Finding Actors

A forum for sharing views on the art of film, video and AV sequence making as well as on competitions, judging and festivals.
Post Reply
daveswan
Posts: 72
Joined: Mon Oct 13, 2008 11:22 am

Finding Actors

Post by daveswan »

Hello all.
For the past several months I've been trying to get my 30min short off the ground. So far I've written, re-written and re-re-written the script (I've lost count of how many times) and been making props.
The biggest problem has been actors. I'm a member of an Am-Dram group (Pisces Players, Ealing) as well as a film club, (Ealing Video and Film Makers) so tried there. So far two of my lead actors have had to drop out, and although I've had a notice posted at Questors theatre, no-one's come forward.
So, how do you go apout finding actors? I can't afford Pros, just amateurs who'll do it for fun and expenses.
This isn't meant as a trawling exercise, as I don't expect anyone to come forward from here.
Cheers,
Dave
Fingercuff
Posts: 50
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 11:18 am

Re: Finding Actors

Post by Fingercuff »

Hi Dave,

A website I have used on my last 2 films could be of a great help:

http://www.talentcircle.org

It is full of actors looking to build their show reels, who are willing to work for no fee. For one role I had about 50 CV's emailed to me! You may have to give them a few pounds for bus fare though. Hope this helps!

Jim
daveswan
Posts: 72
Joined: Mon Oct 13, 2008 11:22 am

Re: Finding Actors

Post by daveswan »

Cheers! I held off replying in case anyone else showed up. I'll have a look at that site.
Dave
Fingercuff
Posts: 50
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 11:18 am

Re: Finding Actors

Post by Fingercuff »

No problems Dave. I hope you find someone to help you out!
User avatar
stingman
Posts: 442
Joined: Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:37 am
Location: Isle of Wight
Contact:

Re: Finding Actors

Post by stingman »

The Obvious way would be to look up Theatre groups in your area! Or better still, contact your local college!
My son is on an Acting Course and has done 3 years of the 4 year course or is it four years. It seems like ages anyway!

I`m sure that if you offer to pay a few quid in bus fares to anybody who is interested then this would sway them. My son has been in a few local stuff.

Make someone Happy Today ;-)
Ian Gardner
Film Maker
User avatar
Betamax Kid
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2009 1:26 pm

Re: Finding Actors

Post by Betamax Kid »

Another good one is www.ukscreen.com
Good luck.
User avatar
FILM THURSO
Posts: 241
Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2007 1:37 pm
Location: Thurso
Contact:

Re: Finding Actors

Post by FILM THURSO »

Not chuffed with TalentCircle. Their online support limited itself to single sentence responses with the rest of the email being form letter. They didn't make it easy so we just deleted our account to simplify the process of just not wasting any more time with them. :?
User avatar
Dave Watterson
Posts: 1872
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 11:11 pm
Location: Bath, England
Contact:

Re: Finding Actors

Post by Dave Watterson »

Can you explain a little more about that, please?

On the face of it a standard reply with a customised sentence sounds reasonable ... but obviously you wanted/needed more.

Talent Circle (.org.uk and .co.uk) was set up by one indie film maker in 2003 and has very few charges indeed - none for most of us. It generally has a good rep ... I have no idea how many people it employs (if any) to run its organisation and website. Maybe it is basically one person in their back-bedroom.

Cheers

Dave
User avatar
FILM THURSO
Posts: 241
Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2007 1:37 pm
Location: Thurso
Contact:

Re: Finding Actors

Post by FILM THURSO »

With 25 years experience in dealing with the public one learns to give the customer a good first experience (and every experience after that). It pays to give at least a paragraph in support.
Lexmark gave considerably more advice for a scanner problem I had and in all emails the form part was the least part of the content. All the advice needed was given in a single email so it amounted to several paragraphs. Several options were tried over 3 emails. Whilst the support failed to correct the issue, they made a greater effort to fix the problem. If they had given their advice sentence by sentence I think the scanner would have been hurtling out the window.
I recently worked as a customer adviser for a major broadband provider's helpdesk and can only say TalentCircle's support is the kind that generates screaming customers. We don't ask for the earth but a square foot of turf would be nice! :D
harryfielder
Posts: 9
Joined: Tue Oct 06, 2009 8:31 pm
Location: Watford Herts
Contact:

Re: Finding Actors

Post by harryfielder »

There are 1000s of people out there just to get a dvd of there work....

Aitch,
Post Reply