A Note from Our National Board Member

The Theatrical/Television negotiations have concluded and the ratification process is underway, and now negotiations will begin in October on the Net Code. If you are a working actor under the Network Code (game shows, news magazines, promos, reality shows, soaps, TV talk shows, etc.) and have an interest in being on the national Negotiations Committee, please notify us at neworleans@sagaftra.org so we can submit your name as a candidate. Please do so immediately, as we have a very short window to submit your name. This also applies to those of you who perform in the background, singing and stunt categories under the Network Code.

Ever wonder what producers and directors are looking for at auditions? I ran across an interesting book the other day that posed that very question to several producers and directors. Their answers might surprise you. Whether they do or not, I thought you might be interested in their replies:

• “I always am impressed when people come in as themselves and do not try to impress you with the role they think they are reading for, or for the role they are up for.”

• “In films, I really just look for faces and intelligence more than for talent.”

• “Generally what I look for is somebody who is more like a human being than an actor.”

• “Just use your personality honestly, be yourself.”

When asked is there anything that actors do on interviews or auditions that they do not like, one respondent stated the following:

“Someone who comes in and consciously tries to make an impression, whether it is overpushiness or over-phoniness.”

Well, enough for now. I will try to present a few more thoughts like these in our next newsletter. Hopefully, their responses will help us during our future auditions. For those of you who disagree with the responses, remember, I’m just the messenger!

I will leave you with one final thought. When asked if there was one thing he considered most important about acting, Spencer Tracy responded, “Well, acting is fine, as long as you don’t get caught at it.”

Charles Ferrara
New Orleans Local National Board Member and Vice President

This item was originally featured in the summer 2014 local newsletter.