Four months ago, we rolled out the first ever edition of The Actors Voice: POV. I have been extremely proud of this new, geographically-specific column, featuring biweekly contributions from casting directors in other markets. As we attempt to bring actors from all areas together and examine the globalization of casting, we’ve been able to track trends in markets outside of Los Angeles, which has been both educational and entertaining!
Well, this week’s Your Turn is the first major rebuttal to a POV contribution that I’ve received! It specifically addresses points made about the benefits of remaining a regional actor by Portland, Oregon’s top CD, Lana Veenker. Without further ado, I present reader’s a dissenting POV.
I’m an actor in Portland, Oregon, who will be moving to LA this year to advance my acting career. I’m a member of your Hollywood Happy Hour Yahoo! Group and enjoy reading your and Mark’s columns on Showfax. In fact, Mark’s installment about “The Big Move” was a major influence on my decision to relocate.
While I find your “POV” section to be interesting, I found much of Lana Veenker’s installment to be highly misleading. For instance, she mentions the “big Hollywood productions” that shoot here in Portland without noting that these productions generally only offer extra work to local actors. Gus Van Sant’s “Elephant” aside, I’ve yet to hear of a Portland actor landing a major role in a locally-made feature film.
She also says, “You’ve got a better chance of getting Taft-Hartleyed in Portland than in Los Angeles or New York City.” While I don’t know about NYC, I must say there are FAR fewer Taft-Hartley opportunities here than in LA. In fact, Lana’s claim flies in the face of Mark’s comment in “The Big Move” that there’s “no better place to get your SAG card than LA.” As I know relatively few Portland actors with SAG cards — and many LA actors who have them — I’m inclined to believe Mark rather than Lana.
Furthermore, I found Lana’s story about the visiting New York director to be downright insulting. According to Lana, he said, “When I ask actors [what they do for fun] in New York, it’s always the same thing: shopping and clubbing. People in Oregon have a LIFE!”
I’m sorry, but I did a lot more than shopping and clubbing when I lived in New York! And snowboarding’s one thing, but how many Portland actors can visit world-class museums without leaving town? Yes, I managed to have a LIFE even before I moved to Oregon!
Lana also says, “When someone’s good, it’s common for us to read him or her a half-dozen times a week for various projects.” This statement left me scratching my head, as I’ve yet to hear of even the most accomplished Portland actor getting six auditions a week!
In general, I found Lana’s POV to exaggerate the benefits of acting in Portland while downplaying those of Los Angeles and New York. Having been an actor here since 2004, I know that I’ll need to move to a bigger market if I want to make acting my career.
Again, I enjoy your column and greatly appreciate the information available through your HHH Yahoo! Group. I hope my message gave you a more balanced view of the Portland acting scene.
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/000689.html. Please support the many wonderful resources provided by the Breakdown Services family. This posting is the author’s personal archive.