Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Live Well Now
It's not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.
-Seneca
Labels: inspiration
this posted by David August at 9:16 AM - 0 comments - 
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Top 5 Things to Ask an Agent
@agentadvice, a theatrical agent (film/tv), earlier today posted this answer to "What are the top 5 things to ask when meeting with a potential agent?"
- Background of the agent & agency- Know who is representing you. Sometimes an internet search can answer some of these, but always good to hear firsthand the history of the company, the agent's resume (hey- they're evaluating yours! why not do the same in return!). What other agencies they've worked for? What companies the agency has strong relationships with?
- What's their roster look like? Who do they have on a series, what projects are their clients currently doing? What's in the woodwork? If no client on a series, is there a steady stream of recurring & guest stars? Is the bulk of their clients working actors or development? Where do you fit in to the roster? Are there others that fit your type? Size up the competition within the agency. You're competing against them just to be submitted/pitched! What's the frequency of taking actors to the next level?
- How does the agent see you? Ask them what they think your age range is, what ethnicities you can play, etc. They're the ones that will be submitting & pitching you, so you should know what they're going to see you as!! Also, be prepared 2 hear what age someone else believes you as, and not what you think you can play.
- As an agency, what sets them apart from the others? Just as they will ask to know what casting directors know you, feel free to ask what CDs know them! Do they regularly pitch directly to CDs or to their associates? DO THEY CALL & PITCH!
- What is the game plan with me? Ask for realistic goals & be ready for truthful and honest answers. Now, keep in mind, the delivery of these questions & reception to the answers they give are important as well. If I'm sitting down with a client who clearly is going to be developmental, I'm gonna scoff to myself if they honestly expect to get generals w/ studio casting execs. Just remember- they are interviewing you & you are interviewing them. The weight of your & their name value depends on how the scales tip.
Reposted with permission.
Labels: agents
this posted by David August at 4:49 PM - 0 comments -
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Labels: technology
this posted by David August at 4:42 PM - 0 comments -
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Health Fair May 5th
Hollywood Healthcare Safetynet Health Fair, James Cagney Board Room and Museum Square Promenade - Wednesday, May 5 [at SAG, 5757 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036 - map]
(from sag.org).
Labels: event
this posted by David August at 11:29 PM - 0 comments -
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Playing One Note
You find a demeanour or character or side of yourself that's appealing - and then you keep doing it. Versatility kills most careers
(from The unstoppable rise of Russell Brand).
Labels: trends
this posted by David August at 1:25 PM - 0 comments -
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Staying Sane
Elizabeth Gilbert's TED talk about nurturing creativity includes great insight and addresses the challenge of reconciling creative glimer-of-the-divine success with our lives post inspiration.
Many an actor has between project thoughts of "I'll never act again, I fooled everyone into thinking I could act in the first place, I'll never reach that height of success again" and such anguish can exact a high price. The Greeks and Romans had an idea of a daemon or genius outside ourselves as the source of creativity, and this can work as psychological protection from the anguish in coping with the aftermath of creativity and success.
Labels: inspiration, process
this posted by David August at 12:59 PM - 0 comments -
Thursday, April 08, 2010
SAG Leadership Mixed on AFTRA's call to merge
AFTRA's top officers are making a renewed push for a merger with SAG to create a single performers union with national scope.
In a two-page letter to members in the spring edition of AFTRA Magazine, the union's five top officers lay out a case for why SAG and AFTRA need to join forces to deal with dramatic marketplace changes and to better serve their respective members. Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists have made attempts to merge in the past, most recently in 2003, but SAG members ultimately rejected the idea [back then] in a referendum vote [by a very narrow margin]
(from Variety).
An open letter from AFTRA's top brass calling for 'one media and entertainment union for all actors, performers and broadcast journalists' has met with mixed reaction from SAG leaders, with moderates hailing it as an important step and hard-liners sounding a note of caution
(from The Hollywood Reporter).
this posted by David August at 8:46 PM - 0 comments -
Thrill of Booking
It's not a hard and fast truth, but the realities of a new job are sometimes a let-down as the complication and stress compete with the excitement. I find it important to hold on to the "I just booked!" joy and try to celebrate and remember it.
Sometimes I think the best part about booking an on-camera job is the initial phone call and the days leading up to the shoot, and that the rest is all downhill
(from Stacey Jackson).
Labels: booking
this posted by David August at 8:25 PM - 0 comments -
