Baltimore21201.Com - The Blog

Awards Season - 'LES MISÉRABLES' comes to me; I go to New York City for 'LINCOLN'

Every year Jacob and I plan far ahead to keep January weekends free to screen award-nominated movies. We look forward to the envelopes and packages stamped with the iconic message: For Your Consideration. As an active and voting member of Screen Actors Guild—celebrating 40 years—and a retired member of Directors Guild of America, the DVDs and screening invitations begin arriving each year just after the New Year.

My 'Les Miserables' package from Universal Pictures

Some studios send a DVD, some studios send top-shelf print material as a teaser and then the DVD, some studios provide eMoviePasses so you can screen their nominated movies with a typical audience, and others offer intimate screenings with industry peers.

This year Disney and DreamWorks Pictures sent me a handsome invitation to screen Lincoln at the Directors Guild Theatre in New York. (One of the great benefits of living in Baltimore is proximity.)

'Lincoln' - final shooting script

And, in their package, they included, at 127 pages, the final shooting script and additional digital teasers. I returned my eRSVP this afternoon.

DGA RSVP

The DGA Theatre is a small, jewel-box of a place on West 57th Street, a few steps from the Russian Tea Room and Carnegie Hall. As screening theatres go, it's intimate, yet outfitted with envy-inducing, state-of-the-art audio and projection equipment:

DGA Theatre, 110 W 57th Street, NYC

Specifications from Directors Guild:
 

Digital Projection

• Barco DP-3000 D-Cinema DLP "2K" Projector
• Dolby DSS-200 D-Cinema screen server
• Dolby 3D and Real D 3D capabilities
• Multi-standard video decks (Digital Betacam, Betacam SP, Blu-Ray and DVD)
• DVI-D and SVGA Computer Graphics Capabilities (Powerpoint) from stage position   

Sound

• JBL three-way speaker system
• Dolby CP-650 Digital Cinema Sound Processors
• Dolby DMA8 Plus Digital Media Adaptor
• Dolby Digital 7.1 discreet audio
• Dolby SR-D, Dolby SR, Dolby E audio formats
• QSC Basis Network Audio System, QSC Digital Power Amplifier System

Film

• Dual Simplex XL 35mm Reel to Reel Capabilities

Control

• Theatrical Stage Lighting
•  Mackie 16 Channel Audio Mixing Console
• Shure Microphones

This private screening facility is designed to provide the ideal environment for industry professionals to screen their films, hold their special events, or their film premieres.

It is ideal for conferences, lectures and corporate presentations. The upper and lower lobby areas are ideal for pre and post-event receptions.

The DGA New York Theater Complex is recognized throughout the entertainment industry as one of the preeminent screening, private reception, and film premiere facilities in the city.

Simplicity in a print invitation: 'Lincoln'

You'll find Jacob and me at the Park Central Hotel, January 24 - 26. And, there's a pretty good chance that you'll find us at the Russian Tea Room, also.

After all of the travel arraingments to NYC to screen LINCOLN were made i looked out the window—we are living in an unusual, for winter, Baltimore cloud of fog today—and I saw this on top of the BGE building on Fayette and Liberity Streets. It seems appropriate.

Photo from the homestead, 218 N Charles Street, Baltimore
 

Now then. I'm off to bed. On Friday, at work, I was foolishly chatting everyone up about my having had a flu shot early and not having anything other that a mild cold this winter...

Flu 2013 - I have a head-splitting headache, every fiber of my body hurts, food is out of the question.

Post written by Stephen Brockelman

Baltimore-Washington DC: SAG, AFTRA, News from One Union

We are entering an active season for One Union members. Here's a taste, there's more to come:

SAG Foundation presents…
LIVE STREAMED Panel Discussion
Corner Your Market: Fostering Your Marketing Savvy

When: 7 p.m. PST/10 p.m. EST, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012

Anne Globe, DreamWorks - Panelist 

To watch the panel, visit http://www.sagfoundation.org/videogallery/livestream
Email questions to LiveStream@sagfoundation.org or tweet to #SAGF.

Savvy marketing is like Kryptonite for a submission-filled inbox that's bursting at the seams. Marketing informs others how to think about you, and thinking like a marketer significantly ups the chances of you get noticed.

Effective marketing is so much more than mass mailings; it is an ongoing, ever-evolving, multi-layered effort. This panel of seasoned industry experts will share how actors can conceive, implement, and assess their marketing strategy. 

Topics to be explored are:

-How to create marketing materials that reflect your unique brand
-How to target casting directors who are searching for your brand
-Best practices for creating and distributing promotional Items
-The importance of identifying, building, and sustaining relationships
-How to measure the efficacy of your marketing strategy

Panelists:
Anne Globe - Chief Marketing Officer, DreamWorks Animation
Blair Hickey - Actor; Co-Founder, CastingAbout
Brian Wold - Internet/Marketing Specialist; Co-Founder, Casting-About
Paul Weber - Casting Director
Moderator – Jeff B. Cohen, Esq, Actor (Goonies); Cohen Gardner LLP

And, another thing.

SAG-AFTRA members —

Join Us for Our First SAG-AFTRA Membership Meeting
When: 7-9 p.m., Monday, Nov. 5, 2012
Where: The Hilton Hotel in Rockville
1750 Rockville Pike
Rockville, Maryland 20852
(Adjacent to the Twin Brook Metro Station on the Red Line.)

Come to our very first membership meeting as a merged union! There will be a possible vote on amendments to the Local Constitution as well as on the Local name change.

This meeting is only open to paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing. Unfortunately, no guests allowed. Parents/guardians of younger performers under 18 years old are welcome. No RSVP necessary. SAG-AFTRA MEMBERS, PLEASE BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD FOR ADMITTANCE.

That's it for this round of event information. Stay tuned, there's more to come. And to my fellow union members: Remeber Rule One. 

Casting Frontiers on One Union: All work counts toward SAG-AFTRA health plan.

SAG-AFTRA MERGER IMPROVES ACTOR'S
WORKING CONIDITIONS, SHIFTS HOLLYWOOD
POWER STRUCTURE

More than 150,000 actors will benefit from the recent merger of SAG and Aftra ‒ and not only because bases dues for dual cardholders will decrease from $243 to $198 per year.

In the big picture, no longer will producers be able to leverage one union against the other during negotiations.

SAG President, Ken Howard

"That was the big problem ‒ the two unions being pitted against each other," says Jennifer Bailey, a SAG member since 1993 currently appreaing in the "Thanking our Teachers" Exxon mobile campaign. "And the kicker was a few years ago when Afra negotiated separately and undercut SAG on most of the TV shows."

With the merger, SAG has addressed its key deficiency: Its perceived powerlessness.

 

The merger means that members of Aftra are now SAG members ‒ one reason why many SAG members were apprehensive about the merger. "You have to do work to get into SAG", says Kim Kopf, an SAG member for 27 years. "But anyone can join Aftra, and then when the merger happened, they would automatically be an SAG member, so there was a little bit of hesitation about that. But as long as the union is stronger, and joining with Aftra makes it stronger moving forward, I'm all for it."

"I feel very good about the merger," says Sherry Locher, an Aftra member since 2007 who recently appeared in the indie film 8:46. "It's one union now, so there are no longer two different rates, and I think that'll make a huge difference during contract negotiations."

Although the health benefit plans have yet to be worked out, most actors we spoke with were optimistic there would be efficiencies found in greater numbers. "It's up to the trustees as to what is the best course of action," says Jennifer Bailey. "Not everything is 100-percent laid out as to what's going to happen, but as far as I'm concerned, as it is now, it's going from bad to worse, so we do need some kind of a change. But it's like when you have a company that has 10 people as opposed to a company that has 1,000 people ‒ the rates for health insurance should be better, and people will now only have to qualify in one plan."

Indeed, it should be easier for actors to get medical and dental coverage. Prior to the merger, actors might do four or five Aftra jobs, and four or five SAG jobs and fail to qualify for either health plan. Now, as they're combined, all work will count toward on health plan.

The first test of SAG-Aftra's post-merger power will be staged this fall, when commercial contracts will be renegotiated, during which, according to the Union, "management will be pushing us to implement a completely new system for payng principal performers in national commercials."

One casting director we spoke with believes the merger will have little bearing on the reality of what's going on right now in commercial work in L.A.

"It feels like sixty percent of commercial work is non-union," says Cathy Reinking, who has cast for Frazier and The Office, as well as for commercials. "So you don't have as many of those lucrative national commercials that everbody used to dream about. And I don't think the [SAG-Aftra] union will reduce that number. I think that producers more and more want to cut costs, and I think they're finding enough good people who aren't union ‒ although I'm skeptical of that, but they must be getting enough. The more I talk to commercial agents the more sense I get that non-union is dominating right now."

Still, the tenor among actors is one of optimism. "I wasn't thrilled witht he idea of joining Aftra to get work," says Bailey. "They seemed a bit disorganized. So I'm really glad they merged, because I think the accounting of the membership dues, pension credits, and health plans will be accurately accounted for. I know AFTRA had something of an honor system, and I just don't know how that can work."

 
This is how it will work.

Congrats to all of my fellow union members for helping to make One Union happen. Many of us have been working to make One Union a reality since 1975. That said, remember Rule No. One.

Baltimore AFTRA Casting Notice: "America's Most Wanted"

Just in from Betsy Royall Casting:

We are casting for episodes of America's Most Wanted. It's a Local AFTRA Cable production on the Lifetime network. The roles are for actors who resemble the victims and fugitives.

America's Most Wanted casting in Baltimore

The cases are Desi Woods and Karen King.

Please go to the casting Dropbox shared files to see the images and scripts (in development):

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/acwew3wi98cmlzv/D__q-sgHl3

America's Most Wanted, working script

The casting sessions will be held Monday, September 24 at 6247 Falls Road, Bldg E, Baltimore, MD 21209 from 8:30am-2:30pm with the director for the Desi Woods episode and 2:30pm-6:00pm with the director for the Karen King episode.

Shoot Dates are 9/27, 9/28 and 9/29. You must be available for all dates to audition.

Contact betsy@betsycasting.com for a potential audition time. Put "AMW Role" in the subject line of your email.

Good luck, all. And to my fellow union members, remember Rule One.

Baltimore-Washington SAG-AFTRA Members: Commercials Contract Meeting

SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract Webinar Meeting to be Held in Advance of the Start of Commercials Negotiations Preparation, September 5

This meeting will provide the members the opportunity to hear a report titled Commercial Trends Every Performer Needs to Know About, and you will also receive an update on the Gross Ratings Points (GRP) Study and other important topics related to the Commercials Contract. A group discussion will follow the presentation, affording staff the opportunity to hear membership’s response to these findings. We look forward to your participation as your input is vital to our negotiation preparation.

Please note that this webinar meeting is being held in preparation and advance of our Wages & Working Conditions process and will in no way replace the process by which we develop proposals. The W&W meetings will occur in September/October after members have had a chance to learn about these important topics.

"Little Mikey" - Life Cereal Commercial 1972

When: Wednesday, September 5
4-6 p.m. ET or 7-9 p.m. ET

Where: SAG-AFTRA Office, 7735 Old Georgetown Road #950, Bethesda, MD 20814

RSVP: Anne Rosenblatt at anne.rosenblatt@sagaftra.org. Please specify which time you will be attending. Space is very limited.

Parking: Onsite parking is available Monday-Friday in the parking garage beside the building. We do not validate parking. Metered parking is also available on Fairmont Avenue and surrounding streets. There are also municipal metered garages located on Cordell Avenue, Old Georgetown Road, Woodmont Avenue, and Del Ray Avenue, which are all within walking distance of our building.

If you need ADA accommodations, please let us know by contacting us at diversity@sagaftra.org or (323) 549-6644.

All paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing are urged to attend this important membership webinar meeting. This meeting is only open to paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing, no guests are allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome. SAG-AFTRA members please bring your membership card for admittance.

The Fonz a Porn Star? Henry Winkler's Coming to Broadway as 'Chuck Wood.'

Henry Winkler, soon to be seen as 'Chuck Wood' on Broadway

Returning to Broadway in David West Read's The Peformers, Winkler will play Chuck Wood—the hardest working man in the business.

Preview performances for the Performers begin October 23rd and the official Broadway opening at the Longacre Theatre is slated for November 14th.

The original casting notice—now, of course, inactive—with the character breakdowns follows. The only disapointment is the last line* in the official posting:

'THE PERFORMERS,' B'WAY

Robyn Goodman, Scott Delman, & Amanda Lipitz (prods.) are casting The Performers. David West Read, writer; Evan Cabnet, dir.; Cindy Tolan, casting dir.; Adam Caldwell, casting assoc.; Stephen Kocis, Aged in Wood Management, LLC, general mgr. Runs in NYC (rehearsal and performance dates TBA).

Seeking—

Lee: male, 20s-early 30s, any ethnicity, Mandrew's high school friend, a journalist doing an article for the NY Post on Mandrew and the Adult Film Awards, smart, witty, self-conscious, tightly wound, an academic who is incredibly uncomfortable around the porn stars but also thrilled by their inhibitions, actor must have incredible comic timing;

Sara: female, 20s-early 30s, any ethnicity, Lee's fiancée and high school sweetheart, a third grade teacher with big student loans, self-assured, sharp and dry, her intellect and wit have always been her strengths, appealing, and though she might be attractive, she wouldn't ever flaunt her sexuality like the porn stars or consider herself traditionally beautiful, though liberal and open about sex, she's judgemental of the porn world, actor must have incredible comic timing;

Sundown: female, 20s, any ethnicity, a rising porn star who was always hot, but now that she's gotten a boob job she's ridiculously sexy, a bombshell who means well, so dim that she can barely understand what's going on around her, actor must have incredible comic timing;

Mandrew: male, 20s-early 30s, any ethnicity, a rising porn star, attractive, charismatic, joyful, appealing, exuberant, sexy and comfortable in his body, but somehow still feels wholesome and innocent, a man-boy, may be intellectually challenged, but his enthusiasm, sincerity, and optimism are infectous you can't help but like him, actor must have incredible comic timing;

Peeps: female, 20s, any ethnicity, a rising porn star whose official name is Pussy Boots, Mandrew's wife, outwardly confident, sexy, attractive, but wildly insecure, passionate, impulsive, temperamental, has no emotional or sexual inhibitions, which can be hilarious and also endearing, actor must have incredible comic timing;

Chuck: male, 50s-late 60s, any ethnicity, an aging porn star with a happy-go-lucky attitude, thrilled to be playing a young man's game and playing it better than most young men, his confidence is attractive and seductive, suave, charming, studly, actor must have incredible comic timing.

Equity principal auditions will be held June 19-21, 2012, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. & 2-5:30 p.m. at the AEA Audition Center, 165 W. 46th St., 2nd fl., NYC. EPA rules are in effect; Equity monitor will be provided. Prepare a contemporary comic monologue, two minutes or less. Bring pix & résumés, stapled together. $1,703 min./wk.Equity Production (League) Contract.

Catagories: Union, stage
Production: David West Read, writer; Evan Cabnet, dir.; Cindy Tolan, casting dir.; Adam Caldwell, casting assoc.; Stephen Kocis, Aged in Wood Management, LLC, general mgr.

Pay: Union, professional, male, female
Age range: Young adult (18-29), Thirties (30-39), Older (50-65)
*Nudity: No

The Performers is a romantic comedy about two high school friends (Cheyenne Jackson and Daniel Breaker) -- and the women in their lives (Ari Graynor and an actress to be announced) -- who reconnect at the Adult Film Awards in Las Vegas. When the night takes an unexpected turn and relationships are threatened, Chuck Wood (Henry Winkler), the hardest-working man in the business, steps in to lend a hand. Sex, love and Barry Manilow intersect in this comedy about the ups and downs and ins and outs of love.

Starring in the cast are: Cheyenne Jackson, Ari Graynor, Daniel Breaker, Jenni Barber and Henry Winkler. Cast list was announced by the play's producers Robyn Goodman, Scott M. Delman

Break a leg, Mr. Winkler. We're all—if you get my drift—pulling for you.

New LifeRaft Video from SAG Foundation

SAG Foundation - LifeRaft Videos

LifeRaft: Is Your Demo Reel Working for You?

Does your reel show you well?

Is it what casting directors and agents are looking for?

What should be on your reel and what is better left off? How long should your reel be? Will your reel help you get work? Should you have separate short demos for specific types of jobs you're right for? Just a comedy and a drama reel?

This panel will explore industry protocol for choosing your best material, highlighting your work and uploading online. Panelists include Andy Henry (Casting Director), Bob Telford (Reel Editor), Joe Gressis (Reel Editor), Bruno Oliver, (VP Now Casting Inc), Alycia Stark (Commercial Agent, Stark Talent), Todd M. Eskin (Theatrical Agent, Across The Board agency). Moderated by Caroline Liem (Casting Director).

View the latest LifeRaft video here.

SAG Foundation Presents LifeRaft: Auditions to Offer and Beyond...

Auditions to Offer and Beyond... A live-stream event on Tuesday, July 10, 2012

An evening with the SAG Foundation

Learn:

• Why upping your number of auditions doesn't matter
• How to stop wasting time on actions that don't get results
• How to shift your focus to think like an Successful Actor
• The number one way to go from auditions to offers

This evening is full of practical advice and strategies on the importance of building long term relationships with people who can hire you - not just chasing after the next random audition. Building on the fact that the audition is actually the beginning, not the end of the road.

The People:

JAMES JONES
James Jones has a unique background for a talent agent. His formative career was in national and regional politics. Here Mr. Jones worked for 11 years as a political and legislative strategist and tactician in both Washington State and Washington D.C. In addition to working on Senatorial, Congressional and Gubernatorial campaigns, Mr. Jones used his strategic and tactical abilities for three years as a senior staff member of a former Presidential campaign.

SAG franchised agent, James J Jones

After his stint in politics, he went to graduate school receiving an MA in Philosophical Theology and Narrative Criticism. Through his years in the political world and as an executive in NPO development, he was connected to professional athletes and celebrities. This led him in 2001, to form Premier Talent NW (Seattle) to guide those careers. Shortly, thereafter, in 2002, PTNW became a SAG/AFTRA franchised agency. In 2006, James decided to expand his operations and moved full-time to California where he opened and now operates a successful SAG Franchised Talent Agency – The Premier Talent Group.

MONIKA MIKKELSON
A California native, Monika graduated from UCLA and has been involved in casting ever since. Her list of credits includes high profile features such as SERVING SARA, the CLEANER, Rob Zombie's THE DEVIL'S REJECTS and his HALLOWEEN franchise films. But it is the independent film that has her heart, starting with THE MILLION DOLLAR HOTEL for director Wim Wenders, NURSE BETTY for Neil Labute, and the precious treasures that live long and prosper in the festival world, like ALL GOD'S CHILDREN CAN DANCE, LOVE LIZA, and MY LIFE WITHOUT YOU.

NICHOLAS TABARROK
Nicholas Tabarrok is a prolific film and television producer whose company, Darius Films, has offices in Los Angeles and Toronto.

Since 1998, he has produced over a dozen features that have received both commercial and critical success. Many of them have premiered at the world's top film festivals: The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico (Toronto International Film Festival, SXSW 2005), Hank and Mike (Karlovy Vary 2007), Surviving Crooked Lake (Slamdance 2008), Weirdsville (Toronto International Film Festival and opening night gala of the 2007 Slamdance and Raindance Film Festivals), Coopers' Christmas (Toronto International Film Festival 2008), and Defendor (Toronto International Film Festival 2009).

Producer, Nicholas Tabarrok

Nicholas' most recent completed film, A Beginner's Guide to Endings starring Harvey Keitel, Scott Caan and JK Simmons, was released in summer 2012. The Black Marks, starring Kurt Russell, Matt Dillon, Jay Baruchel and Terence Stamp is currently in post-production and will be distributed by Dimension Films. Nicholas' first television series, Fugget About It, will be airing in September 2012.

He is a proud member of the Producer's Guild of America, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.

Nicholas was honored by Variety Magazine as one the "Top Ten Producers to Watch" in 2008.

CARLEASE BURKE
Carlease is an actress who is adept at creating her own work. She has performed in over 26 features and 75 TV shows, virtually an episode of every network TV show airing incl. Shameless, Hot in Cleveland and Raising Hope.

EMILY GRACE
Emily Grace helps actors think like a producer so they can act for a living. Through her company, Emily Grace Productions, she has helped countless actors land representation, big auditions, land more bookings and get in the driver's seat of their career with marketing plans that actually work. Emily is a Sundance and Deauville award-winning actress, as well as a writer and producer.

The Event:

Hear different perspectives from an agent, casting director, producer, actress, and a career coach about how to increase your offers.

The evening will be full of practical advice and strategies on the importance of building long-term relationships with the people who can hire you—not simply chasing after the next random audition. Building on the thact that the audition is actually the beginning, not the end of the road.

To watch the Q&A you do not have to log into the SAG Foundation website. Just go to 

• http://www.sagfoundation.org/videogallery/livestream
• Email questions to LiveStream@sagfoundation.org.
• Please feel free to pass along this post along to others that may be interested in viewing a wonderful and informative Q&A from the SAG Foundation.

Auditions—to Offer and Beyond...
Tuesday, July 10th - 10-Midnight (Eastern)

Extras Needed: Dominion Power Spot

From Taylor-Royall;

We are looking for extras who would like to be in a Dominion Power shoot in Warrington, VA.

The shoot is to be 7/9 (or neighboring date after the 4th).

Needed are:

Seniors

African American Businessmen 40s-50s

Women arriving after a workout 30s-40s

Rate is $180.  Please contact agents@taylorroyall.com if you are available on the 9th (and neighboring dates after the 4th). Submissions to the client will be online.

Good luck, everyone. And to my fellow union members, remember Rule One.

Baltimore Casting Notice — Preschool Kids

Just in from the fine folks at Taylor-Royall Casting in Baltimore:

We're auditioning for a non-union PSA that requires pre-school aged children (age 4-6).

The PSA is to promote fitness. If you have a child in this age range and would like to submit them for an audition, please email agents@taylorroyall.com with your child's name, age, and photo.

Please do not submit any child under the age of 4.

Good luck, my friends!

[And, to my fellow union members: Remember Rule One.] 

Amaze Your Friends. Be a Hit at the Next Party. Speak with a Foreign Accent.

Actually, learning an accent or a dialect for any purpose is a long, exhausting, and tedious process. For actors, learning an accent is somewhat easier because they are learning a script, a finite run of words and it is also more difficult because actors are exposed to a broad audience of potential criticism, some from native speakers.

There is a guy in London, Gareth Jameson, who offers tips on the general approach to learning many different accents. He's on YouTube and VideoJug; he's a treasure.

Actor and Dialogue Coach, Gareth Jameson

Gareth can get you to a basic, a general, foreign accent by showing you how to manipulate just a few letter-sound combinations.

If you are looking for a quick intro to an accent, check this guy out.

Here's a clip from the transcript (video below) of his Russian training:

Voice-over: Gareth Jameson provides tips on how to perform a Russian accent. He provides three lessons on how certain letters should be pronounced to better create a Russian accent.

Jameson: Hello I'm Gareth Jameson. I'm an actor and a voice coach from www.londonvoicelessons.com Here are some tips on working on your voice!

The key to any accent is to isolate the sounds that are specific to that accent. So when we're talking about a Russian accent, and I'm talking very generally here about, uh, the sort of accent you'll get in films about Eastern Europe and the former Soviet states. There are, man—this is a huge area, so there are many accents that cover this part of the world.

We're talking about one specific one, a sort of general Russian accent. Now, the first sound I like to work with is the "l" sound. You're gonna have a really dark "l" right at the back.

So say "pull," "pull," "little," "pull" (Gareth pronounces the l as "ull") and that "l" is the "l" we are going to use for all our words. So when we say words like "love" it starts at the back: "love," "lemon, limond," "Lovely lemon lind." This is the first thing I use for my Russian accent.

The second thing is Vs and Ws. Vs and Ws sound the same in a Russian accent, and it's sort of a cross between the two. So you don't want to be like Checkov on "Star Trek" and talk about "Wodka."

As you can see, accent lessons don't play well in text only, so here are a couple of links, check this guy out.

 

Gareth Jameson on YouTube.Com

and on VideoJug.Com

Enjoy. And, check out his take on American English and Southern American. Oh yes, the next time you are at your favorite watering hole try using an accent with the bartender. It could be all kinds of fun. Decent Russian or Romanian might get you a free drink. Or all kinds of new and exotic friends.

Casting Notice: RG3, Baltimore, Background, Just in from Taylor Royall

New casting notice:

Taylor Royall casting is in need of non-union talent, ages 20-50, to work background on an Adidas commercial starring RG3.

The shoot dates are Saturday 6/9 and Sunday 6/10 in DC. This commercial pays $125 flat/day. A select number of people will be upgraded to featured extras and will receive additional compensation.

If you would like to be submitted, please email agency@taylorroyall.com with the subject "Adidas BG" and include the following information:

Name -
Phone # -
Age range -
Are you available Saturday 6/9 all day & late into the evening?
Are you available Sunday 6/10 all day & late into the evening?
Height -
Weight -
Shirt size -
Pants size -
Jacket or Dress size -
Shoe size -

Please attach a current photo to your email. You may submit even if you are only available for one of the two shoot dates.

Good luck, everyone. And, for my fellow union members — remember Rule One.

Casting Notice: Baltimore Area Swimmers

Here's the scoop from Taylor - Royall Casting:

We're seeking real swimmers (men, 20s, any ethnicity) for a union MD Lottery commercial. Must be actual athletes w/ competitive swimming experience, as you will need to race the length of the pool many times while filming. Bodies should be muscular, long, lean, and tall - should be able to pass for actual Olympic swimmers.

The NCAA says that competitive swimmers cannot be paid to participate in commercials, and would be disqualified from any future competitive swimming events if they do so. Therefore, we are looking for swimmers who are no longer competing on a team but still in good shape.

If you feel you qualify for this role, please email agents@taylorroyall.com with the subject "Lottery Swimmer", and include in the body of the email your name, phone #, union status, age range, height, swimming experience, and a current photo (preferably a body shot).

Preference will be given to union members but non-union talent are welcome to submit if they fit the role.

Good luck all. And, please pass this along to your union friends first. SAG-AFTRA One Union.

Have an Irish Setter? Taylor - Royall Casting is Looking for Your Furry Actor.

You know your doggie should be in films. Hey, he does all those cute things that everyone adores. Your Setter is so amazing that he should pave the way to your retirement by just being his own sweet, amazing, talented self.

This gig won't make you or your Setter rich in actual dollars, but think of the on-screen face-time and the bragging rights.

Details from Taylor - Royall:

We're in need of a trained Irish Setter who is able to perk his ears/be expressive, and cover his face with his paw as if dismayed on command for a commercial shoot.

Auditions are being held on Tuesday 5/15 in Baltimore and the shoot is scheduled for Tuesday 5/22 in the DC area. This job pays $675.

To be considered, please email agents@taylorroyall.com. Include your name, phone number, a photo of your dog, and details about what your dog is trained to do.

A New Baltimore Casting Notice. It's Union, SAG-AFTRA. (I won't use visuals.)

Calling men for a TV commercial. Men with hairy backs. Also, men with chiseled chests. Men willing to show off the goods.

Here are the details from my friends at Taylor-Royall Casting in Baltimore:

We're submitting talent to audition for a SAG-AFTRA commercial requiring some specific body types. Please see the descriptions below and follow the submission instructions if you qualify for either role. 

- Caucasian men, age 20s to 40s, must have hairy backs & be willing to be shirtless for a beach/pool scene.

- Caucasian men, age 20s/30s, good looking, sculpted chest, must be willing to be shirtless for a bedroom scene. Should be able to have a vain "I'm the man" look and also act sheepish/embarrassed.

To be considered, please email agents@taylorroyall.com. Include your name, phone number, headshot/photo, resume, union or non-union, and please note which role you are submitting for.  

That's it, guys, go forth with gusto! If you've got it, give it up for the glory. (And a nice pay-day, also.)

[To my fellow SAG-AFTRA members, remember Rule One.]

When TV Listings Go Wrong. Way Wrong.

I was looking around at the Comcast cable line-up this afternoon — I'm in a moody kind of mood and looking for something film noir-ish to watch — and I found the most perfectly mismatched graphic and description I've ever seen.

You will have to click the image below to see it and read it, but you should check it out!

                       Comcast Cable Line-up, April 29th 2012

The Night of the Hunter is, as Comcast says, "A terrifying tale of a psychotic preacher (Robert Mitchum) plotting to kill a widow and her children (Billy Chapin, Sally Jane Bruce) for money. Lillian Gish, James Gleason, Peter Graves. Davis Grubb's novel, superbly adapted by James Agee. Charles Laughton directed."

                          Billy Chapin in Night of the Hunter

Oddly the graphic, the avatar, for the movie is from the Food Network. And, it works — in a strange, cannibalistic sort of way.

How to Boil Water is the avatar title. The subtitle is Life Beyond Takeout.

I'm watching the movie right now and if see Billy Chapin in a really, really hot bathtub I'll let you know.

Baltimore SAG-AFTRA Members: Must Read

Remember, fellow members, we now have the power to speak with a unified voice.

On May 19-20, the SAG-AFTRA National Board will consider a unanimous recommendation by the Executive Committee to implement a Do Not Work notice against music video productions.

Once implemented, SAG-AFTRA members may not accept employment as performers in any music video not produced under a SAG-AFTRA contract. A Do Not Work order for music videos is a result of the major record labels refusing to agree to a contract that meets the critical needs of music video performers.

This action will affect any SAG-AFTRA member hired to sing, dance, act or otherwise perform as talent on any music video that is not covered by the appropriate SAG-AFTRA contract, except for a royalty artist who is already contractually obligated to deliver certain services under an existing royalty agreement with a record label.  Specifically included are SAG-AFTRA members working as dancers, singers, choreographers, cameo performers, models, actors, and most other talent. SAG-AFTRA members who violate a Do Not Work order can be subject to discipline, up to and including expulsion from membership.

This action follows performers’ efforts to secure an industry-wide contract for music video work, which most recently involved several rounds of contract discussions with the major record labels throughout 2011. SAG-AFTRA is continuing its efforts to reach agreement with the labels however this action is necessary because the labels have failed to agree to some of the most basic contract terms. Some of the outstanding issues involve guaranteed access to water and toilet facilities, proper safety protections for hard surface dancing, overtime provisions, health and retirement contributions and standardized rates of pay.

Please stand together with your fellow SAG-AFTRA members and fellow performers for safety and dignity on the job.  Together we can ensure a safe and fair future for all of us.

If you have questions or wish to volunteer to support your fellow SAG-AFTRA members who are working to ensure basic union standards on music videos, you can help by contacting:

Randall Himes
Assistant National Executive Director, Sound Recordings at randall.himes@sagaftra.org

Stefanie Taub
National Manager of Sound Recordings, West Coast at stefanie.taub@sagaftra.org

Steve Sidawi
National Organizer/Representative at steve.sidawi@sagaftra.org

A Casting Call for Baltimore Boy Swimmers

From my friends at Taylor-Royall Casting in Baltimore:

We are casting for a union PSA for the "Too Small to Fail" organization.

Auditions for Boy Swimmers who can also hold their breath underwater are taking place Tuesday 4/24 at a pool near Baltimore.

To be considered, please email agents@taylorroyall.com with the subject "Swimmer."

Include your name, phone number, headshot, current photos.

Good luck, young swimmer-types. And to my fellow union members, remember Rule One. 

Baltimore Casting Notice: Know How to Use Knives? Chop, Slice, Dice? Female?

If you know your way around these guys you're in a good position to submit for this two-day commercial shoot.

                                Photo courtesy Wusthof, Inc.

This just might be the casting notice you've been waiting for.

The details, the specifics, from Taylor-Royall:

Caucasian females age 20s-40 with nice hands needed for a non-union video shoot.

Must be proficient in cooking and cutting, comfortable with kitchen work.

Need not be a professional chef, just need to be comfortable chopping, slicing, dicing and overall handling a knife while the prep work happens in the video.

This shoot is scheduled to take place on Thursday 4/19 AND Friday 4/20 in the Baltimore area and pays $500 flat per day.

You MUST be available for both dates if you submit. If you would like to be considered, please email agents@taylorroyall.com with the subject "Hand Model".

Include your name, phone number, headshot, current photos of your hands, and a resume detailing any cooking/chopping/food prep experience with your submission.  

Casting Notice 4-9-12: MGH Advertising is Searching for the Voice of Baltimore

At first glance, I thought, "Hey, that's me!" Then, reading closer, I discovered that I'd qualify on only one count. According to my buddy, Ryan Goff at MGH, "The ideal candidate will be over 40—the older the better." (I was pinning my hopes on the 'older-the-better' line.)

                 Graphic courtesy MGH Advertising, Owings Mills

To me, this looks like the fun-gig of a lifetime. And, working with MGH could never be anything but a great time. Here are the details directly from the horse's Ryan's mouth:

BECOME THE VOICE OF BALTIMORE!
You could be featured in a future MGH ad campaign.

Audition Today

Now through April 30, we're auditioning residents of Charm City and the surrounding area in an effort to discover someone we're calling the "Voice of Baltimore." This is a man or woman who eats, sleeps and breathes Baltimore – and has a genuine "Bawlmerese" accent to match. If we find this person, he or she may be hired as the voice of a future MGH ad campaign.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

• You must have a genuine Baltimore accent – not a silly one you do at parties, but the real thing.
• The ideal candidate will be over 40 – the older the better – although anyone 18 or older will be considered.
• You should be passionate for Baltimore and have lived in the city or surrounding area your whole life.
• You should be outgoing with a great sense of humor.
• Don’t try to be funny. Just be genuine.

Here's the script for you to read and record:

I’ve lived in Baltimore all my life. I grew up on Bel Air Road and used to root for the Colts with my dad, who worked at Bethlehem Steel in Sparrows Point. We’d also watch the Orioles at Memorial Stadium. After high school, I drove an ambulance, and I made a lot of friends on the police force. Sometimes after a shift I’d say, “Did you eat yet? Let’s go down to Little Italy.” I don’t leave town much. Had to go to Washington a few times. Didn’t care for it. Wow, reading this made me thirsty. You got a glass of water?

All of the details are here. Check them out. Read through the script a couple of times. Record it, and submit your best effort. Again, check the official MGH rules and regulations.

Good luck to everyone and to my SAG-AFTRA union friends, remember Rule One!