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Being A “Local Hire” by Tammy Hunt  •  last post Dec 7th



What exactly does it mean to be a local hire? 

A local hire means that you are able to work in the shooting location without the need for travel expenses. If you consider yourself to be a local hire, it means you are willing to: fly yourself to the shooting location, put yourself up at a hotel or other residence, and get yourself to/from set without any reimbursement. Is it worth it? 
That’s a question you’ll want to ask yourself and your agent. If you have an offer for a weekly scale but you have to be a local hire in another state, the cost of airfare, accommodations & rental car/Uber will have you barely come out even (taxes & agency fees are other contributing factors). 

At the end of the day, it’s important to prioritize what it is that you consider valuable to your career. Will this job be your first credit? Will it give you career-changing footage for your reel? If so, it might be worth it. It’s important to know the facts & rules when it comes to being a local hire. 
Just saying you can be a local hire and having some friends/family in that region may not be enough to fully qualify as a “local hire.” Productions are going out of state due to the many tax incentives offered there and lower cost of shooting. 

However, in order to qualify for these incentives, they must hire a certain percentage of local cast & crew. Many times, for cast, the percentage that can be out-of-state is reserved for the larger, leading roles. 
This means that some states will require either a state ID, or a document proving you are resident within a certain number of miles from the shooting location. (these requirements differ by state) 

#actor #actorslife
 

Missing Person by Matthew Gross  •  last post Dec 7th

In 2013, I was a casting director, and I cast the horror feature film "Axeman At Cutter's Creek". One of the actors I promoted to the producer/writer/director was Stephen Eith. I previously cast him in a UC Irvine student TV studio project, and I thought he'd be great for "Axeman". From time to time, I like checking in on my actor. It is a source of pride for me to see them on the screen, because I helped put them there. But something seems to have happened to Stephen Eith. Either he completely quit the acting profession and all social media, he died (maybe Covid-19), or he was placed in witness protection for some reason. 


After "Axeman" I got Stephen his first agent here in Hollywood. He eventually moved back east and signed with an east coast talent agent. He was getting plenty of auditions for shows in Atlanta (e.g. "Nashville"). I was happy for him. He had other things going for him too. He was working in real estate and involved in ice hockey.  I see his and scream queen Elissa Dowling's images are featured in the Amazon.com link to "Axeman", Moreover, someone is trying to sell Stephen's "celebrity" headshots on Ebay. 

He just vanished. He has a profile here on Stage32, and it says he was last on 2 weeks ago; however, it has said that for more than a year. I'd just like to know that he is all right, happy. He is a promising actor. In fact, the character he portrayed in "Axeman" seems to have been based on me. 

Don't Let Go Of Your Dreams by Anne Alexander-Sieder  •  last post Dec 7th

Like a lot of mom‘s, I put my career and my dreams on hold when I got pregnant. My son is the most precious person in the world to me, so I don‘t regret it but I‘m not gonna lie… when he became a teenager and didn‘t feel like hanging out with me anymore (weird, right?) I realized that things were going to change.


All of a sudden, I had time to consider what I wanted and the answer was pretty unsettling to everyone — including myself. At 47, with a gaping 16 year gap in my resume, I wanted to give my dreams one more chance. But how? I didn‘t have any industry contacts and had no current showreel material. I had no idea where or how to start.

When I was younger I had been able to work enough to join SAG/Aftra and was working on my equity card. But none of that was repeatable. I didn‘t have a plan or a strategy I just kind of… got lucky. I knew that wasn‘t going to work this time around - not at my age. I needed to figure out how to show agents and casting directors my value even though I physically had no „proof.“

That was 10 years ago. Today you can see me on screens big and small around the world. If you have the Hallmark channel, you can catch me in the current Christmas movie, A Heidelberg Holiday, and this week I‘ve got a callback for a national beer commercial shooting for 10 days in South Africa.

Am I a big star? — definitely not (obviously), but I am a working actor. I don’t say any of this to brag, but so that whoever reads this will know that your dreams are worth pursuing but you need a plan and a strategy. There is no age limit on success. Actors are the most resilient, empathetic people on this planet and I truly believe that there is room for anyone who wants to fill it.

If you have your own journey to share, I'd love to hear from you. This is obviously a subject that is near to my heart. I’m actually working on a project that dives into all the challenges second-act actors face when trying to get their careers off the ground. If my story resonated with you I’d love to jump on a Zoom and hear about your experiences. Your insights would be incredibly valuable to my research and could even potentially help other actors who are also facing similar challenges. Just DM me and I’ll send you all the details.

P.S. That’s my sister pointing to me on the TV - I couldn’t resist.

Casting Director Audition Advice by Tammy Hunt  •  last post Dec 5th



- Cindy Tolan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Straight Outta Compton, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Aladdin, If Beale Street Could Talk)

“I give adjustments. I want to find the person for the part, so if there is something that is right about you for the role, but your choice wasn’t going to best tell the story the director or writer wants, then you make an adjustment. Then maybe it’s almost there and you make another adjustment. I work with actors. There is also so much that goes into casting. You as an actor cannot be everything. You cannot twist yourself into a pretzel and say, “I could have been this.” There are so many factors that go into casting that the actor is not privy to. They just have to feel good about what they did in the room and then leave it there.”

- Meg Morman & Sunday Boiling of Morman Boiling Casting (The Baxters, In The Vault, Hello My Name is Dorris, Betrayed, Man With A Van, The Dead Girls Detective Agency)

Meg: “When we audition actors (with or without the director present), our rule is that the actor reads all of the pages they prepared at least once. If nothing else, just out of basic respect for them. We’ve given them specific material and they took the time to prepare. You’re showing them that you respect that time they’ve put into their craft. After that, if we want to redirect, we do but redirection is not always given.”

Sunday: “We never interrupt an audition. We’ve heard of directors doing this and it’s horrible. If you encounter this we’ll say, ‘Let them finish this scene and then we’ll go back.’ Auditioning is a very nerve-wracking process for people. You’ll get better performances if you are respectful of that.” 

#actor #castingdirector
 

How Much For Great Self Tape Equipment https://youtu.be/PufWkDyHzOA by Aaron Marcus  •  last post Dec 5th

Do you know exactly what equipment is needed and the cost

to shoot great self-tapes? You might be surprised. Watch
the video and learn.
https://youtu.be/PufWkDyHzOA

What equipment are you using and how much did it cost?

Peer reviews by Jed Power  •  last post Dec 4th

How do you get peer reviews on your script?

The art of acting. (behind the mask) by Richard Mark Bazley  •  last post Dec 4th

As we sat at tables arranged around the room and the Lecturer sat in the centre. I felt the nerves set in. You know, the dry mouth and sweaty palms. We had all taken a character each in a Shakespeare Play in my "A" level English Lit classes. The girls were natural and one girl performed with such gusto that my feeble delivery seemed all the more timid. I knew I would never be an actor but I did love stories.
The irony is I did in some ways become an actor. An "Actor with a pencil". I became a Lead Animator for Walt Disney Feature Animation. With a pencil I could hide behind I could become anyone or anything....................... https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/art-acting-richard-bazley-fpbse%3FtrackingId=bb4oSwLvRi64Qv7BC7I%252Byg%253D%253D/?trackingId=bb4oSwLvRi64Qv7BC7I%2Byg%3D%3D

Today's AMA in the Writer's Room Lounge - Matt Bierman by Sam Sokolow  •  last post Dec 1st

Hey everyone - Matt Bierman, Producer, Studio Executive, and Stage 32 Educator is hosting a 24-hour Ask Me Anything ("AMA") in the Writer's Room Lounge today, focused on Writing and Selling Your Holiday Rom-Com. 


Here is the link to his AMA so you can hop in and ask Matt your questions: https://www.stage32.com/lounge/vip/Writing-and-Selling-Your-Holiday-romcom

Matt is also teaching a lab where you will create all the tools you need to actually sell your original holiday romantic comedy starting tomorrow - here's a link so you can grab one of the last spots: https://www.stage32.com/classes/Stage-32-8-Part-Lab-Create-All-The-Tools-You-Need-To-Sell-Your-Holiday-Romantic-Comedy-Nov-2023

Also, If you aren't yet a member of the Stage 32 Writer's Room you can get a first month by signing up here: https://www.stage32.com/writers-room/plans-vip

Sharon Stone Says No to Big Budget Movie Over Gender Pay Gap by Debbie Elicksen  •  last post Nov 30th

I am not an actor, but I did find this interesting, and it seemed to fit here in this lounge. 

Stone challenges not only the pay structure, but the opportunity for women in America. How interesting that Saudi Arabia is more open than the U.S.

What she has to say is fascinating.

https://deadline.com/video/sharon-stone-gender-pay-gap/ 


How To Know You’re Ready For A Manager + What To Do When You Get One by Tammy Hunt  •  last post Nov 30th


First things first: actors must be ready for a manager before seeking a manager. What do I mean by that? Actors, you must have a career to manage before you pursue management. Managers don’t want to develop a career for you from scratch—it’s more time than we have in the day. 
At a minimum, you must have professional headshots, training by an actual industry professional, and enough solid acting experience that you have at least a few credits on your resume.

You should also be knowledgeable about the business of acting and have an attitude that is professional to this career path you have chosen. You are the business; you are the product you’re selling. Actors, please understand that managers absolutely must have clients that want to work as hard as they do for you. 

This means we will not tolerate you expecting us to do everything for you with no willingness to get out there and try to find work as well. Whether it be a student film, background work to gain experience on set, or helping out a creative friend for free on their project—show us that you are willing to put in the work and we will reciprocate in kind.

We also want to get along with you. Over the course of my career as a talent manager, I’ve experienced various levels of professional and personal conflicts at the beginning of a relationship with an actor. That’s a red flag for me. Difficulty at the beginning almost always guarantees difficulty throughout. 

When we offer you advice, take it. Know that we put massive amounts of effort into your career but that still doesn’t mean we have the power to create miracles. So when we suggest that you take classes, recut your demo reel, step out of your comfort zone, etc., please listen.

We love working with actors who are always prepared. The actors who know their lines. The actors who show up on time to auditions and callbacks with whatever was requested of them. Those are the actors we want to help succeed.

We want someone who likes the creative process of thinking about and planning their careers. 

#actor #management #work

What acting performance in a recent movie has stood out to you and why? by Amanda Toney  •  last post Nov 29th

I'll go first - I watched KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON ***spoiler alert**** and I love the scene at the end when Leonardo DiCaprio is talking with his wife and fighting with his feelings on poisoning her. I couldn't believe the range of emotions he let run through his face in that moment, and the way he delivered his lines still haunts me. 

I'm seeking out a local publicist by Cassie Hicks  •  last post Nov 29th

Hi, folks. I'm seeking out a local publicist who can interview me about my three topics that are based on soap operas and music, and I'm struggling.:( Also, my main concerns are the bill and the cost, because those are the last things that I want to be stuck with. If anyone knows a local(Chicago) publicist, please let me know. Thank you very much.

Acting by John Guinn  •  last post Nov 28th

I once attended an acting school, I found it to be very interesting, I also found that it is real work.  I have a great appreciation for actors and their skills, It can take sometime to become a pro.

An Actor's Greatest Competitor? Will Surprise You by Aaron Marcus  •  last post Nov 28th

An Actor's Greatest Competitor? Will Surprise You
Use the link below to watch the video

https://youtu.be/IZ0ZsUMwB2I

Have you ever experienced competitiveness from others?
If so, share your experience so we can all learn from each other.

Stage name sign with Agency? by Mary Tennant  •  last post Nov 28th

Hello, I am about to sign with The Wayne Agency not union. It ask for social security is still okay to use stage name? Or not? Thaks. Mary

Cyber monday! by Sam Sokolow  •  last post Nov 27th

Today is Cyber Monday! Remember that all day long today you get 20% off any Stage 32 on-demand education. If there's anything you've had your eye on today is the day to jump in and take it. 


You can check out all of our courses here: https://www.stage32.com/education

Have a great and creative day!

Off-Broadway Play by Kevin Loreque  •  last post Nov 27th

Currently in the Off-Broadway World Premiere of WAR WORDS at A.R.T/New York, written by Michelle Kholos Brooks (Mel Brooks' Daughter-in-Law) thru December 17th. True stories (both powerful and funny) of vets in Iraq & Afghan wars. Reach out about discount tix!

U.S. talent agents working with actors abroad by Klara Landrat  •  last post Nov 26th

Hello all, Can anyone recommend me and agent based in the U.S. who works with U.S. citizen actors who live abroad? 

It's Giving Tuesday! by Mirtha Vega  •  last post Nov 26th

Please donate on Giving Tuesday to The Rebuilding, a timely feature project set in 2050 America. Given the craziness that surrounds us, this just makes sense. Plus due to our fiscal sponsorship through The Gotham Film and Media Insititute, all donations are tax-deductible. But we can't make it happen without you - thanks in advance for your support!

Social Media and Actors / Casting Director Advice by Tammy Hunt  •  last post Nov 24th

Casting director Laurie Records talks about #socialmedia and what advice she would give to #actors who are trying to build out their social media:


"If you hate it, I would say then let it go. You do you. But if you have interest in it, be willing to put in the time, and that means daily or every other day. You need to be active. I would put it on my to-do list. Dedicate a half an hour of your time to cultivating that. I think that consistency is key. Just make it part of what you are doing for your acting career today. It will take time. You are not going to be on everybody’s radar from the get-go. But if you enjoy it, it should be a little bit of fun for you and [it] can absolutely be helpful in some situations. So, take the time, put in the effort and think about what you’re doing. Be careful, don’t slap things up that you might regret later. Be thoughtful. Keep your actor social media account pristine and with a focus that is going to serve you as an actor."

"As far as red flags I look for, clients care about offensive content. Stay away from extreme anything, whether it’s provocative photos, extreme political posts. I think that you can express how you feel politically, but it's a danger zone. Staying civil is a good idea, and just staying away from crass, rude, crude stuff. You’re representing the brand in the end, that is how they’re looking at you. If you’re a known jerk online, that’s not going to work out for the brand."

"Eventually, it will help you down the line. I think it’s worth the time.I would say, if social media is not your bag, stay off! Don’t have an Instagram account. It’s all right! But I believe that if you have interest in it, you will be rewarded. Follow other actors. Look and see what they are doing. That’s a great way to get some content ideas. Some people do it very well, so watch and mimic them. You’ll be different because you are you, but that way you’re not reinventing the wheel. Actors have come before you and done this social media thing quite well. Be a student of theirs, get some great ideas, and have fun. But keep it focused. Keep it focused on the acting stuff and enjoy it as a fun break you have in the day."