In recent months I have found myself at a number of unsavoury auditions, and this is not through lack of my investigation into the company.
This got me thinking. What would stop me from going onto a web-site such as this, registering as an employer and posting a random fake casting call along the lines of “Feature, Equity Minimum, Award Winning Director”? Then whip up a few pages of tantalisingly obscure dialogue, set up auditions at my house (calling it The Media Centre, 3 Nosuch Road) and invite all the lovely vulnerable people to wait in my bedroom while I auditioned people in my front room with a camera I'd borrowed off a mate?
We as actors have to give at least three professional credits and/or training at an accredited drama school whereas the casting professionals give nothing. They can see our profiles, but we are not permitted to look at theirs, not even to see what projects they've worked on in the past. Surely this would give us an idea of whether or not we want to submit to the particular company.
We've recently seen posts about films that have turned out to be dire for whatever reason, and I'm concerned about this, but more so about how easy it has become to promote yourself as an employer whatever your background might be.
I've put this out in the hope of getting some gems of suggestions from ccp, other actors and casting professionals.
To be honest I'm really tired of trekking miles to be welcomed by such unprofessional, unsettling and downright odd activities.
(No disrespect meant to ccp. I've attended many great auditions and worked on some fabulous projects thanks to the service they provide.)
Well it looks like my career is over now that I have found out that producers have been reading my posts here on CCP.
Anyone who thinks that anything they say on a public forum isn't being distributed on a wider scale is living under a stone at the bottom of a lake.
I stand by every word I have ever posted on CCP, and other forum sites, over the years and believe it would be a great injustice to free speech and the acting profession if other users feels the need to stop contributing because people they feel might be influential to their careers might inadvertently read them and somehow blacklist them. Makes no difference wether you contribute or not judging by some posts by other "creative freelancers" as the blacklist would include all users of CCP not just the outspoken ones who post on the forums.
I, for one, won't be leaving this site and will continue to post in my usual, open and uncensored manner. It's called having courage of conviction and having the balls to stand up an be counted.
I'll get off my soap box now...and go for a lie down.
Good for you Fforbes. I stand by everything I have posted too - I have never posted anything contentious or with malice - I'm not lacking in courage by bowing out of this forum for a while, just a little disillusioned and saddened right now. Thought this was a place for actors to offer advice to each other and help each other. Not to be alledgedly "blacklisted" for having opinions and views. Your forthright views and comments have been an inspiration on many occasions and I am glad that you will continue to post. Good on you.
Please note:Messages written in the forum do not represent the views of The Mandy Network, nor have they been vetted by The Mandy Network staff.
If you read something which you believe to be offensive or defamatory, please contact us and we will take the appropriate action.
