Why Relationships Matter

What I am about to tell you will seem like really bad news for actors. 

I helped cast the lead in a feature film and we saw 20 guys a day for 4 days before the breakdown was ever released.  So, before your agent ever even gets a chance to submit you on that project casting has seen over 80 people and probably has choices.

Other not so great looking statistics for actors: One casting director said if a role is in the 20’s to 30’s age bracket then she expects over 3,000 actors to be submitted.  Another casting director at a large television casting office told me they generally only call in 8 actors for every guest star role because they don’t have time to see more.  You can do the math, but 8 actors out of 3,000 submissions and anyone can see that the odds aren’t great.

I know that all this can seem pretty bleak for those of us actors who aren’t “names.”  But, here is the good news: people do get called in and not all of them are repped by TalentWorks or CAA. 

There are things you do have control of that help increase your odds of being one of those people who gets called in.

Build relationships with the people who make those decisions.  

Find something you enjoy doing and do that to build the relationships with the people you like.  My favorite way is by helping out at casting offices.  I found out that I enjoy helping actors get parts and I love how much I learn while sitting in the auditions.  Plus, I get to work with people I like.  I think that is the key: make sure you actually enjoy spending time with the people that you are building these relationships.

SUPPORT YOUR FRIENDS.   

Go see their shows.  Be an extra or a PA on that short film they are making.  They will love you for it.  Then when you need a referral to a commercial agent or an introduction to their aunt who is an exec at Paramount they are much more likely to do that.  I know we are all busy in this town, but we really have to support each other.  Yeah, it’s a pain to drive down to Santa Monica from the Valley at 6pm to see your friend’s night of one-acts, but they will appreciate the fact you did so much!

Create your own work.   

I know I harp on this a lot, but seriously make your own movies.  It is too easy not to and there is no an excuse to not go out create something.  Post these movies on the web, get them into film festivals, and you never know who will see it.

Way down on the list for me is going to workshops.  I know we have all heard stories of people getting auditions after seeing someone at a workshop, but I think that is the exception and not the rule.  Disclaimer: I do attend workshops every so often.  (Of course, I prefer the free ones offered through the SAG Foundation.)  The important thing if you are going to spend money on a workshop is to make sure it’s with the decision maker in the office.  I suggest making a target list of casting directors you want to meet and don’t just try to see everyone.  Of course there is a lot of controversy over workshops which I am not going to delve into, but if you are interested you can read more about that here: Pay to Play?

The fact is that this is a town that is built around personal relationships.  Casting directors are going to call in people they know and like.  Directors and producers are going to cast people they enjoy working with.   

Building relationships doesn’t happen over night, so you have to be willing to put the time and energy in and if you do eventually the rewards will come to you.