A tweet from Amy Jo Berman brought my attention to this interesting lawsuit. Amy Jo asked, “Should access to the breakdowns be restricted?” After reading the article, I see breakdown access as only one of the issues, but let’s tackle this one item at a time.
To answer Amy Jo’s question, I do feel that breakdown access should be restricted…sort of. I completely understand the desire of producers and casting directors to keep details about upcoming projects under wraps, and to some extent I agree with that desire. However, another part of me feels that I could learn a lot by having access to more project breakdowns. Even if I never submit for Role X in Project Y, simply reading the script could be a valuable learning experience.
Speaking of submission, that’s the other issue that I see at play here, hinted at by the commentary in article’s final paragraphs. Even if every actor under the sun had access to every breakdown for every project, I agree 100% with the current “gatekeeper” system that prevents those sun-drenched actors from submitting freely for any project that catches their eye. Having done a little casting work as both a stage director and voice talent, I completely respect the roles that agents and casting directors play in the acting and voiceover industries. They’re very necessary filters that help to keep the casting process somewhat manageable.
And yes, I say that while knowing fully that some of those agents and casting directors have seen or heard my work, and have prevented me from getting very far in the casting process for certain projects. I’m fine with that, in part because I’ve also been the recipient of their good favor when roles that were truly right for me have come along. I trust them, and will continue to trust them.
So it’s not just about who has access to breakdowns. It’s also about who is allowed to submit. While I kind of want to relax some of the restrictions for breakdown access, I fully support them on the submission side.
Thanks for taking the time to respond so thoughtfully Justin. You’ve hit on the exact conundrum that probably sparked this article to begin with. Food for thought indeed.