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Yesterday I had a casting call for an audition for a TVC (TV commercial) for Thai TV. I think I am getting a bit beyond this. Everything feels so amateurish now.
In fact this will be my last Thai TVC that I do, otherwise I will be ripping myself off and stealing money from my own pocket...
... now I have been signed for a few big parts for me to keep working on these low pay TVC's will just cheapen my market value.
As a lead actor I should be charging a lot more than the average starting actor, or the wannabes model types who frequently deluge these auditions. As I will have name value and it would seem like a celebrity endorsement of their product if I am featured on their TVC.
It will take a while for the current productions to hit cinema but already the name of the company I am currently working for is enough to elicit a surprise response from the casting agents yesterday.
The other problem I have with the castings is that they are rather thorough, they got me to act ten different ways, then got me in the backyard gym doing some weights while I talked about muscle building then they got me jogging Rocky style in the back laneway throwing rights and lefts.
All for maybe 5 seconds of screen time in a 30 second commercial.
I have done less for a movie casting. I feel like it is a waste of time for me - I can do the part, I can do it better than anyone else at the casting, I can follow directions, I can act, I can change the on screen personality in a split second. To be lumped together with all the people who wannabe actors but take no proactive action towards it besides turning up to these low level auditions (when it suits them) feels a little downgrading.
To top it all off the casting directors again wanted to have fan photos with me!
This will be the last time for Thai TV, the pay is too low and I do not like to cheapen myself. How can I command top dollar as a lead actor when they see me in cheap low paying commercials?
I cannot and it will affect my future negotiations. Overseas TVC's are still acceptable, they have bigger budgets (not meaning they offer more but meaning you can negotiate better and end up with reasonable money) and local producers and directors will not see them.
I'll have to start charging to have my photo taken by the casting agents at the auditions too.
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