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| Topic: Audition Cancellation | ||
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| I was supposed to be travelling to Reading for an audition for a short film this morning, and I got an email at 9.30pm last night saying "Both roles already cast now, sorry" And that was it. They were auditioning earlier in the week, so I understand if they have found what they were looking for, there is no point seeing more people. Just felt a little more effort such as a phone call telling me not to attend could have been given. Who's to say I would check my emails on a Saturday evening! All week I have been emailing for details and directions, with similar brief replies. So they knew I was travelling from London and making lots of arrangements to get there. Luckily I hadn't booked my ticket already. It was an unpaid production, not a student film, an independant film company which is why I expected a little more professionalism. I have refrained from sending an annoyed reply so far, I think I may just not bother! | ||
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| Reply #1 | |
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| Posted : 17/01/10 | |
| Send them an email Steph .... " Pity your timing isn't as good as mine !!". | |
| Reply #2 | |
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| Posted : 17/01/10 | |
| Sorry Steph "Unpaid production and Professsionalism"...... I believe you have your answer. Once more TO All PRO Actors out there do not respond or work for no pay!! You are making a rod for your own back!!! | |
| Reply #3 | |
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| Posted : 17/01/10 | |
| I don't think is fair to say unpaid and unprofessional go hand in hand. I have worked with very professional up and coming independant companies before with absolutely no problem. I don't want this thread to start another unpaid job debate, that wasn't the point. I am simply building up material for my showreel. | |
| Reply #4 | |
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| Posted : 18/01/10 | |
| But the point still stands, Steph. Do you think that the sort of material you would get from a production that can't even pay its actors is worth using for your showreel? | |
| Reply #5 | |
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| Posted : 18/01/10 | |
| Steph - that is poor planning from their side, though you could say at least they did let you know, I do ask myself what if you had booked an advanced ticket - you'd be now out of pocket! It's just bad manners and I don't see why you shouldn't write a professional and unemotional response, to let them realise this is no way to treat people. Not to side track on to another subject completely, I just wondered as Mike brought up Show reel footage how an actor can get some with doing films/projects such as this one? Thanks. | |
| Reply #6 | |
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| Posted : 18/01/10 | |
| Going back to Steph's question - no, actually I don't think there's much to be gained (personally) from sending any sort of reply. In a way consider yourself lucky they even bothered to tell you the day before - it would have been even worse if you received the text on the train (which has happened to others). | |
| Reply #7 | |
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| Posted : 18/01/10 | |
| Mike - I'm happy with the footage I have so far yes. The point stands about working for free yes, my point was in response to the post made by famousguy, as I don't believe unpaid equals unprofessionalism in every case. I don't need to be convinced about the problems many actors are faced with regarding unpaid projects. But if I was to wait for paid jobs to even appear on casting sites(and then to actually be cast in one) my showreel might never be complete. Trying to gain enough material by doing student films is still causing it to be a lengthy process for me. I stand by the on-going fight for NMW for actors, but I graduated 3 years ago and I still don't have showreel. Back to my original point, I am more than relieved that I didn't attend the audition now, as I have had many pm's who seemed to guess who the company were from what I posted, one message was actually very worrying, so it seems I had a lucky escape. I am just sorry for anyone who did attend. Steph | |
| Reply #8 | |
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| Posted : 18/01/10 | |
| Agree with Steph here as well as not wanting to make this thread another paid/non-paid debate but.... I was part of a wonderful production last year which was unpaid and the footage i got and the experience was brilliant. Extremely professional and highly enjoyable. I think the value you can get from some of these "non-paid" projects can actually more than compensate for the no pay. You don't know where these directors/producers may be in a few years time and they will be sure to remember all the actors they worked with who were in it for the experience and love of acting as oppose to the cash. The film I was part of was entered into many festivals and did really well. I myself won one award and was interviewed for a article in the local arts mag. I believe i have made some great contacts and would definitely do it again. Of course it depends on financial situation as to whether you can afford to do this, but if you can then why not?!?!? Are we not part of this business because we love what we do? | |
| Reply #9 | |
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| Posted : 18/01/10 | |
| I think its luck of the draw actually. Some high end professional companies with big reputations are nightmares to work with, some unpaid jobs are a sheeer delight. You cant catagorise always.. but more often, the paying jobs have a wee bit more professionalism... | |
| Reply #10 | |
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| Posted : 18/01/10 | |
| Well obviously Steph (and myself as I also applied as I am Reading based) didn't apply for the casting knowing this would happen or that they were going to be unprofessional. So those who think 'what do you expect?' or 'I told you so'...hindsight is a wonderful thing. Wonderful, but not particularly helpful :P I am in the same position as Steph in that I need showreel footage so when a project sparks my interest I tend to think 'what the hell I'll apply and see what happens'. Sometimes when you get the script/more info or your correspond with the person you get a good or bad vibe about the project. I got the bad vibe so didn't attend and it does sound like it was a good thing we didn't. I also agree with Alice and Blake. Students films can be very professional and professional companies can be unprofessional but I have learnt that you can usually work out which category they will fall into before you decide to work for them. Even if it is just a gut feeling. And I do believe the paid/unpaid professional/unprofessional divide is not as straightforward as some people make out. "Professional" can describe how someone should behave or how qualified they are but it doesn't neccessarily equate to talent! Are you telling me that if someone off the street with no acting talent gets paid £1 to do a film then they are now professional? Or if Dame Judy Dench decides to do a student film (omg how cool what that be?) that she has revoked her right to call herself professional? It goes beyond money. I still maintain that if you are working for someone that is making a profit then you should be paid too. And yeah, to answer your question Steph...not much to be gained from replying. | |
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