Q: I was moving to LA in September but my two roommates decided that they didn't have enough money. So for the next few months I'm not even gonna think about LA and I'll go by myself in a few months when I'm ready. I'm young, I have plenty of time.
I wanted to ask you if it's worth having a local agent? Don't you get alot of work on your own? Should I get an agent from the start or not worry about it until later?
-Adam
AO: Hi Adam,
I definitely think getting an agent as soon as possible is "worth it.” Sure. An agent will have access to stuff you will never find on your own. My agent has connections with people who call her in the eleventh hour and she finds jobs for her talent to be on the set later today or first thing tomorrow. I look at it not as "having an agent" but rather "partnering with an agent" - it is a business partnership.
Yes, you will continue to market yourself, and find a lot of your own gigs, but your agent will also find a few projects here and there and can put in a good word for you that will result in you meeting with casting directors who may not agree to see you as an independent actor.
A local agent may also have connections with Los Angeles Agents and when you are ready to move to L.A. they may recommend you to an agent there - which will save you enormous amounts of time, energy and resources. My personal philosophy is to do all you can where you are and that includes getting a local agent.
Good luck and keep me posted on your progress.
Angela
© 2007 Angela Oberer
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Actors Role in Screenplays
Q: Thank you for staying after the meeting last night to share your experiences. I think it would be helpful for you, John, and Scott to share a little about the actors side of a screenplay. I believe it could help us as screenwriters to see how our screenplays are interpreted.
Once again, Thank you.
AO: Regarding actors and screenplays:
In order to make a compelling movie, you need to charge or better yet, electrify the emotions of the viewer. Get your audience involved. Make them care about your characters enough that they take sides and root for a particular outcome.
If you are a great screenwriter you will be able to do that on paper...and the tough part of the actors job is already done. If you are a sucky screenwriter the actor needs to fill in the gaps and bring to the table what is missing in the screenplay. A good actor will be able to do that.
For screenwriters, I highly recommend a book by Karl Iglesias titled:
WRITING FOR EMOTIONAL IMPACT: Advanced dramatic techniques to attract, engage and fascinate the reader from beginning to end. ISBN: 1595940286
For actors, I recommend some good scene study classes which will help you read and understand the written word, and help you translate the scenes into a real life situations with subtext and meaning.
Once the screenwriters and the actors have done their jobs - the editors and music composers can add their touch of magic and presto!
PS. I enjoyed the meeting very much last night as well.
Thank you for your time and attention and for your contributions to the group.
© 2007 Angela Oberer
Once again, Thank you.
AO: Regarding actors and screenplays:
In order to make a compelling movie, you need to charge or better yet, electrify the emotions of the viewer. Get your audience involved. Make them care about your characters enough that they take sides and root for a particular outcome.
If you are a great screenwriter you will be able to do that on paper...and the tough part of the actors job is already done. If you are a sucky screenwriter the actor needs to fill in the gaps and bring to the table what is missing in the screenplay. A good actor will be able to do that.
For screenwriters, I highly recommend a book by Karl Iglesias titled:
WRITING FOR EMOTIONAL IMPACT: Advanced dramatic techniques to attract, engage and fascinate the reader from beginning to end. ISBN: 1595940286
For actors, I recommend some good scene study classes which will help you read and understand the written word, and help you translate the scenes into a real life situations with subtext and meaning.
Once the screenwriters and the actors have done their jobs - the editors and music composers can add their touch of magic and presto!
PS. I enjoyed the meeting very much last night as well.
Thank you for your time and attention and for your contributions to the group.
© 2007 Angela Oberer
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Acting Job Legit or Scam?
Q: Hi Angela, How are you?
You haven't heard anything about "Batman 3" by any chance, have you? Like any "casting" scams?? I've spoken with a dude named Victor on the phone (heard of him from one of my friends at "Bolden") and he said that "Batman" is paying extras around $200 a day, three days a week and that we had to set up a direct-deposit acct at Bank of America so they can pay us that way. And he as also said they would pay $350 to fly us out to Chicago and to pay for the first week in a hotel. His website is www.oncalltalent.com but he seemed a little wierd about the whole deal over the phone. I started asking him questions like how many days a week I would work, how much it pays, when does it start in july and how long will the shoot last, etc...And he suddenly said he had to go. I just don't want to fly out there, do some extra work, and then not get paid for any of it. Seems like it would be an awesome experience, but I sort of have a bad feeling about the whole deal, should I stay away from it? Thanks Angela, Chris
AO:
Hi Chris,
Yes, you should follow your instincts on this one.
Say NO to direct deposit, and DO NOT pay anything upfront. They will pay you when the job is complete and your pay will / should be connected to a pay stub that shows taxes paid, hours worked etc.
Having an agent helps reduce the number of scams you come in contact with, simply because you say “Great, I’d love to do the job, send the terms or contract to my agent.”
When you don’t have an agent, you can ask for a contract to be mailed to you directly, faxed, emailed etc. Having a written contract with terms spelled out won’t eliminate the scams, but will at least leave a paper trail, making it easier to take any necessary legal action.
Also, if you’re unsure about a job, check out the production company online, with IMDB.com you can now assess the legitimacy of production companies, film directors, casting directors, actors, and upcoming projects right from your computer.
If you’re serious about acting, you can join IMDBPRO.com which is about $100 a year, (I believe IMDB offers a free 14 day trial so you can get a feel for the website and see if it is worth your money – I believe it’s worth every penny.) But you’ll find it has addresses, phone numbers, email and physical addresses of everybody linked to a project. If you’re unsure, you can check with virtually anyone connected to the project to make sure it’s not a scam.
Regarding Victor – he may be a great guy, who is just really busy or has some personality quirks, I don’t know, but my experience shows me that when someone gets squirrelly about details or money of a project, it’s a good idea to pass go without collecting $200 (or in this case handing over your bank account information…)
© 2007 Angela Oberer
You haven't heard anything about "Batman 3" by any chance, have you? Like any "casting" scams?? I've spoken with a dude named Victor on the phone (heard of him from one of my friends at "Bolden") and he said that "Batman" is paying extras around $200 a day, three days a week and that we had to set up a direct-deposit acct at Bank of America so they can pay us that way. And he as also said they would pay $350 to fly us out to Chicago and to pay for the first week in a hotel. His website is www.oncalltalent.com but he seemed a little wierd about the whole deal over the phone. I started asking him questions like how many days a week I would work, how much it pays, when does it start in july and how long will the shoot last, etc...And he suddenly said he had to go. I just don't want to fly out there, do some extra work, and then not get paid for any of it. Seems like it would be an awesome experience, but I sort of have a bad feeling about the whole deal, should I stay away from it? Thanks Angela, Chris
AO:
Hi Chris,
Yes, you should follow your instincts on this one.
Say NO to direct deposit, and DO NOT pay anything upfront. They will pay you when the job is complete and your pay will / should be connected to a pay stub that shows taxes paid, hours worked etc.
Having an agent helps reduce the number of scams you come in contact with, simply because you say “Great, I’d love to do the job, send the terms or contract to my agent.”
When you don’t have an agent, you can ask for a contract to be mailed to you directly, faxed, emailed etc. Having a written contract with terms spelled out won’t eliminate the scams, but will at least leave a paper trail, making it easier to take any necessary legal action.
Also, if you’re unsure about a job, check out the production company online, with IMDB.com you can now assess the legitimacy of production companies, film directors, casting directors, actors, and upcoming projects right from your computer.
If you’re serious about acting, you can join IMDBPRO.com which is about $100 a year, (I believe IMDB offers a free 14 day trial so you can get a feel for the website and see if it is worth your money – I believe it’s worth every penny.) But you’ll find it has addresses, phone numbers, email and physical addresses of everybody linked to a project. If you’re unsure, you can check with virtually anyone connected to the project to make sure it’s not a scam.
Regarding Victor – he may be a great guy, who is just really busy or has some personality quirks, I don’t know, but my experience shows me that when someone gets squirrelly about details or money of a project, it’s a good idea to pass go without collecting $200 (or in this case handing over your bank account information…)
© 2007 Angela Oberer
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Choosing an Agent
Q: Hey girl, I wanted to ask you a question. I am wanting to switch agenices and I have it narrowed down to three:
Coastal Talent
Talent One
JTA
Just wanted to get your thoughts regarding them.
AO: Regarding agencies, it’s a matter of personal choice. My recommendation is to go and interview each agent and ask them some questions and get a feel for the way they do business. If you like the way they do business, then join forces with them.
The three you’ve chosen are all very good and I recommend all three.
The key to success with agents is to remember in this market (NC / SC) that on average, an agent represents about 100 actors (talent).
You are one of those hundred, or in other words, you are 1% of that agents business.
If they share their energies evenly with all of their talent, they will spend 1% of their energy on you.
You are 100% of your own business, and you should spend 100% of your energy promoting and growing your business.
(i.e. photographs, website updates, blogs, reading breakdowns, submitting yourself for projects, auditioning, taking classes, honing your skills, watching movies, going to the theater, networking, sales calls, marketing, interviews, and the obvious, acting.)
If you only expect your agent to find you 1% of your gigs, and you plan on finding all the rest by yourself– you will never be disappointed with any agent you choose.
If in the event that your agent finds more than 1% of your jobs, Woohoo!
© 2007 Angela Oberer
Coastal Talent
Talent One
JTA
Just wanted to get your thoughts regarding them.
AO: Regarding agencies, it’s a matter of personal choice. My recommendation is to go and interview each agent and ask them some questions and get a feel for the way they do business. If you like the way they do business, then join forces with them.
The three you’ve chosen are all very good and I recommend all three.
The key to success with agents is to remember in this market (NC / SC) that on average, an agent represents about 100 actors (talent).
You are one of those hundred, or in other words, you are 1% of that agents business.
If they share their energies evenly with all of their talent, they will spend 1% of their energy on you.
You are 100% of your own business, and you should spend 100% of your energy promoting and growing your business.
(i.e. photographs, website updates, blogs, reading breakdowns, submitting yourself for projects, auditioning, taking classes, honing your skills, watching movies, going to the theater, networking, sales calls, marketing, interviews, and the obvious, acting.)
If you only expect your agent to find you 1% of your gigs, and you plan on finding all the rest by yourself– you will never be disappointed with any agent you choose.
If in the event that your agent finds more than 1% of your jobs, Woohoo!
© 2007 Angela Oberer
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)