I have been thinking if asking this for a while, to see if anyone's experience is similar to mine.
My Satellite city is the 3rd largest movie/TV making hub in North America , and generally makes " 65+ movies and 55+ TV series annually, as well as hundreds of other filming days for commercials, TV pilots and other features " per year.
And I'm not working.
I returned to the Biz in 2014 and for the 1st 3 years did all I could to build a resume. Approximately 2/3 broadcast credits and 2 Theatre credits per year. In 2017 I found out that I had worked in 2 Union gigs that year without my Agent informing me ( He knew of my interest prior to this.), then booked a 3rd within a matter of weeks. I had enough credits to 'become Pro', and joined the union, because I would much rather earn $1000 per day, than $100. Since then I have had 1 single-day filming. Last week I went to my 6th audition of 2019. 6 !!
The answer from my Agent (One of the biggest in town) is that there just isn't that much work around for union actors.
I have found out from my union meetings that the Biz, here, works like this:
All major acting jobs are auditioned in L.A. If there are day player opps., then they go to local actors and - if the production can afford it - Union actors are seen first. Commercials are ALL non-union, and Casting Directors and Agents make their best money from these, so there is pressure to remain non union, to make these professionals busier. If an actor cannot work, then there may be 'last minute' auditions, here, to fill that gap if a replacement cannot be found in the Production's 'home office' - usually the Sates.
Agents don't negotiate, casting directors simply make tapes and forward them to Hollywood for a Director's OK - very rarely is a Director/Producer 'in the room'. Everyone is far happier simply to have these productions in town, rather than 'rock the boat' in any way.
I either had a massive downgrade in talent following 2017, or there just isn't the paid work, here - hard to believe with this amount of work in town. Behind-the-scenes professionals work full time and, frequently, Movies cannot find the right match of locations and behind-the-camera talent when they need them because the city is too busy.
Given that 95% of all actors are unemployed at any one time, our current Union membership numbers mean that around 250 actors are working, but not me. Perhaps I'm in the wrong demographic, but I'm always turning down non-union and theatre work, because I can't work them anymore. I can earn my agent a bigger cut of earnings, so I can't think of a reason why I'm 'black balled' from getting work. there are only a handful of Casting Directors in town and I have a good relationship with them all, so I'm not a 'difficult' actor.
I would love to hear if anyone else's 'satellite' works like this, or from Casting Directors and Agents from here in case I have misunderstood the market. I'm getting close to calling it quits: This summer I received great notices for two theatre roles I took 'under the table' because I couldn't resist the challenge, and would have earned more money from 1 day coughing in the background of 1 scene, no lines on a TV episode than I did for 6 weeks of "live" work. Agents and Casting Directors don;t go to theatre, here, because there's enough non-union talent to keep them busy without looking for any established actors. That's a fact of professional acting, but to never even get in the room for an audition that pays enough to pay the bills makes me think that 'it's me'.
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Good for you!! I haven’t met Jodi yet, but I hear about her all the time.
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it look's very good :)
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Congrats on They Reach, the trailer looks really good.
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MaryMadaline Roe I was there as well! Hope you had a blast and welcome!
Vanessa Silva Thanks! Are you going to WIF December 10th holiday party?