casting – Page 9 – Answers for Actors

Why do a peevish percentage of actors believe stealing revenue from fellow artists is an honorable entitlement to the profession? A premise derived from a mistaken belief that as ‘artistes’ they’re morally above commerce?

An actor I believed smart and civic-minded posted on Facebook:

“Oh, Paul get over yourself,” you reply. “Everybody swaps music.”

What if you’re the artist who survives on royalties from your opus? If you write for the screen or stage—your words, plot lines, arc and character development were distributed or produced without financial cha-ching compensating your labors? Others are profiting. Would you appreciate a nay-sayer’s, “Oh, get over yourself?”

Your artistic peers don’t seem to give a damn for your starving artistry as demonstrated in the replies below:

One objection:

The thread quickly vanished.

Composer Jason Robert Brown and a young actress debated heatedly online regarding free online access to his (and other composers’) published sheet music. His copy-written material being accessed by thousands of purveyors for free seriously dips into his revenue stream. He doesn’t have the deep pockets of Sir Webber. He heads a middle-class household. But the actress argued she’s “a starving actress.” Her professional peril she grumbled should allot her and other actors free access.

Really?

No one forces upon anyone the profession of actor. An actor isn’t born butt branded designating their career for life. There are many paths available which traverse more stable and monetarily lucrative journeys. But this young woman placed her impoverished career on an altruistic moral plane where money is to be waived because she’s a “starving actress.”

Somalia is starving. You’re spoiled.

When I was near finished writing ACTING: Make It Your Business an actor in a production I was directing asked I forward him the book’s files from my computer. He wanted a free read. I shook my head; walked away. I should have turned, and said, “You give up the $1,500 per week you’re being paid at present to be in this show and…maybe I’ll consider your request.”

For two years an actress e-mailed me seeking free advice of which I dutifully answered thinking she’d been a reader of my first book. In her last list of questions she revealed that she’d go to Barnes & Noble, read ACTING: Make It Your Business, transcribe information, and then place the tome back on the shelf. She could have bought the book on Amazon for $13. Over two years that’s less than 0.0178082191780821917808219 cents per day! I stopped answering her.

While teaching a collegiate class a student whined, moaned, bitched and convulsed a hissy-fit when I mentioned that, as an actor who needs to network with the industry, he would need to obtain the Call Sheet listing agents and casting directors.

His reaction? “I have to spend more money?”

Civilians don’t often bitch about having to pay expenses related to their professional growth. They may complain about the price but not the requirement to pay for education, networking, and career expansion. But with some actors… well… they are an “ahc-torh…” and it’s sacrilegious to their divine muse to dip into the wallet and pay for the benefit of their career. Give me a penny-pinching-pretentious break. This is not Star Trek where money is a charming antiquated form of commerce. If you’re waiting for star date 1314.5 you’re a Ferengi with a dismal future of big-eared begging.

Want to support fellow artists so they in turn can support you? If you recognize yourself resembling one of the above “thieves”: Stop stealing. Pay-up, pay it forward.

My Best,
Paul

Casting Directors, Talent Agents, Directors & Actors

Love the Best-Selling Book for Actors
ACTING: Make It Your Business!

“Humorous and witty…

Actors everywhere who are trying to succeed in the business, young or old, on stage or on camera, anywhere in the world, take note:

This is your roadmap!”

— BERNARD TELSEY, casting director – CSA
(NBC’s Peter Pan – LIVE!, Into The Woods – The Movie, Wicked, Sex & The City)

“All the right questions asked and answered…
and with a generous portion of good humor.”

— SUZANNE RYAN, casting director, CSA
(Law & Order, Unforgettable)

“I love this book!

Paul’s book tells you what you don’t want to hear but really need to know

EVERY actor should read this book!”

— DIANE RILEY, Senior Legit Talent Agent
Harden-Curtis & Associates

“Paul’s book made me proud to be a part of this community we call ‘show!'”

— KAREN ZIEMBA, TONY & Drama Desk Award Winning Actress

“Paul Russell’s words are not only blunt & accurate they zero in on all the questions every actor wants to know but is afraid to ask!”

— KEN MELAMED, Talent Agency Partner
Bret Adams, Ltd.

“I had my Business of Acting, BFA Seniors, class do book reports on a variety of “business of acting” books and ACTING: Make It Your Business came out a clear winner—considered to be essential for their bookshelves!

— Dr. NINA LeNOIR,
Dept. Chair – Dept. of Thtr.
Chapman University

Get smarter on the business of acting from legendary Hollywood & Broadway actors and talent agents in a casting director Paul Russell’s Best-Selling Book ACTING: Make It Your Business!

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Paul Russell’s career as a casting director, director, acting teacher and former actor has spanned nearly thirty years. He has worked on projects for major film studios, television networks, and Broadway. Paul has taught the business of acting and audition technique at NYU and has spoken at universities including Yale, Elon and Wright State University. He is the author of ACTING: Make It Your Business – How to Avoid Mistakes and Achieve Success as a Working Actor. For more information, please visit www.PaulRussell.net.

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Justin—never one to be mistaken for for Mr. Congeniality—turned to his buddy and quipped, “If I go to a bar I’m bound to get laid before the ugly lights burn.”

Sean peered at him. “Just because you’re single and breathing doesn’t mean everyone will drop a condom for you.”

Justin’s blind sense of entitlement excels in some opportunistic actors who masquerade as friends to colleagues but under their congenial masks they’re social piranhas: feeding their career’s insatiable ambition appetite from a trough of other’s good will.

Casting directors, directors, talent representatives, producers, and universally aware actors often encounter the-world-belongs-to-me thespians who pretend friendship in hopes of leveraging career opportunities. Repulsed by repetitious actor retailing, talent champions, entertainment employers, and artists favoring integrity over an ambitious agenda, avoid the egocentric actor who leverages career momentum by offering a false friendship.

Recently a friend, who has furthered the career goals of many industry and household known actors, wearily commented that the actors he’d helped for decades and purported to term him ‘friend’ no longer contact him or return his ‘how are you’ inquiries since his pursuing a new career beyond entertainment. He’s no longer of use to their business aspirations. On occasion an actor will randomly e-mail him inquiring halfheartedly, “How’s life?” Then follows quickly the true outreach’s purpose; the social piranha desires career advancement assistance.

Another entertainment industry peer voiced similar of her being wanted by actors only for what she had to offer to representing their careers. As an agent of three-plus decades, who was formerly an actress, she provides her knowledge of audition technique and scene study at various studios. When she’s approached by actors seeking her for classes too many of the actors don’t first ask, “How can you guide me with this challenge in my skills I’m having?” Instead the actors ask, “If I study with you, will you also represent me?” Her response is, “One of my loves is sharing my experience and industry knowledge in order to benefit an actor’s skill set. I don’t teach for pay-to-play. I teach because I love actors.” She’ s lost many prospective students with her answer.

I received an e-mail, similar to many sent from actors never met:

“Thanks for all the info you post and opportunities to learn – I ordered your book from Amazon earlier today.”

I smile, until…

“Do you have a role for me? I want your feedback on my reel at **********.”

The actress doesn’t hear the shower beckoning her.

Ability and appropriateness are the first major factors to winning career goals. Honest intent, without exploitation, of your relations is equally as important a factor. No one is entitled to anything beyond living freely in pursuit of joy.

When reflecting upon your industry relations, or you’re tempted to link via a social network with industry ask yourself, “Do I want to leverage (i.e. use) this person for my goals? Or do I want to build a relationship with this person I get so we both get to know the other for ourselves, and not for what we each do?”

Honest friendships foster mutual success, and opportunity…

Casting Directors, Talent Agents, Directors & Actors

Love the Best-Selling Book for Actors
ACTING: Make It Your Business!