‘Conversation’ has people talkingThanks for Mary McNamara’s...

‘Conversation’ has people talking

Thanks for Mary McNamara’s very well-written, thoughtful and important article on Michael O’Neill [“The Conversation,” Nov. 28]. The piece beautifully described the problems faced by professional actors today in a manner that I only hope can begin a process that will involve serious thinking on the parts of many people.

The short-sightedness of those whose only interest appears to be in improving their bottom line is squeezing the “little guy” and bleeding the lifeblood of art and creativity from an industry about which we as a nation used to be able to feel great pride. And the greed and selfishness of those at the top of the food chain is now being replicated by members of our own guild who upon attaining the realization of their dreams seem to have forgotten where they came from as they ignore the plight of those whose talent and support helped them get there.

Mike Farrell

Sherman Oaks

Farrell has been first vice president of the Screen Actors Guild’s Hollywood division since 2002.

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The “conversation” we actors should be having is with SAG -- what are they doing for us? We join this union (or guild as SAG smugly prefers), but the union does nothing to help us get work; or, as is O’Neill’s case, to get paid as a journeyman actor. On the contrary, if we were to work in nonunion projects to pay our bills, SAG would boot us out of the union (I mean guild) in its own capricious fashion.

Ray Uhler

Tustin

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Are we supposed to feel sorry for Michael O’Neill?

Hasn’t this undervalued and underpaid middle-aged man finally figured out that life does not always hand us exactly what we think we deserve?

There are no guarantees in today’s working world and if one’s first choice doesn’t work out, talents and skills are not limited to one profession. Mr. O’Neill should get off the pity pot and pursue other professions where his acting proficiency can be put to good use. As Shakespeare wrote, “All the world’s a stage.”

June Moffett

Santa Ana

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I have represented journeymen actors for the last 29 years and I am also flirting with the “conversation” every day on what other business I should supplement my management company with. Middle-class agents and managers can’t survive on 10% of scale ($60 a day and $200 a week).

Stars do need to set aside some of their pay for the supporting players. If not, we will see big stars being overpaid and surrounded by untalented supporting actors.

Darryl Marshak

Beverly Hills

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My heart bleeds for Michael O’Neill, especially since I more than understand; but picture being a character actress for 40 years (i.e. a “chubby” lady entering the biz in 1965)! Then he would know that what he’s going through now is what I (and hundreds like me) have gone through for 40 years!

Home? Family? Surely you jest. Although I have eked out a living for my entire career, there’s no way in heck I could ever have afforded a house or children. But thanks for focusing your article on a “bread and butter” actor, because without the thousands of us, there would be no movies.

Judith Drake

Burbank

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While I am amazed that the film industry doesn’t pay for experience, one just has to look around at every facet of the corporate world, be it engineering, manufacturing, retail or advertising, to see that the rich get richer while the poor middle-class get poorer.

Alex Downs

Long Beach

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I wonder if there is an article coming out about the “lower-class” actor?

Joshua Wolf Coleman

Burbank