Teleprompters & Tantrums: The Ultimate On-Set Disaster Ep 76

MAX: 00:12
You're listening to Unemployed Actors. I'm Max. I'm Sam. And a big show today. Um I have a story. It's another Max story, so buckle up. It's a it's a big one.

SAM: 00:25
Yes. If you guys listened to last week's episode, there was a there was a big story there. There was.

MAX: 00:29
Remember, remember last week we were talking about how we've really got to trust our instinct.

SAM: 00:35
Trust your instinct, yeah.

MAX: 00:36
And not just not just in choices as an actor in a scene. I mean working with production companies and clients and really all aspects of your life you should trust your gut.

SAM: 00:45
Indeed. Yeah.

MAX: 00:46
Indeed. And based on experience. No sooner had I said it and the podcast had gone out that I'd ignored my own advice. And the consequences we shall discuss now.

SAM: 00:59
Yes. I will tell you my opinion.

MAX: 01:02
We we I remember how while I was uh in the queue to get my vaccine, like a good little uh uh good little Australian, uh I managed to get a couple of jobs via the Right Fit platform, which I mistakenly said took 20%, because every time someone takes money, I feel like it's 20%, but it's actually it's actually 10%. Okay. Because I'm a pro member, which means instead of taking 15%, they take 10%. So my apologies there.

SAM: 01:29
Alright.

MAX: 01:29
But nonetheless, one of them was a voiceover job. Oh good, no dramas. The second one is a production company I haven't worked with before who said um we'll never again. And we'll never again. Who said, um, yep, no problems. We we can book you in, and it was booked on the right fit. Yep, okay, no drama. All right, no worries. There was a little message trail through the right fit where they messaged me saying we'll book you. I'm like, great, this is great, I've got two jobs, wonderful. Now they said it's on, and then for Thursday, so I've put a production hold in for Thursday, and I told them in the chat I've put a production hold in for Thursday. Um then they said uh uh then they said nothing. Now the day before Thursday, I've actually written saying um guys, any update?

unknown: 02:21
Nothing.

MAX: 02:22
So I've thought, okay, we'll have it's fallen through. Remove the production hold. What do you know? I get an audition come in for Thursday afternoon, so no dramas. Forget Thursday. What through your agent or no, through uh through another platform, through StarNow. Through Star Now. So I for photographic work. So anyway, so there I'm Thursday, it's 13 degrees, and uh it's cold, it's raining. I get to this casting, and the like there's a sign on the door that says, Um, please wait here and we will come and collect you. So obviously don't ring the bell, don't knock on the door, don't walk inside, wait here and they'll come and collect you. So there I am, huddled under the shelter so I don't get rained on, thinking this is so actor's life, you know, I'm living in the dream right now. Uh arms crossed, trying to maintain warmth. Um it's cold, it's wet, and I'm waiting. And it got to five minutes past, and I thought, oh well, I'll put a I'll put a I got bored. So I I put on my Instagram stories a poll. It's five minutes late, it's cold. Should I ring the bell or should I wait?

SAM: 03:27
Oh no.

MAX: 03:28
75% said I should ring the bell. I'm a good boy, I'll wait.

SAM: 03:33
Okay, so the poll was for nothing.

MAX: 03:35
15 minutes later, nothing still, and someone else turns up for the next slide. Um so I'm still. Oh in the wrong place. I I said I think they're running late because I've been here 15 minutes and the door isn't opened. So, but and then what do you know? They hear people talking, the door opens. I walk inside, it's nice and warm. Typical agency layout, there's like three long desks and and half a dozen people sprinkled about, and I'm like, oh, you know, you no one walked out. There was no, I'm sorry, we're late, we're running late. No, they just forgot. I'm there standing out in the cold 15 minutes. Oh, there's two of you. I feel like saying, Well, there is now, because anyway. What did you say? And then we got through, uh, nothing much. I was very careful. Actually, it was funny because that it was for a photographic job, and uh, so we wanted you to be like you're having a meeting, and I'm having a joke going, because we we pretended what she used the both of us since we were there. Um, and you know, put on your your your this whiteboard, your name, an agent. So she had her on the other person I was casting with on that side and me on this side, and her laptop in the middle.

Speaker 1: 04:40
Okay.

MAX: 04:41
This Apple Mac thing, fancy thing. So we're I'm pretending to present and and because it's all photography, I can say whatever the hell I want, and I'm bored. So I'm saying, Well, look at this beautiful computer, you know, pretending I'm having all serious conversation. It's got a password, it's got the home screen, so it's got the password on. So I wonder what the password is. It's probably part the word password, and and try not to laugh, or one, two, three, four. She's like, Oh, oh, it is actually. So I'm like, okay, don't add that in.

SAM: 05:09
And then what the odds? So then her password's one, two, three, four, or whatever. Whatever it was.

MAX: 05:15
So I'm like, okay, uh, and then at the end of it, I'm gonna get my jacket to go because I'm ready for the cold now. It's been like five-minute casting, whatever, in and out. Yeah, yeah. Oh, um, and she's looking at the whiteboard, you only wrote your name down. You don't have an agent. I said, No, I've got an agent. Oh, you have an agent for acting, uh, for photographic, for presenting, for um what else do I do? Voiceovers. It's direct and um uh and oh we haven't gone to them yet, or haven't gone to them. So I mentioned my agent archer management. Oh, we haven't pitched to them. You wouldn't because that's an acting agency versus the photographic stuff you want. But they they're like, well, even if you did, with this budget, they'd be happy for me to go direct. Like, I don't want to be an arsehole. I'm like saying, Can you stop talking about my agent? I said that with this budget, you said with this budget, they'd be happy with me going direct.

SAM: 06:02
Like, I mean, just like just stop talking to me about my I've got my name, you don't need to, you know quick question on the topics so art management doesn't own all your uh creative output, yeah, kind of thing. So just acting.

MAX: 06:20
They uh uh my agent, um very good agent, really happy. Jessica's amazing. Um, I mean, I just know that submitting me for so much stuff and trying to get me in the room all the time. She's really hungry for success for the agency, and I can't I applaud that and I love that and I I support that, and that's why I'm happy to to stay with them. That she's you know, that they represent me and pitch me for acting work, and that's exclusive. If I go out there and pitch for myself to get an acting role, well, chances are she's already submitted me for it, yeah, and it just looks unprofessional then.

Speaker 1: 06:56
Yeah.

MAX: 06:56
For television commercials, for example, if something comes up on a Facebook or something, I'll flick it to her and go, so many times I've done this. Here's because you know, we're in those forums, here's a casting for such and such. She's like, Yeah, I've already submitted you.

SAM: 07:08
Yeah, cool.

MAX: 07:09
But at least I'm asking, I'm not just submitting, and she knows that. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And then likewise, something else came through, RSVP, to do to be uh to a piece to camera. Um, and she said, Look, this amount, Max. I'm happy for you to go direct. And she copied them in and said, Look, I'm happy for you to liaise direct with Max on this one because of the fee. So we were a great team, yeah, cool. And absolutely work to support the acting agency and Max as an actor.

SAM: 07:32
Nice.

MAX: 07:33
But when it comes to voiceover work, um, they've got me on file for voiceovers. If someone asks them, do you know or can you recommend? Absolutely, but by no means am I exclusively represented by them for voiceovers or for presenting or whatever. Yeah. So a lot of that other stuff I do direct. And if I'm doing it myself, I'm getting 100% of it. Yeah, yeah. Um, if I'm getting it via a platform, they take 10%. I don't want another 10% going, or another 15%, or whatever, like you know, so I'm very careful about how I do that so as to help add constructive stuff to uh the agency, but not detract from it. So I'm always you know helping her, helping me, yeah, and not working against her. Okay. Um, and sometimes there's a balancing act. If it and if you're not sure, I just ask. I say, look, Jess, I put myself forward for this, it's this amount. Are you happy for me to go? Yeah, no, I do a similar thing in my age. Yeah, open, transparent, yeah, you know, but uh anyway, you told them that. You told them So I I I told I told them I was I couldn't wait to go there, but what had happened is I got out and I got a message from I'm I'm cold, I had to wait 50 minutes in the rain. I'm okay. Maybe I wasn't in the best frame of mind. Well right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So this casting call, I get this note right. Um the message was Hi Max, any chance you're around after all would need you at uh whatever it is, production space. This was the one that didn't respond to for 3.30 today.

SAM: 09:03
And what time was it?

MAX: 09:04
2 30. Uh 30 oh 1 o'clock 2, can't remember. Uh let me know and I'll book you at X amount, which was the original agreed amount for the three hours work.

Speaker: 09:13
Okay.

MAX: 09:14
I'm like, okay, I'll make it. Uh Fab, I will book now, send me your number and I'll have the runner call you. I'm like, okay, here we go. So I get to the car, I finally put my stuff away, I'm getting organised. I'm thinking to myself, really, should I do this or not? I'm like, oh, but it's it's like it's it's not that far. It's like literally it's on the way home.

SAM: 09:35
Yeah, right.

MAX: 09:36
And it's a few blocks from where I am, and I go get petrol. I thought to myself, well, maybe. Because like they're they want me, they don't want me, they're they're not sure that they want me. Then they said, um What was it for? That there was no phone call. It was for uh presenting to Camera Gig.

Speaker 1: 09:53
Yeah, yeah.

MAX: 09:54
They used a lot of people that day, and I was one of many presenting a certain piece to CameraGig for a bank.

Speaker 1: 09:59
Yeah.

MAX: 09:59
Uh so no phone call. And a job contract appeared in the right fit for a quarter of the amount that we agreed. Uh quiz equal eyebrows. So, and then um it was followed by um I will update the amount to whatever we agreed when you get here.

SAM: 10:20
No.

MAX: 10:22
Like, right. So I'm I'm immediately in the car. I'm in the car now, I'm going, well, I've got to fill up with petrol. And it happens to be that around the corner from where they are when I am. So I got to the petrol station. By that time, by that time they said, um just so you know, we'll be having you on hold until 5 pm. If we don't use you, you can keep the X amount, which was a quarter of the amount.

SAM: 10:48
Oh, they're saying if you not use the phone.

MAX: 10:50
If we do use you, then you'll get the upgrade and the runner will give you a call. So I'm like, okay, so all of a sudden they need me, but they're not sure that they need me, so that I'll get a quarter of the fee if I just wait till five. So an hour and a half or so.

SAM: 11:06
Which, like you spoke about last week, they should still pay you the full amount because you would have to be able to get the five.

MAX: 11:10
Well, well, well, well, well, well, the thing with this is though, there was no agreement prior to at all. See, so out of the blue, they've just said, look, we might need you. Can you be on hold until five? This is the amount.

SAM: 11:24
Which is still like one and a half.

MAX: 11:25
I'm like a bit of a surprise. But anyway, but I'm like, okay, alright, well, I'm thinking of you're right, like the communication hasn't been the best. If at all. And and it's all a bit, we need you, we don't need you, we don't know what we're doing, sort of thing. And I'm kind of like, if that's how they operate through the white right fit communicating to talent, that's probably gonna be how they operate on set. I know. So I'm like, but you know what? I'm like, You didn't follow your gut. I didn't follow my gut because I'm like, I'll just I'll go out, I'll fill my car with petrol, get an iced coffee, get the paper, be comfy in the warm car on the rainy day while I wait for that sounds possible, you know, to make X amount of dollars on the way home. That sounds like I'm I'm I'm selling it to myself. It sounds okay. So I fill up, I get the iced coffee, get the paper. I'm around the corner, I'm in the car, um, literally outside the location.

SAM: 12:15
Iced coffee or nice coffee.

MAX: 12:17
Iced coffee. I mean, you know, ice cream. I know, but I wanted something cool and refreshing, but a bit of a caffeine hint. Yeah, okay, gotcha. It's a mid-afternoon.

Speaker: 12:25
Yeah, gotcha.

MAX: 12:26
And there were no good coff cafes around. So anyway, so there I am with my sugar caffeine hit and uh happy. And then the message comes from I I just thought now I don't know what they're doing. So I will but what happens in this situation? I tend to over-communicate to make even things even sugar when they're that fucking up in the air, you know.

Speaker 1: 12:45
Yep.

MAX: 12:45
I I said um I'm outside um uh ready on call until whenever I'm gonna.

SAM: 12:52
I I do a similar thing.

MAX: 12:53
Because I don't want them to think that I'm not even there and I'm gonna get the money and I'm not even on call on call. I do a similar thing. Um if you need me, let me know. I haven't no phone call yet from this guy who's supposed to give me a call the runner. I've I've I've said I've said, okay, I'm I'm in the car, it's past 3.30 now. They're obviously not gonna need me. I'll just sit here till five and they know I'm sitting here. No then I get the message, oh hi, it's so and so the runner. Um, we're ready to can we come out and meet you when you tell me when you're outside. Like, okay, I'm out alright. So I pack up, put the paper in a bag, you know, walk, g'day, how are you? And I said to the runner, because runners know exactly what's going on, right? And then sometimes not afraid to tell you, I said, Listen, mate, what's going on? He said, Oh, we we need uh we need you to do a piece to camera after all, I think, but um we'll have you on hold until five, we'll see. So, in other words, not much more information. Uh and and uh I walk in, it's a it's a photographic studio, so you know, one of the studios, uh nice big space, friendly to television to cameras, but it's not insulated and it's raining, and I could hear the rain on the tin roof. I'm like, this is gonna mess with sound. They've got a good sound. They were using a boom, but they're also using um lapel mics. So I'm thinking they'll get around it. Anyway, that was my first thought. But anyway, look, they're doing things behind the screen there on the other side of the studio. So I'm I'm not gonna mess with them. I'll sit down. Do you want a coffee? Sure, I'll have a coffee. Oh, we don't have any coffee. Okay, no worries about it then. Yeah, you're you're on message. You're you're on brand. Yeah, you want a coffee or something? I said, Yeah, sure I'll have a coffee. Oh, actually, we don't have any coffee.

SAM: 14:26
Instantaneously, or they went over and came back. No, we went over and came back. So it was almost instant.

MAX: 14:30
But he took three steps, came back, and said, actually, the coffee shop's closed, so we don't have any coffee. No, okay, right. I'm not disappointed. You're either. I'm just like, you know, I knew what these people like. So I just sat down in the desk. There's a few scripts lying around and whatever. They're all busy on set with a couple other actors, one of whom was busy pacing around with reciting words over and over again, and the runners kind of running. So I'm sitting there reading the paper, and then um then someone comes across. Oh, good on your Max. I said, Yeah, I stood up, shook hands, hi. Uh thank God someone else knows I'm here. Um here's a script, and he hands me a page and says, Uh, can you memorize this in 30 minutes?

SAM: 15:15
It was a full page.

MAX: 15:16
Yeah. I said, Can you memorize this in 30 minutes? I said, Yes. Knowing full well I will be using every minute of that 30 minutes. Uh yes. Uh then I met immediately went to do you want me to hit the big points in these? In other words, you can just remember three of the big points in that paragraph and then just talk to that in your own words. It's a bit easier as you try and memorize. Um, no, we need it word for word. It's for a bank, and uh, I've gone immediately in my head, I've gone, God, the tight regulations around banking, you can't you have to say certain things in a certain way, every word is important. You can't, you know what I mean? It's like telco is another one. You know, here you go, memorise it in 30 minutes. I'm like, okay, I can thinking to myself, there were three big questions. So you've got to say the question, you've got to answer the question down the barrel of the camera. I'm thinking this is what I'm thinking in my head because of the way it was written. And three big paragraphs to memorize, 10 minutes each. I can do this, I can adjust, but I can do it. So, because you've also got to be able to then say you can do it and then sit there relaxed and do it to camera, like you, you're not, you know, you're a client of the bank that we shall remain nameless. Uh, and I say blameless in this because it's the production company that's organizing this shit show.

Speaker 1: 16:27
Yeah.

MAX: 16:27
So I'm sitting, I'm standing there going, okay, all right. Immediately I grab my um my my little acting toolkit, open up my pencil case, I'm started underlining the right words, um, walking around with a script in my hand. I find if I'm walking around under pressure trying to memorize something, it's easier because you're doing something.

Speaker 1: 16:45
Yep.

MAX: 16:46
I mean it's harder, but it's easier in a way because then when you sit there and you've got to look this way and sit this way and do this thing, it's sort of it's still okay because it's like, well, I'm walking around talking and blah, blah, blah. Yep. And so I'm going through, I'm just reading it. The first broke it down one at a time, going for each one, got it, next one, got it, next one, got it. It's 25 minutes, and then for the last five minutes, just from top to bottom, top to bottom, top to bottom, without the piece of paper. And I'm like, okay, I can do this, I can do this right. So then the director comes across. Uh oh after someone acted, said, Oh, sorry, thanks for your patience, blah blah. They were there for a very long time. It did feel like the full 30 minutes that she was back doing more of her stuff. So, whatever the whatever they weren't happy with, and then um anyway, the director's come across and introduced himself. Oh, hi, director, blah, blah. Oh, okay, nice to meet you, blah, blah. And I've got the script in my hand. I said, Now listen, uh, can we shoot it in three different in three separate, or are we shooting it top to bottom? He's gone, we're shooting it top to bottom. Right. And the expression on my face was oh shit. But but you didn't know. Uh right, he says, Oh, but we've got a teleprompter.

SAM: 17:55
Who told you to memorize it? Who told you to memorize it then?

MAX: 17:59
The biggest dick that I've met in recent times.

SAM: 18:02
Really?

MAX: 18:03
Who absolutely knew that the teleprompter there's someone there to operating the fucking teleprompter on the computer so that actually adjusting the speed for for the actor in real time. And there's a big freaking machine sitting in front of the camera that's a big thing.

SAM: 18:17
Is it the biggest dick you've met in a while because he told you that? Or do you do more things?

MAX: 18:21
No, because he told me that. I mean, are you fucking serious? Did he know? Really? I could have been sitting there at least because now when you've memorized it right, it's hard to the teleprompter distracts you because the speed, it's not at you know, and it's like that paragraph, then the next paragraph, and you've memorized the so I just file it all away and pretend I haven't memorized it and actually just read it. But like it's it's different when I prepare for teleprompt than anyway. But so I've just wasted 30 minutes under high pressure. The 2AC in the production fart factory uh company. So he was the one organizing all the communications and the talent and everything else. You know what I mean?

SAM: 18:59
A C A D.

MAX: 19:01
Look, look, let's not get let's not get let's not get hooked up on titles because clearly this is an intern, this is a big customer of theirs.

Speaker 1: 19:07
Yeah.

MAX: 19:08
It's a full service agency. This is a big agency, right? Yeah. Who handle everything from let's come up with the idea to let's buy the media to put it out there. And we've got in-house production facilities and capabilities. By that they mean so-and-so can also direct, so-and-so can also do this, so-and-so can, and we do it in-house, we save money because the sound guy is hooking me up at this stage. I see, sorry, I'm not usually doing this. Oh, really? He says, 'Yeah, I've got people who normally do all this stuff.' I said, Well, where are all your minions? He said, Oh, they wouldn't pay for that. So I already know this is like a plus one for the client. Yeah, we'll do these videos for you. It turned out they were internal videos for one of their workshops or something, and people come out and they can listen while they're in the breaks, you know. So it's like, oh, we'll do that for you. And then because they're doing it or charging them the full rate, who the hell knows? But they're doing it at absolute skeleton cost. So various talent from around the office are finding themselves on set who should know better. Like, seriously, you why would you tell me that? Well, look me in the eye and tell me that. And I question it. We're sure you don't want me to hit big points, but no, no, but there's a teleprompter, are you fucking serious? So I am pissed off now because these guys have demonstrated that they're absolutely true to form. Yeah, I should have listened to my gut, yeah, and now I'm just sitting here with this shit show, probably so. Anyway, I'm I'm composing myself because I'm supposed to look like I just walk in, pick up a question, casually sit on the seat, read the question out loud like I've heard it for the first time just then, and then say the answer down the barrel of the camera like I'm a business owner. First take, I missed a sentence, and I knew I missed it because I'd memorized it. Yeah, I knew I missed it. And on the on the she says on the uh teleprompter, oh I missed a sentence. I said, Yeah, the teleprompter moved too quick. I couldn't see that sentence up because I'm forgetting about forgetting about remembering it. Oh fuck. Forgetting about forgetting about how I've memorized it, yes, and trying to read it naturally as it comes on the screen, and she's scrolled too quickly and I've missed the sentence. And uh the director standing there, what the fuck do you want me to do about sort of thing? Anyway, so um I'm st anyway, another take. So look, three takes, right? And it was all done.

SAM: 21:17
Yeah, cool.

MAX: 21:19
But I'm standing there and I took a photo, like I'm waiting for the next setup. We're gonna have to adjust, blah, blah. They had to so whatever they did with the camera lens and the framing of it, I had to sit a certain other way and put my leg in. I'm thinking, yeah, I got that. Like, come on. And then um, like if you can't take that direction, go home, sort of. And then I've got I've got uh so I know how to walk in, pick it up naturally. No, I know, I just and I did it, it was fine. The only thing that fucked up was the um wire came down from the lapel mic and the uh teleprompter uh woman, lady, use the term lady loosely because I'm standing there. Uh we just did that first one, I got my notes, I'm ready to do it the second one, and I'm I Took a photo of the stool because it's something for social, you know. I took a photo of the camera, and I'm standing out and they're just scrolling through. I'm just waiting now because I'm being tucked in from rather intimately, as they do from the soundie, and they were far from ready to go looking at the director and that. So I'm standing there and I'm I'm just going through this through the phone like that. And then out of nowhere, the woman from the teleprompter just come walk straight up to me and pulled the phone out of my hands. I'm like, for a split second, I'm like, does she think it's not my phone? Does she think it's a prop for the scene? And then I've caught on, and she's just pull the phone out of my hand. I'm like, so I've looked at her like who the f with the who the fuck do you think you are face? Yeah. And said rather loudly, excuse me?

SAM: 22:51
Like Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

MAX: 22:55
What if she dropped the fucking phone? I don't know.

SAM: 22:57
What if she did?

MAX: 22:58
What? And she's clocked that I'm further from happy. Yeah. Far from happy. And and and I'm about to like I'm coming together because I'm I'm about to do my do my um um you know who was it that lost his cooling Batman?

SAM: 23:16
Oh, Christian Braer. Uh uh The lighting guy, yeah, yeah.

MAX: 23:19
Yeah, I I'm gonna do that moment and just go, look, it's been a pleasure, but um I'm gonna stop now after being treated like this. I don't need this. Wait, you said it or you were close to saying, I'm I'm depending on what happens next.

SAM: 23:33
Okay, okay, yeah, yeah.

MAX: 23:35
So she said she's realised she's fucked it, right? She's she's fucked up. I don't know what went through her hair.

SAM: 23:41
You look like a child.

MAX: 23:42
I'm like, excuse me.

SAM: 23:44
You're waiting for it.

MAX: 23:45
This is what I do for a living. Are you fucking serious? You didn't you not just see that first take? The only notes were for technical. Yeah. And I said to her, excuse me? And she's paused, realize, and I could see on her face her whole demeanour changed instantly because she realized it's not. Oh my god. And she's got, Oh, I just thought you might like me to take a photo of you.

SAM: 24:03
Bullshit. She would have to be like, I've looked at her, I'm still in shock.

MAX: 24:07
I looked at her, going, uh fine. In other words, just get the fuck away from me, right? Because you are now not even worth it. So anyway, I walk back in, the director's finished the setup with a camera guy. He's beckoned me, you know how to chat. He's going, Okay, now when when you come in, make sure you sit this way and you face this way. Mimel, I can see her fiddling fart assing around with the camera in the background, right? With your phone? Yeah, with my phone that she snatched, that she snatched out of my hands.

SAM: 24:33
What the hell?

MAX: 24:35
I mean, you know that moment when someone fucks up on set? Yeah. And you can cut the tension with the knife and everything goes quiet. Everyone's busy, nobody's listening, but everybody's listening. That's what happened when I said excuse me.

Speaker 1: 24:48
Yeah, yeah.

MAX: 24:49
And she's f making a production over how she's taking photos, right? She comes up in the middle of me talking to the director and says uh with the phone, I can't work out how to take the photo. I can't work because I wasn't, I didn't have the camera open. I'm looking at my emails.

Speaker 1: 25:02
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

MAX: 25:03
I mean, I'm not being a professional, I'm waiting for these bastards. I'm good. I know what I'm doing.

SAM: 25:08
And took it back.

MAX: 25:09
Exactly. I said, I said, thank, no thanks, don't worry about it. Took it back, put it in my pocket, and just ignored her. Because what the fuck? I mean, imagine what you could do next. Who the fuck knows? I've got to say though, the next two takes the teleprompter was in perfect alignment with what I was saying. And uh, three takes. Thank you very much, Max. It's perfect. So I've I'm like shook hands with the director, good luck with the edit. He's had a little giggle, and then I've gone to sound. I said, I don't touch anything expensive, and he's laughed, he said, Oh, you've been told off before. I said, No, but I've been around people who have, and he's kind of tucked me, and so good to go, makeup's finished, packed up goodbye to everyone. I picked up my bag and made it to the car in I think it was like 0.5 of a second. It was like goodbye, I'm out, fuck you. Yeah, that was and the first thing I thought about when I got to the car was why didn't you listen to Lark's last week's podcast episode?

SAM: 26:05
Listen to your gut because the because the messages are all over the place. This whole pot today's podcast was all about promoting two unemployed actors. Like I thought in my head, why didn't I listen to two unemployed actors? What? Absolute What?

MAX: 26:20
First of all, this dick tells me, oh, you can you memorize this in 30 minutes because we're gonna need you to run through a word for word.

Speaker 3: 26:28
This is mysterious. And then I'm there, and then the other one pulls it out of my hat.

MAX: 26:33
Meanwhile, they need me, they don't need me, and they don't tell me they don't need me, they just don't reply when I say guys, any time for tomorrow? And then they maybe need me, and they're gonna pay me a quarter, but they're gonna pay me the full, but they're gonna I'm sitting in the car going, what the absolute f I was pretty angry, but I'm like, fuck. Like, oh my god, I should listen to my gut because messy messages, it that's that's their way of operating that translated to onset. My next thing was how can I get paid fast enough so I can just like rip the band out and just forget about these Muppets because I don't ever want to be a part of their Muppet show. Yeah, like that I'm done. Yeah, that is and they're a big agency, like they do lots of stuff. Oh they're full, but they're that and that's how they operated, they didn't get contractors in, that was all them. Yeah, I'm like, fuck you. If that's the way you're gonna operate, fuck you. Anyway, I thought the next thing they're gonna muck up, um, paying me. Sure enough, guess what? It's nearly a week, still haven't been paid. And through the right fit, the reason why you give them 10%, or in most cases when you're not pro 15%, is because the money's held in escrow. So as soon as the job is marked complete by the client, which isn't usually the day or the next day, it's any banking out within 48 hours. Not only did they not mark a complete, it was still sitting there with a hundred dollars, with the small amount of the fee. Yeah, not the full fee.

SAM: 27:54
Oh, contract wise, yeah.

MAX: 27:56
I'm like, come on, are you serious? So that so that afternoon, that evening, I messy knowing what was going to happen, I just wanted to fast track the the absolute car crash of them trying to pay me. Yeah, like the car crash of them on set or the car crash of them getting me there. Yeah, I I fast tracked it by saying, guys, can you just please update the contract amount to reflect what we agreed and pay? Mark the job complete. Thank you.

SAM: 28:20
No, no response.

MAX: 28:22
Then the next day on Friday, um, they sent me a deal memo, which they want to meet the what's your email address so we can send a deal memo out of the blue through the right fit message. I gave them an email address, they sent me the deal memo, which basically summarized what the contract memo says in Right Fit. But anyway, it's the way they do it, it's the way they do it, and it was the right amount, so yep, here you go. And I've Adobe signed it on my mobile and sent it straight back to them within minutes. Yeah, and then that evening, I'm not gonna do it on Saturday, Sunday, so Friday afternoon. I said, Okay, guys, can you please I I uh update this um and send it and heard nothing. I gave them the weekend, I gave them Monday. I gave them right this morning. No news, still the wrong amount sitting there as a contracted amount, um, not marked as closed, not updated in the amount. I'm like, there's no way in the near future I'm getting paid by these Muppets. So I emailed the producer who had emailed me the deal memo on the Friday, and I said, I said, uh, it was one of my thanks in advance emails, which is basically you will pull your fucking socks up. You don't want to get a thanks in advance from me. No. Right? So I basically said uh hi, uh can you please update the the deal memo in the right fit to the correct amount as agreed and mark the job closed so I can get paid? Alternatively, if you want me to send you an invoice, I can do that too. Bad because you're not supposed to work outside the right fit, but I'm like, I don't even get paid by these Muppets at this stage. So I'm like, give me options, like this is how you do business, you know. Yeah, thanks in advance. So um they respond, fuck this. I just can't believe these people.

SAM: 29:59
What actually happens if you don't get paid outside the right?

MAX: 30:01
Well, that's bad because you've you've you've found work using the platform, but the platform doesn't get paid.

SAM: 30:06
Yeah, yeah. That's true. People probably do. You've done the job you've done, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

MAX: 30:10
Anyway, it's not how I work, but these guys, I don't even know if they what the you know, just to get any money. So I'm like, what the fu they've responded and said, she responded and said, I won't name the agency, I won't name the people, but far out. She responded and said they should know better.

Speaker 1: 30:25
Yeah.

MAX: 30:26
She responded and said, um, we've had a lot of issues this week. Some some uh talent has been paid twice, some not at all, and some the wrong amount. It's the platform, I'm so sorry, it's not the platform. I've worked with the right fit several times now, and I know, and I've only ever had good experiences, i.e., the contract is the contract. Once they offer it and you accept it, it doesn't it don't change. Yeah, and it's been offered an the agreed amount, yeah. And then literally the day I finished it, the project, the voiceovers, whatever, it's marked complete. The day, the day, yeah, and then within 48 hours, right fit who have the money say, Oh, it's marked complete, pay into your Max's bank account. Yeah, and it's literally the next day alone 48 hours. So I'm like, my money is not on the right fit being the culprits, it's these idiots. Sure enough, while I've read the email, I've gone back into the right fit on my computer and they've amended the contract to the right amount and click close to pay. But what they've done is they've paid one at the smaller rate and one and the remainder, so they've taken the the full rate minus the smaller and paid the remainder as another contract. So at least I know I'm gonna get paid now in the next couple of days. But I'm like, if I hadn't have jumped up and down, where would I be? Cashless for months, you know, trying to negotiate with these Muppets. I'm like, what the actual fuck? I was like, yeah. If it if it if it seems bad, it's probably going to be bad on set, and that badness is gonna hang around until you get the money.

SAM: 32:06
Follow your guide.

MAX: 32:07
And I'm like, never will I work with these people again. I've got major dick saying, I'll memorize the page. I've got someone coming up and who hasn't apologized, snatch the phone, my phone, from my hands while I'm not on set, snatch it from my hands. Who the fuck are these people? And what really annoys me, I have never been treated like that even on student films.

SAM: 32:31
Yeah, student films are the most respectful people.

MAX: 32:33
And these these are people who who who know better. They all should. They know I know they know better because of the amount of business they do. They know better than this.

Speaker 1: 32:43
Yeah.

MAX: 32:44
Bullshit. I call bullshit. Wow. I should have listened because look, it's a great story on the podcast. I'm getting paid 100%, but is it worth it? These people, I swear to God. Wow. So anyway.

SAM: 32:60
That was the story of the week. Oh 30 minutes.

MAX: 33:04
I went to see a quiet place part two.

SAM: 33:06
I think we have time.

MAX: 33:14
On another note, I went I went to see a movie. Oh yeah? And using all my loyalty points because I go so often. Uh A Quiet Place part two.

SAM: 33:23
Wait, how do you get loyalty points? Quick question.

MAX: 33:25
I signed up to Cine Buzz with Event Cinemas. Okay, cool. And I just use the app and I can buy and scan it and you know go to the cinema and stuff. I'm actually points. Oh, you're gonna love it, you're gonna love it. I'm so excited. I I love the fact that the hero doesn't need a cape. In fact, she's deaf. And what what people would view, well, if you've seen the first one, oh yeah. What people would view as a handicap is actually the superpower. So it's I love that.

SAM: 33:55
It's a great wait, who's deaf? Because you've got Emily Blunt in itself.

MAX: 33:60
Miller, Miller, Millie, Millicent. This is the kid that's born in the first one. She is. And she No no, she's she she wasn't born in the first one, she was there. Millicent. Millicent's the actress. I can't remember the name of the character. But she's older now. Yes. And um she got it, got it, got it. I mean, I don't know, what, 13 to 16? I guess old, older, but yeah. Uh but Fred, you're really Fred Red. So uh, but yeah, so so really good, you're gonna enjoy it. In fact, I I was thinking to myself, how are they gonna do the sequel? And I shared something on to an employee the other day about John Krasinski saying, I don't want to do a sequel. I didn't want to until he started to write the outline.

SAM: 34:39
And he's out, this is gonna be good.

MAX: 34:40
For whoever was going to write or direct it, and go, Oh, this is yeah, I'm I'm sorry directing this.

SAM: 34:46
Yeah.

MAX: 34:47
So you're gonna fresh in your mind, a quiet place, you're gonna really enjoy the way it brings you back into that world.

SAM: 34:55
I'll go back and watch the trailer of the first one.

MAX: 34:57
And and but but when and when you see it, it'll it'll be really the way they've introduced you into that world again, it's really nice. I really I love it. I think the first one was a great movie, yeah, really good. So and directed again and written by John Krasinski, so from the office, everyone knows him as Jim. Uh fantastic, fantastic movie. So that took my mind off um bad people doing bad things.

SAM: 35:17
Well, did it?

MAX: 35:18
To actors, yeah.

SAM: 35:19
Oh right. Because of the themes, that's all I'm saying.

MAX: 35:22
It took it took a horror movie to distract me from negotiating with Muppets very fair. With the Muppet Show, with the Muppet Agency.

SAM: 35:29
The Muppet Agency. I'm can't wait to hear about this. Hear who the agent is off the podcast.

MAX: 35:33
Thanks in advance. Yes. It's like when I say, um, what's my other corporate speak? Um, I apologize if I haven't made myself clear enough, which is you're a fucking idiot.

SAM: 35:44
Yeah.

MAX: 35:45
You know, that's a good one.

SAM: 35:46
Oh, my one, I I'm something like, Hey, I know you're super busy. Just wondering if you saw my below email. Something like that. It's like, hurry up. And why haven't you responded in a bit?

MAX: 35:55
I know you're busy, but can you do your job?

SAM: 35:57
Hey, just wondering if you uh Yeah, exactly. That's what it's pretty much what it's like. I know you're busy, but can you do your job? I understand that you're super busy. I I totally appreciate it.

MAX: 36:05
I used to hate it in corporate too, these people who are always so busy, always so busy. Meetings, meetings, I'm going to and they tell you, I'm going to meetings, I've got to do this for the sales director, and I've got to do this for this, and I've got to do that. It's like, okay, you all stop. In the time that you've taken to explain all of this, you could have actually just answered my question, you know. It's like seriously, you know, these people, I'm so busy, I'm so busy. Every meeting went for an hour minimum. It's just because it's a default in Outlook doesn't mean every meeting has to be an hour. You can make a decision in less than an hour. Jesus.

SAM: 36:34
Corporate sounds fun.

MAX: 36:35
That's the trouble. They didn't like making decisions because then you have to be accountable for something, and you might be wrong. So let's just have more meetings and talk about it. After working in food manufacturing for 20 years, I know to walk around the outside of the supermarket. You go fresh, fresh meat, fresh veggies, fresh fruit, milk, um, and the stationery and the fucking toilet paper, and then you get back out. That's it. You don't go down the middle aisles, that's that stuff will kill you. It's got warning labels on it. It's like, first of all, they've got to make it taste good nine months after they've made it, and so they add lots of salt and preservatives and shit, and it's got to look good, like the market has made you see on television, so it's got to add lots of colouring and all sorts of other stuff, and then you've got to add stuff because of all the other stuff. And then the company goes, We've got to make what we've got to make more profit out of it, so they take more of the good stuff out of it. So what are you left with? Nothing.

SAM: 37:20
A pile of chemicals. Yeah, a pile of chemicals, yeah.

MAX: 37:22
Clean the car with.

SAM: 37:23
Put it in your car. Yeah, it'll run.

MAX: 37:25
God, I feel like a whinging old man today.

SAM: 37:28
Yeah, this is a good one.

MAX: 37:29
Um I warned you to buckle up. So today, uh look, um it's obviously it's been a great week, I have to say I had some great uh great wins on voiceovers, great jobs finished already, and it's only Tuesday that we're recording this. Um I've got to aud I've got to do a self-tape for that film in Newcastle.

Speaker 1: 37:47
Yes.

MAX: 37:48
For both characters, so it's I'm probably gonna spend the day on that tomorrow. And if I feel happy, I'll I'll uh press record. If not, I'll another day. Because I I messaged him, I said, Look, can you give me some time to work through the scenes for these two? Like, is it okay? So yeah, it's fine, I'll try Wednesday's fine if you can by Wednesday, it's great. So I'm like, that's great. Unless there's no pressure. So good stuff. Be another good week. Listen, you got Sammy, tell me your story. You want anything?

SAM: 38:15
My week's pretty quiet. I uh re-emailed I re-emailed um the the person about that film feature film concept trailer that I was gonna do. Oh yes. Um and she's backed up doing another feature film. Um so she said, you know, it should be it should be soon. We haven't cast yet, but but keep you updated. I'm sorry that it's like taking so long. I'm okay cool. So at least that's still in could be could be a thing. That's good. Um but yeah, pretty much just like not much.

MAX: 38:46
Survival job. Yeah, I think I think now's a good time. I'm turning my agent tomorrow to look at yeah. I'm turning to my agent. That's and that's good. So you prepare for that. You've got your show reel sorted now.

SAM: 38:56
I just gotta do more self-tapes in these times. Yeah. It's just yeah. Yep. You just send them through.

MAX: 39:00
And have you done have you done a website yet? Have you got a sammy.com? I technically own samfold.com, but um you should do so, even if it's one of those quick, quicker mix ones. Yeah, the the thing is. So you can just put the link to your your self, your showreel video. It's like Sam Folden acting, my agent contact details and the show reel.

SAM: 39:18
These days with stuff like Vimeo, yeah, IMDB, you've got your Instagram which connected to your website, all that stuff. You've got all these links already to things.

MAX: 39:25
It's just an extra thing though. Yeah, it's it's definitely the I've even put um Google um what do they call it? Uh Google stats. Uh so I've got my little code on each of the pages so that it can provide statistics to me to show and people are actually viewing and looking at it. It's it's discoverable. I think if you type in my name, yeah, the socials come up, um, the website comes up, two unemployed actors come up. Um, and yeah, the the star now I think comes ahead of Vimeo, actually.

SAM: 39:56
Yeah, Vim Star now's right at the top. Yeah, they're so great stuff.

MAX: 39:60
So, yeah, I mean, you know, it's just another thing, but I think it's another way to sort of feel like you're you're busy and you're doing something constructive. Yeah. Um when it's perhaps a bit quieter or you're between projects.

SAM: 40:10
That's very true.

MAX: 40:11
Says he who yells at production companies.

SAM: 40:13
Well, fair enough.

MAX: 40:15
You're releasing it to unemployed actors. I'm Max. I'm Sam. You'll hear us next week. Bye.

SAM: 40:20
See ya.