[NEohioPAL]Got Pay Meeting-Another opinion

[sunshine]

I just do stand up comedy and improvisational acting and I did two short
films, at no pay, one of which never made it out of the camera I think.
I started standup over 3 years ago.  I many times do not get paid to
perform but it's because I need to do that in my chosen profession to get
exposure and to get better.  In New York City, comedians starting out are
asked at times to PAY for stage time.
The point is, I agree with the posts about "paying ones dues", learning
the art form, and doing what you believe you need to do to make yourself
better, so you can be successful and then get paid.
I read these posts looking for unpaid talent all the time, and the only
one I've ever been quite shocked about is the one from a certain local TV
station looking for unpaid talent to do a promo spot for the station. I
thought that was dead wrong and pretentious and insulting and rude to all
of you, and I don't think anyone should have responded.  Otherwise, you do
what you have to do, so one day, with perserverence, hard work, and luck,
you can do what you want to do.
for what it's worth, that's my two cents
-Mike W.


> Dear Shelly - I have no intention of getting into a debate with you over
> whether of not your meeting was "successful" - If you want to think it
> was, go
> ahead.  Perhaps you didn't speak to the many who were highly offended.  We
> obviously have two very different views of the world.  I respect your
> right to have
> yours, please grant me the same courtesy.
>
> Your letter to me was sarcastic and somewhat caustic.  My letter was in no
> way intended as a "resume."  I stated my background only to emphasize my
> individual points.
>
> Regarding your sarcastic comments about my union status, FYI - I did not
> pursue acting assertively in Chicago because I was busy raising children.
> I
> became AFTRA immediately upon moving to Cleveland in 1990.  I did not
> pursue SAG
> until recently.  Once I did, I did two SAG projects within 4 years and
> waiting
> for my third to before joining.   In case you haven't looked recently,
> there is
> not a lot of SAG work available around here, and my 40+ age range makes
> getting work a little tougher.  Have you ever been cast in an Oscar
> nominated film?
>
> You seem to have missed my point ENTIRELY that I AGREE no one should work
> free for commercials or ANY project which generates money.   I disagreed
> with the
> angry tone of the meeting and the attack on independent film makers.  I
> was
> not alone in my observations.
>
> Your letter to me was sarcastic and angry.  I'm sorry if you have a hard
> time
> with someone expressing a different point of view.
>
> Peace
> Mary Faktor (the actor)
>
>
>
>>
>> Our effort is to lift up our occupation  so that people like Mary won't
>> spend their lives hoping to become SAG and be paid well.
>> I do free projects for artistic reasons, and for my friends who do not
>> intend to make a profit off of me.
>> We want this movement to be positive. It may not always be pretty,
>> because
>> we are fighting some myopic views about the worth of talent. Stay tuned
>> for
>> our progress on just one major breakthrough on a recent call for free
>> actors.
>>
>
>