How to handle actors who can't read..

Azmyth

Azmyth

Veteran
or maybe those who just don't bother to..

For the most part I've had nothing but good success with the casting process. All the people who have submitted have read the blogs/sites/info and understand fully as to what the project entails and how they will be compensated/not compensated. I've triple checked with those and are ready to go with their auditions. But... there always has to be someone who thinks they are the bread and butter for my project who either didn't read the blog/casting announcement.. or did, and just didn't care.

How do I handle people like this? Ignore them? Reply? How do I reply without being rude? I mean, I understand people don't want to do things for free. But, when you make it very clear ahead of time.. why should people still ask and expect otherwise?
 
If they can't or refuse to read your posting in it's entirety it should be a warning to you that you will have problems with this actor during production. Note it, move on, you will be happier in the long run.
 
Paul (aka Phud) is right and that person would continue to be a problem.

If you want to drive the point home nicely...send a sweet email to the talent saying you are so sorry they missed everything you posted and how you are sorry you wasted their time but put links to the stuff posted. If they person is an idiot he/she won't look...if the person just got confused, they will look at the previous posting and reply back how sorry they are for not checking the details! If they come back with an "I missed it and I am sorry" then you have a talent worth working with. If they don't...good riddance.
 
In background checks for law enforcement, it is common practice to include specific documentation requirements the applicant has to supply to see if the applicant can follow written instructions. This weeds people out pretty well.

One could require they check whichever blog/site which would contain specific instructions to supply xyz paperwork. Put in the blog that failure to supply it will result in no audition.

"Didn't you read our instructions? Well, now you know for next time."

Patrick
 
Patrick....

Good points. Reminds me of the odd ryders bands used to put in their contracts just to make sure they were being read. Like the no Brown M&M's or one artists who requires a Troll doll in his dressing room!

It certainly does help to figure out who checks the details!

M
 
I generally ignore people in general (prospective cast or crew) who respond to online postings who can't be bothered to read what I posted or who think they don't need to.

Then there's the hotshots who show up to an audition and try to bone up on their scene for 5 minutes in the hallway before the audition when it's clearly the first time they ever read it.

I don't care how good they are or how good they think they are. No thanks. Next!

.
 
Chris Santucci said:
Then there's the hotshots who show up to an audition and try to bone up on their scene for 5 minutes in the hallway before the audition when it's clearly the first time they ever read it.
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As an actor, what drives me nuts is the number of auditions where that's the only way you can have it. I actually had a rather heated email exchange with a director prior to an audition over my statement that I wouldn't do it without seeing sides first. And it was an unpaid role. Needless to say, I didn't go...

But prior to that I did, quite a few times, which is what led me to decide not to anymore. It still surprises me how often it's handled that way.
 
Oy. Unless they're looking for improv, there's no point to not giving sides out to actors prior to the audition. I know a lot of filmmakers get protective of their scripts and don't like it "getting out," which is ludicrous and something I have to deal with when trying to get footage from directors.

If they don't see the importance of allowing prospective actors time to prepare, I wouldn't think they're even capable of producing any kind of film anyone would want to watch in the first place.

.
 
Chris Santucci said:
Oy. Unless they're looking for improv, there's no point to not giving sides out to actors prior to the audition. I know a lot of filmmakers get protective of their scripts and don't like it "getting out," which is ludicrous and something I have to deal with when trying to get footage from directors.

If they don't see the importance of allowing prospective actors time to prepare, I wouldn't think they're even capable of producing any kind of film anyone would want to watch in the first place.

.
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I think in many instances they simply don't have a finished script (I know this to be the case in a number of my own experiences). In other cases, I think they (mistakenly, IMHO) believe that the best way to audition actors is by cold reading. The latter seems to me part of this odd tradition (for some anyway) that might as well be called "let's make the auditioning environment as tricky/perilous as possible for the actors" or whatever. It happens surprisingly often, at least for me.

Never understood that...
 
The way I have worked it so far...

We have secured the chamber of commerce as our location. Its not an extremely large building, but its free and has several different rooms.

I've had alot of people "submit" for the roles ahead of time.. and for those who took the time to do such I provided sides for any characters they were interested in, plus any I thought they would be good for.

We are holding Open call type auditions on Dec. the 5th, from 8 am to 5pm with a break for lunch somewhere in there. I'm making clear in my ads that these are for "roles" only and not extras or anything else (we have alot of people just wanting to be in the movie in any form.. since this doesn't happen very often here. And I don't need all those people showing up.)

On the 12th we will hold scheduled auditions for anyone who had previously submitted by email or phone. They will have set times, so they do not have to wait. Those people also have the option of auditioning on the 5th, if the 12th is not a good day.. however there is a chance they may have to wait. Anyone who can't make either day, we are doing our best to work with to find another time to audition them.

So far the people who want to audition have been on board 100% knowing its unpaid, and knowing the location of the shoot and what it entails. The ones I'm guessing who weren't ok with those stipulations or who either didn't read the initial post and found out after I told them directly.. haven 't responded back at all except for two.. which I'm not too concerned with whether they do or not.

I don't have people for every role yet, but thats what I'm hoping the open call will help with.
 
Well, what you have to realize is there are a number of actors who just respond to as many casting notices as they can in the hopes that something will lead to a gig. If someone is responding to 20 or so casting notices a day, they won't necessarily read every detail of every notice... for better or for worse...
 
Tom Marshall said:
Well, what you have to realize is there are a number of actors who just respond to as many casting notices as they can in the hopes that something will lead to a gig. If someone is responding to 20 or so casting notices a day, they won't necessarily read every detail of every notice... for better or for worse...
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Your probably right, but if I took that approach to finding a job.. I'd probably wind up in some sticky situations once it came time for my interview.

what do you mean this job only pays minimum wage?

You read the job ad didn't you?

The cool thing about reading first.. is then instead of submitting for 20 casting notices.. you might only have to submit for 10.. since the other 10 were ones you wouldn't do anyway. If you'd read that, of course you'd know. But what can ya do, people are only human.
 
ok...guilty woman walking....

I have an audition coming up and marked the date wrong on my calendar and emailed the director to confirm being there and he emailed back to tell me it is next week! I swore I read everything but I marked it on my calendar wrong...

omg I am one of them now...and I used to be so good at the details!
 
Chris Santucci said:
Then there's the hotshots who show up to an audition and try to bone up on their scene for 5 minutes in the hallway before the audition when it's clearly the first time they ever read it.

I don't care how good they are or how good they think they are. No thanks. Next!
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One of the best actresses I ever worked with did that. She nailed the audition and was very directable once we got going. If it takes them a long time to get into character or change emotional states that's a much bigger problem for me. I want actors that can switch emotions in the middle of a scene. It's a unique talent. All the great actors do it and it makes for great scenes.

I'm not saying actors shouldn't work hard, but ignoring their audition because you don't like the way they prepared? That could be your loss someday. I've seen a lot of very prepared and hardworking actors that "perform" fine but are never beleivable because they can't act. I'm relatively forgiving of creative people. They aren't accountants. They are probably freaks of nature if they're really good actors. It's part of the biz.

As to the original poster's question - I'd reiterate the job is not paid and they are welcome to audition if they understand that. They might be idiots or they might be pros trying to talk you into to paying them 'cause they are desperate for rent this month. Give them 5 minutes for a first audition. If you love them say "you know this isn't a paying gig, right?". Error on the side of seeing too many people IMHO.

I'd personally never have any open casting days if I could avoid it.
 
joelnet said:
I'm not saying actors shouldn't work hard, but ignoring their audition because you don't like the way they prepared? That could be your loss someday. I've seen a lot of very prepared and hardworking actors that "perform" fine but are never beleivable because they can't act. I'm relatively forgiving of creative people. They aren't accountants. They are probably freaks of nature if they're really good actors. It's part of the biz.
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When you're doing a low budget film and your prospective actors either don't have the time or care enough about the prospect of being cast - and show this by not spending 15 minutes to learn a page or two of dialog, that's a problem for me, freaks of nature or not.

If they don't care and they're not over the top awesome, then I don't need 'em.

.
 
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