Problems with Main actor

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You guys are always so helpful to people...
Here's my story...
So we ask for a little time from an actor, to shoot a short film, non paying gig, and he agrees...

A little time becomes a REAL long time, because on shooting days he doesn't show up, shows up late, doesn't schedule off from work, goes on vacation...etc.

Now we're 70% done, but we're having a hard time getting him to finish it.

It's a really hard movie to film and we've had many problems...but I'm at a point now, where I don't want to work with him further, due to his attitude in the past, and a fear that we might not finish by our deadline...
He also just got braces...so we're going to have to film around that too...

My co-director is really upset by me even mentioning it, but even though I'm starting over, I might get it done and better that before...

So I'd like to ask you here, because I'm sure each and everyone one of you has gone through something horrible too!

Thanks, Please vote or give opinion!
 
Re: Problems with Main actor

OK I have been an actor for a long time and DV shootist for a short time, but here’s my take, not only should you fire him but you should have done so along time ago.

Sure you have to give some allowance for the fact that your not paying him, but at the same time he is costing you money.

If you can afford the time/effort/money to reshoot then you should probably do it, from your description he is not interested in finishing the film with you, he has changed his appearance, it will be a labor just to get him to finish with you and then you will be throwing good effort after bad.

Will it look good if you finish with him? Cause if it doesn’t your wasting your time and the time of your crew. All those people are depending on you to put out a decent product that will reflect well on them. Your major responsibility lies with all the other people who are working for free. If your actor cant respect you, and cant respect them, then why is he still around?

Sorry, as I said I’ve been an actor for along time, and I consider myself a very actor oriented director, but this kind of unprofessional behavior from other actors tends to get my goat. Which is why I like using the ones who show up on time, and I don’t like using the ones who don’t.
 
Re: Problems with Main actor

You're completely right, but having to start over will completely infuriate my co-director, he is 100% against it...

Thanks for your feedback.
 
Re: Problems with Main actor

Fire him and start over; learn from anything that went bad or didnt work and make another film better than the first.
 
Re: Problems with Main actor

Boot him out. Learn 2 lessons from this, one about the actor, and one about having a co-director.

Co-Directing never ever EVER works.

ever.
 
Re: Problems with Main actor

NO really TC, how do you feel about that? DOn't hold back.

It's a tough choice, but mitigated by the fact that he may be hurting the film. Ask yourself what is best for your original vision of the project. If you think you can finish it, and can be as good as you planned, you might want to grit your teeth and do it. Sometimes the real work of being the boss is making things work. I would assume that you've had a few heart to hearts with the guy, so he knows where you stand, but if you haven't, I'd spell it out for him.

If you think that the film won't be as good as it could because of him, cut your losses and start over. Look at it as a practice run. That's something most of us don't get to do with a project. There are probably a bunch of things you would do differently if you could do it again.
 
Re: Problems with Main actor

[quote author=Jim Brennan link=board=Directing;num=1101945923;start=0#5 date=12/01/04 at 22:18:31]NO really TC, how do you feel about that?  DOn't hold back.[/quote]
I've never done it, but I've seen SO many people get bitten in the ass, and so many shorts ruined due to differences.
 
Re: Problems with Main actor

I will never CO DIRECT with someone. Collaborate is one thing but if Im Directing then get the flock out of the way
 
Re: Problems with Main actor

"I will never CO DIRECT"

Well, I guess I learned that the hard way. Thanks for the advice.
 
Re: Problems with Main actor

Sometimes that's the only way to learn. I know that's how I normally gain my knowledge.
 
Re: Problems with Main actor

Do what I, treathen to kill to dude. I guarantee you'll get a oscar performance. Seriously, just hire someone to kill him. Joking.

First of all are you happy with what the movie looks like so far? If not fire his ass! But if you do and you think this movie has potential the just deal with the bastid. We had a guy with same problem, and we just dealt with him. Trust me that was the last time we ever worked with this guy. Plus the dude had a bad oder. My 1 dollar foodstamp.
 
Re: Problems with Main actor

Just tell him it's alright that he doesn't want to do it because you're already collaborating on the next film that stars his girlfriend. It's called 'Hard Time Between the Thighs'.

Btw: Make sure you have medical first...
 
Re: Problems with Main actor

Find another actor who looks a whole lot like him.

Then write a car-accident scene.

Oh, hell. Make it really interesting. Find an actress who looks like him and do the whole Christine Jorgensen thing. :)

Dan
 
Re: Problems with Main actor

Find another actor who looks a whole lot like him.

Then write a car-accident scene.

Oh, hell. Make it really interesting. Find an actress who looks like him and do the whole Christine Jorgensen thing.

Dan
Click to expand...

Youre too crazy man! Thats funny! Car-accident scene! classic..
 
Re: Problems with Main actor

Okay, I voted to "Deal with it" before I realized that you had a post explaining your dilemma. Having read your situation, I say you can him.

I'll mitigate that in this way only: I don't like to fire people (or anything similar) without telling them why they have a problem, because I like people to have a chance to grow. So if I'd been you, I'd have told him some time ago what his problem was and given him the ultimatum: shape up or get off my set. Then later I'd have fired him if he didn't improve.

But since you didn't do that, it's a little late. Fire this loser.
 
Re: Problems with Main actor

[quote author=BLUESPIDER link=board=Directing;num=1101945923;start=0#13 date=12/02/04 at 13:41:36]

Youre too crazy man! Thats funny! Car-accident scene! classic..[/quote]

:D

Depending on the story, and how things have been shot so far....something like can work. Accident, bar fight to account for "bruises" and such, illness for a voice change...

If the film has been shot linearly, so the ending isn't done yet, that's pretty much the only way to get away with replacing an actor.

If all the major points have been covered with the original actor...that's a whole kettle of different-colored fish.

Then you have to play with the remaining shots so the replacement isn't readily recognizable as someone else.

What the heck. Brandon Lee died during the filming of his last. They faked the missing scenes with a stand-in, right?

It can be done.

Dan
 
Re: Problems with Main actor

Sorry if I offend any actors on here, but actors are a dime a dozen, especially if your in LA.

If no-name actors don't give it their all even working for free then they are a waste of your time. There are tons of talented, super hard working actors out there giving it their all to break into the business. Might as well use them and forget the slackers. Use the "paying your dues" process to your advantage!

I never ever hesitated firing an actor in my low-budget days. It's a stress you don't need. Life is too short for slackers, especially in this business.
 
Re: Problems with Main actor

FHA no doubt about it!

No, not Federal Housing Authority, rather, Fire His Ass. Capital A, double S. 8)
 
Re: Problems with Main actor

hey. i was in this same spot on a feature a few years ago. We shot for a year with an actor who really strung us along. we got to a point where it was like pulling teeth. i was in the mindset that we HAD TO FINISH. But once i started thinking about reshooting i thought about how much i could do better.

We had a production meeting and i have never seen people so furious. My DP was very angry becasue he had committed so much time and would not be able to on a new shoot. If we were goign to scrap it we had 8 weeks to recast, rewrite, book all of our locations again, etc.

So, i made the call. We dropped him. the BEST desicion i ever made. the film turned out so much better the second time - it was shot better, we understood sound a little more. We changed some locations and improved some dialog.

If someone is not committed it hurts more than your schedule. their performance will have no heart, and your film will be souless. You have to think of it this way: A lot of people want to make films, a lot would limp a long or scrap it all together, but not as many would do it right. someone once tld me that with film it is not enough to just do it. Everything has to be doen to the best o fyour ability and this guy is not giving you that.

had the smae problem again this summer. Started shooting a feature and realized my lead was not as strong as he had been in rehearsals. I wanted to keep shooting but after showing a lot of people footage they all agreed - my footage was very strong EXCEPT for him. It was a really painful call and took me a month to decide, but i dropped him. It ended up being great because i could work further on the script, my actors are well rehearsed now, and will be stronger in the long run.

I cna understand your co-dir being angry, but if he wants what is best, he'll understand. Good luck man.

My sites are a mess right now, but you can check out stuff from my first film at www.stationhousefilms.com/dustwords and the new film at www.stationhousefilms.com/thenyp

take care.
tom
 
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