Posts

Showing posts with the label actor

PRODUCTION JOURNAL: Lead Actors Should Do What Peter Coyote Recommends

Image
Actor, Peter Coyote, has written a letter that I think should be spread far and wide. Read it in full here . My favorite part* is the recommendation he makes, which is this: There is a simple way leading actors might bring a second, more flexible and targeted weapon into the fray on behalf of your colleagues which incidentally, would provide the ancillary benefit of insuring that you consistently play opposite actors of the highest caliber. If you were to include language in your contracts specifying that, in your films, the “quotes” of your peers must be recognized as a negotiating floor for their compensation, if you publicized that fact, and, if you kicked back a modest amount, say on salaries over six million dollars a film to make that money available, each and every actor negotiating to play opposite you would be empowered to demand the fair compensation that he or she has won for their work. (my bold ) People in general, and specifically lawyers, are accustomed to doin

PRODUCTION TIPS: What is a Loan-Out Company? And Should I Form One?

Although I wrote this originally for El Blog de HOLA with actors in mind, loan-out companies are used by artists and entertainers of all stripes; directors, musicians, writers, producers, fashion designers, etc. Therefore, the following below is beneficial to you too if you have reached a certain level of success in the arts and entertainment industries. +++++++ “I’ve heard that a lot of Hollywood actors have a loan-out company for their acting services. What is a loan-out company and should I form one?” A loan-out company is a business entity formed by entertainers like actors, musicians, directors, producers, etc. (“owner”) to provide their services under the guise of  “employee” to a third party like a studio, production company, television network, record label, etc. Although usually a C corporation (one that is taxed separately from its owners), the loan-out can be an LLC (limited liability company)or an S corporation. It is called a loan-out because the company “le

PRODUCTION TIPS: How to Protect Yourself if You Are a Non-Union Actor

I have recently started a  series  for HOLA (the Hispanic Organization of Latino Actors) on  El Blog de HOLA  based on business and legal questions actors have. “If I choose to work in a nonunion film (one that is not SAG-AFTRA), what key contract terms or clauses should I look out for to protect myself?” Here’s something that any working actor can tell you: there are many more nonunion roles than there are SAG-AFTRA roles. So, actors, in a quest to build their credits, gain experience, make themselves visible and hone their craft will take on a nonunion role if they find it in their interest to do so. Whether they should or not is another story but assuming they do there are some things an actor should look out for to protect themselves from unscrupulous or sleazy producers. • Put it in writing. While it is true that oral agreements are enforceable, if it’s not on paper, your job to prove you were promised something for your work in a production becomes that much harder.

PRODUCTION TIPS: Lessons from 4 Veteran Filmmakers (Fuller, Altman, Eastwood and Stone)

Image
One of the things that struck me from my time in the USMC was that if my platoon had somehow been tasked with making a movie, we would deliver an Academy Award-worthy production way under-budget and way ahead-of-schedule. That's just the the kind of motivation and morale that almost seems intrinsic to being in the armed forces.  I think about my time in the Marines whenever I am behind the camera and draw on those experiences on everything from how to motivate the cast and crew to staying focused on the aesthetic and logistical mission at hand even when the stresses build.   I wonder too how much four of my favorite American film directors,  Samuel Fuller (served in the US Army, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division during World War 2), Robert Altman (served in the US Army Air Forces, 307th Bomb Group during World War 2), Clint Eastwood (served in the US Army) and Oliver Stone (served in the US Army, 25th Infantry Division then with the 1st Cavalry Division duri

PRODUCTION JOURNAL: Un Certain Regard 2014 with trailers, reviews & sales history (as of 5.23.14)

Image
UN CERTAIN REGARD 2014 Un Certain Regard 2014 presented in competition 20 films hailing from 23 different countries. Seven of the works were first films. The Opening film was  Party Girl  by Marie Amachoukeli, Claire Burger and Samuel Theis. Under the presidency of Pablo Trapero (director - Argentina), the Jury was comprised of Peter Becker (president of The Criterion Collection - USA), Maria Bonnevie (actress - Norway/Sweden), Géraldine Pailhas (actress - France), Moussa Touré (director - Sénégal).  The Jury was honored and delighted to have been able to view over ten days so many excellent films testifying to the diversity and vitality of filmmaking in the world today. They were also impressed by the vision and originality of the works presented. PRIZE OF UN CERTAIN REGARD FEHÉR ISTEN / WHITE GOD  by Kornél Mundruczó ( trailer ) ( review ) Rights  sold by the Match Factory to multiple territories JURY PRIZE TURIST * / FORCE MAJEURE   by Ruben Östlund  ( traile