I hate to say it…nah, that’s a lie…I LOVE to say it, but many of you hate to hear it.  The only reason television exists is to be the filler in between commercials.

Yup, acting on a television show, which is a dream and a goal for so many actors, has never been about the art of the show itself, but the ability to draw an audience that will then, in turn, watch the advertising by the commercial sponsors, thus generating revenue to pay the actors as well as all of the other creatives involved.  This is NOT a bad thing.  You want to be paid as an actor right?

So the recent news about the Emmy winning “Modern Family” cast suing for a raise and not going to work last week, as their current contract dictated, was in effect no surprise to those “in the know”.  The actors had been wrangling with the studio on and off for more than a year over a new deal in recognition of the show’s huge syndication deals. The issue came to a head this week as the start of production on season four approached. The main adult actors made their displeasure known to the studio on Tuesday when all but Ed O’Neill, who makes the most money of all as a seasoned and “recognized” actor before the show became a hit, declined to show up for the scheduled table read. The other five actors made another dramatic gesture with a lawsuit that was a purported attempt to void their initial contracts on technical grounds — though in fact it’s clear the suit was a ploy to take the dispute public and force the studio to sweeten its offer.  Sources close to the situation said the negotiations were tough but over the last few days before the weekend, the actor reps and execs from 20th and ABC hunkered down to hammer out a deal. Production began as scheduled yesterday.

The actors’ weekly paychecks will jump from mid five figures per show to low six figures as of the upcoming fourth season, with escalators built in for subsequent seasons.  Ed O’Neill also struck a separate deal that significantly raises his weekly salary.  And all of the actors will each receive one-quarter of a point in back end share. As the show is poised to gross many hundreds of millions in syndication, the quarter point is not an insignificant stake over the long haul. Achieving a profit participation stake, however small, had been an important point to the actors, and their agents of course!

And what about Dancing with the Stars? If you missed the big announcement on Friday, it’s gonna be the All Stars Dancing with the Stars, bringing back popular favorites, winners and losers, to buoy sagging ratings.  Yes, even those on TOP, still have to do “new and improved” things to their franchise to keep it fresh and exciting for viewers.

The cast list includes Apolo Anton Ohno, Bristol Palin, Drew Lachey, Kelly Monaco, Emmitt Smith, Giles Marini, Kristie Alley , Helio Castroneves, Joey Fatone, Melissa Rycroft, Pamela Anderson, Shawn Johnson.  In a first for “Dancing with the Stars” the final contestant for season 15 of the competition Ballroom dance reality show has been left up to the fans. DWTS fans can log onto the ABC website – www.abc.com – and vote for Carson Kresley, Sabrina Bryan, or Kyle Massey. Fans get five votes per day and voting ends August 24.  I’m voting for Carson…I love that guy!

It should be apparent by now this “marketing” thing I’ve been sharing with you.  I love what you love – to ACT.  But to ACT and get paid, you’ve got to take on the business…and business means marketing.  Without it, no one watches, and no one gets paid.  That simple.  At least in the world of television…which is quickly fading into the past and I do predict, that if you are reading this in an archive even a few years from the time it is being written, will make me seem like I have a crystal ball.  We’ll still have a “box” that we will watch things on…whether it’s in our home, or our arm (TV watches anyone?…they exist NOW), our personal device (smartphone) or whatever else is about to be invented.  But the broadcast television that I grew up with will become extinct.

Just like folks no longer gather round the radio for a night of entertainment, so goes “Must See TV”.  I will miss those days.

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To Your Success, Lisa Gold

Success Stories

Congratulations to Paul Krasnerl for SIGNING with Shirley Faison of the Carson/Adler Agency.  Paul writes: “I just wanted to extend to you a very personal thank you. Because of your First Thursday’s Event in May, I landed an agent. I signed a (1) year contract with Carson-Adler. You are a gem! Without your event this would not have happened. Thank you soooo much!
If you want to be featured in an upcoming newsletter please send your success story and headshot to Donna@actoutsidethebox.com.

Business Tips

Your resume is a living, breathing document.  It’s a road map to where you’re going (or want to go!) and shouldn’t be a complete history of everywhere you’ve been.  Honestly, if you were Annie when you were 10, it’s time to delete, delete, delete.  Take off all credits that no longer represent the kinds of characters/roles you could be hired for NOW.  Take off any reference to years you took classes, graduated, or did a performance.  Take off directors no one has ever heard of…whose career are you advertising anyway?  Get rid of awards that aren’t acknowledged or known by everyone in the business.  Don’t put excerpts of reviews and never, ever put your street address…no one’s gonna write!  Special skills need to be special. Hey NY, driving is NOT a special skill, just sayin’. (Right LA?)