This post is geared towards the absolutely green newbie (or I would say noob) in Los Angeles, so I am not addressing seasoned actors. Prior to coming to LA, you really should do some research. It came to my attention while I was doing background work the other day that there are some wannabe actors who seriously have no clue about anything in this industry. That's okay because we all were clueless at some point unless you were born into the business - but sometimes it's really not okay to be absolutely ignorant about something you claim you want to pursue. You can't just walk into a symphonic orchestra with no instrument and expect to be able to play.
With that in mind, I'm going to outline several ways you can find acting jobs, paid or unpaid, on your own - without an agent. By doing so, I am potentially shooting myself in the foot by adding more competition into the already competitive pool, but I'm assuming you would have figured it out eventually (or so I would hope) anyway.
What to Join:
1. LA Casting
You absolutely must join LA Casting if you want to self-submit yourself. You have to have enough money for the approximate cost of $13-15/month depending on which package you initially sign up for. You're not going to "make it" in one month in LA, so I suggest you get either the 6-month or 1-year package to waive the $20 registration/set-up fee. Don't worry about the cost of the service - I have definitely made back my investment (mainly through background work posted on LA Casting).
So what exactly happens once you join LA Casting? You will need to upload your headshot and fill out your resume and statistics. You only get one headshot for free - each additional photo costs $15, so make sure you upload good headshots. If you don't know what a headshot is or a good headshot is, you had better Google it. I suppose I can write a post in the future as well for your clicking convenience.
LA Casting will then give you access to whatever casting calls and breakdowns have been posted on the site. You can submit your photo and resume to legitimate commercial and print castings and a lot of independent short/feature films and student films. I have not seen many theatrical roles (that is, for movies and TV) on LA Casting - so you'll have to land those auditions by other means.
2. Actors Access
Pay the annual $68 fee to join Showfax and you can have unlimited submissions on Actors Access. Two free photos are given to everyone, regardless of whether or not you have paid the $68. Additional photos cost extra. You can also pay an additional $10 and sign up on extrasaccess.com which is just for background work (I personally don't find extrasaccess too helpful, but I did book a $150 gig from that site, so I got a return on that investment).
Actors Access will let you submit for various breakdowns. In my short experience, I see more roles for theater on Actors Access than on LA Casting, but there are still breakdowns for commercials and other reality tv projects. You may also see that the same project is posted on both sites. While it could annoy whomever else is on the other end, submit on both sites because there is a chance your submission on either one of the sites will be flooded to the bottom by the thousands of other submissions that have been received. You, in short, are competing with a sea of people.
3. Casting Frontier
I believe you can set up a profile for free and submit on the public submissions board. That being said, I haven't actively used this site yet and haven't booked anything or gotten auditions from this. However, another actor I met who seems to have been fairly successful in his short year-long career recommended this site as a must.
There are other casting sites out there, such as Exploretalent.com and CAZT and who knows what else, but what I named above seem to be perfectly adequate in getting your own self-submissions. These sites won't get you onto network primetime TV, but it's a good place to start.
OTHER METHODS OF BOOKING GIGS:
Craigslist Gigs
Yes, you can use Craigslist - but beware because I personally have encountered some crazy individuals by doing so. Use your best judgment - but I ended up getting called in for a SAG Commercial audition through my craigslist email. I had submitted for the same thing on Actors Access and had gotten no response. Also here's a hint: Search under gigs.
Mandy.com
I've seen this listed under many a message board posting and another actor whom I met on a short film shoot said he had some good experience with this site. Basically you put a listing advertising yourself and your services. I have no personal experience with booking anything through this, however.
Model Mayhem
Though ever rare, there are some casting calls posted on here for commercial projects. You can also take a shot at looking for modeling gigs or photoshoots - or you might even be able to get your headshots done for free if you find a willing photographer here. The site is free to join - you just need a full-body shot plus other photos. Don't worry if you're not attractive enough, because I have seen people who are not attractive but have been accepted as users on the site.
And finally, it might be helpful to pick up a copy of Backstage, which lists what auditions are open for the given week. You might also find it useful to read the message boards there as I have.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
To Join or not to Join Acting Unions
This will be a blog post in progress, dedicated to educating those completely green to world of acting unions. So seasoned actors look elsewhere or read to proof for errors.
I once had to translate what "DGA" stood for in my head as director for a project I was in mentioned it very casually. Luckily, actors will not be forking over a much higher entrance to fee to the Directors Guild of America. Actors' unions, however, still will require you to have a couple grand lying around and give you various other restrictions (or in some cases benefits.)
I mainly will outline SAG and AFTRA as these are the most pertinent for the LA industry. The union for stage actors is AEA, the Actors' Equity Association.
1. Screen Actors Guild
How to be eligible to join:
* Work as a principal or speaking role on a SAG project
* Receipt of three SAG vouchers from background work
* Being a paid up member for at least one year in ACTRA (Canadian), AEA, AFTRA, AGMA (musical artists) or AGVA (variety artists) and then having been paid as a principal at least once
Price to join:
* Initiation fee is currently $2277
* Base annual dues are $116. In addition, 1.85% of all contracts from $1-200,000, 0.5% up to 500,000, and 0.25% to a maximum of $1,000,000 are paid to the union.
What it means: Once you join SAG, you cannot work on non-union projects.
After perusing their site, I see SAG has written a FAQ for beginners.
2. American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
How to join: Anyone with the intention of being a performer in television and radio may join AFTRA. All you must do is pay the fee and dues.
Price to join: $1600 registration fee, $63.90 minimum annual due for those earning less than $2000 on AFTRA contracts. Those earning up to $100,000 will pay 0.743% of that to the union and 0.137% up to $250,000.
What it means: You can work AFTRA jobs, but not non-union jobs (though I have personally encountered a few AFTRA members who took non-union jobs as there simply was not enough work - against union rules but seems like you can slip through the cracks)
What are the benefits of joining either SAG or AFTRA? Generally, you would have higher guaranteed rates and the option of having health insurance. Of course there may be other perks like workshops or other events.
However, joining the unions doesn't guarantee you any work. In some instances, you may end up with less work as you'd be limited to only working what the union has available at a given time. If you are very marketable type, that may not be a problem for you - but that's not the case for everyone.
I once had to translate what "DGA" stood for in my head as director for a project I was in mentioned it very casually. Luckily, actors will not be forking over a much higher entrance to fee to the Directors Guild of America. Actors' unions, however, still will require you to have a couple grand lying around and give you various other restrictions (or in some cases benefits.)
I mainly will outline SAG and AFTRA as these are the most pertinent for the LA industry. The union for stage actors is AEA, the Actors' Equity Association.
1. Screen Actors Guild
How to be eligible to join:
* Work as a principal or speaking role on a SAG project
* Receipt of three SAG vouchers from background work
* Being a paid up member for at least one year in ACTRA (Canadian), AEA, AFTRA, AGMA (musical artists) or AGVA (variety artists) and then having been paid as a principal at least once
Price to join:
* Initiation fee is currently $2277
* Base annual dues are $116. In addition, 1.85% of all contracts from $1-200,000, 0.5% up to 500,000, and 0.25% to a maximum of $1,000,000 are paid to the union.
What it means: Once you join SAG, you cannot work on non-union projects.
After perusing their site, I see SAG has written a FAQ for beginners.
2. American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
How to join: Anyone with the intention of being a performer in television and radio may join AFTRA. All you must do is pay the fee and dues.
Price to join: $1600 registration fee, $63.90 minimum annual due for those earning less than $2000 on AFTRA contracts. Those earning up to $100,000 will pay 0.743% of that to the union and 0.137% up to $250,000.
What it means: You can work AFTRA jobs, but not non-union jobs (though I have personally encountered a few AFTRA members who took non-union jobs as there simply was not enough work - against union rules but seems like you can slip through the cracks)
What are the benefits of joining either SAG or AFTRA? Generally, you would have higher guaranteed rates and the option of having health insurance. Of course there may be other perks like workshops or other events.
However, joining the unions doesn't guarantee you any work. In some instances, you may end up with less work as you'd be limited to only working what the union has available at a given time. If you are very marketable type, that may not be a problem for you - but that's not the case for everyone.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Pricing Information for LA Acting Studios and Classes
I believe one standard piece of advice given to all aspiring actors who are serious about pursuing their profession is to receive training.
But a big question is, "How much do acting classes in LA cost?"
In this post, I will outline a number of acting schools and their prices. A starving actor should know how much a class should be. Information is taken from firsthand auditing or directly from the studio's website. The post will be updated as prices rise - help from others is welcome. If any information is erroneous, please inform!
Aaron Speiser Acting Studio
How to begin: Students can join at any time. Audits are $25.
Monthly Price: $750/3 months, $1400/6 months, $2500/1 year, $25 registration fee for new students, class twice a week
Format: Acting technique, scene study
Anthony Meindl's Acting Workshop
How to Begin: A $595 six-week intensive course is required for all beginners, regardless of previous experience. This course has two classes a week - one actual class and one observational class. Auditing the class is free, by appointment.
Monthly Price: $250, class once a week
Format: Cold-reading, scene study, no line memorization required
Current as of May 2011
Ivana Chubbuck Studio
How to Begin: You audit a class ($20 fee) and then have your resume examined to determine which level of class you are placed into.
Monthly Price: $275 Beginning and Advanced class, once a week, $325 Master Class
Format: Chubbuck technique
Joanne Baron/D.W. Brown Studio
How to Begin: Must interview with studio. All students will start at the same level.
Monthly Price: $315-$340 depending on teacher, twice a week. 6-week intensive is $785 with 3 classes a week.
Format: Meisner technique training
Other info: Missing a class results in a $55 fee for a make-up class. Program is structured for two years.
Current as of September 2011
Playhouse West
How to Begin: Membership is granted after a brief interview following an audit of the class. Audits are free.
Monthly Price: $200 or $195 with a book report, class twice a week
Format: Meisner technique training, beginning with repetition exercises. Other voice and improv classes available for a fee to students.
Current as of July 2011
But a big question is, "How much do acting classes in LA cost?"
In this post, I will outline a number of acting schools and their prices. A starving actor should know how much a class should be. Information is taken from firsthand auditing or directly from the studio's website. The post will be updated as prices rise - help from others is welcome. If any information is erroneous, please inform!
Aaron Speiser Acting Studio
How to begin: Students can join at any time. Audits are $25.
Monthly Price: $750/3 months, $1400/6 months, $2500/1 year, $25 registration fee for new students, class twice a week
Format: Acting technique, scene study
Anthony Meindl's Acting Workshop
How to Begin: A $595 six-week intensive course is required for all beginners, regardless of previous experience. This course has two classes a week - one actual class and one observational class. Auditing the class is free, by appointment.
Monthly Price: $250, class once a week
Format: Cold-reading, scene study, no line memorization required
Current as of May 2011
Ivana Chubbuck Studio
How to Begin: You audit a class ($20 fee) and then have your resume examined to determine which level of class you are placed into.
Monthly Price: $275 Beginning and Advanced class, once a week, $325 Master Class
Format: Chubbuck technique
Joanne Baron/D.W. Brown Studio
How to Begin: Must interview with studio. All students will start at the same level.
Monthly Price: $315-$340 depending on teacher, twice a week. 6-week intensive is $785 with 3 classes a week.
Format: Meisner technique training
Other info: Missing a class results in a $55 fee for a make-up class. Program is structured for two years.
Current as of September 2011
Playhouse West
How to Begin: Membership is granted after a brief interview following an audit of the class. Audits are free.
Monthly Price: $200 or $195 with a book report, class twice a week
Format: Meisner technique training, beginning with repetition exercises. Other voice and improv classes available for a fee to students.
Current as of July 2011
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