actor 123?

[w.pasman]

I am looking for tips on how to acquire the right actors.

I would like to shoot a short movie (about a minute) for which have specific ideas about how the people should look like, how they should move, what they should wear etc. There is nothing spectacular about the movements I want them to make or the things they have to act, but it *has* to look normal and authentic.

For one part I also would need a young actor, age around 10. I guess working with kids as actors is more difficult. How do the parents influence his/her acting, are parents supposed to guide their kid on the set, how does that all work ?

[Terfyn]

Do you Amateur Dramatic societies locally? We had a very successful collaberation between the local Video Club and an Amateur Dramatic group

[Worley]

Yes, check your local amateur dramatics society - there may be a junior society, too, who would be willing to loan out a child.

Also, check www.shootingpeople.org (you'll need to join to gain access to everything).

In the UK I would check out the legalities of working with children in films. We are so paranoid about abuse/paedophilia in the UK that anyone who works with children has to be checked for suitability.

To help out in my son's class for just one afternoon a week, I had to be cleared. The check was against a list held by the local authority (List 99, I think it was called). I passed that one, but if I hadn't, I'd have to have a Criminal Records Bureau check. I've already had one of those when I was teaching ADULT education.

As your in the Netherlands you're probably spared such paranoia.

[PTravel]

but it *has* to look normal and authentic.

Speaking as a former professional actor, well, that's the whole trick, isn't it? Actors study many, many years to acquire the craft necessary to make it look "normal and authentic." You may find the odd amateur who has sufficient craft to do this, but the odds are that you will not, and would need to hire professionally-trained performers. This is why work employing amateurs usually looks . . . well . . . amateur. Also note that stage acting has a somewhat different skill set than that required for film -- don't assume that someone who performs in amateur theatrical productions will have the slightest clue about how to act on-camera. Also note that I haven't said a word about talent; this is all about craft, specific skills that can be taught and learned, but are confined, almost exclusively, to professionals who have had professional training.

Are you in the U.S.? Call SAG and see if you can get can qualify for one of the experimental or student-film production categories, which will allow you to employ SAG talent without the obligation to pay normal SAG fees.

For one part I also would need a young actor, age around 10. I guess working with kids as actors is more difficult.

Not in my experience. Kids live in a pretend world -- it seems to be a lot easier for them to put themselves "inside" someone else.

How do the parents influence his/her acting, are parents supposed to guide their kid on the set, how does that all work ?

At least in California, parents (or designated guardians) must be on the set when a minor is working. Their involvement goes no further than being an extra pair of eyes to ensure that the kid isn't hurt. They're not acting coaches and they're not directors. They don't guide the kid in anything, other than to be the last word on whether they think something is harmful for their child.

[PTravel]

Sorry to follow up on my own post, but I see that the OP is in the Netherlands. I don't know whether the Netherlands has a professional guild that is the equivalent of SAG in the US (though I assume it would). As an alternative, you might try university film and theater departments (with the caveat that academe is not the best place to find actors with professional skills).

[w.pasman]

Thanks for all the responses.
I don't know if there's a professional guild here.
But I think that knowing all this is already a big help to me.

By the way, I don't expect kids to behave to like someone else. In fact I'm looking for pretty normal kid behaviour (no drama, no agression). But I realize that what I want might deviate slightly from how they normally act (maybe that would still work) and also that they may have to repeat the stuff a few times (which might be the hardest part)

WHO has to have the SAG licence? Someone on the set? The director? And, is it needed anyway if the parents are there as well?

[w.pasman]

Some more questions...

Is there only 1 instance (SAG) mediating this stuff? Or are there more instances?

Just curious but does the US also have this "list 99"?

And, can anyone give me a clue about how much money we're talking about to shoot an actor with some talent? I suppose we can take the shot in an hour or so if everyone knows his role. With photo models I noticed that many will work for pretty low fees, their main goal is to fill their portfolio to get started.

[VideJo]

Wim,

I do not know where you live, but I know a pretty good filmer, who lives in Alkmaar and he has a nice portfolio with neat actors.
Take a look her:
http://www.orphicfilm.nl/html/fade-mediaqt.html

[PTravel]

WHO has to have the SAG licence? Someone on the set? The director? And, is it needed anyway if the parents are there as well?

It's not a license. You must be a SAG signatory producer, or obtain a waiver from SAG. And, yes, if you use SAG talent, you must be a signatory producer (or the holder of a waiver) -- union jurisdiction has nothing to do with whether a parent is present or not.

Some more questions...

Is there only 1 instance (SAG) mediating this stuff? Or are there more instances?

Just curious but does the US also have this "list 99"?

I'm not sure to what you're referring. SAG doesn't mediate anything. It does grant waivers to producers of student films, some experimental films and, on very rare occasions, low-budget films that may ultimately be intended for commercial release. The waivers requirement agreement to a set of conditions that include what can be done with the film, how you treat the talent, what happens if the film is picked up for distribution, etc.

And, can anyone give me a clue about how much money we're talking about to shoot an actor with some talent? I suppose we can take the shot in an hour or so if everyone knows his role. With photo models I noticed that many will work for pretty low fees, their main goal is to fill their portfolio to get started.

Everything depends on the SAG agreement. I have no idea what scale is these days, but when I was working it was around $600/day. If you get a student film waiver, you don't have to pay anything. If you're interested in using union talent, I'd suggest calling SAG and finding out what you'd need to do.

[w.pasman]

http://www.orphicfilm.nl/html/fade-mediaqt.html

They have some nice films and apparently access to a great studio. Very interesting, thanks for that link. I got the impression he is using his own kids as the actors but I did not check all his work yet.