FESTIVAL

ACTOR'S
HOUR

BUY
STUFF

WHAT ALL ACTORS SHOULD KNOW

By Billy DaMota CSA (April, 2001)

     It's like a freakin' virus...a disease...a sickness which is creeping into every crack and crevice in Hollywood (sounds like an ad for a horror move - kinda is). Yes, now Actorsite has caught the Weekend Workshop bug and is hawking their new HOLLYWOOD ORIENTATION WEEKEND.

"for those of you planning on moving to LA sometime in the next few months or years, we've put together a special event for you"

Sound familiar?

Friday night: orientation
Saturday: casting director cold reading workshop
Sunday: another CD workshop and a PHOTO and RESUME seminar

Sound familiar?

"This is all a comprehensive approach, and will let you test the waters..."

Sound familiar?

"...you can learn about what happens in LA without a lot of BULL!!!"

Sound familiar?

and they even provide info regarding offer hotel accommodations!

Sound familiar?

     Hello? Dear ACTORS of the world, you should NEVER pay to MEET and AUDITION for casting directors, or their associates or their assistants or their coordinators - no matter how "inexpensive" it is. And I GUARANTEE that you will NOT "learn about what happens in LA" in 2 days of cold reading workshops. That's a ridiculous notion!

     In my opinion, this COLD READING ORIENTATION is yet another way to capitalize on the naive and inexperienced actors outside of the LA market, by selling the sizzle. They've taken their cue from another well-known enterprise, realizing the profit in the unsuspecting and uninformed. what a HUGE, untapped market! the potential for making oodles of dough on these actors is mind-boggling! Don't ya just love "entrepreneurs"?

     It is a generally acknowledged fact that actors who participate in these kinds of events walk away hundreds of dollars poorer, in return for meetings and auditions with casting staff, some of whom are assistants whose advice and counsel is completely SUBJECTIVE, and generally unqualified. 

SO... 

     I will personally offer some advice to actors, HERE and NOW... and for FREE! This is for actors who are both new to the business as well as seasoned pros, but I want to specifically direct my advice to actors new to LA, or those who plan to make the move soon. this advice is coming from ME, a casting director who does NOT take money from actors to meet them, and who has cast hundreds of films, TV shows, plays and commercials since the mid '80s.

Copy, paste and print this next section...it will save you thousands of dollars.
I GUARANTEE it will. 

===================

     The money you spend as an actor should be spent wisely, and should be directed where it will have a genuine impact on the development of your career as an actor.

1) WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS
     Don't pay to meet and read for casting directors ever - unless they are qualified teachers who are offering a *real* class with a written curriculum and lesson plan. NOTE: There are very few of those kinds of classes around, and workshops will imply that one-night workshops with assistants are "classes". Don't fall for it! Weekend seminars or one-night "workshops" offer little real-world advice, and there is generally ZERO teaching provided. Having a casting assistant watch you do scenes, and occasionally offer a comment or critique can NOT be characterized as teaching. And for the majority of those who attend, no acting work will come as a result. The slim possibility of a short term payoff will not offset the money you spend. The workshops will make claims of success and provide a dozen testimonials, but it's an ACTING LOTTERY. Thousands of actors pay for the small percentage who get jobs. And ironically, most of the actors who do get those jobs, would probably have gotten them anyway. You may put as many quarters in that machine as you like, and pull the handle over and over, but the ones who benefit the most from your gambling are the workshops and the casting assistants.

2) MASTERMIND GROUP
     Create what I like to call a MASTERMIND GROUP. This is a group of people who have the same goals and aspirations as you. They can be old and young and men and women and even children. A MasterMind Group can be two people or 100. But they must want the same things you want as an artist and an actor. They must strive for the same level of excellence that you strive for. The reason for forming a group like this is because SUPPORT as an artist, from other artists is a critical part of an artist's survival and growth. And it doesn't cost a DIME. The importance of this group, and the applications for which this group can be used, will become apparent a bit later.

3) ACTING TEACHERS
     Spend your money on the tools that will *really* help your career. Find a good acting coach in your area. If you call your community theatre, or local college drama department, they will almost certainly have some referrals and recommendations. Ask your actor friends for advice and recommendations. Rely on your MasterMind group for help in this area. Laying a FIRM foundation in technique and scene study with a qualified acting teacher in your area is paramount in the development of a career in acting. Coming to Los Angeles and vying for the jobs you really want cannot be accomplished with a "quick-fix" cold-reading workshop or "career seminar". You must have training to compete, bottom line. If you live in Los Angeles, you can "audit" most classes in town. That means you may sit in and watch other actors work, and watch the teacher teach. Audit as many classes as you need to, to find the teacher and the class that works for you.

4) WORK OUT
     Like any profession or sport or skill, you must EXERCISE - practice and repetition creates strength and precision. No matter where you live, get together with other actors; friends, fellow theatre members, high school drama classmates, etc., and DO SCENES. This is a great way to utilize your MasterMind group. There are hundreds of scene and monologue books available, many on the internet at places like Samuel French bookstores (http://www.samuelfrench.com). Find a few books and WORK OUT in front of your group. You'll become more comfortable in front of an "audience", and the critique and support from your group will make you a stronger actor, as well as a more proficient cold-reader. And it's FREE! Keep in mind, that most cold-reading workshops on Los Angeles do NOT offer classes in the "technique" of cold-reading. They are generally nothing more than "showcases" where actors read and audition for casting people. Don't be duped into believing that there is any teaching going on. There isn't. These workshops are NOT a substitute to good training and a responsible workout regimen. Rely on your MasterMind group to hone your skills in cold-reading. Take chances with uncomfortable and unfamiliar material. Take on characters you might not normally attempt. Your instrument will become stronger and you will be better prepared to take on the LA market, once you decide to come here.

5) HEADSHOTS
     If you ask 100 casting directors or "consultants" what the perfect headshot should look like, you'd get 100 different answers. The fact is that every casting director wants one thing when they see a headshot, and that's that it looks like you. While I personally prefer a HEADshot, that is, not a 3/4 or full body shot, there are casting directors who will tell you they like exactly the opposite. Make sure your photos represent who you are. In preparing this post, I asked a former talent agent what advice she would give new actors. She told me this:

"There is NO secret to headshots. If you shot them recently, they look like you. That's about it. Keep them current. Dress like you dress. Be yourself. Don't try to 'become what they want'. You don't know what they want. THEY don't even know what they want, so you can't second-guess something that doesn't exist. Be yourself. You're selling YOU. Nobody knows how to sell you like you do. Every person you run into will have an opinion on your headshots. It's irrelevant. I once had a client who was flipped out about headshots. I told her, 'I don't care if you're covered in mud and smoking a cigarette as long as you have a good time.' She shot printed exactly that and got hundreds of calls. WHY? Because she looked happy and beautiful in those shots. She looked like she was having a blast. Never forget the "entertainment" part of the entertainment business. You're supposed to be having a good time. That's your secret, I guess. Be yourself. Love what you do. The rest will come. Oh, yeah, and never pay for advice. It should be free because it's subjective. If you could actually buy the secret, everybody would be a star. Just do what's right for YOU."

That's great advice.
     Find a good photographer, take photos that look like you, and have fun. There are probably some great photographers in your area. Once again, depend on your MasterMind group for advice. When you meet with a photographer, look at his portfolio. Do you like the quality of the photos you see? Do the actors in those photos have an impact on you?

6) RESEARCH
     Once again, there are many who would have you believe that you must pay for your connections, in either meetings in cold reading workshops with casting directors and talent agents, of through paid "consultants" who will make big promises but deliver squat. There are some great books and publications that you should consider reading before making the LA move.

The Actor's Encyclopedia of Casting Directors: Conversations with Over 100 Casting Directors on How to Get the Job by Karen Kondazian is a comprehensive guide with interviews with LOTS of working casting directors...a GREAT reference guide for actors.

LAWRENCE PARKE offers a number of books on his website (http://www.actingworldbooks.org), including a wonderful home study guide for actors who are considering making the LA trip soon.

Acting: The First Six Lessons by Richard Boleslavsky is an easy to read book that explores the basics of acting technique.

All of these books are available at the click of a mouse, to actors living anywhere in America. So read up and be informed BEFORE you get to Los Angeles.

7) THE MOVE
     Ok...think you're ready to come to Los Angeles and work? Here are some things you'll need.

a) Living here can be expensive, especially if you're used to the lower rents that people pay in most every other part of the country. Do the research - before you move - in finding an apartment that is both reasonable in price, and in a neighborhood you're comfortable with. For instance, Santa Monica is beautiful, and while it would be great to live at the beach, it's VERY expensive and not extremely convenient from the standpoint of location (depending on where you work or where a potential audition might be).

b) You must come here with at least 6 months worth of living expenses. If your rent is $600.00 a month, and your food, utilities and other expenses are $1000.00, then you must come with just about $10,000.00. This can include money for headshots, and at least 3 months of training with a real acting teacher. Key word here is BUDGET. Good planning makes for the best chances of success.

c) You should really have a car. Los Angeles is a HUGE place. Getting around without a car is possible, but trying to get to class or make an audition when depending on the public transportation can be tricky. Think economy. Sure, a convertible would be nice (after all that snow and rain you just left), but the priority is to survive. And a Thomas Guide (the big LA map book) is a must.

d) The support group you developed at home doesn't have to go away when you get to LA. There's a good chance that you've got a friend or relative who lives in Southern California somewhere. Connect with these people, and rely on their friendships to help you "acculturate". Los Angeles can be overwhelming for someone from a little town in Arizona or Minnesota who has never been here. Making friends and developing relationships are an important part of making a comfortable transition to any new and unfamiliar place, and especially to a city as big as Los Angeles. Don't be fooled into believing you must pay for these relationships. Remember the dynamic of the MasterMind group.

e) Don't expect to start working as an actor right away. You'll need to look for a "support" job, get into a good acting class, and start the process of looking for an agent. My advice to all actors who are ready to start this search, is that they try first to find a commercial agent. The criterion is less strict, and while every agent wants great actors (and you must still be well-trained as an actor to do commercials), they are little more forgiving when it comes to commercial talent, as much of the time, it's more a "look" or a "type" they want. Green actors, with good training, but not much experience, could have the opportunity to start auditioning for commercials, while continuing their search for the perfect theatrical.

I would personally suggest postponing any plans of moving to L.A. until after the possble SAG strike is settled (if there is a strike). There will be very little work, and talent agents likely will not be taking on new clients before or during the strike.

============

     So that's about it for now. There's a lot to learn when you decide to follow your dream to be an actor. it's tough, there's a good deal of cutthroat competition, there are predators who will try to sell you every service and product ever imagined, with implications of stardom... the bottom line is that it's up to you. Educate yourself before you make the leap. This does NOT mean taking seminars that offer a lot of opinions from assistants and coordinators for a fee. I promise you'll get all of this anyway, as a result of just *being* here, and it won't cost you a dime. In fact, you'd probably learn more about the biz by just hanging out on Wolfesden for a few months - The "Wolfesden Actors' Exchange Crash Course".

     Make sure you're prepared. this means being well trained, and coming to Los Angeles with the financial resources to exist. This does NOT mean spending money, depleting your "living" account" or running up unmanageable credit card debt for "cold-reading workshops" that are nothing more than paid introductions to casting assistants. If you come here with the right preparation and education, and avoid the traps set up by money-hungry, profit-driven enterprises to suck your bank account dry...you will succeed.

     What else...? I could go on forever...because there's so much to know and understand. But hey, I think I've covered some basics here that will help all actors compete in this wacky town called Hollywood...and you can always write me at castboy@castboy.com with specific questions.

I guess that's it.

See...? I just saved you $1299.00

-Billy DaMota, CSA