pre-production New filmmaker looking for advice

T

Thanks4theadvice

Does anyone know forums or resources where I can look for or find a casting director, an attorney and a location scout for my first feature?

Are there websites besides backstage that anyone recommends for casting?

Any other resources anyone suggests I check out? Thanks for your help!!!
 
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indietalk said:
So if a brand new company wants to hire you, and they have no track record and the CEO is a no name, but they offer you a decent salary you just take that job, no problem?
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What you’re saying and what I’m asking for are two separate things. I’m asking people with no experience (who want to act) for a week to film a short film for $1,000. I thought everyone just wanted to act because it’s their passion. Haha
 
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We're not saying different things. I'm trying to tell you the "no experience" thing doesn't matter. Offering them money doesn't mean they will jump on your film without knowing more about you and it. Unless, perhaps they are not actors, and they stumble upon your ad as some extra cash and it's the only film they do, and after it they go back to their day job, or whatever. But I think since you mentioned Backstage you are talking about real actors and new actors. So yes, expect them to care! That's a good thing.
 
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Thanks4theadvice said:
I’m in New York. Im offering $1,000 for a weeks worth of shooting for a short film and everyone wants to see my previous work and prove my legitimacy immediately. It’s like they’re casting me. Not the other way around.

I even make it clear they will get paid up front.

People want to see websites and social media for my production company. It’s like what do you mean? This is my first project.

What am I doing wrong? Thanks for your feedback.
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It's hard to say what you're doing wrong - but it's clearly something since everyone
you make this offer to is rejecting it. I understand a few people but everyone?

Right now you aren't going through a casting director - only using Backstage.
Did you hold auditions? Where did you hold these auditions?
Do you have a firm start date for the week of work?
Do you have the location for the week of work?
Do you have a crew (and equipment) lined up for that week?

Perhaps people are asking you to prove your legitimacy because you haven't
done a few of those things?
 
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Thanks4theadvice said:
it’s baffling to me because I’m not trying to cast anyone that has an extensive amount of experience. I’m casting people with no experience at all from Backstage. So why is the burden on me to prove my legitimacy when there’s nothing to back up any of the actors legitimacy?
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Because you're the one offering the job. It's as simple as that. Whether an actor has no experience at all or has been in the business for fifty years, anything they sign up for will be on their record somewhere. Imagine one of your no-experience actors turns down a one-day gig in favour of your week, only to find out later it takes you five years to complete the project. That's a waste of their time, even if they were paid up front.

There's also the question of how serious are you, if you haven't/can't manage to put a website together. You might not have much movie-making experience, but - like when writing a CV - you still need to present yourself as a competent professional, as judged by the industry as a whole. If you have the money to pay an actor, you have more than enough to set up a good quality website with enough information to show that the project is ready to shoot.
 
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