BREAKALEGG

BREAKALEGG

For the daily needs of actors trying to make it big!!!

BREAKALEGG RSS Feed
 
 
 
 

Archive for Money and Legal Issues

Recession lessons from the movies…

Here is a great little article about what lessons our movies have taught us, that come really handy at a time like this. We are all trying to save what money we have or simply make more by getting creative, and script writers have got a thing or two they can teach us. From Breakfast at Tiffanys, Confessions of a Shopaholic, to Grapes of Wrath. Who said watching movies wasnt productive?

Reader Mailbag: Michael

Here at breakalegg we dont usually do reader mailbags but this particular question has come up several times and I wanted to answer in a way that might reach other people in a similar situation…

THE TRUE COST OF MAKING IT IN LA…

Here is a great article from The Acting Room that talks about how much its going to cost you monthly to live in LA. Now some things are pretty accurate, but others are either too high or too low compared to most of my experiences and those of known acquaintances. But, if you scroll down and read the comments you will get a great scope.

THE SECOND YEAR CURSE…

If you haven’t heard of it, it goes something like this:  A young actress moves to Hollywood to start her acting career.  She takes some classes, gets an agent and books a role on a TV show.  Then she books another small part and another and another.  Maybe a dry spell here or there, but first year out of the gate and she ends up booking a good dozen or so roles…

UNDERSTANDING SAG…

P.O.Boxes as a tool for actors…

As far as tools for actors go, I think a P.O. box is often overlooked: they’re useful and can even solve a few problems…

  • Concealing Your Personal Address

I don’t know about you, but I don’t really want to hand out my home address to every potential contact, actor, CD, Agent…

Actors and those dreaded taxes!!!

As actors we have so many problems to file taxes, they are the only reason I once thought how much better a regular 9 to 5 job with W-2’s and simplicity would be. So here is an article that gives us a little insight to the right and wrong way to face that time of the year. For the full article… (Click here)

10 Day jobs that could help your acting career…

<br />

Everyone needs to eat. And pay bills, and classes, rent, gas…etc. But as an actor you have to be careful with what “Day Job” you get. Not only because you run the risk of it taking up valuable time from your objective, but also because in BREAKALEGG we think ANY job that doesnt give you some sort of knowledge or advantage over other actors is a complete waste of time. Here are 10 great options of jobs that allow you to be flexible with hours or more importantly, can give you great insight into the industry. At the end of the day, it is where you are planning to be anyways…right?

HOLLYWOOD CUTS DOWN ON THE PARTIES…

<br />

Don’t expect all the usual trimmings on the Hollywood party circuit this holiday season.

Showbiz party planners have begun to scale back soirees as part of industry wide belt-tightening. Several congloms have canceled their holiday bashes, while others are simply toning down the revelry. After-preem bashes are also being reassessed in this economy.

Free NY and Los Angeles Talent Agency Directory

The Association of Talent Agents (ATA) is a Los Angeles based nonprofit trade association comprised of over 100 talent agencies primarily located in Los Angeles and New York. ATA’s premiere membership includes agencies of all sizes representing artist clients in the motion picture industry, stage, television, radio, commercials and literary work. It is believed that ATA member agencies collectively represent ninety percent (90%) of the working artists. ATA member agencies collectively employ an estimated one thousand talent agents.

THE HARD COLD FACTS ABOUT MONEY…

<br />

Is it possible to earn a living as an actor? Bet you’ve heard that before…Yes, but it is difficult. According to SAG’s records, only 6% of the almost 100,000 actors who are already in the union make what SAG speaks of as “middle-class” earnings of $30,000 to $70,000 a year, and only 2% make over $100,000 annually…

NEWS: SAG AGREES TO NEW RULES FOR AGENTS…

To read the full article…click here.

LEGAL ISSUES: MANAGER VS AGENT?

<br />It can be very confusing. Specially for beginners. There are so many unwritten rules, not to mention the scams that ruin the dreams of many talented actors. However, going into an acting career armed with knowledge will help minimize the confusion and maximize the success…

A SIMPLE STRATEGY TO SAVING UP MONEY.. NOW!

<br />

Obviously the first step is to not overspend. Then take a few steps to reevaluate your personal finances. Maybe even setting up an afternoon to focus on these issues can really help change your future…

TEMPTING: COMPARING SALARIES WITH OTHER ACTORS

<br />

Normally one shouldn’t have to wonder if the person beside them, carrying out the same job, is getting paid the same. But curiosity killed the cat as they say, and we have all been there before…

LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK?

<br />

Technically your check looks like it should be enough to cover your bills, expenses and even saving up for a rainy day, doesn’t it? But then something happens, and you end up eating dry cereal and the occasional can of tuna waiting for the next check to arrive…

GET RICH FAST!… AND SIMILAR CONS

All of us have bills to pay, obviously. And we also have countless expenses: classes, headshots, assistants, printing…etc. And con artists know this. So they come up with get-rich-fast “jobs” that are alluring. Generally these offers take on forms such as: packaging envelopes form home, making jewelry, investing in stocks packages, fabricating candles, assembling together some form of hand crafted what-not…and as you do you will be making thousands! Tens of thousands!! Or so they say…

DEALING WITH INCOME TAXES WITHOUT GOING BROKE

Here is what “How to break into acing, for Dummies” has to say about this oh-so-delicate subject.

Whether we like it or not, we all have to pay taxes. But Paying taxes on your acting income can be a little trickier than paying taxes on your income as a janitor or bank teller or computer programmer. For example, The company that you work for as a computer programmer probably automatically deducts state and federal income taxes out of your paycheck. As an actor, it’s up to you to set aside a certain amount of your acting paycheck to cover

CHASING DREAMS OR CHASING MONEY?

Everyday we are faced with great decisions. But not every day our decisions have such a large impact as this one: should I chase a dream that has very few possibilities of generating large income but fulfills me personally, or should I invest my time in a career with steady and greater income and find time someplace else to dedicate to my passion.

If you are an actor you have already made that choice. If you are starting out or pondering whether to try acting you need to know one thing…

AVOIDING LEGAL ISSUES WITH YOUR AGENT

Agents are there to help actors get work, so it wont come as a shock to you that there are thousands of phony agents trying to take your money. Whether a single agent or an agency, know what you are entitled to and what your rights are.

First of all if any agent asks for ANY money upfront using excuses such as investing in pictures, a nominal fee or even a monthly fee….RUN!!!!…