Screw Your Agent

Hello

I’m back from filming in Nepal

Without a doubt one of the most extraordinary and bizarre acting experiences I have had

Which I am dying to share - and certainly will be - over the coming weeks

However…

Once in a while

A topic arrises which I believe to be bordering on taboo

Like it’s not okay to be spoken out loud

Something where I feel the urge to say

“hush hush”

Followed by squinted eye balls shifting from side to side

I’ll let the following email conversation handle it:

—————————

Mike!

I loved reading this latest article on hope!

You always appear in the mailbox at the right time

I've been thinking about this “faith” and “process of grieving” a lot lately as well

And I wanted to share with you…

My grieving has not been so much for missed jobs

But for auditions

GOD I MISS AUDITIONS

I took classes for the last four months just so I could act

So I could show casting directors my work

In hopes that they would send an audition my way

And they did

And it was the most rewarding week of acting I've had in a long while

Three auditions in one weekend?

For actual films and tv shows?

What a score. 

I DIDN’T EVEN BOOK THEM and it was dope to see how little that mattered

The mere EFFORT of them was revitalising

But it's that story in my head, how can we call ourselves artists, actors, when the work isn't there?

So that grieving, when it comes, with all it's bitterness, goes a little like: 

"GOD Auditions are so few and far between. At least I can go paint and get out of my body. Maybe I'll sell one." 

"What a terrible paintng! At least that acting class last week was really rewarding. That was good work.” 

"Dang terrible paintings, no auditions, I'm going to write for three hours. Maybe it'll be a good poem, or a script I can act in." 

"Hmmm, that was an average script I just wrote. So lucky I get to do a voice over this week."

"Oh! That voice over paid me a little extra cash. I can afford more acting classes." 

"That audition from that casting director was so satisfying to do." 

"That painting was actually half decent."

"This script is nearly done."

"Yay another voice over job".

(Back to top)

And then

Almost as if by accident

We see we are

And always have been

Artists, actors, painters, writers, whatever

Regardless of auditions, good or bad paintings, booked jobs, stockpiled scripts

And so the cycle of joy and pain continues

And that is both our blessing and curse as artists!!

How lucky!

How awful!

How beautiful!

How ever lasting! 

Mystery x

(Name changed for privacy sake)

—————————

Mystery

Insanely beautiful email

“We are, and always have been, artists”

Ugh

Be still my heart.

Now

Before I say anything further

Can I please confirm…

When you said

“I took classes for the last four months just so I could act”

Were these classes, courses, workshops specifically with casting directors?

—————————

Mike

Yes

I did a five week course of Wednesday night classes with a casting director

Then went straight into a weekend intensive with another casting director

Who then reached out via messenger to express their interest in my work

And sent auditions through

They told me they put me forward as their first pick for job in particular

and that was enough to feel deep satisfaction with the work I did

Mystery x

—————————

Bingo

Alright Mystery

This is the dilemma…

Tens of thousands of actors In this country

Repped by 200-300 official agents

And only approximately 80 official casting directors

And out of those 80 casting directors

Only about 10-12 of them cast the vast majority (likely above 95%) of professional film & TV in Australia.

That’s ten human beings

TEN

Who are handling 95% plus of casting for Australia’s best screen work

Mmm

Curious

Lets break it down

Casting directors get the briefs from producers

They then send their briefs to the agents

Agents look through their books and see who matches the brief

Then they make their suggestions to the casting directors

And the casting directors decide who will get an audition

And who won’t.

(Or, sometimes the casting directors just go straight to the agents to ask for the few specific actors they already feel will be a good fit for the job)

That’s a tiny handul of people in this country who decide the opportunities for literally thousands

This is an important reality to contend with.

What you’ve done

Dear Mystery

Is remove the middle man

You’ve gone straight to the source

Put yourself back into a place of choice as an artist

And you’ve already gotten feedback which has told you it’s working for you

Bravo to you!

I remember a conversation I had about 16 years ago

With the wonderful extraordinary Karen who lectured at my drama school.

A powerhouse a human

She was witnessing my year group implode at the end of third year (as they usually tend to do)

When all the focus turned from the craft of acting

Onto getting an agent

She said to me privately one day

“Ya know mike…

Why all the fuss about agents?

It’s casting directors who have the biggest influence.

I’m just not sure why the school keeps placing so much attention on fostering relationships with agents

But hardly any on building relationships with casting directors”

Bingo

An agent can only take us so far

And of course, agents and casting directors are humans too

You think every agent is going to get on well with every casting director?

Point being

As actors

We have to know those 10 casting directors

Or more accurately

Give them the opportunity to know us

To know our work

To see us in our full & glorious mess as human artists

Simple

Unless a writer, director or producer is specifically asking to see us for a particular role

It’s up to the casting director to decide if you will get a shot or not

And If the casting director doesn’t have the time or willingness to see you

(Because they are too busy casting people they do know)

No amount of hounding your agent to get you to be seen by a casting director is likely to work

It might once or twice - But not sustainably!

So the question becomes

How can you make it easy for them to know you?

Like dating

How can you make it easy to find your match with casting directors?

Now

There are certain ways to find your match with casting directors

Of which I won’t go into here as I want to get to my point and am squeezed for time

Casting workshops

Yes, it might bring up some conflicting emotions for some artists

But it’s a reality that I believe is worth leaning into.

Remember the saying

“90% of directing is casting” ?

For the most part

Casting directors are artists too

They have a bloody important job

And they are doing high stakes work whilst - Just like us actors - They are sitting in an uncertain industry

With uncertain pay

And inconsistent work

Yet they keep going

There has to be some level of love and passion there

And love and passion is certainly what I have experienced the majority of the time

Their workshops and classes hopefully will be good enough to do several things

Experience them as humans (not gods or gatekeepers)

Spend time letting your body learn its okay to be human in front of them

Learn skills for casting / auditioning to help you when an opportunity does arise

Plus

You get to do the thing which is hard to do otherwise

Create a human connection.

Mystery

You did classes and workshops with two of them…

Then got 3 legit auditions

Can’t argue with those facts

The point I’m trying to make

For any actor

Stop hounding your agent to get you in the door

Almost never gonna happen

Especially not sustainably

But there are ways to put yourself back in a place of choice

Curious

Let your art find it’s way

Ask yourself

How can I build a healthy and sustainable relationships with casting directors?

And remember

Permission to do it your way

Hope this helps

X