Soap Actors. Your thoughts?

[enterthemadness]

Do you think they work hard and are underpaid? And this is two-way question. Underpaid in Hollywood and do they make a good living compared to normal people?

I finally found this.

Soap work is grueling, even for atmosphere players. The shooting for an entire half hour or hour long episode is done in one day. The day might typically begin at 7am and not end until 7pm or later. Rehearsals are brief if at all. A lot of the character work a soap actor does is done on their own. There is little input from the director. An atmosphere player's day might not be so long since there is less for them to do and no lines to learn. But the shooting day can still get pretty long.
After the day's shoot, the cast heads home to learn their lines (maybe 20-40 pages of script) for the next long day of work. This schedule goes on day, after day, after day, after day. Needless to say, soap work requires discipline, stamina, initiative, a deep love and commitment to acting - excellent memorization skills.

http://redbirdstudio.com/AWOL/soaps.html

James Franco I believe said he did 80 pages a day though, which is just brutal (in terms of memory and acting).

 

[Erzengel]

Yeah I don't have a vagina.

 

[enterthemadness]

Yeah I don't have a vagina.

well, technically you are correct in terms of who the most of the audience is.

 

[Erzengel]

Why don't you watch any episode of Dirty Jobs and then rethink this question.

 

[enterthemadness]

Why don't you watch any episode of Dirty Jobs and then rethink this question.

It's 2 way.

In their industry they work very hard. In the real world...not so much. Although I rather do a dirty job than be on a daytime soap. But that is cause of my ****** memory. no way I could learn 20-40 or more pages a day. In comparison, actors in movies usual do only 2 or so pages a day, I think.

I saw the eppy of Dirty Jobs where that dude worked with those skyscrapers cleaning guys. I got scared just from watching. What about you Erz?

 

[Erzengel]

I think there are more complicated things out there than playing dress up and memorizing words.

 

[enterthemadness]

I think there are more complicated things out there than playing dress up and memorizing words.

Eh, to each his own.

 

[Majic Walrus]

Poll Change

New poll: Would you rather be a soap actor or work a dirty job?

 

[Scourge2099]

I'd rather work a dirty job than be a soap actor. It's true they work hard , but IMO their acting skills are slightly above a porn star.

 

[Manic]

I've heard stuff like this before for other types of TV shows. I've watched a few of SCI-FI/Syfy's Stargate docs, and the actors have talked about getting to work at 6am-8am, and not leaving until maybe 9pm. Hugh Laurie talked about working on House, and how he's not used to 14 hour work days with only a 30 minute lunch break.

Frankly, I'd do it. My acting skills are roughly at the level of a soap actor, as it is. Just put Shemar Moore or whoever in a coma, and hire me to take his place. Soap audiences are insanely receptive to recasts, even if I'm a clear foot shorter, 10 shades darker, and twice as fat as he is.

 

[Aesop Rocks]

I think this should be moved to the TV Section but that's just me.jpeg

 

[Prison Mike]

yup, soap actors do have it pretty tough compared to other tv actors who have a show come on once a week. I'm sure they have to memorize a ton of pages of dialogue every day but bet much of the script is basic blocking as well. The way I see it, soap acting is a good starting step if you want to get into acting. You don't have to be perfect by any means and I'm sure it teaches you good work ethic (like being prepared and having your lines memorized). You just have to be decent looking because let's face it, no housewife is going to want to watch an average looking person for an hour...

 

[Manic]

You just have to be decent looking because let's face it, no housewife is going to want to watch an average looking person for an hour...

Ah, hell.

Looks like I'd better get acquainted with the indie movie circuit.

 

[Prison Mike]

Ah, hell.

Looks like I'd better get acquainted with the indie movie circuit.

Sorry.

But hey, you still could get cast as the stereotypical "tech" guy who provides comic relief whenever there's a tense situation. You just may not get any sex scenes...

 

[Manic]

*scoff*

Like sex scenes on daytime TV are worth anything, anyway.