How The Writers’ Strike Is Impacting Actors

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day who is a working actor. He has appeared in several films and television shows, including a recent role on ER

on NBC. Normally his day is consumed with auditions, but when I talked to him he had actually just finished working a 9-5 job at a local Los Angeles office and was preparing to go and teach an evening acting class.

The Writers Guild of America strike has left many actors all over the country out of work, and uncertain of what's ahead for them in the near future. With the number of auditions dramatically reduced and a number of projects on hold, many actors are taking temporary jobs so that they don't deplete their savings while they await the outcome of the strike.

So what's an actor to do? For many it's a toss up. According to SAG, actors who were in the middle of the project cannot be placed on unpaid hiatus. Instead the studios must either: 1) terminate the actor; 2) put series regulars on hold at full salary; or 3) suspend the actors for a period of up to five weeks at half pay.

For other actors who weren't contracted for a role at the time of the strike, it seems they may have a lot of idle time on their hands indefinitely. If you're an actor and you're out of work due to the strike, don't get discouraged. In your free time, perhaps consider:

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• Taking or teaching an acting class
• Trying your hand at standup comedy to sharpen your comedic skills
• Volunteering at a local organization
• Supporting the writers by joining the picket line

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Some may view the lull as evidence of the tumultuous nature of the industry but every industry experiences downturns. Just ask any real estate agent or dot com investor. All we can do is wait it out. In the meantime, there are still lots of projects that are not being affected by the strike. Visit http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com for a list of casting notices for projects that are forging ahead with production.

Star Search Member Spotlight: Melanie Tillbrook

While we pride ourselves on being a resource for aspiring entertainers, there are also lots of Star Search Casting members who have already achieved enormous success. I like to spotlight these members occasionally as a reminder to others of the opportunities that are available in the entertainment industry and how attainable success in this business can be.

Melanie Tillbrook is a Star Search Casting Silver member currently residing in Miami, Florida. Her page has been viewed nearly 60,000 times by casting directors, agents and other visitors. Melanie, like many other Star Search Casting members, has a number of interests and has pursued opportunities in music, dance, acting and modeling. She’s even currently working on developing her own independent music label, Fire House Entertainment.

Melanie has gained a tremendous amount of exposure through the numerous jobs that she has booked. She has appeared in a number of national publications including Maxim, Super Street Bike Magazine, and Sister 2 Sister in both editorials and advertisements. You also may have seen her in the music video for “I Won’t Tell” by Fat Joe and J. Holiday, on the cover of the calendar published by Muscle Mustang magazine, or on The Best Damn Sports Show or the Home Shopping Network. She’s developed an extensive resume, which includes experience in television, music videos, runway shows, calendars, commercials and more. Not only has Melanie pursued opportunities in music, acting, modeling and dance, she’s excelled at all of them! In fact, in addition to singing in the choir at Florida State University, she also studied both ballet and modern dance there and was a backup dancer for Snoop Dogg on the Projekt Revolution Tour. Pretty impressive, right?

In addition to her past accomplishments, Melanie has lots in store for her in 2008, including hosting a local Miami television show called Spread the Word TV. To her credit, Melanie has managed to juggle all of her success while simultaneously attending college to earn her degree in business. We want to congratulate Melanie on all of her achievements and wish her the best as she continues to excel in the entertainment industry!

If you’re inspired by Melanie Tillbrook’s success and are eager to pursue a career as an actor, dancer, singer or model, visit www.StarSearchCasting.com today to gain access to tons of opportunities that can help to propel your career. You can also browse profiles of other Star Search Casting members who are proving they have what it takes to make their mark on the entertainment industry!