Actor Growth

Alright, in the event there was actually a lot of discussion that was useful for script writers and producers too. Of course, for myself I am more interested in the acting side. However, I felt that maybe there are a few aspiring film producers that are reading my blog too and so here is a treat for you all.

During this question and answer period a member of the audience, who sounded like a producer himself, was asking the panel for some advice. Basically, many of the panel suggested that people need to start making their own work. So, this person was expressing how he has made his own films with a very tiny budget and when it came time to seek for private financing he was only able to attract one investor.

Therefore, he asked the panel if they had any advice for junior and intermediate producers on the things they can do to get projects off the ground and to achieve a similar level of success that the producers on stage have experienced. The two who were answering the question the most was first Matthew O’Connor from the company Reunion Pictures and Larry Sugar of No Equal Entertainment.

The volume was a little quiet as at times they weren’t speaking into the microphone. But this was the clip:

Would you do things such as mortgaging your home if you believed in your project enough? Even with the producers here they mentioned how you can use the Internet to promote your work. I know here in Vancouver there are a ton of web series that are being published on sites like Youtube in hopes that it will garner enough attention to then go to the TV or big screen. Some of them look pretty impressive too.

Another interesting tidbit that was mentioned here, which I think can help everyone, is how they all said that they had great mentors that helped them and that you would be surprised at how many people would be willing to help you if you just ask.

Towards the end of the Insiders Film and TV forum event there was a quick question and answer period. One question was directed at the casting director in regards to actors moving to LA in order to pursue a career in film. First, here is a clip of it(Sorry, was a bit shaky with the camera).

That was an interesting remark I thought about how LA wants to know and look at everyone. As well, I never knew that Cory Monteith in the show Glee sent a video tape to the producers of the show to aid him in getting the part. As you can see, the casting director was expressing that you will be found if you keep at it and don’t necessarily need to move to LA.

The follow up comment is something that I heard a lot of too on how in LA there are just so many actors where what you thought you had was unique in terms of looks and trait may not be the case when you go down there. Essentially, he is trying to reaffirm to the Vancouver talent pool that this is a great place to learn and grow. When the time is right, you will be found.

It’s true in many sense I suppose. At the same time, I have read a lot of stories on how for many Canadian talent people weren’t really getting anything until they packed their bags and went down south. It really is one of those different strokes for different folks scenarios I’d say.

Okay, so if LA is constantly trying to find new talent anywhere does that mean there is a hidden talent scout that I don’t know of who is secretly keeping tabs on me? lol. One thing about moving to the US that I find interesting is that many actors here that I talk to often target New York as their destination whereas in more mainstream conversations like these it always revolves around LA.

This is one debate I hear all the time recently when it comes to which province and city is more fruitful, so to speak, for actors trying to find work. Recently there was a huge debate here how Ontario has offered film productions tax credits to lure all the film productions over there while the BC government hasn’t done anything. In some cases, studios have been closing down here and moving.

For the most part I would say the big projects are American films and this session raised an interesting point about how it doesn’t seem like Toronto is really taking anything away from Vancouver when it comes to that. However, it seemed like people were in an agreement that what is definitely happening is that most of the Canadian projects are going to Toronto.

It was kind of funny I thought as when I heard the debate it almost came across as a conspiracy theory as if the Ontario government was plotting to steal work from BC artists. lol. Here is a clip of that debate:

That session reminded me how my old neighbor, who works as a professional compositor for various shows, told me that Vancouver has a lot of advantages compared to Toronto where it is just easier for people in LA to collaborate with. One thing he told me was the time zone and how that plays a role.

I’m inclined to say that if you are a less established actor, with all this in mind Toronto might be easier to build up your resume and portfolio. Considering Canadian productions have to use Canadian talent, for the most part, that means the odds of you landing big roles are greater.

At the same time, if the comments about how most of the US productions are still coming to Vancouver with the prospect that a ton of CW and CBS shows are arriving next year too that could mean bigger opportunities here. So, there really isn’t a one place is truly better than the other mentality I’d say.

I’m sure we would all love to just travel down to say Hollywood and see what happens, but as we all know that is just not realistic for many of us. There was actually a comment that was semi related to this too on the panel. Will post it next.

As I expected, there definitely was a lot of gloomy news type of commentary at the film and TV forum. A comment that stuck out to me was from the talent agent Richard Lucas who operates one of bigger talent agencies here in Vancouver called Lucas Talent.

Essentially, all of the panel was asked to start off by telling people something very positive that happened for them this year and something negative. He starts off by pretty much just saying that he has no good news really and brings up a thought about how he noticed there seemed to be a disappearance of middle class actors this year. Basically, you are either killing it as an actor or are getting virtually nothing. This was the clip:

It was kind of interesting too as he commented that his agency made a good chunk of its income this year from what sounds to be oversees and foreign films. Kind of made me think if that meant having say a second language or being a minority should have been a great benefit this year.

If I was an outsider I would personally think that is always the way the acting business has been where you are either super successful financially or you are not. You realize when you start immersing yourself in the business that is not the case. Even when I watch TV or movies now I tend to pay a lot of attention to not just the lead actors but the supporting cast and people that just have small principle roles too.

That puts things in perspective too if any actor out there in this area was wondering just how bad the state of the industry was when you compare it to the more booming times. In cases like this, I’m inclined to say everyone that was not with a very established agency or took initiative to produce your own work must have had a hard year.

Excited to share all the information with you guys as I attended the BC Film and TV Biz forum where basically a panel of industry professionals commented about the current state of the industry here and what to do about it. I think this gives us a lot to talk about too.

While there are a ton of topics that I think will be cool to discuss that are specifically geared towards an actor’s growth like myself, there is a lot of content for me to go over. Everything from comparing the Vancouver film industry to other markets and what we as actors can do for our career growth. So, I’ll start it off with this one.

This is a footage I took during the introduction where it was the casting director Stuart Aikins. He is actually the person that casts the Twilight movie that was shot here. For me, he mentioned what I thought was the underlying message of the night for all actors I’d say. Essentially, we as actors need to take this opportunity to create our own work and to learn other skills as well. Here is a clip of the speech:

Funny thing is too that I actually told my acting coach that I was seriously considering trying to find a group of actors and other people that want to seriously make something on the web so that we can make our own future. Cause in many ways for me personally going to like workshops and doing the same old doesn’t seem to have produced dramatic results thus far.

Guess the only tricky thing about this is that many people are usually super enthusiastic about starting something but then never follow through with it in the end. So, it’s a matter of trying to find people that are willing to be just as dedicated and hungry as you are to succeed. One can argue that you can always just do something solo, but I would love to work with a group of people personally.

I got an e-mail today that is related to the unadvertised roles post I made a few days back. Turns out, they wanted me to play a part and offered me a role. Now the unique thing about this project was that their intent it seems is to use a couple of actors who will then play two different characters. Essentially, this is more of a challenge for a wardrobe and makeup department to try and make the actors look like two completely different people.

Sounded like fun to me and would be a good experience. From the script breakdown it looks like in one scene I would need to be a villain and in completely different scene I am playing some guy that is being tortured and interrogated by some crazy guy. Sounds pretty intense too as there are supposed to be a lot of things like blood and bruises.

I chuckled a bit in reading it as the character’s name is “Jack” apparently and since I watch 24 I couldn’t help but to think this scene is semi inspired from that show. Doesn’t look like I get to kick anyone’s butt though. lol.