| Schauspiel Productions & The Franklyn School for the Performing Arts | ||||||||||||||||||||
| To do easily what is difficult for others is the mark of talent. (Henri-Frederic Amiel - 1856) |
It looks as though things have taken a dramatic turn since my last post. Late last year I said that 2001 would most likely be another banner year for film production in the GTA. Boy, was I mistaken! Due to continued pressure from the various film and television production guilds/associations and unions combined with strong lobbying in the the U.S. Congress plus the SAG strike during the summer of 2001 plus ACTRA's diminishing control and professional image in the representation of qualified and competent actors and it's decline as a strong voice plus the governments lack of funding and increasing of opportunities for foreign film investors has resulted in production dropping to an all time low. In fact, Quebec did more production than we did. Vive la Quebec livre!
Now you probably think that's a pretty gloomy picture, don't you. Well, it isn't. In fact, it's the best thing that's ever happened to the film arts in Ontario. Over the past five or six years a new emerging group of extremely talented, gutsy and ambitious artists have been incubating in the hen house; now the chicks have hatched. There won't be a pile of money like there was when the Americans were here but give it a little time after all we still have one of the largest film festivals in the world. So blow the dust of yer Canadiana, it still might be worth something yet ... so long as you don't try to sell it to a Canadian institution like CBC or Telefilm Canada or the smattering of other institutions that are supposed to be there for the aspiring filmmaker. They have their pets.
A filmmaker, actor or dramatist isn't so because he has a certificate albeit degree from one of yer' local or foreign halls of academia; it's a guy/gal with natural God given talent, guts and a yen fer tellin' a tale. The certificate/degree is a nice touch and certainly enhances an individuals skill (be careful with that one some of those places suck the talent right out of an otherwise gifted artist with some of their sterile and myopic concepts)
I have been inundated by requests for assistance from a myraid of artists both packing a degree and those not packing, wanting to make their bones in the business ...and, I'm glad to do whatever I can. These talented young men and women don't only come from Canada; I assisted a filmmaker from the UK this past summer who did so well and was so impressed with the talent and resources in Canada that he is planning to immigrate here ASAP. These are the kinds of people we need; self-assertive and creative. And as for you and you and you ...may the force be with you.
A little advice:
The question about talent. Why won't the Americans (who control almost all of the production done here) want to hire Canadians to play in their movies (except for background and bit parts which usually go to Canadians top actors)? The reason is they want their movies to sound American and Canadians sound Canadian. What a bummer. You need to sound accent neutral to win an audition in an American production. It even sounds good when you're doing a Canadian production. Therefore, anyone going into this business needs to be trained. Don't be fooled by the hundreds of agencies who are licking their chops to get your money by promising you jobs in "the movies." A good agent charges NOTHING until you make some money. Some charge a small maintenance fee of no more than $50.00 - $75.00 per year. That's OK but don't get sucked in like so many do every day. If you are in doubt about an agent call ACTRA or TAMAC (Talent and Modelling watch dog). But make sure you're prepard by getting yourself a good acting teacher. DO NOT spend thousands of dollars on university programs because they do not prepare you for the business of being a film actor and unless you're looing to be a high-school drama teacher get an experienced coach who is an actor themself.
The rocky road to the silver screen is not a crowded one, and though the rewards can be great, the disappointments can be crushing. As Robbin Williams said to his loyal students in Dead Poets Society, "seize the day!" Over the past couple of years there has been a dramatic surge in the number of daring young (and not so young) film makers to go out and make their own movies. These are the real artists ... the true talent .... where agents and casting people in Toronto's film business wouldn't know an actor if they bite them on the nose, these new filmmakers to have you involved with them. Like I already stated, there may be not a lot of money at first but it will come in time. Take a chance, it'll pay off in the end. As with any profession you can only perfect it through practise. You still need an agent but at least you don't have to depend on them as your only hope. Some of them get you work but you have to know who the good ones are. You have to have a passion for acting that supercedes the idea of fame and money and anything else that can act as a distraction or downer to your career. Remember, no matter who you work for you will still have to audition and the jobs are only going to those with the talent or experience to attract attention. You must win the audition to get a part in: Live Stage, Film and Television or Commercials. MY BACKGROUND David Franklyn-Ratchford ACTRA/WGC ACTOR/DRAMA COACH/WRITER/DIRECTOR AGENT: Faces and Places Talent Agency Inc.477 Richmond St. W. Suite 601, Toronto, Ontario M5V 3E7 Tel:(416) 504 - 7892 Fax:(416) 504 - 8975 Stats: Weight:180lbs. Eyes: Blue Height: 5'8" Hair: gray/black FILM / TV Zombie Night Warren Francis Entertainment Massacre Up North Uncle Impact Pictures. GOTTI Bribed Juror Volcano King Productions Amerika Military Officer ABC-CIRCLE Films F/X (The Series) Security Guard Winter Set Productions The Bay Boy Pool Hall Manager Daniel Petrie Production Frontier French Officer Primemedia Productions Verdict Baliff GLOBAL TV Perry Mason Lawyer Shooting Star Prod. The Fly Stand-In David Cronenburg Prod. Chasing Rainbows Reporter CBC Television Check It Out Shopper Glen Warren Prod. Covert Action Lab Tech. Alliance Communications Martial Arts World Host/MCOST/ CABLE TV THEATRE HARVEY DUANE WILSON UCCB PLAYERS GYPSY WEBBER SAVOY PROD. ARSENIC & OLD LACE MORTIMER ARTWORKS SLOAN HANGMAN UCCB PLAYERS THE MOUSETRAP POLICEMAN UCCB SHADOW OF A GUNMAN BLACK & AN COMMERCIALS KELLOGG'S RAISIN BRAN TECHNICIAN LEO BURNETT CO. SEGA GENESIS PIT CREW LEADER ACTOR THE ARTIST'S CO. FOSTER BEER S.O.C. J. WALTER THOMPSON HOME HARDWARE SALESMAN S.O.C. DALTON FENSKE TRAINING AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE ARTWORKS DRAMA WORKSHOPS 4 YR. PROGRAM 1980 - 84 U.C.C.B. PLAYHOUSE IMPROV, AUDITIONS, PRODUCTION ACTRA - TORONTO BR. VARIOUS WORKSHOPS - CAMERA/AUDITIONS SCENE STUDY TALENTWORKS THEATRE SCHOOL HEAD INSTRUCTOR I HAVE BEEN TEACHING SINCE 1979 IN BOTH NOVA SCOTIA & ONTARIO SPECIAL SKILLS BLACK BELT - KENPO, MOTO-CROSS RACING, CERTIFIED FOR MARINE VESSELS, CERTIFIED SCUBA DIVER, GERMAN SPEAKING, GUITAR PLAYER & SINGER, WRITING, DIRECTING, FIREARMS, accents: Irish, German, maritime, American I have directed a number of live stage efforts since 1980 and I produced/directed and hosted my own television series, "The Incredible World of Martial Arts" which aired from 1973 - 1977 Currently filming "Passion of Ela" and have just finished as Associate Producer for Paul Stoichecski's "Massacre Up North" Just completed casting for "Small Fish" a UK production of Nomadic Films I manage several accomplished writers and actors and I am always on the lookout for new aspiring talent. I hold acting classes twice a week in my home studio and arrange for my clients to secure both film and television work and reputable agents. | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
|
I will train actors and work with writer's to acquire the necessary tools to break into show business | Hidden talent counts for nothing. (Occultae musicae nullam esse respectum) Nero | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| Success is the Child of Audacity. - Benjamin Disraeli |
My services include:
| |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| Favorite Links | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||