What is your acting type?
If you are an actor who is a “leading man” type, please let me know. And I do mean it!
…Because I really cannot believe my own eyes.
More than once, now, I have seen, in print, how casting directors in Hollywood cannot find actors that are this certain type:
:: Leading Male Actor Types–That Can Play A “Man” ::
They’re not kidding, about that.
More Than A Leading Man Type
Well, frankly, I’m not kidding either; when I ask you to please let me know, because…Hollywood (and nearby areas) has a so many actors. And there are so many talented actors, all across the country, as well!
Kaaa-zillions.
Remember Anne Thompson, whose column I put in a widget, a couple of posts back? This is what she wrote, yesterday (Oct 30), in her blog called “Thompson On Hollywood On Variety” about Jon Hamm, of Mad Men:
We already know that he has the sex appeal of a leading man. Now we know that Hamm can do an imitation of James Mason, or light comedy. When I saw him standing in front of an American flag, I thought, “Superman.” Yes, I know he’s too old, but Hollywood could use a guy like this. Strong, dangerous, mysterious, romantic, funny.
Two casting directors over at Disney features, Marcia Ross and Gail Goldberg, are high on him. “We think Jon Hamm has the potential to be a movie star,” says Ross. “He could do the sorts of parts George Clooney plays. If you look at Jon’s work on SNL, he adds funny and charming to the edge and danger he displays on Mad Men. He’s handsome but accessible. He has a lot of personal warmth, like George. We need these substantial good-looking, charming, masculine leading men. There’s a dearth of them out there.”
John Hamm Leading Male
Talented Actors That Can’t Get A Break
Most of them not only can’t get an acting job…
Most actors can’t even “break in” far enough, to even get to any film studio audition! Disney or otherwise!
They may have never met a real casting director, or at least one who can cast them into a major Hollywood movie.
Daniel Craig, Not American
Hollywood casting directors, automatically now, are actually going to other countries to import a certain type: “men”-types, stating that they can’t find actors who can play them here, we don’t have them here.
( I could probably find more than a few Hollywood women who would line up, to try that role, as a character stretch! I’d bet, some would be enormously convincing…)
Outright, the casting directors are saying that they just can’t find anyone “like Steve McQueen”…
Prototype -Steve McQueen
They’re not looking for a “Schwarzenegger”, by the way. They simply mean: a guy who looks like a man, and not like a boy. Not in looks, and not in personality. And who can act. That’s it. Period. C’mon! We must have these actors, here, in the States…what about Canada? Uh…Alaska??
Most Actors Don’t Even Have Good Representation
It is very sad, because there are many, many talented actors without any representation. Actors, of all types, at all stages of their careers; have a difficult time getting agents and managers to represent them. It’s a fact of this business.
The Hollywood System just doesn’t let all the good ones in. Doesn’t actually have a way for talent to be “found”. Really. Not that anyone is even looking for undiscovered talent, because they actually are not.
There are doors, in this business, that for most actors, are impossible to get near. It’s just become that. It’s wierd; there is just not a viable ladder to climb, no clear way to struggle up. There’s no flat-out, “how-to-for-beginners method”, that makes sense. Unlike any other career.
It’s so abstract, here, that it’s hard to write about. But it is that way. I’ve been on both sides, and I know. There are thousands of talented actors out there; many with developed acting skills….and they have never been inside a Hollywood Agent’s Office; nor an extremely-fancy-Beverly-Hills-mega-corporation-Talent-Agency-with-guards-at-the-doors. And they may never be.
Not getting in those doors does not mean they are not talented actors. Illogical, as it may seem. Surely, some of those actors may be able to play men. Actors, living right here, in L.A. And elsewhere, across the continent…
Golly. It seems absurd, the whole notion. Doesn’t it?
Maybe it’s true, that they don’t exist…but, I don’t think so.
A Hollywood-Actor-Prep-Mission Is To Improve Things, For Actors
One of my goals, with this blog, is to make things better for actors. Really. That is what motivated me to start Hollywood Actor Prep.
I have always known that there are actors who just don’t get a chance. Anyone who has ever been in a decent acting class here, is well-aware of that. So, right now may be a chance for a whole bunch of actors, of a certain type.
So, can we take the bulls-by-the-horns, here, please?
First step, let’s have the bulls show up…
Everyone, Please Register…
In the right sidebar of this blog, you’ll see where it says : “Register with Dana“.
That’s where you “sign in” to my blog, to be a registered subscriber. There is a little area there, where you can write something. (Please register, whatever actor-type you are, it’s in case I change my “blogfeed, etc…)
If you are a “leading man type” of actor, and you are sure that is your category, and you are really, truly an actor, then please:
- First, get a video of yourself on YouTube…and then…
- Register here, on the sidebar, and in that little optional area where you can write, on the registration page: put in your YouTube web address link, where your video can be seen.
Keep the video short and simple please. If you are the right type, it will show, right off. (Remember my Marlon Brando video? …how he stood there, and told his name and his credits, face in front of the camera, well lit? That’s all. Unless, you have some good tape or film of yourself acting… well then, by all means, add that too. )
Why do I specify real actors with experience and/or training? Because that is only level of actor who the casting directors ever audition for major films. They just won’t regard amateurs seriously.
Spread This Word
If you are an actor, or if you know any actors, you might want to let them know. Email them this post–so they can know too, or tell someone that they know who may be just right for this.
The more the better, too; because casting people just can’t realize how many talented people are out there, unless they see ‘em. With their own eyes…It’s easy to become short-sighted, here in Hollywood. It’s not hard to expand someone’s vision, when there’s something to show…
I can’t claim to do anything to change Disney, or casting-in-Hollywood. So, don’t go thinking that Dana Kaminski is going to cast you, because I can’t do that, and don’t have those qualifications. ( I am required to post this disclaimer, legally.)
However, I certainly can call some contacts, and ask them to take a look. Wouldn’t it be great to give them something to see? I would love to start making things more possible for actors…
:: It’s real simple: I just believe there is so much talent, that never gets a chance. ::
I’ll even call Disney. And Variety.
Best,
:-Dana
PS Have I mentioned that I really enjoy this community, here…And that I am so grateful that you came to my blog? I really am.
Thank you.
NEWS-TYPE ALERT:
There’s An Even Bigger Reason To Galvanize Actors Now…
Something BIG and IMPORTANT is happening right now, and it will has to do with actors.
It’s urgent, now, because there’s lots of pressure regarding SAG, about compromising. As I said, I’d like to do something about making actors’ lives a little better; I think we all can.
I will be letting you know, more, in the next few days. So please check back…
