View Full Version : Are sit-coms the ultimate tv acting job?


TMC
08-07-2002, 04:16 PM
http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&threadm=n862luk9ckoqemdq97p9ebj0364o0gri35%404ax.com&prev=/groups%3Fhl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DISO-8859-1%26q%3Drec.arts.tv%26meta%3D

Upsides

1. Only need to shoot 22 minutes, 3 out of 4 weeks.
2. Shooting usually takes place once a week.
3. Shot in controlled studio environment.
4. Same sets week after week, making lighting, blocking, etc. more efficient
5. Shooting schedule pretty much like clockwork.
6. Usually get to work, get home at a very reasonable hour.
7. Very little, if ever, night shooting (as in 3am shooting - unlike say,
cop shows)
8. Sit-coms more easily syndicated than dramas. Especially to international
markets.9. Potential for massive windfalls if show makes it into syndication.
10. Your face might be on tv forever, if your show is popular.

Downsides

1. You're typecast:(

Brian Damage
08-07-2002, 05:52 PM
Originally posted by TMC
http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&threadm=n862luk9ckoqemdq97p9ebj0364o0gri35%404ax.com&prev=/groups%3Fhl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DISO-8859-1%26q%3Drec.arts.tv%26meta%3D

1. Only need to shoot 22 minutes, 3 out of 4 weeks.


That is not true. A sitcom taping lasts a few hours. They hire comedians and hand out giveaways to keep the audience entertained in between the tapings. Trust me it's a very long day. I know, because last year while in LA, I attended a taping of the now cancelled "Norm Show." I even won a script of the show autographed by the entire cast.

My friend at work also works as a commercial actor and that can be easy living. You work a lot less hours than a sitcom actor. Especially, if you get a national commercial. You get paid big money up front and get paid every time the commercial airs.

That kid who does the Dell computer commercials is a millionaire!!!

I Dream of Jeannie
08-08-2002, 05:48 PM
I think and pretty much know that acting in a sitcom is easy than a soap in which they tape all day long and produce about 265 or more episodes a year(well at least DOOL does:) ) while a sitcom only makes about 30 a season not the whole year. I dont' think that acting on a sitcom is easy though. It's just not as hard as somethings. But comedy is hard to do so mabye all that balances out. But then again, I don't act on a sitcom or a soap or a drama so how do I know what is hardest.

TJL
08-08-2002, 06:25 PM
Sitcom work is a great gig, if you can get it.
A friend of mine was a struggling actress, landed herself on a hit sitcom which lasted three seasons, now she's out of work and trying her hand at it again...