Lights, Camera Action....And No Pay....BEWARE!

Acting is a craft, some say an art, but whichever you choose to call it, there is a learning and experience curve that any actor must go through (sort of a right of passage) before they can truly be called a professional actor. Professional, not only because they get paid, but of equal importance, professional, because of their skill and the way they conduct themselves in the business, both on and off the set.

When we were all beginning actors (i.e. some training, but no experience) the most accepted way to gain experience and credits was to audition for, and once cast, do rolls in "free" films.  These types of films are often student films or new filmaker's low to no budget films in which everyone (cast and crew) works for nothing.  An actor gains practical experience in preparing a role, being on the set, and performing for the camera.  It is good training and experience, and we all did several (if not more) free films as we were starting out as actors. When I teach an acting workshop I highly recommend that any actor without experience or credits do exactly this. In Seattle and in most areas of the country, there are various "anyone can post" online audition call boards that will help a new actor identify and submit themselves for these free film roles.

Once an actor has experience and credits, it is time to look for an agency to represent them.  Agencies can open doors that the actor cannot by themselves, insure that the actor receives decent, competitive pay for their work, that working conditions are solid, and professionally represent the actor for both non-union and union work.

Having read this far, actors may be saying to themselves, "Yeah, I know all that.  Where is all this leading?"

OK. Fair enough.  Free work, or very low paid work, (such as $100 per day or less) is still prevalent on many of the on-line un-monitored audition call boards, except many are looking for more than just new, inexperienced actors. They want experience.  They use come-on lines like "credit for your resume", "opening screen credit", "great experience", "award winning director", and other such enticements. These are not the student or beginning filmmaker projects I discussed earlier, but more ambitious, professional  projects looking for free or very low paid actors.  Example: The Discovery Channel was advertising for actors for $100 per day for a project they are shooting in Seattle.  That is shameful. Others, looking for a particular experience in an actor, have advertised a rate of $50 per day. Say what!

Can this practice be stopped or at least greatly reduced?  Yes it can, but it will take some discipline from actors. If you are an experienced actor, don't submit yourself for this type of free or low paid work. I know we all love to have a chance to act and I am no different than anyone else, but by taking roles in these low or no pay projects you are lowering the bar for us all and demeaning yourself as a actor.  If the Discovery Channel wants experienced actors, they should pay a competitive wage for them. If no actors take them up on their $100 offer, they will raise that offer, and no doubt go through reputable talent agencies to find qualified actors.

Are there ever any good acting jobs offered on craigslist, Performers Callboard, and other un-monitored acting call boards? My agent probably will not like me saying this, but yes.  Now comes the part he will like. While good paying jobs for actors can be found on these call boards, the odds of finding one is pretty much the same as coming upon a gold nugget, while walking across a farmer's field.  They are very, very rare.  There is a production company in Oregon that I found out about through their Performers Callboard notice several years ago.  I have appeared in two films for the US Department of Justice for them.  This production company pays well, is most professional, has great crews and directors, and I would gladly work for them again. I cannot stress too strongly, however, that finding this production company on Performers Callboard is a rare exception to the rule. If you run across one or two like this on un-monitored call boards in your entire acting career, you are fortunate.

So, I caution all experienced actors to steer clear of these no/low paying acting jobs, even in the slow times we all go through. If you are SAG-AFTRA you have no interest in these jobs.  However, if you are SAG-AFTRA financial core you might be tempted.  Even if you are still non union, your agency can do much better for you than this type of work.  If you have experience and no agency representation, do whatever you need to do to get an agency to represent you. They have a lot more established contacts than you do, and they know how the business works.

Water seeks its own level and as actors, we can raise that level.

I grew up in Texas, so I will leave you with a saying which I heard for years down there.  "That's my story and I'm stickin' to it."

More later....................