Geographic Discrimination of Actors... (yeah, it's a thing) 

I co-sign everything you've said here. Your previous video on how you (and many of us) are worth well over scale and actually SAVE a production a TON of money is perhaps your most important video, ever, along with this one. There are many issues with lots of nuances, but in my opinion, the following elements are all partially to blame: All stakeholders: Agents, CDs, actors, the producers. Right to work. The strength, perceived or real, of SAG-AFTRA. Capitalism as a whole. The time an offer comes in vs. when the project actually shoots, thus preventing any good faith negotiating.

Happens here in Canada, too! I'll piggyback on that and take it one step further. For me, what is most shocking is seeing the number of actors from Vancouver/Toronto/Los Angeles get flown in for co-star roles (we call them "actor roles" up here). Entire TV series or feature films have been filmed in my city (Calgary, a city of 1.5 million with some FABULOUS actors) without using a single local, or sometimes only one or two. Great video, though! Always enjoy watching. Keep up the good work, Matt!

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Hey man I just wanted to say as an actor myself your videos are golden.

I think some of this squeezing is from the sheer amount of actors in the industry able to submit by taping recently. It’s just new excuses. It’s all cost-cutting with the actors left with the deal. LA looks like it’s degrading into breaking point for the smaller players - but if someone said Atlanta would be the way it was now 20 years ago, no one would believe them. Things change and may the odds be ever in our favour.

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Yes! Thanks for making this video. I’m not sag, so I don’t have the right to complain, but I did wanna learn more about it. This channel/you always have excellent information, it’s appreciated. Will share, and when/where the topic comes up.

Hello, when I saw the title of your video I dropped everything I was doing to watch it because I wanted to know if I being an actor who lives in Michigan can audition for roles where ad states " they are looking for local talent" now I'm in a P2P called Backstage and I see it all the time and it doesn't stop me. I apply because I'm looking looking for work in warmer climates anyway. I just wanted to know how they can get away with that?

Fantastic video! Every actor in the SE (or other smaller markets) needs to be aware of this. I have a lot to say, but I'll try to keep it concise. The fact that they're already saving money by hiring a local and still trying to squeeze them is infuriating and unconscionable, with the flat scale only offer, and especially the guest star released as co-star locally. They still look down on our market, as if a local actor will never be as good as someone hired from LA. This is even more apparent when you consider that the larger breakdowns are not even released to agents here. It's always been a race to the bottom in the SE, imo, and everyone on the ladder is complicit: CD's, agents, and actors. Without a change in the rules, the only way to initiate change is for everyone to stand against this in unison, at least within one rung of the ladder. And the further down the ladder you go, the more people there are who need to stand up. Unfortunately, I'm not optimistic. On a side note, I'm looking forward to the day when it's right for me to join the union, and hope it comes soon. I can't help but to judge actors who don't join and who work regularly, and primarily union jobs. It's not a good look, with your peers and the industry at large. *Love the video by Adam Conover and shared it on FB myself.

Thanks for another great video, Matt. Another issue in the mix that reinforces the problem is when an Atlanta agent actually won’t ask the CD for more pay for their client and instead urges the actor to accept minimum scale or billing because they don’t want to adversely affect the agency’s relationship with the CD’s office by making waves. Maybe it’s because the role is clearly labeled in the breakdown as a co-star, albeit a meaty one. But not advocating for better compensation just keeps us all in a “please pick me” mentality instead of a collaborative one, in which we confidently acknowledge the value of our creative contributions. Since there are a whole lot more actors than there are jobs, we feel grateful for the opportunity and often accept less than what we’re actually worth. A conundrum indeed.

And there's even more discrimination in the secondary markets. If I, in Raleigh, don't agree to work as a true Atlanta local, they will easily find someone who will. I take each audition on a case by case basis, but it gets very expensive to have to pay to drive to Atlanta and back (sometimes twice) and foot my own hotel and food costs. I'm often hesitant to stick to my guns and require travel accommodations, because I want to work and I know they have many people who they won't have to pay that for.

Interesting. I never thought about these issues. My issues with geographic discrimination is the fact that when large productions come to shoot in smaller markets they tend to bring 95% of their actors "with" them from LA lol... Like i read for 5 roles in a major tv show and some were good roles and one was a on-liner... and still, each role was booked by LA actors. Thats the biggest problem I see. I have an agent that sees that issue and she says "shes on it" and "things will change", but i dont see that happening at the moment.

Being new to the industry it's something that i was sure happened but didnt have a name for it or how it presents itself. Thanks for the insight! 😊

Bold sir. Thank you. I have a recent story as well. Alas.

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Love this video.

Even worse in Canada. At first, they offer it as a small speaking role for locals and then switch it to feature background. I can't even be on set anymore seeing that when it is a local production and I have auditioned for a role that is suddenly mute to whoever got it. There has been so many scripts they have done that.

The entertainment industry is the greatest industry in the whole world.

I hear about supporting the union a lot , and join the union so they can do all they can to improve working conditions. Well, that’s like supporting a bad marriage, because let’s face it , you can’t even join the union with out their permission. Then when you do join and they try and leverage Producers, they tell you not to work. Ya, the union offers some benefits and protections and scenes there is no other option, they’re the one who controls the checking account in this marriage. I always enjoy your post and look forward to the next.

Thanks for the educated insight. Great topic and good to hear about the complexity and nuances from an experienced actor based in a smaller market. It’s definitely a conundrum - thanks for bringing this into the light and keep up the good fight!

hello sir am a great fan, and a 17 years old Egyptian actor who is welling to study acting in the USA so do you have any advices for me like how to start and where to go ? thanks for your time