Casting

Hi

When planning to make a feature film with low budget, how to get actors to act for free in your movie, especially if you don't know if your movie will get profit or not?

Thanks

Simply post your idea on casting websites, and state that they will not get paid. Ive had plenty of actors calling me within 24hrs of making the post, even when they know there is little or no money involved. At the end of the day, acting in your film is still experience, and more work to go into their portfolio and showreel.

Im not sure whether these sites will be of help to you, but you can still take a look.

www.starnow.co.uk
www.castingcallpro.com
www.mandy.com
www.talentcircle.com
www.tobeseen.co.uk

Don't expect fantastic acting when your actors are working for free though.. yes, it can happen, but it's much less likely.

And once you do have them, keep them happy by feeding them plenty of good food.

Actors, even SAG members in the USA, will act for free if you offer them what they want.

(Remember: SAG doesn't get work for their members -- it *restricts* their opportunities by excluding you, the Rebel Opportunity Factory. Don't worry about SAG. Be like the military: Don't Sign, Don't Tell. SAG exists to screw you, the non-signatory producer. There may be other reasons for it's existence, but since you aren't an abusive Golden Age mogul, those reasons are irrelevant to you.)

So, what does an actor want?

The free work will be part of the actor's reel, so it needs to provide them an opportunity to show what they can do. It also helps to be intrinsically interesting, and it always helps if you cast against "type."

Write the script so that, when the camera is pointed at them:

(1) They are making the Big Discovery.
(2) They are making the Big Decision.
(3) The are suffering (preferably, but not necessarily, emotionally).
(4) Less importantly, but not to be ignored, it showcases their special skills (e.g. dancing, surfboarding, stunts, etc.)

-- Paul

I'm sure that was just a spam post anyway, but to be clear, that's not a "casting agency", that is an "online talent listing".

Yes, indeed. They ask 10 quid for "premiere" membership, and the only thing one gets is a chance to be "listed" on an obscure UK talent site.

Stu, feel free to remove that one...

Actorsaccess.com, or reelact.com have been around for a long time and I think they may have broader reach (by the way, I have no affiliation with either).

	Quote:
	Stu, feel free to remove that one...

Stu, please feel free to commence administrating the site - you have Vasic's blessing.

speaking of spam - I like this one

	Quote:
	Hello there.I'm really excited to post on this forum.Rebel Cafe is the perfect forum site.I have a problem.I really hate Spam. If you see some, please PM me. I'll deal with it promptly. What can I do?

it's in the sticky about reporting spam - is a bot or is it human? I'm guessing bot

	Gage wrote:
	Stu, please feel free to commence administrating the site - you have Vasic's blessing.

More like a suggestion than a blessing, considering that sometimes these things get disguised as legitimate messages, and I wouldn't expect forum administrators (especially Stu) carefully reading and analysing every single posting. The forum is large enough that such a task would end up being a full-time job.

I felt free.

-Stu

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