Actor Growth

Recently I was asked by my agency if I wanted to do some simple background work for an upcoming movie. It would be pretty demanding too as they wanted people for about 2 full weeks. The hours were pretty gruesome it seemed such as some of them starting at like 4am and the travel time would take about 40 minutes with a car. As well, some of the scenes required some physically demanding stuff.

However, unfortunately I was told that the pay scale would be the minimum bottom of the barrel pay and therefore it simply wasn’t worth it and I turned it down. My reasons were pretty simple as not only did I have to sacrifice a lot potentially to be there for minimum pay, but opportunity wise it’s not like this was anything that would greatly help my acting ambitions.

So the bottom line, if I don’t feel it is something that I would be passionate in doing with the opportunity being more “I just need bodies” type of arrangement, it comes down to the money as that is the only real reason why I would do the work. Even I have my personal limitations.

So my agent called me today and told me that Stargate Universe was interested in booking me again tomorrow for some background work. Unfortunately, as you all know I have the audition tomorrow. At first my agent asked if it was changeable and I did phone the producers. Apparently, it wasn’t possible due to the short notice and that there are over 50 people auditioning for the role.

As a result, I decided to go for the audition instead of the paid background work as to me auditioning for this feature can potentially do more for my career as opposed to working as a background guy. The only drawback to not taking the Stargate Universe work is apparently whoever does the casting has me in a “just call” type of mentality as I suppose I have a good reliable track record.

But, I think this is the best decision for me.

I got a message today from my agent as I got booked for two days of background work for a film. Later on in the day I got a phone call from a friend that wanted to shoot a film. Unfortunately, I had to decline it because I was booked for work.

That is a decision that I debate about many times. For example, even though doing volunteer work means no pay, as long as it helps me in my acting career and at the same time provides me with more film work experience I usually would opt to do that over things like paying background work.

I suppose what helps a lot with that decision is that I am not as needy financially like a lot of other artists and so I can base my decision more on growth and potential. But who knows. Maybe I’ll get a good upgrade opportunity on set too and at minimum I usually get to meet great people.

Recently my agent has been telling me that all of my calls for background work has apparently been special requests from the casting director of the show. Usually when it is they just ask if I am available to work on a certain day or not. It was the same thing with my previous agent as well.

I know a lot of people would say background work is a waste of time, but I personally think it is a fun and great way to do something at least to help make contacts while learning all the behind the scenes production.

I remember my last agent told me too that usually if you become known as the reliable person that you will most like be one of the first in line to be considered whenever possible for an upgrade to do things like stunts and principal roles should it become available. So if you think about it, it can be just like going to another audition.

Hopefully all of these special requests will turn out to be something good.

I got my call time recently and it looks like it is going to be a snoozer as the shooting won’t start until the late evening. This is highly likely going to go into the late early mornings as a result.

One thing that came to mind is how the new agency I am with when it comes to background with is that they neglect to inform me about the type of shoot that the bookings will be. I remembered with my old background agent she always was good in telling me what it was about beforehand for me to decide whether or not I wanted to take it.

On the flipside I do notice that they seem to be more active in getting me out there. I haven’t experienced anything drastic though when it comes to my principal representation with them ever since I switched agencies. I think based on the notice there are supposed to be monsters on the set too. This will be interesting to see as it will either be very cool or extremely corny I’d say.

Today I did some very quick work for a show called Defying Gravity. My agent asked me if I could work on this pretty late last night and I mentioned that I could do it. There was this guy on the set dressed up as a Easter Bunny handing out chocolate eggs to people. While it was at the Bridge Studios, the group I was with was whizzed off by a shuttle bus to a different location.

Overall it only took about five hours. One interesting thing that happened was that I went dressed in a very business type of setup as requested. The costume people thought it was great. Afterwards they decided that they needed some younger looking astronauts or something like that and so I was chosen to change characters.

However, upon arriving to the costume the second time the staff kept debating with each other as they said they really wanted to keep me as the computer guy/expert. So, in the end I stayed in the suit and tie look. I met some interesting people on set again as usual.

There was an older fellah on set that was telling me about his son who was an actor as well that went to a school called the First Step Actor’s Workshop. I then told him how that school rang a bell as one of my old film acting classmate at Capilano trained at that school too. Wouldn’t you know it, he apparently knew my old classmate very well. Small world I thought. Simple day overall.