Wonder why it is so difficult to land a role in a major production?
The Hollywood Reporter, recently wrote an article on the AFM, American Film Market. In the article the described the shortage of big name actors available for major motion picture projects. “[S]ales agents at AFM, who are increasingly frustrated at the difficulty in closing talent deals as the pool of viable stars becomes overfished.”
For example, last may, movie distributors were rushing to buy a sci-fi epic Passangers featuring Witherspoon and Keanu Reeves. On the verge of signing a major deal, Witherspoon dropped out in order to accept another project. Consequently, Rachel McAdams was selected as the female lead.
Lisa Wilson, the co-founder of The Solution Group, commented that “There’s a handful of actors and actresses that we’ve made valuable. We’re all making the same offers to the same actors.”
The cinematic entertainment industry has focused on fighting for “bankable names” which has resulted in fewer high-profile projects introduced at film markets. Film Markets such as the Cannes Film Festival and the AFM, American Film Market.
The Problem
The problem: Because the theatrical release of an indie film has become such a risky proposal, buyers are only willing to bet on an actor who can open a film worldwide.
So essentially, many distribution companies and producers are afraid that by selecting an unknown actor, the project will not gain as much attention as a popular name, despite their acting talent.
Marsha Metz, senior executive vp business & legal affairs at Constantin Film said:
“Who is in the cast is everything, especially for international.”
“We would love to go with that great unknown actor, but when we go to our sales agent, they tell us, ‘No one knows who this guy is, we can’t sell him.’ So we have to pick someone from their cast list.”
Who is on the Cast List?
The list of actors on the cast list is getting smaller and smaller. To get an idea of the cast list, see the number of A-listers with multiple projects made in a single year.
Gerard Butler has Lionsgate’s Gods of Egypt and Nu Image’s Olympus Has Fallen; Tom Hardy titles include Elton John biopic Rocketman and QED’s The Outsider; ex-Harry Potter Daniel Radcliffe is signed on to play a crime journalist in Tokyo Vice and British Olympic champ Sebastian Coe in Embankment Films’ Gold. Russell Crowe has Fathers and Daughters for Voltage Films and his directorial debut, The Water Diviner, which co-stars Olga Kurylenko.
But, with Disney’s Star Wars Episode VII International Open Casting Call, it seems that there may be a change in the way the cinematic industry finds actors?
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