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OK, so I have no idea about what the industry is all about but recently I've made friends with comics, model and actions and to this day I do understand just how all that they've done they really have nothing to show for it; material wise. I do not mean to say that they should just do it to break into fame or money, but that when are they going to figure out that it might not be as lucrative a venture as they thought.
I don't get it though. They all have agents, IMDB profiles, youtube pages, websites, tour, do shows, go to auditions. How on Earth do some of them still share apartments, have no car, work a part time job, live off of savings, are still doing short films?
1.) How come a lot of them are so supportive of each other, when to any regular joe they can see that their comedy sucks? Is it normal to be so fake around each other?
2.) How did one guy I know do a nationwide tour, a cable special and does regular gigs around town but cannot live without the help of his father?
Do these gigs, jobs pay close to nothing? Are their agents lazy?
Just what is the truth behind this industry? Because I am afraid to ask them. I just assume this is all so by hanging around them.
Last edited by BarcelonaFan; 08-17-2012 at 05:45 PM..
Think about how many young female actresses you can name, like Kristen Stewart, Blake Lively, etc. Maybe 20 or so? Now consider that there are THOUSANDS of young actresses in L.A. trying to launch an acting career. I think it's really just a case of the VERY few making a ton of money and the majority just getting by. The median income of a Screen Actors Guild member is about $ 50,000 minus agent fees, manager fees, etc. I once appraised the home of a young supporting actress who you would recognize. My standard line when meeting famous people is, "Wow, it must be cool to be you." She replied, " Yeah, so cool that I haven't worked in 3 years and I have to refinance my house to eat." Pretty much says it all.
Does the work pay that low? I mean how does one do modeling, acting and then comedy, not only that but commercials and then not have a car, rooming with two other people, and needing a second job?
Is the field just so competitive? Or does it really have to do with a lack of talent?
I mean I look at these actors like they're living the dream while they're thinking it's great I have a steady office job and am going back to school.
OK, so I have no idea about what the industry is all about but recently I've made friends with comics, model and actions and to this day I do understand just how all that they've done they really have nothing to show for it; material wise. I do not mean to say that they should just do it to break into fame or money, but that when are they going to figure out that it might not be as lucrative a venture as they thought.
I don't get it though. They all have agents, IMDB profiles, youtube pages, websites, tour, do shows, go to auditions. How on Earth do some of them still share apartments, have no car, work a part time job, live off of savings, are still doing short films?
1.) How come a lot of them are so supportive of each other, when to any regular joe they can see that their comedy sucks? Is it normal to be so fake around each other?
2.) How did one guy I know do a nationwide tour, a cable special and does regular gigs around town but cannot live without the help of his father?
Do these gigs, jobs pay close to nothing? Are their agents lazy?
Just what is the truth behind this industry? Because I am afraid to ask them. I just assume this is all so by hanging around them.
My brother works in the industry as a writer for A&E, the Discovery Channel and other programs. He has been working steady for the past 20 years because (a) he works cheap (maybe $8000-$10,000 a show) and (b) he's very good/dependable.
He has several friends in the industry that are well-known and occasionally gets to hobnob at parities with the rich and famous.
According to him nepotism is a HUGE factor in who gets what esp. when it comes to the supporting cast.
If nepotism isn't in play a lot depends on the appearance of the actor or actress.
Do they have the look which the producer, writer, director have in mind?
Last in line is talent.
To be sure the cream rises to the top. However, the talent margin between the majority of actors and actresses often isn't that great.
Or to put it another way many who make it are simply lucky and those who don't aren't.
Well how much of it is talent? Because some of these guys I've met doing comedy totally suck or are mediocre, yet they have agents, done shows and some sketch stuff. One guy I know has his own website.
While I thought this was enough to pay the bills, he still has to live off his parents.
But the point us if they have all that I listed but they're still struggling, are they "working actors"?
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