Hi Bonnie,
I graduated from UC Irvine in June and now I am an actor in LA doing the “actor thing.” I have been reading your column on Actors Access for over a year now since my UC Irvine professor Richard Brestoff first told me about your column.
I just finished reading your article on the strike and I found it to be very informative and I really appreciate it. As a new actor in Hollywood, I have been a little confused on what this strike means exactly. I understand that it is a huge deal. I am aware of the many reasons to be supportive of the writers, and I plan on doing that. After I finish this email I am going to join the virtual picket line.
I also read Mark Sikes’ column, and this week he was discussing how actors should support the strike but also continue to work on their careers.
He says:
A strike means a work stoppage and everyone should support it. But why does this translate into actors dropping classes? Why do actors stop trying to get agents or managers? And there are still jobs available at least for the foreseeable future.
and
Most importantly, actors do not want to use the writers’ strike as an excuse to take an early holiday break. If there’s no work available in film and television then it might be time to jump in a play. And student films and shorts will be virtually unaffected by the strike so there’s no better time to add a few credits to your resumé when there isn’t much else going on for actors.
And you also mentioned in your article that many casting directors that you know who are in their union, which are Teamsters, have been hosting meetings with actors and auditions in locations other that their offices so as to not cross picket lines.
I want to, and do, support the writers’ strike, and I also want to continue to work on my career in ways that are not counterproductive to the goals of the Writers Guild during this strike. In addition to keeping up with classes and looking for student films and shorts, I want to encourage my agent and manager to set up general meetings with casting directors so I can continue to build relationships in this town — like I have been since our showcase in April — but I don’t want to at the expense of supporting the writers’ strike.
For instance: I had a showcase that generated good response. Everyone that I met with mentioned that I keep them up to date when I find representation and if I get new headshots and the like (this is also something that both you and Mark suggest we keep up on as we are establishing relationships in the industry) and normally I would be following up with these people (you being one of these peeps) because I have new headshots and representation. Some of my actor friends have mentioned to me that their managers are working on setting up more general meetings with casting directors for them while the strike is going on, and, as I said above, I as an actor who is laying the foundations for his career would like to do the same, but not if it is in bad form or if it contradicts the principles that unite all creative persons in the industry as we each demand our “fair share.”
I would appreciate it if you can share any thoughts that you may have on this matter. See you on the line, perhaps?
-Luis Carazo
Hi Luis,
Definitely keep working at networking. Keep auditioning when you feel comfortable doing so. (Obviously, any non-struck/non-WGA-jurisdiction work would be fair game, as well as anything that was bought for production prior to the strike.) Stay in classes. Absolutely, if your representatives can get you meetings with CDs, take ’em! And if you’re looking to upgrade your representation, do submissions. All good stuff!
How much each actor feels comfortable doing during the strike is going to be a very individual and personal issue. Some actors are out on the picket lines daily. Others are continuing on as if nothing has changed, despite a drop in the number of auditions as we near the holiday break.
Here’s the good news for most actors: Strike or no strike, there are still creative opportunities all around. As Mark mentioned, there are plays, there are commercials, there are open mic nights and staged readings and showcases going on. And, even if you are following up on your showcase contacts now — while we might not have as many opportunities for you — we will remember you for having been both a talented actor at your showcase and a professional with follow-through. Assuming you’re in this for the long haul, that’ll be a good thing even if we’re not able to cast you or meet with you right now. (Oh, and in case you’re wondering, I absolutely remember you as being both talented and professional. See my comments at the start of this week’s main column section to see how much I enjoyed the UCI students at this year’s showcase. Y’all rocked!)
Anyway, good for you, asking the questions about how best to support your fellow creatives during this tough time. (An admin note, please visit the Virtual Picket Line at this *corrected* link and thank you, dear readers, for the heads up that the link I shared last week had a glitch. Showfax Bob here tells me that this sort of thing is common during times of strike and strife, when the Internet is both used for disseminating grassroots information and “owned” by the big guys with whom we’re negotiating. My fingers are crossed for some really productive new talks next week!) Keep an eye out for updates at Deadline Hollywood Daily, United Hollywood, the Virtual Picket Line, and Fans4Writers.com (whose pencil-sending campaign has become pretty dang huge in no time). Attend free events going on all over town, where you can connect with fellow creatives. And keep your craft in shape! This strike won’t go on forever, so even those of you deciding not to work at all as actors right now will need to stay “fit” for when production comes back to full speed.
Bonnie Gillespie is living her dreams by helping others figure out how to live theirs. Wanna work with Bon? Start here. Thanks!
Originally published by Actors Access at http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/archives/000793.html. Please support the many wonderful resources provided by the Breakdown Services family. This posting is the author’s personal archive.