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Task at Hand
A reader asked me this question(s) via mail:
“Have you cast yet? How does that work? I was wondering if being an actor makes you more sympathetic toward the actors or if it makes you harder on them.”
I am harder. I know I am. It”s probably not very fair of me, right? What you should understand is that there are hundreds of thousands of people here with headshots and “acting training” and representation and, over the last couple of years in Los Angeles, my patience with actors has dissolved completely because most of those people are not very good. Or they”re crazy. Especially actors in their 20s. On the other hand, when I see someone do a professional, solid job, I get even more excited than usual: They stand out all the more.
We are going through casting now, which is tricky. It”s difficult to find the right quality of people for this project and Sci-fi/fantasy/genre/period piece is always an interesting endeavor, I suppose. Especially since many of the more classic, epic actors cast out of London or some other foreign place with more distinguished accents and higher calibers of classical training and we”ve the joy of casting LA-based only.
Agents and casting directors frequently tell actors this, that and the other thing they need to do in order to shape up and catch their attention. I have two things to say to agents:
If your client was on the Real World or Road Rules and has zero theatrical credits, then there is no way that they fit a breakdown that clearly states that the role “requires a strong actor who knows how to drive a scene.”
If the breakdown says “Caucasian,” you might think twice before submitting your African American clients.
The BD posted to agents at 7pm tonight and of course we checked to make sure things were done properly. It”s about midnight now and I am amazed at the ability of agents to be constantly submitting their talent 24 hours a day.
I am also amazed at their ability to throw everything they”ve got at the wall to see what sticks. (Huge pet peeve of mine about the Hollywood entertainment industry.) We see the submissions in lines and you can tell when an agent submits everyone they have in the age range listed, no matter if they do not fit the other “musts” in the character description. On the other hand, one agent submitted a quick note with his one talent submission and it was right on par with the breakdown and that can be quite useful. Focus, my friends.
Target well.
Focus on the task at hand.
Also, his client looks like he actually has chops. Maybe that”s the difference in submission behavior.
Working with managers and agents who represent directors/below-the-line talent is far more expedient, and their recommendations carry far more weight, since they tend not do what theatrical agents do in that they only refer their clients who best fit the bill.
It is my opinion, because I have learned this as well, that what actors do well to quickly realize is that there is nothing glamorous about acting or filmmaking. It”s really about a vision for the project at hand, about dropping your pride and being honest. Every casting director and director wants the actor walking through the door to be perfect for the role because it makes the job much, much easier. You can tell which actors are green (it”s not an age thing) because they are still dreaming of celebrity-suite Starwagons.
There are so many steps, tasks, leading up to that.
For instance, Johnny Depp used to sell pens and hang out with gypsies.
PS: When you look at a load of headshots, you start to notice that everyone has one eye that is larger than the other.
PPS: I hope these fools are ready to have their “special skills and interests” tested. “Scottish dialect”? “Kung-Fu”? “Professional whistler”? We”ll see about that.
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