Actors and Reputation

Actor Taylor Sheppard, from 2007 Sundance hit "Teeth," has a great quote of advice for up and coming actors. And it involves something extremely important in this business, reputation.

After producing 3 feature films and several shorts this past year, we get several calls from directors we know and admire (with budgets ranging from nothing to half a million dollars) asking us for references. Yes! References. They are looking at you people! Your Myspace, your teasers, posters, sites; sometimes it's just a cold call after seeing you in an audition or after receiving your resume submission. This leads some of them to ask us, "What was it like working with...?"

We have also done the same. In casting for a project last year, we asked one of our director friends about casting someone. Their feedback, although not a negative one, was still especially honest. It usually includes an actor's strengths, and weaknesses (if any). And sometimes, the weaknesses are not always about your interpretation of a character, but instead, an overall attitude.

On the flip side, it feels good to quietly give a director or producer friend a good recommendation, either when they ask us to recommend someone good, or they ask about an actor they know we have worked with. Its nice to recommend an actor when they have a great attitude, are honest, and hardworking. Regardless to what you may think, it doesnt matter what scale a production is working on - their referral could be for a film that not only pays, but also involves working with tremendously talented people.

Here is a little of Sheppard's advice:

"It's important to do things right when becoming an actor. If you follow the steps you are more likely to have success than if you approach it haphazardly, not being serious about it. You may have heard the old cliche' where a boss in Hollywood yells: "You'll never work in this business again!" That has certain ring of truth to it. Often, the person saying that will be the one who has a hard time finding work (what goes around, comes around). The point is, this business, more than any other, is very sensitive to reputation. If you have a bad reputation: lazy actor, lateness to set, no show to jobs, being difficult, being a complainer, not being prepared (not knowing lines, being drunk, etc.) you will likely stop being hired, or not get the chance to advance after you start.

What I mean is, if you don't have a clue as to how to act in front of a camera, nor how to act for real, or are not used to performing and "go up" (that means that you can't remember your lines while under pressure) you will likely get to be known as "that actor who isn't able to act".

Casting directors who encounter these individuals avoid asking the agent to send them because: 1. it wastes their limited time, 2. if they did cast you, they would take the blame for your lack of abilities and it could harm their reputation and cost them work. So, hopefully, you understand now why you must take things in order. It's tempting to think that there are shortcuts in life for things, but most often, shortcuts lead to regrets."


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