Tuesday, July 16, 2013

From the desk of Gabby
Darlingest friends, 

A reader alerted me to this story that broke a while ago - but since gabby has never been into the world of Fantasy (other than her recurring James Franco dream), it wasn't on her radar. But after hearing it, I thought I would share.

It seems a lovely Irish lass was hired for a featured role on the hit series, "Game of Thrones." She was excited - the project paid quite well and was very popular - but when she arrived... well... she was not aware that the show has a reputation for relying on more just just their actors' talent to draw voyeurs, er, viewers in, and that her role was more set undressing than set dressing - so she walked.  You can read the article here.

I think the only real moral of this story is, like she says: "It was my own fault really because I didn’t research the show properly." I can sort of see that. And yet - what if it was a brand-new show or a pilot? Sometimes all we have to go on is what our agents tell us, and don't blame her for walking when she arrived to see the role was not as-described. But, then again, I also would not have blamed her had she stayed. I just wish we didn't seem to be headed back down the late 70's-late 80's There-Is-Nudity-In-Everything wormhole. Actors have a JOB to do. What other legal jobs (besides artist's model) expect the employees to drop trou on a regular basis? And Gabby isn't the only one who's getting a wee bit annoyed. Even one of the show's own has said:

“One of the girls in the show who got her kit off the most in the first couple of seasons now doesn’t at all because she said, ‘I want to be known for my acting not for my breasts.” (You can read that article here.)

It's always a matter of each person's taste, but a good rule of thumb it so, at least, always get paid when people ask to see the goods - especially on camera. Because those images will be around for a long, long time. For better or for worse.


Yours most sincerely,
Gabs

Monday, July 08, 2013

"I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar... After You Watch Me Get Naked, Okay?"

SPLIT (Three Roles -- NY Actors Access)
Feature Film
SAG-AFTRA (SAG terms)
Draft: 11/16/12
Executive Producer: Elizabeth XXXXX
Producers: Jen XXXXX, Troy XXXXX
Director / Writer: Deborah XXXXX
Casting Director: Sig XXXXX / Stephen XXXXX
Start Date: July 13
Location: New York City

SUBMIT ELECTRONICALLY

INANNA (Amy XXXXX)
ANJA (Anna XXXXX)
SHELLEY (Antonia XXXXX)
ATHENA (Joan XXXXX)

THE FOLLOWING ROLES PAY SAG MODIFIED LOW BUDGET SCALE + 10% AND MUST BE NY LOCAL HIRE.

STILL SEARCHING FOR:

[ BIG BREASTED STRIPPER ]

SEARCHING FOR WOMAN WITH D CUP OR BIGGER BREASTS. SHE IS A STRIPPER IN A CLUB IN QUEENS. MUST BE COMFORTABLE WITH TOPLESS NUDITY.  After her dance, she gives advice about sex to the "skinny girls"...1 speech, 1 scene  (29) 

[ NANDINI ]

SEARCHING FOR NATIVE AMERICAN WOMAN. MID 20S TO 50S. MUST BE COMFORTABLE WITH NUDITY. She is another member of the theatre company, and she talks to the group about women who are shamed for having their period...2 speeches, at least 1 scene  (81)

[ AUDRE ]

SEARCHING FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN BUTCH / STUD LESBIAN ACTRESS. MUST BE COMFORTABLE WITH NUDITY. She is another member of the theater company and she talks to the group about the injustice done to 4 young black lesbians who were convicted of gang assault and received long sentences in New York State prisons for defending themselves against street harassment...1 speech and at least 1 scene.

STORY LINE: INANNA is an aspiring actress who works as a stripper to pay the bills.  Infatuated with DEREK, a successful theatrical mask designer (Oh, that old chestnut?), Inanna is delighted when Derek falls in love with her and insists they marry.  After leaving her job (Because successful theatrical mask makers are like, so in demand and make tons of money, of course) and accepting the lead role in a theatrical re-telling of the Sumerian legend of Inanna's Descent Into The Underworld (Natch), she realizes that the play is commenting on and affecting her failing marriage, and her marriage is commenting on and affecting her performance...

Oh! The age old Life-Imitates-Art-Imitates-Life scenario! Actress-falls-for-mask-designer-and-her-upcoming-role-separates-them-and-is-also-at-the-same-time-a-commentary-on-work-separating-their-life! I need a tissue just thinking about it! I just... can't... So I won't. 

That was easy. 

Tuesday, July 02, 2013

Keeeeeepeeerrrs... Come Out To Plaaaaaaaaayyyy...

'The Keepers'

Casting notice expires: July 24, 2013 (Not soon enough)
SCRIPTED TV & VIDEO
UNION AND NONUNION
PAID
Share: (I think this means the pay is a percentage of profits? Oh... so optimistic...)
COMPANY
GSpot Productions (Of course)
David XXXXX, dir.-prod.
PRODUCTION DESCRIPTION
Casting "The Keepers," a Non-Union spec TV pilot from independent producer. Project description: "A post apocalyptic ring of gangs gear up for all out war and intense battle just before they discover the secret to their survival." 

REHEARSAL AND PRODUCTION DATES & LOCATIONS TBA

SEEKING TALENT Select a role below for more information and submission instructions.
Nobbie ( Lead): Female, 18-35, All Ethnicities, the beautiful and powerful leader of The Keepers.

Fix ( Supporting): Male, 18-48, All Ethnicities, the fearless and powerful leader of the "Punks" gang, strong physical appearance similar to Brandon Lee in "The Crow".

Worm ( Supporting): Female, 14-18, Caucasian, Hispanic, Ethnically Ambiguous / Mixed Race, the young teenage daughter of Wheelie. SShe's smarter, tougher, and more gifted than anyone realizes. She sees everything and knows a lot more. She desperately wants the war to stop and will try anything to keep Wheelie safe. She's no fool and you better not turn your back on her. Darker colors of hair preferred. The actress for this role also narrates the story. She needs to have some insight and lead ability. Her voice needs to be youthful yet stern and mature at the same time. She's young and pretty, but with a sense of responsibility.

Spoke ( Supporting): Male, 18-38, Caucasian, Hispanic, Ethnically Ambiguous / Mixed Race, looks up to his older brother, Wheelie. He would die before he let his brother or his family down. He grew up by Wheelie's side and inside the safety and protection of the Rollers. He's as hard as stone, but has his heart in the right place. He loves Nobbie and will stop at nothing to protect her.

Scrape ( Supporting): Male, 18-48, All Ethnicities, just like he sounds: smelly, sneaky, backstabbing, murderous, and criminal. He's tough and intimidating. If he can get his hands on Nobbie, he can weasel his way up to leader of the Punks.

Space ( Supporting): Male, 18-64, All Ethnicities, the close counterpart of Toast and may be his lover. Together, they often find themselves in the wrong place at the right time. Space dropped out of high school early and has bad hygiene. He has a good nose and is good at finding valuable items for trade. He forgets things a lot and often forgets where he's going. He's thin and frail and hides from trouble whenever he can.

Toast ( Supporting): Male, 18-64, All Ethnicities, the close counter-part of "Space" and may possibly be his lover. Space and Toast always seem to be in the wrong place at the right time. They are inseparable and do everything together, including getting hurt together. Fumbling, accident prone, mocking, clumsy. Should be short and over weight. Similar to Twigg and Koeler in "Pirates of the Caribbean."

AUDITIONS
Seeking submissions from: San Francisco, CA

SCRIPT EXCERPT (This is my favorite part!)

BACK TO PRIOR SCENE
WHEELIE looks… his will together with his strength collapses. NOBBIE looks about her. She screams. The two spin around trying to back away, but it’s no use. They are surrounded by 7 Punks gang members. Spoke laughs in bitterness and pity.

CU
“Scrape, you have a lot of balls showing up he…" Before he can finish, SCRAPE interjects his opinion up close in Spokes face. “Yea, well your shit for brains brother ain’t here, prince. So, what are you gonna do, huh … cry for help?”

SCRAPE looks around for approval. The rest of the Punks look at each other and smile devilishly.

CU
NOBBIE tries to be tough, but her fear forces tears into her words. “You better not touch me, Scrape! Wheelie warned you not to touch us or…" "Or what my little glamour puss!?” SCRAPE exclaims. “If you haven’t noticed, Wheelie in the sky is failing to keep the peace! Soon, Stone and the Mayor will have nothing to hide behind, and you my little plum cake… will be all MINE.”

MEDIUM SHOT
NOBBIE shrieks then looks at Scrape in hatred and disgust. Scrape motions and the Punks grab the two lovers. “Which one should we rape first, Scrape?” Laughter surrounds them, but then suddenly SPOKE makes a quick move. He lets out a breath, lunges forward escaping the hold, and smashes Scrapes big toe with the foot of his heel. Scrape screams in agony. Then in slow motion, Spoke spins around and elbows Scrape sharply in the nose… killing him instantly. The sound of his nose penetrating his skull travels to the ears and the gaping open wide mouths of the Punks as they watch their powerful Captain humiliatingly die before their eyes. Then, Scrape and his lifeless body free fall to his knees and then to the ground...

Pure gold.