Dear actor, be aware and beware of "occupational hazzards" 6/29/15

Dear actor,

Be aware and beware of "occupational hazards" and take measures to protect yourself and be smart about avoiding or extracting yourself from potentially rough situations.

Sincerely,
The other side.

As an actor with many female friends who are actors, models, dancers, musicians and bartenders, I have heard many stories of 'occupational hazards'

Not just drugs and alcohol, but to put it discreetly, unwanted advances. It also happens with men, though I seem to I hear and see stories of it seemingly more happening with my friends who are women. Be careful and aware of your surroundings and dealings.

Any harassment such as  intimidation, extortion, unethical agreements, inappropriate unsolicited photos of  male/female 'equipment', and unwanted advances have no place in a professionally run production or career.

As someone who studied martial arts (judo, jujutsu, aikido for years I was taught several concepts:

• martial arts is a lifestyle and self defense is a life skill.

• Self defense is not just about kicking and punching, if absolutely necessary to defend yourself from harm and escape it may be needed. Self defense is understanding that you and your loved ones have your personal borders, your standards, your space, your life that no one has the right to violate or interfere with those,  and you can take healthy measures to preserve and protect those.

• Self defense can mean protecting your assets and intellectual property with legal means and business entities as needed or copyright and trademark forms (I am not a lawyer and cannot give out legal advice)

• Self defense can mean being aware of your surroundings, your environment and your associates or potential associates.

• Self defense can mean keeping your eyes open before you enter agreements or locations, as you enter agreements and locations and knowing if there are outlets to get out or escape agreements and locations.

• Self defense can mean keeping yourself mentally, physically, fiscally, emotionally and spiritually fit, responsible, and prepared for whatever may come

• self defense can mean being spatially aware of strangers and know that action is faster than reaction, keep a healthy distance as you ascertain intentions

• self defense can mean knowing how to de-escalate arguments, and get yourself and others out of compromising situations before it is too late.

Studying a martial art can help you grow tremendously mentally and physically. However, I know from experience, a friend of mine who was a black belt was killed by an ex-con over a 'wrong place-wrong time' misunderstanding and dispute that escalated with my friend being murdered in the street and that con being put away for 25 years, that self defense is never a set thing.

There are always x factors now matter how much you know or have trained,  and one of the best ways to 'win a fight' is to not put yourself in bad positions in the first place and survive and protect yourself and your loved ones... not only from a life and death situation, but professionally as a musician, actor or business.

Be well,
Vincent

My name is Vincent Veloso. I am a writer, producer, director, actor and musician and martial artist. I have worn many hats in my career, learned some things, still learning, but in this blog, I will be addressing my experience and insights making films and music... stories from casting to wrap party... the good, the bad, the really bad and the ugly.... and the really ungood.

I never use real names, and many times I address my concerns on the day directly to people in real time. I point out my own missteps  just as much if not more because I have been that actor/writer/producer/director who has made the same gaffes just as much if not more. Hopefully as I address the circumstances,  people can gain valuable insight, through story and my experiences, it will give people help. It is not meant to be mean spirited, but like all subjective commentary and blogs, and many other existing advice and commentary articles, I understand that audience perception is subjective and do hope you know that I hope to help others.

imdb.me/vincentveloso

vimeo.com/ondemand/changelingstheseries
facebook.com/changelingstheseries
facebook.com/cenotaphtheseries
dearactorfromtheotherside.blogspot.com

 

© 2015 Vincent Veloso, Xavmax Multimedia Productions L.L.C. All rights reserved

Dear actor, Questions direct thinking. Statements direct destiny. 6/21/15

Dear Actor,

 Questions direct thinking. Statements direct destiny.

Sincerely,
The other side.

I had taken part as an industry guest in several industry actor meet up events where producers/directors/writers/casting agents meet with actors in 3 minute speed meetings with about 10 industry guests.

 There is value to be gained and learned in these kind of events. However, before you go to one of these kinds of events, you may want to be ready for questions the guests may ask of you and be prepared to ask questions if you have anything you'd like to know, not as having canned responses ready but really thinking about it for  your benefit. (take some time to learn about the guests you will be talking to)

Each event, guest, actor and time is different and depending on what projects(s) a guest is working on or what their agenda and priorities are, you may find yourself asking and receiving many of the same questions like:

• What are you currently working on?
• What are you looking to work on in the future, more of (whatever your resume says your focus is on) or branching out into other media?
• What do you consider your type?
• What kind of roles do you like to play?
• What kind of roles do you want to play?
• What is your dream role?
• Have you ever written or produced for yourself?
• If you could describe yourself in 3 words what would they be?
• If you could describe how you see your type, what would it be?
• What is your greatest inspiration?
• What is your greatest fear?
• Do you sing? What is your range?
• Do you have any questions for me?
• Etc...

If you have never been asked or asked yourself these questions as an actor, you may want to contemplate what answers are right for you at this point in your career.  Those types of questions, along with others you may come up with, direct your thinking about how you may improve your acting, your career choices, your relationships and your life.

Having answers to those kinds of questions may help directors/producers/casting keep you in mind for the future, even though they may not have something that you would be fit for at the moment.

One of the best ways to make sure you have a great part is to write yourself one.

Your statements about yourself direct your mind into the kind of person and the kind of behaviors you deem congruent and acceptable for yourself and define who you are to yourself and others. They are like affirmations. For them to be effective, they should be framed in the first person, active, positive.  For example: "I am (this)"

Not everyone wants to self produce, which is fine. Not everyone wants to write. As an actor, however, I would suggest you attempt those activities at least once in your lifetime.

You may gain a deeper understanding of what the other side is looking for, the challenges they face, and how it may help you find work and get cast.

Simply put:

Writing informs/enhances your acting
writing informs/enhances your directing
writing informs/enhances your producing

acting informs/enhances your writing
acting informs/enhances your directing
acting informs/enhances your producing

producing informs/enhances your acting
producing informs/enhances your directing
producing informs/enhances your writing.

directing informs/enhances you acting
directing informs/enhances your writing
directing informs/enhances your producing

I started off as a musician and I can relate acting, producing, directing and writing to creating and studying music.

• There are fundamentals in technique and theory in craftsmanship.
• there are styles. you can copy or you can come up with your own based on your influences and taste
• there are composition and writing techniques you can learn, then it is up to your instincts and creative imagination to create something from nothing.
• There are rhythms to things, harmony between cast and crew members, dynamics and arranging parallels to all these activities.

Be well,
Vincent

My name is Vincent Veloso. I am a writer, producer, director, actor and musician and martial artist. I have worn many hats in my career, learned some things, still learning, but in this blog, I will be addressing my experience and insights making films and music... stories from casting to wrap party... the good, the bad, the really bad and the ugly.... and the really ungood.

I never use real names, and many times I address my concerns on the day directly to people in real time. I point out my own missteps  just as much if not more because I have been that actor/writer/producer/director who has made the same gaffes just as much if not more. Hopefully as I address the circumstances,  people can gain valuable insight, through story and my experiences, it will give people help. It is not meant to be mean spirited, but like all subjective commentary and blogs, and many other existing advice and commentary articles, I understand that audience perception is subjective and do hope you know that I hope to help others.

imdb.me/vincentveloso

vimeo.com/ondemand/changelingstheseries
facebook.com/changelingstheseries
facebook.com/cenotaphtheseries
dearactorfromtheotherside.blogspot.com

 

© 2015 Vincent Veloso, Xavmax Multimedia Productions L.L.C. All rights reserved

Pragmatism vs single focus 6/17/15

Dear Artist,
 If you really want to be something, why don't you just be that?

Sincerely,
the other side.

ALSO

Dear artist,
did you know you don't have to starve as you pursue your craft?

Sincerely,
the other side.

When I was still an undergrad at NYU, I had interviewed one of my professors as part of a course requirement. I had asked him how he had survived as a musician.

He had mentioned that he did club dates on the weekend and taught during the week. He made enough money to do his jazz gigs which did not pay much. He had said he knew cats that spent 40 hour a week "temping" and had no time to do any music as in contrast to his way which was to play a few club dates on the weekend,  see people dance and have a good time and make the bread. That way he had the time to do what he wanted to do during the week and make his music.

A few years later I was auditioning for a club date agency when I ran across a well know jazz drummer I knew, who had a teaching studio in the same building the agency was holding auditions. He saw me and was surprised I was there. Then he invited me into his studio to talk to me. When I was there, he shut the door and started cursing me out to the effect of " what are you doing man? you are a jazz musician! I would rather dig ditches than play that &^#$@ on those club dates. " I responded to him with something along the lines of what my professor at NYU had given me.

He was silent for a second and replied to me. "If you want to do something and be something, why don't you just do it? If you want to be a jazz musician why do you just be that?"

Years later I still reflect on those 2 seemingly contrasting points of view.

The first is a pragmatic way of survival while still going for what you want.
The second is an all out approach, blinders on to what it is you really want in life.

Each person's situation is different in life an I am not in a position to tell what is the best for someone, provided they are not breaking the law or taking advantage of someone else.

In your career, in your life, what approach do you take? is it one end or the other? or a bit of both? For me, I have gone through all 3 approaches at different stages in my life and career.

The road to success is different for each of us as artists, actors, musicians. Some will say you should go all out, while they ignore the realities of survival. Others remain overly pragmatic and never reach the full heights and potential of their success.

Some that go full out and some that are pragmatic 'make it', while others 'won't make it.' Nothing in life is ever guaranteed, but that doesn't mean that you should not go for what it is you really want in life. We are more than what we do. We are more than what we own. We are not just our survival jobs. We are not just our 'successful' artistic career.

I will say that any success is helped by sustained focus over a long term, and those that see themselves as what they want to be and work toward it, tend to manifest that. What approach is best? Which ever one 'works' for you.

Be well,
Vincent

My name is Vincent Veloso. I am a writer, producer, director, actor and musician and martial artist. I have worn many hats in my career, learned some things, still learning, but in this blog, I will be addressing my experience and insights making films and music... stories from casting to wrap party... the good, the bad, the really bad and the ugly.... and the really ungood.

I never use real names, and many times I address my concerns on the day directly to people in real time. I point out my own missteps  just as much if not more because I have been that actor/writer/producer/director who has made the same gaffes just as much if not more. Hopefully as I address the circumstances,  people can gain valuable insight, through story and my experiences, it will give people help. It is not meant to be mean spirited, but like all subjective commentary and blogs, and many other existing advice and commentary articles, I understand that audience perception is subjective and do hope you know that I hope to help others.

imdb.me/vincentveloso

vimeo.com/ondemand/changelingstheseries
facebook.com/changelingstheseries
facebook.com/cenotaphtheseries
dearactorfromtheotherside.blogspot.com

 

© 2015 Vincent Veloso, Xavmax Multimedia Productions L.L.C. All rights reserved

Dear actor/agent, "Ask and shall receive before you ask, but think about what you are asking for" 6/5/15

I had recently set up casting sessions and a few hours before heading out to the castings I received several familiar messages, the last minute, last second cancellations, no shows and requests. Here were a few of my internal thoughts on two....

Dear agent or actor,

Please don't ask us the morning of your client's audition if we can see your client a few hours before castings actually start because something came up. If you are paying for the studio time and the transportation for the producers and casting director, we might consider it, although probably not because we are busy people and specifically booked certain times for a reason.

-ALSO-

Dear actor with a confirmed audition time,

Thanks for sending me a message last minute that you will arrive 15 minutes early... before any castings actually start... and if I can see you before castings even start, then great, if not, fine, because you have a prior engagement you cannot break... hmm? What?!

Sincerely,
 The other side

There is a saying "ask and ye shall receive." It can help to ask for a last minute schedule shift if something super urgent or critical happens, and who knows, maybe things would work out. But you may also want to think about what you are asking and if the request you are asking is unreasonable or unfair whether, you are represented by an agent/manager or not.

 As a producer, resources and time can be at a valuable premium... not to mention the logistics of getting a director, a producer and a casting director in the same room at the same time on the same day if applicable, which in this case it was.

Also, when we are seeing over 100 actors per day over multiple days or weeks, many productions I've worked with like to give them confirmed timeslots, so that we know who we will see, and also so we don't waste the actors' or our time by waiting around all day. Time is valuable. Time is life. Please don't waste yours and please don't waste ours. 

Having a great professional agent or team of agents can be very valuable. You don't necessarily need an agent, depending on where you are in your career and what you want to do, and many actors, who do have agents and managers, still self submit and hustle for jobs. However, some, among many, advantages of working with good agents are:

• You have other eyes looking for opportunities for you to partake in

• They may have relationships with other agents, production, managers and can potentially get someone to listen or read something or get you in front of that, you may not.

• You have a buffer between you and productions that... may not be quite ready to work with you yet, or downright have terrible track records and reputations dealing with talent.

• Some agents and agencies specialize in print, tv, theater, films, and their experience can be invaluable.

Take care and do your research in choosing what particular agent or agency you want to work with- some may more aggressive in representing you and some have particular strengths and expertise. If they list a roster or recent projects they've helped cast, you may get an idea of how they operate. Word of mouth and recommendations can help tremendously as well.

However, do remember that your agent and manager if applicable ideally work with you. Agents make a commission off your booked work an managers can take a percentage manager fee and/or whatever arrangements are stated in your contract with them.

 I was casting a production, looking for name talent, and skipped a few profiles because their headshots weren't quite what I was looking for and there were no notes left to the casting director, which in this specific instance, was the director and producer as well. On the second go around after I scanned over 3000 submissions, just out of curiosity I clicked on a few I had earmarked or caught my eye on the second pass and found that this or that actor had extensive experience and name recognition.

You the actor are ultimately the key individual in shaping your brand and name recognition. Help your agents and managers to promote you by being sure they know what to promote of you and discuss with them how you would like to be presented.


Break a leg and have a great pilot season.

Be well,
Vincent

My name is Vincent Veloso. I am a writer, producer, director, actor and musician and martial artist. I have worn many hats in my career, learned some things, still learning, but in this blog, I will be addressing my experience and insights making films and music... stories from casting to wrap party... the good, the bad, the really bad and the ugly.... and the really ungood.

I never use real names, and many times I address my concerns on the day directly to people in real time. I point out my own missteps  just as much if not more because I have been that actor/writer/producer/director who has made the same gaffes just as much if not more. Hopefully as I address the circumstances,  people can gain valuable insight, through story and my experiences, it will give people help. It is not meant to be mean spirited, but like all subjective commentary and blogs, and many other existing advice and commentary articles, I understand that audience perception is subjective and do hope you know that I hope to help others.

 Break a leg and have a great pilot season.

Be well,
Vincent

My name is Vincent Veloso. I am a writer, producer, director, actor and musician and martial artist. I have worn many hats in my career, learned some things, still learning, but in this blog, I will be addressing my experience and insights making films and music... stories from casting to wrap party... the good, the bad, the really bad and the ugly.... and the really ungood.

I never use real names, and many times I address my concerns on the day directly to people in real time. I point out my own missteps  just as much if not more because I have been that actor/writer/producer/director who has made the same gaffes just as much if not more. Hopefully as I address the circumstances,  people can gain valuable insight, through story and my experiences, it will give people help. It is not meant to be mean spirited, but like all subjective commentary and blogs, and many other existing advice and commentary articles, I understand that audience perception is subjective and do hope you know that I hope to help others.

imdb.me/vincentveloso

vimeo.com/ondemand/changelingstheseries

facebook.com/changelingstheseries

facebook.com/cenotaphtheseries

dearactorfromtheotherside.blogspot.com/

 

© 2015 Vincent Veloso, Xavmax Multimedia Productions L.L.C. All rights reserved