A lot of people here are missing the main way you get into SAG/AFTRA.
While you need to be in the union to PERFORM in a union project, you do not need to be in the union to AUDITION for the project. The catch is if you get cast in the part, then you have to join the union. Also, depending on your state laws, you can usually do one SAG contract without being forced to join, but on your next job you would have no choice.
Casting directors don't care if you are in the union or not. Their only concern is finding the best actor for the job. In theory, an actor could audition for a role, get cast and be required to join SAG in order to be in the project, and then refuse to join (though I don't know why). If they did, the role would be recast and that actor would never be called in for an audition by that office (or most offices) again. It is the stage actors union that is the real Catch-22 to get into. Many times you can't attend the union auditions for theater unless you are already in the union.
TL;DR Most actors join SAG/AFTRA simply by being cast in the role, regardless of union status, because CDs don't care about that.
Source: I was a union actor and now work for Backstage.com where I deal with CDs everyday. END:
I sincerely hope you enjoyed these comments, and do what you feel is best for you. You probably already know that everyone you talk to has a different opinion about becoming a successful actor/actress.
William Reynolds/William Reynolds Agency Atlanta, GA. [THE NEXT HOLLYWOOD}
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Getting Started
Starting your acting career and SAG/AFTRA!
Many actors just beginning, hopefully, a career as an actor, too many times think they must be with a Franchised (SAG/AFTRA) (UNION) agency, I don't necessarily agree with that premise. Most, if not all Franchised agencies work on and with Union projects. That sounds pretty good, right? Maybe not if you are non-union and their projects are union. You many not even get the opportunity to audition. While that statement is not set in stone, there certainly is a lot of merit to the substance. The brief article below is from an actor who now works for BACKSTAGE, a highly touted and well respected magazine in the entertainment industry.
Further I believe one major fact is missing here. About 90% of the members of SAG/AFTRA earn less than $10,000 per year and to join, once you finally get a principal is about $3,000. However that is the direction in which you should be headed. Just not too soon, first you need to get the proper training, the proper photos, start building a resume any way you can. Even background actors can advance their respective careers by getting an upgrade. This means playing that ‘extra’ role and then, while you are there on the set gets a chance to speak. This is the opportunity you've been waiting for correct? Now is your chance to show your skills, your ability, and your knowledge about acting.
I believe you should not try to start an acting career with a SAG/AFTRA agency without first being prepared.
Success happens to those that prepare themselves for success. There is not 'hard' standard of how one should go about this process. Find an agent, a real agent and not some sub-standard place that is trying to sell you classes. Do some research, set some goals, be realistic, and then you will be better positioned to make those all important decisions about your next step and your future, and be able to step up when that opportunity presents itself.
wr
Many actors just beginning, hopefully, a career as an actor, too many times think they must be with a Franchised (SAG/AFTRA) (UNION) agency, I don't necessarily agree with that premise. Most, if not all Franchised agencies work on and with Union projects. That sounds pretty good, right? Maybe not if you are non-union and their projects are union. You many not even get the opportunity to audition. While that statement is not set in stone, there certainly is a lot of merit to the substance. The brief article below is from an actor who now works for BACKSTAGE, a highly touted and well respected magazine in the entertainment industry.
Further I believe one major fact is missing here. About 90% of the members of SAG/AFTRA earn less than $10,000 per year and to join, once you finally get a principal is about $3,000. However that is the direction in which you should be headed. Just not too soon, first you need to get the proper training, the proper photos, start building a resume any way you can. Even background actors can advance their respective careers by getting an upgrade. This means playing that ‘extra’ role and then, while you are there on the set gets a chance to speak. This is the opportunity you've been waiting for correct? Now is your chance to show your skills, your ability, and your knowledge about acting.
I believe you should not try to start an acting career with a SAG/AFTRA agency without first being prepared.
Success happens to those that prepare themselves for success. There is not 'hard' standard of how one should go about this process. Find an agent, a real agent and not some sub-standard place that is trying to sell you classes. Do some research, set some goals, be realistic, and then you will be better positioned to make those all important decisions about your next step and your future, and be able to step up when that opportunity presents itself.
wr
Friday, May 22, 2015
MOVIE Hotspot The ATL
The Next Big Hotspot for Making Movies Is Not New York or Hollywood Image (And while you are reading remember that this article was written back in 2013. Georgia has done over 150 movies/TV shows since then) Begin here!
Hunger Games' fans, Panem is real. Or at least, parts of it are. President Snow's mansion, District 12 and even the arena for the 75th Hunger Games can all be found in and around Georgia — the state known for its peaches and now an increasingly booming film industry.
In 2001, four movies were made in Georgia; in 2013, that number shot up to 142. This upswing didn't happen by accident. Thanks to a 20% tax credit for productions spending over $500,000 in state, Georgia is quickly becoming its own little Hollywood — a good shake up for the status quo. In total, Georgia's film industry generated an estimated $3.3 billion in economic activity in 2013, a figure that puts it firmly on the map as a film location destination.
High-profile films shot in Georgia over the last two years include Fast & Furious 7, Dumb and Dumber To, 42 and The Internship — which used the Georgia Institute of Technology as a stand in for Google's campus.
Wander over to the south side of Atlanta and you'll find the site of the Hunger Games Quarter Quell — which in real life was home to the 1996 Olympics volleyball tournament. Head over to Turner Field where Clint Eastwood shot Trouble With the Curve. Or walk through downtown Atlanta which was used for high-speed chases in The Fast and the Furious, while the small town of Senoia was the backdrop for AMC's zombie-filled series The Walking Dead. Georgia landmarks are quickly becoming Hollywood mainstays.
Atlanta's doing so well as a city-double that it can even pass itself off as Los Angeles. Recent scenes from Liam Neeson's Taken 3 were set in L.A. but shot in Georgia's capital.
So what kind of threat does Georgia present Los Angeles? In a nutshell: No industry is immune from disruption, and Georgia has more going for it than a discount. It would be a challenge to unseat the Hollywood throne, but it wouldn't be impossible.
The chinks in L.A.'s armor are already showing. Film L.A. announced a massive slump in the number of top 25 blockbusters shot there — down from 64% in 1998 to 8% in 2013. END
Give yourself the respect and the chance to actually have a shot at working for a living in something that you love. Prepare yourself. Do some 'real' research and find the agency that is best for you. Be realistic and know that to move up the ladder of success, and not only being an extra. Listen to those that are actually IN THE INDUSTRY and not just fiends and neighbors. You cannot do all this on the computer; you are going to have to be pro active
Good luck to all of you.
William Reynolds
Hunger Games' fans, Panem is real. Or at least, parts of it are. President Snow's mansion, District 12 and even the arena for the 75th Hunger Games can all be found in and around Georgia — the state known for its peaches and now an increasingly booming film industry.
In 2001, four movies were made in Georgia; in 2013, that number shot up to 142. This upswing didn't happen by accident. Thanks to a 20% tax credit for productions spending over $500,000 in state, Georgia is quickly becoming its own little Hollywood — a good shake up for the status quo. In total, Georgia's film industry generated an estimated $3.3 billion in economic activity in 2013, a figure that puts it firmly on the map as a film location destination.
High-profile films shot in Georgia over the last two years include Fast & Furious 7, Dumb and Dumber To, 42 and The Internship — which used the Georgia Institute of Technology as a stand in for Google's campus.
Wander over to the south side of Atlanta and you'll find the site of the Hunger Games Quarter Quell — which in real life was home to the 1996 Olympics volleyball tournament. Head over to Turner Field where Clint Eastwood shot Trouble With the Curve. Or walk through downtown Atlanta which was used for high-speed chases in The Fast and the Furious, while the small town of Senoia was the backdrop for AMC's zombie-filled series The Walking Dead. Georgia landmarks are quickly becoming Hollywood mainstays.
Atlanta's doing so well as a city-double that it can even pass itself off as Los Angeles. Recent scenes from Liam Neeson's Taken 3 were set in L.A. but shot in Georgia's capital.
So what kind of threat does Georgia present Los Angeles? In a nutshell: No industry is immune from disruption, and Georgia has more going for it than a discount. It would be a challenge to unseat the Hollywood throne, but it wouldn't be impossible.
The chinks in L.A.'s armor are already showing. Film L.A. announced a massive slump in the number of top 25 blockbusters shot there — down from 64% in 1998 to 8% in 2013. END
Give yourself the respect and the chance to actually have a shot at working for a living in something that you love. Prepare yourself. Do some 'real' research and find the agency that is best for you. Be realistic and know that to move up the ladder of success, and not only being an extra. Listen to those that are actually IN THE INDUSTRY and not just fiends and neighbors. You cannot do all this on the computer; you are going to have to be pro active
Good luck to all of you.
William Reynolds
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Good Advise!
Dwayne
Johnson's candid interview with Variety Magazine.
Some good
advice.
Dwayne
Johnson’s last movie ‘Furious 7‘ was a box
office hit. His new TV show for HBO ‘Ballers‘ hits TV screens on June 21st and his new movie ‘San Andreas‘ will be another huge movie to add
to his IMDB profile. But, the point of all these movies and TV shows is to show
the world how versatile Dwayne Johnson is.
The
idea behind all of these projects, says Johnson’s WME talent agent Brad Slater,
is to demonstrate different sides of Johnson through both scripted and
unscripted TV and film projects, including his TNT reality program, “Wake Up
Call.”
“As
long as you can give your fans something great, they’re going to be there,”
Slater says. “With that, we always talk about not being scared to take risks. A
lot of the things he’s chosen to go into were just a little bit outside of the
box from what he’d traditionally been (doing) in the earlier part of his
career. If he keeps doing great work, all of these avenues are going to
continue to be there for him.”
It
ultimately comes down to taking risks. Johnson points out that when he first
ventured into acting in Hollywood
“There wasn't a blueprint of the half-black, half-Samoan former football
player-wrestler, who then made his way to Hollywood
When
a casting director hands you extra work, turn it into a speaking role.
Source: Variety
END
Unfortunately there are a lot of wannabe actors that think that they will be discovered. Once a director of some sort sees them, the wait is over, they are on their way. However this simply is not true and most likely will not happen in this lifetime.
Most
successful people in just about any job or vocation have spent time, energy,
effort and yes money to learn and hone their craft, whatever it may be. That
does not mean that you run out and sign up for some modeling school or some
talent showcase, where you will be discovered. No it does not. Spend a little
time and do some research. There really aren't that many real agencies or
companies that 'will' be able to help you.
Good
luck,
William
Reynolds
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Being an Extra!
BEING AN EXTRA
HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT TO A PERSON, AN ACTOR THAT WANTS A SPEAKING ROLE MORE THAN ANYTHING.
READ ON
‘The Background Extra’ we asked Jamie Lynn Catrett, the casting director behind ‘The Hunger Games’ and Heather Taylor, the casting director of USA’s ‘Satisfaction’, how important are background extras to Georgia’s growing film industry and their responses are motivating, honest, and ultimately inspiring.
IN AN RECENT INTERVIEW WITH. The Background Extra’ we asked Jamie Lynn Catrett and Heather Taylor, two top Atlanta casting directors, how can an extra land a speaking role or job on set of a TV show or movie. Here is what they had to say: What do you believe a background extra can do to either land a speaking role or a job on a film set in Atlanta? Jamie Lynn Catrett: Oh man – this is such a loaded question! :) Sometimes, it’s just being in the right place at the right time. On rare occasions someone can be pulled from background to say a one-liner. Doing background work is great because it allows you to see how a set is run from the inside, and it also allows you to be paid to watch and learn from some great working, actors. Most of the time though, it’s a matter of the actor studying and booking roles with principal casting directors. Landing a gig as a crew member is a little different.
I've seen background actors connect on set with various departments and change their careers. Some people start out as background actors because they want to be on-screen, but end up in the wardrobe or the props department a few years later because they realize they are better suited or more passionate about another area of the industry. The best policy is to get on set, watch everything that is going on and figure out what YOU are naturally drawn to and go from there.
Heather Taylor: –That"s an easier one than you think. Readiness, Meets Preparedness, Meets Opportunity. I have had the privilege of helping cast several principal roles, 2 roles actually just worked yesterday. If you are aware of your surroundings, are always on time & show up, you start to stand apart from all the others. If you also perfect your craft by taking acting classes, working on small student films or independent films, having a 1 minute monologue filmed, and a slate of yourself filmed on hand (meaning saved on drop box or your cell phone) – you would be surprised how much those things will work to your advantage when that moment of opportunity comes knocking. But with that being said, being a background performer is vitally important to this process.
I see so many people get jaded and tend to turn their nose up at being an “extra”. Some people feel that they are an “actor” and therefor they will not work as BG, but working as a BG one day on set is how you make it to the next level – it is all about exposure. *Here is a short Personal Story* I started out as an extra that knew nothing about anything in film (with only a background in theater). A few days after working on that set I became a stand in. How you may ask? Because the ADs saw me on set when I was booked as an “extra” and felt I looked similar to their actress – they also liked my willingness to learn and my ability to catch on very quickly. Truth is every day I was on set I payed attention to my surroundings and observed everyone’s jobs, including Stand Ins. So many times I see people come to set and don’t take it seriously, they goof off, talk loud, and expect they will be an actor in no time – when you are quiet and observant it goes a long way.
From Stand In work I then was asked to do Photo double work and Makeup tests for that and other actresses. I did well on camera and followed direction given. From their I got the opportunity to audition for a speaking role– and I got it! From there on out I was able to meet people on the production side. My 6 years of previous business background in NYC, and my life long dream to work in the film industry came fill circle back to my favorite expression, that was taught to me by other Casting Directors in Florida…. “my Readiness, met Preparedness, which met the perfect Opportunities.
Now, I am the owner of an Extras Casting Company, Casting TaylorMade and my daily job as a Extras Casting Director makes me feel as I have finally reached my goal, but I am never done learning and growing! Now I can make others dreams new to this industry (or old) come true – the same way the Extras Casting Directors / Casting Directors did for me. “Pay It Forward
HOPE THIS WAS A LITTLE ENLIGHTENING TO ALL OF YOU THAT FROWN ON BEING AN EXTRA AND WANT TO GO STRAIGHT TO THE 'SPEAKING ROLES' EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY NOT BE SAG/AFTRA.
‘The Background Extra’ we asked Jamie Lynn Catrett, the casting director behind ‘The Hunger Games’ and Heather Taylor, the casting director of USA’s ‘Satisfaction’, how important are background extras to Georgia’s growing film industry and their responses are motivating, honest, and ultimately inspiring.
IN AN RECENT INTERVIEW WITH. The Background Extra’ we asked Jamie Lynn Catrett and Heather Taylor, two top Atlanta casting directors, how can an extra land a speaking role or job on set of a TV show or movie. Here is what they had to say: What do you believe a background extra can do to either land a speaking role or a job on a film set in Atlanta? Jamie Lynn Catrett: Oh man – this is such a loaded question! :) Sometimes, it’s just being in the right place at the right time. On rare occasions someone can be pulled from background to say a one-liner. Doing background work is great because it allows you to see how a set is run from the inside, and it also allows you to be paid to watch and learn from some great working, actors. Most of the time though, it’s a matter of the actor studying and booking roles with principal casting directors. Landing a gig as a crew member is a little different.
I've seen background actors connect on set with various departments and change their careers. Some people start out as background actors because they want to be on-screen, but end up in the wardrobe or the props department a few years later because they realize they are better suited or more passionate about another area of the industry. The best policy is to get on set, watch everything that is going on and figure out what YOU are naturally drawn to and go from there.
Heather Taylor: –That"s an easier one than you think. Readiness, Meets Preparedness, Meets Opportunity. I have had the privilege of helping cast several principal roles, 2 roles actually just worked yesterday. If you are aware of your surroundings, are always on time & show up, you start to stand apart from all the others. If you also perfect your craft by taking acting classes, working on small student films or independent films, having a 1 minute monologue filmed, and a slate of yourself filmed on hand (meaning saved on drop box or your cell phone) – you would be surprised how much those things will work to your advantage when that moment of opportunity comes knocking. But with that being said, being a background performer is vitally important to this process.
I see so many people get jaded and tend to turn their nose up at being an “extra”. Some people feel that they are an “actor” and therefor they will not work as BG, but working as a BG one day on set is how you make it to the next level – it is all about exposure. *Here is a short Personal Story* I started out as an extra that knew nothing about anything in film (with only a background in theater). A few days after working on that set I became a stand in. How you may ask? Because the ADs saw me on set when I was booked as an “extra” and felt I looked similar to their actress – they also liked my willingness to learn and my ability to catch on very quickly. Truth is every day I was on set I payed attention to my surroundings and observed everyone’s jobs, including Stand Ins. So many times I see people come to set and don’t take it seriously, they goof off, talk loud, and expect they will be an actor in no time – when you are quiet and observant it goes a long way.
From Stand In work I then was asked to do Photo double work and Makeup tests for that and other actresses. I did well on camera and followed direction given. From their I got the opportunity to audition for a speaking role– and I got it! From there on out I was able to meet people on the production side. My 6 years of previous business background in NYC, and my life long dream to work in the film industry came fill circle back to my favorite expression, that was taught to me by other Casting Directors in Florida…. “my Readiness, met Preparedness, which met the perfect Opportunities.
Now, I am the owner of an Extras Casting Company, Casting TaylorMade and my daily job as a Extras Casting Director makes me feel as I have finally reached my goal, but I am never done learning and growing! Now I can make others dreams new to this industry (or old) come true – the same way the Extras Casting Directors / Casting Directors did for me. “Pay It Forward
HOPE THIS WAS A LITTLE ENLIGHTENING TO ALL OF YOU THAT FROWN ON BEING AN EXTRA AND WANT TO GO STRAIGHT TO THE 'SPEAKING ROLES' EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY NOT BE SAG/AFTRA.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Film & TV Agent, William Reynolds
Hi, I am Williams Reynolds, Film & TV agent for The William Reynolds Agency of Atlanta, (SINCE 1978) This is my first blog of many to come. I will be writing and posting information on the burgeoning Film Industry in Atlanta, currently number 2 in the USA behind Los Angeles. These comments will include information on the film industry and from time to time casting notices.
My first "official" blog will be tomorrow May 20, 2015.
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