WA Actors Out in Cold

This has been really bugging me, so I'd like to hear what others think:
There is a feature film to be shot in WA next month which features a couple of big name actors (fair enough - box office and all that) and is, I believe, at least partially funded by Screenwest. However, there are several minor roles which WA actors where auditioned for. A handful of WA guys got roles (congratulations!). However, there were two minor female roles which (after months of waiting with baited breath) I have just found out were given to Eastern States actors. These would be one or two days shoot. I don't know, maybe I'm biased as my "availability was asked" for one of the roles - but knowing the wealth of talent in WA, I find this completely unnecessary (and somewhat insulting). What do you think? Should Actors Equity help local actors have first "dibs" on minor roles in locally funded projects by instituting some policy or other? I mean, we wait long enough for anything to happen here and when it does they'd rather pay Eastern Staters to fly over here! Its time we recognised that some major talent has come from (and still is in WA). Let's see...Judy Davis, Heath Ledger, Marcus Graham, and my old mate, Frances O'Connor (just to name a few)




Thou impertinent fool-born strumpet!

Angelique,

Good call. Sadly, it's not an entirely isolated case, and since I am emigrating overseas in five months, I feel I can mention what has been upsetting plenty of my fellow actors (and actresses as well, but I am more acutely aware of the male position, you understand) which has not really been publicly discussed because actors fear that they will not be hired by said company again, if at all.

Now, before I mention this - this will not be a rant, nor a whinge, but an observation on an issue that has been discussed FAR too often over the last two years in acting circles to be ignored - I would like to express that this does not derive from sour grapes over casting decisions. On 100% of casting cases - a number I lodge without any hesitation - directors and casting consultants hit the nail right on the head. The issue that upsets my peers and I is that some larger theatre companies in Perth will only go to Sydney and Melbourne Hardware stores to pick up their Nails. Of course, this is not at all a rule - some companies like Perth Theatre Company, Barking Gecko, Yirra Yaakin and Deck Chair give great opportunities to local performers, and God love 'em for it. By a process of elimination I think we might surmise who the other company might be that I have not included is here, and I do not want to misinterpreted as saying that this company is not worth its salt. It is! It is! That's what makes it so DAMN frustrating that (except on some minor occasions) they would prefer only to cast from a limited shortlist of Melbourne-Sydney based (usually justified by being Perth ex-pats) very talented actors, who have all proved themselves over here at some point or another, but will not even AUDITION Perth actors for roles. I tried to prove this wrong a month or so ago by trying to chase down an audition for an upcoming show, thinking that a bit of moxy and persistence would perhaps at least secure me a five minute look in - but no. The promised phone call 'this afternoon' to tell me whether or not I could at least read never came, so I officially gave up. I heard later that three prominent and incredibly talented actors from Over East are the only ones in consideration for the one young role in the show, and I know that all three of them could nail the role to the wall. That's not my concern. My concern is that I could list you fifteen great Perth actors who should be feeling pretty hard done by not to be even auditioned, considered, RESPECTED enough to be thought of.

I have a sick feeling in my stomach as I type this as to my imminent career stalling, but this needs to be said. I am involved in a very exciting production of Death of a Salesman at the Playhouse in September which is entirely WA cast - which I know includes WA ex-pats, but there is a difference between casting one or two legendary name actors in large roles to casting an entire production with actors just because they live Over East.

Once again, I would like to emphasise the fact that I am not upset about not being cast in any of this company's shows this year. What I, and dozens of other very good actors in Perth, are cheesed off about is that we are not afforded the common courtesy of a simple audition, simply because an official stance in the company stated that 'Perth actors cannot match it with Sydney actors on stage'. Perhaps this is a stance brought about by their half-and-half Perth-Sydney 'Cosi' from a few years back, but I heard nothing but good things about that (was overseas so didn't see it). Perhaps it is just short-sightedness? Perhaps it is a pretty good reason why the exodus of West Australian actors who love living here and working here continues apace.

I'm sure I will have my detractors, and I'm sure some will site sour grapes. It's not. But surely if an actor is not an actor unless he-she has been to NIDA, lived in Sydney and been on Blue Heelers, where the hell does that leave Perth?

Yours,
Toby Malone
Equity Member since 1999

I think you'll find if you ask *this* company why they use such actors, it is usually a syndrome of audience attendance. Ive watched many shows put on by them with WA actors, perform badly at the box office, while imported actors from over East pull crowds.
As a result we have a nationally recognised theatre company that is putting Perth theatre on the map. Over here when you talk about theatre in Perth, Black Swan is who they know.
Its a known fact that WA theatre companies do it tough, they've got to get those bums on seats and sometimes, you just have to do that by whatever means possible.

Perhaps its our fellow arts attendees we should be appealing to.

As a disclaimer, I am an arts manager, obviously, but I am also an actor.

Catherine

And that's a fair call. I can see your point when we talk about actors like Kerry Armstrong, Max Gillies, or John Wood - of course we aren't as naive as to think that these actors' names on projects don't add prestige and perhaps a stange credibility to the 'Joe Public' theatre punter out there. However - no matter how much you try to tell me, I will not accept that an (and I emphasise again, incredibly talented and suited) actor like Travis Cotton will pull people in off the street through name recognition. He's a great actor, and once people are in the door they will appreciate him, but if we are talking about bums on seats, you won't get that until you have been on a Channel 7 series for a couple of years...

I think a 'stunt cast' or a 'coup cast' is great to get people in, and I applaud the fact that BSTC have the prestige to pull such eminent actors as Kerry and Max, but the fact that minor roles are also cast with Eastern Staters is puzzling at best. It's not just BSTC either - Glenn Elston's Shakespeare in the Park, after 6 years running, only this year had a fully WA cast. I'm simply venting the frustration of many of my peers. I have plenty of respect for BSTC, but feel that a fair go needs to be given. How on earth can we call it WA's Premier TC if there are no WA actors involved?

Yours respectfully,
Toby

I don't think anyone begrudges any theatre company casting some Television names to sell tickets, regardless of how big a part they have (i.e. Away with Kerry Armstrong)

But what people are annoyed about is the fact that minor. or supporting roles are cast over east as with this film and with the upcoming Drawer Boy(and, unfortunately, quite a few other productions)

Having Kerry Armstrong in Away was fine but did they need Tempany Deckert as another name attraction. Both were okay int he roles but really if our maoin theatre company dosen't support the industry here then what are we meant to do.

But in their defence, theatre companies are under pressure to get bums on seats and they see this as a way for that to happen and I believe artistically the prefer trained actors, which is their decision and I don't totally agree with. I can name five "untrained" actors here that they should look at.

But...in their defence Black Swan are doing a lot (and looking at more) co productions with local independent companies, are developing new scripts and the quality of BSX'x workshops are of a very high standard.

And yes Black Swan is putting Perth on the map, but not with doing syllabus shows (ie Cosi and Away) but with the excellent Plainsong and Cloudstreet.

But Im sick of the talent drain to Sydney and other places (Canada too) and wish that the parts being castw ere being cast here.

But Black Swan aren't the only company "putting Perth on the Map"
Deckchair have an excellent national profile for new works and devlopmental projects. And anyone who hasen't seen a Deckchair show (or see all of them) should. We have pone of the few puppet theatres in Australia and its now 21 years old and intenationally recognised.

Then there's the company that in the last year had one production in canada, did a remount of another in Mexico (performing to over 100, 000 patrons), had two international artsits in residince and over 500 performances off its shows, and was nominated for the national Helpman Award for excellence in Chilldrens performance. This year they will be employing 20 Wesyt Australian actors to contracts between the periods of three and five months. Not including the 10 actors who regularily run workshops for the company. (Oh and the four Western Australian writers writing scripts per year) Of course i am biased because I work for Barking Gecko but I wouldn't be there if i didn't believe in their product.

As a little aside, prospective actors for next year! I would suggest you at least see one of our shows prior to the audition. In 2003 we will be casting for a smany parts as well. Incisdentally we had 10 new, never worked for Gecko actors working for us this year.

Lastly...would people stop going to the theatre if we stopped having names selling shows, Its all in the family coming over and Pirates of Penzance on its golden jubilee tour? Or would they use their money to see something else?

Anyway got a bit ranty there and all over the place but essentially i agree with the above posts, yes there is the talent here and luckily some companies are looking at it.

Having a lie down now

Dave Ryding

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Toby Malone wrote:
> How on earth can we
> call it WA's Premier TC if there are no WA actors involved?

Just a quick qualification: the above statement was pointed out to me via email, by a friend who questioned the validity of my statement. I would just like to clarify that this is pretty much a direct quote 'WA's Premier Theatre Company' from this company's own advertising material, and I was using it to illustrate a point. More to the point, I think companies such as Barking Gecko, Yirra Yaakin, Spare Parts, Deck Chair, Effie Crump, Perth Theatre Company and particularly the Blue Room Theatre do far more for the arts in this state than that other company in question.

Thanks.
Toby

I have been reading the posts on this discussion, and one thing that seems to have been lost in the thread is that the people casting this production may have been looking for specific types of people. Perhaps specific types that may not be abundant in WA.

It strikes me that we may be in danger of instigating a quota system of sorts if we try to push a "WA actors first" line, even for shows produced in WA. Just as there are many gifted actors in Perth, there are just as many not-so-gifted ones too, and their location or State of Origin doesn't necessarily make them better than those from other states.

Of course, it doesn't help WA's "small street" of theatre that many opportunities are given to those performers from over East- perhaps the economics of theatrical experience now dictate that the tried and tested be given more of a guernsey than the unknown.

Besides, can we be sure that bums on seats would be greater in number if there WEREN'T "names" in a show?

El- now playing Devil's Advocate on a website near you.

Yes, as much as I get annoyed when someone is cast from the eastern states when I've never even heard of them (several of the Elston Shakespeares spring first to mind), and so I can't see any obvious advantage over a Perth-based performer; I have to accept that as far as a director's concerned, they're going to cast whoever impresses them the most.

If their resume comes with extensive experience at the STC or on one of the popular soaps, that's going to seem fairly impressive, compared to the actor from Perth, or anywhere else, without that sort of clout.

But there's no use getting into the argument about comparing actors on the basis of raw talent alone because, as has already been oft discussed, that's not the only reason people get cast. There are many other seemingly arbitrary and sometimes contradictory factors that will influence casting; including experience, name, looks, demeanour, physicality, compatibility with others cast, personality, even inexperience(!) if they're looking for a fresh face.
If you're a director in a position where you can afford to look Australia-wide, the options are opened up considerably, and statistics are going to favour the east simply because thats where the numbers are.

On the same platform, it means the odds are the same for an actor from WA to succeed anywhere else...there's always the chance that you could get cast for having that elusive "something" not found anywhere else. Again, the economics often dictate you may need to be near the action, which is why so many WA actors move east, but that's not a function of acting talent, it's a result of their being fewer production companies and so less opportunity.
More Perth actors will be cast when we have more & better facilities and companies.


To speak fairly of Elston's company, my first gig with him was "The Wind In The Willows", which had an entirely West Australian cast. It was interesting how the general public would continually ask us how we were enjoying Perth..! They automatically assumed an eastern states production would come with its own cast, and obviously didn't recognise any difference in talent or standard. The downside was the fact that there was any surprise at all, that Perth actors could be up to scratch.


If I was going to hazard a guess, I would think that a lot of Perth talent is actually better than the bulk from the larger states, simply because they are fighting from a position of underdog, and surviving despite the reduced opportunity. The same argument could apply to comparing female actors to male, especially remembering my Curtin days...as one of only two males in the class, I virtually had my pick of choice male roles, whereas the 15 or so females had to compete harder for far fewer roles...the ones who survived must've had far greater talent than I needed to succeed.
You couldn't put forward an argument on that basis that we should cast females and not males (granted, there are other arguments beyond the scope of this discussion); so I similarly can't justify arguing preference of Perth actors over anyone else. The industry, like sexual politics and everything else in life, is unbalanced.

All these things do change, and we all have a vision of what "fair" is, but really, if things were truly spread "fairly" I imagine even less Perth talent would be finding work here. I'm glad of the many unfair circumstances that have allowed me to continue to find work, through learning how to cope despite the imbalances.





Cheers,
Craig

- likes to be an avocado too

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The original discussion came from Angelique's point of minor roles being given to Eastern States actors. I believe that the factors that crg states as being taken into account by the casting person (director or whoever) are valid, but you wonder how much better than a local person the foreigner must be to make the expense of bringing them over for a minor role worthwhile.

Now those 'eastern staters' can see one reason why the west despises the eastern seaboard so much...

Cheers

Alan Gill




What do you give someone who has everything?

A burgular alarm.

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On this theme I am speaking only in regards to theatre.
One statement I regularly hear is that audiences go to see a show for ‘Eastern States names’. I think this is based only on the general public, who do tend to want ‘big name’ actors.

However, I donÂ’t think this applies so much to people (like myself) who work in the industry. In addition results of a poll on Fuel4Arts *recently stated that we theatre practitioners are the people who are also much more likely to attend theatre regularly.

Perhaps West Australian producers should keep in mind that not all people go to see ‘big name’ actors. I am always more inclined to see a show if I recognise a West Australian actor in it. Where do I get to see the work of many of these talented people?
At the Blue Room Theatre.

Tina

* (GAS the FREE monthly arts marketing newsletter at
http://www.fuel4arts.com/gas/index.cfm)

To add insult to injury, the film concerned was published in the newspaper boasting about their wonderful WA cast headed by Matt Dyminski (sp?) who hasn't lived in Perth for at least ten years.
And yes, I am only talking about minor roles. I know so many wonderful WA female actors who could've handled those two small parts with ease. I am still hoping that one day things will change...

You despise your eastern states colleagues because they're getting work? How petty.

Thou infectious dizzy-eyed bugbear!

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No. I don't think anyone is being petty with this arguement and I don't think anyone despises anyone for getting work.I would have thought reading this postings would have made the depth of this arguement a little clearer.

A few more points since my last posting...

We use the word industry a lot for this theatre/ film thing that we engage in and as an industry there is a responsibility for all levels to develop and nurture it. And if that means looking closer at perth talent than over east then why not. We at the bottom end should (and by most accounts do) everything we can by supporting local product as ticket buyers and support each other, through this excellent website, and through being part of the general arts community in Perth.

And being responsible by giving a damn about what our companies are doing, applauding their successes and questioning the things we don't agree on. They are of course funded by us as taxpayers.

And yes, directors should cast the best people that they believe for parts but one thing I need to point out that in some casting choices Perth actors haven't actually had a chance to audition before the Eastern States actors have recieved it.

I find it ironic that a certain casting agent I know once said to me "Oh, your going to Sydney too. How boring" Hmmmm!

Am I a bitter non-employed actor. No. I don't act. Never will. I live and work in the 'industry'' in Perth and my heart falls a little when another talented actor leaves because there isn't the opportunities here. I believe in this Arts community and I give a damn enough to vent from time to time not just to make anoise but in ahope that things will improve (and I do a buit more than venting on this website) but hey, I'm not being petty.

Cheers

Dave Ryding

So, you believe after reading all the whining and whinging that an Eastern-stater would understand the 'reason why the west despises the eastern seaboard so much'? I was born and bred in the West and I don't understand it. I certainly don't understand what is to be achieved by blowing off some steam here. Is this a call-to-arms? Is there some way that the WA branch of Equity can ensure that WA jobs are filled by sandgropers? Is there any plan at all?

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I appreciate that you are answering to the post as a whole but seeing as you have attached it to my comments I will take the liberty of answering for myself.

> So, you believe after reading all the whining and whinging

I have never thought that i was whining and whinging. In my opinion I was stateing some facts and some opinions.

> that an Eastern-stater would understand the 'reason why the
> west despises the eastern seaboard so much'?

I also never made this comment. Don't assume that all the seprate postings equal one opinion. Certainly we agree on some points and have a general sentiment but only one person made this quote and seeing as they had nothing to add besides this quote maybe they were just stirring?

I certainly don't understand what is to be achieved by blowing off some
> steam here.

Blowing off some steam is always useful.

Is there some way that
> the WA branch of Equity can ensure that WA jobs are filled by
> sandgropers? Is there any plan at all?

I believe Equity and vocal members of it are aware of this issue and are constantly working with companies to ensure equitable ( and no I wasn't being punny) opportunity for everyone.

I know for a fact that the casting of a major show last year was positively affected by a vocal member of the industry raising the point with the company involved.

I don't believe i am being one eyed about this issue and being excesively ranty about it. I believe in the Perth Arts scene (and I am not anti-Eastern States) and I am passionate about its strength, development and growth as an industry.

Cheers

Dave Ryding

Dave Ryding wrote:

> I have never thought that i was whining and whinging. In my
> opinion I was stateing some facts and some opinions.

My comments weren't aimed at you specifically, David. However, a lot of the thread has been full of bitter whinging. In fact, my original comment was taking a swing at Alan's attitude: that the 'us vs them' attitude that sandgropers have towards the eastern states was justified because sandgropers miss out on the jobs. It's not justified and it is incredibly petty. In the long run it will likely only worsen the situation.


> > that an Eastern-stater would understand the 'reason why the
> > west despises the eastern seaboard so much'?
>
> I also never made this comment. Don't assume that all the
> seprate postings equal one opinion. Certainly we agree on
> some points and have a general sentiment but only one person
> made this quote and seeing as they had nothing to add besides
> this quote maybe they were just stirring?

Alan made the comment. Since you though to defend his pettiness I thought I'd quote him back to you.

> Blowing off some steam is always useful.

But there are more constructive ways to do it. Channel it into something that will retrieve results and change the situation. If you don't, then six months from now we'll have another whingefest, and frankly, it looks really unprofessional.


> I believe Equity and vocal members of it are aware of this
> issue and are constantly working with companies to ensure
> equitable ( and no I wasn't being punny) opportunity for
> everyone.
>
> I know for a fact that the casting of a major show last year
> was positively affected by a vocal member of the industry
> raising the point with the company involved.

That's good to hear but many voices would have been better. And the message can never be allowed to die. It needs to be repeated ad nausem. That's the least every aggrieved member of the community can do to help improve the situation.

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Dave Ryding wrote:

...but only one person made this quote and seeing as they had nothing to add besides this quote maybe they
were just stirring?

YES! That man there! He has hit the mark entirely. I said that because as most people know there has been a lot of competition in the past between the west and the east and it is sorta known that deep down inside those of us born and bread in the west have grown to have something against the east in some way, shape or form. And yes, I was just stirring.

Don't blow it out of proportion. I'm not evil, I swear! And I have nothing against 'eastern staters'; I'm dating one at the moment.

Cheers

Alan Gill




A fool and his money... can throw one hell of a party!!!

I've just returned to Perth (yay!) after landing a job in Sydney, resulting in a large tour (Suburban Road). No one over there seemed to complain that I had gotten the role, although there were definitely NSW actors who were considered but missed out because I was cast.

Of course, it helped that I knew the director (Alan Becher) and that the Ensemble Theatre tour was a co-production with the PTC. Also that I'd been involved in a previous production. They had to pay me a lot extra to accommodate me to rehearse in Sydney, but someone must've thought it was worth it.
(Also, perhaps, when you know a show is going to tour nationally, WHERE an actor comes from holds less meaning. You're hardly going to try to cast someone from every state just to appear "fair". Perth seems to be isolated (pun intended) in that it's the only city that really differentiates where the performers come from.)

I guess that was the way it worked when Glenn Elston came over here; there was a good chance he'd cast someone he'd known and worked with before. A lot of the people brought over for the Shakespeares in the Park had been involved in previous productions over east.


If a director has someone in mind that they know they'd be happy to use, it make sense to pursue them...even at the expense of holding auditions to cast locals. Holding auditions is a tedious, difficult task, that can waste a lot of time; the only reason to go through with it is the off-chance of discovering a hidden diamond.
Diamonds don't look like diamonds in their rough state, and so no wonder people get frustrated when they don't get the chance to even shine at an audition, let alone being passed over for a "polished" performer from elsewhere.

But it also becomes a convenient excuse, to blame "the east" for the fact that we don't get cast as often as we'd like. Who would we blame if there wasn't this great geographical divide? We'd have to aim our grievances toward those local actors (like me!) who tend to get cast a lot, often without having to go through the full auditon process because they have an established history with certain directors ... The situation would be exactly the same, but the animosity would be closer to home. It's much more polite to blow off steam about non-locals than it is to vent these frustrations against our friends & neighbours, the people we're likely to be working with some day.



I think it's interesting to note that the two Perth companies with the strongest reputation for creating work for local artists, Barking Gecko and Deckchair, are headed by directors who originally came from the eastern states. (Grahame Gavin and Angela Chaplin both started in VIC and then SA before coming here).




And as far as despising the eastern seaboard, the only reason I can think of is that they seem to get piss-poor sunsets compared to ours...!


Cheers,
Craig



'Tis but a base ignoble mind that mounts no higher than a bird can soar!

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honeys - try being a blonde, 25yr old, blue-eyed, 5" something female in Sydney......then you will appreciate real competition. Hey at least it looked as though you may have been considered - that's far more than whats on offer if you are a nobody here.

There you have it Ben McCoy from Northern Victoria Mildura Sunraysia Australia............