MAY 5: ETHICS FOR ACTORS

Originally submitted by: barcode 2x

MONDAY, MAY 5, 7:30PM, THE BLACKBIRD THEATRE ADVICE TO THE PLAYERS: ETHICS FOR ACTORS The question we start a lot of our podcasts off with: What are the ethical considerations you face in your job? The tricky part with this one is going to be: what ethics? In the entertainment industry, you don't hear the word 'ethics' too often. Nepotism, casting couches, sleazy people, ego-maniacs, dirty deals, and tough breaks. You hear plenty about that. But when an actor is starting out in the business, what guidance does he or she have to pursue a career with any kind of integrity? Who is there to guide you? What are the ethics of doing a nude scene? A fight scene? Actors frequently get injured and/or exploited in their work. Think of Sharon Stone in 'Basic Instinct'. Look at 'The Exorcist' where the director secretly tried to injure his actors. And those were the takes that wound up in the film. Actors go blindly into auditions, not knowing what to expect. Not knowing what will happen. With so few jobs for actors, how can an actor say no? Can an exploitative job in a film help one's career? What do actors have to do to get by? The industry has very few ethical standards. And very few people to safeguard against ethical offenses. Film studios, agencies, and theatres do not employ Ethical Officers, as far as I know. Studios have legal teams to defend themselves, and actors have unions, but in the end, the actor is forced to make choices that they may or may not be comfortable with. Let's talk about it.