349 posts
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Post by kimbahorel on Mar 28, 2018 9:29:01 GMT
(A quick note - I don't really write posts much I know what some people are like on here about posts. I find it difficult to write and express myself. So here goes. I hope it makes sense or people get were I am coming from.)
On the subject of Actors being coerced, embarrassed, weighed and other things that go on during auditions for shows or drama schools.
I have an opinion about this.
Reading comments on many posts about this on the internet and I was some what surprised that some comments by people posting had a very nonchalant tone. They know it goes on but don't seem to want to do anything about it. I am horrified as theatre goer to know these things happen and to hear stories. I read the ProResting twitter about auditions it just amazes me this actually exists.
Myself as a theatre goer, I go to see shows I wonder how many of those performers I see have been put through this at some stage in their career or even for the show I am actually watching. And why? I personally don't care what someone looks like in show as long as they are a good performer and can act (if they are doing it - sing).
We are ethical about everything where our foods from, how our clothes were made and we can make that decision to buy that. As a consumer of theatre shouldn't I be able to know how people where auditioned for a show and whether or not I want to put my money into these productions.
There still is but it's now something everyone knows about - models being on diets or starving themselves to be thin as possible for fashion shows or magazine shoots. We are not as accepting of that any more we want models of different shapes and sizes when we open a magazine.
And performers in shows?
Granted I know it doesn't happen in every show or company - but this some sort of stuff does happen.
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19,793 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 28, 2018 11:20:43 GMT
Weighed?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2018 12:27:53 GMT
I saw mention of this in the press but have to say that I have never heard of actors being weighed before. I have known many actors, have been aware that a lot of them do weird diets but I have never heard of this. However I feel that theatres need to ensure that they are up to date with employment laws because most theatres get away with murder (employing their mates/family members, underpaying, bullying, discrimination, inhumane practices regarding compassionate leave etc). I would say that, for all the “fun” of working on shows, theatres are amongst the worst employers in the world. People put up with it because complaint will give them the reputation of being difficult and because they think the next job will enable them to hit the big time. In my opinion #metoo is the tip of the iceberg. This is a good topic. Well done on your first (or early) post.
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4,156 posts
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Post by kathryn on Mar 28, 2018 13:15:43 GMT
Weighed? Ridiculous! I have often thought that having little or no modesty/lots of body confidence must be a requirement of a career in acting, given what performers are required to do as part of the job. I'd be horrified if I had to do what I've seen some actors do on stage in the course of a play! That's not to say that not minding getting your kit off *should* be a requirement, but it does seem to be necessary at the moment if you want to succeed.
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1,127 posts
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Mar 28, 2018 13:16:02 GMT
Not remotely surprising. Equity and employers need to step their game up and come up with proper well-implemented policies to protect actors.
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349 posts
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Post by kimbahorel on Mar 28, 2018 13:22:13 GMT
I saw mention of this in the press but have to say that I have never heard of actors being weighed before. I have known many actors, have been aware that a lot of them do weird diets but I have never heard of this. However I feel that theatres need to ensure that they are up to date with employment laws because most theatres get away with murder (employing their mates/family members, underpaying, bullying, discrimination, inhumane practices regarding compassionate leave etc). I would say that, for all the “fun” of working on shows, theatres are amongst the worst employers in the world. People put up with it because complaint will give them the reputation of being difficult and because they think the next job will enable them to hit the big time. In my opinion #metoo is the tip of the iceberg. This is a good topic. Well done on your first (or early) post. That is a big concern for me - going to see a show and seeing this very painted picture in stage but the reality is backstage you all those things you mentioned. Especially if I am a fan of a performer to know if they are being bullied or coerced backstage or finding out they are the ones doing it. I went to a show standing stage door to see the crew of the production laugh, point and make fun of the fans waiting outside stage door. Then made me think if crew do this to fans... what else goes on.
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19,793 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 28, 2018 13:28:22 GMT
Ah but then what about the “we think this scene would be so much more powerful if you did it naked...” discussion. Can you put a policy around artistic expression? Who decides that, if not the director?
I have no idea what was achieved by the staging of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof with the open shower. It added nothing as far as I was concerned. But I bet Benedict Andrews would have an arty farty answer for it.
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19,793 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 28, 2018 15:33:29 GMT
*reaches for “online bullying” button*
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1,250 posts
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Post by joem on Mar 29, 2018 21:06:12 GMT
Looking forward to the all-clothed version of Hair.
My experience of auditioning for drama schools is a long way back. The ones I went to were perfectly friendly and respectful. The lecturer supervising the scene where I was being seduced stopped the action when I was down to my underwear. I wouldn't have seeing as the seductress was a young Emma Freud!
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