Trying to Be Professional

Okay, seriously, I get sick to death of all the actors out there who don't know how to be professional. This is the Entertainment INDUSTRY and being an actor is a JOB, it is not a right or a priviledge. I guess I was lucky in that when I was a model and an actor I received training on the business side of things from my agency, Page.713, which used to be Page Parkes Talent and I think has changed its name again. Now that I'm on the other side of the casting table, I see people come through with the most ridiculous attitudes and behaviors and everytime I want to just yell at them and tell them to stop and then throw them out on their ears. Our most recent project featured someone who not only was high maintenance, rude, and often late, but this person also tried to steal wardrobe from production and rolled their eyes at the director when he gave direction claiming "I know the character better than you do". Oh really? Because last time I checked the directors created the character, not you. Oh, and their performance, well, lets just say it wasn't star material.
So, to anyone out their in the talent field who may be wondering what it means to be a PROFESSIONAL actor, here's a few words of advice:

• Be On Time...In fact, be early.
• Be Polite...Those are not the 'little people' helping you put on your clothes, makeup, telling you where to stand, etc, those are your coworkers and without them you wouldn't have a role to fill. Also, you never know when that PA you snubbed is going to be the next huge director or producer who will never hire you because of your attitude.
• Know your lines. I myself am guilty of this one and can tell you from experience that it is disruptive to production and other actors and is something of which to be ashamed. Planning on improvising to be a more natural character is selfish and unrealistic. Know your lines first, be able to deliver them in the way the director desires and improvisation may fit later.
  
• Be Flexible...Things don't always go as planned. Don't throw a hissy if a schedule or location changes. Always have your cell phone on so you can be reached in the event of a change. (Side Note, if you want to be an actor you absolutely must have a cell phone)
  
• Take Direction...If you don't know how to take direction without getting line readings every five seconds, try another profession.
• And Finally: Don't make demands or expect special treatment...until you are an established star upon whom the movie is "banked" you have no leverage. Don't be an asshole. This includes thinking you will be able to keep wardrobe, props, jewelry, etc from production. Just because they belong to your character does not mean they belong to you. Often, production will need to keep those items in storage to ensure continuity in any possible reshoots. In low budget productions, lots of items will be returned to the store or to the person from whom they were borrowed. They are not yours unless someone offers them to you, and you shouldn't ask either. Its tacky.

Always Remember : You are extremely replaceable.
There's a lot of other things that bug me about the talent pool here in Austin, and it probably reads true for many other areas, but ultimately I really wanted to get this off my chest and was specifically asked not to write anything like the Lohan Letter so this is what I chose instead.