Wake up with a YARRR!

What did you do for International Talk Like a Pirate Day? I'm stuck working, but you should drink rum and wear an eyepatch. I pitched in by getting everyone else here to talk like a pirate. "Poop deck" jokes never get old.

Some of the movies I've been in are nearing completion. Let the salivating begin. This brings me to...

A Letter to Directors/Filmmakers from the "Talent"

Part III: Post Production

So now my part is pretty much done. Other than some things I'll get to later, you really don't need me anymore, do you? I've said my lines, emoted my...emotions. We've been up ridiculously late hours together, eaten bad food together, joked, argued, and hopefully had a good time.

Please don't forget about me.

To date I can think of one, that's right one, director who has given me or any of a cast updates on their own. As far as it seems to me there are two times a director contacts the cast.

1. We bug them for an update.
2. We're needed to fix something. (Reshoots, ADR)

I'm an understanding guy. The rush and excitement of production is over, it's just you alone with your footage. Sometimes a lot of footage. We all have bills to pay or classes to pass. I didn't do it for money or fame, so there's no real deadline for me. I understand that there are snags. Computer snafus alone can lengthen a project by weeks. I get it.

Email isn't hard.

Once a month, once every six weeks, I don't care. A simple mass email, "Still working on it, haven't forgotten it," will work. If you have to abandon it I'll be disappointed but am I going to put a gun to your head and make you finish it?

On the subject of reshoots and ADR, all I want is some heads up time. Really, after not talking to me for a year don't ask me if I'm free in two days to shoot more stuff two hours away. I might say no on principle alone. (I'm not saying this happened, but I'm not saying it didn't.) What if I grew my hair out? Shaved it? Lost my right arm and half my head in a freak train accident? Got a tattoo of green rhinoceros on my face? These are possibilities. A little lead time is kind of necessary.

So, updates and lead time. What does that leave us with?

COPY

Yeah, that's what I want. I didn't drive all over, stay up through the middle of the night, take vacation days, or get myself sick so you could get an A in your film class. I did it so I could act, and learn from that acting. And maybe, if we all pulled off something nice, have something for a reel. So I need something tangible. It's called a DVD.

(I certainly do hope you got an A though.)

Another thing that would be nice is some kind of feedback. How was I to have around? Would you recommend me? Where can I improve? You might find this hard to believe, but asking me the same questions might be useful to you. Some of us have been doing this for a long time. We might have some insights you can take along with you.

Remember, actors are a strange community. You as the filmmaker/director might feel that the power is in your hands when it comes to casting your next project, but if I'm respected among my peers and feel that you don't hold up your end of the bargain, you might find it hard when you're looking to fill your next roles. I'm just sayin'.

Well, I hope this has all been helpful. Don't take it too hard if you feel I've ranted. I'm not bitter. This whole 'letter' has been a list of things I've wanted to say to different people at different periods. I hope some directors out there read this, and by reading it gain a little insight into how the 'actor creature' works. We're fun, really.

And to the actors out there who read this, feel free to add your thoughts or suggestions to this letter. Write your own, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. Come to think of it, directors too.

Now I'm off to hoist the mainsail ye' scurvy skalawags, there be a bit o' a meal waitn fer me.

YAR!!