make sense.
Let others know how you dealt with working on a character. Please let a comment below.
Has this ever happened to you? Add a new comment.
Editorial Scottsdale Health Magazine
TV:
Murder In The Family — Lead — REELZ Network
Theatre:
Black Dog — Lead — Director Gillian Lelchuk
Film:
The Victim — Supporting — Director Tarik Begic