In Production

The Untitled Actor Documentary

Work-in Progress / HDV

SYNOPSIS

This feature length film explores what it means to be an artist by examining and juxtaposing the craft and the commerce of the acting experience.  It will contrast the nurturing, learning-oriented acting class and the commercial realities of the casting process, with the 2 main characters—and windows into these worlds—being an acting teacher and a casting director, the one who teaches actors their craft and the one who judges their commercial potential.

Through observational scenes and interviews with the acting teacher, casting director, actors and other industry insiders, the film will meditate on artistic struggle, notions of success, and if, when or why artists should abandon or continue pursuing their dreams.

BACKGROUND

In the summer of 1997 I assisted a Hollywood casting director with headshot submissions, scheduling auditions and reading with actors.  Since then I’ve had tremendous admiration and empathy for what actors go through and the long odds they face to succeed.  I worked for 6 years on my last film and as I struggled with the craft and commerce, successes and failures of being a filmmaker, I thought more and more about actors.  After sitting in on a NYC acting class for the first time, I realized that making a documentary about actors would not only reveal an experience which I find both courageous and fascinating, but it would be the most visual way to explore the issues faced by all emerging artists who hope to one day make a living from their art.

SUPPORT THE FILM

The UNTITLED ACTOR DOCUMENTARY is fiscally sponsored by the Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) so all donations are 100% tax-deductible.

To learn how you can support the film, click here.