Correspondence With An Actor

This last week I received a string of e-mails from a New York based actor. While nothing surprises me anymore, the level of disconnect between "reality" and "the business" was so striking I am reprinting the e-mails, only changing details out of respect to the privacy of the actor.

(Photo: courtesy Columbia Pictures)





In a message dated 08/26/10 10:47:43 Pacific Daylight Time, the actor writes:

Hello,
I am a young NY actor starting out and I am looking for any way I can into indy films? Right now I am literally being evicted and eating canned beans it sucks!, so I have to make any attempt I can to make my passion work, please understand. You never know if you don't try.

I love the look, story, and feeling of alot of the indy films and I would do anything to play a part of one of them. Can you possibly offer me any advice in how to get into one of these films? Or any help whatsoever(maybe even forwarding this to a friend, life is a chain reaction), it would mean the world to me because my future is at steak right now. Have a great day!

Thanks,

The Actor

BLOCK'S RESPONSE

Hi,

Acting in film (or theater) is not a profession.

It's a hobby.

My advice, get an education and training and work at something you love and do acting as a hobby until it can become a career.

Until your name can raise money or sell tickets it can only be a hobby. There is no reason to hire you.

I say this as a producer. It's not personal, it's just reality.

Actors until they can sell tickets are interchangeable.

Even if you're "great" it still is a haul to be a "star."

It also requires a bit of luck. Being in the right place at the right time. Being part of a television show that works (season after season), etc.

Even actors who have been in multiple seasons of a show can't get work regularly.

I don't mean to be discouraging but this approach (your letter) suggests a fundamental disconnect from a sense of reality in terms of how the business works.

I can't even open your head shot? Why wasn't it sent as a PDF? or a JPEG?

Independent films are struggling because there is no "there" there. How do you get paying parts?

Get breakdowns and go to hundreds of auditions for parts that call for your physical type. (I have no idea what that is.)

Hope this is helpful.

Mitchell


The Actor's Response

Hello,

My passion is to deep in my bones to ever consider it a hobby, even if that is what it is by definition.

I studied for two years full time at (an acting program) and I finished this June.

I don't take your comments personally, I know exactly who I am. (don't take that the wrong way, I mean no offense)

No reason to hire me though? Are you NUTS! I am a talented actor, writer, and producer, and I use to kill in all the comedy clubs in NYC(and more, but I wont bore you.)- but i want to do drama and film now. I am in the process of filming my second short film- I can shake and move with the best of them. I just have no money, I am doing my damnedest to make connections (I'm a fighter), you should admire that! But who am I to tell a producer what think, I'm just an actor right LOL.

I never said anything about being a "Star", I don't care about stardom, I just want to work with like minded individuals to make art that inspires the people who see it. (thats me)

You say it takes luck, I say everyone who is persistent gets lucky.

Look I realize I had no resume, perhaps I should have, but I am just starting out, as I just mentioned above, and my resume is weak (I was afraid people might see it and just automatically dismiss me)

My heroes like (Dennis Hopper) started out with very very small parts on TV, hell James Dean did a Pepsi add for 30 dollars.

The fact is that someone helped them at some point, they were not stars!

They didn't care about that I believe, they were storytellers.

I've been out of school for 2 months and I have been on as many auditions as I could, and I continue, its tough as hell, so thought I need to make more of an effort. Even if that means emailing people like yourself. Cause someone will make the connection and help me. I believe.

I'm not limiting myself to Indy film, but I thought that would be a good place to start.

Personally I think you should be the one to help me, don't you remember how hard it was starting out?

If you don't, I'm probably talking to the wrong guy.

The Actor

p.s. just calling it like a see it, just like you did, and what you said was very fair and appreciated.

p.p.s. I'm an actor, not an English major.

Block's Response (Bold and Italics)

Hello,
My passion is to deep in my bones to ever consider it a hobby, even if that is what it is by definition.

I am not suggesting that your desire to succeed is wrong, your drive or ambition.
ALL of that is fine.

What you're missing is that the business of being an actor is being between work, between jobs.

In order to support yourself you should see acting as a serious hobby and not a business. Get a well paying job that will allow you to go to auditions.

This will allow you to pursue your craft and dream.

When you are cast, they should allow you to take a day off or more to do the part.

Then while you're building a career you can make a nice living.


I studied for two years full time at (an acting program) and I finished this June.

I don't take your comments personally, I know exactly who I am. (don't take that the wrong way, I mean no offense)

No reason to hire me though? Are you NUTS! I am a talented actor, writer, and producer, and I use to kill in all the comedy clubs in NYC(and more, but I wont bore you.)- but i want to do drama and film now. I am in the process of filming my second short film- I can shake and move with the best of them. I just have no money, I am doing my damnedest to make connections (I'm a fighter), you should admire that! But who am I to tell a producer what think, I'm just an actor right LOL.

Again, there is a fundamental misunderstand about the business. I am a producer. I don't hire actors, I don't pick actors.

I work with a director, a studio, a network, a casting director. I do select the "star" if the "star" working on my picture will get it made. I don't ever get involved with casting the roles. It's inappropriate. That's the director's job.

I never said anything about being a "Star", I don't care about stardom, I just want to work with like minded individuals to make art that inspires the people who see it. (thats me)

I am only using the term "star" to refer to an actor that by agreeing to "star" in my project will enable me to make a sale to a studio or network.


You say it takes luck, I say everyone who is persistent gets lucky.

The luck, is that you not only need a great role, you need to be part of a work that will be a solid work. Most films are terrible.

Being is a terrible film but being a great actor does not provide a lot of help for moving a career.

Look I realize I had no resume, perhaps I should have, but I am just starting out, as I just mentioned above, and my resume is weak (I was afraid people might see it and just automatically dismiss me)

Your resume is fine. You are starting out. That's the point I am trying to make.

Since I can't raise funds with your being attached to my project--I can't cast you.

I can only cast actors that will enable me to make a deal.

Neither good not bad. Not connected to you at all.

That's just the way it is.

My heroes like (Dennis hopper) started out with very very small parts on TV, hell James Dean did a Pepsi add for 30 dollars.

The fact is that someone helped them at some point, they were not stars!

Hopper was in over 200 parts (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000454/)
This started in 1954.

Two Oscar nominations (writing and acting)

Perhaps 8 projects won awards (for writing, directing and even some acting)

Despite these wonderful parts, filmmaking, etc. he was not all that financially successful as an actor.

Judging from the parts, the credits etc. he struggled a lot for parts and opportunities.

They didn't care about that I believe, they were storytellers.

I've been out of school for 2 months and I have been on as many auditions as I could, and I continue, its tough as hell, so thought I need to make more of an effort. Even if that means emailing people like yourself. Cause someone will make the connection and help me. I believe.

I'm not limiting myself to Indy film, but I thought that would be a good place to start.

Personally I think you should be the one to help me, don't you remember how hard it was starting out?

If you don't, I'm probably talking to the wrong guy.

Again, I don't hire actors--I am a producer. Mostly focus on doc series.

SO while I can't hire you I am trying to encourage you and provide some useful info.

Good luck to you.

I feel confident that if you're given an opportunity you'll be fine.

My next few projects are docs.

Best
The Actor

p.s. just calling it like a see it, just like you did, and what you said was very fair and appreciated.

p.p.s. I'm an actor, not an English major