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
Wed, 17 July 2002, 08:38 amWalter Plinge
I have been reading the posts on this discussion, and one thing that seems to have been lost in the thread is that the people casting this production may have been looking for specific types of people. Perhaps specific types that may not be abundant in WA.
It strikes me that we may be in danger of instigating a quota system of sorts if we try to push a "WA actors first" line, even for shows produced in WA. Just as there are many gifted actors in Perth, there are just as many not-so-gifted ones too, and their location or State of Origin doesn't necessarily make them better than those from other states.
Of course, it doesn't help WA's "small street" of theatre that many opportunities are given to those performers from over East- perhaps the economics of theatrical experience now dictate that the tried and tested be given more of a guernsey than the unknown.
Besides, can we be sure that bums on seats would be greater in number if there WEREN'T "names" in a show?
El- now playing Devil's Advocate on a website near you.
It strikes me that we may be in danger of instigating a quota system of sorts if we try to push a "WA actors first" line, even for shows produced in WA. Just as there are many gifted actors in Perth, there are just as many not-so-gifted ones too, and their location or State of Origin doesn't necessarily make them better than those from other states.
Of course, it doesn't help WA's "small street" of theatre that many opportunities are given to those performers from over East- perhaps the economics of theatrical experience now dictate that the tried and tested be given more of a guernsey than the unknown.
Besides, can we be sure that bums on seats would be greater in number if there WEREN'T "names" in a show?
El- now playing Devil's Advocate on a website near you.
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