Expert: Peter Messaline - 1/10/2008

Question
Hello Peter(may I address you by your first name?)

I've been in the business off and on for about ten years now, though I've only landed real roles in television movies in the last four years.  I say off and on because well, until now, I wasn't able to really be committed to the craft.  I was in the Calgary market for the last four years, which is where I picked up 98% of my acting gigs.  I think that part of my being able to work is due to my ethnicity(there aren't that many black male actors in Calgary).  Recently, my family and I moved to London, ON, where my wife is a resident doctor in pediatrics.  I've sent out several "packages" to Toronto talent agencies, but haven't received any replies.  I know that the WGA strike has negatively affected the market here, but I thought I'd get a better look from agencies than I have.  Is the market in T.O. pretty weak right now, or is it that I'm not a full ACTRA member(apprentice only) that sort of precludes me from any real attention from agencies?  Any thoughts on an approach?  
Also, there is a decent theatre market here, but I have zero experience in theatre.  Should I attempt an audition or two?  

Thanks for any advice you might have!

Gerrick

Answer
Hello Gerrick!
A wonderfully clear layout of your situation.
Theatre? Certainly, for two reasons:
Simply by auditioning you will meet more people in the business, there is always a chance of being cast and digging in deep with one group of connected people, and current credits can only be useful on your résumé

Agents? Will always be looking for film and TV availability, and one problem is your distance from Toronto, especially because London is in the snow corridor, making the winter months chancy. It will always be a problem for an agent knowing that a hundred kilometres, never much fun for a six a.m. start, could, if the weather is bad, be two hours or much more.
Look through your address book and comb through your memories. Do you have any connection at all with any actors  in Toronto? If you can quote a name of someone who knew you once (with permission), that is enormously helpful in getting over the threshold.
That aside, what is there about you that makes you different from the great grey tide of client wannabees? Bring that up front in your cover letters and hope for a match. Boring won't get in, but even the most loathsome characteristic might strike a chord with a small proportion of agents.

The London Fringe is in July, and the applications went in in the Fall. They're at
476 Richmond Street
London, Ontario
Canada N6A 3E6
producer@londonfringe.ca
and contacting them might get you in touch with a production that is still uncast. It would certainly be a great way to make local contacts. Offer to volunteer -- even now when things are quiet they might need a free gofer.

It's all a matter of being trusted. Build your network base and you'll be in position to get someone to take a chance on you.

Look at canadianactor.com: it's a huge collection of useful information and advice, and a series of active and helpful discussion groups. More network.

You already know how hard a row this is to hoe -- all strength to your aching back.

Peter M