Not sure if I'm missing something here but can anyone tell me why viewings aren't in date order? There doesn't seem to be any logic to their order.
Cheers
i don't really want to post on this thread, as it makes out i am unhappy with CCP. far from it... but i do know the playing age thing really really really annoys me
so many times i have seen a casting on here for say a 28 year old. and i know i look 28 (I'm 27) but i cant apply! same for a 25 or 30 year old! i can only apply for jobs advertised for 27 year olds. its very annoying. but still, rest of the site is 100% awesome! don't take this as a complaint, i just wanted to voice my addition....
im being hypocritical again, another post when i said i wouldnt! i know i know...
but i just re-read Tracey's previous post, it is confusing not knowing who you are applying to.
i know of a few occasions where it has embarrassed myself...
once i applied for something that i was already in! and another time applied for something that turned out to be a student film, that eventually fell apart and didn't materialize- it was listed as an independent feature.....
eep! lol
but again, great site- i am not unhappy with the service and layout and features, i don't know what i would do without ccp
I don't think that there's anyone here who would disagree with you Nat! BUT the thing is the site does not see things from our ie the actors'perspective and their recent comments underneath my original postings on the previous pages do nothing to allay my/our reservations and frustrations I'm afraid!
So - CCP admin - you are really doing your actors a dis-service by not allowing those with V/O experience and professionally produced demos to register with the voice site as well. It IS part of the same job - have you ever been to drama school, i.e. had a professional training? Most of us on this site really are professionals at what we do, and voice work is just one string to our bow. You don't have a separate site for musical theatre jobs as opposed to film work do you? Voice over work is EXACTLY the same! Be fair on us - let those of us who are professionals at our job be registered where we can maximise our chances. I have a friend currently in the new Donmar in the West End series of plays, who also does voiceovers - it's ALL THE SAME JOB. You cannot make that kind of distinction. Just as being in an episode of Eastenders one week, working at the National the next week or doing a corporate or commercial the next week. You really are not being fair - and it will affect whether I decide to continue my subscription to ANY of your sites, and what advice I give other actors I meet. PLEASE reconsider!!
aaaagh! I wasn't going to post on here, but after reading the new ccp comments on page 2 I feel I have to.
ccp - I understand your point of view, having a 20 yr old apply for a job of 30-40 yr old is ridiculous (and though it would be nice to trust everybody to make sensible decisions when submitting themselves, we know this isn't always the case.) But equally ridiculous is the fact that a 27 yr old cannot apply for a role specifying a playing age of 28-31!
The 24hr rule for changing your own 'playing age' prevents people from doing this for individual job roles (as you no doubt intended), because the delay in application usually means you will have missed the boat.
How about a compromise - we specify a 5 (or even 3?) year playing age range instead of just a single age? This means cd's will get a more accurate representation - after all, this is why they ask for 'playing age' not real age: they know it's not set in stone! And will give your subscribers more opportunities to apply for appropriate work and make enough money to pay your subscriptions!
(And also, what's with the voice-over thing? As has been stated 'IT'S ALL THE SAME JOB'! That's what we've been trained for, and though I understand not being able to register on say SingersPro - which I imagine is more for cabaret artists and musicians. ALthough whose to say we're not multi-talented? That's what the industry demands! - or ExtrasPro, No Acting Neccesary, it makes no sense to separate V/O from other Acting type jobs. Why do you need a separate site? You could just put all the jobs through this one. Or if not, at least let actors with a voice-reel and experience register on both sites.
Well said Katekavs; I particularly like the 3-5 year leeway re: playing age. Of course, that SHOULD be blindingly obvious! When I spoke to CCP on the phone about voice-overs, the very polite, erudite and personable chap who replied to my queries regarding voicepro.com replied that this could result in a situation whereby models from modeljobs.pro, another sister site, would then try and get parts in Shakespeare productions etc via CCP and add to the confusion. I tried to explain about the differences between the professions (and yes I know that models try their hands at acting and actors can do photoshoots; I mentioned this too)but he did not get it! That is wen I came straight out and asked are any of you guys actors? He said no! The trouble is I really DO like this site but feel it is getting left behind by the industry as well. Look at the dearth of good quality jobs available compared to other sites out there and if I was a big employer, I would also take note I think of the absence of my peers in terms of theatre companies, TV stations and production companies who also do not advertise on here.
A very interesting debate.
I was filming yesterday and missed the opportunity to see it unfold.
Interestingly enough I was filming for a company that posted on here for a character whose age group was outside of the one they posted AND it was therefore not available for me to apply for.
They contacted me at 10pm the night before to say the actor (who had auditioned and agreed to do the role) had become 'unavailable' and would I like the part. A major worldwide feature film, with credit and paid AND a good credit for IMDb. Not a small part either.
CCP are, as has been said, a company that needs to attract subscribers and keep them as busy as possible in order for their subscribers to see 'value' in continuing to pay their money month in month out. Otherwise they will fold.
As a Commercial Operation similar to other casting sites they must take the steps they feel which are commercially suitable and make the decisions they need to in order to survive.
To attract casting people to put their postings on this site they must also provide quality applications for those casting people or their service would be seen as being as poor as, say, StarNow, which is a real crappy set up for anyone with no experience to 'shoot for the moon'. It's cheaper and the less you pay the less you get!
However, I too am extremely unhappy applying to companies whose name has been witheld 'to protect them from unwanted applications'. No other site does this. Agreed CCP may well vet these companies for authenticity and have a good relationship for doing that with those companies. BUT what if I apply for a job with a company I certainly do not want to apply to, giving out my contact details etc? There are some companies I know who have severely abused me and many other Equity members who are proscribed and have been taken to court by Equity for non payment, abusive work practices etc.
When I see a casting with 'Employer's name witheld' I get a terrible feeling that there is more to that than meets the eye. And, as Tracey says, often they can be seen on the Equity Job Information Site fully named. Those that aren't make me a little squeamish.
As for playing age. What does that entail?
I'm far older than my playing age. My agent wants to put me up for roles of 45 to 55. I get more than I miss these days. (Something to do with more production in the North and a GENUINE Yorkshire accent as apart from a manufactured one, I suppose). Yet many castings on here are 'not available' because of my age 'stopping' me applying from castings 'over 50'.
I'm 57. But, by God, I don't look it by any means. If some one wanted to cast me as a Grandad I would be thrown out not because I'm tall but I look too bloddy young! I know. It's happened three times this year so far!!
So looking at the thread and contemplating all of the postings it would appear that commercial forces will apply. Those who subscribe to CCP will either continue or leave. Those who leave will no doubt try other sites and find with them similar or different faults. But I believe that CCP could very well try to address their members issues a little better than to dismiss them as they have done in their replies.
Maybe it would be a good idea to hold a meeting where as many members as possible could attend so that these issues can be more easily addressed. I believe it would be a very profitable meeting for ALL parties.
I have to totally agree with what has been said... I think ccp are doing us a disservice with this new casting age thing. Actors have always had a playing age...i.e mine is 26 - 36 but I have had to put my age down as 30 with this site, I bet that now means that if a casting director says they want actors 35 - 45 I will not be able to apply!
That it it total B******s as far as i'm concerned. No other site works like this. Spotlight, our industry standard website know a thing or two through years of experience. I think it's time ccp started lisstening to there clients!
Any actor worth there salt has a good idea of there playing age, and I would not dream of applying for a job that said 40 - 50 or 18 -25 it would be ridiculous. If ccp has actors on here that are doing that then they should have a quiet word in there ear, rather than messing it up for all of us!
i'm still really baffled about the not being able to register on Voices Pro as well as CCP. modelling is a whole different ball game but surely voice work and acting work are so closely related and many actors do both that it makes no sense to separate them?
Hi Sara! Yup, totally agree! I stated this whole point re : voiceovers and actors to them over the phone till I was blue in the face but they just would not accept this and quoted the models wanting to do Shakespeare example at me!!!
I've been wondering for a while now why the playing age switched from being your actual range to an 'average age range'. It's ridiculous!
CCP are listening to the casting agents but perhaps not to us, or so it may seem.
It didn't really frustrate me until the other day when a job came up for age 23 (I am actually 23 and this age is in my playing range) but because I'm at the younger end of the scale my average age is 20 and I therefore couldn't apply.
I can see CCP's view on this matter regarding their comments in a previous post, but again playing age is something you discuss whilst in training and learning about the industry. If actors have previously applied for jobs that casting agents view as out of their age range maybe CCP could mention upon registration to newcomers that applying for jobs out of an actors age range will ruin their reputation with the employer.
Maybe even if CCP make it so you can't go over your age range by 5 years either way of your actual age? I liked the idea given of a 3 year leeway, but please don't just give us one age it's really not fair!... actors are only doing themselves an injustice by applying for jobs they shouldn't, with advice to actors less familiar regarding applying for jobs and playing ages if guidelines were given I'm sure it could be rectified.
My actual age is way off my playing range so using actual age would mean I would hardly have any opportunity to apply for jobs here. On the other hand, I believe agents on this site can put their clients up for jobs using their age range. Which would seem to point to the belief that CCP thinks agents are more discerning than actors. The age I now use means that I cannot apply for a really good job on here that would have paid quite a bit of money. But, if I went with 5 years older, then I would be missing out on loads of other jobs. I want to point out that CCP is a really good site for jobs but it is really frustrating at the same time re the age and the voiceover policies.
This really needs to be addressed CCP.It is a real thorn in an otherwise excellent site but not being able to apply for a playing age of 39 because i am down as 40 is ridiculous and i'm finding myself looking elsewhere for the same listings.Recently i directed somebody by other means for a part that was advertised on here but they couldn't have applied for (and they got it).Artistically it is suffocating and does not work,that's why other sites with high profile jobs don't demand this.We need to be on the ball with applying for jobs,it's one of the most important things for us to apply as quickly as we can,you know it,we know it,WE CAN'T AFFORD to wait 24 hrs to change our age 1 year to apply for a job which is suitable for us on every other site but this one.C'mon we're paying 20 quid a month,it's a lot of money to us and we struggle enough.
Well, I think everything that needed to be said has been said, so I won't comment anymore except to say that this playing-age thing really does need to be addressed.
You can add my name to the petition and let's hope CCP listens to us.
Agreed. I also think that Alan's suggestion of a group meeting or "rep" from the actors to meet with the CCP team would be really beneficial for both parties. CCP seem to have set some rules in stone that really shouldn't be - I really like this site but correcting the flaws would turn it from being average to great. CCP, the same issues are being addressed over and over - please can these be sorted?
If you give someone the option, they will take it.
In the same way jobs advertise for EXPERTS in certain disciplines (i.e. singing, martial arts), when all that is required is a very simple technique that could be taught to anyone in minutes. The reason is that it cuts down the number of applications massively. It's the same thing with age.
There are too many idiots who falsely put their range too high/low, because they want to apply for everything, and it's this that ruins our chance of changing CCP policy.
I didn't realise that we were separated into categories and that were 'sister' sites. This does seem rather silly and may I say old fashioned. Are singers not entertainers? Do actors not sing and dance?
Surely extras and promo staff ---if ccp want to keep them separate --- would be identified on their application form. I cannot imagine an extra applying for a professional singing or dancing part.
Surely, we should ALL be given credit for a little more intelligence.
I agree, I think ccp should re-think their criteria.
These "idiots" that Mark refers to above? Are they really allowed on this site in the first place then? If you really are a professional actor and Equity member and DO have more than 3 professional credits on your cv having come out of an accredited Drama School, would you really be doing that sort of thing? Applying for jobs that are really totally unsuitable for you? I really struggle to accept that! The thing is, a couple of weeks ago if you all remember, a female member of CCP wrote that after viewing her Profile here, some bloke got in touch with her by PM asking her out for a date! When she took umbrage he told her to "chill out" and he wasn't really an actor as such anyway, he was just an extra! As the lady pointed out in her posting, that sort of thing should NEVER have been allowed to happen in the first place! Is the reality of the situation simply that CCP takes on as many people as it can to make its money, which WILL include the majority of professional actors out there but, along for the ride/try-out at the business, are a no. of nincompoops who do not know the rules of the profession but who DO pay their £20 a month? To keep these folks from ruining it for everyone else, CCP maintains Draconian rules and regs to suit itself but which are not acceptable to professional actors, Equity, and other casting web-sites!
I think the thing we need to remember is that we are paying to be on this site and without the actors it cannot function. It would be good for this to be reflected by putting a limit of say 3-5 years for the playing age.
A lot of issues are raised but it feels like we are ignored when nothing is done to resolve them.
As Rich says you have to have at least three credits, training etc. but this does not stop people lying.
I too was contacted by someone just asking for a date and he commented that he was not an actor ( I am guessing this is the same guy!) CCP did remove him from the site thankfully! The thing is that punishing the many does not erradicate these idiots. As suggested previously it would be good for these people to be taken aside and have a few stern words in their shell likes and removed.
Perhaps instead of hiding their identities the agencies can work with CCP to erradicate these people from this site and therefore giving them a a better and more reliable service.
I do not apply for jobs who with hold their identity. There are certain companies that I would never work with again and god forbid I would be applying to these people without knowing.
right, ramble over! :)
Rebecca is so right on the point that we are giving out our details and contact addresses or phone numbers to 'God knows Who'.
What if I gave out my details to a company that is totally against Equity members because they have been castigated or taken to court by them in the past? I could end up in some very dodgy situations that I would not want to get in to.
Some of the ladies on this site could be applying for castings where they are put at risk by 'Employers' who can in some way 'prove' to CCP that their credentials are bona fide but in fact are bogus. THAT is what concerns me the most.
Under the terms of the Data Protection Act I'm not sure that it is in fact legal to withold the information of where we are sending our sensitive data!
That is why it would be a sensible thing for CCP to meet with either all of those able to attend OR a Representative who can report back after that meeting on any progress made.
This is a GOOD site. It has been for the last five years. I'm very happy to be a member of it. However more recent alterations or 'tweaks' seem to be tipping it far more in favour of casting people and further away from what the Paying Customer wants.
I have to admit at this point that I am a 'Free Member' not paying for the site as a Founder Member. However I also have a corporate background and do understand where CCP are coming from. It's where it is all going to that concerns me.
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