A (hopefully helpful) note for people doing casting calls: Im no stranger to calls for pro bono work, Ive both made and answered calls for unpaid work. Ive benefitted greatly both from other peoples talents and from donating my own time (reticent to call it talent). We all know the benefits, we dont need to be sold on how we benefit in spite of not being paid. It comes from a good and (usually) sincere place, but from the better part of three decades experience, I can say it isnt that helpful, and causes some of the more jaded talent to roll their eyes. Itll be good for your reel, is an industry cliche for unpaid. What is helpful however, is to be told how doing the work isnt going to cost those involved, or how it will benefit the talent in ways they might not benefit if they turn it down (imdb listings, opportunities to travel, opportunities to get hands on experience with equipment they might not have before). Here are some tips Ive employed to surround myself with talent that I didnt deserve: 1. Promise a variety of food (vegetarian options also), and deliver. Have snacks and beverages available to your people at all times. Well fed talent is happy in the moment they are on your set, and thats big. 2. Offer to cover transportation expenses. Offering carpools is good (I meet and converse with interesting people this way), but offering to reimburse (within reason) for talent to arrive on their own steam, is better (as long as they arent also arriving on their own timeline). Sometimes getting to the carpool meeting point is its own expense. Here in Taiwan, I will put a few hundred on their MRT card in advance (which has the added benefit of prepaying in a sense, which amplifies commitment). If a taxi was needed, I offer to reimburse. In the US, I offered to top off gas tanks, especially if they came from a distance. 3. Promise to cover cleaning expenses when you are going to ask them to provide their own wardrobe, and guarantee their clothes against damage caused on set. 4. If you ask someone to call off work, offer to compensate them for their lost wages. Offering this from the outset is also a good way to get some increased availability come scheduling time. 5. Be aware of their needs to watch young children and be ready to compensate for day care or provide a competent baby sitter. Offer solutions. If they want to pay for care beyond what you offer, thats on them, but at least have given lipservice to this expense they are incurring to be a part of your production. Anything I missed? Write it in the comments.
Posted on: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 05:15:25 +0000
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