recollections

A fellow actor recently reminded me of a situation that all actors face at one time or another -- a casting call gone awry.

My story is simple enough but with no happy ending. A woman had placed an ad looking for people, and was very general in her post. It was an open casting call, (or cattle call as I've mentioned somewhere here before) and I took a chance on it, despite the lateness of the casting call time. I had only done one other late night casting call and for that, I got an actual paying gig out of it. So despite my initial misgivings, I ignored my inner voice and decided why not.

When I got there, there was no surefire way of knowing I was at the right spot. I showed the address to a person who worked at the place next door and they had no idea as to where that address would be located. I had arrived a good almost half hour early, so I waited patiently and glanced around to see who else would be showing up. No one came up or down the street unless it was to walk to the other end of the block and cross that street. No one went into any buildings on that block unless it was to the bar that I was sitting in waiting.

Two women furtively came out, pointing and smiling towards me as if they were observing me. Then they disappeared as I walked towards them. I waited another fifteen minutes then another five when I went to stand outside to see if any line had started forming. No one was there.

I found it very odd. I reluctantly went home and checked my email, since no one knew what I was talking about and I had a feeling I had just been played. The address was the one I had been given by this woman in a prior communication. Odd. I emailed a note to the woman, stating that there must have been a miscommunication as I was at the location and no one showed up. I never got a response to clear things up. When I relayed this later to a friend, I was advised that it may have been a scam as not much information could be found online about this woman.

I wanted to know why all the secrecy and drama and why waste my money. I had thought about writing her up and reporting her but I had no idea as to how to go about it. Then I recalled an incident where an actor wrote in their blog about a situation that they were displeased about regarding a casting call and that's when a lightbulb went up.

So Jennifer Kastner, if you really are an agent and legit at that, why haven't you responded to my inquiry? Why do I have a feeling it was you standing there checking me out wth your friend like we were right out of high school? I'm a professional actor looking for work, so why are you wasting my hard earned transportation money and time standing around waiting in a bar location for you? Then NOT answer my inquiring follow-up email?

Whew. Glad to get that out in the open.

the temptation to 'crash' a gig

Today presented a situation that pops up rather frequently when you're a background player.

To crash or not to crash a gig you know about? Some people actually show up to gigs they hear about elsewhere, go to the location where it's filming, and hang out in hopes of being picked up to be used and thus get a paycheck. Some have had some success doing this while others were effectively and notoriously flagrant in regularly showing up unannounced and thus banned from ever doing it again.

One BG actor was overheard actually discussing that they were the reason why a certain casting company no longer posted location information on their voicemail and only stated that they had to give their assigned number in order to leave a message or gain further information. The tone in their voice seemed they were actually proud of it. And the smile that fluttered across their face as they relayed their story basically backed that theory up.

I like to avoid pissing off the casting directors who don't seem to remember you unless you either a) perfectly fit the role they're looking for and they're all nice or accomodating to you, or b) you disregarded or disobeyed some rule or instruction they wanted you to follow.

Some would say that is a prudent idea. Some would say I'm being an asskisser, and not breaking out of the rules now and then will leave me in perpetual background mode.

I continue to search for the path to take me to the next level -- somehow, I don't completely buy it. There has to be reason, a time and place for it, a justification, I think.

Today I was told of a gig and I was tempted to show up. Then I thought -- what if this comes and bites me later? I figured better safe than sorry and stayed put. This gig was not meant to be mine but the next one will, and the next one after that.

However, I continue to push for commercial ad work. Several national television and radio ads. That's where the money is. And continue making contacts in the business, staying in touch with people, and continuing to be professional and polite. Some may not view it as the best secret formula to success, but then this plan is not for them but for me and my success.