auditions

Just a quick note.

On behalf of myself and my fellow actors, (as alot of people have discussed this with me) I want to ask all the people who ask actors to come in and addition for their productions, both uni productions and private (etc) to have respect for the people who take the time and effort to come and try out for the productions: and let them know if they havent got the part!!

It is a simple sign of repect, a phone call or an email. We will not be devestated. We LIKE to know. one way or the other. Its shows serious lack of professionalism not letting people know. AND it is much worse finding out that you didnt get the part because five weeks later you see it advertised etc. ( even though you already know if you havent heard by then!!!)

thanks

Hello

I agree.

I notice your name has a ".ecu" attached and am assuming you go to Edith Cowan University (?). (Perth, WA)

I am a film student from there and was wondering if you were interested in reading over a script? I am currently in the search for actors for a short film.

What you have stated is true. There seems to be no politeness in the industry but I assure you I always remain in contact with my actors/those who have auditioned - whilst this role may not suit them, another one down the road will.

And, besides, as my mother would tell me "Manners never hurt anyone".

;)

If your interested (at least to read the script and tell me what you think), please e-mail.

Cheers,


Jack.

susan wrote:
>
> Just a quick note.
>
> On behalf of myself and my fellow actors, (as alot of people
> have discussed this with me) I want to ask all the people who
> ask actors to come in and addition for their productions,
> both uni productions and private (etc) to have respect for
> the people who take the time and effort to come and try out
> for the productions: and let them know if they havent got the
> part!!
>
> It is a simple sign of repect, a phone call or an email. We
> will not be devestated. We LIKE to know. one way or the
> other. Its shows serious lack of professionalism not letting
> people know. AND it is much worse finding out that you didnt
> get the part because five weeks later you see it advertised
> etc. ( even though you already know if you havent heard by
> then!!!)
>
> thanks


Just a quick response.

If by 'professionalism' you mean replicating the way professional auditions work, then things are fine the way they are. I can think of very few instances (in fact I can think of none, but there may have been an exception I've forgotten) where a director or producer has called me to let me know I HAVEN'T gotten the part. They just don't do that. What usually happens is they will let an agent know of the people who have been cast, and the next time I speak to my agent I can ask them if a decision has been made yet. If it becomes important to know (i.e. I am keeping the month of November free in the event that I am cast, but then something else comes up that needs a similar commitment), then I will either get my agent to find out or I will contact the director myself to politely inquire if a decision has been made or is imminent, and whether I am seriously being considered or am free to pursue other work.

In the case of many commercials, where it's not always clear WHEN in the future they actually plan to produce it, the scenario you describe in your final sentence is often the professional norm...i.e. you suddenly see the ad on TV so you know you're no longer being considered..!


I know it may seem rude or inconsiderate of them, but honestly I don't expect them to chase up every single applicant apart from announcing the winners, so to speak. If a director feels so inclined to go to that trouble, good on them, but in my experience of professional auditions in Perth, Melbourne, and the USA, it doesn't occur.
That's not to say I don't also find it frustrating! The audition I did for Disney, I knew at the first audition I had a callback, but after that callback I heard nothing and assumed that was it. It was about three months later when I was suddenly informed of a second callback! And then after that I heard very little (even with my agent trying to discover the situation) until it became obvious that rehearsals were about to commence, and by then I had decided to take another show anyway.


If it's frustrating you so much and you really need to know, why don't YOU make the call or the email?


Cheers,
Craig

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Just to add my voice to Craigs comments, while I sympathise with the struggling actor having often felt the bitterness at not being told myself, it is, or at least appears, to be the industrial norm to only inform those who gert real close or actually get a part.

Similarly for general job interviews (excluding government jobs), I can count on one hand the number of times a prospective employer has called or informed me that I didn't get the job if I didn't get an interview, without even raising a finger. However, once I had been interviewed, that is a different issue.

And so it is with Auditions. The first round of applications is a production line of presentations. If you get short-listed or 'call-back', then you may get told, stress may.

It's not just a theatrical thing, it's a global thing. Unfortunately it is a 'no-news-is-bad-news' process. The only thing to do is to not hang around waiting to hear back. Go on with other things as if you hadn't even applied. If you hear back, then you can do something about it. Until you do, pretend you didn't.

Just a little arcana imperii for you all.

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