Every business has about the same ratio: 90% self-aware people, 10% shitbags that eff it up for the rest of us. Showbiz unfortunately is not immune.
Case in point yesterday: Stuart Stone, a huge commercial casting director here in LA, sent out a simple email to all of us actors via a casting website, stating that a big print job he was casting was booked. In other words, actors no longer needed to message him or submit their headshots online.
The website Stuart through which sent his message embeds emails in their original submission forms (see the pic above), so the 10% of actors who need to vacate the entertainment industry immediately didn’t bother to read what he wrote and submitted themselves, blowing up Stuart’s phone.
Stuart was justifiably miffed, so he sent another message:
“Why are several of you calling or emailing to be seen for this project when I just sent a email that it was BOOKED! You make yourself look so unprofessional and we make notes of those things to protect our clients. I know you need to do all you can to promote yourself but you won’t do that by clicking on here to add yourself to the job. Don’t be inconsiderate please.”
Seemed fair enough and even polite, considering. And yet… a third email then came from Stuart:
“I got a couple of emails from actors who thought I was mean and harsh and many other complementing me on having actors be accountable and others wanting to take my workshop. To those who were offended I am sorry. I was so frustrated with actors not reading the message I wrote and my email and phones exploding. Not sure when that became okay to do. However, I am sorry it was abrasive. To those who understood my rant thank you for understanding. Thanks everyone for your emails it makes me remember to take a breath because for those who have met me know I am really a nice guy who truly cares about actors and wants to see you succeed.”
And message received. Stuart won’t forget the idiots who submitted themselves, and good riddance, folks.
There was a time when an actor could just walk onto a studio lot, straight into a network president’s office and introduce himself. And if the actor had talent and something to offer, the president was very happy to get to know him and push his career forward.
But then the 10% swooped in like a flock of bath salt abusers and just chewed off our faces. Studio lots are now on lockdown. Agents won’t take phone calls or look at headshots sent via snail mail. And the 90% actors with decorum and talent have been rendered gun shy. We don’t want to “bother” the gatekeepers by imposing upon them, when in actuality we have something to offer that can make them both look damn good and make them money.
In a recent workshop I attended, an actress asked the casting director for “Revenge” if the show was multi-camera (comedy) or single camera. Even if she hadn’t watched the show, which every actor doing a scene for its casting director really, really should, how could she not even know the show’s genre? The casting director sweetly answered “single cam,” but I could see in her eyes utter disbelief. And I was furious because that 10% skeezer made us all look bad.
So when you come out here, play for our team. The 90-percenters. Do you homework. Practice your craft. Don’t harass the people in charge. And above all, read a goddamn email before submitting yourself.
Stuart Stone, I’ve met you. You’re a great guy. And anyone who was offended by your very fair email is a pussy who apparently has run out of problems and doesn’t know what a real thrashing is like. On behalf of the 90% of us actors who get it, apology not necessary.
