I mentioned before how important it is to have decent headshots taken of yourself. This is a great opportunity to get them for free!
Mikael Ranta has just opened his own studio close the Sutthisarn MRT station. He offers to take your pictures there for free!
Mikael Ranta;s studio is just a 10 Minute motorbike ride from the MRT station Sutthisarn and thus very easy to reach.
Apart from being a really nice guy, Mikael has all the equipment available to take good shots. An excellent camera and good lighting equipment.
Free? It’s a barter deal!
Right now he offers a barter deal for the models and actors he works with: He takes your pictures and edits them. After that you get your pictures and he will sell them on pages like Shutterstock. At this point you don’t get any money, but usually it is quite expensive to have good pictures taken of yourself. You will get around 100 pictures with different moves and costumes.
Custumes and Props – even a cat!
Mikael has a number of different costumes available that you can try on as well as probs that you can play around with. If you are lucky and go soon you also get a chance to see his cute baby kitten. I was lucky to have this shot taken of me with the kitten.
Mikael is very open to adapt the shoot to your needs. If there is a certain look of theme that works for you, he is more than happy to tkae pictures in the costumes and styles that fit best to you.
Which character works for you?
I realised that currently I get more jobs for fathers and business men. Thus I asked him to take pictures of me in that mood and tone. It is good to have some idea of which characters work for you before you are going to see him.
Having good headshots is your door into the foot of the casting. The first thing the Casting Director and the Director will see of you is your headshot. Hence, the importance of having good headshots of yourself cannot be underestimated if you want a try at becoming an actor / model.
What makes a good headshot?
In a good headshot your face should be evenly lit. It should reveal the person seeing it your inner most soul of who you are.
Different lighting effects, backlighting, or uneven lighting can have interesting effects on your face, but they should be avoided in headshots.
A headshot should tell a story. Simple, direct and straightforward.
Do you want to know how to become an actor / model in Thailand? Check out this video or this article How To Become an Actor in Thailand:
P’non wrote this about how an agency fee of 30% in Thailand came about in the 1980s. Back then it made sense. Today much less so.
Non Jungmeier, June 10, 2012
30% 30% 30% 30%
Non Jungmeier – Thai Casting Director .. Hi, I’d like to share a first hand experienced story of 30% agency fee in Thailand: How it came to existence. (Please be patient with my clumsy English) .. I worked at Siam Studio Production between 1985 – 1988, it was the biggest local TVC production company at that time.
As most Thais, bad habits, I do not remember the exact year this incident had happened, but I remember the day well, and I had rechecked with the director who ran the meeting that day to assure that my memory is accurate, so, this was how it happened.
Our production house had a lot of troubles dealing with modeling agencies, sometimes talents complained they didn’t get money, sometimes they said they got very little while we were sure we paid the fair rate. There was no standard at that time about how much percentage agents can take from talents as agency fee. So the company’s management had required all talent agencies working with us to come to a meeting to set up a standard agency fee. You have to imagine how it was to shoot a TVC in the 80’s. No mobile phone, no internet, not many people had home phone, even. .. So when Pi Pon (a professional TVC director now, head department of ADs at Siam Studio then) raised the number 20% as a fare share for agencies, Pi Moo (founder of CD Modeling, the biggest one working with us at that time, don’t know if he’s still in business) had explained that the expense to run an agency was very high, you needed to drive to talents’ home most of the time to find them and communicate with them, 20% will be the end of his business. .. We on the production side, and others on the agency side had discussed back and forth, and finally agreed to 30% as the maximum percentage. In the status of a big client, Siam Studio had the power to announce that if we had evidence of any agent charging more without talents consent, we’ll ban that agent. We also agreed that the agencies had the responsibility to deliver talents in time and assured their readiness to work at shooting. Thus so it began! I eye-witnessed this meeting as a trainee in the AD department. (Yes, I am that old, oh well) .. Cut to 2000’s – We have internet, mobile phones, whatsapp, msn, skype, facebook, craiglist, line, etc…. In my personal opinion, 30% just to make 1 phone call to an actor to come to casting is too much. (Pi Pon, the then-meeting director thinks the same) But if you’re an actor and you have a trusted agent who can tell you all info in the industry, helps you negotiating with productions, gets you into all appropriated castings, fights for you when you get exploited, have your cv and info ready to send to clients whenever requested (not waiting a few precious days to be able to move), know your talents inside out……. I’d say it’s up to you what you think the service is worth. .. So, when I deal with actors, I let them choose their representatives, it should be their own right and responsibility to give me the contact of the person that will speak for them, or they can also opt to speak for themselves. I also post all my jobs on facebook while I send emails to agents. .. And as a casting director, I hate hearing agents mentioning “casting persons in Thailand corrupt”, please name the individuals and ban them. If you say “Oh, I cannot do that, then I have no work….” Then it’s your choice and you’re a part of that corruption. Repeat YOU ARE A PART OF THAT CORRUPTION in that case. .. When a Thai Agent referred that 30% is written in Thai law about agencies, I had gone through a huge law reading, there’s nowhere it’s written that legally is not more than 30%, the law is supposed to dictate real estate agents, and the rate is up to individual agreements. http://www.samuiforsale.com/…/thailand-civil-code-part-2.ht… .. The cake slice of the industry here is not that big, but it’d be nice to make it clean. .. With all my best wishes, Non
Do you want to know how to become an actor / model in Thailand? Check out this video or this article How To Become an Actor in Thailand:
The way most people do it here is that they send their profile to as many agents as possible.
Why do we do that?
In Thailand production companies have either good or bad relations to certain agents which means that they have 2-3 agents that they prefer working with and then ask to send their talent. However, there are probably more than 50 agents in Thailand. In turn this means that, if you send your profile to only one agent, chances are high that you will not hear about a lot of jobs and will simply be left out.
This is the point of view of the talent.
From the agent’s point of view.
The agents receive hundreds of profiles from people for each job they post on Facebook or somewhere else. They have hardly any or no relationship to their talent. Therefore, they also hardly have any interest to stand up for their talents.
Maintaining the agents’ relationship with the production company is much more important to them than standing up for their talent.
This is for the very reason that agents are replaceable, there are so many and they all have the same talent. So, if one agent bulks up, just get the same talent from another agent that causes less problem.
As agent you have to be pretty stupid to stand up for your talent and lose your main client – the production company.
What are the consequences of this situation?
As a result of this negotiating your budget is extremely difficult.
In Thailand, most times, the budget is set before you go to the casting. By whom? The casting director and the production company.
So without knowing the most important things about the job like: What medium (Internet, TVC, banners, etc), Which countries? Which part, main, featured? What will you have to do? Which company is it for? For how long? What is your contract? What are the terms?
You already agreed to take the job whatever it may be for the budget that the production company set, because they posted the budget with the job.
Ask yourself: Does the Production Company have your best interest in mind?
Probably not. They are competing on the budget with other production companies to the client. They are trying to keep your budget as low as possible in order to make their maximum profit. The more money you get, the less they make.
So who can represent you?
Well, that should be your agent. Your agent should have your best interest in mind, but as mentioned above, they actually have very little interest in standing up for you. Hence, right now, the only one who can represent you, is you.
So what can you do?
Hieronymous Bosch would be proud
The picture I have painted above looks very gloomy. As talent you are in a troublingly weak situation. When I asked a casting director whether I could re-negotiate my budget, which I felt was too low; after having been to a casting:
“You can try, but until now only the Casting Director and the Director have seen your casting video, if you ask for more money, they may not present you to the client.”
This was shocking to me. They would simply not present me to the client? Not let the client make the decision to maybe give me a higher budget because they saw value in what I did?
So, seriously, what can you do?
Judging from this, the only point at which you actually do have all the information you’d need to negotiate your budget AND the actual leverage is after you have been confirmed to do the job.
Sounds shitty to you? Sounds shitty to me.
This sounds pretty shitty, doesn’t it? I mean, that means that you’d have to say yes, yes, yes, and then in the final moment draw the break and tell everybody, “Stop! Now let’s talk about the budget, or I won’t do the job.” It is your good right to do so, and probably your only possibility to get the budget you deserve, BUT it may also get you blacklisted for other jobs.
Talents are the weakest link in the chain
As depressing as it sounds, there is no Actors Union, like in the West. There is no minimum wage. There is no one to truly represent you.
You have to realise that because of the situation that we are in and because we accept it to be the way it is, we are the weakest link in the chain.
No good agents at all? No! There is one agent!
Sounds like an Asterix quote? It is. Nonetheless, it is sad but true.
I have worked with many agents, there are many that I like on a personal level. They are personable and helpful.
The only agent whom I know that is standing up for his talent, and therefore got blacklisted by many production companies for ‘being difficult’, is Kaprice Kea.
I am aware that he is the only name I have mentioned in the entire article, but he does deserve credit for standing up for his talent.
In a best case scenario
After having painted this gloomy Hieronymous Bosch style picture, I actually do think there is still hope. It is hard, but would be of real benefit to the talent here.
In a best case scenario:
We establish an Actors’ Union to represent the interest of all actors in Thailand (and people actually sticking to what they agree to)
Talents are represented by one agent and one agent only
Production companies / Casting Directors are required to inform all agents about jobs and allow them to submit talent without prejudice
Production companies are required to reveal all details about the job to the agents to open fair negotiations
Talent refuse to work for sub-standard conditions
Open a Dialogue with the Production Companies to improve the standards for the talent
What will happen if we don’t do anything?
Budgets will continue to fall
Working hours will continue to increase (Now 13 hours has become the standard – 12 hours plus 1 hour break, in Canada it Is 8 hours)
There will be less and less transparency about jobs
Do you want to know how to become an actor / model in Thailand? Check out this video or this article How To Become an Actor in Thailand:
The first couple of times you are going to castings you will be very excited. Everything is fresh and new. Your focus is on how to manage yourself during the casting and with the casting director. A lot of things may be decided even before you get there.
Some important things that you may want to clarify with your agent before going to the casting:
Where is the casting?
Duh, obvious, but at the beginning I was a doofus and didn’t ask for maps. I thought, oh, I know town and town, got there and couldn’t get a hold of my agent. Just wasting time. Always ask for map and location before.
When is the casting?
Date and time. Most castings start around 10 or 11, but some may be earlier or later. Also know at what time they end, if you’re one of the people who like to slip in at the last second.
What is the best time to go to the casting? Does the casting director take appointments?
There may be times when there are many or few people going to the casting. Your agent may know at what time the other people he or she sent their will go to the casting and based on that give you a suggestion. – I usually try to go as early as possible since a lot of people work during day time and can inly go to the casting after their regular job. Going early has been advantageous for me.
Which pictures did your agent send to the casting?
The casting director or director selected you for this job from the pictures that your agent sent to them. That picture is the look that they wanted. You may increase your chances by dressing the way that you dressed in the picture.
What kind of character are they looking for?
I always ask that. It’s a big difference between a professor and a comic character. A fighter or a wuss. It helps you to prepare yourself mentally before.
How should I dress?
Depending on the character you may already have some clue as to how you should go to the casting – just in your sloppy clothes or in a suit. Many castings offer costumes as well. But…you will always look better in your own clothes, since they fit you. In some cases I have even been asked by the director to bring and to wear my own clothes. My own clothes fit me better than the costumes they had and fit the character they were looking for.
Are the right and wrong questions?
Is there a script?
Mostly for movies, but occasionally for TVCs as well. Being able to study the script beforehand definitely gives you an advantage. I am not good at learning lines and it takes me some time to get a script down. So for me it’s a big plus to get the lines or sides before. Remember: preparation pays off!
What is the budget for this job?
This is probably the number one question. A lot of times I don’t even bother to go to the casting if the budget is too low. It also helps with the motivation. If there is a good budget you may be more motivated during the casting. But don’t let a high budget scare you off or make you nervous. A job is just a job.
What are the shooting dates?
Very important to know. If you have another job on the date of the shoot or cannot get time off work on the day of the shoot don’t bother to go to the casting.
Is it an open or closed casting?
Personally, I hate open castings and don’t bother to go there if I know it’s an open casting. I like being selected from pictures. It’s a little bit of a success every time you get ‘invited’. Open castings have a cattle feeling.
Who is the casting director?
I used to ask this question much more often before. It still does help to know who the casting director is. Over time you can build a reputation which casting directors can appreciate.
Once you have all this information you are ready to go to the casting. After this it is up to you, but you can say of yourself that you are well-prepared!
These are the questions that come to my head right now. If there are any questions that you find helpful asking beforehand, let me know. I’ll be happy to include them here.
Open Castings mean that just about anybody is invited to go to this particular casting. White, black, Asian, Caucasian, mixed, men, women, any age, any nationality, cats, dogs, fleas, dust mites. It is very easy to see what that leads to.
Open Castings = Endless Cues
An open casting leads to tons of people. Anybody that has a dream of becoming an actor or getting the money for that particular job will run through the door; qualified or not. As they say in german “Hienz und Kunz”. And this leads to endless cues.
Speaking from Experience on Open Castings
The day before yesterday an agent called me twice to urge me to go to this urgent casting. When I got there it turned out to be an open casting. The moment I walked in I immediately felt out of place. All of the other people in the room were models. I consider myself above average looking (like anybody), but definitely not a model. With a height of 170cm I am way too short to go for jobs that require models.
I was number 25 in line. The casting was supposed to start at 11 am, but when I turned up at 11.15, the casting director still had not shown up, and was still missing in action when I left at 11.30.
Do something else instead of just waiting in the cue for your open casting
I went to the bank did some business there. I went shopping, had breakfast with my wife, went to another casting (which was a lot of fun). Then I returned to that particular casting at 3pm. By that time the cue had moved to number 20. I thought, since I went there twice, I could wait another 30 minutes or so just to give it a try.
“I always bring books to castings or other reading materials, if you have sides definitely bring those since you can use the time to prepare yourself. Do something useful with the time that you spend waiting.” – My personal tip
By the time I got back there, the cue had added up to more than 100 people. The casting director started to send people that were over the number of 60 back home, since they would not be able to finish the casting on time. Although the people took it on themselves to go through Bangkok traffic to show up at the casting. Apparently, the time of the casting director was more important than that of the talent – showing up late and leaving on time, while indiscriminately calling people to the casting.
As I went into the door for hair and make-up, they called my name for costume. When I went into the casting room, the casting director asked me, “Where are you from?”, I said, “Germany.” She said “So you have an accent in your English.” I said, “Yes, a little.” And she turned away, indicating that it was my fault that I had shown up at her casting. It appears that the casting was not as open as my agent had made it out to be.
Both casting director and agent should have in this case been more specific about their requirements. If the client needs native speakers without accent, that is a very simple requirement and will immediately reduce the people in the waiting room.
Open Castings – The Director Without a Plan
I am avoiding open castings at all cost. In my opinion an open casting just shows that the director does not know what he wants. He is fishing for something, that he does not know yet, to walk into the door. Chances are high that this is not you. And chances are even higher that the director will not be happy with what he gets, because he does not know yet what he is looking for.
Even if you have nothing better to do, sitting around for hours is a waste of time that you could spend more productive like exercising or improving your skills.
Do you want to know how to become an actor / model in Thailand? Check out this video or this article How To Become an Actor in Thailand:
