Acting in the Time of Covid

   

 Oh how I wish I had the answers.  The questions come at a fast a furious pace. Everyone I know is getting them and everyone I know is asking them. "When will the work come back?"  "What will the set look like?"  "How do i get my carrier going during Covid?"  All are viable and important questions and if anyone tells you they have the answers, they are lying.

    I was one of the early believers that we would be back to work sooner rather than later.  I thought the government would figure out that the economic consequences were going to be devastating and putting people back to work would become imperative.  I was quickly proved wrong.  Now we sit and we wait.  Enough work trickles in to keep our appetite whetted, and our reduced staff ends up doing a whole lot more work on fewer jobs because of the new normal.  Each small job requires an endless number of emails.  Reminder emails to clients to get their self tapes done.  Answer a ton of questions on how casting wants their self tapes. Gathering those tapes and getting them to casting.  Researching each jobs safety precautions.  The day fills up.  Some days.  We look toward the future and see some productions going back to work.  Now we hold our breaths and hope that those production bubbles hold, knowing that the first shutdown or explosion in cases on a set can shut down the whole business again.  We are hopeful they stand up and more shows move forward.

    Sets are a new experience, though I won't get to one anytime soon, as agents and all visitors are banned.  Understandably so.  Masks are being worn.  Test are being requires on some.  We have invented a new role on set, Covid Safety Coordinator.  Extras are going to feel the pain and crews will be smaller.  I have clients that are happy to go back to work, but more are reticent and fearful of the way of life they knew so well.  Jobs that travel bring a whole new anxiety.  We need to research the infection rates in places like Utah and Pennsylvania, not traditional shooting hubs.  Every new job brings a new set of questions. 

    The face of our business is changing. Agencies are closing.  Some are giving up their office space.  Some agents have left the business and more actors have left.  There is an Exodus out of both Los Angeles and New York.  There is so little work that we are all reluctant to take on new clients when we are struggling to find work for the clients we have.  With all that against you, how do you try to find an agent in this apocalyptic scenario.  There is good news. (Way to bury the lead).  There is no right way anymore.  You get the chance to reinvent how things are done.  GO for it.  Find that new and inventive way to get to us.  Create in whatever way you can.  In today's pandemic world the quality doesn't mean as much anymore.  The content is king.  The internet and social media have grown in power, if that is even possible.  The playing field is a bit more level and once we are back up and running, the herd has been thinned.

    Keep in mind that this is all just one asshole's opinion.

    Be safe!