Anything Goes : Paying Cast and Crew by Tyler Thorne

You know, many young actors would love to act even for just a sandwich. Do not be afraid to ask people. As I am concerned, I would not care a bit about the money if I really love the script and that the other members of the crew are friendly. This is a big adventure and money is NOT everything at all. Just follow your passion and talk to people, passion is contagious.

Thanks! I know my friends and I do it for fun, but I know that this is what I want to do as a career. I'm glad to see someone else doesn't care just about money.

i like williams comment ^^ :)

a film can be a success even for just peanuts. actors want any kind of possible exposure and if its the right script, they'll do it.

If I think a movie idea is worth my time I am happy to work for food and a floor to sleep on but that's just me. I am sick and tired of people telling me that if you're not in this business to make money you're in the wrong business (for reference my college lecturer said this to me last week she is a local producer) To me if you make a profit from your work good and well but I believe in good storytelling 1st profit will come in time

We all work for less than food many times. If you have a passion then it doesn't matter. To actually make a living as an actor, you rarely are able to live in a small town to being with.. it is LA, and the like where the major productions are, Unless you want to live at home with parents. You just need to befriend people and build a network that way. I am part of such thing now with a studio. We meet twice a week for 3 hours and rehearse, and we are not getting paid. Meet & Greets are a great way at the Meet-Up groups for example, they have weekly meetings to get together and socialize. As long as you are upfront about the non-pay... people won't get offended.

See the active discussion already in progress here: https://www.stage32.com/lounge/directing/How-to-convince-your-friends-to...

Hi Tyler, I suggest that if you're not growing where you're planted, then plant yourself where you're going to grow. In other words, move to a place where you'll find that talent. That will be either New York City, LA, California, or North Carolina. There's a certain part of NC that has a lot of actors and production companies and movies being made. Save up. Sell 95% of what you don't need, and move to NYC. There's a plethora of talent here. Also, figure out what you can give them in exchange for being in your movie. I'm producing a musical and I'll be providing my actors, musicians, crew with food, drinks, and transportation costs, which is $5 a day, as the Metro card (for subway) is about $2.50 each way. That's my suggestion. Give them 1) transportation costs 2) food and do this in an area where the talent is abundant--NYC, LA,CA, or NC. Also, give them an IMDB credit for their reel, and a copy of the film (DVD). kris

Also, start a KickStarter campaign, I think it's at KickStarter.com and there's another one, IndieGoGo, I think at that website with .com after it. Raise the money. Provide food, transportation costs for your actors. It shows that you're serious. Also, move to a place where there is the talent that you need. That shows that you're serious, too. I moved to NYC because I finished writing a musical and after auditions, realized the actors that I needed were not participating, so I moved her and found them.

i was going to help you. shoot, direct and edit for free but i live in new york

Tyler if you are looking to shoot a film locally, it is a good idea to check out any schools who offer film and acting classes. Students will work for experience behind the camera on any project and new actors are always looking for film credits. You can supply both and pizzas on shoot days. You can coordinate with the insrtuctors who will probably give you a lot of good free advice. Good luck.

one thing that you HAVE to do is make sure that you have everything organized, well planned: have your crap together. There is nothing wrong with asking people to work for free on your film, just make sure that you respect their time, effort, energy, and skills. Do your best not to waste any of it. show and express your appreciation to them. RETURN the favor to them if asked. They are doing something for you, be sure to do something in return. asking someone to work for free on your film is like asking them to pay you (with their time, effort, skills) for working on your film. respect that and you will see much much better results.

Terrific points, Todd. There are many very good actors just starting out who will work for free just to have material for their reel. Show them you're the real deal, that your intentions are more than just a hobby, and they'll come running.

See if Michigan has an indie film group - like Film Independent or Filmmaker's Alliance out here in LA. Check with your film commission. I'm sure there are outlets where people bind together to help one another with their projects - kind of quid pro quo - you help me on mine, I'll help you on yours. GOOD LUCK! ;-)

Ah, the ever knowledgeable and selfless, Ms. Hale :)

If the idea is interesting to me I would generally work for free and or food and a floor to sleep on as Heather said you help me I help you, Also for reference if I like the look of bigger projects in some case's I would waver at least 60% of the fees so that the project would have a bigger budget to work with. As a good friend of mine once said to me "you need experience to gain work and work to gain experience, but to truly be a successful storyteller you need to think audience first money much much later" and I stand by those principals even if it goes against everything the "Hollywood system of film making" goes by but that is just me

You have to give them something of value. Pay is not that important when it comes to getting experience as an actor. Here's some things you can give them ... 1. IMDB (Internet Movie Data Base) credits 2. Follow the SAG New Media Contract (Google this), so you can give them speaking parts and waivers. Once they get 3 waivers, they are SAG-eligible, which means they get paid 2x - 4x the pay that non-union actors are paid. 3. Food 4. Lodging 5. Experience (looks great on resume) 6. Tell them you will personally recommend them and they can use you as a reference on their resume, that their next employer can call, text, or email you. 7. A metro card (to pay for subway rides and bus rides) 8. A train ticket (to pay for train ride, if they need to take the train) 9. Money for gas and tolls if they are driving. Ask them to provide receipts. With these expenses, save the receipts and make copies of them, so you can get a credit when you pay taxes at the end of the year, as these are considered expenses.