Amy Harris, The Daily Telegraph, reports
An American actor has taken a swipe at Australia's growing dominance in the US TV pilot market by releasing a video spoofing how hard it is for local actors to crack the big time.
Reflecting on what has reportedly become a sore point for struggling US
actors, American thespian Brian Guest filmed a short for the comedy video site Funny
Or Die where he pretends to be Australian to secure a pilot gig after
losing out to Aussie rivals in previous auditions.
The timely video comes as Australian actors have recorded their
biggest-ever showing at the annual pilot season in the US, with 25 Aussie
actors - including Luke Mitchell, Sophie Lowe, Adelaide Kane and Lincoln Lewis
- scoring roles.
Guests' spoof video, which also appeared on the trade website
Deadline.com, has attracted some serious feedback from people who claim the influx
of Aussies has come at the expense of local talent.
"I'm happy someone is bringing this to light. I've been surprised
how many major roles have been going to Aussie (and British) relative
unknowns," wrote one Deadline commenter, known as 'Dan'. "We have
hundreds of thousands of American relative unknowns here, particularly those
actors that come from the theatre world, that for some reason don't get
cast."
Another wrote: "The number of lead and key roles being played with
faux American accents makes no sense."
Veteran Sydney casting director Faith Martin, who cast Russell Crowe in
his first film The Crossing and most recently worked on Spartacus,
admits Australians are at their most popular in US casting offices right now.
"I think it's because Australian actors are keen to go the extra
distance and it also comes at a time when US (talent) managers are all really
looking out for the next big Aussie," Martin told Confidential.
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