I found my actress. Now I need an actor. Fellas?

[alfredog]

Any actors or aspiring actors on this board? (NYC)

My short film needs a black male, mid-20s (in appearance, at least) to play the boyfriend of a transsexual woman. Must be tall, fit and over 21.

I'm forgoing a big open call because I don't want typical NY actors. Finding the girl was supposed to be the hard part, but so far the toughest challenge has been to find a young man who has the presence and charisma for this role.

Compensation: Meals, travel expenses and copy of finished film.

email: imamura_style@hotmail.com

(Thanks to the board admins for letting my last post stand. I found a one-in-a-million actress here.)

[Legend]

Dude are you serious?

[chocolate ts freak]

If you have a problem with NY actors than good luck making your film. Some of the more talented and well trained actors are here in NY. I'm one of them but I'm too old for the part. If I'm casting for anything the first place in this country I'd search would be NY. If you shoot under a SAG agreement than you could hire union talent(provided you don't mind paying them) thus you could keep your search within SAG. I know where your coming from about a wide open casting call. Those give you a lot of garbage to filter through and are a lot more time consuming. If you really want a good, well trained actor you're gonna have to pay. I really believe you get what you pay for. Another option would be going to the Actors Equity building and posting your casting notice there. Again, your responses will come from very good, well trained professionals instead of a bunch of guys that just want to be in a movie, but have no clue as to what they're doing. I hope this has helped.

[alfredog]

If you have a problem with NY actors than good luck making your film. Some of the more talented and well trained actors are here in NY. I'm one of them but I'm too old for the part. If I'm casting for anything the first place in this country I'd search would be NY. If you shoot under a SAG agreement than you could hire union talent(provided you don't mind paying them) thus you could keep your search within SAG. I know where your coming from about a wide open casting call. Those give you a lot of garbage to filter through and are a lot more time consuming. If you really want a good, well trained actor you're gonna have to pay. I really believe you get what you pay for. Another option would be going to the Actors Equity building and posting your casting notice there. Again, your responses will come from very good, well trained professionals instead of a bunch of guys that just want to be in a movie, but have no clue as to what they're doing. I hope this has helped.
Good points. I have no problem with NY actors. I have used SAG actors in the past, but what I'm after right now is a complete natural. I have enough faith in my directing ability to coax a performance out of the right individual. And, for your information, a lot of good NY actors will work for deferred compensation or simply the chance to build their reel. As a film student, I cast a lot of excellent actors this way. I've also seen a lot of terrible actors who are highly trained.

Again, I'm looking for a specific type out here in the real world who has "lived" the role to a certain extent. I don't care how many films or plays you've done, or who you've trained with.

[yourdaddy]

Eddie Murphy isn't busy these days.......A little makeup, and he can look 21.

[yourdaddy]

Sorry to sound so trite Alfredog, but as a former member of Screen Actors Guild, It's demeaning to "pay" someone in meals. How the hell is the guy supposed to live while he's working for you? Do you pay his insurance and rent? Are you going to give him "points" on the gross or net? I admire your desire, bit if you aren't financed, you're all in trouble.

[alfredog]

Sorry to sound so trite Alfredog, but as a former member of Screen Actors Guild, It's demeaning to "pay" someone in meals. How the hell is the guy supposed to live while he's working for you? Do you pay his insurance and rent? Are you going to give him "points" on the gross or net? I admire your desire, bit if you aren't financed, you're all in trouble.

As a freelancer writer, I feel your pain. But I've been known to take writing assignments for little or no monetary compensation, if other ancillary rewards (exposure, contacts, resume boost) made it worth the trouble. Same goes for actors. Maybe they'll like my script enough to take the plunge. Good material is hard to find, and today's no-budget filmmaker might be tomorrow's... you get the idea.

Also: We're all adults; have the ability to say yes or no without too much whining.

And: I think a guy will find a way to "live" while he's working the two or three weekends he's working for me. Especially since he'll be well fed and even allowed to use the bathroom.

[Roadblock7611]

HAHA I didnt know you had to have a SAG card to get into porn

[Harrys Boy]

Reminds me of the billboards they used to hold up during the depression "Will work for food"!

[MarylandsMighty]

The responses here are hilarious.

Points or Net? On a short film? What the hell are you smoking.

If I am shooting a short film, and some "actor" asks about points, Id put the points of my boots up his ass.

As far as trying to locate a master thespian. Once again, this is for a short film.

I dont think this casting call is looking for say De Niro, Spacey, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, or the likes.

It is a part where you play a boyfriend of a transexual.

Sorry but if you want to act pretentious "I am a member of SAG, I wouldnt work for meals, etc"

Well, bub, then you wouldnt be the type to respond to this.

But if someone has an interest in the subject matter, or is a young actor, the experience is well worth it.

It is called paying dues. Worry about points, once someone knows who the hell you are.

Until then, most NYC actors are just waiters who act on the side. Now bring me my meal. lol

[chocolate ts freak]

MarylandsMighty, I've paid my dues and haven't waited tables in quite sometime. I'm currently on television(you've seen me just don't know who I am) and I have a couple of movies available in blockbuster. So I don't think the whole pay your dues and go wait tables crap was directed to me. I don't work for meals,copy transp. I don't have to. Alfredog, since you male lead is pretty young, finding someone to work for copy,meals and transp might not be that hard. Now finding someone that age with some skills who also has lived the part might be difficult. If I could refer someone to you I would, but I don't know anyone that young that could help you.

[yourdaddy]

Maryland, I spent 25 years in the motion picture business as a Key Grip, and a few of those as a SAG commercial actor on the side. I'm not a staunch union guy by any means, but I saw how producers ran roughshod over people, I didn;t know how "short" this film was going to be when I wrote my response. I just don't like to see people taken advantage of.

[alfredog]

The responses here are hilarious.

Points or Net? On a short film? What the hell are you smoking.

If I am shooting a short film, and some "actor" asks about points, Id put the points of my boots up his ass.

As far as trying to locate a master thespian. Once again, this is for a short film.

I dont think this casting call is looking for say De Niro, Spacey, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, or the likes.

It is a part where you play a boyfriend of a transexual.

Sorry but if you want to act pretentious "I am a member of SAG, I wouldnt work for meals, etc"

Well, bub, then you wouldnt be the type to respond to this.

But if someone has an interest in the subject matter, or is a young actor, the experience is well worth it.

It is called paying dues. Worry about points, once someone knows who the hell you are.

A lil stronger than I would put it, but AMEN.

[alfredog]

Again, fellas, I respect your points of view, but I'm not out to get over on established actors. I see this as an opportunity for someone who could use the experience.

But the fact that you gave non-childish responses was refreshing, for this board.

[MarylandsMighty]

If you want to be in the business of film, television, and movies, you arent being taken advantage of.

YOU have a huge opportunity.

Sorry, but dont play your fiddle for me. I was a dj in Baltimore for 9 years. Before that I ran board, worked 14 hour plus days and anything I could to get my shot.

Did they take advantage of me? Yes. Did I end up getting what I wanted? Yes.

Had I said no, and told them they were taking advantage of me, another hungrier kid would have done it all and took the spot.

Sorry, but if you arent established. YOU do NOT tell someone what you will work for.

You say yes or no, and you do it or you dont.,

Oh and Chocolate TS Freak, being an extra on the Wire doesnt count.

lol. So sorry if missed you on my screen.

[MarylandsMighty]

Remember. This is a choice for you to be in this field.

Sorry. It isnt like you are asking to clean toilets at a rest stop.

There are people who actually want in the field of tv, radio and film.

Guess what?

They work their balls off for little or no pay just for the chance to do it.

If you want to talk points, you need to actually get established.

To get established, you have to work. To work, you need to make yourself available and ready ATTITUDE FREE for the director, boss, etc.

In entertainment EVERYONE is replaceable. Remember that. For every job that is beneath you, gaggles of kids are lining up for it to get seen.

[chocolate ts freak]

If you want to be in the business of film, television, and movies, you arent being taken advantage of.

YOU have a huge opportunity.

Sorry, but dont play your fiddle for me. I was a dj in Baltimore for 9 years. Before that I ran board, worked 14 hour plus days and anything I could to get my shot.

Did they take advantage of me? Yes. Did I end up getting what I wanted? Yes.

Had I said no, and told them they were taking advantage of me, another hungrier kid would have done it all and took the spot.

Sorry, but if you arent established. YOU do NOT tell someone what you will work for.

You say yes or no, and you do it or you dont.,



Oh and Chocolate TS Freak, being an extra on the Wire doesnt count.lol. So sorry if missed you on my screen.Marylands Mighty, I'm NEVER AN EXTRA. FYI my spot runs on network tv, not cable. And when I work I'm always a lead or pricipal with lines. So no you didn't miss me. Your still seeing me. I'm very accomplished and still on the rise. But I don't have to brag or lay my resume out there to prove anything to anyone. I find your comment hilarious coming from a dj. You have no idea who I am son.

[chocolate ts freak]

Sorry to all for dragging this post back from the dead, but I didn't read all of it while it was active. I'm too respected in the industry to allow someone take shots at me. Peace.