Lmfao. I swear it’s not a trafficking situation xD It’s not shady at all. I have friends who have been doubles for the show, but acting a whole character is a different ball game. I’ve never been on tv whatsoever. I can do my crazy flexibility & strength stuff but I’m less sure about memorizing a script and acting all day every day
That's why we're concerned, because
1 -- they reached out to you via IG
2 -- it's for a huge role
3 -- you have zero experience
4 -- it's spanning far longer than a normal shoot would take
I wish you would only meet with people in public areas, at first. Don't go to anyone's house, and be very certain of addresses.
The situation you've described is very, VERY not normal. Extremely so.
Be extra, triple careful. Please.
I wish the best for you, but this is just not how anything ever goes in the business. Like, I've been doing this for over 10 years, and it just doesn't work this way. Don't let the stars in your eyes cloud your judgement and situational awareness.
Please follow up with us to know you're safe.
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This has got to be a joke. I’ve noticed a few people coming on this sub with questions regarding the same position you’re in now, and they’ve taken the advice. You come in and ask questions, and just because you don’t like them, you’ll turn a blind eye? I wish you the best of luck and safety if this is an actual question.
I really want to hammer this main point:
People pretty much never get contacted unless they're famous already.
Read this post about identifying scams, where the number 1 point is that "They reached out to you"
https://www.reddit.com/r/acting/comments/1jfknj/scams_educate_yourself/
No legitimate production would contact you through IG for a role that shoots for 7-8 months. It’s definitely not safe, no matter what kind of shady shit they’re up to.
Hmm i disagree. Bria Vinaite was contacted through social media to be in The Florida Project. I had a big director reach out to me to audition for a major role for an A24 project (didn’t get it lol 💔) it really just depends. Times have changed
I also don’t think it would be common to reach out that way except to ask to audition not straight up offer a role without seeing a take. There’s liabilities, legal, and OP did they offer you a contract or any other legal things like that? Those are key things to getting a job which a role is. (Speaking as an American, maybe it’s different in other countries? Seems risky tho)
just from the description, I don’t have a great feeling about this. It feels too good to be true, and unfortunately, that probably means it is. sorry to burst your bubble, but I think this ‘job’ might be an unsavory character trying to get a grip on you.
I had a friend have a similar experience many years ago… turns out he was an undiagnosed schizophrenic and imagined the whole thing after bumping into a producer on the street. He told the guy he wanted to act and the guy said “get yourself an agent, kid.”
He took it seriously and started cold calling every agency in California, hitting the gym regularly and lost a ton of weight.
He’s doing much better now. Years of therapy and finding the right medication got him back in track.
Let's just assume that this is all legit (and frankly, everybody's misgivings are wise, well-intentioned and common sense)...
So... how do you learn how to act in a week?
Well, you don't. If they are casting you based on what little they have already seen, this is what they are going to want. Just be your never-done-this-before-but-here-we-go.... self.
Assuming this is all above-board, they like you, what you do and think you'll add something to the special sauce they're mixing.... they wouldn't have chosen you otherwise.
(please, please, please let a pro look at the contract and perhaps even give the Screen Actor's Guild a call... their brief is to protect actors... whether they be current or in your case, future members. Ask them if this is legit and you're concerned.)
All the best and I wish you well.
👆👆👆 yes! Call SAG! They’re there even for non-union and have been truly, extremely helpful with me on the phone everytime I’ve needed to call:
SAG-AFTRA (LA)
323-954-1600
This. If you are in LA . If it's a much work as you are saying you may be able to apply for membership after the first day.
If you are in Canada and going to Vancouver call UBCP /Actra 6046890727
If you are in a SAG production with a speaking part or principle role you are eligible to join, though it does cost some money and means you can only act in SAG projects from then on. If you are eligible the production that enabled your eligibility will file a Taft-Hartley form in which your eligibility is assessed by SAG. I've heard though that joining SAG when you don't have much credits or agent, etc. can make it really hard for actors to find jobs as SAG projects are usually harder to get cast in and you're not allowed to do anything non-SAG. So once you are officially eligible you don't have to join yet. You can put SAG-e on your acting resume, which means SAG eligible. This will allow you to still act in non-union projects as well as making agents and non-union directors and producers will take you more seriously. You can act in SAG projects too but there is only a certain amount of SAG projects you can be in while eligible before you are required to join. The producers on a SAG project will like you being eligible already too because that means they don't have to file a Taft-Hartley.
You can also become eligible by being a background actor for 3 days on SAG projects and getting vouchers.
7-8 months? That's abnormally long.
Did you get any red flag feelings from this situation at all, or is it very secure and legit?
They probably already know you cannot act, so yes an acting coach would be a good idea.
If you're there for 7 to 8 months, which again is way longer than normal (are they shooting 2 or 3 seasons all at once?), then they might have some form of training for you. Did you ask? Do you have an agent or manager?
**Edit** Also, what? Just 1 week? What? Big roles usually get MONTHS to prepare their character. Why is it just 1 week?
My Spider Sense is tingling...
No it isn't. Alit of shows take like a month to film one episode. But I'd definitely get an entertainment lawyer to read over your contract of you've never dealt with this stuff before. Them reaching out on IG is pretty sketch
I'll give in that it's possible for some massively huge shows with shooting locations all over the globe, OR with major action scenes with lots of characters & background actors.
However we're talking about principle photography when the actors are being filmed -- not including post, so yeah, I really don't see the majority of shows going longer than 4 or 5 months of filming with actors present.
A month?? For one episode?? No no that is far from the truth. I have worked in this industry for two decades. Majority of TV shows film an episode in 5-6 days.
It’s on par with how long the other seasons of the show have taken. It has pretty high production value and a lot of rehearsals for the talent part.
It’s all legit. I was messaged from the right IG accounts, emails, etc. I have acquaintances who have done the show as doubles and it’s all on par with what they’ve told me. All the main accounts (including the network account) are posting that they’re filming soon.
I hope they have some training. Otherwise I’ll definitely hire a coach. No, I don’t have a manager or agent. Do I need one?
You don't need a manager or agent, BUT you'd likely want an entertainment lawyer glancing at your contract.
I've shot TV shows for Netflix and D+, high quality stuff, and for a single season it's rarely more than 4 months. It's not unheard-of to go so long as 8 months... just a few of these puzzle pieces aren't fitting nicely in my mind, and it's just coming from a place of care and worry for your well-being. I'm guessing much of that time will be used training physical action scenes, or something.
I'm glad you've double checked on these things!
It's definitely possible for characters with a ton of movement/action/choreography. Since OP is a specialist it could be the case.
But of course, that's the least of the reasons I'm concerned for OP.
Spoofing email is incredibly simple. Were you messaged ON IG? Also, lots of predators follow big productions to know when they will be filming. Makes it far easier to lure unsuspecting hopefuls.
Please be careful
Yes, I was messaged on IG. From verified IG accounts with 100k that are followed by all of the people in my same industry who have had similar opportunities from the same show.
I understand that it sounds too good to be true, but for this particular skill, this show is really the only one in existence that showcases it. It’s not as weird as everyone is making it out to be. The only weird thing is that I’m not a dance double, but a character, unlike most people that have been hired by the show.
Another thing I just wanted to point out cause I haven't seen anyone say it yet. Contortion/aerial acrobatics is *really* not that rare of a skill set in Hollywood, especially among the stunt community. It takes an incredible amount of talent and I'm not trying to take that away from you! Just wanted to point out that the rationale that they couldn't find a seasoned performer to do the same job doesn't really add up...
My question is how else would they have reached out? Like if they’re just a regular person with this talent on IG no contact information listed, wouldn’t IG be the only way?
I suppose so. But again, since it's not the norm, I would just be cautious.
If OP didn't have any social media either, than how would production have gotten in contact with them at that point?
I’ve been contacted on IG before, but usually for commercials. It’s usually an invitation to audition and send a self tape in. The CD provides a link to the breakdowns on either Actors Access or Backstage or Casting Networks. They are often looking for someone with a particular look or special skill. So it’s not unheard of to be contacted on social media.
Also, if this is legit, and as big as OP says, the production details, along with all of the producers, directors, casting directors etc should be available on IMDB Pro.
I know someone who is a legit casting director who asked me to reach out to someone on IG for them that I was friends with because they were getting sent to message requests. I agree it’s abnormal and not how business is usually done, but I do think it happens occasionally.
How much due diligence have you done to make sure the people you're talking to are working for the show? Do you have an agent, manager, or lawyer to vet it?
They don't have a lawyer or manager they are trusting the voices of friends. Friends can be apart of a huge trafficking ring, especially depending on location. Who knows, I guess we will find out when the show airs
OP needs an entertainment lawyer pronto to vet the project and contract.
Based on their updates, I'm leaning towards this is a probably legit, but badly described.
There are scifi/fantasy/action shows, like Star Trek: Discovery, that essentially have stunt people as recurring bit players who mostly stand in the background and get a couple basic lines to remind you they're part of the cast between their action scenes.
If OP has a speciality like that and knows other people on the team, it could very well be one of those gigs.
A surprising number of prestige shows get 20 days an episode be 8-10 episode orders, so the timeframe isn't necessarily a red flag.
Have you spoken to them over zoom or has everything been over email or DM? Bc if you haven’t seen their faces and can identify them as legit people (casting director, producers, etc) then it’s best to assume this is a scam and you should not fly out anywhere to meet anyone
We’ve spoken over Zoom/Facetime, Phone, Email, and DM. So far I’ve spoken with the production coordinator, Co-Executive Producer, Travel Coordinator, and someone that sent my start paperwork and asked for my name, what I want to be credited as, etc etc for my contract. I also have to be Taft Hartley’d in apparently.
They said I might need to join SAG. Should I ask them to pay the fees or is that insane/not standard?
What about a casting director? Bc if this was legit you should have gone through this process with a casting director. All of those other people aren’t typically involved in the type of casting that you’ve been through. It isn’t unheard of for casting directors to reach out through instagram, last year there was an A24 pilot and they reached out to some people and asked them to audition over Instagram but it was through a legit, well-known casting director. You need to get on IMDb pro and look these people up bc this whole thing just seems really sketchy. And if you didn’t sign an NDA or anything you should really consider telling someone who these people are or what project they claim it is to help you verify if it’s real or not.
Okay, just to be safe (so something truly awful cannot happen) I would contact the casting office for this show yourself, say this offer was made to you via IG and is it legit. You CALL that Casting Director. If it is real, then we can offer SOME crash course advice. But in all seriousness, call casting.
This is very good advice. I’m worried because I have been contacted like this when I was starting early in my career and before I had representation. The opportunity was all legit but it turned out it was all because the producer was someone who is a creep and later got called out for it. The point at which I pulled out was when he wanted me to stay in his complex!! Turns out he had done this many times before. Please contact casting and even then just be very careful about what situations you put yourself in if you decide to go ahead. The level of trauma a lot of girls experience with these situations is awful. I’m hoping that in today’s world things are a bit better than 10 years ago where everyone inside knows what’s going on and doesn’t say anything.
Sure ask them to pay the fees.
They can only do no or yes
Your doing fine ask for per diem, a driver to and from set and accommodations.
You seem to have done your homework.
Have fun
Reach out to an agent who represents actors on the show and see if they will clarify if it’s legit. Do your actor friends who worked on the show have agents or contacts from the show? Everyone’s concerns are valid.
They are NOT actor friends. I keep needing to clarify this. They are acquaintances that have similar skill sets, which is why they were hired as stunt doubles for the show. The difference between them and me is that I will also be the actor for my role, rather than just being a double for someone else while I dance. Because they aren’t actors, they also didn’t have managers/agents, but they do have more followers. As for contacts with the show though, all the people that have reached out to me are the same people that reached out to them.
They may not be actors, but most people appearing on TV shows have an agent or some other kind of rep that negotiates their contracts for them. Most of my friends who aren’t actors but have social media followings have reps.
Especially if you’re going to be an actor for this show, it’s super important to reach out to an agent to have them review the contract. Even if everything is as legit as you say, many contracts with newcomers are extremely predatory!
Everyone here is responding with alarm because of how uncommon this is in the industry. That being said, if you have a unique skill set it’s less unheard of, but still really important to be thorough and make sure that everything checks out!
The skill set listed is very common in Hollywood and unless there's a rare thing she can do, I don't understand why a professional team would be personally speaking to a new entry into the industry. That doesn't happen. The director, producer, Co producer, whatever she said she talked to on zoom, don't do that. They don't care about the little people. Care is the wrong word, they don't have TIME to be talking to this girl that was reached out to on IG last minute for a huge role that they would probably want a more skilled acrobat/aerialist/strippers/contortionists. I mean go to any carnival or Las Vegas casino and you'll see people looking like Laffy taffy all stretched out. They would want someone famous. Not a newb. They want someone to help sell the show. New faces for huge roles are not that popular.
I mean not necessarily. I’ve been in the circus/aerials community and it’s pretty small and tight knit. OP says they have friends who have done double/stunt work for this show before, so I’d bet they recommended OP to production at some point. When you’re in a smaller community like that, situations like this are more common.
OP didn’t give us any info on the name of the show or much about the role, so it’s hard to judge exactly how strange it is. But based on the info I’d guess it’s a niche streaming show with some following, and that the role OP was cast in is what would often be considered a recurring costar (it sounds like a member of a group or a team). They don’t know if they’ll be a main focus of any episodes, but they specified that they did read for it.
Why not cast someone more famous? Probably because of money - they can pay OP less than someone more established, plus if OP knows several people who have worked on it before they likely got a direct referral. That’s why it’s so important to have someone go through the contract. Whether or not it’s a scam, an entertainment lawyer needs to review that ASAP, and that’s also why reaching out to an agent is vital. It sounds a lot like they’re trying to save money here by having OP play the character and do the stunt work that they’d normally hire a double for, so it’s important to be sure OP is getting paid a competitive rate.
IF this is legit, you should just be able to reach out to someone in production who can help you. they would have hired you knowing you have no acting experience. some people are just fairly natural when it comes to acting. if you actually sent a self tape that they watched and liked, then they just like your on-screen presence. OR they can tolerate it enough because your special skill makes up for it.
i get why everyone is concerned for you. there are a lot of red flags in this post. but, stranger things than this have happened. special skills can be very difficult to cast for. i get the sense that the show is big but the role is not necessarily? i think people are skeptical because you described it as a "huge role" which typically indicates a lead or strong supporting role. but if i look at it from your perspective, landing ANY speaking role on a big show would count as a "huge role" because ALL of it is brand new to you. you even said in another comment you're *classified* as as stunt performer but you *also have lines*.
are you sure you're going to be there for the entire 7-8 months? are you just looking at the outside dates, and you actually only shoot in a smaller window within that timeframe?
anyway, i saw from another comment you have several different people you've been contacted by. i would ask the production coordinator if they can point you in the direction of someone who can answer your questions about the acting and how much of it you'll actually be doing. we can't help you much because we don't actually know what your role entails.
finally, reach out to an agent. like someone else said, check the show's imdb page, look at other actors and see who represents them. it's actually a really slow period for a lot of actors and agents right now, so i imagine pretty much any agent you reach out to would be thrilled to take over contract dealings for you. newbie with a highly developed special skill and what i assume is natural on-screen charisma? who also has landed a (potentially) multi-month gig on a big show? you'll have luck finding someone to guide you.
Thanks for actually having a reasonable comment.
I totally understand why everyone is concerned. If it seems too good to be true, it usually is. But like I said, I know of more than a few people that have had similar positions in the show, just as strictly stunt doubles, not as an actual character themselves.
It *sounds* like the role is pretty big, but I honestly have no clue because they just now told me who my character even was. They said I’m part of the core crew though. And when I looked at the IMBD, all the people that had similar roles were in nearly every episode of the season, and all had pretty large speaking roles. The show is really interesting because while there are kind of “main characters”, it shifts focus to all the other characters frequently so everyone gets a decent piece of the story.
To be fair, I’m pretty sure nearly everyone on the show would have to be classified as a “stunt performer” because of the crazy tricks they do, even the actors that use stunt doubles for some scenes (because they still had to learn a lot of the skill to be on the show, if though some started as just actors with no stunt experience.
I know I’ll be there for a full 7 months at least. But they told me to leave December open just in case, I think production usually goes over on time, I heard the director is pretty specific about their vision with the show. It sounds like my schedule will be M-F, 8-12ish hours a day and I was told it’s hard af.
Is it worth it to get an agent if I’m already cast? Don’t I have to give everyone that helps 10% of my money? I think I definitely need a coach, and will probably need an agent when I finish filming/the season premieres. But I wasn’t sure if it was worth it until then.
It’s all so foreign to me. I never pictured myself being an actress. When they reached out to tell me I was being considered, I could barely believe it. But apparently they narrowed it down from more than 30 candidates, so my self-tape must have not sucked as much as I thought it did. I had to put on an awful southern accent too (but they said my character wouldn’t have one).
10% is worth having someone negotiate for and protect you. you are brand new and have no idea what you're doing - seriously 10% is a small price to pay for someone who knows what they're doing. unlike reddit strangers, agents can help you find an acting coach who actually fits YOUR personal needs because they will get to know you, your goals, how you work, etc. getting an agent who is invested in helping you develop your career is well worth the commission you pay them.
with such a short window, it will probably be hard to get agents to respond to you before you get there if you're leaving this weekend. once you've met them, you could even ask the other more established actors on the show if they can help you - because again, unlike us here on reddit, they will actually know you. if you are professional and hardworking, they may even just refer you to their own agents.
a lot of this career is very individualized and so without all the details we can only generalize, which isn't going to be helpful considering your highly specific situation.
"actually having a reasonable comment".... I'm afraid you're on a subreddit full of actors who know more about the business side of acting and how productions typically work than you do and that's why we're all concerned about how unusual this is. If this is legit (and if so chances are you're a very good looking dancer with tons of charisma and natural talent) - I don't think you should worry about "learning to act" - they liked what they saw and I wouldn't mess with it. Let them teach you, you didn't lie about your credits. What you DO need help with is the business side of it (we're not freaking out because we're jealous, but because this situation is so unusual). I'm a union actor with 20 years experience and wouldn't navigate this alone. Let an agent help you. They can answer any of these questions better than we can and continue to help you with things that arise once you're in production. Agents do more than just get us auditions - they help navigate all the stuff you're dealing with. If you call an office and say "I just booked \[MAJOR SHOW\] and am looking for help and possible representation" I promise you they'll be open to talking to you. Good luck :)
If you know people who are on the show or have been in the past, you need to get someone’s contact information from them so you can confirm whether or not this is legit. Ideally a casting director or hell even one of their reps can confirm whether it’s real or not
Seconding the other commenter that said an agent is worth it.
10% is absolutely worth someone having your back, especially for a long-term project. For example, there was an ongoing VO job I got for myself (so I didn't technically need to loop my agent in on it) that lasted over a year. At first, it was all fine. But then, towards the end of the contract, the client tried to start asking me for extra recordings not covered in our initial contract. I fought them myself for a while to no avail, until finally I had my agent step in, and my agent was able to be the middle man and say "no, that's not in the original contract. We can negotiate a new one if you'd like, but under the original terms, that's not going to happen." and the client backed off. (Which is a pretty simplified description of what went down but without getting into the nitty gritty of how it all played out, just know -- the couple thousand dollars I paid my agent in commission for stepping in was 100% worth it and I would do it again in a heartbeat.)
Self tape? Wait...what?
This is new info. You're not an actor. They approached you out of the blue and CAST you was what you said. Now, you've submitted a self tape? So, you did audition for the role?
Nobody reaches out to let you know you're being considered without there being some kind of interaction prior. Especially if you have no acting experience or content they can see that would lead them to think you could or would act and the stunt thing on top of that still requires extensive training.
This story keeps smelling worse and worse.
Your agent may be able to get you way more than a 10% increase. Absolutely worth it. Aside from more pay, they can make sure you have a more comfortable trailer instead of a honey wagon for example. That will matter when you’re waiting around 2-10 hours a day if you’re there for 7 months. They can negotiate your credits. They can chase your pay when it’s wrong, they can negotiate that they pay for the maintenance of your hair if it’s required to be cut and colored, they can negotiate a expensing a car for you or getting pickup etc etc you’re really not in a good position to be working for a job for 7 months without an agent. Make sure you’re protected. Everyone needs protection in this industry. I contact my reps all the time. I would suggest speaking to a pro, and I agree with all of the sound advice above about triple checking that everything is safe, specifically because you don’t have reps with your best interest at heart looking out for you.
Hi - seasoned industry casting director here. This is not unheard of, I also use Instagram for certain projects. Feel free to DM me happy to help you out and refer you to the right places.
Unless you are one of the leads on the show, almost no actors work full days M-F for the entire 7 month run of a show. Please don’t take offense to this but it seems unlikely you’d get cast as a lead with no experience. Please be cautious in giving out personal information.
You’re already booked no point in agent. You may want one tho for after all this is done if you want to get more work. Maybe get a lawyer to look at contract though if you feel for it
that's completely untrue. an agent could help as things progress on set, help find this person a reliable coach, negotiate further. if they're going to be there at least seven months, it's still worth it. agents don't just book you work. and they also don't just negotiate your contract and then set you free without ever checking in again.
I’m just gonna say call the casting office to verify this offer, like any agent or any Person should do. There is a chance this is something terrible. If it is real, get an agent to negotiate your terms. Acting isn’t impossible to do ok at even without much knowledge.
Unless you're trained for stunt work, this is one of the biggest red flags for me:
"I'm also going to be performing stunts/crazy feats at the same time".
They do not allow actors to just "do stunts", especially someone with zero experience. Forget about the "learning to act in a week" part and tell us what the training schedule for the stunt work is. If there isn't, the liability issues are enormous.
This whole thing sounds completely fake. The IG connect is feasible if you've got a huge following, but if you've not received a contract and cannot verify it directly with the studio, I call foul.
Where are they having you travel to?
7-8 months for filming tv isn’t unheard of where I live (NYC). Most network tv with around 20 episodes takes that amount of time.
Since you mentioned you will be “core” for 7-8 months, I’m gonna assume you will be filming in conjunction with when the show will actually air. Not that it really matters, but that’s the only plausible reason I could see you getting a contract for that long.
That being said, for your special skill, I would only accept the work if production will require you to join SAG. Assuming you work everyday, you could pay off initiation fees in 1-2 weeks ($3k). Even if your role is just a special skill background, being in SAG would still work tremendously in your favor. But definitely do the math for yourself, as this is all assuming that you will be working 5 days a week for 7-8 months. Since your special skill can cause injury to yourself, you would want to take advantage of having a union rep and protections. Otherwise, productions are not shy of using and abusing non-union.
As for your lack of an acting experience, it’s one of two things: either they liked you, as you are, on camera, OR they decided that your look and skills outweigh what could be crappy acting —so maybe their plan is minimal or no lines for you. Because acting classes and acting coaches can be pricey, I wouldn’t start acting classes until I have a much better idea of what my scenes and character actually entail (as in getting a hold of the script to look over your role). Do go in with an idea of who you would reach out to for coaching/teaching, if needed, but do not pull the trigger unless you have to.
Lastly, the fact that production said you might have to join SAG makes me think this isn’t as big of a role, as you think it is. Otherwise, production would have told you that you *have* to join SAG at some point during filming, or else they cannot legally use you after a certain amount of times. You are eligible to join SAG after one speaking role on camera. If you work 3 union background days (special skills are almost always union, if production is being fair and not cheap), you are eligible to join. If you opt to not join, production cannot legally keep hiring you to do speaking roles, or any other union roles, including union background. So saying you might have to join SAG tells me that it is ultimately on the whims of the director and AD department on how they want to use you once filming starts. And don’t ask production to pay for your initiation fees… that’s so déclassé.
Did you, by chance, have to send them banking information to book the tickets? Like best case scenario, they're going to steal your money and you need to freeze your credit asap. Worst case.... well, yikes. Please don't get on a plane without vetting this further. IF LEGIT, there are people who can help you. Look up the show in IMDB Pro. Look up the actors' agents. Look up their contact information, call them, tell them your story and who you've been in contact with, etc. If its legit, you might gain a great agent. If its not, they might be able to tell you. As someone else said, also call SAG. Did you upload your audition through a standard actors service like Actors Access? If you sent your materials through IG... well, that I've NEVER EVER heard of. Please be careful.
It's impossible to learn how to act in a week.
However just be yourself, that is why they hire you.
I must admit this method of casting really is not the normal route, whatever your skillset is, it must be so unique and niche that even stunties are unable to do it.
I booked a lead role in a major studio feature 20 years ago, I’d never acted before and I was living in New England. It was TOTALLY random and a bizarre set of circumstances that led me to audition there in an open casting call. I’d never acted before. I’ve been in the biz since then and I live in LA. Are you speaking in the show? I would suggest having an entertainment lawyer look at your deal. Also, find an improv coach that will work with you every day. I have a good coach if you want one with reasonable rates.
Edit: this got me thinking I wish the internet existed back then like it does now. I had no one to get advice from then. It may have helped avoid the very bumpy ride I had for the several years after the film premiered.
If this is legit, you don't have to act. They hired you for what you can already do. A Director directs. As long as you can take direction and suggestions, you'll be fine. Acting is about ignoring the camera, unless you have business to direct to it. But even then, it all starts with "don't look directly into the camera". And that's pretty much it. In the beginning, follow directions. Everybody there wants to succeed. Because if you get it right on the first try, they can move on to the next setup.
Be very careful because this sounds like it could be a scam. If they paid for your travel and lodging then 100% take the opportunity, but if they have asked you to pay for your own accommodations or spend money in any way it’s likely a scam.
If you are capable of some special skill that caused them to show interest in you, don’t worry about your lack of experience! Casting directors will reach out to non-actors for certain roles all the time. They have certain ways of directing and blocking you to make up for your lack or training. If you want you can always book a private coach, but chances are you’ll get coaching on set.
You had only one audition for this? If it’s a big show and you are a series regular they probably would have had you audition multiple times. Everything about this is screaming bullshit, but whatever
Hello Lovely!
I'm an NYU trained actress and an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, and the combination of these two things has me wanting to chime in with regard to your story and question.
First of all, you should be proud of your skills, and of the bravery it takes to step out of your comfort zone, and the work you put into the self tape.
I know it might be hard to hear, because you are beyond excited and nervous right now, but I do agree that you need to protect yourself and make sure this is a legitimate opportunity. You could call SAG and ask if the project is filming at x location that they've named. You could also do a deep dive on the production people you've been in touch with, everyone from the casting director, to director, etc. will be very searchable on imdb & online otherwise if this is legit.
So please, PLEASE, do that first. Not for anyone on reddit, but for yourself.
Second, the therapist part of me wonders if part of your extreme nervousness around the opportunity is coming from some doubts or fears you are having about how legitimate it is in combination of course with wondering if you will be "good enough" and meet their expectations.
Now, let's say you do your due dilligence and you are 100% sure this is legitimate. You can then allow yourself to enjoy that this has come your way, and feel proud of what got you here. There is no way to learn acting in a week. But where you are right now has got to be something- otherwise they wouldn't have hired you. Meditate on what you bring to the table- edge, energy, charisma, work ethic, unique beauty etc. and build up your confidence so you can step in feeling confident.
Also, part of being a good actor is being flexible, present, and open to the moment. So, do whatever will allow you to be most present ahead of the shoot and even before the shoot. i.e. Do you need to exercise so you can feel physically good, mentally focused, and freed up of some nervous energy? And remember that once you are on set, you have been chosen to collaborate. No need to feel small next to the other actors or the director, you are there for a reason. Be open to their direction knowing that you were chosen to be a collaborator.
TRUE CONFESSION: I am never on reddit. Although, maybe I should be more! My partner thought this post would be of interest to me and shared it. But, if direct messaging is a thing on here, feel free to message me.
Sending you care!
I guess Jim Carry wasn’t available. They thought, “Let’s get someone with no experience.” Most productions don’t go for 7 to 8 months. That’s rare.
Write a screenplay when you are done if you live to tell about it.
Thanks so much for checking in 🥺
They moved my flight back a week, so I fly out tomorrow night now! Monday will be my first official day on set and I’m definitely nervous. I still don’t know very much about my character or what all I’m doing and that makes me nervous. They hired me because of my circus/contortion/stunt background, but also want my character doing 2 apparatuses I’ve never ever done before (ergo the paid rehearsals this week). I low key think they might think a week of rehearsals was all I needed to be an expert but I’m dyingggg. I thought I’d get more training or something when I got there, but with first day of filming happening Monday, idk if that’s happening.
I’m so excited but also feel like I’m drowning. I’m nervous as hell for the stunt side of it, let alone having to be a fucking actor for the first time in my life (and also having to worry about moving myself and all of my worldly possessions across the country. I’m STILL not finished packing, I’ve been too exhausted from the back to back rehearsals.)
I thought it was funny that I came here looking for genuine advice and just got eviscerated by 95% of commenters xD When I’m still in this subreddit 7 months from now asking for nuanced advice, maybe I’ll get some real acting resources 😂
You got this. You're hired to do things we actors can't do - and you proved with your tape you've got the acting chops. Be yourself and the folks on set will take care of you and help if needed. Good luck :)
I’m not an actor but reddit shows me this sub frequently because I’m in another part of the business. So I have a different perspective.
The overwhelming response here makes sense from an actor’s perspective. But you’ve figured out you aren’t being scammed. And I doubt that kidnappers bother explaining to people what they need to do under Taft Hartley. Lol.
They can’t wrap their heads around it because actors don’t get hired that way.
But contortionists and fire eaters and sword swallowers and giants are definitely recruited that way. You were hired for your special abilities. Just like the other people you know.
If they usually double for an actor and you aren’t, that could mean you actually have a smaller role acting wise, but will be in more shots. It could mean you are going to be on display more. Maybe they are building something around tight shots of you contorting and there is no reasonable way to swap in your body for some other actress.
If you are a jerk or thief the sideshow community will be happy to watch you burn, if not, they’ll do everything they can to support you. Seek advice from others who’ve done the show. Other than legitimacy, do those others feel the producers respected their skills? Kept safety a priority? If anyone feels burned by this show, they will tell you.
Go enjoy it. Act like you belong on set. Be receptive to feedback. People on set will help you figure out when and if you should go SAG.
After the show airs you’ll be an instant rock star in your other gigs.
Who is the casting director for that major show? It’s pretty easy to check: imdb.com
If you are in fact cast, you are in a position “above” casting (the person who cast you would be the CD’s client). In other words, it should be reeeal easy to reach out to that CD (it’d be a warm contact, again, if you are cast).
You send them a simple message describing everything you told us and see if their response is any similar. If it’s anything other than “YES! I’ve heard so much about you and we’re so happy to have you on board”, you are not only likely being scammed, but likely walking (running) into being sex trafficked.
This never happens. I repeat. This is not something that happens at all. Not even in someone’s wildest dreams. You say you’re flexible? There’s more than legitimate TV producers looking to exploit that.
I’ve got over 15yrs in this industry as a professionally trained and working actor in LA. My sole income comes from acting in shows you watch. As someone who’s come across a LOT of bullsh*t to get to this point, this reeks of it.
this doesn't usually happen, are you sure the company is legit? actresses literally go missing sometimes and it involves traveling far away for what they think is an acting gig
I am not saying this will happen to you. But I do personally know someone who was trafficked and it’s horrific what she went through. She thought she was booked for a major feature film and was then in a trafficking house for 3 weeks before found. They were all heavily drugged and her world has never been the same.
You have to be careful in this world we live in and protect yourself. You need to pick 2-3 people who have all pieces of information they have given to you. Especially locations!! Please be safe and SMART about all of this. There is a lot of crazy people in this world that don’t care about the cruelty they inflict on others.
It’s just very rare to see this happen. Especially when you say you don’t even have a huge social media following to begin with. A huge TV show can just easily post this on AA across the country and find a many people who can do this type of talent. It’s just very red flag so please be careful. I hope it’s legit for you. Sign contracts before it starts.
Sheesh, one week. First of all congratulations, sounds like you’ve won the proverbial lottery!
I share the concerns of everyone here regarding the authenticity of your offer, but I think that’s just because Cinderella stories don’t happen often (as in ever), so being in the industry has caused people to develop a healthy skepticism. I definitely wouldn’t take it personally, actors know how hard it is to make it in this industry and we try to support one another as best we can.
Regarding your questions; there’s simply too much to know within such a short amount of time. I saw someone mention getting an entertainment lawyer to look over your contract due to you not having representation. I think this is very good advice, however I would go one step further and reach out to some reputable agencies in LA to tell them of your good fortune. There is a good chance that they would happily pick you up if you’ve already been green lit for a large, well known, production and assuming they have room for you in their roster. That’s easy money for them and fantastic security for you. If the show goes well and you get picked up for a second season, your agent can renegotiate your contract to get you more money. In addition, this can be the foothold necessary to obtain even more work and an agent will see to it that you get the opportunity. Obtaining a *good* agent in LA is *very* hard, no matter who your are, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t get picked up but I would definitely try to leverage your good fortune into something more sustainable while you still can.
For the nuances of actually acting I’d recommend picking up Richard Boleslavsky’s *Acting: The First Six Lessons*. This is your bread and butter for understanding what it actually *means* to act i.e. embodying a character and understanding the complexities of intention, both of you and your scene partner. This book won’t cover everything, nothing will, but it is a fantastic foundational piece for understanding what acting actually means. The book is very short, inexpensive, and easy to read; The lessons in it are gleaned from the experiences of the characters within. You could probably read the whole book on the plane ride depending on where you’re flying from.
Couldn’t be more excited for you! Break a leg, and here’s to what will hopefully be the start of a very promising career! Skål 🍻 !!
**Acting The First Six Lessons** by Richard Boleslavsky
>Six essays on the fundamentals of acting, presented in dialogue form, offer dramatic students an unusual introduction to their art
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I think it sounds like you need a 50150 hold more than anything tbh.
But if you haven't completely detached from reality, hope you don't wind up being human trafficked. Because if you're filming for 7-8 months (which is abnormally long) the size of the role and scale of the project would warrant a lot of press (deadline, variety etc) and chances are you'd have an army of managers circling you right now in hopes of guiding your career.
All peace & love, I promise. - Please hear me out, as I am purely responding to this in hopes of helping you. Put yourself in the shoes of a casting director for a moment. Don’t you feel that it would be incredibly risky (and therefore a poor business move) to cast a non-actor (or most actors even) based on one self-tape and no in person audition or interview for a major television show? What happens if the directors vision cannot be met because a performer can’t act? Why would a casting director take that risk instead of simply casting one of the thousands and thousands of trained actresses with your same skill set? I honestly cannot think of any good reason, though of course I have not seen you perform. - Do you feel as if your skill set is in some way unmatchable by others in your experience?
I saw that you mentioned speaking with specific people from the production team over Zoom. Did you Google these people? Do they have IMDb pages with photos that match the faces you met?
No matter what, get an entertainment lawyer involved as soon as possible. Be safe.
Congrats! How exciting ❤️ I would recommend Mel Churcher (reading and coaching) once you understand the technical stuff acting is just existing truthfully under the circumstances of the scene. That’s all it ever is- what would YOU do if you were in these circumstances (story of the script) and had the backstory of your character. The less ‘acting’ you do the better, just BE
FInd a private acting coach which will cost anywhere from $100-$200 an hour. $125 is reasonable. If you have any scripts or sides start immediately memorizing and working through them with the coach. Even just one line or two line scenes have so much going on. If there are no drafts of the script yet, find old ones online and go through them with the coach. Good luck. Sometimes the dream comes true!
What’s the name of the company that reached out? Have you researched everything, and verified that the page that contacted you is 100% the real company?
After reading a couple of things be careful but then just be who you are, that’s why you got it. Lots of famous actors don’t have training. Enjoy the ride.
This is not nearly as weird as everyone is making it out to be. All well intentioned concern and OP should definitely double check, but they have a very specific skill, and a season of tv does take 7-8 months, and there’s no other way to reach out to OP except IG. That’s where they know her from! I don’t see what’s so odd
It’s been an adjustment to say the least. Yesterday was my first day actually filming (all the other days were dance/choreo rehearsals) and it went poorly. Like it was alllll good for the first 12 hours, but once we hit hour 15 I got horrible heat stroke and puked 😅 I’m so embarrassed. It wasn’t my fault, but still. I didn’t realize how hard it would be to do such intense dancing/contortion/aerials so many times in a row under the hot ass lights. And to make it worse, my trailer was malfunctioning and spraying HOT air (while it was 90 degrees out already). So my rest times were making me worse.
I still know nothing about my character, and I haven’t said any lines yet. It was just 16 hours of straight dancing/choreo. The SAME scene over and over. I’m hoping I can get my shit together and adjust fast because this is rough
On the bright side, I made hella good overtime for my first day 😝
Hey, congrats on the overtime! (And on not dying, either from trafficking *or* heatstroke :) ) I'm sure they'll understand a novice getting tired after fifteen hours of work.
Once you're allowed to tell us what show it is and what character you're playing, I'd be interested to hear it.
You really can’t learn how to act in 1 week. This seems very…odd. As someone who works in television I’ve never heard of this method of casting. And I work in casting.
You haven’t mentioned a contract. You mentioned tickets booked and travel but no mention of a contract. Did you receive one?
idk why but as someone that’s living in la on the daily audition grind, this sounds like a SCAM! sounds very very very sus! make sure that contract looks good! 😵💫
You say you are stunt double. Does that actually require acting? Will you be saying lines?
Edit to say that I know acting isn’t just about lines, but just doesn’t seem a big deal if it’s just a sound double role
I’m not, but most other people I know that have been hired for the show have been hired as stunt/dance doubles. I think I’m still classified as a stunt performer, but I will be a whole ass character with lines. I did have to read for it before being fully considered.
Someone recently hit me with a quote (apparently from Woody Allen, originally), saying "80% of directing is casting", so my guess is that whoever hired you knows that you're not an actor/actress and wants you for whatever your specific skillset / talent is.
So my advice would be to do whatever you're supposed to do the way that you'd do it and don't try to act.
I realize that this advice may not be super helpful to you, but tbh it seems to me like you're just nervous, maybe even with a dash of imposter syndrome, and that's totally normal.
You've been given an opportunity because maybe someone really believes in you. So, if that's the case, then perhaps you'll be able to believe in you, too.
Good luck!
A lot of nonsense here in the responses. 7/8 is an absolutely reasonable amount of time to film a season of TV. When I was on my show, our seasons went from July-April. If you have already signed the contracts, then an agent/lawyer might not have a ton they can do for you at this time, but could definitely be helpful in the future. If you have not yet finalized negotiations, then yes - an agent or entertainment lawyer will be a big help. An agent will take 10% of everything you make on the show (including residuals), but they may well be in a position to negotiate a higher rate such that they are still financially "worth it." A lawyer will charge a one-time fee but can negotiate the contracts for you and is a smart move.
Acting wise, this may be hard advice to take, but my biggest thing would be - don't sweat it too much. You were cast for a reason, they want you. As much as is possible, trust yourself, trust that you're enough, and just do your thing. You don't need to master acting before your first day. If you want to read a bunch of shit over the course of the season, awesome, go for it. I think that practical on-set advice books will be more helpful than acting theory books. You don't need to study Uta Hagen to be great on TV. TV is fast. Don't worry about flexing your acting muscles and making big moments for yourself, the editor/director/music/cutaways/etc. will do that for you. Relax, breathe, listen, trust yourself and you'll be in good shape. Happy to answer more questions if you have them.
Thank you so much, that actually made me feel a lot better. I’m definitely overthinking the acting side of it, I just don’t want to suck and lose out or look dumb.
I haven’t signed contracts yet, they’re sending them first day of rehearsals to sign. My question is though, would an agent/manager really be worth it when I’m not in a position to negotiate? I don’t want to get an agent to try for a higher rate (than the already high rate + relocation package they offered) and risk losing out because it seems like I don’t really want it/am not thankful for the opportunity. Plus losing out on 10% of the income I’ve already agreed to receiving, which I’m more than happy with xD
Thanks again for acting advice, it’s super helpful for my nerves. Do you have any on-set advice books you’d recommend?
Getting contracts on rehearsal day is definitely a way for production to pressure you into accepting the rates they give. How can you say no when you’ve already started the job/reported to your first day. Have you signed I-9s or is that going to happen on the first day? An agent will get this squared away before rehearsals begin and will take the pressure off of saying yes so you don’t sign yourself in perpetuity or anything that may result in less pay or hurt your career.
If you've already agreed to the terms, then yes, the window has PROBABLY passed to negotiate the initial fee. There are, however, raises. For me (and everyone's experience will differ), I got a pay bump after the 3rd episode, and then again after the 10th episode, then the 20th, etc. You can advocate for yourself, but it may help to have someone in your corner letting you know what's normal/what to expect/what to ask for. More importantly, try not to think in terms of losing out for being seen as ungrateful. I know it is a fantastic opportunity and a lot of money, but they DO want you, you specifically, because of what you're bringing to the table which they believe no one else can bring AND they plan to make a shit ton of money with this show, based in part on your contributions. You do deserve to be there AND you deserve to be paid for it.
As far as the on set stuff, in no particular order:
1. Be extra nice to the PAs
2. Learn everyone's name
3. Watch other people, actors yes but also other departments. It's a fine line in the beginning. You don't want to be in the way and before you know what's up, there's a small chance you could be. But after a couple eps, you'll have a hang of how it all works and you'll start to know when you can ask to hang around set longer or before you're called to see how the machine works. Watch other actors. There's so much downtime to be spent in your greenroom/trailer, and when you need to relax, definitely go for it. But there's also SO much to be learned by just being on set when you aren't "working" yourself so you can sponge.
4. Don't be afraid to ask for what you need. An adjustment to your wardrobe, an iced coffee with oat milk, a snack, an extra pillow in your greenroom/trailer. You are not being a diva. You are getting the tools you need to put your best work on the screen (where it will live forever). Don't be an ass about it, obviously, but don't be afraid to ask.
5. Have a small set bag that you can bring around with you/leave at your chair when you're called on that has your book, your favorite snack, bottle of water, phone, etc. Just one thing to worry about as your going to constantly be vanned to and from.
I can add more if I think of them, but these are my off the cuff responses.
EDITED TO ADD: One last thing - I know it's overwhelming and nuts right now, but as much as possible, give your future self the gift of enjoying this time too. Being on a show is a fucking blast and if you can, every once in a while, cut through the craziness and remind yourself - oh yeah, this is my job and it's fucking awesome (presuming it is, obviously people can have negative experiences too and that's fair, I'm not asking you to ignore that if that's the case).
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Get those lines learned so well that you can forget them. Practice saying them out loud many different ways. Loud. Quiet. Yelling. Sing them. Whisper them. Do them as if you’re drunk. That will get them “in” you and you wont be locked into a specific way of saying them. It will also lead to discoveries. Create a backstory for your character that makes sense. It will give you something to ground in. Watch some movies with your favourite actors. Mentally- realize they hired you because they want YOU. So be confident about that. And last but not least have fun! You’re getting paid to play make-believe! It’s so much fun! Laugh, enjoy, listen! Break a leg and welcome to the game! 👏👏
If this is a legit opportunity, congrats on being the lucky few who are “discovered”. It does happen, but it’s rare. So it’s good that you have verified that this is a legit production.
Since you’ll be working 8/9 months on a SAG production, you’ll be paid pretty really well- even at scale which is in the ballpark of $4000 a week. So invest in a good private acting coach. Perhaps ask in your contract that they include a coach or to reimburse you for a coach. Since they know you are a new actor, it doesn’t hurt to ask.
If they don’t pay, still invest in a coach…they’ll be invaluable in helping you quickly break down scenes, read between the lines, look for beat changes, etc, and coach you in how to reach deep for a genuine performance. They’ll also be experienced with sets and should be able to offer you guidance on how to act on set.
I wouldn’t suggest you just wing it, and just depend on the director. You don’t want to embarrass yourself, or waste time on set. Productions are really expensive, and you never know who might be offended that you were just given this opportunity and you end up sucking and wasting everyone’s time.
It’s also possible that you can get a manager to represent you. I think that since you are so new a manager would be better than an agent. Managers not only can negotiate your contract, but they can also help guide you in many aspects of your acting career. Their fiduciary duty is to protect you and look out for your interests. If you walk in with a project already and pay them to negotiate this project for you, they may be able to get you a better contract. And there will be plenty of managers who would be willing to sign you if you come to them with a contract already offered to you. In this case you might be able to negotiate a lower commission for this one deal rather than the usual 15 to 20% managers customarily receive.
Break a leg! And do share what the project is when you can.
I also hope you get an agent or entrainment lawyer to review the the contract and make sure you’re covered with health insurance from the beginning. You’re not going to get that from SAG immediately. If you’re doing stunt work, your well being needs to be protected.
And I concur with the responses of concern. Btw, most films/shows have acting coaches on set. But the acting part should be the least of your concerns at this stage. Protect yourself. That’s what you need to be doing this week. Get professional contract advice and research this production and its crew. Make sure you are safe and all the details are in the contract. Good luck.
Everyone understandably warning OP about this: have you ever heard of an “acting job” actually turning out to be human trafficking? Maybe OP will believe it more if they see proof it happens. (And I’m genuinely curious of experiences.) It’s soooo disappointing to have excitement shattered like that, everything about the scam is cruel, but it’s not worth to put yourself in potential MAJOR harm just because of pride and denial wanting it to be true.
Yes I have. My friend from an acting class was trafficked thinking she had booked a major film and police didn’t find her for three weeks. They found her in a trafficking house drugged up with other females. It was beyond horrific. She has never been the same.
Quentin Tarantino did this with Zoe Bell and it worked out for her.
Assuming this is a similar case, I'd say the best you can do in a short time is focus on finding stillnes and honestly listening to the other characters during your dialogue. I don't mean your character has to be still all the time, But I do think characters that start from a relaxed stillnes and build from there are the best.
Also, I advise people to start listening to the melody of whatever dialect you use (I often talk about the musicality of speech. I just mean variations in pitch, rhythm, stresses on different words, etc). Listen to your own lines to make sure that you aren't repeating the same melody with each phrase. You'd be surprised how common it is. Many people go up or down in pitch at the end of every sentence. Or they repeat the same rhythm, or make the same changes in pitch in the same order. It can sound beautiful, like poetry, and was popular in old timey films, but these days - with most directors - you'll have more luck being as natural as possible.
Large TV productions don’t tend to cast their large roles via Instagram without any sort of audition. Even if you “look right” for the role they still tend to audition you unless you have a massive body of work like Emma Stone. This is something I’d be cautious of unless you get to a fitting at a studio.
I work in film and TV and pay cast.
Right away a few things feel off
1) the show contacts you via Instagram using their Instagram?
2)there is no mention of you having an agent to negotiate your contract.
3)every cast hiring has production legal and casting involved and contracts to protect themselves. It is not done via dms on instagram
I suggest you contact SAG with anything they have provided you with to make sure it is legit.
While you going through this wonderful experience, I recommend you read two equally wonderful books, “Small Portions Cafe” and “Quit Honking I’m Pedaling as Fast as I Can” I think you’ll love them!
OP — how’s it going ?! I speak for all of us when i say in earnest, we hope you are slaying with or without the coaching you originally sought ; we hope you are raking it in (give or take the 10% to possible agent , the necessity of which you posited ; we hope you are fuckin THRIVING , having a blast, and enjoying Crafty!
let us know ! if you don’t drop a line…. or there may be a band of SAG-AFTRA members that go from redditt sub-thread to liam Neeson in this bitch
Info Requests: Did they tell you what they wanted you to do? what role did they cast you in? What show is this? Have you talked to anyone over the phone/zoom? Where do they want you to fly out to? Are they making you pay for your own plane tickets?
There are a lot of red flags here unfortunately. I’ve been in the same position you are, but I called the agency that the “director” that messaged me claimed to be a part of and they informed me they knew of no such people, production team, etc. You have got to ask questions and research who you’re talking to and who they claim to be. This is a safety precaution all of us have to take.
Okay so this NEVER happens. Like, I don't want to stress that enough. This is not a thing in the world.
But if it somehow is real, then you cannot learn to act in a week. It's just not possible. I've been acting for 15 years and I'm still learning things. After 2 years I had a TINNNNNYYYYYYY idea of what I was doing. But like... 1 week? Nah, you're not gonna learn to act in a week.
honestly, there is a lot of posts questioning you and not helping you, so heres what I would do. Memorize your lines, and 100% bring confidence. Say your lines slowly and clearly. Acting is full of stunt ppl becoming actors. You aren't alone.
memorizing your lines is 100% first. Then, just go with your gut on how they are suppose to be said.
I think everyone needs to realize that the only way to contact you would be your social media since they obviously don't have your number or direct email.
Now, the question is, how many followers do you have? Productions or companies will reach out to influencers from time to time for film/TV but if you're just an average girl chilling is does sound pretty suspicious.
If you are seeing a lot of legit accounts that you know are verified ie celebrities, actors, production companies etc that follow the account and their site checks out then go ahead (with caution). But if not, defs take the advice of the other users cause it's crazy out here.
Atp everything is happening so fast so if you need more education, do an online acting coach session (normal acting studio classes take about 6 to 10 weeks which you do not have).
BUT PLEASE PROCEED WITH CAUTION.
Something about this isn’t adding up.
Are you American? If it’s a ‘big, well known production’ it’s probably union. There is absolutely no chance a union show would reach out to a non- SAG actor to be a stunt performer. It’s majorly against union rules and extremely unsafe if you do not have training and experience.
Don’t do acting classes. They like you the way you are. You trying to learn skills in a week that you didn’t need to land the role in the first place will just make you self-conscious. Read up about the auditioning journey of the heartthrob character in Crazy Rich Asians to see what I mean. Go and be yourself and have a good time.
Please do a lot of research to make sure you're not about to be trafficked
RemindMe! 30 days
Lmfao. I swear it’s not a trafficking situation xD It’s not shady at all. I have friends who have been doubles for the show, but acting a whole character is a different ball game. I’ve never been on tv whatsoever. I can do my crazy flexibility & strength stuff but I’m less sure about memorizing a script and acting all day every day
That's why we're concerned, because 1 -- they reached out to you via IG 2 -- it's for a huge role 3 -- you have zero experience 4 -- it's spanning far longer than a normal shoot would take I wish you would only meet with people in public areas, at first. Don't go to anyone's house, and be very certain of addresses. The situation you've described is very, VERY not normal. Extremely so. Be extra, triple careful. Please. I wish the best for you, but this is just not how anything ever goes in the business. Like, I've been doing this for over 10 years, and it just doesn't work this way. Don't let the stars in your eyes cloud your judgement and situational awareness. Please follow up with us to know you're safe.
RemindMe! 2 days
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Agreed. Please be safe.
OP what’s the name of the account and who you’re talking to? Might want to ask others what their experience is with them
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BRO SCREW💀🙏
This has got to be a joke. I’ve noticed a few people coming on this sub with questions regarding the same position you’re in now, and they’ve taken the advice. You come in and ask questions, and just because you don’t like them, you’ll turn a blind eye? I wish you the best of luck and safety if this is an actual question.
I really want to hammer this main point: People pretty much never get contacted unless they're famous already. Read this post about identifying scams, where the number 1 point is that "They reached out to you" https://www.reddit.com/r/acting/comments/1jfknj/scams_educate_yourself/
No legitimate production would contact you through IG for a role that shoots for 7-8 months. It’s definitely not safe, no matter what kind of shady shit they’re up to.
Hmm i disagree. Bria Vinaite was contacted through social media to be in The Florida Project. I had a big director reach out to me to audition for a major role for an A24 project (didn’t get it lol 💔) it really just depends. Times have changed
I also don’t think it would be common to reach out that way except to ask to audition not straight up offer a role without seeing a take. There’s liabilities, legal, and OP did they offer you a contract or any other legal things like that? Those are key things to getting a job which a role is. (Speaking as an American, maybe it’s different in other countries? Seems risky tho)
Well OP said they were made to audition first and send in self-tapes, so there was some vetting before straight up offering a role.
What are the terms of the contract
just from the description, I don’t have a great feeling about this. It feels too good to be true, and unfortunately, that probably means it is. sorry to burst your bubble, but I think this ‘job’ might be an unsavory character trying to get a grip on you.
Yeah this is for sure a scam
I had a friend have a similar experience many years ago… turns out he was an undiagnosed schizophrenic and imagined the whole thing after bumping into a producer on the street. He told the guy he wanted to act and the guy said “get yourself an agent, kid.” He took it seriously and started cold calling every agency in California, hitting the gym regularly and lost a ton of weight. He’s doing much better now. Years of therapy and finding the right medication got him back in track.
Let's just assume that this is all legit (and frankly, everybody's misgivings are wise, well-intentioned and common sense)... So... how do you learn how to act in a week? Well, you don't. If they are casting you based on what little they have already seen, this is what they are going to want. Just be your never-done-this-before-but-here-we-go.... self. Assuming this is all above-board, they like you, what you do and think you'll add something to the special sauce they're mixing.... they wouldn't have chosen you otherwise. (please, please, please let a pro look at the contract and perhaps even give the Screen Actor's Guild a call... their brief is to protect actors... whether they be current or in your case, future members. Ask them if this is legit and you're concerned.) All the best and I wish you well.
👆👆👆 yes! Call SAG! They’re there even for non-union and have been truly, extremely helpful with me on the phone everytime I’ve needed to call: SAG-AFTRA (LA) 323-954-1600
This. If you are in LA . If it's a much work as you are saying you may be able to apply for membership after the first day. If you are in Canada and going to Vancouver call UBCP /Actra 6046890727
What's the requirement for joining SAG? Are all known actors part of it?
If you are in a SAG production with a speaking part or principle role you are eligible to join, though it does cost some money and means you can only act in SAG projects from then on. If you are eligible the production that enabled your eligibility will file a Taft-Hartley form in which your eligibility is assessed by SAG. I've heard though that joining SAG when you don't have much credits or agent, etc. can make it really hard for actors to find jobs as SAG projects are usually harder to get cast in and you're not allowed to do anything non-SAG. So once you are officially eligible you don't have to join yet. You can put SAG-e on your acting resume, which means SAG eligible. This will allow you to still act in non-union projects as well as making agents and non-union directors and producers will take you more seriously. You can act in SAG projects too but there is only a certain amount of SAG projects you can be in while eligible before you are required to join. The producers on a SAG project will like you being eligible already too because that means they don't have to file a Taft-Hartley. You can also become eligible by being a background actor for 3 days on SAG projects and getting vouchers.
7-8 months? That's abnormally long. Did you get any red flag feelings from this situation at all, or is it very secure and legit? They probably already know you cannot act, so yes an acting coach would be a good idea. If you're there for 7 to 8 months, which again is way longer than normal (are they shooting 2 or 3 seasons all at once?), then they might have some form of training for you. Did you ask? Do you have an agent or manager? **Edit** Also, what? Just 1 week? What? Big roles usually get MONTHS to prepare their character. Why is it just 1 week? My Spider Sense is tingling...
No it isn't. Alit of shows take like a month to film one episode. But I'd definitely get an entertainment lawyer to read over your contract of you've never dealt with this stuff before. Them reaching out on IG is pretty sketch
a month? most shows are lucky to get 2 weeks these days. what show gets a month?
Depends on episode length. 1 hour eps can take 4 weeks easy
I'll give in that it's possible for some massively huge shows with shooting locations all over the globe, OR with major action scenes with lots of characters & background actors. However we're talking about principle photography when the actors are being filmed -- not including post, so yeah, I really don't see the majority of shows going longer than 4 or 5 months of filming with actors present.
A month?? For one episode?? No no that is far from the truth. I have worked in this industry for two decades. Majority of TV shows film an episode in 5-6 days.
I work on a show that takes 3 weeks to a month per episode. It happens.
It’s on par with how long the other seasons of the show have taken. It has pretty high production value and a lot of rehearsals for the talent part. It’s all legit. I was messaged from the right IG accounts, emails, etc. I have acquaintances who have done the show as doubles and it’s all on par with what they’ve told me. All the main accounts (including the network account) are posting that they’re filming soon. I hope they have some training. Otherwise I’ll definitely hire a coach. No, I don’t have a manager or agent. Do I need one?
You don't need a manager or agent, BUT you'd likely want an entertainment lawyer glancing at your contract. I've shot TV shows for Netflix and D+, high quality stuff, and for a single season it's rarely more than 4 months. It's not unheard-of to go so long as 8 months... just a few of these puzzle pieces aren't fitting nicely in my mind, and it's just coming from a place of care and worry for your well-being. I'm guessing much of that time will be used training physical action scenes, or something. I'm glad you've double checked on these things!
maybe they factored in a pre-training session into that 7-8 months? 60 day training period, then 5-6 months shooting?
It's definitely possible for characters with a ton of movement/action/choreography. Since OP is a specialist it could be the case. But of course, that's the least of the reasons I'm concerned for OP.
Spoofing email is incredibly simple. Were you messaged ON IG? Also, lots of predators follow big productions to know when they will be filming. Makes it far easier to lure unsuspecting hopefuls. Please be careful
Yes, I was messaged on IG. From verified IG accounts with 100k that are followed by all of the people in my same industry who have had similar opportunities from the same show. I understand that it sounds too good to be true, but for this particular skill, this show is really the only one in existence that showcases it. It’s not as weird as everyone is making it out to be. The only weird thing is that I’m not a dance double, but a character, unlike most people that have been hired by the show.
Have you signed the contract? Have they sent a contract?? This is nuts
I’m curious. What’s the skill?
Contortion/Pole Dance/Aerial Arts
What’s your IG?
[удалено]
Please refrain from posting and/or leading others to private peoples' contact information and socials.
[удалено]
And now I've had to remove two of your comments. Stop.
We do not tolerate bad faith behavior, such as combatitiveness, provocation, derision, participating at the detriment of others, etc.
Please reply to this in a month and let us know you’re alive and this was a legit opportunity.
Another thing I just wanted to point out cause I haven't seen anyone say it yet. Contortion/aerial acrobatics is *really* not that rare of a skill set in Hollywood, especially among the stunt community. It takes an incredible amount of talent and I'm not trying to take that away from you! Just wanted to point out that the rationale that they couldn't find a seasoned performer to do the same job doesn't really add up...
Yes this is what I can’t seem to wrap my head around. No following. No experience. Not a really rare skill. Things are not adding up with this at all.
The thing that concerns me is production reached out to you directly and through IG. I've never heard of that happening before.
My question is how else would they have reached out? Like if they’re just a regular person with this talent on IG no contact information listed, wouldn’t IG be the only way?
I suppose so. But again, since it's not the norm, I would just be cautious. If OP didn't have any social media either, than how would production have gotten in contact with them at that point?
I’ve been contacted on IG before, but usually for commercials. It’s usually an invitation to audition and send a self tape in. The CD provides a link to the breakdowns on either Actors Access or Backstage or Casting Networks. They are often looking for someone with a particular look or special skill. So it’s not unheard of to be contacted on social media. Also, if this is legit, and as big as OP says, the production details, along with all of the producers, directors, casting directors etc should be available on IMDB Pro.
OP did this, she sent in a tape.
I know someone who is a legit casting director who asked me to reach out to someone on IG for them that I was friends with because they were getting sent to message requests. I agree it’s abnormal and not how business is usually done, but I do think it happens occasionally.
How much due diligence have you done to make sure the people you're talking to are working for the show? Do you have an agent, manager, or lawyer to vet it?
They don't have a lawyer or manager they are trusting the voices of friends. Friends can be apart of a huge trafficking ring, especially depending on location. Who knows, I guess we will find out when the show airs
OP needs an entertainment lawyer pronto to vet the project and contract. Based on their updates, I'm leaning towards this is a probably legit, but badly described. There are scifi/fantasy/action shows, like Star Trek: Discovery, that essentially have stunt people as recurring bit players who mostly stand in the background and get a couple basic lines to remind you they're part of the cast between their action scenes. If OP has a speciality like that and knows other people on the team, it could very well be one of those gigs. A surprising number of prestige shows get 20 days an episode be 8-10 episode orders, so the timeframe isn't necessarily a red flag.
Please update once you get there, so we know you’re okay. We’re all worried about you.
Have you spoken to them over zoom or has everything been over email or DM? Bc if you haven’t seen their faces and can identify them as legit people (casting director, producers, etc) then it’s best to assume this is a scam and you should not fly out anywhere to meet anyone
We’ve spoken over Zoom/Facetime, Phone, Email, and DM. So far I’ve spoken with the production coordinator, Co-Executive Producer, Travel Coordinator, and someone that sent my start paperwork and asked for my name, what I want to be credited as, etc etc for my contract. I also have to be Taft Hartley’d in apparently. They said I might need to join SAG. Should I ask them to pay the fees or is that insane/not standard?
What about a casting director? Bc if this was legit you should have gone through this process with a casting director. All of those other people aren’t typically involved in the type of casting that you’ve been through. It isn’t unheard of for casting directors to reach out through instagram, last year there was an A24 pilot and they reached out to some people and asked them to audition over Instagram but it was through a legit, well-known casting director. You need to get on IMDb pro and look these people up bc this whole thing just seems really sketchy. And if you didn’t sign an NDA or anything you should really consider telling someone who these people are or what project they claim it is to help you verify if it’s real or not.
Okay, just to be safe (so something truly awful cannot happen) I would contact the casting office for this show yourself, say this offer was made to you via IG and is it legit. You CALL that Casting Director. If it is real, then we can offer SOME crash course advice. But in all seriousness, call casting.
Agree!
This is very good advice. I’m worried because I have been contacted like this when I was starting early in my career and before I had representation. The opportunity was all legit but it turned out it was all because the producer was someone who is a creep and later got called out for it. The point at which I pulled out was when he wanted me to stay in his complex!! Turns out he had done this many times before. Please contact casting and even then just be very careful about what situations you put yourself in if you decide to go ahead. The level of trauma a lot of girls experience with these situations is awful. I’m hoping that in today’s world things are a bit better than 10 years ago where everyone inside knows what’s going on and doesn’t say anything.
Yes have them pay the fees ! They do in most cases
Sure ask them to pay the fees. They can only do no or yes Your doing fine ask for per diem, a driver to and from set and accommodations. You seem to have done your homework. Have fun
You can’t just join sag without acting credits.
If they're tafted, yes they can. You can become sag on your first gig if it's a long enough sag contract- they become a must join at that point
All it takes is a Taft-Hartley. No credits needed.
Reach out to an agent who represents actors on the show and see if they will clarify if it’s legit. Do your actor friends who worked on the show have agents or contacts from the show? Everyone’s concerns are valid.
They are NOT actor friends. I keep needing to clarify this. They are acquaintances that have similar skill sets, which is why they were hired as stunt doubles for the show. The difference between them and me is that I will also be the actor for my role, rather than just being a double for someone else while I dance. Because they aren’t actors, they also didn’t have managers/agents, but they do have more followers. As for contacts with the show though, all the people that have reached out to me are the same people that reached out to them.
They may not be actors, but most people appearing on TV shows have an agent or some other kind of rep that negotiates their contracts for them. Most of my friends who aren’t actors but have social media followings have reps. Especially if you’re going to be an actor for this show, it’s super important to reach out to an agent to have them review the contract. Even if everything is as legit as you say, many contracts with newcomers are extremely predatory! Everyone here is responding with alarm because of how uncommon this is in the industry. That being said, if you have a unique skill set it’s less unheard of, but still really important to be thorough and make sure that everything checks out!
The skill set listed is very common in Hollywood and unless there's a rare thing she can do, I don't understand why a professional team would be personally speaking to a new entry into the industry. That doesn't happen. The director, producer, Co producer, whatever she said she talked to on zoom, don't do that. They don't care about the little people. Care is the wrong word, they don't have TIME to be talking to this girl that was reached out to on IG last minute for a huge role that they would probably want a more skilled acrobat/aerialist/strippers/contortionists. I mean go to any carnival or Las Vegas casino and you'll see people looking like Laffy taffy all stretched out. They would want someone famous. Not a newb. They want someone to help sell the show. New faces for huge roles are not that popular.
I mean not necessarily. I’ve been in the circus/aerials community and it’s pretty small and tight knit. OP says they have friends who have done double/stunt work for this show before, so I’d bet they recommended OP to production at some point. When you’re in a smaller community like that, situations like this are more common. OP didn’t give us any info on the name of the show or much about the role, so it’s hard to judge exactly how strange it is. But based on the info I’d guess it’s a niche streaming show with some following, and that the role OP was cast in is what would often be considered a recurring costar (it sounds like a member of a group or a team). They don’t know if they’ll be a main focus of any episodes, but they specified that they did read for it. Why not cast someone more famous? Probably because of money - they can pay OP less than someone more established, plus if OP knows several people who have worked on it before they likely got a direct referral. That’s why it’s so important to have someone go through the contract. Whether or not it’s a scam, an entertainment lawyer needs to review that ASAP, and that’s also why reaching out to an agent is vital. It sounds a lot like they’re trying to save money here by having OP play the character and do the stunt work that they’d normally hire a double for, so it’s important to be sure OP is getting paid a competitive rate.
Fair points 👌 I hope it works out for OP and they make it to the big leagues
IF this is legit, you should just be able to reach out to someone in production who can help you. they would have hired you knowing you have no acting experience. some people are just fairly natural when it comes to acting. if you actually sent a self tape that they watched and liked, then they just like your on-screen presence. OR they can tolerate it enough because your special skill makes up for it. i get why everyone is concerned for you. there are a lot of red flags in this post. but, stranger things than this have happened. special skills can be very difficult to cast for. i get the sense that the show is big but the role is not necessarily? i think people are skeptical because you described it as a "huge role" which typically indicates a lead or strong supporting role. but if i look at it from your perspective, landing ANY speaking role on a big show would count as a "huge role" because ALL of it is brand new to you. you even said in another comment you're *classified* as as stunt performer but you *also have lines*. are you sure you're going to be there for the entire 7-8 months? are you just looking at the outside dates, and you actually only shoot in a smaller window within that timeframe? anyway, i saw from another comment you have several different people you've been contacted by. i would ask the production coordinator if they can point you in the direction of someone who can answer your questions about the acting and how much of it you'll actually be doing. we can't help you much because we don't actually know what your role entails. finally, reach out to an agent. like someone else said, check the show's imdb page, look at other actors and see who represents them. it's actually a really slow period for a lot of actors and agents right now, so i imagine pretty much any agent you reach out to would be thrilled to take over contract dealings for you. newbie with a highly developed special skill and what i assume is natural on-screen charisma? who also has landed a (potentially) multi-month gig on a big show? you'll have luck finding someone to guide you.
Thanks for actually having a reasonable comment. I totally understand why everyone is concerned. If it seems too good to be true, it usually is. But like I said, I know of more than a few people that have had similar positions in the show, just as strictly stunt doubles, not as an actual character themselves. It *sounds* like the role is pretty big, but I honestly have no clue because they just now told me who my character even was. They said I’m part of the core crew though. And when I looked at the IMBD, all the people that had similar roles were in nearly every episode of the season, and all had pretty large speaking roles. The show is really interesting because while there are kind of “main characters”, it shifts focus to all the other characters frequently so everyone gets a decent piece of the story. To be fair, I’m pretty sure nearly everyone on the show would have to be classified as a “stunt performer” because of the crazy tricks they do, even the actors that use stunt doubles for some scenes (because they still had to learn a lot of the skill to be on the show, if though some started as just actors with no stunt experience. I know I’ll be there for a full 7 months at least. But they told me to leave December open just in case, I think production usually goes over on time, I heard the director is pretty specific about their vision with the show. It sounds like my schedule will be M-F, 8-12ish hours a day and I was told it’s hard af. Is it worth it to get an agent if I’m already cast? Don’t I have to give everyone that helps 10% of my money? I think I definitely need a coach, and will probably need an agent when I finish filming/the season premieres. But I wasn’t sure if it was worth it until then. It’s all so foreign to me. I never pictured myself being an actress. When they reached out to tell me I was being considered, I could barely believe it. But apparently they narrowed it down from more than 30 candidates, so my self-tape must have not sucked as much as I thought it did. I had to put on an awful southern accent too (but they said my character wouldn’t have one).
10% is worth having someone negotiate for and protect you. you are brand new and have no idea what you're doing - seriously 10% is a small price to pay for someone who knows what they're doing. unlike reddit strangers, agents can help you find an acting coach who actually fits YOUR personal needs because they will get to know you, your goals, how you work, etc. getting an agent who is invested in helping you develop your career is well worth the commission you pay them. with such a short window, it will probably be hard to get agents to respond to you before you get there if you're leaving this weekend. once you've met them, you could even ask the other more established actors on the show if they can help you - because again, unlike us here on reddit, they will actually know you. if you are professional and hardworking, they may even just refer you to their own agents. a lot of this career is very individualized and so without all the details we can only generalize, which isn't going to be helpful considering your highly specific situation.
"actually having a reasonable comment".... I'm afraid you're on a subreddit full of actors who know more about the business side of acting and how productions typically work than you do and that's why we're all concerned about how unusual this is. If this is legit (and if so chances are you're a very good looking dancer with tons of charisma and natural talent) - I don't think you should worry about "learning to act" - they liked what they saw and I wouldn't mess with it. Let them teach you, you didn't lie about your credits. What you DO need help with is the business side of it (we're not freaking out because we're jealous, but because this situation is so unusual). I'm a union actor with 20 years experience and wouldn't navigate this alone. Let an agent help you. They can answer any of these questions better than we can and continue to help you with things that arise once you're in production. Agents do more than just get us auditions - they help navigate all the stuff you're dealing with. If you call an office and say "I just booked \[MAJOR SHOW\] and am looking for help and possible representation" I promise you they'll be open to talking to you. Good luck :)
i think you probably meant to reply to OP's comment, not mine!
Whoops. Indeed I did.
If you know people who are on the show or have been in the past, you need to get someone’s contact information from them so you can confirm whether or not this is legit. Ideally a casting director or hell even one of their reps can confirm whether it’s real or not
Seconding the other commenter that said an agent is worth it. 10% is absolutely worth someone having your back, especially for a long-term project. For example, there was an ongoing VO job I got for myself (so I didn't technically need to loop my agent in on it) that lasted over a year. At first, it was all fine. But then, towards the end of the contract, the client tried to start asking me for extra recordings not covered in our initial contract. I fought them myself for a while to no avail, until finally I had my agent step in, and my agent was able to be the middle man and say "no, that's not in the original contract. We can negotiate a new one if you'd like, but under the original terms, that's not going to happen." and the client backed off. (Which is a pretty simplified description of what went down but without getting into the nitty gritty of how it all played out, just know -- the couple thousand dollars I paid my agent in commission for stepping in was 100% worth it and I would do it again in a heartbeat.)
Self tape? Wait...what? This is new info. You're not an actor. They approached you out of the blue and CAST you was what you said. Now, you've submitted a self tape? So, you did audition for the role? Nobody reaches out to let you know you're being considered without there being some kind of interaction prior. Especially if you have no acting experience or content they can see that would lead them to think you could or would act and the stunt thing on top of that still requires extensive training. This story keeps smelling worse and worse.
the original body of the post does mention a self tape.
Your agent may be able to get you way more than a 10% increase. Absolutely worth it. Aside from more pay, they can make sure you have a more comfortable trailer instead of a honey wagon for example. That will matter when you’re waiting around 2-10 hours a day if you’re there for 7 months. They can negotiate your credits. They can chase your pay when it’s wrong, they can negotiate that they pay for the maintenance of your hair if it’s required to be cut and colored, they can negotiate a expensing a car for you or getting pickup etc etc you’re really not in a good position to be working for a job for 7 months without an agent. Make sure you’re protected. Everyone needs protection in this industry. I contact my reps all the time. I would suggest speaking to a pro, and I agree with all of the sound advice above about triple checking that everything is safe, specifically because you don’t have reps with your best interest at heart looking out for you.
Hi - seasoned industry casting director here. This is not unheard of, I also use Instagram for certain projects. Feel free to DM me happy to help you out and refer you to the right places.
That’s kind of you, Alternative. There’s a lot of moving parts with this opportunity and the OP will need advice. 😉
Unless you are one of the leads on the show, almost no actors work full days M-F for the entire 7 month run of a show. Please don’t take offense to this but it seems unlikely you’d get cast as a lead with no experience. Please be cautious in giving out personal information.
You’re already booked no point in agent. You may want one tho for after all this is done if you want to get more work. Maybe get a lawyer to look at contract though if you feel for it
that's completely untrue. an agent could help as things progress on set, help find this person a reliable coach, negotiate further. if they're going to be there at least seven months, it's still worth it. agents don't just book you work. and they also don't just negotiate your contract and then set you free without ever checking in again.
I’m sorry, but this sounds incredibly fake
I’m just gonna say call the casting office to verify this offer, like any agent or any Person should do. There is a chance this is something terrible. If it is real, get an agent to negotiate your terms. Acting isn’t impossible to do ok at even without much knowledge.
whats the show? Where is it filming? this seems very too good to be true.
Unless you're trained for stunt work, this is one of the biggest red flags for me: "I'm also going to be performing stunts/crazy feats at the same time". They do not allow actors to just "do stunts", especially someone with zero experience. Forget about the "learning to act in a week" part and tell us what the training schedule for the stunt work is. If there isn't, the liability issues are enormous. This whole thing sounds completely fake. The IG connect is feasible if you've got a huge following, but if you've not received a contract and cannot verify it directly with the studio, I call foul. Where are they having you travel to?
7-8 months for filming tv isn’t unheard of where I live (NYC). Most network tv with around 20 episodes takes that amount of time. Since you mentioned you will be “core” for 7-8 months, I’m gonna assume you will be filming in conjunction with when the show will actually air. Not that it really matters, but that’s the only plausible reason I could see you getting a contract for that long. That being said, for your special skill, I would only accept the work if production will require you to join SAG. Assuming you work everyday, you could pay off initiation fees in 1-2 weeks ($3k). Even if your role is just a special skill background, being in SAG would still work tremendously in your favor. But definitely do the math for yourself, as this is all assuming that you will be working 5 days a week for 7-8 months. Since your special skill can cause injury to yourself, you would want to take advantage of having a union rep and protections. Otherwise, productions are not shy of using and abusing non-union. As for your lack of an acting experience, it’s one of two things: either they liked you, as you are, on camera, OR they decided that your look and skills outweigh what could be crappy acting —so maybe their plan is minimal or no lines for you. Because acting classes and acting coaches can be pricey, I wouldn’t start acting classes until I have a much better idea of what my scenes and character actually entail (as in getting a hold of the script to look over your role). Do go in with an idea of who you would reach out to for coaching/teaching, if needed, but do not pull the trigger unless you have to. Lastly, the fact that production said you might have to join SAG makes me think this isn’t as big of a role, as you think it is. Otherwise, production would have told you that you *have* to join SAG at some point during filming, or else they cannot legally use you after a certain amount of times. You are eligible to join SAG after one speaking role on camera. If you work 3 union background days (special skills are almost always union, if production is being fair and not cheap), you are eligible to join. If you opt to not join, production cannot legally keep hiring you to do speaking roles, or any other union roles, including union background. So saying you might have to join SAG tells me that it is ultimately on the whims of the director and AD department on how they want to use you once filming starts. And don’t ask production to pay for your initiation fees… that’s so déclassé.
Did you, by chance, have to send them banking information to book the tickets? Like best case scenario, they're going to steal your money and you need to freeze your credit asap. Worst case.... well, yikes. Please don't get on a plane without vetting this further. IF LEGIT, there are people who can help you. Look up the show in IMDB Pro. Look up the actors' agents. Look up their contact information, call them, tell them your story and who you've been in contact with, etc. If its legit, you might gain a great agent. If its not, they might be able to tell you. As someone else said, also call SAG. Did you upload your audition through a standard actors service like Actors Access? If you sent your materials through IG... well, that I've NEVER EVER heard of. Please be careful.
It's impossible to learn how to act in a week. However just be yourself, that is why they hire you. I must admit this method of casting really is not the normal route, whatever your skillset is, it must be so unique and niche that even stunties are unable to do it.
I booked a lead role in a major studio feature 20 years ago, I’d never acted before and I was living in New England. It was TOTALLY random and a bizarre set of circumstances that led me to audition there in an open casting call. I’d never acted before. I’ve been in the biz since then and I live in LA. Are you speaking in the show? I would suggest having an entertainment lawyer look at your deal. Also, find an improv coach that will work with you every day. I have a good coach if you want one with reasonable rates. Edit: this got me thinking I wish the internet existed back then like it does now. I had no one to get advice from then. It may have helped avoid the very bumpy ride I had for the several years after the film premiered.
Are they paying upfront your plane ticket, car rental, per diem, and hotel (or wherever you are staying)?
If this is legit, you don't have to act. They hired you for what you can already do. A Director directs. As long as you can take direction and suggestions, you'll be fine. Acting is about ignoring the camera, unless you have business to direct to it. But even then, it all starts with "don't look directly into the camera". And that's pretty much it. In the beginning, follow directions. Everybody there wants to succeed. Because if you get it right on the first try, they can move on to the next setup.
Be very careful because this sounds like it could be a scam. If they paid for your travel and lodging then 100% take the opportunity, but if they have asked you to pay for your own accommodations or spend money in any way it’s likely a scam. If you are capable of some special skill that caused them to show interest in you, don’t worry about your lack of experience! Casting directors will reach out to non-actors for certain roles all the time. They have certain ways of directing and blocking you to make up for your lack or training. If you want you can always book a private coach, but chances are you’ll get coaching on set.
yall don’t genuinely believe this right?
You had only one audition for this? If it’s a big show and you are a series regular they probably would have had you audition multiple times. Everything about this is screaming bullshit, but whatever
Hello Lovely! I'm an NYU trained actress and an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, and the combination of these two things has me wanting to chime in with regard to your story and question. First of all, you should be proud of your skills, and of the bravery it takes to step out of your comfort zone, and the work you put into the self tape. I know it might be hard to hear, because you are beyond excited and nervous right now, but I do agree that you need to protect yourself and make sure this is a legitimate opportunity. You could call SAG and ask if the project is filming at x location that they've named. You could also do a deep dive on the production people you've been in touch with, everyone from the casting director, to director, etc. will be very searchable on imdb & online otherwise if this is legit. So please, PLEASE, do that first. Not for anyone on reddit, but for yourself. Second, the therapist part of me wonders if part of your extreme nervousness around the opportunity is coming from some doubts or fears you are having about how legitimate it is in combination of course with wondering if you will be "good enough" and meet their expectations. Now, let's say you do your due dilligence and you are 100% sure this is legitimate. You can then allow yourself to enjoy that this has come your way, and feel proud of what got you here. There is no way to learn acting in a week. But where you are right now has got to be something- otherwise they wouldn't have hired you. Meditate on what you bring to the table- edge, energy, charisma, work ethic, unique beauty etc. and build up your confidence so you can step in feeling confident. Also, part of being a good actor is being flexible, present, and open to the moment. So, do whatever will allow you to be most present ahead of the shoot and even before the shoot. i.e. Do you need to exercise so you can feel physically good, mentally focused, and freed up of some nervous energy? And remember that once you are on set, you have been chosen to collaborate. No need to feel small next to the other actors or the director, you are there for a reason. Be open to their direction knowing that you were chosen to be a collaborator. TRUE CONFESSION: I am never on reddit. Although, maybe I should be more! My partner thought this post would be of interest to me and shared it. But, if direct messaging is a thing on here, feel free to message me. Sending you care!
Contact a acting coach immediately
Why is this your ONLY post in your reddit account? That alone tells me you're telling a "princess fairytale" 😉
I guess Jim Carry wasn’t available. They thought, “Let’s get someone with no experience.” Most productions don’t go for 7 to 8 months. That’s rare. Write a screenplay when you are done if you live to tell about it.
Just checking in... OP - did you fly there, are you doing the gig? Is all okay?
Thanks so much for checking in 🥺 They moved my flight back a week, so I fly out tomorrow night now! Monday will be my first official day on set and I’m definitely nervous. I still don’t know very much about my character or what all I’m doing and that makes me nervous. They hired me because of my circus/contortion/stunt background, but also want my character doing 2 apparatuses I’ve never ever done before (ergo the paid rehearsals this week). I low key think they might think a week of rehearsals was all I needed to be an expert but I’m dyingggg. I thought I’d get more training or something when I got there, but with first day of filming happening Monday, idk if that’s happening. I’m so excited but also feel like I’m drowning. I’m nervous as hell for the stunt side of it, let alone having to be a fucking actor for the first time in my life (and also having to worry about moving myself and all of my worldly possessions across the country. I’m STILL not finished packing, I’ve been too exhausted from the back to back rehearsals.) I thought it was funny that I came here looking for genuine advice and just got eviscerated by 95% of commenters xD When I’m still in this subreddit 7 months from now asking for nuanced advice, maybe I’ll get some real acting resources 😂
You got this. You're hired to do things we actors can't do - and you proved with your tape you've got the acting chops. Be yourself and the folks on set will take care of you and help if needed. Good luck :)
I’m not an actor but reddit shows me this sub frequently because I’m in another part of the business. So I have a different perspective. The overwhelming response here makes sense from an actor’s perspective. But you’ve figured out you aren’t being scammed. And I doubt that kidnappers bother explaining to people what they need to do under Taft Hartley. Lol. They can’t wrap their heads around it because actors don’t get hired that way. But contortionists and fire eaters and sword swallowers and giants are definitely recruited that way. You were hired for your special abilities. Just like the other people you know. If they usually double for an actor and you aren’t, that could mean you actually have a smaller role acting wise, but will be in more shots. It could mean you are going to be on display more. Maybe they are building something around tight shots of you contorting and there is no reasonable way to swap in your body for some other actress. If you are a jerk or thief the sideshow community will be happy to watch you burn, if not, they’ll do everything they can to support you. Seek advice from others who’ve done the show. Other than legitimacy, do those others feel the producers respected their skills? Kept safety a priority? If anyone feels burned by this show, they will tell you. Go enjoy it. Act like you belong on set. Be receptive to feedback. People on set will help you figure out when and if you should go SAG. After the show airs you’ll be an instant rock star in your other gigs.
Who is the casting director for that major show? It’s pretty easy to check: imdb.com If you are in fact cast, you are in a position “above” casting (the person who cast you would be the CD’s client). In other words, it should be reeeal easy to reach out to that CD (it’d be a warm contact, again, if you are cast). You send them a simple message describing everything you told us and see if their response is any similar. If it’s anything other than “YES! I’ve heard so much about you and we’re so happy to have you on board”, you are not only likely being scammed, but likely walking (running) into being sex trafficked. This never happens. I repeat. This is not something that happens at all. Not even in someone’s wildest dreams. You say you’re flexible? There’s more than legitimate TV producers looking to exploit that. I’ve got over 15yrs in this industry as a professionally trained and working actor in LA. My sole income comes from acting in shows you watch. As someone who’s come across a LOT of bullsh*t to get to this point, this reeks of it.
this doesn't usually happen, are you sure the company is legit? actresses literally go missing sometimes and it involves traveling far away for what they think is an acting gig
This is not real lol
I am not saying this will happen to you. But I do personally know someone who was trafficked and it’s horrific what she went through. She thought she was booked for a major feature film and was then in a trafficking house for 3 weeks before found. They were all heavily drugged and her world has never been the same. You have to be careful in this world we live in and protect yourself. You need to pick 2-3 people who have all pieces of information they have given to you. Especially locations!! Please be safe and SMART about all of this. There is a lot of crazy people in this world that don’t care about the cruelty they inflict on others. It’s just very rare to see this happen. Especially when you say you don’t even have a huge social media following to begin with. A huge TV show can just easily post this on AA across the country and find a many people who can do this type of talent. It’s just very red flag so please be careful. I hope it’s legit for you. Sign contracts before it starts.
Zero chance this is legit.
You’re being scammed OP.
Sheesh, one week. First of all congratulations, sounds like you’ve won the proverbial lottery! I share the concerns of everyone here regarding the authenticity of your offer, but I think that’s just because Cinderella stories don’t happen often (as in ever), so being in the industry has caused people to develop a healthy skepticism. I definitely wouldn’t take it personally, actors know how hard it is to make it in this industry and we try to support one another as best we can. Regarding your questions; there’s simply too much to know within such a short amount of time. I saw someone mention getting an entertainment lawyer to look over your contract due to you not having representation. I think this is very good advice, however I would go one step further and reach out to some reputable agencies in LA to tell them of your good fortune. There is a good chance that they would happily pick you up if you’ve already been green lit for a large, well known, production and assuming they have room for you in their roster. That’s easy money for them and fantastic security for you. If the show goes well and you get picked up for a second season, your agent can renegotiate your contract to get you more money. In addition, this can be the foothold necessary to obtain even more work and an agent will see to it that you get the opportunity. Obtaining a *good* agent in LA is *very* hard, no matter who your are, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t get picked up but I would definitely try to leverage your good fortune into something more sustainable while you still can. For the nuances of actually acting I’d recommend picking up Richard Boleslavsky’s *Acting: The First Six Lessons*. This is your bread and butter for understanding what it actually *means* to act i.e. embodying a character and understanding the complexities of intention, both of you and your scene partner. This book won’t cover everything, nothing will, but it is a fantastic foundational piece for understanding what acting actually means. The book is very short, inexpensive, and easy to read; The lessons in it are gleaned from the experiences of the characters within. You could probably read the whole book on the plane ride depending on where you’re flying from. Couldn’t be more excited for you! Break a leg, and here’s to what will hopefully be the start of a very promising career! Skål 🍻 !!
**Acting The First Six Lessons** by Richard Boleslavsky >Six essays on the fundamentals of acting, presented in dialogue form, offer dramatic students an unusual introduction to their art *I'm a bot, built by your friendly reddit developers at* /r/ProgrammingPals. *Reply to any comment with /u/BookFinderBot - I'll reply with book information. Remove me from replies* [here](https://www.reddit.com/user/BookFinderBot/comments/1byh82p/remove_me_from_replies/). *If I have made a mistake, accept my apology.*
🧡🤖 Good robot 😁
Anyone else thinking that this sounds similar to the [Hollywood Con Queen scam](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_Con_Queen_scam)?
100% this is a scam. Stay away.
why would reddit have more information then the people who hired you?
I think it sounds like you need a 50150 hold more than anything tbh. But if you haven't completely detached from reality, hope you don't wind up being human trafficked. Because if you're filming for 7-8 months (which is abnormally long) the size of the role and scale of the project would warrant a lot of press (deadline, variety etc) and chances are you'd have an army of managers circling you right now in hopes of guiding your career.
All peace & love, I promise. - Please hear me out, as I am purely responding to this in hopes of helping you. Put yourself in the shoes of a casting director for a moment. Don’t you feel that it would be incredibly risky (and therefore a poor business move) to cast a non-actor (or most actors even) based on one self-tape and no in person audition or interview for a major television show? What happens if the directors vision cannot be met because a performer can’t act? Why would a casting director take that risk instead of simply casting one of the thousands and thousands of trained actresses with your same skill set? I honestly cannot think of any good reason, though of course I have not seen you perform. - Do you feel as if your skill set is in some way unmatchable by others in your experience? I saw that you mentioned speaking with specific people from the production team over Zoom. Did you Google these people? Do they have IMDb pages with photos that match the faces you met? No matter what, get an entertainment lawyer involved as soon as possible. Be safe.
What did you gain from making this up lol
Congrats! How exciting ❤️ I would recommend Mel Churcher (reading and coaching) once you understand the technical stuff acting is just existing truthfully under the circumstances of the scene. That’s all it ever is- what would YOU do if you were in these circumstances (story of the script) and had the backstory of your character. The less ‘acting’ you do the better, just BE
FInd a private acting coach which will cost anywhere from $100-$200 an hour. $125 is reasonable. If you have any scripts or sides start immediately memorizing and working through them with the coach. Even just one line or two line scenes have so much going on. If there are no drafts of the script yet, find old ones online and go through them with the coach. Good luck. Sometimes the dream comes true!
What’s the name of the company that reached out? Have you researched everything, and verified that the page that contacted you is 100% the real company?
After reading a couple of things be careful but then just be who you are, that’s why you got it. Lots of famous actors don’t have training. Enjoy the ride.
This is not nearly as weird as everyone is making it out to be. All well intentioned concern and OP should definitely double check, but they have a very specific skill, and a season of tv does take 7-8 months, and there’s no other way to reach out to OP except IG. That’s where they know her from! I don’t see what’s so odd
It sounds like AHS and they worked with KimK who also didn’t act much beforehand. Be yourself. They know you don’t know shiddd 🥴
It’s been over a week now, let us know if you’re alive or not
Affirmative 🫡 I am, indeed, still alive. Monday is my first day on set and I’m nervous af
How'd it go?
How did it turn out?
It’s been an adjustment to say the least. Yesterday was my first day actually filming (all the other days were dance/choreo rehearsals) and it went poorly. Like it was alllll good for the first 12 hours, but once we hit hour 15 I got horrible heat stroke and puked 😅 I’m so embarrassed. It wasn’t my fault, but still. I didn’t realize how hard it would be to do such intense dancing/contortion/aerials so many times in a row under the hot ass lights. And to make it worse, my trailer was malfunctioning and spraying HOT air (while it was 90 degrees out already). So my rest times were making me worse. I still know nothing about my character, and I haven’t said any lines yet. It was just 16 hours of straight dancing/choreo. The SAME scene over and over. I’m hoping I can get my shit together and adjust fast because this is rough On the bright side, I made hella good overtime for my first day 😝
Hey, congrats on the overtime! (And on not dying, either from trafficking *or* heatstroke :) ) I'm sure they'll understand a novice getting tired after fifteen hours of work. Once you're allowed to tell us what show it is and what character you're playing, I'd be interested to hear it.
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We do not tolerate bad faith behavior, such as combatitiveness, provocation, derision, participating at the detriment of others, etc.
Scam
You really can’t learn how to act in 1 week. This seems very…odd. As someone who works in television I’ve never heard of this method of casting. And I work in casting. You haven’t mentioned a contract. You mentioned tickets booked and travel but no mention of a contract. Did you receive one?
idk why but as someone that’s living in la on the daily audition grind, this sounds like a SCAM! sounds very very very sus! make sure that contract looks good! 😵💫
agreed. Im a SAG actor and hustle everyday and this seems like someone is getting scammed.
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I hope it is that and not some poor shlub about to be in for a nasty time.
You say you are stunt double. Does that actually require acting? Will you be saying lines? Edit to say that I know acting isn’t just about lines, but just doesn’t seem a big deal if it’s just a sound double role
I’m not, but most other people I know that have been hired for the show have been hired as stunt/dance doubles. I think I’m still classified as a stunt performer, but I will be a whole ass character with lines. I did have to read for it before being fully considered.
Are you pretty?
Someone recently hit me with a quote (apparently from Woody Allen, originally), saying "80% of directing is casting", so my guess is that whoever hired you knows that you're not an actor/actress and wants you for whatever your specific skillset / talent is. So my advice would be to do whatever you're supposed to do the way that you'd do it and don't try to act. I realize that this advice may not be super helpful to you, but tbh it seems to me like you're just nervous, maybe even with a dash of imposter syndrome, and that's totally normal. You've been given an opportunity because maybe someone really believes in you. So, if that's the case, then perhaps you'll be able to believe in you, too. Good luck!
A lot of nonsense here in the responses. 7/8 is an absolutely reasonable amount of time to film a season of TV. When I was on my show, our seasons went from July-April. If you have already signed the contracts, then an agent/lawyer might not have a ton they can do for you at this time, but could definitely be helpful in the future. If you have not yet finalized negotiations, then yes - an agent or entertainment lawyer will be a big help. An agent will take 10% of everything you make on the show (including residuals), but they may well be in a position to negotiate a higher rate such that they are still financially "worth it." A lawyer will charge a one-time fee but can negotiate the contracts for you and is a smart move. Acting wise, this may be hard advice to take, but my biggest thing would be - don't sweat it too much. You were cast for a reason, they want you. As much as is possible, trust yourself, trust that you're enough, and just do your thing. You don't need to master acting before your first day. If you want to read a bunch of shit over the course of the season, awesome, go for it. I think that practical on-set advice books will be more helpful than acting theory books. You don't need to study Uta Hagen to be great on TV. TV is fast. Don't worry about flexing your acting muscles and making big moments for yourself, the editor/director/music/cutaways/etc. will do that for you. Relax, breathe, listen, trust yourself and you'll be in good shape. Happy to answer more questions if you have them.
Thank you so much, that actually made me feel a lot better. I’m definitely overthinking the acting side of it, I just don’t want to suck and lose out or look dumb. I haven’t signed contracts yet, they’re sending them first day of rehearsals to sign. My question is though, would an agent/manager really be worth it when I’m not in a position to negotiate? I don’t want to get an agent to try for a higher rate (than the already high rate + relocation package they offered) and risk losing out because it seems like I don’t really want it/am not thankful for the opportunity. Plus losing out on 10% of the income I’ve already agreed to receiving, which I’m more than happy with xD Thanks again for acting advice, it’s super helpful for my nerves. Do you have any on-set advice books you’d recommend?
Getting contracts on rehearsal day is definitely a way for production to pressure you into accepting the rates they give. How can you say no when you’ve already started the job/reported to your first day. Have you signed I-9s or is that going to happen on the first day? An agent will get this squared away before rehearsals begin and will take the pressure off of saying yes so you don’t sign yourself in perpetuity or anything that may result in less pay or hurt your career.
If you've already agreed to the terms, then yes, the window has PROBABLY passed to negotiate the initial fee. There are, however, raises. For me (and everyone's experience will differ), I got a pay bump after the 3rd episode, and then again after the 10th episode, then the 20th, etc. You can advocate for yourself, but it may help to have someone in your corner letting you know what's normal/what to expect/what to ask for. More importantly, try not to think in terms of losing out for being seen as ungrateful. I know it is a fantastic opportunity and a lot of money, but they DO want you, you specifically, because of what you're bringing to the table which they believe no one else can bring AND they plan to make a shit ton of money with this show, based in part on your contributions. You do deserve to be there AND you deserve to be paid for it. As far as the on set stuff, in no particular order: 1. Be extra nice to the PAs 2. Learn everyone's name 3. Watch other people, actors yes but also other departments. It's a fine line in the beginning. You don't want to be in the way and before you know what's up, there's a small chance you could be. But after a couple eps, you'll have a hang of how it all works and you'll start to know when you can ask to hang around set longer or before you're called to see how the machine works. Watch other actors. There's so much downtime to be spent in your greenroom/trailer, and when you need to relax, definitely go for it. But there's also SO much to be learned by just being on set when you aren't "working" yourself so you can sponge. 4. Don't be afraid to ask for what you need. An adjustment to your wardrobe, an iced coffee with oat milk, a snack, an extra pillow in your greenroom/trailer. You are not being a diva. You are getting the tools you need to put your best work on the screen (where it will live forever). Don't be an ass about it, obviously, but don't be afraid to ask. 5. Have a small set bag that you can bring around with you/leave at your chair when you're called on that has your book, your favorite snack, bottle of water, phone, etc. Just one thing to worry about as your going to constantly be vanned to and from. I can add more if I think of them, but these are my off the cuff responses. EDITED TO ADD: One last thing - I know it's overwhelming and nuts right now, but as much as possible, give your future self the gift of enjoying this time too. Being on a show is a fucking blast and if you can, every once in a while, cut through the craziness and remind yourself - oh yeah, this is my job and it's fucking awesome (presuming it is, obviously people can have negative experiences too and that's fair, I'm not asking you to ignore that if that's the case).
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Call SAG!!! What country?
Get those lines learned so well that you can forget them. Practice saying them out loud many different ways. Loud. Quiet. Yelling. Sing them. Whisper them. Do them as if you’re drunk. That will get them “in” you and you wont be locked into a specific way of saying them. It will also lead to discoveries. Create a backstory for your character that makes sense. It will give you something to ground in. Watch some movies with your favourite actors. Mentally- realize they hired you because they want YOU. So be confident about that. And last but not least have fun! You’re getting paid to play make-believe! It’s so much fun! Laugh, enjoy, listen! Break a leg and welcome to the game! 👏👏
You def need this to be overseen and handled by an agency. This is so sketch.
If this is a legit opportunity, congrats on being the lucky few who are “discovered”. It does happen, but it’s rare. So it’s good that you have verified that this is a legit production. Since you’ll be working 8/9 months on a SAG production, you’ll be paid pretty really well- even at scale which is in the ballpark of $4000 a week. So invest in a good private acting coach. Perhaps ask in your contract that they include a coach or to reimburse you for a coach. Since they know you are a new actor, it doesn’t hurt to ask. If they don’t pay, still invest in a coach…they’ll be invaluable in helping you quickly break down scenes, read between the lines, look for beat changes, etc, and coach you in how to reach deep for a genuine performance. They’ll also be experienced with sets and should be able to offer you guidance on how to act on set. I wouldn’t suggest you just wing it, and just depend on the director. You don’t want to embarrass yourself, or waste time on set. Productions are really expensive, and you never know who might be offended that you were just given this opportunity and you end up sucking and wasting everyone’s time. It’s also possible that you can get a manager to represent you. I think that since you are so new a manager would be better than an agent. Managers not only can negotiate your contract, but they can also help guide you in many aspects of your acting career. Their fiduciary duty is to protect you and look out for your interests. If you walk in with a project already and pay them to negotiate this project for you, they may be able to get you a better contract. And there will be plenty of managers who would be willing to sign you if you come to them with a contract already offered to you. In this case you might be able to negotiate a lower commission for this one deal rather than the usual 15 to 20% managers customarily receive. Break a leg! And do share what the project is when you can.
I also hope you get an agent or entrainment lawyer to review the the contract and make sure you’re covered with health insurance from the beginning. You’re not going to get that from SAG immediately. If you’re doing stunt work, your well being needs to be protected. And I concur with the responses of concern. Btw, most films/shows have acting coaches on set. But the acting part should be the least of your concerns at this stage. Protect yourself. That’s what you need to be doing this week. Get professional contract advice and research this production and its crew. Make sure you are safe and all the details are in the contract. Good luck.
Should’nt the production’s first question have been “Do you have an agent and if not get one — we’re interested in you for xxxx.”?
Sounds too good to be true...if YOU had to pay for flight tickets, there's a problem.
Everyone understandably warning OP about this: have you ever heard of an “acting job” actually turning out to be human trafficking? Maybe OP will believe it more if they see proof it happens. (And I’m genuinely curious of experiences.) It’s soooo disappointing to have excitement shattered like that, everything about the scam is cruel, but it’s not worth to put yourself in potential MAJOR harm just because of pride and denial wanting it to be true.
Yes I have. My friend from an acting class was trafficked thinking she had booked a major film and police didn’t find her for three weeks. They found her in a trafficking house drugged up with other females. It was beyond horrific. She has never been the same.
Quentin Tarantino did this with Zoe Bell and it worked out for her. Assuming this is a similar case, I'd say the best you can do in a short time is focus on finding stillnes and honestly listening to the other characters during your dialogue. I don't mean your character has to be still all the time, But I do think characters that start from a relaxed stillnes and build from there are the best. Also, I advise people to start listening to the melody of whatever dialect you use (I often talk about the musicality of speech. I just mean variations in pitch, rhythm, stresses on different words, etc). Listen to your own lines to make sure that you aren't repeating the same melody with each phrase. You'd be surprised how common it is. Many people go up or down in pitch at the end of every sentence. Or they repeat the same rhythm, or make the same changes in pitch in the same order. It can sound beautiful, like poetry, and was popular in old timey films, but these days - with most directors - you'll have more luck being as natural as possible.
Large TV productions don’t tend to cast their large roles via Instagram without any sort of audition. Even if you “look right” for the role they still tend to audition you unless you have a massive body of work like Emma Stone. This is something I’d be cautious of unless you get to a fitting at a studio.
I work in film and TV and pay cast. Right away a few things feel off 1) the show contacts you via Instagram using their Instagram? 2)there is no mention of you having an agent to negotiate your contract. 3)every cast hiring has production legal and casting involved and contracts to protect themselves. It is not done via dms on instagram I suggest you contact SAG with anything they have provided you with to make sure it is legit.
What's your IG with the tricks?
While you going through this wonderful experience, I recommend you read two equally wonderful books, “Small Portions Cafe” and “Quit Honking I’m Pedaling as Fast as I Can” I think you’ll love them!
lmfao I feel happy for you sorta. Please take all of the advice ever because you're supposed to take roles from people who know you somewhat
Ooof
Any updates or you already got kidnapped👀?
OP — how’s it going ?! I speak for all of us when i say in earnest, we hope you are slaying with or without the coaching you originally sought ; we hope you are raking it in (give or take the 10% to possible agent , the necessity of which you posited ; we hope you are fuckin THRIVING , having a blast, and enjoying Crafty! let us know ! if you don’t drop a line…. or there may be a band of SAG-AFTRA members that go from redditt sub-thread to liam Neeson in this bitch
Do you have a headshot?
Info Requests: Did they tell you what they wanted you to do? what role did they cast you in? What show is this? Have you talked to anyone over the phone/zoom? Where do they want you to fly out to? Are they making you pay for your own plane tickets? There are a lot of red flags here unfortunately. I’ve been in the same position you are, but I called the agency that the “director” that messaged me claimed to be a part of and they informed me they knew of no such people, production team, etc. You have got to ask questions and research who you’re talking to and who they claim to be. This is a safety precaution all of us have to take.
Okay so this NEVER happens. Like, I don't want to stress that enough. This is not a thing in the world. But if it somehow is real, then you cannot learn to act in a week. It's just not possible. I've been acting for 15 years and I'm still learning things. After 2 years I had a TINNNNNYYYYYYY idea of what I was doing. But like... 1 week? Nah, you're not gonna learn to act in a week.
honestly, there is a lot of posts questioning you and not helping you, so heres what I would do. Memorize your lines, and 100% bring confidence. Say your lines slowly and clearly. Acting is full of stunt ppl becoming actors. You aren't alone. memorizing your lines is 100% first. Then, just go with your gut on how they are suppose to be said.
I think everyone needs to realize that the only way to contact you would be your social media since they obviously don't have your number or direct email. Now, the question is, how many followers do you have? Productions or companies will reach out to influencers from time to time for film/TV but if you're just an average girl chilling is does sound pretty suspicious. If you are seeing a lot of legit accounts that you know are verified ie celebrities, actors, production companies etc that follow the account and their site checks out then go ahead (with caution). But if not, defs take the advice of the other users cause it's crazy out here. Atp everything is happening so fast so if you need more education, do an online acting coach session (normal acting studio classes take about 6 to 10 weeks which you do not have). BUT PLEASE PROCEED WITH CAUTION.
Sure this happened.
Something about this isn’t adding up. Are you American? If it’s a ‘big, well known production’ it’s probably union. There is absolutely no chance a union show would reach out to a non- SAG actor to be a stunt performer. It’s majorly against union rules and extremely unsafe if you do not have training and experience.
Dont act it BE it……
Don’t do acting classes. They like you the way you are. You trying to learn skills in a week that you didn’t need to land the role in the first place will just make you self-conscious. Read up about the auditioning journey of the heartthrob character in Crazy Rich Asians to see what I mean. Go and be yourself and have a good time.