Q: How is the writers strike going to affect someone like me, an up and coming actor? I keep reading how it will affect me as a TV viewer, but will this have serious repercussions on me possibly getting a gig?
-Charnell Bratton, Denton, Texas
A: We here at InstantCast have been following the Writers Guild of America strike very closely. You can read up-to-date coverage of the situation on the InstantCast Blog. As of next week, all union writers will stop work on scripted television shows and films. So how will this affect you as an actor?
The writers strike could actually be a great opportunity for beginning actors. Just because the writers have stopped working doesn't mean that TV shows and movies will stop production. Many studios are actually rushing existing scripts into production so they'll have TV programs and movies to fill the gap. Most existing shows have scripts backed up ready to film, and movie studios are green-lighting scripts left and right for the summer. Rushed productions need to cast quickly, and casting directors won't have the time to be as discerning as they might be. Actors without big credits could have a better chance of getting onboard a high-profile project!
No one can be sure how long the writers strike will last, but the longer it does the more reality television programming the TV networks will produce. It's an unspoken industry standard that many reality shows are heavily populated with struggling actors, so there will be plenty of opportunities in that direction too.
Break a Leg,
InstantCast
Have a question? Ask our experts!
