So You're Saying There's a Chance?

Episodic season is upon us and it is really the best chance you have as a work a day actor to getting in the room and advancing your career.  Unlike the myth of pilot season, which I addressed in a previous post, episodic season is ripe with opportunities.  Here casting is more willing to take chances.  The stakes aren't quiet as high.  They have time to pre-read you or look at your reel.  Casting isn't looking for someone who can carry a series on their shoulders, but someone who can service the story.  Don;t get me wrong, you will still be competing against actors with tons of credits, but at least you can get in the room.  You should especially concentrate on long running shows.  Shows that have been on for many seasons have used up the pool of multi credited actors.  They want to bring their producers new faces.  After multiple seasons show runners get bored by the same actors.  Fresh new faces, who can act, are a gift to casting.

There are so many outlets now and so many opportunities for actors out there.  You still need to avoid the co-star trap.  It takes a a better actor to make two lines work in a script than five meaty scenes where your child is kidnapped, so casting directors are always looking for talented actors who are willing to do the two lines.  The problem is that once you do it, and keep saying yes to it, you will find it hard to cross over into the guest star space.  I have seen so many careers stalled out with twenty co stars and a frustrated actor who can't get bigger roles.  Actors are hungry and they want to work, but you need to be careful the career you structure.

You need to let your reps know that you aren't interested in doing more than two or three co stars and then you have to say NO.  There are a lot of agents out there who will balk at this, and they are the small time agents who can;t get you into the room for anything bigger.  Your opportunities will decrease but when you get in the room, it will be for things that are worth while and move the needle.  So go into the room and kill it and we will see you all the time.

Comments

  1. Thank you for this, Mark. I'm curious: where you mention that casting is often willing to take chances during episodic season, I wonder if the same is true for agents. Would reputable agents be amenable to hip-pocketing a capable fresh face during episodic season knowing that casting is willing to give them a chance? An agency's clients will of course be priority, but could it be strategic for actors to pitch themselves to agencies now as way to test the waters and develop a relationship as potential clients?

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  2. All the yes to this! It's refreshing to see an agent himself encourage actors to avoid the co-star trap!

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