Twin Cities Actor Expo: Creating Opportunities to Connect

On March 30, I walked into the Hopkins Center for the Arts to get a feel for an event I had only heard bits and pieces about — the Twin Cities Actor Expo. In addition to the registration table and a few food vendors, I saw that the lobby was lined with numerous tables hosted by a variety of organizations: local theaters (including Brave New Workshop and Huge Theater), performer unions (SAG-AFTRA and AEA), vendors trying to sell items of interest to actors (including photography, theatrical makeup, a book about the “acting biz” in the Twin Cities and various workshops/classes for adult and young actors) and industry organizations, including Minnesota Film and TV, Minnesota Women in Film and Television, and the Twin Cities Film Fest. The all-day event, for which attendees paid a modest entry fee (with an after-event social time and Battle of the Twin Cities Improv Stars performance scheduled nearby) was already half over when I arrived. The morning had been filled with various breakout sessions, including Twin Cities Independent Film Community, Auditioning for the Stage and Musical Theater, Acting IS My Day Job and It’s Easy to Work Union — a very informative and lively panel presentation on flexible SAG-AFTRA film contracts for low-budget productions. Panelists were SAG-AFTRA Assistant Executive Director Tim Ogren, actor/union member Josiah Gulden and local independent filmmaker James Byrne. The presentation featured an overview and some real-life testimony of how filmmakers can work using SAG-AFTRA Ultra Low Budget, Low Budget, and/or Student Film contracts. 

The afternoon workshops included sessions on creating voiceover demos, working on basic improv acting skills, on-camera combat training, film acting through the eyes of filmmakers and comedy for actors. There were also seminars related more to the “business” side of acting, including one providing specifics about the AEA membership candidate program and a seminar by SAG-AFTRA board member Mark Bradley on tax preparation for performers. These workshops all sounded like great learning opportunities for actors/aspiring actors, directors/filmmakers, and/or the parents of young actors to learn more about the business and the type of work opportunities available in the Twin Cities, and perhaps to begin to acquire or perfect more usable skills. All in all, from what I could see, the Twin Cities Actor Expo seemed to be an event worth repeating, and it seemed to be a great place for local actors/directors/filmmakers to connect with others in the local performing arts/film community and explore their craft and options. 

Based on this positive first impression, and the fact that I didn’t see many of my union peers attending the event, I decided to delve a bit deeper into the background of the event and followed up with a conversation and email chat with Twin Cities Actor Expo founder Beth Chaplin. Chaplin was happy to provide answers for SAG-AFTRA Twin Cities News & Views readers, as follows.

Q: What encouraged you and your partners to put together an event like this?

A: In summer of 2009, actors Jatin Setia and Bill Cooper approached me about joining them to coordinate an event for actors. Bill teaches camera acting classes, I had just signed a publishing contract for my book, The Acting Biz: A Career Guide to the Twin Cities, and Jatin was about to launch the first annual Twin Cities Film Fest. Bill and I had for years envisioned some kind of educational event or institution for local actors. This timing seemed serendipitous. At the time, I had been working frequently for a client, speaking at trade shows, pitching software to corporations. The thought of a similar professional conference for the local acting industry was intriguing to me. While our motives weren't completely altruistic — Bill wanted to further promote his classes, Jatin the Film Fest, and I, my book — we set out to create an affordable, classy, professional networking and educational event specifically for Twin Cities actors. We contracted for space at the Hotel Ivy, invited agents and casting directors to speak and teach — and held the first Expo. We took the risk and funded it ourselves, carefully creating a budget to allow us to break even. We succeeded — to rave reviews. It was energizing and great fun. Since 2009, we have produced three more events: 2011, 2012 and 2013. Plans are full speed ahead for our fifth Twin Cities Actor Expo, March 29, 2014.

Q: What exactly do you see as the purpose of the expo?

A: To me, our purpose is two-fold: to create a networking and educational event for professional actors, and to provide legitimate knowledge and resources for those striving to enter the business.

To provide some background on my journey, in 1990, I left a full-time, tenured teaching position to become a professional actor. I naively assumed that with my small college theater degree I could do it. However, I found it very, very difficult to get answers to all of my questions. I stumbled, and learned through trial and frequent error. I found no one who was able and/or wiling to answer my questions. I swore if I ever figured it all out, I would share my knowledge. That vow culminated in my book that was published in 2009; and a second edition is in the works. I believe that talented actors should not be limited by the seeming mysteries of the business. Armed with knowledge, talented actors will be better equipped to go as far as their talent and work ethic will take them. The Twin Cities Actor Expo strives to bring together experts from all facets of the acting industry for open discussions about how the business really works, working to provide encouragement, with a healthy dose of reality.

Going back to the expo's two-fold purpose, this is our reasoning:

(1) Create a networking and educational event: Most professions encourage or require "continuing education." There seems to be few of such opportunities for actors in the Twin Cities. We are trying to bring those opportunities forward. In consultation with my partners, I am primarily responsible for planning the seminars, panels and speakers at the expo. I plan for what I want to know, the people I want to hear from who can provide insider knowledge to give talented, working actors an edge. We invite all of the reputable agencies to participate, along with casting directors, stage directors, film producers and directors.

(2) Provide legitimate knowledge and resources for aspiring actors: While this is not our primary purpose, aspiring actors do buy tickets and help maintain the solvency of the expo. We continue to focus on our main purpose (No. 1), but we do welcome novices, and plan some programming for them.

Q: How successful do you think you have been in serving all attendees? Can you provide any examples and/or comments from attendees that prove your belief?

A: Following the first three expos, we conducted surveys of all attendees. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. We have been more than pleased with the response and have used the following comments, and others which are similar, in our advertising:

Tinia Moulder (AEA): "I definitely recommend the Actor Expo, no matter where you are in your career. I found it a great way to connect and reconnect with other actors, agents and casting directors. I loved the workshops and learned a lot. Mostly, it energized me and made me excited to refocus on what I need to do to continue to make a living as an actor in the Twin Cities."

Lynn Blumenthal (Casting director): "As an actor in the Twin Cities, you must always be wanting and willing to learn and educate yourself about your craft and business. Knowledge is power. You can never have enough of it! The Actor Expo is an opportunity to receive such an education."

Q: Do you have any thoughts on how you can improve/expand the expo in the coming years?

A: Administratively, we plan to further unite the Twin Cities Film Fest with the Twin Cities Actor Expo. We have been sister organizations, but a closer association will help us to streamline administrative functions, seek sponsorship funding, allow for marketing and advertising for both events, and keep costs down. Goals for 2014 include, but are not limited to:

• Increased outreach to college theater departments. They have yet to get on board, though we have offered free attendance for theater professors.
• Greater outreach to local theaters.
• Greater involvement with the local indie film community. We have partnered with Ryan Strandjord of the Directors' Workshop — a loose organization of active and aspiring filmmakers. The interface with SAG-AFTRA and some of our filmmakers this year was exciting to see. Filmmakers want to cast great actors; they just need to know that they have affordable options to hire union talent.
• Hopefully, greater service to union performers.

One final point: it's important to note that our purpose is in no way to make big profit. At the core, we are artists with integrity. We believe that talented artists deserve to be paid for their work. However, there are too many entities — so-called schools, modeling schools, pageants, reality shows, etc. — trying to make a buck, preying on the dreams of aspiring actors. Our mission functions in direct opposition to these entities. None of us is pocketing any profits. We offer a high-quality, professional event at a price that is affordable for local actors. We strive to pay our administrative staff for their considerable work. So far, we have yet to pay them what they're worth, but this year our stipends are higher than in past years. We're improving. For the Actor Expo to be viable, we need to continue to keep it affordable for actors, while offering high-quality content and professional networking opportunities that can't be found anywhere else.

An additional goal has always been to exceed the expectations of all who attend, and we're proud of that.

Editor’s Note:  Even with the additional background information provided above, many readers may still question whether the stated goals of the expo planners — including meeting the needs of Twin Cities’ union actors – are being fulfilled. If your interest has been piqued, you may want to add next year’s Actor Expo date (March 29, 2014) to your calendar now so that you can experience it yourself and see whether or not it meets your needs. I, for one, am happy to see this event continue — and hopefully grow — to meet the needs of the whole Twin Cities acting/performing/film community, because I do agree with Lynn Blumenthal’s comment: “Knowledge is power. You can never have enough of it!”  

Farewell Picnic for Twin Cities Local Staff

Local members Cathy and Nat Fuller hosted a lovely patio picnic on June 3 to bid farewell to the Twin Cities Local staff, Colleen Aho, Timothy Ogren and Kari Forseth-Bales. Board members and other local members joined Kari, Tim and Colleen for burgers, brats and good conversation. The staff thanks everyone, especially Cathy and Nat, for the warm send-off and for the lovely evening on the Fullers’ patio! 

-Mary Em Burns