O.K., so I'm not used to
good fortune when it comes to reaching out to people outside my sphere of
influence, but this time it works!
I get a response from the first Casting Director I contact, who has a
boat-load of indie credits, and has worked with lots of "name"
actors, and she wants to read the script!
She gets back to me with a lot of helpful advice, information, and
suggestions, and I end up re-writing the script (shortening it significantly,)
re-calculating, re-budgeting, re-scheduling, etc. which takes me several weeks,
but I'm happy with the results.
The script is tighter - everything is tighter and seems a lot more
do-able. She recommends I shoot
four weeks in August (of this year!) - and with the shortened schedule, I see
where it's feasible. But I'm still
missing one piece of the plan - I wanted to attach an actor to the project
before I approach my potential investors.
That was the primary reason for my contacting a Casting Director. But this particular one that I have
been happily communicating with requires a signed contract and partial payment
before she can go to work! Another
Catch 22! I need a Casting
Director to get an actor attached in order to obtain financing, but I need the
financing in order to pay the Casting Director! O.K. I have to come up with yet another plan B. I ask the CD if I can attach her name
to the project instead of an actor - which I think will have the same appeal if
not more. I'm hoping that my
potential investors will see the wisdom and logic in the fact that with the
financing in place, I will be able to employ the services of a world-class CD
with access to lots of "name" actors. I will definitely get an actor attached! But I can't move ahead with this plan B
- use the CD's name - without her permission. I send another email and nervously await a response. A few days pass, and I compose a follow-up
email. I sign onto to Yahoo mail,
about to send the follow-up, and there is her response! In the affirmative! So now I'm waiting for my attorney to
finish up a couple of legal documents for the investors, and then I'm going for
it!
