I would value some opinions on this one, Ok so just got this email about a casting posted on here that I applied for.
Is it me or is this just asking a little bit too much for this guy to want to try to kiss each girl who he choses to audition? I get that he wants to check the actress is ok with it but do you have to have a practise run at it during the casting session?? We can all kiss its not hard!
And castings are not first dates! jeeeesus, sometimes I despair. Any one had this too? or am I being a prude?
thank you for your interest.
As you know you can't really tell a lot from a photo about the person and with such a concept as this, it's very much a case of really how we get on in person.
So what i'm planning to do is arrange a very informal meeting.
He's breakdown of the basic plot that i hope we both can work on together.
It's around the absurdity of love. looking at dating, meeting the right person and the whole journey.
WE DO NOT SHOOT PORN!
But it will involve kissing, cuddles, caressing, undressing (NO NUDITY) (THIS IS COMEDY) you get th picture. all the funny things connected with being a couple. But done in comedy taste. I'm not after shock value that nudity and sex brings to comedy. Just want to higlight the comedy of love.
We will being shooting on Mini Dv. You will get copy of the finished project and co writing credits.
So he's some basic information I will need to know in your reply if you are fine with the above.
1) What day apart from monday, are you free to meet up in Croydon zone 6 to have coffee talk about the project?
2) Where are you based?
3) Your mobile number?
At the meeting we will talk about the project and what you can feel you can bring to the story.
I'll answer any question you may have.
And due to problems with actress saying one thing at a casting and another on the shoot, which wastes everyone's time. I will then ask you to move next to me and attempt a first kiss.
Although this is mainly two person show. There will be number of minor parts for first fail dates too.
It's not even that this sounds sinister as such (although us girls always need to be careful) its more that this guy just sounds rather naive in how he is going about putting together a project...he's seen the job title 'casting director' on a careers info site somewhere and thought this is what it might entail!
Either that or it could be a very clever staging of something for TV...either way I wouldn't go near it.
I don't think you're being a prude at all. I could just about understand if you were at a formal audition where you were reading the script with the casting director, but not at an 'informal coffee meeting'. This guy screams loser!
Ask him if you can take along your boyfriend/husband/partner. Then see what comes back.
It is the same for anyone wanting to see naked or semi naked auditions so why not this? If he says no, then you'll be able to warn off others too!
You'll feel safer and also will be able to spot if this is a genuine audition or just some poor sap out to snog as many lovely ladies as he can!
On the yuckier side...has he got herpes??? YEEUUCK!
It is a bit iffy, I must admit!
Just a thought. If he's casting, how can he objectively assess an actor for screen work when he can't see them? 'Cos he certainly won't be objectively viewing them if he's carrying out a 'test' kiss, that's for sure. Does that make sense?
Avoid like the plague, but that's just my opinion. Or if not, as suggested, ask if you can take your significant other.
No,no,no! This sounds very strange to me and if it was ligit he would of mentioned in the origonal breif before you applied for the role etc not once he had gained intrest to a handful of beautiful actress.
Personnaly I wouldn't go, but if this guy is praying on vunerable actress like this then maybe some action needs to be taken, as the next actress he auditon's may just go along with his 'methods' and get herself into deep water.
When I was 18 and had just finished performing a show I was approached by a so called casting directer and he invited me to an informal interveiw/audition in the Clarion hotel, out of curiosity I went and I soon discovered that he had sinistor motives - I was lucky enough that a security gaurd was concerned and took me away from the danger I may of been!
Maybe thats just made me paranoind but sometimes you have to go with your gut feelings, if alarm bells are ringing then don't go,
OH LORDY NO!!
what a sleeze!No self respecting casting direc would ever expect that, especially not in a bloomin cofee shop?!
There has to be someone this should be reported to?
Definite "no no"!
I think for the "safety" of all us actresses on here it would've helped to know who this guy is, or the name of his company so that they can be avoided in the future. Have you told the guys at CCP? If you applied for the casting on this site then they have a right to, and should, know.
Maybe this guy is just naive, or maybe not, either way, this is inappropriate behaviour in a professional casting and towards professional actresses.
Go with your instincts which are telling you it's not right or you wouldn't have posted.
Take care
Sasha
No, I don't mean to sound patronizing but this guy obviously just wants to take advantage and kiss a load of girls. And, remember he gets to choose which ones he kisses from your photos.
It is so un-professional. Please value yourself a little bit more and put yourself on a slightly higher league as an actress. Consider yourself a professional. Do you think an actress at the RSC would attend this casting and kiss the Casting Director? Do you think a Casting Director from the RSC would ask an actor to do this?
Don't let yourself get used and don't allow people to take advantage of you or of this site. You're better than that.
Ok, so if the original posting was on CCP, Admin, perhaps you could do a little digging or have a quiet word in their ear that it's really not a professional way to approach things?
Lx
Another exciting forum thread... Been at various meetings today, so just caught up on this but rest assured I'll do the digging and have the word where appropriate. In a more general context, we will certainly think about putting together guidelines for those new to casting (student films, first timers etc) of what actors expect and what is appropriate.
YES! You should definitely go for this fantatic opportunity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hahahahaha.
Not really.
Bring a boyfriend/male friend. Eat onions/garlic. Ask him how he can know whether it'll work on screen if he's kissing you- will it be filmed? Ick.
I'd be tempted to go for "I'll kiss the lead actor at the casting, but not you" sort of thing. There may not even be a film.
It depends. I really don't think you'll be losing much by upsetting him with some perfectly reasonable requests.
Worse things could be asked at an audition. Seriously.
Different people work in different ways.
On a lighter note, it's an enviable job, kissing girls all day. He'll be the envy of his mates down at the pub!
There is that health issue though. What if he's got a cold? What if he's just had a Bernard Matthews turkey sandwich?
An actor's health is all-important. Make that known to him, and have him sign a document that should you develop a coldsore, or whatever else(!), thereby de-facing your market value, you'll take him for damages.
I think its a bit perverse. I mean, I used to be a singing teacher and even then when I had to feel womens abdominals for the breathing, I asked for their permission and put my hand OVER their hand on their stomach so they did not think I was trying to get my leg over.
This guy just seems really unprofessional and to be honest... a bit stupid.
The right approach is to say you are deighted to meet for the audition but will bring a male friedn with, who you pass off as your boyfriend.. "Id like you to meet my boyfriend.." You professionally do the audition, and leave your CV etc, but say you do not feel comfortable kissing him in public, but on a movie set its no problem with the other actor.
If he responds badly, then tell him to jump in the Thames with concrete armbands.
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