Wishing it were Chili Time, Not Chilly Time

Winter has finally hit Austin and it’s cold here today!

Unfortunately, it’s not only the weather that is cold. The film business is also suffering from a bit of a cold spell as well. Or at least this actor is.

Work always slows down during Thanksgiving and Christmas and through the start of the new year. Just the way it usually goes.

Adding to the coldness:

I’ve written previously about the adverse impact Texas actors have
suffered because of the Louisiana production boom. The situation continues to erode, it seems.

For example: Got a call from my agent to go to Dallas to read for a film role. Okay…not wild about driving to Dallas, but I’ve done it dozens of times…used to do it regularly when WALKER, TX RANGER was still in production. That wasn’t bad. Go to Dallas, read for the producer, get the gig or not and get back home. At least in that situation you’re reading for the person who can hire you.

Often, actors have to pre-read…or read for the casting director who puts you on tape and you leave not knowing if you’re even getting a callback, much less whether you’ve gotten the job or not.

Going out of town for a pre-read, then is a somewhat costly proposition. But it CAN be worth it…if the role is sufficient to represent enough work to offset the audition expense and turn the actor a profit. PROFIT. This is a business. Actors must eventually make a profit in order to stay in business. Not that difficult to
understand, right?

Well…the Dallas pre-read was for only a day or MAYBE two of work. Now if the role was a day like I did on SCREEN DOOR JESUS, I would jump at it. That (preacher) was a fun character to work on and I enjoyed the gig. Of course it was shot in Austin, so that was a bonus. Not much money, but no travel and a nice piece to work on. Winning situation.

But, in this instance, not only was there a pre-read in Dallas, but callbacks – IF I made the callbacks – would be in Baton Rouge, LA!!! At this point the potential $$$$ received is not looking like it will be sufficient to even break even, much less turn a profit on the gig. Add to THAT – because the project is shooting in LA, the producers will not want to pay the usual additional fees: per diem, travel and housing – and it is just a no brainer, no go. I’d have been paying THEM to do the job if I booked it.

Such is the life, right now at least, of the regional character actor.

Cold. Hopefully, there will be some local production…rumors…rumors….that will generate some employment opportunities. In the meantime, no work means no health insurance through SAG if something doesn’t break soon. No pressure.

What….and give up show business?