Offers for representation (!), with more mtgs on the way (!)

Today, I got verbal offers from two agencies (one theatrical, which is film & TV, and one commercial).

BOOO-YAHH!!

"But how did you even get meetings" you may ask?

Wellll....I did a couple of things :)

THING THE FIRST
Made a (great) impression in my Commercial Auditioning class. Not only did I get a reference from the teaching team to (and an upcoming meeting with) a top Commercial agent, I also got this cool quote (used in the referral email to the agent) which I'll be adding to my website: "a very good actor and sexy enough to be the next James Bond. His sexyness sneaks up on you."

THING THE SECOND
One of the websites I use to submit myself for auditions, NowCasting, allows agencies to list types that they are seeking, and then allows actors who fit those types to submit to those agencies. I happened to fit the bill at one, submitted electronically, and got a meeting! It took place last week; we'll see what comes of it....

THING THE THIRD
A couple of weeks ago I did a postcard mailing, but unlike my first one which was too information-y (read: boring), I went with a bullet point marketing approach:

"Hey! I'm looking for new theatrical representation--but who isn't? Well, here are the top 5 reasons to meet with me:

1) Training - over two years (currently at the Howard Fine Studio)
2) Reel - available at sundeepahuja.com
3) Versatile - My 'look' spans everything from Latin to Italian, and I plan to change my stage name to match
4) Driven - I'm a Stanford grad who has worked in finance and technology (in other words, I know business, hard work, and what it takes to succeed)
5) SAG - I'm eligible to join

Plus, I have new (color) headshots on the way. I look forward to reading for you!
- Sundeep"

And from the 50-odd postcards that I sent out I so far have scheduled two meetings, one of which took place today and resulted in a verbal offer.

THING THE FOURTH
I've been lucky enough to have a couple of actor friends of mine refer me to their agents. This so far has resulted in one upcoming meeting....

THING THE FIFTH
I prayed. And showered daily.

Now, nothing is signed or certain, but I got good vibes during the meetings and really think that were I to decide to get on board, the offers would be in writing. Will keep ya posted....

Highlights from my "commercial auditioning" class

I recently wrapped up Craig Colvin's commercial class; here are my key takeaways:

On clothing
- Don't wear religious jewelry (unless it's Christian), and don't wear a political shirt (unless it's not in English).
- Don't be dumb. For example, don't wear a "Bitch" shirt to a McDonald's audition. Yes, this has happened.
- Don't wear bright clothes cause they'll take the focus off of you. Now, if this is your objective, wear white.
- Dress the part.

On product
- Always keep the product in frame, but away from your face. Any label should always face camera (the product should "love you", as I'm told...can you believe they say things like that? The product "loves her"...ha!).
-Remember you are selling a product..."my life is better because I have ____" (Frosted Flakes, designer shoelaces, whatever).

On copy
- If there is a time listed on the copy sheet for the length of the spot, try to stick to it. So put a watch/stopwatch in your bag for all auditions. Do this now.
- Memorize at least the first lines and the last lines...those are the ones that should be delivered perfectly (along with the ones in between).
- Make strong choices (strong choices are better than the right choices).
- Feel free to mark up your copy. But if you do, walk it out (do you really want to share all that work you've with the next person?). (Have I really become so Hollywood that I agree with things like that?).

On slating (stating your name and agent)
- Hook 'em with your slate.
- State your name confidently, clearly, and with familiarity.
- Hook 'em with your slate.
- Keep eyes on camera as long as possible, don't move body to profile (just head), and think a secret thought (go crazy with this one...the more secret, the better...yeaaaah...that smile you've got now? Perfect!).
- Hook 'em with your slate.

On the audition
- Ask what your "framing" is so you know if you can move around (if you plan to move, tell the camera person, or they might yell at you).
- Don't stop after you finish your lines or action...keep going till someone says cut or you find a reason to exit frame. Otherwise it just gets weird (you standing there all awkward like...).
- Don't shake your head. At all. Only nod. (This is hard).
- If you want a second go at it, ask! But in a leading way..."would you like to see that more...Russian?" (to quote one guy in my class).
- If you're forced to read with someone who sucks, as you are walking out do the "oh, I left something behind" move and go back and ask the CD (casting director) for another take with someone else. Brilliant, huh?
- Don't f it up.

Generally
- Have a couple of characters developed that you could tap if you need to (I've got this Italian dude, and this dorky guy...please, no comments about the dorky guy...he's a nice guy).
- Know your look/type--and embrace it.
- They can't ask your age...if they do, give 'em a range...a wide one....
- They don't want to book actors, but people--go in, in character, walk out, in character.
- Sometimes they book only off the slate (so...HOOK 'EM WITH YOUR SLATE) .
- Many times they watch auditions with the audio off (can you believe that? I still can't...).
- Answer questions into the camera if the person asking is not next to it (cause when watching the tape later it'll look weird if you're talking off camera).

Wow...all that cost me $475...and all it cost you was $20! Send checks payable to....

Seriously, if you got questions, ask.
(I'll cut you a great deal :)

So you want to be an actor, huh?

My advice: run it like a marathon, not a sprint.

I'm creeping up on four months here in LA, and while I don't feel like I've wasted any of that time, I have remarkably little to show for it. Yes, I've taken some great classes and yes, I've been to a fair number of auditions--but my resume has only grown by two little items, only one of which was paying.

As I begin to tire of the near-daily online submissions, the monthly mailings, the informational events which are beginning to sound the same, the "chicken-and-egg" agent hunting process (i.e. they want people with reputable experience, and it's tough to get reputable experience without an agent), I'm finding myself frustrated. I mean, I moved down here for acting, and outside of my class, I'm doing very little of it.

To outsiders, "acting in LA" is often romanticized as great times with attractive people--and though that is out there (HOLLYWOOD), it's no way to build a career (great way to spend a lotta money, though). Building a career here is a ton of work--a lot of it not super exciting. So as I've continued to chip away at my long "to-do" list of acting items, I've realized something: for those actors who aren't satisfied waiting tables (or tutoring) (or stripping) for money while auditioning and making slow (sloooow) progress (years), it's advisable to front-load a lot of the work.

I tried to do this in SF by finding independent film work and taking acting classes, by having headshots ready to go, etc. I think what I should have done was continued doing all that on a part-time basis--but here in LA. I could have taken the acting classes I'm taking now in the evenings. I could have only gone to auditions that I was really passionate about. I could have attended the networking sessions, the information sessions, the parties--but all while keeping a full-time job. After a year IN LA, I'd know people, I'd have "brand name" training, I'd have "brand name" work on my resume, and I'd be in a better position to rock and roll--all with more money in the bank and a more satisfying day-to-day in the interim. Most of the basic ingredients for an actor new to LA--a local cell phone number, a website, a reel, business cards, reading the better industry related books (I'll detail this in another post), etc.--could all be taken care of on the side.

So, I offer this as advice to any actor thinking about making the move: eeeease into the LA acting scene because there's no rush (if you try to rush, you'll get mighty frustrated). Now, to be fair, there is a lot to be gained from diving right in, as great experience/exposure can come from interning at casting offices, being a Production Assistant (PA), writing/director/producing shorts, etc. while eating top ramen for bfast/lunch/dinner--but if all that doesn't excite you, you have two options: (1) do it anyways and learn to like it, or (2) stay focused on acting, but wait for the right opportunity to go full-time.

Okay, that's all with the advice; back to me. The question I'm now asking myself is, what should I do? Get a full-ish time job, keep auditioning as I can, slowly building up my resume, and then jump back in a year (or more) from now when I'm being pulled in by roles? Or continue with the standard LA actor thing (as described above), with some tutoring or consulting for money, always ready to drop everything for the perfect role?

I dunno.
Stay tuned.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Struggling actor types don't get much of it.
And it kinda bums me out.

I was out on Saturday night and met a fellow desi (Indian American) dude (male). We were chatting amicably about this or that, and then the "what do you do" question came up. I replied that I was an actor, and awaited the usual "wow...cool" response (sometimes genuine, and sometimes dismissive, but always polite). Instead the bitachara (%@@!^) started laughing.

"You're an actor? Really. Have you been in anything?" I held my calm and replied that I was just recently full time and had done some independent film work. He continued his laughing. "Wow...I mean doctor, lawyer...those I could see...but actor? What are you doing?" His tone was condescending, but it was his LAUGH that killed me. And so I snapped, and went into how I did this and that and if he thinks he's in any way shape or form yada yada yada.

Finally, I had to walk away for fear of hitting the (smaller) guy.

Actors don't get enough respect. Probably because they have a reputation for being superficial pretty types that just like to party. They are seen as "wasting" their time/life. They aren't very smart, they aren't very capable, and they are foolish enough to think they can "make it". Well, I've met those types, and yes--there are a lot of them (some freaks and wierdos up in there too...for real).

But let me tell you: acting is hard. Those that bubble to the top and give us our most dramatic or comedic or otherwise genius performances are just that--genius. And though many starting out are just attracted to the fame/fortune and in fact are "no talent a** clowns" with no right to call themselves actors, there are others who are as passionate about acting as any "professional" is about his/her job or work.

Anyways, this is my defensive blog post. Yes, at times I feel like I'm wasting my potential. But other times, I feel like I'm maximizing it. The only thing I can say with certainty is that I've been full-time here less than 4 months, and I am trying to shape this experience to be the best and most enjoyable learning experience it can be--and I think that's what most of us do no matter where we are.

So. Give actors a little RESPECT. Particularly those that might hit you if you don't.