Why is the WH letting this happen?? Why can't "real" young people be asked to participate?

[saracat]

I have no problem with the kids being vetted but asking for actors? Advertising a Town Hall as casting for a reality show IN Backstage? And a certain look to ensure diversity? This really bugs me and I have worked in theatre and media for a long time.

http://casting.backstage.com/JobSeekerX/SearchJobs.asp?SearchStartingPoint=MainSearchForm&txtaction=CREATE&ProfileID&SubmitToSearch=Search&lctr=1&rvsd=-1&o1=2&p1=1&ipp=10&city&fromsearchpage=True&kwrd&kwdt=1&lcta=1&st=DC&cn=1&btnSearch=Run+Search+Now



PRESIDENT OBAMA TOWN HALL, DC
PRESIDENT OBAMA TOWN HALL, DC MTV, BET, and CMT (prods.) are casting the audience for a town hall meeting with President Obama. Shooting Oct. 14 at 4 p.m. in Washington, DC. Seeking—Audience Members: males and females, 18+. To apply, email [e-mail] and put "Town Hall" in the subject line. To ensure that the audience represents diverse interests and political views, include your name, phone number, hometown, school attending, your job and what issues, if any, you are ... -Multiple- Submissions only
Submission deadline is Oct. 14
Entertainment Jobs, Nonunion TV/Video, Reality TV & Documentary

[Skittles]

1. because those real people might be real Democrats

[saracat]

3. They very well might be but this is a "casting call" in backstage

and it is listed under "reality TV". I hope they aren't paying these kids, but OTOH if they don't, that is an AFTRA violation. There is something really bothersome about this. WHy not just widely publ;icize it and vet all those interested? This shouldn't be considered an "acting gig".

[elleng]

6. 18+, not 'kids'

[JerseygirlCT]

13. "Professionals" even ;) nt

[OregonBlue]

2. The White House is not doing this, MTV is.

[saracat]

5. WEll, the WH should intervene and request this not be treated as "reality TV".

[elleng]

7. agree

[OregonBlue]

16. Perhaps but the subject line should not be "Why is the White House doing this".

[babylonsister]

18. Bingo. nt

[saracat]

20. I agree. I fixed the topic title. But as the WH will have to do a security

check on the Town Hallers, I would think they may be aware of this.
Even if MTV , BET and BRAVO want to blur the lines between entertainment and politics, it should not be allowed to be done and the WH needs to point out the difference. A Town Hall is not a "reality show." And the President is not a reality show star. He is the President of the United States, not a show host.

[rug]

55. Nope, they'll just blithely walk into the room, humbled by the outpouring.

[Safetykitten]

60. Again, he cleans the gulf, stops wars, but control MTV? He's powerless!

[elleng]

4. Isn't it the PRODUCERS, MTV, BET and CMT, who are doing the casting???

[saracat]

8. THe point is, you do not "cast" a Town Hall. A Town Hall is for voters to speak out.

No one should be " casting" this.

[elleng]

11. right

[Starbucks Anarchist]

54. Can you point to a town hall or similar event where Obama was fed easy questions?

Because I seem to recall every event he goes to, people are "tired of defending him" (the AA lady) or some moron asks if he's a Christian (from last week or so). These are not exactly Bush-style meetings.

[young but wise]

9. Where does it say actors?

It just says they want young people from diverse backgrounds and political views. I really don't
see the problem.

[saracat]

14. Who do you suppose Backstage is for? Don't be obtuse. It is a casting call for a "reality show "

and is labeled as such.It says so . I think the Producers are out of line and the WH should intervene.

[young but wise]

19. Well, it is reality tv.

[saracat]

21. If so, it isn't a Town Hall.Reality TV is not real.

[babylonsister]

10. How disingenuous can you be? You post a link you need a

subscription for, then mischaracterize at least the part I can read.


To ensure that the audience represents diverse interests and political views, include your name, phone number, hometown, school attending, your job and what issues, if any, you are ...{more}

The admin is interested in views of whoever is in the audience. What exactly is your gripe?

[saracat]

12. This is also being discussed in USA Today and elsewhere.

I am not disingenuous. I gave you all the info there is. THe fact that this appears in Backstage alone is in bad form. I no longer have a subscription either but the bulk of the info is what I posted.

[hileeopnyn8d]

23. Anyone can post an ad

for free on Backstage. This was also on Craigslist but was removed. The only people calling it a casting call are USA Today, right-wing blogs, and you.

If you go to MTV's website you'll see that they are not calling it a casting call.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649304/20101004/story.jhtml

Here is an article about it on BET:

http://www.bet.com/News/ObamasConversation

[saracat]

27. The producers posted the ad.They should disclaim it.

[saracat]

28. And posting an ad in Backstage isn't "free" nor is reading it.

It costs around $165 a year to subscribe and posting begin at 30 to 60 dollars in addition to other fees.

[hileeopnyn8d]

56. The fact remains you have no way of knowing who posted it.

FIND AMAZING NEW TALENT


Back Stage reaches over 400,000 actors, singers, dancers, models, musicians, comedians, fame-seekers, and entertainment-industry professionals every month.


Visit http://backstage.com/FindTalent to:



Post a notice to quickly get the word out about your talent calls, job opportunities, workshops, competitions, groups, open mikes, film festivals, script calls, auditions, and more.

Use one simple form to simultaneously run your notice across Back Stage's multimedia network – including its popular online database, daily Casting/Job Alert emails, and weekly print-edition newspapers and digital magazines.

Create a Company Profile to showcase your credits, links, and logo; NO CHARGE when you post a notice.

Add videos, photos, and script sides to the online version of your notice, NO CHARGE.

Use Back Stage's Multimedia Resume Inbox applicant-management system to sort submissions and contact actors; NO CHARGE.

Search Back Stage's Multimedia Resume talent database, NO CHARGE when you post a notice.
Visit the Back Stage Casting Center Today!

Employer Login


Welcome to the Casting.BackStage.com Casting Center, where casting directors, producers, and directors can search for talent, post notices, and manage submissions. Log in below or create a new account for free.

[saracat]

30. This one reads better but the "please attach a current picture of yourself" is standard industry

casting procedure. The way this is being done, if an AFTRA ore SAG director or producer is doing that show, all of those applicants are eligible for union scale.
I once turned in a politcal commercial for hiring non union actors. They had to pay them scale. MTV, BET and CMT are signatories.

[blondeatlast]

29. Self-delete. nt

[saracat]

63. Apparently you are not able to understand how this works . It isn't "Free"

And those "Free" services are only available to subscribers and you do "know" who submitted the ad because thecontact info is posted.I suggest reading the entire information on Backstage.

http://backstage.blogs.com/the411faq/2008/06/find-top-talent.html

[Number23]

32. Thank you, babysis. I thought the OP was merely absurd

Now I see that it is dishonest as well.

Unrec'd.

[Occulus]

43. Squaaaw! Squaaaw! n/t

[saracat]

33. Exactly what is it about Backstage, Reality show, entertainment, nonunion

is it that you do NOT get? Do you not understand that Backstage is a trade publication for entertainment professionals looking for work? Do you think a Presidential Town Hall is a reality show? Do you think it is "entertainment?" Seriously? MTV BET and CMT aren't doing the President or any of us favors presenting this in this manner. Do you think it is usual to be asked to provide a current photo to go to a Town Hall? Have you ever been asked to produce one to go to any Town Halls? Have you ever heard of ANY other Town Hall participants having been asked to do so? Have any other Town Hall participants specifically been listed under "nonunion" ?

As a theater professional, , who has actually advertised in Backstage, I am insulted to see a Presidential Hall advertised in this manner.I have not mischaracterized a thing .I recognize a casting call when it is posted. And I say again a Town Hall isn't reality TV.The Bachelor is Reality TV. A Town Hall is citizens speaking out . The WH should protest.

I appreciate for some of you this is nothing but I happen to think this is a real "mischaracterization" of a Town Hall.

[ThomCat]

37. When Bush filled his audience with staged audiences

we were all up in arms about it. But here is a Casting Call, and that is exactly what this is, a casting call, which means people they are choosing the people they want and choosing what people will say. And this is okay now because Obama is the one doing it?

[saracat]

40. Thank you TC. What is wrong with some people? It is what it is.

[bobbolink]

51. You're going to have to stop being right.

The pots and kettles are getting all mixed up.

[msongs]

15. hen W handpicked the audience DU thought it was bad. oh well nt

[saracat]

17. To be clear, The audience isn't being "paid"but this is a "casting call"

I think the Producers should be smacked for doing this is this manner.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2010/10/casting-underway-for-obamas-town-hall-audience/1

[hileeopnyn8d]

24. Just because

USA Today is calling it that doesn't make it a fact. Nowhere in the original does it say it's a casting call.

[saracat]

25. This is a casting call and it is listed as such "for entertainment, nonunion,

reality show" in Backstage Magazine. Do you think a Presidential Town Hall is "entertainment" or a "reality show" ? If you do, we are in worse trouble than I thought.I used to subscribe to Backstage. It is designed for actors and entertainment professionals and is one big casting call. The "nonunion category" is also problematic but that is yet another issue..

[saracat]

34. Variety also calls it a "casting call" but I guess they can't recognize a casting call either.

All the Hollywood trades are delusional and don't know casting calls when they see them!

http://www.wilshireandwashington.com/current_affairs/

[flyarm]

45. It is a casting call..I also belong to the film Unions..Backstage is a industry rag..

for the entertainment business.

When they are asking for Non Union, it is a casting call!

[nashville_brook]

22. this self-selects for aspiring actors -- hardly a real representation of diversity.

[txlibdem]

31. Most salient point of them all

The clever crafting of selection method. This ensures that no former steel workers, no former garment industry workers, no teachers union members, etc, will be in attendance. We wouldn't want to make the President answer the question of why he ran as a Democrat but has been leading our nation as a center-right Republican!

[saracat]

35. Yup.And no union actors either, which is a breach of the signatory agreements with those networks

but rules don't matter anymore I guess.Only smucks like me are expected to abide by them.

[flyarm]

47. I am SAG and AFTRA, I would have to abide by the rules as well!

I would be eliminated from that casting call!

wow a Dem pres shitting on the unions..go figure!

[flyarm]

46. Ding Dig Ding!! You win the prize!!!!! woo hoo!! 100% correct!! eom

[Starbucks Anarchist]

49. Are there many people in the age-18 range in those professions?

[upi402]

26. MTV rules supreme over WH

This WH is sooo helpless... ???

[Petrushka]

36. Wonder if actors with that "hicky blue collar look" are eligible?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RCs3cxWRis&feature=related

[saracat]

38. Nope . Bet they are Union members. It was a non union call.

[Petrushka]

41. Does that means NO member of ANY labor union is eligible?

:shrug:

[flyarm]

53. No SAG or AFTRA Union member could work the non union shoot! eom

[flyarm]

50. Oh yeah those Hickey guys were just on MSNBC..they are union!!

its just dems who don't hire union actors!

[flyarm]

48. opps..they are the only ones we are allowed to mention..right???????

thought so!

Message control back in order!

Re set your TV's!

[JI7]

39. hahahha

[Occulus]

42. I see DUs blind partisan vultures are pecking the unrec button again.

Rec'd, not that it'll do any good.

[JI7]

44. I know if the White House did anything you would be posting about Why the White House

is making demands about the audience as the Bush people did.

this isn't the same thing as BUsh did i don't even know why youw ould make the stupid comparison.

if you have a problem with this that's one thing but intentions are questionable with comparing it to Bush.

[saracat]

57. I said nothing about Bush. I made no such comparison.

All I said is that a Town Hall isn't "cast" and it shouldn't be considered "reality TV"

[JI7]

58. some others did and you agreed

[saracat]

62. I agreed this was a casting call. It was.

[CBR]

52. I am OUTRAGED about this very important issue. nt

[Safetykitten]

59. "casting the audience".... Then they wonder why.

"Entertainment Jobs, Nonunion TV/Video, Reality TV & Documentary" is the category at the site. No political pornography category?

[Safetykitten]

61. This casting call was down the page, did they mix them up?

MTV HAUNTED HOUSE PROJECT MTV is casting people who have had paranormal experiences. The project involves a psychic expert, who will aid in dealing with ghosts, haunted locations and associated problems. Casting across the U.S. Seeking—Young Adults: males & females, 18-25, with paranormal experiences. The project notes, "We want real people seeking answers for their personal paranormal problems."