[NEohioPAL]Please Post - Oh Joel you 'ol Coot.!

[RICK FERGUSON]

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Dear Mr. Sternfeld. I hope you can find it in your heart to post my response to Joel and Cleveland. 
 
Dear Cleveland 
 
Well don't I just look like the biggest jerk on the planet. Seems that Mr. Nunley has taken it upon himself to forward a private email I sent to him, and make it public. (Strangely allowed to be posted even after the deadline for discussions on this topic were closed) 
 
I do however stand by what I said, but I probably would have chosen my words more carefully had I known the entire bulletin board was going to see it. Yes what I said was probably a little harsh. And I have met some actors in Cleveland that deserve to get paid for their work.  But believe it or not, they realize that by living in Cleveland its very unlikely they can support themselves by just acting. Most subsidize their love of the artform by teaching or other day jobs. And I know of a few that yes probably make most of their living by acting in Cleveland, but they are the exception. There have been film and TV shows that have come through town and HAVE paid local actors who were worth the money. 
 
There is lots of talented actors in Cleveland, I had the pleasure of working with many of them, and think that if any one of them wanted to earn a living solely as an actor they could definitely do so - but in a different town. I never exploited their talents for my own gain, and appreciated every minute of their time they could give to my self-financed projects. I leanred alot by watching them and performing with them. But there are also a lot of people who do not, even some of those who claim to be professional, really are aweful. I know that's hard to hear, but its true. 
 
I too love to act, and learned alot from the shows I put on and the films I made. I never expected to get paid for it, but learned enough, and developed my skills enough that now that I live in a city with more opportunity for that type of work, I could eventually get paid for it. 
 
Below was my actual response to the NEohioPAL list that was rejected because the discussion had already closed. I believe the original heading was "I need a surgeon - Will you work for Free"
 
<"To equate the "job" of acting to that of a surgeon is
horribly self indulgent. 

Any yahoo in the world can call themselves an actor. 

Acting will never be as important as surgery. Although
I suppose I could act like I'm a surgeon. I wonder if
I'll get any "jobs" then?">

Kinda sarcastic and snarky, but I was ticked off.

So thank you Mr Nunley, your actions were petty and vindictive, but I learned my lesson. I am heartened by the fact I have recieved more emails in support of my note to you than emails condemning me and swearing at me. Out of respect for those who sent me nasty emails and nice emails, I won't re-post them here. 

And for the record I DO NOT work at WOIO and I NO LONGER live in Cleveland. I took all the skills I learned working as an unpaid actor and director and moved to a town where I feel there is a better chance of me getting paid for it. 
I apologize to all those I've worked with if my words offended anyone, but those who know me, know I often say stuff that gets me in trouble. But I must re-iterate my note to Mr. Nunley was not meant for public eyes. You got me there Joel! 

Best of luck to you all

Rick Ferguson Jerk extraordinaire.



"Believe me, there are days when I wish I wasn't so goddamn delicious."   7/22/04
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<DIV>
<DIV>Dear Mr. Sternfeld. I hope you can find it in your heart to post my response to Joel and Cleveland. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Dear Cleveland </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Well don't I just look like the biggest jerk on the planet. Seems that Mr. Nunley has taken it upon himself to forward a private email I sent to him, and make it public. (Strangely allowed to be posted even after the deadline for discussions on this topic were closed) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I do however stand by what I said, but I probably would have chosen my words more carefully had I known the entire bulletin board was going to see it. Yes what I said was probably a little harsh. And I <EM>have</EM> met some actors in Cleveland that deserve to get paid for their work.  But believe it or not, they realize that by living in Cleveland its very unlikely they can support themselves by just acting. Most subsidize their love of the artform by teaching or other day jobs. And I know of a few that yes probably make most of their living by acting in Cleveland, but they are the exception. There have been film and TV shows that have come through town and HAVE paid local actors who were worth the money. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>There is lots of talented actors in Cleveland, I had the pleasure of working with many of them, and think that if any one of them wanted to earn a living solely as an actor they could definitely do so - but in a different town. I never exploited their talents for my own gain, and appreciated every minute of their time they could give to my self-financed projects. I leanred alot by watching them and performing with them. But there are also a lot of people who do not, even some of those who claim to be professional, really are aweful. I know that's hard to hear, but its true. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I too love to act, and learned alot from the shows I put on and the films I made. I never expected to get paid for it, but learned enough, and developed my skills enough that now that I live in a city with more opportunity for that type of work, I could eventually get paid for it. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Below was my actual response to the NEohioPAL list that was rejected because the discussion had already closed. I believe the original heading was "I need a surgeon - Will you work for Free"</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=courier><"To equate the "job" of acting to that of a surgeon is<BR>horribly self indulgent. <BR><BR>Any yahoo in the world can call themselves an actor. <BR><BR>Acting will never be as important as surgery. Although<BR>I suppose I could act like I'm a surgeon. I wonder if<BR>I'll get any "jobs" then?"></FONT></DIV>
<P><FONT face=arial>Kinda sarcastic and snarky, but I was ticked off.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=courier><FONT face=arial>So thank you Mr Nunley, your actions were petty and vindictive, but I learned my lesson. I am heartened by the fact I have recieved more emails in support of my note to you than emails condemning me and swearing at me. Out of respect for those who sent me nasty emails and nice emails, I won't re-post them here. </FONT></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=courier><FONT face=arial>And for the record I DO NOT work at WOIO and I NO LONGER live in Cleveland. I took all the skills I learned working as an unpaid actor and director and moved to a town where I feel there is a better chance of me getting paid for it. </FONT></P>
<DIV><FONT face=arial>I apologize to all those I've worked with if my words offended anyone, but those who know me, know I often say stuff that gets me in trouble. But I must re-iterate my note to Mr. Nunley was not meant for public eyes. You got me there Joel! </FONT></DIV>
<P><FONT face=arial>Best of luck to you all</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=arial>Rick Ferguson </FONT><FONT face=arial><EM>Jerk extraordinaire.</EM></FONT></P></FONT></DIV><BR><BR>"Believe me, there are days when I wish I wasn't so goddamn delicious."   7/22/04<p>__________________________________________________<br>Do You Yahoo!?<br>Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around <br>http://mail.yahoo.com 
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