Background Performers WANTED

[charlene]

Get in the ACTION
Def Con 5 a Vancouver based background talent agency that is looking for fresh faces to join its dynamic team. The local film and television industry is booming. Many opportunities are becoming available daily and there is a huge demand for individuals with military experience.
Def Con 5 primarily supplies specialized performers ranging from military police and S.W.A.T. All performers are taught to properly handle weapons on set. Normally entry is restricted to inside referrals and recommendation only, however due to the high demand we are opening our doors to serious individuals who want to be apart of this exciting industry.
If you are interested in joining our exceptional team and gaining valuable experience while working in the movies please call Christina or Charlene at (604)904-8652. To qualify you must live in the lower mainland.
www.def-con-5.com :gunner:

Please Note:
The immediate background booking period is intensive. Please do not apply if you are not available or prepared for a heavy on-set schedule.

 

[paracowboy]

is this a gag, or some sort of code?

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Nope. Looks legit. Check out their site.

 

[Slim]

Does this poster have mike's permission to advertise here?

Slim
STAFF

 

[Mike Bobbitt]

Charlene asked prior to posting.

 

[Slim]

Charlene asked prior to posting.

Thanks

 

[paracowboy]

can't. Firewall won't let me. I don't understand the post. Is it asking for people to train actors? The line about

performers are taught to properly handle weapons on set

is throwing me. If they want LEO and Mil types, then what sort of firearms training do they require? Not that any of this matters to me, living out here, but my curiosity is aroused.

 

[Slim]

can't. Firewall won't let me. I don't understand the post. Is it asking for people to train actors? The line about is throwing me. If they want LEO and Mil types, then what sort of firearms training do they require? Not that any of this matters to me, living out here, but my curiosity is aroused.

Might be a type of weapon you've never handled before...

 

[charlene]

Def Con 5 is looking for background performers, however we do supply tech advisor's to teach the actors on set how to handle weapons. Basically we are looking for men wanting to work as extra's. These extra's act as soldiers, therefore military experience is needed.

 

[HollywoodHitman]

Anyone interested in this should check out the Union of BC Performers (of which I have been a member) site for some more information on the Vancouver Film industry. Speaking with considerable authority on this one, I can say that film and TV work for soldiers, can be painful to deal with as there are ALOT of self proclaimed experts on sets, many of whom have had no real experience, or read a book or 2. Then again, there are a few guys, who are very good. DC5 has some good guys, and some not so good guys, as does every other talent agency in the business. You will find that the weapons training involved deals mostly with how to sell the "actions" for the camera. Even then, the directors will determine whether the 'proper' way to do something meets what they need to complete the shot and most will sacrifice 'reality' for what will sell the shot. Rightly so I s'pose. After all it is their buck. For experienced guys, the film version of weapons handling can be mind numbling and the anal retentiveness experienced on set is because many people in the past have screwed it up. All are necessary evils, however it can seriously test the patience of someone who has walked around with a hot weapon more than once........

Be careful when dealing with [glow=red,2,300]ANY talent agency. There are certain questions you should ask, certain things you should know so it all requires some research and not signing ANYTHING until you know all the contract details and the ramifications.[/glow]

Take everyone you meet in the 'biz' with a grain of salt, especially when they start listing off their significant military and tactical experience. Just like you all probably already do.

Good luck.

 

[Taylor187]

charlene is there some sort of hiring blitz on by talent agencys in B.C. and or some law passed that allows anyone to start up thier own company? Your not the first company I've seen charging onto message forums recruiting in the past twenty four hours.

 

[charlene]

That is an interesting question. The simple answer is we are extremely busy. The bookings are out of control and we need reliable people to fill them .

 

[Teddy Ruxpin]

Take everyone you meet in the 'biz' with a grain of salt, especially when they start listing off their significant military and tactical experience.

Amen.  Years ago, I worked on a movie ("Time Runner" - you can rent it) as a DND rep.  The movie company had rented CF vehicles - at enormous cost - and DND needed an overseer...I, as a pretty junior officer, got tagged.  Lots of fun.

However, the military "advisor" had a collection of replica weapons.  He claimed to have been a "merc" and that "me and my sarge" fought in the Falklands War on exchange with the 17th/21st Lancers (he claimed to be an ex-Strathcona) and toured through Nicaragua and Guatemala as a hired gun...this despite the fact that I was standing right there, in uniform.  :  The industry appeared to me (at the time - over a decade ago) to be populated with walts and posers...

 

[paracowboy]

Def Con 5 is looking for background performers, however we do supply tech advisor's to teach the actors on set how to handle weapons. Basically we are looking for men wanting to work as extra's. These extra's act as soldiers, therefore military experience is needed.

okay, now I'm trackin'.
You want to pay me to pretend to be a soldier, when the Queen is already paying me to pretend to be a soldier? Sweet! I've been faking it for so long now, I'm an expert! So, how much cash we talkin' here? Enough to warrant me taking Leave, travellin' to the center of the hippie-heartland, and not throat-punching any of them?

By the way, Charlene, are you an actress? If so, are you really hot? And, if so, do you have any pictures?

;D

 

[armyvern]

By the way, Charlene, are you an actress? If so, are you really hot? And, if so, do you have any pictures?

;D

Holy smokes paracowboy... what's going on with you buddy? An awful lot of proposition's coming out of your posts lately to us "tootsies!!" Perhaps she is one of those cougar's you fear? Always exercise extreme caution while hunting!! 

Charlene,
Do you have to join a Union to participate in these 'employment opportunities?' I thought it was really great whn all those CF Recruiting advertisements were on TV. One of my neighbours in Belleville ON was in one of them...because he was an actor!! I asked some questions about that at work and they told me that all TV recruiting advertisements featured actors vice real soldiers because that was the TV industry standard.

It all reminds me of my husband doing the series finale of "Due South" if anyone remembers that. They paid some exorbiant fee to have the whole Canadian Forces Skyhawk Parachute Team brought out to Kananaskis Alberta. (They didn't get paid). The boys all got custom fitted for RCMP scarlets and jumped in to "save" the day when this Russian submarine draws to the surface in Alberta!! Even the frickin dog (what was that dogs name?) jumped in (from a crane)!! They sent us a copy of the videotape of the show. It had a little trailer at the end..."With special thanks to the Department of National Defense and the Canadian Forces Skyhawk Parachute Team..." Niner had a blast doing this!! Leslie Neilson was in it as well and the wrap up party was something else so I've been told!!  ;D

 

[charlene]

Thank you....
        In answer to your question, no you do not need to be apart of the union to join. The union is a bonus and for some it take many years as an actor to become a member. Def Con 5 does have many union and apprentice members but it is not required.

 

[Cloud Cover]

okay, now I'm trackin'.
You want to pay me to pretend to be a soldier, when the Queen is already paying me to pretend to be a soldier? Sweet! I've been faking it for so long now, I'm an expert! So, how much cash we talkin' here?

For the reasons set out above and below, i'd say you have been married to your job for too long.

By the way, Charlene, are you an actress? If so, are you really hot? And, if so, do you have any pictures?
;D

 

[The_Falcon]

When I did my QL4 Comms in Jan of 01, there was a guy down at Fort York looking for background extras, with military experience and who looked russain.  One of instructors on my course suggested I talk to him.  Anyways I talked to the guy, and the movie was K19 The Widowmaker.  It was one of the WORST experiences of my life.  The hours were long like 12-16 hour days, doing absolutely nothing but playing monopoly and cards, doesn't sound that bad I know but the boredom does get to you.  That and putting up with some the uppity hollywood/union types on set was a pain.  For example, the dinks who maybe had one line or two in the whole movie, would give us background types attitude, send us to the back of the line at the craft tables.  Also, because this whole gig was union and what not,  the producers had to use so many ACTRA members, but because of the requirements of the film (everyone had to be white male, preferably with a russian/eastern European look), ACTRA couldn't supply enough members.  Because of this, some non-union background performers (like me) were eligible to be paid at union rates (don't ask me, some wierd union rule).  This depened on the mood of the Assistant Director.  So if he liked you, you got the union rate (like 18 something), if he didn't you got 8/hr.  The biggest pain, was getting called at like 11 at night, and being told I had to be on set at 6am.  I was in highschool at the time, and this was not cool.  Eventually I got fed up and stopped picking up the phone.  Anyways this experience left a bad taste in my mouth.  At least there is one scene I can see myself though.

 

[paracowboy]

Charlene, I don't know if you're unaware of how pms work, or if you have no sense of humour and are ignoring me (you wouldn't be the first, and it really just shows your taste), but I sent you a private message.

 

[pte. Massecar]

anything like this going on in the Hamilton/TO area?