10/25/23 Here is the gist of our conversation If I forgot anything please put it below! I do want to say everyone was so amazing at this meeting!
Casting Options
Would we want casting directors to
use an online sign up
2. have them take our headshots before hand
3. just alerting us if they would even see non union
4. submit online reels.
We all agreed if want them to even listen to us we have to all work together (maybe have everyone sign a document) and basically hand them the ideas and make is as easy as possible. They have other things they're thinking about and maybe we can even help them out too!
Concerns
The safety and how dangerous Pearl studios is and how we can bring that up in our letter to casting. Also people coming from out of town and not knowing the area was concerning.
How it’s getting colder out and waiting in line for auditions are not accessible for people who are disabled.
Other Conversations
Do we want it on a website (people being concerned if the slots would fill up to quickly and for the site to be open at a normal time. The casting and the equity monitor would also have to be onboard as well. (maybe a reservation kind of app would work better like a waiting list?)
How is equity also not being seeing if they have an appointment?
Possible town hall with casting and maybe actors equity
People from out of town not understanding that you don’t need to wake up at 4. Could we all decided that we are all just going to show up at 7 (wishful thinking)? It’s not healthy and it sends the wrong message to the younger actors that this is normal and its not.
Spencer (me) gave unintentional homework haha!! I thought everyone who showed up to the last meeting could draft up a letter to casting. What would that say with everything we talked about. How can we cut and paste them all together? We can invite everyone who is coming to the next meeting to share their advice and move forward. (I’m also going to try to make something on the site and have everyone test it and see if we like it or not) I want to exhaust every option before taking it to casting.
Our next meeting will be on November 8th at 8pm EST we would love for you to come!
We also would love to hear your thoughts and pain points!! So write them below! Everyone’s opinion matters.
Meeting November 8th at 8PM
Thank you KP for taking notes!
Agenda:
Read Letters
What We Talked About:
Making the list virtual
Sign up genius?
Ads can be inconvenient. Ads will block on the phone and it’s not as accessible.
Calendly?
Letter Drafts
Maybe have a combination of letters that are personal and a general one where everyone can sign off on
Once we find a general letter, create a way where people can virtually sign. With two signage areas: one for non equity and one for equity members
While we cannot unionize non union completely, we can still make strides to make auditioning safer and more efficient.
Further positives for a virtual list
Accessible to those who cannot afford to talk off work to go to an open call
Making it easier for Equity members to have an easier system
Safety for Actors
Next Meeting:
Wednesday November 15th, 8PM
What do we want the letter to look like?
Very specific
I was also contacted by a Casting Director and they want to share their pain points too! I will keep people updated on when that meeting will be.