THE ASIAN CINEMA

In our line of work as PRODUCERS, we often come across all kinds of ACTORS

the BIG stars, the ASPIRING stars and the forgettable SMALL TIME nobodies.

Funnily enough, the top-of-line actors would have their feet planted on the ground.

As we all know, good wine needs no bush,

So the A-LISTERS are mostly down-to-earth and jolly nice …..

The LESSER actors?

Not even half the rung up the ladder, they are already preening like peacocks in anticipation of the super stardom they hope will come their way soon.

The well behaved ones have our blessings when they finally make it,

We laugh at the pretentious “icy cool” dudes and divas who are trying hard to be “different”

because when they fall flat on their faces

they deserve their just desserts.

Pride comes before a fall, right?

A VERY ESTABLISHED FILM DIRECTOR once lamented to me that most ASIAN ACTORS ARE A PRETENTIOUS LOT.

Going by traits developed from their “tools of the trade”, they are deemed to be.

After all, ACTORS are ACTORS.

Who can really blame them?

They are not as “innocent” as they seem.

They can be first-class manipulators with the survival instinct of a coyote, if they choose.

They are in the business of acting  and we have to respect occupational hazards.

Their latent personas are “groomed” from environmental factors, just like each and everyone of us.

ACTORS can be all sugar whenever they are competing for a role.

Aside that, their demeanor can switch gear like a crafty chameleon.

This is how the industry “shape” them, when they are vying for a prime role  pitching against scores of other contenders.

This industry is far too competitive and tinsel town is often flooded with fellow hypocrites, green eyed monsters and back-stabbers.

Vile gossip abounds, no less.

WELCOME TO ENTERTAINMENT POLITICS.

Never rely on an actor to recommend  you to another actor or to  his manager, should you be casting for your film projects.

He will nod his head in acquiescence

but  there’s a 90% chance that he will deliberately ignore this favor once your head is turned.

Why should he help  you?

It is an unwritten rule, and after all, he is unmistakably an actor in his own right  - and to assist a fellow competitor to move ahead of him is really unthinkable.

In ASIAN tinsel town, you’ll be smart if you help yourself first before you help others.

Experience teacheth fools.

You have to be selfish in order to thrive in this dog-eat-dog arena of plastic people.

If  you have a mentor or a sugar daddy who’s more than willing to help you, well and good. Stick to him or her.

Connections is about everything YOU NEED to get ahead, to secure you that endorsement deal or role.

But if you do not have a valid back up?

Fending for yourself in this complex entertainment industry is hardly easy.

In fact, far from it.

Right?

AN ACTOR’S LOT IS NEVER SIMPLE, much as you like to think so.

He has to be at the RIGHT place at the RIGHT time.

He must have a MENTOR or MANAGER for prestige and representation if he plans to move ahead.

It does not look good on the actor if he has to sell himself personally as artiste.

He must ALWAYS put on his best front to the PAPARAZZI and garner good MEDIA RELATIONS as press interviews and fashion spreads can put him one rung above the others in terms of publicity.

He must cultivate the RIGHT CONNECTIONS and CONNECTIVITY to rise above the occasion.

The CASTING COUCH SYNDROME?

Maybe, who knows? There are always sleazy people around everywhere,  but this exists more in the FILM than the TELEVISION industry, going by industry reports. Skip this one.

When the film director shouts “ACTION!” the ACTOR flashes his mega-watt smile instantaneously.

THIS IS FOR “REEL”,

When the film director wraps up the scene with “CUT!”, he continues his bewitching smile for his fans and paparazzi, even when he feels like shit with a thousand tons on his shoulders.

THIS IS FOR “REAL”,

After all, acting is a profession and this guy is eking out a living.

THE ASIAN CELLULOID WORLD only recognizes YOUTH and EYE CANDIES.

As long as you possess the dashing looks, you can be positioned as the next PRETTY BOY/GIRL or HUNK/SEXPOT.

Once you pass 35 , you are a withered flower – considered middle aged, way over  your prime and deemed too old or to put it rudely, passe.

Then you are relegated to secondary roles such as the uncle or auntie, much to your disdain.

You squirm with disbelief because you think you are STILL the gorgeous SUPERSTAR, but hey, this is ASIA and not HOLLYWOOD.

Everybody grows OLD and LOOKS wane.

Time and tide wait for no man, and no amount of hitting the gym regularly, nor faithfully applying tons of herbal facials or ointments daily, will your skin still retain that youthful glow or elasticity. Oh come on!

GRAVITY PULLS  and REALITY BITES.

You cannot place a guarantee on fans’ adulation, and they’d readily switch camp whenever another new star shines in the horizon. We all love virgins, don’t we?

The following scenario best sums up an ACTOR’s lot:

“THE CROWD goes wild,

The FANS all cheer,

As the SHOW is done,

And the WORLD is focused

On YOU alone,

NOBODY else,

YOU alone are the soul of life,

YOU alone are the BEST,

YOU have everything they want,

Until the LIGHT goes DIM.”

This is the price every ACTOR has to pay for FAME.

A trite SAD, but very TRUE.

CHECK THIS OUT, MATE.

So you want to be in the acting profession?

TAKE A CUE …..

MYTH? TRUTH?

You decide …..

TO ALL ASPIRING ACTORS WHO ARE “NOT THERE” YET, GOOD LUCK!

The nominees for the SAG awards were announced this morning. Send your picks to comments-below.
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
RICHARD JENKINS / Walter Vale – “THE VISITOR” (Overture Films)
FRANK LANGELLA / Richard Nixon – “FROST/NIXON” (Universal Pictures)
SEAN PENN / Harvey Milk – “MILK” (Focus Features)
BRAD PITT / Benjamin Button – “THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON” (Paramount Pictures)
MICKEY ROURKE / Randy – “THE WRESTLER” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
ANNE HATHAWAY /Kym- RACHEL GETTING MARRIED” (Sony Pictures Classics
ANGELINA JOLIE / Christine Collins – “CHANGELING” (Universal Pictures)
MELISSA LEO / Ray Eddy – “FROZEN RIVER” (Sony Pictures Classics)
MERYL STREEP / Sister Aloysius Beauvier – “DOUBT” (Miramax Films)
KATE WINSLET / April Wheeler – “REVOLUTIONARY ROAD” (Paramount Vantage)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
AMY ADAMS / Sister James – “DOUBT” (Miramax Flms)
PENÉLOPE CRUZ / Maria Elena – “VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA” (The Weinstein Company)
VIOLA DAVIS / Mrs. Miller – “DOUBT” (Miramax Films)
TARAJI P. HENSON / Queenie – “THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON” (Paramount Pictures)

KATE WINSLET / Hanna Schmitz – “THE READER” (The Weinstein Company)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
DOUBT (Miramax)
FROST/NIXON (Universal Pictures)
MILK (Focus Features)
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount Pictures)

PRIMETIME TELEVISION

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
RALPH FIENNES / Bernard Lafferty – “BERNARD AND DORIS” (HBO)
PAUL GIAMATTI / John Adams “JOHN ADAMS“ (HBO)
KEVIN SPACEY / Ron Klain – “RECOUNT” (HBO)
KIEFER SUTHERLAND / Jack Bauer – “24: REDEMPTION” (FOX)
TOM WILKINSON / Benjamin Franklin – “JOHN ADAMS” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
LAURA DERN / Katherine Harris – “RECOUNT” (HBO)
LAURA LINNEY / Abigail Adams – “JOHN ADAMS” (HBO)
SHIRLEY MacLAINE / Coco Chanel – “COCO CHANEL” (Lifetime)
PHYLICIA RASHAD / Lena Younger – “A RAISIN IN THE SUN” (ABC)
SUSAN SARANDON / Doris Duke – “BERNARD AND DORIS” (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
MICHAEL C. HALL / Dexter Morgan – “DEXTER” (Showtime)
JON HAMM / Don Draper – “MAD MEN” (AMC)
HUGH LAURIE / Gregory House – “HOUSE” (FOX)
WILLIAM SHATNER / Denny Crane – “BOSTON LEGAL” (ABC)
JAMES SPADER / Alan Shore – “BOSTON LEGAL” (ABC)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
SALLY FIELD / Nora Walker – “BROTHERS & SISTERS” (ABC)
MARISKA HARGITAY / Det. Olivia Benson – “LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT” (NBC)
HOLLY HUNTER / Grace Hanadarko – “SAVING GRACE” (TNT)
ELISABETH MOSS / Peggy Olson – “MAD MEN” (AMC
KYRA SEDGWICK / Dep. Chief Brenda Johnson – “THE CLOSER” (TNT)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
ALEC BALDWIN / Jack Donaghy – “30 ROCK” (NBC)
STEVE CARELL / Michael Scott – “THE OFFICE” (NBC)
DAVID DUCHOVNY / Hank Moody – “CALIFORNICATION” (Showtime)
JEREMY PIVEN / Ari Gold – “ENTOURAGE” (HBO)
TONY SHALHOUB / Adrian Monk – “MONK” (USA)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

CHRISTINA APPLEGATE / Samantha Newly – “SAMANTHA WHO?” (ABC)
AMERICA FERRERA / Betty Suarez – “UGLY BETTY” (ABC)
TINA FEY / Liz Lemon – “30 ROCK” (NBC)
MARY-LOUISE PARKER / Nancy Botwin – “WEEDS” (Showtime)
TRACEY ULLMAN / Various Characters – “TRACEY ULLMAN’S STATE OF THE UNION” (Showtime)
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
BOSTON LEGAL (ABC)
DEXTER (Showtime)
HOUSE (Fox)
MAD MEN (AMC)
THE CLOSER (TNT)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
30 ROCK (NBC)
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
ENTOURAGE (HBO)
THE OFFICE (NBC)
WEEDS (Showtime)

SAG HONORS FOR STUNT ENSEMBLES

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
THE DARK KNIGHT (Warner Bros. Pictures)
HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY (Universal Pictures)
INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL (Paramount Pictures)
IRON MAN (Paramount Pictures)
WANTED (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (NBC)
HEROES (NBC)
PRISON BREAK (FOX)
THE UNIT (CBS)
THE CLOSER (TNT)

LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Screen Actors Guild Awards 45th Annual Life Achievement Award
James Earl Jones

www.EliteCastingNetwork.com members are becoming increasingly diligent about researching agents, managers and other entertainment industry professionals before establishing business relationships with them. In cases where Elite Casting Network members are uncertain about the legitimacy of an agent or manager, they often post their questions to the community forum where the Elite Casting Network staff and other members are quick to assist.

Most recently, a Elite Casting Network member was invited to an audition by Model Management Inc. in Los Angeles. While the member reviewed the company’s website, she still wasn’t sure if the company was a legitimate business. So she posted the name and address of the agency to the community forum to get feedback from the Elite Casting Network staff and other members.

When we researched Model Management Inc. we discovered that there were no complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau against this company, nor were there any complaints on the web. However, there was not much information available about the company at all, other than the company’s website, Myspace.com profile and posts on sites like Craigslist.org.

When we called the company’s Los Angeles office number, we got their voicemail. When we called their toll-free number, we also got a recorded message. In researching the Los Angeles address that the company included in their email to the Elite Casting Network member, we found that the company rents an HQ Global suite. HQ Global is a leading provider of virtual offices and small business suites. According to the company’s website, they have offices in San Diego, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City.

None of the information we uncovered indicates that the company is engaged in fraudulent activity. However, we always recommend that if you’ve diligently researched a company and you still have reservations, feel free to call and ask a few questions if it will make you feel more comfortable.

Not every agency or management company will be a huge enterprise with a full staff and a fancy office. That doesn’t mean that the company isn’t capable of helping you to reach your goals as a model, singer, dancer or actress. In fact many smaller agencies are able to provide their clients with more personalized service. Explore all of your options, both small and large agencies, and then based on the information they provide, decide which option is best for you.

For more information on entertainment industry scams, or to ask questions related to companies that have contacted you, log in each day to http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com and review our community forum and our Scam Alert section.

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Star Search Casting has been a leading casting website for 10 years, serving both casting and entertainment executives as well as singers, actors, dancers and models seeking opportunities in the industry. While Star Search Casting has developed a solid reputation for providing casting information for some of the industry’s most popular television shows and feature films, the website is also a leader in providing the most comprehensive database of industry resources on the web. From agents and photographers, to production companies and dance schools, Star Search Casting provides all of the information an aspiring performer needs to get a head start in the industry.

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