WA Actors Out in Cold
Tue, 16 July 2002, 07:45 amAngelique21 posts in thread
WA Actors Out in Cold
Tue, 16 July 2002, 07:45 amThis has been really bugging me, so I'd like to hear what others think:
There is a feature film to be shot in WA next month which features a couple of big name actors (fair enough - box office and all that) and is, I believe, at least partially funded by Screenwest. However, there are several minor roles which WA actors where auditioned for. A handful of WA guys got roles (congratulations!). However, there were two minor female roles which (after months of waiting with baited breath) I have just found out were given to Eastern States actors. These would be one or two days shoot. I don't know, maybe I'm biased as my "availability was asked" for one of the roles - but knowing the wealth of talent in WA, I find this completely unnecessary (and somewhat insulting). What do you think? Should Actors Equity help local actors have first "dibs" on minor roles in locally funded projects by instituting some policy or other? I mean, we wait long enough for anything to happen here and when it does they'd rather pay Eastern Staters to fly over here! Its time we recognised that some major talent has come from (and still is in WA). Let's see...Judy Davis, Heath Ledger, Marcus Graham, and my old mate, Frances O'Connor (just to name a few)
Thou impertinent fool-born strumpet!
There is a feature film to be shot in WA next month which features a couple of big name actors (fair enough - box office and all that) and is, I believe, at least partially funded by Screenwest. However, there are several minor roles which WA actors where auditioned for. A handful of WA guys got roles (congratulations!). However, there were two minor female roles which (after months of waiting with baited breath) I have just found out were given to Eastern States actors. These would be one or two days shoot. I don't know, maybe I'm biased as my "availability was asked" for one of the roles - but knowing the wealth of talent in WA, I find this completely unnecessary (and somewhat insulting). What do you think? Should Actors Equity help local actors have first "dibs" on minor roles in locally funded projects by instituting some policy or other? I mean, we wait long enough for anything to happen here and when it does they'd rather pay Eastern Staters to fly over here! Its time we recognised that some major talent has come from (and still is in WA). Let's see...Judy Davis, Heath Ledger, Marcus Graham, and my old mate, Frances O'Connor (just to name a few)
Thou impertinent fool-born strumpet!
Re: WA Actors Out in Cold
Tue, 16 July 2002, 10:33 amAnd that's a fair call. I can see your point when we talk about actors like Kerry Armstrong, Max Gillies, or John Wood - of course we aren't as naive as to think that these actors' names on projects don't add prestige and perhaps a stange credibility to the 'Joe Public' theatre punter out there. However - no matter how much you try to tell me, I will not accept that an (and I emphasise again, incredibly talented and suited) actor like Travis Cotton will pull people in off the street through name recognition. He's a great actor, and once people are in the door they will appreciate him, but if we are talking about bums on seats, you won't get that until you have been on a Channel 7 series for a couple of years...
I think a 'stunt cast' or a 'coup cast' is great to get people in, and I applaud the fact that BSTC have the prestige to pull such eminent actors as Kerry and Max, but the fact that minor roles are also cast with Eastern Staters is puzzling at best. It's not just BSTC either - Glenn Elston's Shakespeare in the Park, after 6 years running, only this year had a fully WA cast. I'm simply venting the frustration of many of my peers. I have plenty of respect for BSTC, but feel that a fair go needs to be given. How on earth can we call it WA's Premier TC if there are no WA actors involved?
Yours respectfully,
Toby
I think a 'stunt cast' or a 'coup cast' is great to get people in, and I applaud the fact that BSTC have the prestige to pull such eminent actors as Kerry and Max, but the fact that minor roles are also cast with Eastern Staters is puzzling at best. It's not just BSTC either - Glenn Elston's Shakespeare in the Park, after 6 years running, only this year had a fully WA cast. I'm simply venting the frustration of many of my peers. I have plenty of respect for BSTC, but feel that a fair go needs to be given. How on earth can we call it WA's Premier TC if there are no WA actors involved?
Yours respectfully,
Toby
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