Your Agent Doesn't Hate You

I read this awesome post in Backstage and loved it.  Secret Agent Man is pretty straightforward.  Read why  Your Agent Doesn't Hate You . In fact, they probably like you quite a lot.  What they don't like, is what is known in this industry as flakiness. And yes, everyone experiences it in every walk of life but actors are a special brand.  You would think that in a field where the competition is so intense for so few jobs, we'd be the most reliable people on the planet. But we're not.  And we give a bad name to ourselves because of it.


I first ran into this problem, actually, outside of the film industry.  I was interviewing at a temp agency for that ever needed survival job (see My Other Job as to why I don't need to do that anymore) and when the question of acting came up, it was like something the size of the Berlin Wall sprang up.  My interviewer's face became cold and our rapport immediately fell flat.  She resolutely told me, "We don't work with your sort of people".  I remember a moment of silence and then some awkwardness as the interview came to it's obvious end.  And when I got home, I got mad.  You don't work with my sort of people?  You. Don't. Work. With. MY. Sort. Of. People.  Well, screw you.  Not all of my people are like that.  Some of the hardest working and reliable people I know are actors and film industry people.  Who else willing works 14 hour days for a teeny tiny bit of money (if anything at all) for months at a time and loves it?  No one, I say, no one.


But as I've gotten to know more people in this industry, I see where this stereotype comes from.  And it sucks.  We are flaky and it's just not fair to those on our teams.  Our agents, managers, publicists, favourite casting directors go to bat for us everyday.  They depend on our performance for a living.  Maybe we owe it to them to man up and treat this like a career.  You know, one where you actually have to be disciplined and show up.  And then, maybe you'll stop wondering if your agent hates you.


Happy creating!

And the nominees are...

The Oscar nominations are in!  And surprise, surprise "The King's Speech" tops the noms.  I haven't seen this movie yet but can't wait to see it.  I have loved Colin Firth's work in almost everything I've seen him in so it doesn't surprise me that the Academy (and evidently every other major award giving body) is acknowledging him for this performance.


Then, of course, there's "Black Swan".  I tried desperately to go see this film at TIFF in September but given the buzz around it then and now, I should not have been surprised to find it sold out.  For those of you that know me, it shouldn't be shocking that I would want to see a ballet thriller, psycho-drama.   Natalie Portman, like Mr. Firth, is just awesome and has been for years.  While the majority of my age group in high school and early university were going on about current hearthrobs and the Lindsay Lohan's of the day, I loved Natalie and her talent.  So it's really about time she wins!


Now when it comes to the actual Best Picture category, I have a hard time playing favourites.  I loved "The Social Network" and "Inception" blew my mind like everyone else.  And the Academy loves true story dramas so "127 Hours" could take it too. I also haven't seen "Toy Story 3" but I love the fact that an animated feature made the list.  Perhaps Woody and Buzz deserve it too.


It's a hard call but one that I enjoy getting into every year.  At least there aren't any blue, cat-eyed people this year.


Happ creating!






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