One of the most talented people I know has an inability to show up to rehearsals, scheduled appointments, performances, shoot dates, etc…
And this SOOOOO bums me out because I really want to work with her.
At the small level of one on one rehearsals, or even informal shoots with friends, it doesn’t seem like a big deal to be a little flakey, but when it gets to a bigger level, it is very, very expensive when an actor (or anyone for that matter) does not show up.
I heard Linsay Lohan has reformed herself lately, but unfortunately she will not be hired again on a big budget movie because the insurance companies that cover big movies will not insure the picture if she’s in it.
The reason why is because if she fails to show up to set, they are the ones that cover the hundreds of thousands of dollars added expense to the budget.
The expenses range from equipment to crew to just sheer frustration and lack of moral it causes a group of very talented people to have to wait on someone who is necessary but inconsistent.
So it makes sense from the insurance company not to insure a project that is high risk to do a temperamental star.
Now bring it back to the small level and you will find that perhaps it is not a big deal to not show up, but you don’t know what the people you are working with will do in the future.
They might just need someone like you, but be reluctant to bring you on to the project because it’s too risky.
And once you start to produce your own projects, you will understand why even if there is only a small indication in the preliminary stages of working with someone that they might not show up, you have to close that door professionally, because if it’s happening at a small level, most likely it will happen at a larger level.
I don’t really want to dive into the psychology of it, but a lot of the time people get a bit nervous when things get zippy. I think this happens to everyone. But rather than just say, “Wow. This is a bigger opportunity than I’ve had before. I’m just going to put one foot in front of the other and see what happens,” they have a knee jerk reaction to get professionally squirmy.
Can’t blame them. It’s often subconscious and a way of protecting oneself emotionally.
But it’s such a waste of talent and potential.
The upside is that I do think that once a person recognizes this habit in his or herself and works toward changing it, s/he can change it. It might take a while but I really feel that to be true.
And when it does, all others will be ready to embrace the talented (and responsible) individual.
*****
PS: As a side note… heard a rumor Linsay Lohan will be posing for Playboy… Anybody heard for sure? Perhaps she’s doing it b/c of the film insurance issues mentioned above. Do you think it will help or hurt her career? Comments and thoughts?
Posted via email from yourfavoritedirector.com’s posterous
