Dear Aaz,
Many cities would fit your description. Your surest bet is still, as
banal as it may sound, Los Angeles and the metropolitan area. There
are plenty of affordable professionals (both technical and artistic)
in L.A. that are either unemployed or willing to work for a relatively
low price. Because of weather conditions and the availability of
shooting locations, it is also ideal: there's enough sun for the
outdoor shots (backyard) and enough places that one could rent for a
day.
Here are a few places to start from in LA:
Lists of Actors' Agents and Managers
------------------------------------
Script Sales
<http://www.scriptsales.com/Donedealagency.htm>
(The list begins with a specific agency - which might have gotten a
sponsorship for this webpage - but is followed by many other
agencies).
Actor's Checklist
<http://www.actorschecklist.com/agent.html> - the list of agents
appears on the bottom of the page and is all but well-organised. But
you can still extract the names from there.
Online Talent Directory
<http://www.onlinetalentdirectory.com/agents.html>
Related Organisations
---------------------
Association of Talent Agents
<http://www.agentassociation.com/>
Screen Actors Guild
<http://www.sag.org/>
NUAN - Non Union Actors Network
<http://www.nuan.org/>
Technical Staff
---------------
Google Local - Video Production in LA
<://www.google.com/local?hl=en&lr=&sa=G&near=los+angeles&rl=1&sc=1&q=category:+Video+Production+Companies+%26+Services>
(please note that the list is ranked geographically, not by "quality",
pricing, or alphabetically).
LA411 - Corporate and Video Production Companies
<http://www.la411.com/Ad_Agencies_Production_Companies/Corporate_Video_Production_Companies/Index.cfm>
Google Local - Motion Picture Services in LA
<://www.google.com/local?hl=en&lr=&sa=G&near=los+angeles&rl=1&sc=1&q=category:+Motion+Picture+Services>
LA411 Crew
<http://www.la411.com/Crew/Index.cfm> - a directory of different crew members
LA411 Sets and Stages
<http://www.la411.com/Sets_Stages/Index.cfm>
LA411 - Location Services
<http://www.la411.com/Location_Services_Equipment/Index.cfm>
Media Services
<http://www.la411.com/Support_Services/Index.cfm>
Society of Camera Operators
<http://www.soc.org/>
Film Schools in LA
<http://www.allartschools.com/find/results.php?st=CA&prog=film-video-television&submit=Find+a+School>
(for less trained, but very affordable staff).
For both sectors:
Workforce Investment Board
<http://www.lacity.org/wib/>
LA Metro area's source for job placement.
Entertainment Industry Development Corporation
<http://www.eidc.com/>
EIDC promotes Los Angeles to the global entertainment industry and
issues permits for on-location filming in Los Angeles City and County.
Los Angeles metro area, as I have written before, might be perfect for
your production. The only disadvantage one could find is
affordability: from real-estate aspect (which of course determines
other aspects, such as costs of location, wages, etc.) - Los Angeles
area is the least affordable to live in. In my opinion, because of
the availability of actors/crew memebrs in Los Angeles, the production
costs will not suffer because of wages, and LA is still preferable.
However, there are other possibilities.
These might be less appealing regarding weather, but have also a range
of affordable actors and crew members. Because of the possible
"competition" with LA, some of these cities might offer incentives to
video production. Unfortunately, regarding real-estate affordability,
these large metro areas are not those that are the most affordable in
the nation (I don't recommend the latter, like Buffalo, NY, because of
relative low number of professionals, like actors and crew members -
see for more information:
National Association of Homebuilders - Housing Economics Online
<http://www.nahb.org/generic.aspx?sectionID=728> ).
Greater Philadelphia
--------------------
Greater Philadelphia Film Office
<http://www.film.org/>
Takent Agents - Google Local
<://www.google.com/local?hl=en&lr=&sa=G&near=philadelphia&rl=1&sc=1&q=category:+Talent+%26+Theatrical+Agencies>
NYC
---
Another home to many job-seeking actors and crew members. Again, in
NYC there is a problem of (relative) high cost of production.
NYC Film Office
<http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/html/index/index.shtml>
NY Talent Agents - From Google Local
<://www.google.com/local?hl=en&lr=&sa=G&near=nyc&rl=1&sc=1&q=category:+Talent+Agencies+%26+Casting+Services>
Cinematographers
<://www.google.com/local?hl=en&lr=&q=cinematographers&near=nyc&btnG=Search&sc=1&rl=1>
Chicago
-------
Chicago Film Office
<http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalEntityHomeAction.do?entityName=Film+Office&entityNameEnumValue=15>
Chicago - Talent Agents - Google Local
<://www.google.com/local?hl=en&lr=&q=category%3A+Talent+%26+Theatrical+Agencies&near=chicago&btnG=Search&sc=1&rl=1>
Nevada Film Office
------------------
Nevada
<http://www.nevadafilm.com/>
New Mexico Film Office
-----------------------
<http://www.nmfilm.com/>
I hope this answers your question. Please contact me if you need any
further clarification on this answer before you rate it. My search
terms: "unemployed actors" largest population, "unemployed actors"
"argest population, "unemployed actors" "largest population, "most
affordable" area us, " film office", " film office" "los angeles",
"los angeles" municipality production, "los angeles" , "largest * of
actors", "highest rate of actors", grants "educational video
production", grants production "educational videos", grants prodcution
"educational videos", grants "educational videos", "production
companies" video , "best places" "video production" affordable
quality, "Professional Film Management", Professional Film Management, |
Request for Answer Clarification by
aaz-ga
on
09 Sep 2005 05:15 PDT
I am afraid that it's not the answer I wanted. It's too general info.
Several lists of agents or google list of major studios is not what I
need.
Re: "In my opinion because of the availability of actors/crew members
in Los Angeles, the production costs will not suffer because of wages"
- I think this cannot be the case; if it is, you did not substantiate
it. Wages and location - what else! - rent are major portion of the
cost.
LA, NYC are for big guys - full of middlemen - agent, casting
director. Once again it's language lessons where cost is a major
consideration. LA and NYC are the major centres and known to all
(without Google Answers' help). The cost is a major consideration and
I was rather looking for some less known locations that can offer
quality at a much low price.
(Excerpts from links such as housing economics with links to those
excerpts may have been better not the link to HOME page.)
I want alternatives to NYC and LA (could be in California though) with
support data why those alternatives are better.
Regards
|
Clarification of Answer by
politicalguru-ga
on
09 Sep 2005 05:45 PDT
Dear aaz,
First of all, let me apologise for the misunderstanding. What I meant
by this sentence, is that given the availability of crew in Los
Angeles, wages may not be a factor.
Still in California, you have San Diego. It has also a sunny weather
that would enable you to do the outdoor scenes without problems; and
it is more affordable than LA. It also has a film office, which means
that it might grant you some incentives to shoot there.
San Diego Film Commission
<http://www.sdfilm.com/>
See also:
Cathy Anderson , "How do we get production?", San Diego Source, May
19, 2003, <http://www.sddt.com/Commentary/article.cfm?Commentary_ID=25&SourceCode=20030519tza>
On the east coast, a great alternative to NYC could be Nwe Jersey, and
especially the towns close to the Tri-State area. "New Jersey wants to
become Hollywood East for indie filmmakers. By a 37-1 vote,
legislation passed in the state senate last week approving a Film
Production Assistance Program. " ("San Diego drops plan to add prod'n
fees", Variety, <http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117889003?categoryid=8&cs=1>).
The New Jersey Film Production Assistance Program
<http://www.njeda.com/film_production_assistance_program.asp>
After Buffalo, NY, many Ohio metro areas are on the top of the the
NAHB list of most affordable area:
Youngstown, Ohio Rated Most Affordable Major U.S. Housing Market
<http://www.nahb.org/news_details.aspx?sectionID=135&newsID=1501>
Greater Clevelend Media Development Corporation
<http://www.clevelandfilm.com/>
Ohio is now in legislative processes to advance more support and
incentives to film production in the state. You can read some relevant
information here:
CONNIE MABIN, "States push tax breaks in hope of luring movie
business", July 22, 2005.
In other states:
"ALABAMA: Create employment tax credits for certain movie projects and
companies; extend sales and lodging tax exemptions for movie
production companies. Failed.
ARKANSAS: Expand refund of state taxes paid during a movie's production. Failed.
COLORADO: Require the state patrol office to help film production
companies maneuver through state permits and other bureaucracy; give
producers sales and user-tax exemptions for making their films in
Colorado. Passed.
HAWAII: Replace existing tax credits with a new credit for motion
picture, digital media and film production based on a certain
percentage of the production's costs incurred in Hawaii. Cap credit at
$8 million per production. Failed.
INDIANA: Allow film companies free use of state and university
property as movie locations; would offer tax credits for the
purchasing of movie equipment. Obscene films would be excluded from
credits. In conference committee.
LOUISIANA: Updated existing tax program to increase rebates from 15
percent of production costs to 25 percent of production costs spent in
Louisiana. Created new incentives to encourage building of sound
stages and other industry infrastructure in the state. Passed.
MARYLAND: Establish grant programs to rebate half of specified wages
paid in the state to people working on qualified film productions up
to a maximum of $2 million. Passed.
NEW MEXICO: Expand a tax credit for film companies for a portion of
their direct production expenses in New Mexico such as photography and
lighting. The tax break covers so-called post production work,
including editing, special effects and sound mixing on movies,
commercials and video games. Passed.
OHIO: Create a new tax credit between 15 and 20 percent of the
investment made in Ohio by moviemakers. Pending in committee.
OREGON: Create rebate for labor costs incurred while filming in
Oregon. Awaiting full House vote.
RHODE ISLAND: Establish a motion picture investment tax credit and a
television tax credit for productions in Rhode Island. Passed.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Amend current laws to offer local as well as state tax
exemptions for film productions in South Carolina. Passed.
TENNESSEE: Establish a film production tax credit for qualified
productions. Awaiting committee hearing.
TEXAS: Offer tax exemptions on hotel stays and vehicles purchases for
use in film productions. Failed. Offer grants to film makers based on
how many workers hired in Texas. Passed, but without the $20 million
in funding to run the program."
CONNIE MABIN, "States push tax breaks in hope of luring movie
business", July 22, 2005.
Mabin writes, that Louisiana offers the most incentives, but given the
current situation in Louisiana, it might be problematic now.
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
aaz-ga
on
09 Sep 2005 22:32 PDT
Thanks but please look at my first email. Almost all my lessons are
indoors. I don't need free or inexpensive location and governmental
support and incentive. My decision will be based solely on WAGES of
actors (adults and 9-10 year old childern) and production crew
(producer, director of cinemtography, cameraman, gaffer, soundman).
Therefore, what I want to know is where I can get good quality
inexpensively (or rather least expensively) for technical and acting
expertise.
|
Clarification of Answer by
politicalguru-ga
on
10 Sep 2005 00:55 PDT
Dear aaz,
Thank you again.
Reagrding wages as part of the production costs, most sites point to
Canada as the main destination for lower-cost film production
(especially Toronto and Vancouver). However, since you've asked for US
cities, this leaves them outside.
There is a trend (here: Diane Howard, "Keeping Track of the Pulse of
Austin", <http://www.dianehoward.com/austin_developments_in_the_arts.htm>)
to work in "Right to Work States" - states, where actors and crew
members are not always unionized, therefore wages are more affordable.
Right to Work States
http://www.nrtw.org/rtws.htm
The same article, focusing on Austin, TX, recommends this city for
relatively low cost prodcution: "Top 10 cities for moviemaking
according to Moviemaker
magazine: 1. Austin, 2. New York, 3. Boston, 4. Philadelphia, 5. Orlando, Fla,
6. Las Vegas, 7. Los Angeles, 8. Portland. Ore., 9. Chicago, Ill., 10.
Houston" (ibid).
In these metro areas, the median hourly wages of crew (audio and video
technicians) are:
City Hourly Wages for Actors (median) Hourly Wages for Crew (Median)
Austin $18.24 $11.42
New York n/a $11.04
Boston n/a $17.08
Philadelphia $12.97 $19.50
Orlando $13.16 $19.28
Law Vegas $20.12 $22.82
Los Angeles $9.98 $18.30
Portland n/a $15.53
Chicago $17.86 $16.72
Houston $18.24 n/a
A city, where wages for actors and technicians is listed as bellow -
or slightly above - the national average - is San Francisco. One where
wages for both is listed below the national average is Miami, FL.
San Francisco $13.75 $16.83
Miami, FL $11.10 $12.32
SOURCE: BLS - a search by area :
[site:bls.gov "occupational code, e.g. 27-2011" + "area name"]
National Median $16.00 $16.46
Orlando, with relatively low cost of actors' fees, is one of the
nation's top centers for actors, after LA and New York (Source: BLS,
<http://www.bls.gov/oes/2003/may/oes272011.htm >).
Of the cities listed above, only LA is part of the list of the top
centers for Audio and Video Technicians:
Las Vegas, NV-AZ MSA 850 $20.42 $42,480 0.106%
Wausau, WI MSA 70 $12.08 $25,130 0.105%
Salt Lake City-Ogden, UT MSA 580 $13.91 $28,920 0.084%
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA PMSA 3,280 $22.61 $47,030 0.082%
Nashville, TN MSA 490 $17.02 $35,410 0.074%
<http://www.bls.gov/oes/2003/may/oes274011.htm >
Possible Conclusions:
- Northern New Jersey: one could get relatively easily actors and crew
members from NY (where crew members' wages are below the national
average), but rent is relatively affordable. Disadvatage: not a
Right-to-Work state.
- Miami: While Miami is not listed as one of the five major national
concentrations of actors and technicians, it is listed as one of the
major concentrations of video editors. The wages are relatively low
(Florida is a Right-to-Work state) and it is relatively close to
Orlando. Disadvatage: not listed as a major center for actors or
technicians.
- Austin: recommended by "Filmmaker Magazine", with relatively low
costs of crew members (in addition: a Right-to-Work state); However,
actors' wages are above the national average. I am also not sure,
regarding your requirement of "standard American English" in Austin.
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
aaz-ga
on
10 Sep 2005 03:18 PDT
We are on the right track. This is the kind of information I need. But
I need some clarification.
A)
STANDARD AMERICAN - Think of CNN or equivalent news anchor's delivery/
accent. That may rule out Texas.
B)
For LA: The median hourly wages for actors at about $10, the lowest!
It's not in a Right of Work state. How could that be?
C)
The data do not support the conclusion. LA has the cheapest actors as
quoted by you from Moviemaker. It has most number of actors and Audio
and Video technicians. Then, why not LA? I think I am missing
something.
D)
"Top 10 cities for moviemaking" from Moviemaker - Can you pl give the link?
E)
Pl provide the column headers for this table so that I can understand it well.
Las Vegas, NV-AZ MSA 850 $20.42 $42,480 0.106%
Wausau, WI MSA 70 $12.08 $25,130 0.105%
Salt Lake City-Ogden, UT MSA 580 $13.91 $28,920 0.084%
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA PMSA 3,280 $22.61 $47,030 0.082%
Nashville, TN MSA 490 $17.02 $35,410 0.074%
F)
Canada - You may tell me briefly which cities can offer actors and
technicians at a good rate. This was not part of the original
question. So, if you decline to answer I will understand.
Regards
|
Clarification of Answer by
politicalguru-ga
on
10 Sep 2005 08:00 PDT
Dear AAz,
A - That's why I listed it as one of Austin disadvatages.
B - Good question. I've been wondering about that, too. The only
explanations could be that they're either working off-union despite
the regulations, or that wages are extremely low, even for unionised
actors.
C - This goes back to the claim that LA is very expensive regarding
other costs - mainly rent. But I agree that LA - or the LA metro area
if to be exact - could be a very good solution.
D - I'm afraid that the only sources I've managed to find was quotes
of that article, e.g.
Diane Howard, "Keeping Track of the Pulse of
Austin", <http://www.dianehoward.com/austin_developments_in_the_arts.htm>
E -
Metro Area Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage % of area employment
Wausau, WI 70 $12.08 $25,130 0.105%
Salt Lake City580 $13.91 $28,920 0.084%
Los Angeles 3,280 $22.61 $47,030 0.082%
Nashville, 490 $17.02 $35,410 0.074%
F - In British Columbia (which is considered now as the favourite
destination for production):
"The following are some approximate rates of some employees in the
film and television industry. These rates are only provided to give
you an overview. The rates are approximate. For accurate or more
specific rates, contact the specific union directly.
Association of Canadian Craftspeople (ACFC)
Local 2020 (Tel: (604) 983-5450 | www.acfcwest.com
Wages range roughly from $17 * to $23 per hour depending on the type
of employment and the type of production.
Directors Guild of Canada
Tel: (604) 688-2976 | www.dgc.ca
A typical production manager earns for a 75/hr week a little more than
$3,000; a location manager would earn around $2000 per week. A
director could earn anywhere from $5,000 to about $60,000 per week
depending on the type and size of the production.
BC Council of Film Unions
Tel: (604) 983-5531 | bccfu@intergate.bc.ca
There are a number of specific agreements in place regarding benefits and salary:
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees
IATSE Local 891
Tel: (604) 669-8910 | www.iatse.com Rates for a Director of
Photography are about $70/hr, a Camera Operator is nearly $50/hr.
IATSE Local 669
Tel: (604) 983-5580 | www.ia669.com Rates for an Art Director and
Production Designer are about $30/hr, a Costume Designer is about
$25/hr, and most other experienced professionals earn about the same.
Teamsters (IBT) Local 155
Tel: (604) 876-8898 | www.teamsters155.org Rates for a Transportation
Coordinator earns about $25/hr, and other equipment operators and
animal wranglers earn about $23/hr.
Union of BC Performers (UBCP)
Tel: (604) 689-0727 | www.ubcp.com
In this union, actors earn from about $40 to $65/hr. Some variety
principal performers and stunt actors earn up to $95/hr. Some special
ability background performers earn about $25/hr, and Stand-ins and
other background performers earn about $18/hr.
CONTACT THE UNION DIRECTLY FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION.
Note: the BC Film Commission also provides a more specific listing of rates."
(SOURCE: Chilliwack Film Commission,
<http://www.chilliwackfilmcommission.com/film_commission/labour/>).
All prices are of course in Canadian dollars. You can convert the amounts here:
Xe.com
<http://www.xe.com>
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
aaz-ga
on
10 Sep 2005 21:08 PDT
Through your answer, I want to arrive at a conclusion. The conclusion
will have substantial impact on the budget. I don't want to land in LA
and discover that facts were ONLY partly correct and look silly to my
investors.
Pl tell me why your possible conclusion did not include LA and other
cheaper cities? I want to make sure that you are not merely agreeing
with me when (and if) you change your conclusion.
I need to know if the $10 /hr median wage figure correct. Is it legal
to get actors/crew work off union in LA (or any Right of Work state)?
Should rent be an important consideration a) if I am hiring all locals
and need not provide for their accommodation OR b) for location
renting of office, clinic etc?
May I know how did you access Moviemaker for the "Top 10 cities for moviemaking"?
Thanks for BC, Canada brief.
Regards
|
Clarification of Answer by
politicalguru-ga
on
11 Sep 2005 00:51 PDT
Dear aaz,
The only reason not to include LA is location prices. You are right,
that rent for the actors themselves would not pose a problem. While
this is not a legal advice (see the disclaimer on the bottom of this
page), it is legal to hire non-union actors in California.
Schwarzenegger himself has recently used non union actors and
technicians in one of his ads (See: "Actors union upset with
Schwarzenegger", <http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/index.php?feed=Entertainment&article=UPI-1-20050608-16491500-bc-us-sag.xml>).
This happens in countless other cases, which do not involve powerful
politicians. The $10/hour is the *median* wage - the mean wage is
different, but I used the median because of the great differences in
actors' salaries, especially in the LA area, which would make mean
average meaningless. These are BLS official figures from 2004, as
appearing here :
May 2004 Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
<http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_4480.htm>
No newer estimates appear on the BLS site.
Regarding Moviemaker, try the following:
James L. Menzies, "MovieMaker 2004 Top 10 Cities for Moviemakers",
<http://www.moviemaker.com/issues/53/top10.html> [no ranking was
published for 2005, yet].
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
aaz-ga
on
11 Sep 2005 05:28 PDT
Yes, I understand the limitations of any mean (ordinary or median). Thanks.
The moviemaker survey is very subjective, not supported by hard data
and conflicts with the bls data.
Can we focus on LA? Lowest (or among the lowest) rates both for actors
and crew, highest number of professionals and facilities - this should
be the best choice. But somehow it does not make sense that LA could
offer such low median wages. Another point: If anyone can work off the
unions at lower rates, then unionized workers would suffer. Is there
no significance of not being "Right to Work State". (Re
Schwarzenegger, is it possible that QUOTE "... since he
[Schwarzenegger] is a public official appearing in the ad as himself,
union rules do not require that he be covered by SAG's Commercials
Contract..." UNQUOTE) is the key reason for him getting away with
that.)
Pl give me an answer supported by more than one set of data - with no
conflicting data or if conflicting data are there, we should be able
to discard or explain it. Again, can we focus on LA? (And yes, I am
aware of the disclaimer. I have used google answers a lot. Even
without disclaimer, the google researchers would be protected.)
Based on the low wages and high availabilty of actors and crew, what
should my choice be?
Regards
|
Clarification of Answer by
politicalguru-ga
on
11 Sep 2005 10:41 PDT
Dear AAz,
"The moviemaker survey is very subjective, not supported by hard data
and conflicts with the bls data."
Allow me to disagree. It is subjective, but good. This is not only
because the magazine is an industry magazine, with writers who seem to
understand what they're writing about, but also because of other
calculations, that might be less relevant for you: locations
(especially outdoors), municipal and state city commissions, etc. Not
every analysis has to rely on BLS statistics, and statistics could
show only part of the picture.
"But somehow it does not make sense that LA could offer such low median wages."
Again, the reason is because of supply and demand: there are many
actors and film crew members living in the area, but it is difficult
for some to find a gig.
"Is there no significance of not being "Right to Work State"?
I am honestly also baffled by this point. As I have mentioned before,
hiring non-union actors is legal, and was done not only by
Schwarzenegger. Since a SAG/AFTRA strike against the advertising
industry, the power of these unions has weakened.
Worse, it seems that novice actors might have a problem to join SAG:
they must have three background roles, in which they will earn "SAG
vouchers" before they can even join SAG! See:
Central Casting Frequently Asked Questions
<http://www.entertainmentpartners.com/products_and_services/services/central_casting/faqs/>
Low budget productions like yours can also use non-union as well as union actors:
"Can non-union actors and SAG members work in a production together?
Under the terms of the Student, Short, and Ultra-Low Budget contracts
you can use both SAG and non-SAG actors in the same film. Under the
Modified Low Budget and Low Budget Agreement the so-called
Taft-Hartley rules apply."
(SOURCE: SAG Indie, FAQ <http://www.sagindie.org/faq.html>
"Based on the low wages and high availabilty of actors and crew, what
should my choice be?"
My advices, right now, are either LA, or Northern New Jersey. There is
more availability of crew and actors in LA, but Northern New Jersey
could also use NYC based staff without much expense.
|
