Chicago Acting blog by David August

Chicago Fire Picked Up by NBC

2012-05-09T16:33:00.001-05:00

...the network has given a series order to the Wolf-produced firefighter drama pilot Chicago Fire

The show's pilot filmed in town earlier this spring, and will presumably continue to film here as the show progresses, meaning boatloads of revenue for the city, local film crews...

(from A.V. Club). No confirmation of who will be doing local casting of principal or background actors.

Ad: Travelers Haven

2012-04-27T22:23:00.000-05:00

Sponsored Post:
Film and TV projects last longer than a few days, and so do stage plays. Often the producer provides the housing, but if you're non-union, you may be on your own. Sublets are complex and sometimes annoying, and you have to do all the leg work yourself. Enter Travelers Haven, who asked me to write about their service. They just opened a Chicago division. They describe it as giving "...property owners with vacant properties a chance to earn money while also giving travelers a chance to rent furnished housing instead of using hotels during their stays."

So no living out of a suitcase in a hotel. You'd actually get a place that is like your own, but without that pesky need to buy furniture, linens, set up utilities or have a long term lease, mortgage, or other silliness. Since they aim to serve both luxury and economy travelers, this may work for both higher end options (like the Goodman) and for the non-union gig someone is coming into Chicago for and wants to spend less than a hotel or sublet would cost. If I had a multi-week or multi-month gig in town, and were left to fend for myself for my long term housing, I'd look at this seriously. If you or someone you know is a project's producer and needs to put up various people in town for extended stays, this may make the accountant smile. Not living out of a hotel room may actually put your people more at ease, and that often comes across the footlights and lenses.

Finally, if your living in Chicago, and get a long term gig out of town, you don't need to turn into an ad hoc landlord. Travelers Haven can help you make some money on your place, and take care of the details so you don't have to. Way better than vetting randoms off Craigslist. On both sides, whether visiting Chicago, or leaving Chicago for a long time, this can mean less expensive long term accommodations for the visitor, and help fill the hole in your housing budget for the Chicagoan traveling.

MTV Series Starts Shooting in Chicago This Month

2012-04-08T01:45:00.003-05:00

Underemployed, MTV's forthcoming series about five recent college grads struggling to make their way in this mixed-up world, is set to film its first season in Chicago starting this in mid-April

(from A.V. Club Chicago). Extras, background and stand-ins will be cast by ExtraOrdinary Casting.

SAG and AFTRA merged and are now SAG-AFTRA

2012-03-30T15:54:00.001-05:00

The on camera acting unions have merged, details on my Los Angeles Acting blog.

Tax Seminar with Sandra Karas March 5th

2012-02-21T23:55:00.003-06:00

Tax Deductions for Performers
This Free Workshop will be held on:
Monday, March 5, 2012
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Actors' Equity Building
557 West Randolph Street
Member Center, 1st Floor
Chicago, IL 60661

Union Members ONLY
RSVPs required!
Please e-mail to CentralRSVP@actorsequity.org or phone 312-641-0393, extension 240

For more information see the event information on Equity's site. This is all I know about this; caveat actor.

AEA Supports SAG-AFTRA Merger

2012-02-21T23:43:00.001-06:00

Tuesday Equity voted unanimously to support the SAG-AFTRA merger.

Add Your Acting Class to the Free Directory

2012-02-08T01:11:00.003-06:00

I'm making a directory of acting classes.
Please add yours for free:
http://www.theyact.com/add-acting-class/

SAG and AFTRA Boards Approve Merger Plan

2012-01-30T15:57:00.003-06:00

Both SAG and AFTRA national boards approve and ballots will be sent out to members. Please vote yes on merger, here's why the unions should merge.

SAG & AFTRA Reach Agreement on Merger Rec to National Boards

2012-01-17T13:20:00.001-06:00

The unions are getting closer to merging, which is a very good thing. More on my LA acting blog.

Production Tax Credit for Big Theatre in Illinois

2012-01-06T13:03:00.002-06:00

The so-called Live Theatre Production Tax Credit, long sought by Broadway in Chicago, is designed to support Illinois engagements of pre-Broadway and long-running shows in theaters of 1,200 seats or more. It provides producers with tax credits in return for their spending in the State of Illnois; up to 20% of spending on such things as labor and marketing can be applied. The program is capped at $2 million per year

(from Chicago Tribune).

Juror Jailed for Ditching Court to See a Show

2012-01-02T17:57:00.002-06:00

A teenage juror, who interrupted a trial when he pretended to be ill so that he could go and see a London stage show, has been detained for 14 days...Banks [the juror] went to see the show Chicago in the West End.

(from The Guardian). He had it coming ;-).

Chicago Pride

2011-12-12T16:21:00.001-06:00

It's not the Willis Tower, it's the Sears Tower, I don't wear sneakers, I wear gym shoes. I don't drink soda, I drink pop. I don't go to the movies, I go to the show. Where I'm from is determimed by north, south, east, or west. I'm from the city with the best pizza, hot dogs and GUYros. I have taken the train, L, and subway at the same time without even leaving my seat. 40 degrees isn't cold. My basketball team has 6 rings. My football team did the super bowl shuffle. Your tall buildings don't impress me. Your country living don't move me. I don't need to put my city on a hat to tell where I'm from, the way I move explains enough! Repost if you are from THE CHI AND YOU LOVE IT! (from Erick Esteban).

Samuel French Ebooks and Digital Play Scripts

2011-11-15T15:36:00.002-06:00

Today, Samuel French began offering someone their publications digitally. Read details on my LA Acting blog.

Online Auditioning for Stage More Common

2011-08-09T22:14:00.002-05:00

A rite of passage for young actors - waiting in long lines to be seen by Broadway casting directors, clutching head shots with I-hope-I-get-it fervor - has faded, as more producers and directors have abandoned the long-held assumption that they need to be in the room to assess stage presence and other qualities. While some casting directors have looked at audition tapes here and there over the years, the advent of YouTube, Skype, Facebook, Flip cameras and widely available video equipment has recently given technology a greater role in theater casting, providing a foot in the stage door for the technically savvy.

While no breakout theater star has been discovered solely through online auditions, several casting directors said it was only a matter of time.

(from The New York Times).

Taymor Tries to Heal Her Image

2011-06-21T04:07:00.004-05:00

Breaking her silence about "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark," the Broadway musical from which she was fired in March, Julie Taymor tacitly criticized her former producers on Saturday afternoon for relying on audience focus groups and said that the rise of Twitter and blogs for instant theater criticism was damaging to shows

(from The New York Times). The most expensive Broadway production ever produced, "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" was already controversial before Julie Taymor left the production. Last year, before opening, the production separately injured 4 different actors with broken wrists, ribs, feet (or a toe), a concussion and internal bleeding.

Lookingglass Wins Tony Award for Excellence in Regional Theater

2011-06-12T17:11:00.002-05:00

Chicago's Lookingglass Theatre Company has 22 ensemble members. Twenty-one of them will be in the confines of New York's Beacon Theatre on Sunday night when Lookingglass becomes the fifth Chicago company to win the Tony Award for excellence in regional theater.

You likely won't see them all on television

(from Chicago Tribune).

How Much a Tony Win is Worth

2011-06-12T16:57:00.002-05:00

On average, winners of the Tony for best musical saw their average weekly gross jump 48 percent, from $656,784 in the eight weeks before the ceremony to $972,006 in the eight weeks after. By contrast, the other nominees saw only a 21 percent increase in their weekly gross in the comparable time frames

(from The New York Times).

Mickey Grossman Memorial Service

2011-06-04T16:47:00.001-05:00

Plans are being made at this time to hold a memorial service in Chicago on Monday, June 13th. Exact location and time TBD. If you have any questions, please contact Mickie Paskal or Jennifer Rudnicke at 312-527-0665

-Jennifer Rudnicke

Nobody Knows Anything

2011-05-14T22:46:00.003-05:00

While originally written for the LA market, it applies to all of entertainment. My first guest post:

In Hollywood nobody knows anything. Clearly this is true. Otherwise every movie would be a hit. Every play would run forever. Every actor would be a millionaire, and every agent/manager/casting director would be too busy booking talent on brilliant and commercially wildly successful projects to get paid to attend workshops. We know nobody knows anything.

Read the rest of this on ActorRated.com.

Chicago Code Not Renewed

2011-05-12T12:58:00.001-05:00

The show will not have a second season on its current network; no word yet if another outlet may pick it up.

Combined Union Intitiation Dues

2011-05-11T16:44:00.001-05:00

If SAG and AFTRA merge, how initiation dues should be handled.

Acting Studio Chicago Free Class April 17, 1pm-4pm

2011-04-04T15:32:00.002-05:00

Kurt Naebig's talk about the job of the actor and the auditioning process. Kurt will give you a taste of what it takes by discussing Michael Shurtleff's 12 Guideposts...considered by some of the top professionals in the industry as the most practical, most specific way to work as an actor. His book Audition is considered by many to be the 'bible for aspiring actors.'

Call 312-527-4566 to reserve. This is all I know about this; caveat actor.

Spider-Man Losing Taymor

2011-03-09T18:15:00.002-06:00

The New York Times reports March 9 that Tony-winning director Julie Taymor will likely depart the troubled, $65 million musical Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark

(from Playbill).

Actor Branding

2011-02-18T20:34:00.003-06:00

...a slogan is only useful if someone, somewhere, might say the opposite. Otherwise you're not saying anything, especially anything that sets you apart from anyone else.

Read the rest of the post about having a point of view on my LA Acting blog.

Batman 3 Extras Casting in Chicago

2010-09-30T19:29:00.001-05:00

Looks like Joan Philo Casting will be doing local extras casting for the next Batman movie starting in March 2011.