In an article I read today this was stated...
"If a New York actor has never done a Law & Order episode or [doesn't have] some real theatre credits, I have to wonder," admits Marc Hirschfeld, executive vice president of casting for NBC Universal Television."

Now, I have heard every actor works on Law and Order, but if I've been looking for auditions for the past year and haven't seen any for Law and Order, how would I get on the show? I know this is a dumb question, but I guess I'm dumb Has anyone self submitted themselves to one of the casting offices and been called in? Thank you everyone.

Sam

Pier 63 at Cheslea Piers end of 23rd on the River Law and Order second floor drop off box by the double door to the studio and production offices .

They do look at them and yes they have cast before from the drop offs

quote:

"If a New York actor has never done a Law & Order episode or [doesn't have] some real theatre credits, I have to wonder," admits Marc Hirschfeld, executive vice president of casting for NBC Universal Television."

What a bizarre comment.

Could Mr. Hirschfeld have been in a high powered Los Angeles office so long that he could seriously be so out of touch with reality that he believes this?

Talk about living in an Ivy tower.

I've been an actor for years. I'm a very good actor and have been in many, many plays. I am not in Actors Equity. I am not in SAG, either. So my talent and theatre credits would probably not register as "real theatre credits." The NY Times never reviewed a show I was in. And I've never auditioned for Law and Order.

I'm not complaining; just illustrating. Most actors in New York have not done Law and Order. That is a ridiculous urban legend.

It's one thing when somebody who knows nothing about the biz says something so naive and/or clueless, but to hear this from someone as high up as Hirschefeld is maddening.

As I said, Ivory Tower.

Sigh.

p.s. I spent 200 dollars for an evening of Law and Order at one of those pay to be seen places. I auditioned for the assistant cd's for all three L&O shows. They evaluate your headshots and your acting. I got excellent evaluations from all three cd's. I've kept in touch with the cd's and have still not been called in to audition.

Again, not complaining just illustrating.

Mr. Hirschfeld is really living high in that tower! How he could so dismiss the BULK of New York actors with a comment like that is simply INFURIATING.

I agree Peter.

SSamson, you certainly can drop off your headshots right at their offices. You can do mailings, and you can certainly meet the casting folks at Actors Connection or One on One. They are there ALL the time!

I too, met all the associates at One on One, and got excellent reviews. For a while, I was dropping off my headshots right at their door practically every 8 days (when I knew they were casting roles right for me). I send them postcards every month. Still....no auditions.

Someone once told me (and this is TOTALLY just an urban legend but I'll say it anyway, that on average, it takes about 4 years to finally get on the show).

At their seminars, they have stated they don't care if you are in the unions or not. They don't care if you have representation.

I was on a Law & Order kick for a bit, where I was really trying to find out how the hell to get on. Researched the agents who work with them a lot on IMDBPro. Over the last year, I've seen a lot come from KRASNY and Paradigm.

OK, what does an actor have to do to get on???

Get the breakdowns for casting and see when they are casting. When you see something you're right for, go drop off your headshot and resume. It's a hit or miss game. Casting directors have their priority lists of people that they bring in on a regular basis. It takes a lot of marketing and time for any of them to bring you in if you don't have representation. If you fit something exactly for what they're looking for, you might get a call. I've been on both Law & Order and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. I also act in Los Angeles. Casting directors do notice if you're coming from NY and you are in LA that you've done some Law & Order. The reason being is because it's the most consistent TV show in NY. However, I know many actor friends of mine in LA that have come from NY and they've never been on Law & Order.

Hope this helps.

Actors 411
Helping Actors Succeed

quote:

However, I know many actor friends of mine in LA that have come from NY and they've never been on Law & Order.

Yes, absolutely. The vast majority have not.

Maybe, in keeping with Marc Hirshfeld's thinking, as a New York actor I should take the position of anybody in California:

Well, if they haven't had guest star status on one of the CSI shows, I'd have to really wonder about them. If they haven't had guest star status out of all the TV shows filmed out there, boy, I'd really have to wonder about them.

How obnoxious would that attitude be to California actors? No more than Hirshfeld's.

I did a co-star on "Law & Order" late last year. it was my first episodic credit. I was unrepresented at the time. Met the casting associate at a workshop very early in the year. Never heard anything from her, then one day about 8 months later, she calls me direct to come in the same day for a last minute audition (a role that was just added). I go in, pre-read for the casting director. didn't get it but a few days later, the casting associate calls me again to go straight to producers on for a role on the next episode, which I booked. Became SAG-elig from that.

They don't care at the L&Os whether you are union or not. They also don't care whether you submit yourself. If you are specific in your submission (write the name of the role on a post it -- which means you need to be getting the breakdowns), drop it in the drop box immediately after you see the role in the breakdowns (just drop it and keep it moving), they are going to see your submission. Whether you get called or not, who knows but at least you are proactive.

Wow, Libby resurfaces! We were just talking about you, too.

What a coincidence!

Hope all is going good. Law and Order must have been fun.

Maybe he meant background included? Cause that would definately increase the number of folks who have worked on those shows....

True, Rob, but I doubt he meant background.

Has anyone heard of anyone that has been called to audition for L&O (any of them) or any of the CSI's from just doing a mail in hs/resume/letter? I am in Atlanta, and would like to find a way to audition or get a nonbackground spot.
Thanks... Joe

Hi,

How do you get these Law and Order breakdowns? I'm not represented, and I want to self-submit. However, do I need to write down the role that I'm submitting for?

i have heard that same mentality about NY actors and L&Os. makes me a bit nervous, but... I dont know how much that really matters. It does make me think, though.

as for the breakdowns. do remember that an actor getting them is illegal. you don't want to steal (buy) them and then submit to a CD mentioning a specific role on a specific episode. they will know that you stole the breakdown (btw, it's still stealing even if you are paying some goony you found on craigslist who's selling them) because the breakdowns ONLY go to representatives.

so if you are submitting and your envelope doesn't have a representative name on it, it probably won't even be opened.

i've only been to free workshops thus far, and all CDs thusfar are in agreement.

if you're going to do it, be smart about it.

hmmm....have to disagree with you on this, jacktressk.

I've been to Law & Order workshops, met the Casting Associates to all three shows. They totally don't care if you get the breakdowns. And they don't care if you have representation or not. AND they don't care if you are in SAG or not.

In fact, all three of them have said that if you 'happen to find out about a role you would like to submit for' just drop off your headshot in their drop box in front of their offices at Chelsea Piers. They don't say, "hey if you get the illegal breakdowns, come on and stop by!!" But they say, "hey, if you KNOW about a role....."

Many folks drop off their headshots to L&O. But you HAVE to label it with the role you are interested in. Otherwise it does get thrown in the garbage. They sort the headshots by the role, then go through each and every one.

The illegal breaks is a whole other topic. The CDs seem to vary their opinion on it. From the CD workshops I have gone to, most don't care if you self-submit, but it depends on the CD.....

In answer to your question, fitnesswd1, the BDs for L&O are only meant for agents, and are released on Breakdown Services (same company that manages Actors Access). Actors don't have access to them, only agents & managers. However, because everything can be obtained electronically these days, there are folks out there who are able to get them, and then sell them to make a profit. They are bootlegged. In order to get them, you need to know someone through word of mouth, or do your own research.

This topic is elsewhere on the board.

quote:

Marc Hirschfeld

This seems like the same B.S. this guy seemed to pull years ago when his company cast Seinfeld, Friends, 3rd Rock...w. Liberman and whoever. This guy would send every casing associate (OR ASSISTANT) in his office to do every slimy workshop to make all the cash off any actor he could. It is not surprising he does this or says this crap...
"If a New York actor has never done a Law & Order episode or [doesn't have] some real theatre credits, I have to wonder," admits Marc Hirschfeld, executive vice president of casting for NBC Universal Television."
I am surprised HE never sold actors headshots on EBAY.