Oops. I May Have, Um, Done It Again...
Ok, so, remember that guy who was heading that web-series project? Well, after a few rounds of emails that got me nowhere, I finally called him saying "Please call me to discuss", and I never heard back. So... problem solved. In a way.
Until yesterday afternoon when he leaves a voicemail for me saying that they need someone now more than ever, and can I please call him tonight to go over the info.
Fine. I sort of felt bad about missing out on this project because, as I said before, it's a cute premise and I see no reason why it couldn't make money (eventually - they have no backers now) or develop into something bigger... unless there is poor management, and, um...
It seems that might be the case.
Throughout the conversation I kept trying to press him for a specific time frame - How many episodes? Is there and "end" date? etc. - because it is an on-going series but I can't just sign on for a project indefinitely. One that doesn't pay. No way. And getting those details was like pulling teeth. And the whole time I kept trying to stress that this was a Let-Me-Look-At-The-Details-And-Get-Back-To-You situation, but somehow, by the end of the call, he had it in his mind that I'd read the script today and have a storyboard drawn up by Saturday (this character also draws for the show).
It probably is my fault. I was probably too weak from the mental loopdy-loops to stress that I was not signed on yet. But, I told myself to hold off on the self-flagellation: I may not have just led this poor guy on - let me look at their website (just launched this week so this is my first time seeing it) before making any decisions, so I did and...
I will have to decline. I think. And now I do feel terrible. I hate turning down work - I especially hate backing out of work that I initially accepted (or somehow let someone believe I have accepted). I'm not involved in any projects right now so work would be good... but I've done web shows before - ones with great production values and a website that was free from glaring typos. Doing this, it seems, would be a step back for me.
But then again, I'm not working now. I haven't been in a show in a year (I'm so scared, you guys! Will I ever be on stage again?). Am I foolish to decline? I wish I could take it on and be excited about it but the whole things is just... too weird.
I do take some solace in thinking that there are other actors who could really use this experience. That this would be a step forward for them. So maybe I should leave the slot open for someone else who wants it more.
That's the least I could do... right?
UPDATE: I noticed that one of the writers names for the show looked familiar, so I contacted a former classmate to see if it was him. It was. And he gave me some honest insight (though he no longer is a part of the project). So I feel much better about my decision.
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