ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

9 years, 11 months ago - Zara Plessard

Hi Fay,

I agree with Paddy. Firstly, if you really cannot offer a fee, then you need to cover expenses and food, as well as have a fantastic script and crew that an actor will want to be involved with. I have done expenses only films if I know that I will get some great experience and footage because the director is talented and the equipment is great. I need to know that there is a benefit for me giving my time and energy for no fee. Good luck.

9 years, 8 months ago - Harrington Day

I would be interested in helping anyone if I could get something for my showreel at the end of it. I would need my expenses covered. http://www.spotlight.com/1418-7834-7586

9 years, 11 months ago - Anna-Maria Nabirye

Hi I completely agree with Zara. I myself would consider working for free if I felt the quality of the script and characters were excellent and challenging. Also if it gave me an opportunity to play outside of my stereotyped casting.

So perhaps think a little out of the box in terms of what type of actor you would consider for each role. Really think about apart from lack of money what are you offering.

Also things like poorly written breakdowns, un-named characters, or characters with no real journey will put off the more experienced or "better" actors.
Quality and taste is subjective, so make the language in the breakdown, geared towards attracting
and exciting the type of actor/performance you want to cast.

There are lots of amazing actors looking for interesting projects- good luck!

9 years, 11 months ago - Dan Selakovich

Surely you've thought of known actors that you'd like in your movie. Why not just ask? Contact them through their manager, and not their agent. I did a short, and got everyone I asked. And they all wanted their scenes for their reels, which made me feel really good about my own work. I'm sure they did it because the script was outside anything they had previously done, even though they've all had long careers.

I know nothing about UK actor's unions, but here in Los Angeles, I did become a SAG signatory so that I could use guild members without them having to worry about working non-union. If that is a prerequisite in the UK and you haven't done it, perhaps that would be a good idea.

Good luck!

9 years, 8 months ago - Louise Templeton

Fay, I'm amused by your comment further up the thread:
"Oh, no I don't mean free. I am covering expenses. It s a fully catered production and we are also doing lunches and events outside of the shoot. "
Of course you DO mean "free", and the absolute least you should be offering is to fully cover travel, and provide decent food! You are asking professional actors to work for nothing, in return for the experience and some showreel footage. Some will go for it, others won't.....I agree with many other commenters that CCP is the best place to look: I wouldn't bother posting on Shooting People, frankly, it is primarily for film makers rather than actors. Always offer to send the whole script to anyone who applies, and try to avoid my pet hate, poor spelling and grammar in your post: it makes a really poor first impression.

9 years, 8 months ago - fay beck

Louise! Thank you for your rather unhelpful comment. It seems like you found yourself an opportunity to attack - choosing to find issue with poor spelling on an informal - i would have hoped - friendly forum. And Ryan, I trained as an actor and I have never been insulted by up and coming filmmakers who in trying to get projects off the ground have been unable to offer payment. Each to their own.

Harrington Day, thank you for the link. You'd actually fit the character of Tom. I am keen to see your showreel. I couldn't get it to work from spotlight, is there somewhere else I could view it?

I have to admit, I am rather surprised by the negativity and the level of presumption exhibited by some respondents as to the professionalism of the project. I had hoped this would be a helpful forum for filmmakers - not so sure it is. My reason for asking this question on this forum is that I have recently moved here and simply do not know what works here in London. Thank you to all who have provided me with helpful advise and comments.

9 years, 11 months ago - janet bar

Please look at my profile here and spotlight link. i am an experienced diverse actor i believe with an intersesting background,, and there are many around too, who look for interesting projects, well written scripts and creative people, to work with. Some student films are badly organised, and very badly lit etc,and it feels like a waste or time, but for some expenses and some good work and experience,I would be more than happy to participate, I hope to hear from you if thee is anything suitable in your casting. This is why i joined Shooting people just now, apart form being very interested in films and film making.

9 years, 11 months ago - Holly Jacobson

I think it I think it can be really hard to find actors to work for free just because the best place to find them is castingcallpro - you only have to offer £52 plus expenses though and you could cheekily make it for the whole project rather than per day (as long as you are clear to the actors in your initial communications with them. I think a lot of actors are more than happy to work for free for really cool projects. Do you know any other filmmakers in person who you could ask for recommendations? I always like to do this if I can because a recommendation from someone you trust counts for so much. If you advertise on Starnow - which again is free to post jobs on, you can advertise free posts. I've found that you get far less serious actors on there though and more people who'd like to give it a go (but not always the case). Also have you thought about what kind of role you're casting for - it is a lot harder to cast boys and men because there are just so much less of them and the ones there are therefore have better access to paid gigs. Personally I'd always write roles for women. One last thought - you can always find an actor that you like from something else you've seen and then contact them directly. Honestly, it's really flattering to be approached that way and if you are passionate about your project you could have an actor on board who wouldn't ordinarily have even looked at your casting call.can be really hard to find actors to work for free just because the best place to find them is castingcallpro - you only have to offer £52 plus expenses though and you could cheekily make it for the whole project rather than per day (as long as you are clear to the actors in your initial communications with them. I think a lot of actors are more than happy to work for free for really cool projects. Do you know any other filmmakers in pyou could ask for recommendations? I always like to do this if I can because a recommendation from someone you trust counts for so much. If you advertise on Starnow - which again is free to post jobs on, you can advertise free posts. I've found that you get far less serious actors on there though and more people who'd like to give it a go (but not always the case). Also have you thought about what kind of role you're casting for - it is a lot harder to cast boys and men because there are just so much less of them and the ones there are therefore have better access to paid gigs. Personally I'd always write roles for women. One last thought - you can always find an actor that you like from something else you've seen and then contact them directly. Honestly, it's really flattering to be approached that way and if you are passionate about your project you could have an actor on board who wouldn't ordinarily have even looked at your casting call.

9 years, 11 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Dan mentions the unions, but Equity are nothing like as prescriptive as SAG for shooting a short. Cast are fully able to contract without union involvement should they choose to do so, you're not going to get shut down or extorted. That said, going through PACT/Equity makes a heap of sense once you're spending larger money.

9 years, 11 months ago - fay beck

Good idea Marlom! We actually do that, we edit and produce showreel, i have no idea why I didn't think of that!

9 years, 11 months ago - Julian Lamoral-Roberts

You can find good actors by looking at the Actors section of Shooting People. You can also try Casting Call Pro and Spotlight

Best of luck
Julian

www.julianlamoral-roberts.com

9 years, 11 months ago - Andy Pandini

I too will also consider unpaid work, but - as others have said - the project needs to be exceptional. Film it on your grandad's VHS with on-camera sound, and I'm not interested. A good, interesting script, and a sense that the project is being taken seriously will keep me interested far more than offers like "fully catered" or "good showreel material" or "GRATE EXPERIANCE!1!"

As Dan said, why not draw up your ideal cast list and go ahead and ask. What's the worst that can happen?

9 years, 11 months ago - Richard Anthony Dunford

Casting call pro is the best place to go. I've found some fantastic actor through casting calls on there before.

Depending on what you're looking for in terms of playing age etc there may be some actors I've used previously I could recommend to you if you get stuck.

9 years, 11 months ago - Kieron Clark

Also, don't underestimate the importance of auditions and the casting process. From my experience of casting shorts, here's what I would suggest:

- Advertise on the Shooting People casting bulletin and Casting Call Pro (and also take a look at sites like www.starnow.co.uk). If you can, include links to some of your previous work in your advert or, if it's your first film, maybe the DOP's showreel, so that actors can get some sense of who you are and what kind of team you have on the project. If you can demonstrate a certain level of professionalism and organisation, you'll attract more responses.

- Watch any showreels and links to other shorts that actors include in their responses to you (or as many as you can). Draw up a shortlist for audition and respond to everyone who contacted you with a 'yes - can you come to audition?' or a 'no thanks'.

- Hire a church hall or a room in a pub for auditions. Send the actors the full script in advance. Pick a scene from the script for the audition or, if there's not much dialogue in the piece, maybe write an 'audition scene' with the same characters in a similar situation. Make sure that the actors know that they can bring a friend if they wish, particularly if you're casting younger people or if the audition space is down a murky side-street. Make it clear whether you'd like them to learn the scene in advance or sight-read during the audition.

- Make sure that your admin. is good! Give people plenty of notice of audition dates and times, offer them a 10 or 20-minute slot and be prepared to move things around if needs be, take and give contact phone numbers, send maps and postcodes for audition locations, be prepared for cancellations, no-shows and drop-outs.

- Have at least 2 people on the casting panel and, if possible, 1 person outside the room to meet and greet actors as they arrive and field phone calls from anyone who's lost or late. Have some signs up outside the venue to indicate where the actors should go. Film the auditions if you can. Get the actors to do the scene in two or three different ways, including the way that you see it in your mind's eye, to see what their range is and whether they'd be a good fit for the part. I would always get them to do the first 'take' with little or no direction. This will give you an idea of how they see the role and might give you some useful new ideas about the character.

9 years, 11 months ago - Richard Foxton

Hi, where are you? I'm happy at the moment to work for expenses even though last year I learnt a lot of lines, worked for 3 days, was highly praised and it still isn't edited. Find me here or casting call pro.
Regards Richard

9 years, 11 months ago - Allan (Mac) McKenna

I'm with Zara and Anna-Maria on this. Except that being in my dotage I'm not too fussed about dosh. Would like expenses though but have to say with students I've often 'come to an agreement'. Well, students have never been so poor! In the balmy days of yesteryear I not only had my fees paid I got a grant as well! And I was still perennially skint, my grant paying for the over-draught of the previous term. We all seemed to live like that. You can get my showreel on Youtube Mac McKenna showreel 2013

9 years, 11 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Have you advertised here? I suspect 'free' is the bit letting you down the most though, many people who make a living from acting still need to make a living. Even modest pay goes a long way.

You can also try casting call pro, again even a modest fee goes a long way

9 years, 11 months ago - fay beck

Oh, no I don't mean free. I am covering expenses. It s a fully catered production and we are also doing lunches and events outside of the shoot.

On top of that I am making myself available for cast and crew to work on their projects.
Plus also imdb credit, plus also the files of the movie.

9 years, 8 months ago - Ryan Laccohee

I think asking professional actors to audition for unpaid work is an insult, particularly when most young/new filmmakers don't have a clue how to audition people.

I'm happy to work for free, if it's a good script and a decent production, but generally I refuse to audition. My, training, experience and CV are enough evidence.

9 years, 11 months ago - Matt Jamie

CastingCallPro and TalentCast are free to put job applications on.
As has been mentioned, having some money helps a lot. I did a lot of no-pay films in my first 3 years out of drama school, and then stopped doing them, so you're likely limiting yourself to fresh graduates, or those looking to expand their showreels if you're not paying. There's an exponential increase in who's available as the budget rises. I recently cast a music video - the initial budget was £50/day for a 2 day shoot. I got 4 applications. I went back to the producer and managed to get it to £150/day for 1 day shoot. I got 65 applications. (and that was for dancers, and in Newcastle - in London you'd be looking at a lot more options for actors if you were offering a fee)

9 years, 11 months ago - Marlom Tander

Actors pay for good showreels. Can you deliver a good showreel? Becomes a "my time for your time" kind of deal. (I don't mean simply that they get to use the film in their reel, but you shoot something specific).

9 years, 11 months ago - Amy Barnes

I have just graduated from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, along with a fantastic group of actors, and we are all on Casting Call Pro, although I never look at the unpaid opportunities, only the 'jobs', which usually offer £50 p/d as a minimum, mainly because I simply can't afford to give up a day of my time for free, especially when I've had to take off a day (a morning or afternoon) for a casting in London. I have applied for lots of things, and given that I think I have a great training, and lots of credits before going to drama school, and a good set of headshots/showreel, I can only assume any lack of response is due to the overwhelming number of suggestions made for every job posted on that site. The same goes for lots of actors I know. So perhaps try casting call pro, offering a nominal fee if you can afford to, as well as Spotlight, as most actors are on there, and you'll definitely get some winners! Well that's my tuppence worth anyway.... good luck!

Amy Barnes
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Graduate 2015
Spotlight CV & Showreel
M: 07743519614
E: amybarnesactor@gmail.com
T: @AmyLBarnes