The Green Room - Will You Accept Any Role?

Reply #60 - Feb 13^th, 2008 at 4:01pm

shimmer Offline
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La Mirada, CA

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kitchensinger wrote on Feb 13^th, 2008 at 3:23pm:

Here's a question along this topic that (I don't think) has been addressed yet:

If a director's looking at two people for a role, and one of them says that they will accept any role, and the other says they won't, does this influence who the director chooses for that particular role? �What I mean is, do you directors find yourselves rewarding the actor who will only accept the one role as a means of getting BOTH talented actors in your show?

In my experience, a part was between me and another girl. The director pulled me aside and said both the other girl and I said we would not accept a "lesser" role (i.e. featured ensemble vs. lead). She asked me if I would be willing to take the "lesser role" because she knew me and didn't know the other girl, and wanted us both in the production. The interesting thing is, the featured ensemble role she was offering me was actually MORE time-consuming then the lead role. For that reason, I told her I couldn't. (I was about to graduate and start my family at the time).

Fortunately, I got the role, but the other girl didn't get cast at all.

Questions like these are impossible to answer with a definitive yes or no becuase all directors are so different and it's often incumbent upon your already established working relationship with them, whether that even exists.

"Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil. " C.S. Lewis

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Reply #61 - Feb 13^th, 2008 at 4:46pm

Dotty Offline
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Alternatively, I hate it when directors disregard your response to this question and just cast you in a role you won't accept. Moreso, I am bothered when they post a cast list with you in that role rather than ask you. If I list the roles that I am interested in, and I check that I won't accept any others, I'm not kidding. If as a director, you do not feel am I qualified for the roles I list, don't just assume I'll accept others. This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. There have been several shows, where I have been placed in a role that I don't want. I hate having to track a director down to say, "Thanks, but no thanks."

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Reply #62 - Feb 13^th, 2008 at 5:06pm

The Dark Knight Ex Member
www.maniccity.tv

Dotty wrote on Feb 13^th, 2008 at 4:46pm:

Alternatively, I hate it when directors disregard your response to this question and just cast you in a role you won't accept. �Moreso, I am bothered when they post a cast list with you in that role rather than ask you. �If I list the roles that I am interested in, and I check that I won't accept any others, I'm not kidding. �If as a director, you do not feel am I qualified for the roles I list, don't just assume I'll accept others. �This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. �There have been several shows, where I have been placed in a role that I don't want. �I hate having to track a director down to say, "Thanks, but no thanks."

And you are right.

http://www.maniccity.tv/

"The power is not in the mask. It's in whether we chose to wear it."
-Peter Blustrinsky

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Reply #63 - Feb 13^th, 2008 at 5:10pm

Just J Offline
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kitchensinger wrote on Feb 13^th, 2008 at 3:23pm:

Here's a question along this topic that (I don't think) has been addressed yet:

If a director's looking at two people for a role, and one of them says that they will accept any role, and the other says they won't, does this influence who the director chooses for that particular role? What I mean is, do you directors find yourselves rewarding the actor who will only accept the one role as a means of getting BOTH talented actors in your show?

I have known at least one director who has done exactly this so it's a possibility I guess.

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Reply #64 - Feb 13^th, 2008 at 6:35pm

kitchensinger Offline
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Just J wrote on Feb 13^th, 2008 at 5:10pm:

kitchensinger wrote on Feb 13^th, 2008 at 3:23pm:

Here's a question along this topic that (I don't think) has been addressed yet:

If a director's looking at two people for a role, and one of them says that they will accept any role, and the other says they won't, does this influence who the director chooses for that particular role? �What I mean is, do you directors find yourselves rewarding the actor who will only accept the one role as a means of getting BOTH talented actors in your show?

I have known at least one director who has done exactly this so it's a possibility I guess.

Aha! �I suspected this.

I've often wondered if I say that I'll accept more than just the role I REALLY want, that I'm pretty much giving the role away to someone who marks "no." �So this question really comes down to one of strategem!

So I'm just sayin'.....if you REALLY, REALLY want a certain role, and you think you have a pretty good shot at it AND it's so important to you that you're willing to gamble not being cast at all, then methinks it seems the SMART thing to check "no...I won't accept other roles."

But that's just for all the divas....ofcourse Smiley

"I have noticed that nothing I never said ever did me any harm."--Calvin Coolidge&&&&"Some families go water skiing together; others go camping.....our family does THEME PARTIES." --my brother Ben

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Reply #65 - Feb 13^th, 2008 at 6:37pm

The Dark Knight Ex Member
www.maniccity.tv

I have this crazy idea, a staratgem, if you will, that guides me: if I'm willing to accept a differetnt part, I mark "Yes". If not, I mark "No."

http://www.maniccity.tv/

"The power is not in the mask. It's in whether we chose to wear it."
-Peter Blustrinsky

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Reply #66 - Feb 13^th, 2008 at 6:48pm

kitchensinger Offline
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Quote:

I have this crazy idea, a staratgem, if you will, that guides me: if I'm willing to accept a differetnt part, I mark "Yes". If not, I mark �"No."

Are you being sarcastic again?!

Cuz if you are, I respect that.

"I have noticed that nothing I never said ever did me any harm."--Calvin Coolidge&&&&"Some families go water skiing together; others go camping.....our family does THEME PARTIES." --my brother Ben

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Reply #67 - Feb 13^th, 2008 at 8:01pm

The Dark Knight Ex Member
www.maniccity.tv

kitchensinger wrote on Feb 13^th, 2008 at 6:48pm:

Quote:

I have this crazy idea, a staratgem, if you will, that guides me: if I'm willing to accept a differetnt part, I mark "Yes". If not, I mark �"No."

Are you being sarcastic again?!

Cuz if you are, I respect that.

Yes . . .

But, really, shouldn't that be the way it's done?

http://www.maniccity.tv/

"The power is not in the mask. It's in whether we chose to wear it."
-Peter Blustrinsky

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Reply #68 - Feb 13^th, 2008 at 8:16pm

kitchensinger Offline
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Quote:

kitchensinger wrote on Feb 13^th, 2008 at 6:48pm:

Quote:

I have this crazy idea, a staratgem, if you will, that guides me: if I'm willing to accept a differetnt part, I mark "Yes". If not, I mark �"No."

Are you being sarcastic again?!

Cuz if you are, I respect that.

Yes . . .

But, really, shouldn't that be the way it's done?

What? �Answering posts with sarcasm?

Sure.

"I have noticed that nothing I never said ever did me any harm."--Calvin Coolidge&&&&"Some families go water skiing together; others go camping.....our family does THEME PARTIES." --my brother Ben

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Reply #69 - Feb 13^th, 2008 at 8:28pm