Post by MJ Ferruzza on Jun 24, 2007 11:25:31 GMT -5
Friends all over the Place: Actor & Comedian
As a commercial actor, I have always relied on my agent/s to be professional and forthright when it came to contractual negotiations and the protection of my likeness used in ads for TV, print and radio. But in the years I have been a casting director and worked with many agents and managers, I have come to realize that agents are in the dark about a job (project) about half of the time. Let me explain...
I was called in to do a TV ad for a water park located in Florida. The TV ad was going to be filmed here in the Midwest. A simple (funny) ad where 'average joe' opens mailbox and gets deluged by a flood of water. And then finds a coupon for the water park inside the now dripping mailbox. It was quite an explosive, wet afternoon of filming. The production company provided 10 of the same red polo shirts believing I was going to need that many for re-takes. The house was in a nice neighborhood. The woman who owned the house could not have been any nicer, as she demanded that I stand, freeze and dress in her garage between takes. This was late March and her reasoning was that by standing in her garage I would not get her carpet wet. Of course, I watched as the film production crew went in and out of her house dealing with electrical plugs and issues, kraft services or just to keep warm. And all the while dragging mud in with them everytime they stepped inside on that carpet.
But this is the story of my relationship with stand up comedians. As a professional actor, I have met all kinds of talented people in the entertainment industry. I have always been drawn to comedy and have performed primarily as a comic actor ever since I started out. I have been in some very funny projects, plays and ads. Along the way I have met quite a number of comedians and stand-up comics. Many of whom I am still close with today. I used to do stand-up comedy in college. It paid the bills after working some during vacation breaks. I used to write for a comedian friend of mine (who recently died of cancer, but never died on stage "wop- bop-hey!") and in return would let me do quite a few of the gigs on dates he could not make. (Management was ok with this for some strange reason.)
Here are a few things I know about stand up comedy:
1. Your routine is your 'friend'.
2. Don't screw around and lose, abuse or misuse your 'friend'!
3. Never steal another comedian's 'friend'
4. And...While touring...you are going to watch a lot of TV!
Now here is why #4 has always been important. Since stand-up comedians travel and watch a lot of television. They have (over the years) been able to tell me when they have seen me in a commercial and better yet,where. Case in point, the water park commercial. I was told that it was only going to be shown in a local Florida market. A comedian friend of mine told me he saw it in Texas and Los Angeles. Using this information, I was able to contact my agent and re-negotiate a new and better deal with the producers. More than tripling my original fee. My friendship and respect for stand-up comedians has been quite rewarding in more ways than one. And another reason I tell talent to show a little respect to those in other aspects of the business.
As a commercial actor, I have always relied on my agent/s to be professional and forthright when it came to contractual negotiations and the protection of my likeness used in ads for TV, print and radio. But in the years I have been a casting director and worked with many agents and managers, I have come to realize that agents are in the dark about a job (project) about half of the time. Let me explain...
I was called in to do a TV ad for a water park located in Florida. The TV ad was going to be filmed here in the Midwest. A simple (funny) ad where 'average joe' opens mailbox and gets deluged by a flood of water. And then finds a coupon for the water park inside the now dripping mailbox. It was quite an explosive, wet afternoon of filming. The production company provided 10 of the same red polo shirts believing I was going to need that many for re-takes. The house was in a nice neighborhood. The woman who owned the house could not have been any nicer, as she demanded that I stand, freeze and dress in her garage between takes. This was late March and her reasoning was that by standing in her garage I would not get her carpet wet. Of course, I watched as the film production crew went in and out of her house dealing with electrical plugs and issues, kraft services or just to keep warm. And all the while dragging mud in with them everytime they stepped inside on that carpet.
But this is the story of my relationship with stand up comedians. As a professional actor, I have met all kinds of talented people in the entertainment industry. I have always been drawn to comedy and have performed primarily as a comic actor ever since I started out. I have been in some very funny projects, plays and ads. Along the way I have met quite a number of comedians and stand-up comics. Many of whom I am still close with today. I used to do stand-up comedy in college. It paid the bills after working some during vacation breaks. I used to write for a comedian friend of mine (who recently died of cancer, but never died on stage "wop- bop-hey!") and in return would let me do quite a few of the gigs on dates he could not make. (Management was ok with this for some strange reason.)
Here are a few things I know about stand up comedy:
1. Your routine is your 'friend'.
2. Don't screw around and lose, abuse or misuse your 'friend'!
3. Never steal another comedian's 'friend'
4. And...While touring...you are going to watch a lot of TV!
Now here is why #4 has always been important. Since stand-up comedians travel and watch a lot of television. They have (over the years) been able to tell me when they have seen me in a commercial and better yet,where. Case in point, the water park commercial. I was told that it was only going to be shown in a local Florida market. A comedian friend of mine told me he saw it in Texas and Los Angeles. Using this information, I was able to contact my agent and re-negotiate a new and better deal with the producers. More than tripling my original fee. My friendship and respect for stand-up comedians has been quite rewarding in more ways than one. And another reason I tell talent to show a little respect to those in other aspects of the business.