Actors Make Movies

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MAKE A MOVIE YOU OWN

Actors Take Charge of Their Careers

Lack of Opportunity

I have been coaching actors for over three decades. Sometimes, I can hardly believe it. It’s been pretty much non-stop. Even when I was directing 26 episodes of prime time TV in Kenya, I continued to teach and coach actors via Skype (which, sadly, is no more) on weekends.

I was probably one of the first acting teachers to ever coach actors on Skype. I started back in 2006, almost 20 years ago. But that isn’t what this newsletter is about. It’s about intelligent, talented and driven actors who aren’t getting the breaks they deserve.

I have seen this all too often over the years and, unfortunately, many of these actors quit and move onto some other activity and try to convince themselves that this new endeavour is what they really should have been doing all along while deep down in their heart of hearts know damn well they should be acting and appearing on the big screen.

You see, acting has the peculiar element of having to be given permission to appear in someone’s film or TV series. Since you are continuously auditioning for a role to be allowed to play it, an actor can get this idea that being an actor means being the effect of others. And landing any role much less an ideal role that allows you to deliver your full acting ability, is pretty much a miracle.

And, of course, miracles do happen.

But how about you create your own miracle? How about you play a role your are perfect for in a story that is entertaining and makes the audience want to see more.

As a coach, I work with some very talented actors who need that break and seven months ago the heavens opened up and a massively brilliant idea hit my brain. An idea of how to help these talented actors make their own breakthrough.

Time to Take Control

Everyone knows that making a short film in today’s digital world is accessible to almost everyone.

If an actor truly knows that this is the career for them, that they were born to act and make movies, then why not invest your all into making that happen rather than leaving it to the happenstance of someone else’s will.

A few months back… well almost a year now, I noticed two actors I was coaching were in the same boat of having tons of talent but no notable role to show for it. They didn’t even have any short clips on their demo reels that did their talent justice.

I had worked with them long enough to know they were ready to show the world what they could do and I had a damn good idea of what kind of character in what type of story they would shine at playing.

I have cast hundreds of actors in series, features and short films. After awhile you get really damn good at nailing casting. I knew what they could do. And I knew I could write that character in a story that would entertain audiences.

I presented the idea to these two actors that they could produce a film that they would own. I would write it, with their blessing, to ensure their acting work would be outstanding and I would make the story entertaining. They would then own the movie and all rights.

There was one other bonus. I would ensure that the short film would be written in such a way that the story could be expanded into a feature film or even a TV series. And, of course, they would own it.

It would be their intellectual property (IP) to exploit. Ideally they would get the feature screenplay or series pilot written and accompany it with a pitch deck to approach studios and/or investors for funding with them to play the same role.

I would help them produce it in a consulting capacity. They would go through the ropes of what it takes to produce a film and get that IMDb credit of Producer. And, since pretty much every actor who has a good career has producer credits, they would start to join that group.

There are more benefits too. Ones of perception from the industry itself.

How Actors are Perceived

An actor who auditions and occasionally gets cast is perceived as someone who obviously has talent but is not a huge influence in the film and TV industry. They are appreciated, especially when they fill the role of a character that a producer and director need.

Because there are literally hundreds of thousands of actors like this, an actor can easily get lost in the sea of those who are trying to break in. This can take many years to achieve. Some do it quickly and others take over a decade or more. Many quit before that break happens. Or they go on to perfect some other aspect of filmmaking that they have found themselves to be much better at like writing or directing or producing.

Because there are so few great roles to be won, it can be difficult to even get decent footage for your demo reel which is your advanced calling card to display your wares. The non-advanced one is your headshot.

What most filmmakers admire is anyone who can get a film made. Even a short film. Directors and producers immediately have a higher affinity for an actor who has done that and hasn’t broken in yet over an actor who has not done that and hasn’t broken in yet. Why?

Because most actors have very little understanding and personal reality on what it takes to make a movie. There is almost a subconscious disconnect that exists and generates a break in what could be a strong connection to those who hire actors.

Actors often have this eternal flow of “Cast me! Cast me!” going on. But those who have made a movie and have had to cast actors, have a bigger understanding of the process and lose that flow forever. There is an ease around that actor and those casting perceive it.

Not only that, that actor has some excellent footage in their demo reel. And if the writing and story were created to show off that actor’s strongest abilities and talent, those who cast will see them in that light. They will see what kind of character to call in the actor to read for. They will do it with certainty because that actor has already demonstrated it.

Message to Actors

If you feel stuck and are tired of waiting to be booked in a role you can shine in, take control of your career and produce a short film that you own that truly shows off your best work.

Write a screenplay for it or get a damn good writer to do it for you. Produce it and get it out to festivals. Cut all the good takes into your demo reel. Get a feature screenplay written that is based in the short film or a pilot. Make a pitch deck and shop it to more experienced producers. Own it and get it made.

I do offer this service when I am not on set shooting a feature or series. I am thorough with it. A full review of your work through viewing it if you have such or through a few weeks of seeing you do self tapes of a few select types of characters that I feel you could play.

We discuss possible stories and I pen the screenplay. I guide you on how to produce it so you truly earn the credit of producer. I then direct it and edit it and oversee final post production.

I then consult you on what to do with the short film - what festivals to submit to and how to use it as a pitch for a feature length film or series pilot. I help you package it to pitch it and can even connect you to a few people who may ba able to green light it.

Enquire if you just know this is the time for you to commit to a strong investment into your career. The career you were born to do.