Money vs Time

When it comes to film making you either need time or money.  It is possible to make a good film with very little in your budget, but I promise it will cost you a lot of time.  That's why when you start going down the road of producing your own stuff, make sure it is something you feel passionate about.  You have to love it because if you want it to be good get ready to give most of your life over to it.

If you have money, you can hire people to do all the nitty-gritty work; if you are broke like me then you need time to do it all by yourself.  It means driving all over creation to find a cheap pair of scrubs for a costume, sending hundreds of emails to find a few people willing to be extras, and getting up extra early in order to borrow a friend's printer to get copies of all the paperwork you need. 

Doing all this helps lower your costs, but I have yet to master truly no budget film making.  Incidentals always come up.  Things like batteries and printer ink and paper all seem to run out halfway through any production.  Plus, you always have to spend money to feed your cast and crew.  That is generally more than half of my budget on any short I film.  There are those people who I'm sure can sweet talk companies into sponsoring these things for them.  This is not a talent I've mastered.  (If you have: want to produce my next short?)

Now you're thinking, what about equipment?  Cameras, lights, sound equipment, and editing software all cost money.  For me, I decided it was logical to start investing in these things and started collected various pieces of equipment over the last few years and at every holiday and birthday that is what I ask for.  I don't have the fanciest stuff, but it works.  Generally, we try to use ambient lighting as much as possible and I write things based on what I already have access to (so no period pieces requiring crazy costumes or special effects.) 

It is also possible to get a free crew of people looking for credit who can bring their own equipment with them.  A great way to meet these type of people is by helping out on other people's sets.  It's always good to have talented people with film equipment owe you a favor.  But, if you ask me, the best thing is to learn how to do as much as you can on your own so you aren't relying on other people to get your project done.

Get a camera, start filming around your house, play around with the settings and the lighting, see what you can do on your own.  Get a copy of Final Cut and fiddle around with it until you learn how to edit your own stuff.  There are tons of instructional videos on YouTube that will show you how to do just about everything on Final Cut.

I know it sounds like a lot of work and that's because it is.  But, when you get to watch something you created, I promise it's worth it!

How to Help your Agent Help You

I always say how important it is to not sit on your tush waiting for your agent to call.  But, agents are an important part of the business.  There are doors they can open that you can't by yourself.

This is why having a good working relationship with your agent is so important.  I hear so many actors complain about how their agents aren't working for them or how their agents never get them auditions.  But, how many of these actors actually talk to their agents about these problems?

I intern at my agent's office once a week.  It keeps my face in their mind and I get to see what's going on out there.  I know what's casting and if it really is just slow.  But, interning isn't the only way to have a better relationship with your agent.

When was the last time you went to agent's office just to say hi and see how they are doing?  One visit goes a long way, it makes them think of you and want to pitch you.  Bringing baked goods never hurts either.  Plus, you can take this as an opportunity to talk with them about what you need to do to get out more.

Don't hold back from talking to your agent because you're worried about bothering them.  If there is a project casting that you really want to be in, or you know you are right for something, or you know the casting director, you absolutely should email or call your agent and let them know.  If you don't feel comfortable enough to call and email your agent then ask yourself why you're in a relationship with them.

Your agent is your partner, but remember they only make 10% so you should be doing 90% of the work.  Make your own movies, help out at casting offices, research what's currently casting on websites like castingabout.com, go to classes, network, and all that other good stuff proactive actors do.  Make sure your agent has all the tools they'll need to be able to work effectively for you.

Proper Etiquette for No-Budget Filmmaking

I know filmmaking with little to no budget is difficult, stressful, and exhausting.  You are super busy and have no time for politeness.  But, when you have people helping you for free there is some proper etiquette that you should follow:

1. Be grateful.  Yes, your actors and crew may be getting something out of being there like experience or IMDb credit, but they are still giving you their time for free. Thank them every chance you get.   
2. Be prepared.   There is always going to be a certain amount of waiting on a set: while lights are being set up or actors are rehearsing or the set is being decorated.  Don't make your crew and actors wait on you because you didn't do your homework.  Know what you want to shoot and as much as possible know how you want it to look and do test shoots.  Things can change on set, but have a starting point.
3. Be open.  Filmmaking is a collaboration, always be willing to take advice from others on set.
4. Be humble.  No one is more important than anyone else on a set, especially on a no budget set.  I don't care what you think you're title is, if a job needs to be done, do it.  Even if it's just washing dishes between takes.
5. Be flexible.  Things never go as planned.  Don't freak out when a shot doesn't work or the neighbor's dogs won't stop barking or you're behind schedule and the sun is setting faster than you thought possible.  In the end it will all work out, I promise.  Besides so many wonderful moments in films have come from the unexpected happening on set.

What this all boils down to is when people are working for you:  BE RESPECTFUL! (Especially when they are working for free.)

Respect their time and their talents.  People will be happy and willing to help you out if they feel respected and know that they are an important part of the process. 

This is dedicated to all the actors and crew who came out to help me on my shoot over the last few days.  You are all amazing and this little film is going to be great because of all your hard work!

Don't Fear the Competition

I have a bad habit of walking into the lobby of an audition and immediately sizing up the room.  I look over everyone and find the person who by looks alone, I would give the part.  In my head, they are my main competition.

Jenna Fischer talks about being at the studio test for "The Office" and there were two other women up for the role.  She says one was gorgeous and obviously not right for Pam and the other perfectly fit her image of what Pam should look like.  She figured she had already lost the part.

You can see how trying to guess what they are looking for is wrong and if you let it get in your head it could hurt your audition.

A casting director once said to me that there really is only one person right for every role and it's their job to find that perfect person.  What that means is that you are never in competition with anyone else for a role.  You are either perfect or you aren't.

Besides it is not your job to book that one part, it is your job to book the room.  Never worry about getting one role in one film.  Instead focus on making fans of the casting director and anyone else in the casting room.  If they become your fan they will call you in for everything they can, eventually finding that role that you are perfect for. 

It is time for actors to stop looking at each other as the competition.   This is a tough enough business as is, we should all be supporting each other.

What are you working on now?

Yep, that is one of the most dreaded questions for actors.  Right up there with, Have you been in anything I would've seen?

Jobs for actors tend to be few and far between.  A good year for an average working actor would be about four jobs.  Unless one of those jobs is as a regular on a TV show, there is a lot of down time.

Of course, you are doing things like going to classes or on auditions.  But, answering the question with a list of auditions or a description of how you were really close getting this one role, but at the last minute they decided to cast the director's girlfriend, leads to blank stares and polite nods.

Let me tell you how I would answer this question:  We are in post-production on a five minute short that I wrote and shot last weekend.  I am in pre-production on a film that I've been working on for about 6 months.  We are going to shoot in two weeks.  Plus, I am in a play that has been running once a month for over a year.

That sounds pretty impressive, right?  It's all because I am being proactive by creating my own work.  It's easy in this town to sit back and wait for your agent to call but if you do that you may be sitting around a long time.

You don't have to look like a deer in headlights the next time someone asks you what you are working on.  Start creating on your own.  If you don't know where to begin, then find people to work with who do.  Form your own group of creative types and start working on something.