My gosh, if there is truly a history of these types of behaviors and attitudes, the people at this agency should be reported. There is no excuse for anybody to be treated in such a way.
Posts: 57 | Location: NYC | Registered: September 13, 2007
Ressydm you say that you have heard of Extra Mile and their garbage and yet spend the remainder of your comments pointlessly and needlessly defending them. I'm not complaining about any treatment I received from anyone while on a set. I am well aware, as are most I would imagine, of the fact that in the register of importance during a film or television shoot, extras rank just under extra duct tape. Fine. That's the way it is and the nature of the business is not going to allow it to change. I get it. My complaint, and that of so many others, is the unprofessional way in which Leah and her company behave. I think it's ridiculous to run an orientation like you're welcoming kids to kindergarten and then to conduct yourself that way on the phone all the while demanding that they people who are signed with you behave with the utmost courtesy and respect. The contradiction is mind-boggling.
As for why I didn't trust my gut and leave - it was a win/lose for me actually. I made the money back that I had paid to the shrew in one job. Cool. Also, had just recently been laid off from my day job and some money was better than no money. I learned more about myself and the film business at hand on the job those two days than I would have had I NOT been there. The only loss in the situation was the frustration and anger I felt when faced with Leah's horribleness in subsequent instances.
While I can't do anything to change the way Leah conducts herself or her company, I can do a hell of a lot to make sure that others have a "heads up" before they walk into her office.
Posts: 3 | Location: New York, NY | Registered: May 06, 2008
Welllll, I knew I should have listened to the static on this message board about Extra Mile Casting before joining. I just spent 80 bucks for 2 background jobs and a hangup deactivation from Leah. And for what? For not calling her everytime I book my own jobs(which out numbered theirs 2 to 1 last month). It's not enough that I had the courtesy to tell them "Oh, I already worked on that project". They want to know BEFORE they waste their time considering you for the job. At 40 bucks a month, who works for who? Whenever I work background and meet actors newer than myself, I share advice based on my experience so far. When I begin to mention websites and job sources, then pens come out and the writing is frantic. But guess who's no longer in the recommendation column of MY list??
Posts: 1 | Location: nj | Registered: July 30, 2008
Zeke Newbie Posted July 07, 2008 09:17 PM Hide Post Ressydm you say that you have heard of Extra Mile and their garbage and yet spend the remainder of your comments pointlessly and needlessly defending them.
This is why I spelled things out in my post from the first sentence. Please get over your defensiveness, it's not useful here. If you are defensive, you will not truly comprehend what I'm writing. Frankly, you didn't trust your gut, and there are plenty of agencies out there that do not treat you in the red flag ways you clearly saw yourself up close and personal with EM - so...trust your gut and go with it. If that means excusing yourself and leaving, so be it. People treat you the way you treat yourself. If you see or personally witness someone treating someone like garbage and you STAY, then there's no mystery and no use for indignation and posts about respect. Respect yourself first and others will fall in line or be removed from your life. Very simple.
Desperation equals stupid choices, and hopefully that is a lesson you've learned.
I'm not complaining about any treatment I received from anyone while on a set. No one said you did. We're keeping it on this particular agency.I am well aware, as are most I would imagine, of the fact that in the register of importance during a film or television shoot, extras rank just under extra duct tape. Fine. That's the way it is and the nature of the business is not going to allow it to change. I get it. My complaint, and that of so many others, is the unprofessional way in which Leah and her company behave. As I've stated, if you don't like the way an agency is, walk. In NYC, there are TONS of agencies. Reputations get around, and if people stopped paying $40 or $80 for a chance to do background work then the agency would sit up and take notice. If people go and pay the money anyway in some weird self-denial, then they might as well wear a sucker or kick me tag on them. I think it's ridiculous to run an orientation like you're welcoming kids to kindergarten and then to conduct yourself that way on the phone all the while demanding that they people who are signed with you behave with the utmost courtesy and respect. The contradiction is mind-boggling.
As for why I didn't trust my gut and leave - it was a win/lose for me actually. I made the money back that I had paid to the shrew in one job. Cool. Also, had just recently been laid off from my day job and some money was better than no money. I learned more about myself and the film business at hand on the job those two days than I would have had I NOT been there. The only loss in the situation was the frustration and anger I felt when faced with Leah's horribleness in subsequent instances. I hate to say this, but the only lesson possibly gleaned from this is learning to trust your gut and walk away and not make decisions based on desperateness. People smell it. Also, you may need to develop a thick skin in this business. You are going to need it. If you truly understood that background work is basically bodies filling a scene, following direction and nothing more, the better off you will be and not set yourself up for so much anger that's just not productive.
While I can't do anything to change the way Leah conducts herself or her company, I can do a hell of a lot to make sure that others have a "heads up" before they walk into her office.
Agreed -- I think a lot of people can learn from your post and take many things from your experience and what you learned as a result. Again, I personaly don't work for Extra Mile - never have - and simply networking with other actors and sites like this have helped me to avoid places like this. Good luck with your career. Posts: 2 | Location: New York, NY | Registered: May 06, 2008
Ignored post by Zeke posted July 07, 2008 09:17 PM Show Post
extratalentguy Newbie Posted July 30, 2008 10:10 PM Hide Post Welllll, I knew I should have listened to the static on this message board about Extra Mile
When you are an extra, you are on call to the agency. That's a part of the business, whether with Extra Mile or any other agency. No matter what you may be paying someone, please keep in mind, you are not the boss! I hate to break this down to people but as an extra, if you feel you have to pay someone to hire you, then something's wrong. You are better off checking out casting calls from the big casting companies like Grant Wilfley and Central Casting, where you DON'T pay a fee and can get regular work if you are what they want. Remember, we are at their whim, not ours, as extras/background work. We need to put the ego in check here.
Posts: 144 | Location: New York | Registered: October 27, 2006
Extratalentguy - sorry you had a bad time. I think it's safe to say the majority of opinion of things is that Leah and Extra Mile Casting are about as unprofessional as you can get. Here's to hoping no one else makes the same mistake you and I did.
Best of luck to you in the future!
Posts: 3 | Location: New York, NY | Registered: May 06, 2008
