So this is interesting: new actors freak out about their Starmeter rating on IMDB.com. What is a Starmeter? It is a number on an artist’s IMDB (internet movie data base) profile. Basically, if the actor’s number is “Top 5000” they are actors who work pretty regularly and their number represents how popular they are each week. If an actor is “Top 500”, a single, or double-digit number, than they are basically Jennifer Lawrence status.
Many new actors are OBSESSED with their rank on IMDB; however, in my opinion, IT DOESN’T MEAN ANYTHING!!
While it is true that casting directors, directors, and producers MAY glance at an actor’s rating, it really doesn’t truly affect whether they get gigs or not. I have had two male actor friends who were “Top 5000” for months and they did not book a single job off of that rank, and I have had other actor friends who rank 45,000 and some odd digits that work CONSTANTLY! That being said, I really don’t think an actor’s rank means much and here’s proof:
I have been “Top 5000” for over a year now, most likely because of my newest film ZOMBEAVERS; however, let me just say i have had hardly any auditions and haven’t filmed anything (3 small projects, that I don’t count) since.
Last week, February 20th, was my birthday and I was on the IMDB homepage under “Born Today” right next to Rihanna!! Crazy right?? (see pic below)
Because I was on the homepage I figured my rank would shoot up a few hundred. However, the next week I was in for a HUGE surprise.
I became a celebrity!
My score broke “Top 500” and I ranked 62!! Which is insane. But have I gotten an audition out of it? Have I suddenly been offered a score of movie roles? The truth is, no, I have not. Well, it’s hard to book anything if you don’t audition, and I have not had an audition in TWO MONTHS! Nothing I can do about it really, and clearly my Starmeter on IMDB means: Zip!
I am up there with Keeanu Reeves and Brad Pitt!! I will tell you that, at least for this week, I am excited to have had the opportunity to at least take a screenshot of the images with my phone and write a blog post about it! haha.
Below is a screenshot one of my actor friends sent me! (when I looked online myself, Brad Pitt was ranked in the 70’s which is weird why he’d be next to me in this screenshot. My friends swears he didn’t do photoshop. None-the-less I am nestled up right next to an Oscar winner, Colin Firth!! ….and…. I am still at home…. not working! Trying to make movies happen, trying to network, to produce, craving work.. and … ah-nothing…
All in all, I don’t think actors should truly freak out about what they rank on IMDB. I don’t think it matters. Like I said, I have friends who work on Network television shows and big films who are high 40,000 and they’re working and I am not.
I am really honored to have a talented industry friend of mine contribute to this blog. Please welcome the man who writes a thousand words that I never get bored of, a wonderful screenplay writer, and a great actor’s director: Mr. James Furlong:
Success Through Humility
A long time ago, in the distant past that was 1998, I found myself on the set of a teen romantic comedy. I was an extra; that bottom-rung position so many actors cut their teeth on, early in their careers. But heck, I was just happy to be involved in film at all. I didn’t really have much under my belt, save for the occasional theater gig. But this was something, and it was a positive, new direction. Still, I didn’t know anyone there, and the spontaneous introduction to the hustle bustle of a professional studio film set was a bit overwhelming, to say the least.
This particular shoot day involved a prom scene, so I showed up, bright and early, in my secondhand tuxedo. The location was a hotel, or convention center, or something of that ilk, our in Cerritos. Big place. Many extras. Much to do.
Most of the morning was spent on our feet, faux-dancing to a thump track, as the principal actors did their thing, take after take. When noon rolled around, exhaustion had taken hold and fatigue set in with a vengeance. Many of my fellow extras complained of sore feet and a lack of coffee, as we danced ourselves to death. It was brutal, but it was work.
Between a particular pair of setups, I’d sat to rest my feet, at the bottom of the massive staircase, which I can only assume was one of the defining factors of this location’s acquisition. Here’s where things get interesting.
A handsome young man with bright blue eyes, and perfectly coiffed blonde hair, that I had come to recognize as one of the principal actors, approached the stairs, sat down next to me, and extended his hand.
“Hey, I’m Paul,” he said.
I reached out and shook his hand.
“James.”
“Doing the extra thing, eh?” he grinned.
“Yeah, gotta start somewhere, I guess.”
“Hey, man, it’s a good place to start. You’re just as important as anyone else on set.”
I inquired about his past works, and he sheepishly filled me in on the details of a film (his first principal role) in which he played a boy who had been turned into a Tyrannosaurus Rex, much to the chagrin of his on-screen girlfriend. Then his face lit up as he proceeded to tell me about the film he had coming out in the next month. A film called Pleasantville.
“I’ve seen the trailer for that. Who do you play?”
He seemed to appreciate the recognition.
“The dumb jock.” he chuckled.
“Wait, are you the dude Reese Witherspoon molests in the car?”
“Yeah, that’s me.”
“Shit, man, that’s awesome. Who do you play in this film?”
He grinned widely, “The asshole jock.”
“Oh, no! Typecast, already.”
“Yup, but I’ll take it,” he laughed.
We chatted for a few more minutes. He gave me advice on audition techniques, told me what to watch out for, and generally encouraged me to keep working and never give up. It was perhaps the most positive and encouraging conversation I’d ever had about acting. He was eventually called back to set, but before he left, he shook my hand one more time and simply said, “Good luck, James. Keep up the good work.”
That movie was She’s All That.
The actor’s name: Paul Walker.
Now, this isn’t just a story about that time I met a famous person. What I learned that day wasn’t just about acting. It was about professionalism and humility.
From everything I’ve heard about Paul since, he maintained that humility, unwavering, throughout his career. All his success, all his achievements, and he still remained a gracious, generous, kind, and humble person. Maybe it was because he was simply very grateful for everything he had accomplished and the opportunities he had been given. Maybe it was because he understood that, when making a film, there are no unimportant roles or jobs, including the audience and fans.
As far as achieving success in the acting field goes: it’s tough. Any actors reading this right now have just muttered a very sincere, “no shit”. It’s easy to get discouraged. Very easy. Often times, it feels that callbacks are few and far between, and when the callbacks do come in, it’s always for that one role you weren’t really interested in.
But let me repeat that one line of text, again: there are no unimportant roles.
Nor are there any auditions that are not worth the experience or attempt. Take every opportunity you can get.
More than likely, Paul Walker didn’t book that role in Tammy and the T-rex and think, “Man, I’ve made it big, now!” But it was work. And work leads to connections. And connections lead to more work. He knew this.
Good Work Leads to More Work
It’s also important to realize that not booking a role isn’t always the end of that audition. And it doesn’t necessarily mean that you didn’t give a good audition; often it means that you simply weren’t what they were looking for to fill that particular role. There are always other roles. And casting directors pay attention; it’s their job.
I’m sure you’ve heard a success story or two about actors who auditioned for a role and didn’t get it, only to be called back to audition for a different role on the same project, and book that one. Or the actor that gets called to audition for a role, because the same casting director remembered them from a previous audition on another project. It happens. Treat every audition as a potential door opening, regardless of a callback. If anything, every audition you go on is practice for the next. Learn and grow, learn and grow.
Humility doesn’t stop after booking, too.
On-set etiquette can affect success, too. Being respectful of other actors and crew members can ensure that people will want to work with you again. You never know if that lowly production assistant may end up casting his/her own movie some day and remember how professional and collaborative you had been during their time with you. When it comes to bad on-set etiquette, I need only point out a certain Batman actor who is so notorious for being a disrespectful pain in the ass, that he has never worked with the same director or crew twice. Not an ideal place to end up.
As an actor, when you get right down to it, you are hired to do a job. You’re hired because someone felt you were the person best qualified to do said job. Regardless of the role, it is something to be proud of and to be grateful for. Always give 100%, even if you don’t necessarily believe in the project. Professionalism isn’t always about passion for every project you work on, it’s about seeing the job through and doing it to the best of your ability. It’s how you get to the projects you’re passionate about.
What to Walk Away With
I’m no longer an actor, but the experiences I had, and the people I met through pursuing a career in acting, taught me a lot about the business and helped to prepare me for the work I do now as a screenwriter and intermittent director. It’s all about opening those doors.
I always wanted to one day work with the man who showed me, through the smallest interaction, that you can still remain humble, no matter the degree of success you attain. Sadly, Paul Walker passed away on November 30, 2013, so I’ll never have the opportunity to shake his hand, again, and express my gratitude for his kindness that day. But the respect and humility he demonstrated will never leave me. I aspire not necessarily to be as successful as he was, but to absolutely be as humble and grateful for whatever good fortune comes my way.
~James Furlong
Dir. James Furlong on set of his project SLOW FADE
I have made the mistake of judging my characters too many times. I have also made the mistake of playing the idea of the role, and not being the role.
. . .
First off, let me preface this blog by saying that “The Power of the Actor” by Ivana Chubbuck is a MUST READ!
The book teaches actors a 12-step technique that is quite impeccable and should be read whether or not you practice her technique.
I think it is important for actors to have had the chance to get their feet wet in a variety of different acting techniques and then dry off the parts you don’t want. But keep learning different perspectives, because each coach can give you something to draw from and that will help you create a memorable, and workable performance.
As a general rule: Never judge your character. To do so you play a “title” and not a character who has a past, emotions, and purpose in life. If your character is the villain, do not play the villain. Instead, work on being charismatic.
Ask yourself:
“Who are you?”; “What is important to you?”; “What is the motivation driving you to do what you do?”
You do not want to make a judgment on your character, instead, draw the audience in with your charisma.
Take for example Angelina Jolie’s character in Maleficent. She did not want to be evil, she had a good heart, and that heart was merely broken. Yet the other characters saw her as an evil being, instead of a grieving fairy.
When you are playing an authoritative character, a lawyer, a detective, a witch, a bimbo, or a villain, for example, be true to who the character is, not what the character is perceived as.
Steps to Take in Understanding your Character Begin with an Objective
Find the character’s objective.
“To be loved” is a very broad category but it is a strong objective.
Take the movie WARRIOR for example, and the character played by Tom Hardy: Tommy.
Tommy’s ultimate objective was not to win the fight and be the best fighter. Granted, he did have motivation towards that goal (ie: giving money to his friend’s widow), but the real drive behind his desire to win, was to be loved. Hardy’s character needed reassurance from his father and that their bond went deeper than their anger towards one another for whatever reason. He needed to feel love from his brother and that their lives could be good again despite the hurtful past.
On the outside, it may appear that Hardy’s character’s ultimate objective is to win the fight, but that wouldn’t push him to win as hard as he tries.
Every character’s goal is to win. Each scene they want to win. Just as it is in life. It is human nature to want to win.
When you find your character’s overall objective, the rest will fall in to place. Therefore in the book “The Power of the Actor” Ivana has this step as the number one thing to do.
Remember! Don’t try to act angry, or evil. Leave that decision up to the audience.
Don’t Judge Your Next Audition Because of a Past Experience in the Audition Room
I tell my husband, who is a day trader, that he shouldn’t judge a new stock by a different one that he previously lost on. Each stock is different than the other, granted some may have similar patterns, but they are each unique. Same goes for the audition process.
I can’t count how many times I did not go to an audition because I felt like it was like a similar audition/role that I had failed at, or that I wasn’t right for. One time the casting director of Modern Family actually told me I was wasting his time because I wasn’t right for the part. (Well, my agent told me to go in, and he called me in by my headshot in the first place). But I think that experience may have messed with my head whether I like it or not.
When there is an audition, I look at the character breakdown and examine who I am as a person (meaning I am judging myself, which no one should ever feel like they should do) and I think of my past auditions (and what that experience was like) and then I make the assessment about going in to the room to read or not. An actor should never do that. To do that, you may miss out on a role that you could have actually booked.
Even if you have made the assessment of “I do not fit that character”, or “That role isn’t right for me” you could actually be shooting yourself in the foot, so-to-speak.
Here is one of my life examples:
I read a role description breakdown on LaCasting for a role in a commercial. It read:
“Very attractive girl who can make a funny face while doing a dance move.”
Well, I thought, I may have pretty pictures, and people may tell me that I am pretty BUT I don’t feel pretty enough to fit this description. Then I thought, they probably want a girl who is a Kate Upton type who is sexy and guys’ jaws drop when she makes a funny face while dancing. That being said, I did not submit to the role.
The next thing I find out is that my agent got me an audition for that part. Because I had already made the assessment that I wasn’t good enough, I didn’t go in.
Next thing I know, I am on set for that very same project in the BACKGROUND! I was watching the girl who got the part I would have had, and she did a very good job. She had an angry look on her face while twerking. But I could have easily gotten the role. I even booked background, which is still hard to get for commercials, because you are still picture-picked.
I should have NEVER judged that part by my previous experiences, or my insecurities. I should have gone in to the audition and went with the flow of what was asked. But I think of all the times I have made a fool of myself in the audition room, all the times I was told I wasn’t good enough, and my current self-esteem issues, and I blew my chance at making $300 more than what I would have gotten, plus residuals, plus exposure.
On the Positive Side
I was going through the same process over another audition and I wasn’t going to go in for the read. It was for a commercial, and the description read: Brunette female, approximately a size 6, who can preferably play guitar.
I am not a size 6, I am a size 0. I have not played guitar in YEARS. I wasn’t going to go in. I was just coming out of an audition I should not have gone in for because I was clearly too young. I was mad that I went in for that part because I was stuck in traffic for 2 hours, and drove in circles looking for parking. Then I went in and sat next to women in their 30s and 40s to play opposite Julia Louis-Dryfus and clearly I was too young.
However, I ended up going to the next audition anyway (I almost turned around and went home several times) but I went in and I did well enough to get called-back. (I did not book the role) But this is somewhat of a positive example, because I did get called back, so that being said, you NEVER KNOW!
My advice is:
Listen to your heart. Do what makes you happy. Try not to regret any decision you did or did not make. Each casting process is unique. Try not to judge the role because you actually might end up being what they are looking for, and if not, well then at least you tried.
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