Blog Stage - Acting in Film, TV, Theatre - Backstage

29th St. Rep Loses Performance Space

Another sad day, as yet another Off-Broadway theatre has lost its performance space. 29th Street Rep is forced to vacate its theatre at 212 29th St. because of building code violations and the cost to make the necessary improvements. Artistic David Mogentale will retain the rehearsal space and an office and will look for outside venues, for now. His letter to fans is below. At left is the poster from 29th Street's most recent production, the stage adaptation of Francis Ford Coppola's THE CONVERSATION.

--Andrew Salomon

To all our fans:

Well, if you have not heard it by now, 29th Street Rep has lost its performance space. The theater, because of various building violations and the cost of legalizing them has had to pull up stakes after THE CONVERSATION this May. I still have the upstairs rehearsal room as well as an office on the third floor, but for now 29th Street Rep will be finding outside venues to perform in. This is very hard since we loved the intimacy of our space so very much. We were so familiar with the theater that many times we felt we knew every piece of plywood on the floor! That made for better acting all around. I will still be dedicated to finding that next 'brutal play' that will fit our aesthetics, just at a different theater. This company is something I have been so very proud of in my 18 years here. We do plays that are visceral, 'down and dirty' and raw. Something rarely seen at other spaces in this city. Sometimes we miss and sometimes we hit the homerun, but I don't think you ever saw us bunting the proverbial guy over.

I always loved seeing people that I grew to know and cared about coming to another play here at 212 West 29th Street. Sometimes I would have rather gotten a chance to speak with them in the lobby and not have been in the play itself! We have given our hearts and souls to this place and were so proud when people responded in such a positive way. I see people on the streets all the time wanting to know what we will be doing next! Here is to a new era. I hope it can continue what we worked so hard to start, cultivate and let grow.

With much thought,

David Mogentale, Artistic Director

29th Street Rep

"Based on a True Story": What Does it Mean For You?

Online at Filmmaker Magazine's website, Shelley H. Surpin, Esq. has written a piece about some of the challenges specific to filmmakers who are making movies about real people.

Surpin writes, "I am often asked by producers, writers and directors if they need to acquire the 'life-story rights' of a particular person whose story they would like to develop... However there really is no such thing as 'a life-story right.' The pattern of incidents comprising a person's life is not a piece of property — not even intellectual property to be copyrighted, trademarked or patented. This truth does not give a free pass to the filmmaker wishing to exploit another's life narrative but rather uncovers the entrance to a thicket of issues."

The article delves into the complex legal issues associated with turning one person's life into another person's art, and while the advice is aimed primarily at the filmmaker behind the camera, Surpin has prompted Blog Stage to think about what it means for actors to take on the task of playing a real person instead of a purely fictional character.

Biopics, from Citizen Kane to Capote, have always been popular. And in recent years, it seems, playing a historical figure on screen equals a guaranteed Oscar nomination.

"When a famous person like Jamie Foxx does a great job portraying another famous person like Ray Charles, academy members think, 'Wow! That's acting!' " film critic Pete Hammond told writer Tom O'Neil (The Envelope) the year that Helen Mirren, Forest Whitaker, and others were honored for their portrayals of true-life characters.   "They have something to measure it against. The trend of rewarding those kinds of performances is now getting so out of hand that soon they'll have to change the name of the award from best actor to best celebrity impersonation."

Beyond impersonation, though, playing a real person sometimes requires the same skills that made that person notable in the first place. For example, Joaquin Phoenix learned to sing and play guitar (and also became an alcoholic) to embody the late country singer Johnny Cash in Walk the Line.

Stars of sports, music, arts, theatre, film, business, politics -- all have been the subjects of films "based on a true story." Aside from the legal or physical demands of the role, what about the more abstract moral issues presented in fairly and accurately portraying someone who, alive or dead, probably affected people and already left a legacy of their own? Should actors, as well as writers and directors, always have the blessing of those they are portraying? Should they try to accurately imitate the person, or create a new character through their performance?

Have you ever played a real-life historical figure on stage or screen? What are the specific challenges you've faced as a result? Leave a comment below and let us know!

-- Daniel Lehman

Pop Quiz: Is the musician pictured above Ray Charles, or Jamie Foxx? Take your time.

An Effective Measure on Piracy?

Online Media Daily has a report today about Avanto, a company that has created a content verification service to help combat online video piracy. “The objective is not to get content owners to take down all their videos on the Web, but to help them monetize it,” Alper Turgut, Anvato founder and CEO, told reporter Gavin O’Malley. “We want to turn the whole issue of copyright infringement into a revenue opportunity.”

Perhaps this would aid producers in developing a distribution system for clips. If the guild could be assured that clips could make money, would it give its blessing on consent?

--Andrew Salomon

L.A. Auditions at a Glance

Culled from the hundreds of casting and job notices listed daily on BackStage.com, below are this week's audition highlights for the West Coast, organized by the day the auditions are being held.

To find the full details for each of these projects -- including the audition times, locations, requirements, and alternate submission methods -- simply locate the project using the BackStage.com Casting & Jobs Search Engine, and then open the notice to view all of the info.

When searching, try any of the following: (1) Run a search for all the categories and countries you're interested in, and then sort the results based upon the date of the auditions by clicking on the triangular arrows found near the top of the "Audition Dates" column on every page of the search results; (2) Try an "exact phrase" Keyword search using one of the project titles/casting notice headlines listed below (hint: put the project title, audition headline, production company, or casting director name in "quotation marks" to get the best results); (3)  try an "exact phrase" Keyword searches using dates such as Nov. 28, Dec. 5, and so on, to discover other opportunities that have audition dates, performance dates, and deadlines for the date you specify. See the Casting FAQ for additional search hints.

LOS ANGELES AREA AUDITIONS

Wed., July 30
Columbia, 'Fake Vegetarian' (Student Films)
USC, 'The Murder of Hi Good' (Student Films)
'Make Me a Supermodel' (Reality TV & Documentary)
'Red Death' (Northern CA - Union/Nonunion Film)

Thurs., July 31
ETC 2008-09 Season (Union/Nonunion Stage)

Fri., Aug. 1
NV, Paul Mitchell Beauty Fashion/Hair Show (Outside CA - Modeling)

Sat., Aug. 2
'The Biggest Loser' (Reality TV & Documentary)
'A Man's a Man' (Union/Nonunion Stage)
'All That Jazz 2008' (Nonunion Musicals)
NM, 'Le Theatre du Grand-Guignol' (Outside CA - Nonunion Stage)

Sun, Aug. 3
'Little Shop of Horrors' (Nonunion Musicals)
USA, 'Make Me a Supermodel' (Outside CA - Reality TV & Documentary)

Mon., Aug. 4
CTG 2008-09 Season (Union Stage)
'James and the Giant Peach' (Union Stage)
'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas,' Dancers (Union Chorus Calls)
'Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas,' Singers (Union Chorus Calls)
'Thoroughly Modern Millie' (Union/Nonunion Musicals)
'Relatively Speaking' (Nonunion Stage)
'Five Guys Named Moe' (Nonunion Musicals)
Royal Caribbean Auditions (Cruise Lines)
CD Workshops, Todd Sherry & Beth Hollywood (Groups & Workshops)
TX, 'Night of the Living Dead' (Outside CA - Nonunion Stage)
TX, San Pedro Playhouse 2008-09 Season (Outside CA - Nonunion Stage)

Tues., Aug. 5
'Kiss of the Spider Woman' (Union/Nonunion Musicals)
Disney's 'American Idol Experience' (Theme Parks)

Wed., Aug. 6
'Wicked,' Singers (Union Chorus Calls)
'Baby' (Nonunion Musicals)
'Halloween Horror Nights' (Theme Parks)

Thurs., Aug. 7
'Lose Yourself' (Music Video)
'Wicked,' Dancers (Union Chorus Calls)
'Bill and Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure' (Theme Parks)

Fri., Aug. 8
NONE

Sat., Aug. 9
'Grease' (Nonunion Musicals)
The Production Company (Groups & Workshops)
UT, 'The Overwhelming' (Outside CA - Union/Nonunion Stage)

Sun., Aug. 10
MTC 2008-09 Season (Northern CA - Union Stage)

Mon., Aug. 11
'Mary's Wedding' (Union Stage)
'Silk Stockings,' Dancers (Union Chorus Calls)
'Silk Stockings' (Union/Nonunion Musicals)
'The King & I' (Union/Nonunion Musicals)

Tues., Aug. 12
'South Pacific' (Nonunion Musicals)

Wed., Aug. 13
NONE

Thurs., Aug. 14
NV, 'Phantom of the Opera,' Dancers (Outside CA - Union Chorus Calls)

Conspiracy Theory

Casting directors Johanna Ray and Jenny Jue (Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans) are attached to cast Azazel, a drama based on Boris Akunin's novel about a global terrorist conspiracy. Paul Verhoeven will direct; Milla Jovovich is set to star. Shooting dates in Berlin, London, and St. Petersburg, Russia have not been released.

Feed Me, Seymour

Submissions are being accepted for the second Feed Your Starving Artist collaborative cookbook, which includes anecdotes, stories, and creative recipes from artists that are easy and affordable to prepare. Proceeds from the second book will benefit the National Eating Disorders Association. For consideration, email a recipe, a story or anecdote, a photo, and your contact info at www.myspace.com/feedyourstarvingartist.

Born in East L.A.

East Los Angeles Repertory Theatre Company is accepting submissions for its first playwrights intensive. Playwrights Oliver Mayer, Luis Alfaro, Jose Cruz Gonzalez, Adelina Anthony, and Ricardo Bracho will instruct participants on the art of writing about the personal, the political, and the contemporary, and how to finally get it done. Classes take place from noon to 4 p.m. in the courtyard of AltaMed Health Services, 512 S. Indiana St., L.A. Cost is $150. To apply, call (323) 223-1529 or visit www.eastlarep.com.

Don't Dream It, Be It

MTV will produce a remake of 1975 cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show. According to Variety, Lou Adler, executive producer of the original film, will partner with BermanBraun and Fox Television Studios on the new rendition. The two-hour remake will use the original screenplay by Jim Sharman and Richard O'Brien but may also include music not featured in the original. Cast and casting directors have not been announced. 

Would You Watch a Web Musical About a Super-Villain?

As you may have already heard, Neil Patrick Harris stars in a new web-exclusive video. Here's how the creator, Joss Whedon, describes the 40-minute musical:

"Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is the (true) story of Dr. Horrible (wow, really?), a low-rent super-villain trying to get into the Evil League of Evil, defeat his boorish nemesis, Captain Hammer, and win the girl of his dreams, Penny (or at least talk to her). It was directed by Joss 'me' Whedon, and written by... oh let's not get bogged down in the details."

Although normally $4 on iTunes, Hulu.com is offering the video for free for this week only.  Check it out here on Blog Stage.

-- Tom Penketh

West-Coast Casting Highlights - 7/31/08

Every week Back Stage publishes hundreds of notices -- casting notices, entertainment-industry job notices, and calls for submissions to talent contests and film festivals. Back Stage is the premier resource for actors, dancers, singers, comedians, and all performing artists -- plus those talented individuals working behind-the-scenes, including writers and crew -- looking for quality opportunities.  BackStage.com's casting database includes all of the notices from  the  popular Back Stage East and Back Stage West  publications, plus hundreds of additional items.

Below are a few highlights from this week's West Coast notices, compiled by West-Coast Casting Editor Cassie Carpenter:

• ReelAccess is casting Last Teen Comic, a cross-launch with MySpace and ReelAccess that is intended to result in a broadcast pilot/series. Five finalists will perform live in front of industry professionals at a stand-up comedy club in L.A. in Nov. First-prize winner receives $5,000.

• The Conlin Company is casting The Great American Beauty, a new primetime show for ABC.

• Bravo is casting the second season of Make Me a Supermodel, the reality competition that explores what it takes to turn the exceptionally good-looking into professional working supermodels.

• Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, Araca Group, Jon B. Platt, and David Stone are casting ensemble and future replacements for Wicked.

• The Globe Theatre is casting Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

• Make-Believe Film is casting hosts and reporters for IRecordPlayer.net, a website that brings together film, "turntablism," and the Internet. Shooting Aug. 11-15 at the DJ Expo in Atlantic City, NJ, Aug. 15-21 in Queens, NY, Sept. 21-Nov. in L.A., and at assorted contests and event dates through 2009.

• Chop House Pictures is casting Salvation, an HDV short intended for the DVXuser film festival "TwilightFest."

• D.A.F.Y. Productions, a 501(c)(3) non-profit famous for drug awareness videos for youth, is casting Consequences, an HDV feature for TV/DVD release that is a morality piece about a group of spoiled kids who make a bad choice and have to pay the consequences.

• Beachbody is casting Nutritious Slim Down. "Are you beautiful on the outside and want to be more beautiful on the inside? Don't miss this exclusive opportunity to be part of a nutrition packed 90-day weight loss plan! At no cost to you! This is a Hollywood based test group for a national infomercial."

To view hundreds of additional notices every day, run a Back Stage Casting/Job Search. To narrow down your search-results, try using the Advanced Search Filters to find notices with character-breakdowns tagged with specific job-categories, genders, age-ranges, pay ranges, and ethnicities.  Also check out Back Stage's extensive Production Listings and Blog Stage's categories for L.A. Auditions at a Glance,  NYC Auditions at a Glance, Bulletins, and Seeking Submissions.

-- Luke Crowe, National Casting Editor, Back Stage