Ok I just got cast for a speaking role in a movie. I dont have an agent or manager so I representing myself right now. I so excited to start and finally book a real paying acting job! However I'm not 100% clear on my pay so should I ask now, even though I dont think they're done casting, or should I wait for them to bring it up? How should I approach it so it doesn't look like I'm in it for just the money?

What's wrong with wanting to earn a buck? As now so there aren't any nasty surprises.

Is this an indie film? Are you sag? Just wondering. You most likely will be paid scale, but if you have a contract look it over. You have to see if you are an under-five, or what. If you arent sag, and its a sag film, you shouldn't have any lines. Hmm, let us know! Also, check out the common misspellings section. "Casted"???

broadwaydreams,

First - congrats on the casting!

Second - I work in a business that's not theatre but has many similarities, including that people who are new to the biz or "trying to break in" will often be so excited to get hired for something that they don't iron our payment details/contracts from the get-go. This is a big mistake. You need to know how much you're being paid before you do the work. If you're worried that asking how much you'll be paid will induce them to drop you from the project you have to ask yourself whether that's the kind of project/people you want to work with.

If anything, asking how much you'll be paid will show you're a professional to respects your own talents and time.

Good luck,
~t

QUOTE]Originally posted by broadwaydreams:
Ok I just got cast for a speaking role in a movie. I dont have an agent or manager so I representing myself right now. I so excited to start and finally book a real paying acting job! However I'm not 100% clear on my pay so should I ask now, even though I dont think they're done casting, or should I wait for them to bring it up? How should I approach it so it doesn't look like I'm in it for just the money?[/QUOTE]

Hi broadwaydreams.

Congratulations!

No professional will think you are in it "for just the money". When you do good work, the money eventually follows.

If you did have an Agent, he/she would ask the CD for a deal memo. A deal memo is a written statement of the terms you can expect to be in your contract. It is expected for you to want to know your employment dates, and pay rate.

Break a leg.

Jim

Congratulation on the role.

It's a strange quirk many of us actors have, thinking that discussing money will be viewed as vulgar. Any discussion of employment should naturally include details about remuneration.

But this is what agents are for. You might consider calling a small-to-medium-sized agency and offering them a small percentage just to negotiate the deal.

You have a right to know what you're getting paid, and until you have it in writing, you should consider the job theoretical.

Good luck!