How to Find Your Audience

Acting is always a collaboration.  Last week, I talked about how to Be Brave and Ask for Help.  But, getting a crew and finishing your film is only half the battle.

The reason you create something is to have an audience to watch it.  So, the question is how do you get that audience?

First decision you have to make is where you want to it to show, like film festivals or on the web.  If you decide to post on the interwebs, you have to choose what site to post it on.  I think it's best to focus on one site to drive all your traffic to.  That way all your views show up in one place and they aren't spread amongst a lot of different sites.

But which site is best for your video?  If it's a funny then Funny or Die is the obvious choice.  I've posted a few videos there on my page, www.funnyordie.com/michellecoyle and it has a community of people who watch the videos which can drive up views.  But, remember on Funny or Die people get to vote on your videos, unless you are one of the chosen (and if you don't know if you are, then you aren't.)  Even really funny videos like Sunset Junction: Francophile can get a lot of die ratings.

Of course dealing with obnoxious comments is always something you have to deal with when you post things on the internet.  The only way to fight them is by ignoring them.  I know it's really tempting to scroll down and see what people have said but, trust me, don't.  It's not worth the angst.

So, back to driving traffic to your video.  There is always the usual social media blitz on your Facebook and Twitter pages.  But, you don't want to over-saturate the newfeeds because even your family will get sick of seeing the same video posted over and over again.  Plus, even if every one of your 900 Facebook friends watches the video that still isn't really viral video numbers.

I've had some success in the blogosphere.  I reached out to Topless Robot and TrekMovie and they happily posted my videos and even wrote nice articles about them.   I also follow lots of people who have similar interests as me on Twitter.  I read their blogs, watch their videos, and repost them.  I now have quite a few people who I have developed relationships with on Twitter and we help each other out. 

But, you can't worry about the views you are going to get before you make a movie.  So, the point is to get out there and start creating something.  The audience will come and it's okay if most of your views come from your mom.

Be Brave, Ask for Help.

We can't do everything ourselves.  I know it can be very difficult, but an important lesson to learn is how and when to ask for help.

This is true even if you are working on the most bare bones production, you almost always need at least one other person to help.  When I shot segments for the webseries, That's What She Said, I did everything I could on my own: writing, directing, editing, craft services (I was practically Robert Rodriguez).  Some people might even say that I have control issues.  But, when it came down to filming I couldn't be behind and in front of the camera at the same time.

After much worrying I finally got the nerve up to ask a friend who just got a new camera and offered him lunch in return for filming the show.  He was excited for the opportunity to play with his camera and jumped at the chance to help out.

What I've learned is that you can't be too afraid to ask for help.  Generally, people in Hollywood want to work and if they aren't doing a paying gig then they are often excited to help you on your project.  Just be sure to return the favor when they need help on their next project.  Don't be the person who is always taking help from others without giving back, because you can quickly burn through those connections in this town.

One rule I follow is if I am not going to an audition or working a paying gig, I always, always, always volunteer to help out on my friends projects.  I've been a grip, a boom operator, slated, gone on coffee runs, whatever needs getting done.  I can tell you there is pretty much no job on a set that I am above doing.

I know you want your friends to cast you in their projects and not just hold the boom, but people notice who is helping out.  Next time there is a part you are right for I promise they will think of you.

Plus, think about how difficult it is for you to ask your friends for help, so do them a solid and offer to help before they have to ask for it.

Like Me, Please Like Me!

Edward Norton once said that one of the things he disliked about being an actor is that it's a career that requires other people giving you permission to do it.  Unlike a painter or poet you can't just go to your basement and be an actor.  Sure you could do a monologue for your stuffed animals, but an actor really needs an audience that listens and responds.  You can't act in a vacuum.

Remember Sally Field winning the Oscar and her joy in realizing that they liked her, they really liked her?  It took her winning an Oscar to figure that out?  Wasn't she America's Sweetheart when she was Gidget?  But, that lack of self-confidence is not uncommon in this industry which can have you being rejected on a daily basis.  Even the most talented actors are worried about when the next job will come along or if there will ever even be a next job.

An actor friend came to me recently concerned that she wasn't being cast in the shorts and webseries her other actor friends were filming.  She went into that downward spiral of questioning her talent, thinking she had none, and eventually landing on maybe it was time for her to give up.  On the outside, you can look into this situation and see all kinds of possible reasons she wasn't cast.  Maybe the parts weren't right for her or maybe they wrote parts specifically for someone who could bring in equipment or money.  But, when you are the actor inside looking out, it's hard not to take it as a comment on your own abilities.  We want so much for people to want us to be in their projects.

One reason actors constantly need approval from others is because we are unable to stand back and see our own work.  This is especially true in theater, but even on film it is nearly impossible to judge ourselves.  I remember an interview with Tea Leoni where she was asked if she ever watched herself in movies.  She said no, she hated watching herself because she could never see past her huge front teeth.  I've enjoyed a number of Tea Leoni movies and have never once noticed her front teeth. 

We are terrible judges of ourselves.  I know I am.  I can't tell you how many auditions I was sure I bombed that I then got a callback or cast.  And as far as looking to others for approval, what I've learned is that some people are going to like you no matter what.  Other people will hate you and you won't be able to change their mind, even if you were Meryl Streep.  You can't worry about what others think, eventually you'll find the people who like working with you and those are the ones worth worrying about.

What I Learned at ActorFest

This past Saturday I went to ActorFest, a free event for actors from Backstage.  There were casting director meet and greets, panels (those cost extra), and lots of booths for things that might be of interest to actors, like Scientology and psychotherapists.  It's a lot like ComicCon minus cosplay and Kevin Smith. 

This is what I learned at ActorFest 2011:

1. There are a lot of companies that seem to exist for the sole purpose of separating actors from their money.
2. Actors will do anything for a chance to talk with a casting director, including standing in line for over 3 hours to have a two-minute chat.
3. However, most actors are not willing to get up before 9am. 
4. I have no idea what to say to a casting  director in a two-minute general meeting.
5. Casting director's also have no idea what to say to actors in a two-minute general and their go-to question is "So, where are you from?"  Better than, do you come here often?  I guess.
6. There are some very sketchy people out there trying to be actors.
7. There are people who look gorgeous at 8am standing outside in the freezing cold.  I assume these people are genetic freaks.
8. If you are going to be standing in line for most of a day, bring snacks.  And if you ask me, peanut butter cups have protein and are therefore good for you.
9. High heels make your butt look pretty and your feet hurt.  If you are going to be spending all day in line, bring flats.
10. Apparently, Irish-American doesn't count as diverse to NBC.

I'm always pro going to free events when you have nothing else going on.  You never know who you are going to meet or what you'll learn.  This weekend I got to meet some cool actors and chatted with a few casting directors.  I'm not sure how much can be learned about someone in two-minutes, but it is more than they knew about me before this weekend.

Yeah, I waited in lines for most of the day, but all in all a fairly productive way to spend a Saturday.  Now time to write the follow-up thank you notes.