Getting work in usa without paying out air fare

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cos i live 6 months there uk the rest im shocjed to hear ppl spending money on the off chance of getting a job there are sooo many breakdowns put in show papers and u can get them easy selfridges harrods all you do is apply on line hey presto you get the script you do your role pref with a light blue curtain behind you and when you start you say slate instead of camera so you introduce ur self do your thing not straight into camera slightly off then pop in jiffy bag send off if they want you for recall they pay expences its normally a quick turn around but unlike here every casting director has a data bank so you could get some more work you dont need to spend money they see it as desperate but if they invite you its different i see a lot of talent that would get work there blucky micky


  • 13 years ago
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Isn't this all irrelevant without a Visa?


  • 13 years ago
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nope cos when you get invited the company put there stamp saying your invited hey ho off you go as long as you got there letter you aint been locked up they give you a temp entertainment visa the labour commisions office in santa barbara is fine with that


  • 13 years ago
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Thats useful to know. I was under the illusion that you had to have your visa before they would even contemplate auditioning you.


  • 13 years ago
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nope its like strange ok ill try to explain im dyslexic so here goes right you apply for job on line nxt they send you script if you like it you send back a tape of your audition on line or if they say hard copy then you have to send it fed express ok they like you they call you for recall you then have to take there copy and fax to labour entertainment office they fax back giviig you a number like a pin number then you take those two bits passport and two photos to usa embassy here they give you it same day off you go now heres the thing as your on a recall you have to get travel insurance but if you get job that pin number get extended from dates you working on top of that u get into sag so you can always work usa and the labour entertainment office will send you the red renewal form each year so bingo you can work both sides of pond blucky micky


  • 13 years ago
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Guy Press
Actor

Hey Micky,

Long time - hope you are well! Nice one for all the info! Cheers Squire! ;-)


  • 13 years ago
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mmm...
I've never heard of this.
Do you know someone who has done this successfully?

I imagine this could only work for big budget productions when they are looking for something very specific they can't cast from LA; and most likely would only do it for "name" talent.
I may be pessimistic, but what I see on the breakdown most of the time is: "must have visa/green card"
I know for a fact that they can cast you off a self tape audition, my friend just got 2 episodes of Brothers and Sisters this way (he was on holiday outside LA) but he has a green card and was in Lost.
I hope it is true, but considering how difficult it is to get a visa under normal circumstances, I'm a bit suspicious that it could be done in one day. How do you even get an appointment the same day at the US embassy?


  • 13 years ago
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i think its cos im dyslexic my brain goes a zillion miles a hour but i cant write in tune with what im trying to say first well done to your mate i done brothers n sisters long ago anyway say your planning to go to usa on holiday you could get hold off a drama class address then fire off fed express details of you going to study drama then they will send you all the stuff i said before same a before pin number take to usa embassy you phone them it cost a pound a minute you go there its a wait and see someone i think last timesomeone told me it cost fifteen quid same u pay your isurance same as above now cos the labour commins got you reg over there you can apply for castings but if you get workthe company has to give you a paper it must be a job thats working over two days then you fax that to labour comminsions office and they ok it you dont get a green card???? You as a uk citizeng get a temp permit to do a particle acting job and when you finnish you send detils to sag which is like equity that means nxt job will be easy you must inform labour commins office but in my opion its easy to let them pay your fare and all expenses even for a recall see ppl dont help each other in uk im lucky i got duel nationality so got usa passport and uk passport hope this helps see if i was chatting i ould explain better hey you see actors got different rules to other workers its like in uk actors working overseas get flown home first old law so check it out hope this helped have a happy day spread the love micky


  • 13 years ago
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Hi Mickey, Just wanted to thank you for the advise. Your right! actors don't help each other out in the UK. It's such a shame. They just don't get the importance of being united.

Diane Cracknell


  • 13 years ago
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soooo true diane you hit the right note there to most of the actors on ccp im just a kid but ive been jobbing actor since age 6 so i think ive got the right to spk see what i dont get its like im ok jack up yours now heres the thing growing up on sets ive learnt that its not what school you went to or how many qualifications you got what really matters is can you feel? Do you like telling a story by acting do you want to make the project work?not for you but as a whole thing and that means you are open to others cos at the end of the day its team work from grippers to editors everyone working together if u get this nasty attitude it stinks no one will wanna work with that person hey micky going heavy haha but i can feel ur vibe your full of the nice stuff i believe in karma i wish you everything positive hope your smiling spread the love mickyx


  • 13 years ago
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I agree that we should all scratch each others backs and support each other etc, but then, we do, don't we?

I'm proud to be a british actor, most of my friends are actors, we help each other all the time - i've hopefully (don't want to jinx it) got 2 projects coming up because of personal recommendations from other actors. Equally if I see something thats right for someone I know, i'll pass it on.

Be careful with generalised statements - I'm sure you don't mean them to, but they can offend!

All the above said without malice or intent, just open discussion,

Simon
x


  • 13 years ago
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Thanks for your response. Your a really cool guy, were obviously on the same page. Can you tell me how I would go about getting in touch with US casting directors who are interested in British talent?

Diane Cracknell


  • 13 years ago
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hey there mickey. you sound like a guy who knows what he is talking about...i need you in my life.....to help me lol. I am totally lost, dazed and confused as to what I should do now....aaarrrggghhh


  • 13 years ago
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simon ur a cool guy i think im now understanding when ur serious or witty i love british actorrs crikey what can i tell u man i like actors painters anyone who is creative as im not a academic see i cant even spell lol i dont care where they come from i think you will be successful you come across as focused blucky micky


  • 13 years ago
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Hi there
I'm not nagative, I'm a realist! I was in LA last year for an audition, met loads of top casting agents and a visa lawyer.
To get a visa you $4000 dollars minimum, plus at least on big acting job or way of showing you can
work in the industry full time, you need an agent to sponsor you but this us something agents dint do.
You also need $2000 to join SAG
If you really want it, I think it's possible, but it's not easy! The agents said they couldn't get a visa for Steven Berkoff!
I think you need family & friends there


  • 13 years ago
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This might be of use so some of you guys: http://www.industryhollywood.com/actors-O-1-Free-Visas-PackInformation-Acting-in-LA.html

They give seminars on how to get visas and work in the states - not for free mind you. I have no experience of the company, just came across the website the other day. Maybe have a look around the site and make your own decisions.

Personally, I'm sceptical of their 100% success rate...

Cat -x-


  • 13 years ago
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Cool guy? Me? I've been called many things, but that isn't normally one of them!

Cheers Micky, we're all in this together eh :-)


  • 13 years ago
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Hi Mickey,

You'll have to forgive me if I misunderstand what you are saying. Because you don't use any punctuation, I'm having a hard time following what you are saying.

It seems to me that you are talking about a student visa which is much easier to get. I believe that you can work for two months after completing a year of full time study.

I am all for helping each other, just not for selling unrealistic dreams.

It took me over a year to get my visa approved (ok, my lawyer was slow, I've heard of some people getting it faster); when all the papers got approved, then you call the US embassy, they give you an appointment 2 weeks later; when you get there, if your interview is successful they take your passport. They send you the passport back by post, this take another two weeks.
And hop, a month has gone already...
Now what jobs do you know that cast more than a month in advance?

And this would be imagining that the prod company is willing to sort out the visa for you.

I'm currently renewing my visa and it is a painful process; several of my friends got their visas denied even though they had job offers; both me and my friend got cast in big tv shows only to be told that we couldn't shoot because we are on a visa and not a green card...

So yes it's possible to come to the states and work; but people shouldn't be told it's super easy or they will not be able to handle the hardship they will find along the way!
I think it is important to stay realistic and not waste our energy auditioning for things we won't be able to shoot.
The visa problem I ran into was because they needed a week for their lawyer to check the validity of my visa and the shoot was starting 3 days later. They didn't want to shoot before knowing for sure that I was legal. That's how fast they shoot after casting on TV shows.

So if you are going to audition remotely without having legal papers, be smart and only audition for one of the big studios feature film that shoots months down the line or for pilots that also shoots months down the line.

There will always be stories of people who got lucky, came for pilot season and Universal or another studio sorted out their visa. But this is not the norm. this is rare and unlikely.

Also being SAG or not has nothing to do with your legal right to work.

I wish you all the best but I believe success come to those who set themselves realistic goals and focus their energy on positive things they can achieve. Otherwise you will become disheartened and bitter when all your hard work leads to nothing.


  • 13 years ago
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i stand by what i said its worked for ppl i know as for bitter i grew up there my whole family in biz i aint got no bitter piill i just phoned home in la my uncle majour player told me micky any uk actors we use the production companys does all that im talking about helping ppl get there foot in door not lead roles


  • 13 years ago
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Mickey,

I'm not saying that you are bitter;
What I'm saying is that when people put all their energy towards something unrealistic, then when it doesn't happens they get disheartened and bitter. I've seen it happen a lot.

I think it's better to plan a career step by step with realistic goals so you feel that you are going somewhere. I believe it's healthier in the long run and helps us be happy in this business which is tough at the best of times.

Most people on this forum know that I'm a deeply positive person; but I believe that the only way to stay positive is to avoid setting ourselves up for huge disappointments.
One step at a time or it will end up feeling overwhelming; getting the visa first is the best way by far.
This shouldn't stop you from auditioning remotely but be prepared for the fact that even if you book the job it may be impossible for you to get the papers on time.
That's the reality of life.
It's much easier for production companies to employ British actors who are already in LA with working papers; and even them don't find it easy to get work. SAG or not SAG.
We are not in the business of easy. This shouldn't stop you, but be prepared!
To my knowledge, the people who get scouted from other countries without working papers all have extensive careers in their home countries and are considered "names" or people who have an ability that they can't find in LA.
I hope I'm wrong.


  • 13 years ago
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i dont need visa i have usa and uk passports i have worked on set in usa and uk all my life i dont understand what your saying i think its my yslexia u say i dont putfull stops just because its really easy for me to work in usa what is wrong with me helping other people?? I grew up 6months usa 6months uk im helping other actors i have been successful in getting them into work so why should i stop???


  • 13 years ago
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