There’s No One Way to Make It
C.J. tweeted at me: @TheAnonymousPA Hey do film producers require film school? Think Jerry Bruckenheimer. should I go to college? — C.J Davis (@lifeischess027) July 21, 2015 Film school is a topic that comes up often on this blog. There are some good reasons to go to film school,{{1}} but a degree isn’t one of […]
#NotAllDirectors
There’s still time to win box seats at the Staples Center, thanks to CAPS Payroll. * * * Evan G decided to respond to a six-year-old post about an asshole director. I wasn’t around at the time, but as the current keeper of the TAPA flame (and no big fan of directors myself), I feel […]
Casting Is Harder Than You Think
Reader Sean writes in: I was wondering if you could shed some light on casting directors, and why they’re ATL. Seems like a pretty easy job to me. “Oh, YOU’RE the one that thought Tom Hanks would be great in that role! What a genius!” Psssh! If by “ATL,” you mean “Above the Line,” they’re not. “Above […]
I Hate Directors
You have to be at least slightly psychologically damaged to be above the line. “Above the line” refers to producers, directors, writers, and actors, also known as “talent.” I refuse to call them “talent,” though. If they’re talent, what the hell are the rest of us? I mean, it doesn’t take much talent to do […]
Be Prepared
Yesterday, we had a table read (meaning the actors read the script in front of the producers and network executives). The only thing you need to bring to a table read is your script. Guess what the director didn’t bring. Besides his script, I was also told to grab his bag. In his office, he […]