If you can get an actor to listen to your pitch, then pitch! If that
actor won't listen to your pitch then contact the agent.

The actor you are having a conversation with is right.

Who told you it's in extremely bad taste to contact an actor directly?

I think it was just stuff I read in books, perhaps as much as 10 years ago. Sorry, I can't remember. It may have been written in the context of coming up to a guy you don't know and pitching -- are you saying it's ok on the assumption that one knows said actor? I guess it would seem to me that running into a guy on the street or such and asking if he's got a minute might be ok, but that some would probably not react well.

I'm a great believer in doing everything you can to get your movie
made. If that means approaching an actor on the street and
pitching, then I would do it. I never, even for a second, think
about the actor not reacting well. If they react badly, I
apologize and ask to set up a formal meeting.

But I understand where you're coming from, twickie. If you think
an actor might not react well or you might get blown off and
don't want to be in that position, then you need to go through
the agent.

Be very aware of holding on to things you read in books. Or on
messageboards. Take it in, but remember you must do your own
thing. I'm sounding like a 1960's flower child, but if you hold
back because of something you read somewhere perhaps 10 years
ago, you are only hurting yourself.

The very best way to approach an actor is when you have all the
funds in the bank and can make a firm, pay-or-play offer. But
people who post on messageboards and read books don't usually
have all the funds in the bank. So we need to be creative. If a
few books tell you it's extremely bad taste to contact an actor
personally that doesn't make it so. Find the book - or in you
case an actor up in Vancouver - that tells you differently.

There are no rules. If people making movies always followed some
set of rules by people writing books all creativity would be
doomed.

Damn! Where did that soap box come from? It wasn't there when I
started writing...

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

I sympathize with the sentiment. I don't mind the soapbox at all; I deal with so many apathetic people on a daily basis that passion and dedication are absolutely welcome.

But now I can give a solid reference. Just got "The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers: A Legal Toolkit for Independent Producers" today and in the section on performers/SAG (page 164): "If an actor is represented by an agent, pitch the project first to the agent and never talk business directly with the actor. Agents are very protective of their actors." The book also suggests "It can be ... helpful having your script submitted by your casting agent ..."

Just a different perspective. I certainly appreciate all your advice and will continue to seek it out. This site is a wonderful resource.

The very best way to contact an actor is to have all the funds in
an escrow account, hire a well connected casting director and
make a firm offer to the actor's agent.

Very few of us have that option. So a little creativity is needed.

But if not following the advice in that book is something that
makes you uncomfortable, then you really should follow it.

You have nothing to lose. If you have an opportunity to pitch an idea or script, then take it! Otherwise, go through the agent. The challenge of going through the agent is that they will decide whether or not to even show it to their client. So take the direct approach, if you can. This is all assuming you have some prior connection to the actor. You've worked with them, or have met and established some kind of relationship, or at least have a mutual acquaintance.

Here are the first ten chapters of a book written by someone about making their first feature film:

http://www.easy-budget.com//articles/articles.asp?article=featureOne

It may answer many of the questions raised here.

Get the software you need to budget your film at: http://www.easy-budget.com