Spotting Scams & Setting Boundaries: A Working Actor's Guide Ep 75

MAX: 00:12
Welcome back to Two Unemployed Actors. I'm Max. I'm Sam. And today's show, by the way, don't forget to like, subscribe, and follow us on social media. Today's show, I've got an update on the feature film I'm trying to be a part of. Yes. Um and uh a couple of interesting stories.

SAM: 00:30
Let's hear them.

MAX: 00:31
That are typical Max stories. First of all, um the the the role that I went for in this well the role I went for, the role that I've been offered, this minor role. We're talking two pages, 80-page script, a father. Uh in this micro budget Newcastle flick. Uh it's turned into the possibility of playing another role that's a bit larger. So I've just got to sit down. Um I've actually got to do the uh um self-taping so I can sort of we can see sort of what settles better where it settles. Because he he looked at one, there's a scene I did with Dane Noonan uh when I was directed by Anthony Brad and Wong. Um and uh he he liked that, he watched that, so he managed to stalk me enough to find some stuff that sort of said, hang on a minute, he can play Jeremy. So I'm still so it's still ongoing, still up in the air, but we're there. Uh paid as well. I confirmed that. I'm like, well, what's your budget for this role? Uh so just to make sure, you know what I mean? Like it sort of puts you up on another level. Yeah, yeah, no, in terms of the type of work. So speaking of getting work, I'm I got I got the jab, I got the vaccination injection. They insert a chip into you. It's gotta be something better about being old, finally. Um I'm standing in the queue, and to be honest, I thought like I wrote off the afternoon going like I'm just gonna be there forever. Hour and a half, door to door, not too bad. Nice. So I log while I'm in the queue, while I'm in the queue, um, still working, like I applied for a couple of jobs on the right fit, and by the time I got to the end of the queue, I got both jobs. One, a voiceover, nice, um, voiceover job of like a few um videos that I've uh uh voicing over the top of. Yep. And the client said uh the voiceover guy, I said, Yeah, the client loves your voice. I sent him one of the videos you did for me recently. Oh, okay. So looked it up, and sure enough, I'd worked with them before. And then the other one's uh acting gig. So happy. Uh both corporates, uh so both pay well. But you know what? I so so look, I'm happy. I I'm in the queue, I got my jab, nice, a couple of jobs, not and the universe is nice and even one voiceover, one acting, happy days. Um, but then I got this message and it came through Star Now. The message, okay. Are you ready?

SAM: 02:57
I'm ready. Because it seemed a bit it seemed a bit suspicious.

MAX: 03:01
Okay, I'll read it I'll read it, I'll read it out to you. Strange job of it in the subject of the message headshots for internet site. Hi Max. I'm mature, want younger face for internet site, strictly legit, uh $100 for an hour in a Sydney Park question mark hotel. If any interest, David and his mobile number. There's a few things there. Firstly, he's gone. I'm mature with mature all in all caps, just in case you get scared, he's he's old, right? Uh uh and and and for internet site, a semicolon, strictly in all caps, legit, L-E-G-I-T.

SAM: 03:50
You don't have to say strictly legit if you're legit.

MAX: 03:52
And then in the Sydney park question mark hotel. Is he saying park hotel or is he saying in a park?

SAM: 03:60
Or a hotel? Those are two very different locations. What the so he wants to take headshots of you? You now know as much as me.

MAX: 04:14
I then who the is this guy that wants to meet someone in a hotel room for an hour? Or a park. Because that says a lot. Uh I looked at his profile. David's got two photos, uh, no casting calls or anything that he's put up in the past, nothing, and only 11 profile views. So, like, this is a guy who's just out of nowhere, emailing people on Star Now, asking to meet in a hotel room slash partner.

SAM: 04:46
I'm gonna call it now. Star Now's gonna send a message, like an email out to everyone and be like, we've taken down this blah blah blah, and it's gonna be that guy.

MAX: 04:51
You are spot on. It happened. Because I'm I'm writing this for today for the show, because I I do actually sometimes prepare. Um and I more so than me. Not that it makes a difference. So I I'm writing it out and I'm like, this is like this is really bad. Like this this is not in any way good. I just I I I I I brought up the message again on Star now, and I've I've I've I just pressed report and I wrote in the comment he actually wrote a message asking to meet in a hotel room for an hour and like just press send. Like that, I mean that's enough to and uh within an hour I had an email back. Oh wow, literally, literally at at 1 52 pm saying uh we're working on your um case. We're working on it.

SAM: 05:44
Working on your case.

MAX: 05:45
152 by 217 pm. So we're talking like 20 minutes later, I get an email going, we have rev removed Mr. David Seddon. I think he had David S as viewable as well, but David Sedden is his name. Uh we've remu we've removed his profile from the platform.

Speaker 1: 06:04
Yeah, okay.

MAX: 06:06
Yeah, I appreciate your focus like that is well dodged. There's a lot of people out there. That is well dodge. And we've both said we've both promoted Star Now as a way to get up there and get involved, whether it's looking for um you know, student films to help with your show really help you get experience, paid work, yeah, all that sort of stuff. We've both spoken so positively about that.

SAM: 06:32
And I think and I think 90 95% of the time it is, but like like with every social platform, there's gonna be people who get on there and aren't particularly. Yeah.

MAX: 06:40
What is really good is I've my gut feel was this is off. Good. And it was correct. And I and and then I put my hand up and said, guys, this doesn't feel right. And then within minutes, yeah, gone. Yeah, Star Now's good. So that is fantastic. That just r reinforces the fact that it is a professional platform, that these sort of individuals can really stand out.

SAM: 07:01
Oh, so the guy didn't really try to be dealt with quickly. The guy didn't really try, did he?

MAX: 07:05
What my concern is some people who will take the bait, like I'm just, you know, because there's remember there's a lot of unpaid work on Star Now. I know I filter by paid just to start my my search, my and you know, and all that sort of stuff. And and you know, so when you when with a bit of experience now, like I've got for different things for voiceovers, different to acting, to photographic work, all that sort of stuff. I have a minimum uh to work for, and that sort of gets rid of all the rubbish, all the you know, for a hundred dollars and you get exposure and you know they'll use all your photos for imperpetuity, you know what I mean? And you spend a whole day there trying to get this, and you've got to bring your own wardrobe. It's like you know, it just removes the amateur stuff, yeah. Uh, and the charlatans because you're at the proper rates, and yes, you could probably get more lower paid rates, but it's not doesn't mean it it's gonna be making more money in the end. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, so the other thing it it it's a really interesting time, a real interesting point for me to sort of say and remind everyone that use your gut, like if it doesn't feel right, or if it feels too good to be true, and that's a tough one in this industry because like you know, getting a job that pays money is great. Um if it doesn't feel right, um don't risk it. Yeah, don't risk it. Ask questions. And when we say don't risk it, there's ways to to minimize the risk. Ask lots of questions. What work have you done before? Can I see the work? Um, where are you based? Is it a studio? Like, what's going on? You know, have a look on the website. You'll probably end up tripping them up if they're if they're dodge, you know. So then you'll know. Exactly. Have a look online. Is it a production company? Um, where are they based? Um, take a chaperone if you're not sure and you want to go to the audition or casting or whatever. Um bring a chaperone. There should be that should be absolutely for the professionals, should be absolutely fine with that. There should be no issues whatsoever.

SAM: 08:54
And sometimes you you may figure it out a bit late, like you may message back, be like, Yeah, this is great, and then they send something odd or ask for your details. And that's okay. You can you don't have to you're not with star now, you're not contracted into anything until you sign a contract.

MAX: 09:13
But it just shows these people are out there and they can get they whether it's on the platform or you're applying elsewhere for for for work. Like just remember to listen to your gut and you know, ask a few questions and don't forget you can always take a chaperone, bring a friend, whatever, um, just to help if you're not sure, you know what I mean? And ask someone else's advice. But you know, as you're out and about and you listen to more of our episodes and you're doing more stuff that's industry related, yeah, you're gonna be built up into in your experience. So you'll be able to get a message like that and go straight away, yeah, that's bullshit.

SAM: 09:50
Yeah, you're gonna have the ammo to exactly that shows.

MAX: 09:54
Wow, good old David Seddon. Nice try, mate, but uh no points to you.

SAM: 09:58
Yeah, no one no one responded to that. A guy named David Seddon. Boom, go on. Um there you go.

MAX: 10:08
Oh there's yeah, the word legitimate in that sentence is the one that stands out.

SAM: 10:13
Or a park.

unknown: 10:15
Or a park.

SAM: 10:16
I mean God, help him.

MAX: 10:18
Why what was that? I don't even know. Oh, there's so many things wrong with the whole thing. So but having said that, like I I know I got caught out, or almost got caught out once. I I did um through one of the platforms, I can't remember, it might have been Star Now. And um it was a job for a corporate, that's right, for a telco. And they were they wanted to um propose this business solution to the board of a major telecommunications company. And by by filming segments, it was an easy way for them to sort of represent some of the key features and benefits in a nutshell that's really straightforward. Uh and I got the call sheet the day before, and the price was fine, everything's fine, yep, no dramas, only internal, it's not for advertising, so no dramas. Uh, day shoot, call time 7 30 am tomorrow. Okay, no worries, I can do that. And knowing that there's no script in advance, none of that stuff, like it's not you know, not even a big hefty presenting to camera with a s with a with a with a teleprompter deal. So I'm like, yeah, that's fine, no dramas, we can do that. And then um, so I turn up at 7:30 am. I mean 7.25, you know, I'll make sure I'm there, I'm organized, on time, trying to find that it's an apartment block, okay, a bit weird, whatever. But anyway, called the number of the runner. Yeah, we get there and um it's the uh room they're using to set up. Yep, there's camera equipment, there's okay, so it's legit, it's great, it's all feeling more comfortable. And then look, we don't actually need you until about 3.30 when we move to the next location. I'm like, okay, never worry. So I picked up my stuff. And it was what, 7 30 a.m.? 7 30 a.m. uh in Redfern. Uh so anyway, um, picked up my stuff, no dramas, okay. Well, I'll see you at 3:30, just confirm the address again. Yep, it's in the city, it's this location. 3:30 p.m., no dramas. Let me know if there's any change. Of course, they message me saying they're running late, blah, blah, blah, see you there at four. Okay, no drums. So I turn up at four. We go up to the floor where they actually got their team members working and bumped one of them off their desk, and there I am with the headset on. And we want you to act as though um you're taking a call, you're in customer service, and you're running through some of the features and benefits. Here's a few quick lines, there's a page they give me, and there's all these bullet points. So okay. What do you really want me to hit in this? Uh, here's the three that we really want you to hit, but okay, no dramas. And feel free to give me direction while we're going, is my take. So action sorted it out. The the cameras are handheld um and it's just basically um tracking me uh as they move around. So while I'm there, I mean heads it's not plugged in, I'm chatting away, you know. Hi, happy day, blah blah blah. Okay, and then I don't forget to mention this, and then I leave a pause for the edit, you know, and then mention whatever it is I want to mention and then mention this way, okay, mention whatever and a whole time nodding and doing the whole thing and mindful of where the camera is and where my eye line should be. Uh and done, 15 minutes. And then they did some over-the-shoulder stuff and some E-roll. Um, okay, no dramas. All right, is there anything else you need? No, okay, brilliant. Thanks. Out of the door by five. Um so all in all, it's like an hour's work, a bit less, really. And the next day it started. So I got this text message and it said, um, oh look, you know, uh the clients um asked us to to change it to just the one hour, so your hourly rate will be this, which was a third of the fee that I'd agreed that we'd agreed moving in. Yeah. So I'm a bit pissed off because the last thing you do in business is change the goalposts after you've it's like you both signed the contract and then we're gonna change it after that. No, no, no, no. Yeah, no, you can't do that. We both agreed this is the price agreed in writing. Um moving forward, but you know, as long as I keep to mine to the bargain, you keep yours, there should be no reason why it should be any different. Um pissed off too that it's over a text message, like, oh, by the way, we're gonna pay you a third of what you agreed to. Yeah, yeah. But the the business guy in me is happy that they're so stupid, they're gonna keep putting it in writing, which is great because that just helps me if you're gonna be able to do it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They put it in text. You're fucking idiots. So I've responded and I know, right? I've responded and gone, actually, I don't have an hourly rate. Um, I've got a project rate. For example, for this project, for you to use it in perpetuity for training only, this is the rate which covers m me and the day and each other. Which is the one you agreed on, yeah. Yeah. Um, and uh it came about oh, but the clients suggested that I said um there seems to be some confusion. We've agreed on X amount.

Speaker 1: 14:56
Yeah.

MAX: 14:58
And just because you used me for one hour in that day, that that that called sheet isn't my that's not my mistake. Yeah. So what they've done is they booked me, booked the other person that they needed, and they booked us both for a day right. Uh, and then realized, even during the call sheet, they've effed it up, and I'm turning up at 7 30 and then and it's only then they realize shit, we only need Max for the afternoon, which turns out to be an hour. Well, you only need me for an hour because I know what I'm doing, right? I'm not sure. Well, I'm kind of yelling at the phone. Like, because I'm, you know, no, you know, you're only to do one shot because I'm pausing, you do a letter to go again and again, action, action, take after take, say it this way, say it that way. I'm listening to the direction we're rolling and taking the direction while we're rolling, which was my idea. Yeah, you're efficient, yeah. And I know, like, you know, this is what you're paying for. And she and I responded in what I'm in the message. I said, You you uh put me down for the day. I was there at 7 35, 7 30 in the morning, ready to go. Just because you didn't need me for the day, that's not my mistake.

Speaker 1: 16:02
Yeah.

MAX: 16:03
She paid me for the day. Came back with another objection. I can't remember what it was. Fuming. I've gone back and said, Um, what okay, let me spell it out for you. This is all over text, yeah. Let me spell it out. Which it again I'm annoyed. Like, come on, this is a at least phone the guy to tell him you're gonna cut his balls off. Don't just fucking text it to him. Yeah, yeah. Like, come on, what do you think I am? Seriously, I got really angry for all the for all the actors who get fucking shortchanged on set or after a job. Yeah, like come on.

SAM: 16:38
Yeah, you had it on it.

MAX: 16:39
I'm there, I'm going, you but you will pay me 100% now. I am so angry.

SAM: 16:44
Okay, so she came up with that.

MAX: 16:45
So I've come back and I've said, well, what this means is by paying me for that rate for that project, I know that I'm working, you have me for that whole day. Whether you use me for the day or not is your mistake. Yeah, but that's a day that I'm not going to auditions, I'm not doing other work, because I've blocked it in my diary for you.

SAM: 17:07
Yep, true.

MAX: 17:08
As we've agreed.

SAM: 17:09
Yep.

MAX: 17:10
Because you fucked up, and I didn't use the word fuck up, but basically because you made a mistake, yeah, and realized on the day that you only need me for a few hours, again, that's not my mistake. To be honest, that won't change my project fee.

unknown: 17:23
Yeah.

MAX: 17:24
Because the output is still the scene that you needed that you talked about.

SAM: 17:27
It doesn't matter how long it takes.

MAX: 17:28
I just thought it was a bigger budget, you know, 15 crew, and it would take a half a day to three quarters of a day to shoot the scene. But in you know, it's one guy on sound, one guy with a camera over his shoulder, yeah, who was also directing, and and you know, it took an hour to to get 15 minutes of stuff. So and and they all uh in the edit too, when I did get the edit, they used one of my profile photos, which you didn't give them permission to use, um, because they could scroll on the app and then you can see oh here's Max. Oh anyway, but that anyway, I'm like just you know, fuming. So they so you sent that, so then they so they said, Oh, okay, yeah, we'll pay you the full amount. I'm like, wow, ten minutes of aggro over text message, and I was professional the whole time, like I didn't swear at them. You swear at the phone, that's I swear at the phone, I didn't use all caps, I was very responsible.

SAM: 18:20
But but I got my point across because I'm like, you can't because to be honest, if they did end up paying you only a third, that's a breach of the contract, so you could have done something about it absolutely. And they knew that they must have known that. Absolutely right. And what was interesting too They were hoping that you were naive or uh or um such a desperate act of it.

MAX: 18:38
Maybe people will say, you know, oh Jesus.

SAM: 18:40
I mean a lot of people would be like, oh, that's fine, you know, because whatever.

MAX: 18:43
No way. I you know, I and as it happened, I didn't I did not have an audition scheduled that morning at Debumpet because Oh, you did have an audition? Yeah, because I uh you know how long ago but I didn't tell them that that's none of their business. I just said this, you know, you've got me for that day, I've blacked out the day. That's a day I'm not doing another work, I'm ready, I'm there for you. Whether you use me for the whole day or not, it's your mistake.

SAM: 19:07
Yeah. Yeah. If they only booked you for an hour, you agree on something, that's fine. So how long ago was that? That was it.

MAX: 19:15
But I guess the point is, you know, even um even me with a bit of experience, I'm still there, I'm still there, and I've done the job, and you can still get those moments, you know. And I've had it a couple of times, especially doing voiceover job, where I'm I I like the last one, I went into the studio and recorded, blah blah. I sent them an invoice that day, I dated the invoice, like it's all blah blah blah. And then um a month afterwards, that's when I send a reminder.

Speaker 1: 19:40
Yeah.

MAX: 19:41
Um, and I said just to let you know, uh it's been 30 days. Here's a reminder, and on the reminder, when you open it up, it says uh reminder, please pay within seven days. Um, and it takes a bit of a nudge. There's a few times where it's taken a few a bit of a nudge for a few people, yeah, because everyone's business standards are different. I remember while I was sending that, that was a recent thing, while I did that, a job I did within seven days had what had paid me that day. Yeah, right. I'm like, you know, so most often the the the production companies you work with know whether it's voiceover or acting, you know, they know you're at the end of the line, you're the creative, you're you you you don't have a thousand projects on the go. Yeah, you don't you're not salaried. Yep. And your invoice means you've got to pay rent, you've got to eat. Like it's you know, yeah, and we're not gonna chick chuck you in the system. And generally, if it says, oh, look, it could be a a 90-day pay period because we have to get paid by the business who then pay uh look, they'll disclose that up front and then I make a decision and bump up the fee by 10% or whatever if I have to, because of that, if I want to. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's just the way it is, yeah. Um, but it's full disclosure. So, look, even even I can get into a situation where I'm having to have a hard conversation. Yeah. What was interesting at the time, too, they said, Oh, we need to be able to pay you, we need you to go through this platform. And to get on the platform, you need to have an interview, kind of like a Star Now, but one I'd never heard of. Yeah. Based in Singapore, and it was a Zoom chat back before the pandemic, before Zoom was a thing, uh, with uh people like a live mm interview, which I thought, okay, pretty solid to get on this platform. I thought, well, I want another platform, like whatever, it's another one to maintain. But hey, if it gets me work, maybe get me more work.

Speaker 1: 21:21
Yeah.

MAX: 21:21
And I went back to them afterwards and said, look, you know, take me off the platform. I'm just like, this is what happened. They asked to change the funds afterwards, blah blah. I mean, even in the platform they maybe go through to had the contract and the terms and the money. Yeah. And they replied, very sorry to hear that, you know, that they try to change the uh budget we didn't know, blah blah, you know, just bail out of that platform things. Let's let's keep a distance bad. Juju. So like even now, like just eyes wide open, and I'm still conscious of the fact that like I've walked away from one job going, I should send the invoice today and I should put on a pay within 21 days, just so I can have an urgent reminder. Within a month, and yeah, just because I know I get a feeling that you know this might be a bit rewild. Whereas you know, through the online platforms, well, that's why you're giving them fucking right fits 20%, you know, because because it's they hold the funds in escrow and they release it straight away. Yeah, yeah. And and things happen. Like I did um, like the voiceover talked about through the Right Fit. Let's use that as an example.

SAM: 22:24
Well, there's kind this current on you.

MAX: 22:25
Yeah, the current one. Uh, four videos. I've worked with them before, they know me. Um, here's the first script, trying to get all the scripts at once. Can you do one at a time? Because it's more of work if you do one at a time. Yeah. If I have them all loaded up together, I'm in and out in a couple of hours, you know. Um, and then it's maybe the next day doing some pickups for the couple of years. Yeah, right. Because I couldn't print out some sciencey thing, which is what happened. He said it he sent me in by going, look, um, uh, can we do these pickups for the first video? Because the first video is fine. I said I replied going, I'll get to them today. Um no, actually, the first response I said, um, any idea when the next three scripts are coming, because then I can do I'll just do them all at once. He responded and said, Because Melbourne's gone into a pandemic lockdown, they've postponed indefinitely the video shoot, and therefore the scripts aren't going to be ready anytime soon. But what I can do, if you can get me the pickups for the video one, I'll on receipt of that pay for the whole project, including the other videos, knowing that when it comes, uh you'll be able to do that that work. Great. I mean, it helps that I've got I've got a history with him, it helps that we're through the platform. Yeah. Um and so, you know, right fee get 20 or 20%. But um, but I'm gonna get 100% of my fee, um, even though I've done 25% of the work, knowing that as soon as the scripts drop, I'll be able to get on. And I will get on them straight away for the guy so that um you can get client feedback. But I mean that's you know, most of the time everyone's very professional and very nice. It just makes those one percenters stand out even more.

SAM: 24:00
Yeah, and if they know how you work and know your work, everything and know you, then they they can afford to do that.

MAX: 24:05
Like Max, I've I've told him this is the fee, this is the deal, we're gonna do four videos, I'll try and get scripts all at once for all you know because they know how it's easier to make it for you, the easy make it for him. Yeah, so um look, you know, most people uh just want to get the job done to the best of their abilities, and that means getting the right talent on the right day, in the right mood and the right amount. 100%. You've just got to watch those one percenters, yeah, like David Seddon. Like David Sedden, you seedy, seedy gentleman. Uh use the word gentleman lightly there. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I was gonna say anyway. Look, other than that, well, a bit heavy for us, but um, needed one. Good afternoon. I got another audition for tomorrow. And while that was coming in, I was on the computer updating my website. There was a few little links that were broken. Yeah, cool. Um, so it's a photographic job for um uh tech company. Uh so like internal training, non-advertised stuff, but a full day and a bit maybe shooting. So that was good. Um so yeah, it's been busy. It's been busy, it was good, yeah. Feeling better now.

SAM: 25:11
I've got my stage one of my vaccine Yeah, don't if you get too they put a tracking chip in you. So have you seen all those videos? People get a magnet attack.

MAX: 25:21
I've seen a few covidiots. Cove idiots, and you know, it's all a conspiracy. Um and and and they just want to control you.

SAM: 25:31
You know who is you know the people who are saying that what the anti-vaxxers. Okay. They have to be.

MAX: 25:36
Ah well, I don't know. It's just it's weird. I don't know. I made that up. All I know is all I know is I don't want to get sick. I'm the worst person to be sick. I don't get sick often when I do, you really don't want to be near that. That's me too.

SAM: 25:47
No, that's me too. I don't get I get sick every like four to six months, but when it happens, it's really bad.

MAX: 25:53
I need the antibiotics with the warning labels.

SAM: 25:55
Yeah, so instead of being like a little bit sick a bit throughout the year, it'll be like one too big.

MAX: 25:60
And I I don't want to get the I don't want to get the virus. Who wants to get the coronavirus? So I can get a vaccine.

SAM: 26:06
You know it's not actually a vaccine, isn't it? No, so a vaccine, as you probably know, is like a bit of the bit of the um disease that's dead or whatever, you know. Yeah, but this is actually this is something else that's what it's doing to your body is telling your immune system to prepare for if you get it. It's actually not technically a vaccine.

MAX: 26:25
I've got the Pfizer one, if that's why I guess it's probably different to the AstraZeneca or whatever. There's Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and I think the Moderna's just been approved for Australia.

SAM: 26:33
They're being quite ageist with these vaccines.

MAX: 26:35
Yeah, because there's like a 0.00001% that people below a certain age can get blood clot or something. Um but uh look, I mean, I'm just what can I say? I just I'd rather get vaccinated than get sick any day. Oh yeah. I was reading the other day someone who had it six months ago and they still have fatigue. They still get fatigue, like they put the shoes on from the vaccine. No, from the uh from the virus. Oh yeah. And they make a distinction. Oh I know. So they get the virus six months later, still got side effects, still fatigue just putting shoes on. I'm like, oh, do you know? As much as I hope I'll be the asymptomatic guy who just doesn't notice. Yeah.

SAM: 27:14
You know, you're gonna you should watch that documentary. I don't know if you've seen it on Apple TV or Netflix or whatever it was on with David Attenborough, it's like the year the world changed or whatever. Okay. And it literally start of COVID, well not d not David Attenborough himself, he probably just did it in a studio later, but a bunch of crew and videographers went out while everyone was in lockdown um and shot what how it affected the planet and like animals. Interesting. And it's insane. Like like, for example, in in India, you could see the Himalayas from like the city for the first time in like 30 years.

MAX: 27:55
Yeah, wow.

SAM: 27:56
Um, different breeding habits, like all these different things. And it's amazing, and that makes me think even more it's it's mother nature children. Different breeding habits, right? Trying to rejuvenate.

MAX: 28:04
With lots of adults in lockdown, there'll be lots of COVID babies. Because if you think about it is a breeding habit.

SAM: 28:08
Coronavirus only affects the human species.

MAX: 28:12
Yeah. So far.

SAM: 28:13
Other ones can carry it, which is the perfect thing to like, you know, kill ourselves. That's that's yeah, it's dark, but it's we're not doctors.

MAX: 28:21
Listen to your doctor, but I'm telling you. I'm a doctor in acting now.

SAM: 28:26
We should call each other. Especially at my age, I'm vulnerable. We should be doctor doctor unemployed actors.

MAX: 28:30
Doctor unemployed actors.

SAM: 28:32
Yeah, no, don't take ours. Please seek medical advice and then do not take ours. There's the there's the disclaimer. There's a disclaimer. Oh well. We are not we are not, yeah. So what have you been up to, Sammy? Tell us a story. Tell us a Sam story. Uh, to be honest, I I've like so starting this new job's taken over a little bit. Um, I am waiting to hear from a few things still. I sent an email about that feature film concept again. Yes. I haven't heard back yet.

MAX: 28:59
Um how's post-production going on that feature film you're in jail?

SAM: 29:04
Yeah, it's going well. Actually, I'm I'm helping design some t-shirts and phone cases and stuff like that. So the creative in you. So just actually, I'm so Tobias, who uh is was one of the actors and a very good friend of mine now, drew it all, hand drawn it. So he really is the designer in this, and then he's sent it to me and I've digitally coloured it. Okay. Working together, but he's done the the actual graphic design of it. Um, yeah, but it it's it's going well. Um I haven't heard too much from the director, but last time I heard he has distributors approaching him. So very exciting. That's great. He he's really, really pushing the uh marketing. He's a so he's approached, he's sent emails to every news outlet he can think of.

MAX: 29:48
You forget sometimes like you've had this baby with you for so long, and then you get through production and post-production, the first thing is the budget, you know, can't how much post can we do with what's left? And do I have to have a break before finish post? And but but to be thinking about distributors, that sort of stuff, I mean, even before you finish post, like it's uh it's so crucial because you it's one thing to have it, it's another thing to be able to sell it.

SAM: 30:12
Yeah, very true.

MAX: 30:14
Very, very true. Get your money back.

SAM: 30:15
Trying to think of a story similar to the topic as that we were talking about today. Some weird stuff, yeah, taking advantage of what it's trying to do.

MAX: 30:24
The risk to talent, because at the end of the day, you're you're a small cog at the wheel. And yeah, we've said it before where you know a big business, a big you know, a brand has a budget, and within that budget, you know, they'll get an agency to do something, and then the agency will come back with a concept, and then you know, by the time the production company comes in and then they start casting, you're like right at the end of the line where there's like 10 cents left. Yeah, there's some stuff that's crazy, and in perpetuity, I mean there's a few of that, there's a few of that around. Again, I think because I can now afford to be able to say this is the minimum I'll do this job for, this project for, for example, that that helps cut out all that sort of stuff.

SAM: 31:00
And unless you really, really like the story and the character and it ends up being a student film, that's fine. Like but you make that decision in the present time. Exactly. What how what about the grant?

MAX: 31:12
Are you still doing workshops with Grant?

SAM: 31:14
We haven't been to Grant for a while just because life's taken over a bit. But I did I did I I messaged Grant the other day um just to review my showreel. So I put that up on Casting Networks. Actually, I'm gonna have a call with my agent sometime this week as well. So stuff here and there. I gotta jump back into it.

MAX: 31:29
Um's the last time you edited your showreel.

SAM: 31:32
Well, it's like the first time I put my showreel up, so this is recent, so it's so it's it's ready. I can send it to you.

MAX: 31:38
Yeah, do that because you get some feedback from Grant and finesse it and then show the agent, and yeah. Should be good to go. Brilliant. That's a huge chunk of work. Big chunk. Yeah, when you when you look at everything that's that you've done to m to make that show go.

SAM: 31:52
Oh, it's so hard to cut it down. Oh no, right. Like it's tough. It's ridiculous. It's tough. Yeah. What do you use to edit your um Um I I just use iMovie. Okay. Like, it's fine, you can't really tell unless you put text that it's iMovie. Oh, good.

MAX: 32:10
I mean, because you don't need because that's what locators said, don't waste time having huge titles and supers and everything. I just have it's like we just want to see you straight away. I just have my headshot, my name, and my agent and contact details at the end. Same, yeah.

SAM: 32:25
It jumps straight into it at the beginning. It's great. It's actually it's quite an intense beginning because it's me screaming in pain from not today. And I thought, like, it could go both ways. A cars and watch that and be like, oh fuck, volumes, volumes will be loud. God damn it, like, or they can go, oh, ooh, and it catches your attention. Why is he screaming? Both cases it will catch their attention, yeah, but different reactions. I'm taking the risk. It's fine. It works well. Memorable. Yeah, it works well. And I've shoved up um uh uh uh Indie Khan's Film Festival over the top of one shot for not today, so I thought that would be nice to shove in there.

MAX: 33:01
We'll share it, we'll share it on our Facebook Facebook do that. Yeah, you have to now because it's the podcast. Um yeah, this is live as well.

SAM: 33:09
You've no editing. No editing. You've been listening to Max and two unemployed actors. I'm Sam, I'm two unemployed actors. Okay, hang on a second, we'll do one time. You've been listening to because you know, no, no, no.

MAX: 33:22
I'm doing different you've been listening to Max and Sam on two unemployed actors. Make sure you subscribe and listen. We'll be back next week. Bye. See you guys