It seems like everyone I meet here is into acting. The age range is wide. Some are eager children hoping to get their break on the next Disney Channel hit, while others are a bit older, hoping to step onto a new sitcom and become a huge success.
Lately, there seems to be two buzzwords getting thrown around town. Those words are, “pilot season.” For those of you living under a rock in Los Angeles, pilot season is a period of time, usually between January and April, where studios are looking to cast new shows and shoot 22-55 minutes of footage to be picked up by a network.
In researching, I have found that a pilot is where a lot of actors get their start. The competition is fierce, with so many executives and producers looking at shows. A newer actor is bound to get noticed. Pilots have launched the careers of Jennifer Aniston and George Clooney just to name a few.
Pilot season seems to be the current trend with young actors. The nameless would finally like a name for themselves, with high hopes of breaking into the industry. Kim Richards, of ABC Studios says that a young group of new faces might just have their shot this pilot season. “The pilot I am working on is looking for no names, which is great because rarely do you find a cast that is brand new.”
Many of my fellow Oakwoods residents are new to the area. While at the pool, I begin to observe the twang of a southern accent, and the east coast whine of a native New Yorker. Many actors are taking advantage of this time of the year by temporarily moving their homes to California while the season plays out.
Due to the competition of pilot season, the edge that many actors need is an agent. They are the key players that can get you the face time with casting directors and writers. If you do not have an agent, not to worry, the work may just be a bit harder. There are a number of groups in Los Angeles that feature casting director workshops on an almost daily basis. These workshops provide a great opportunity to establish and develop a relationship with the casting directors you meet. Many actors have been brought in to read for producers and have booked roles from these workshops alone.
So pilot season babble will be the topic of every actor’s conversation in the next few months, with no end in sight. For now, the next time you meet an actor at a bar, listen to what they have to say. Who knows? They could be the next Clooney…
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