Literature review

Literature Review 2

‘Westbrook.M, http://actingcoachscotland.co.uk/2012/05/should-actors-work-for-free/’

The piece I am reviewing is an article written by an acting coach on his company’s website, ‘http://actingcoachscotland.co.uk/’.  The content of the piece is all based around the tile, ‘Should Actors work for free?’, I feel that Westbrook writes from a personal point of view, and is very much advising the reader, whom I feel are actors or performers.

Westbrook states that, ‘Clearly professional actors should be paid for their work like lawyers, doctors and everyone else’, he is stating to the reader his opinion and making a comparison to strong professions so that everybody reading the article can clearly understand his opinion.  We all know that Lawyers and Doctors are well paid.  He does however go on to say that, ‘I occasionally give my time away for free, watching rehearsals or coaching someone I think is a good investment for me.’  This shows his audience, that he is not against free work, and by using the words, ‘good investment’, he is indicating that he believes it will pay off in the future.

An interesting point that Westbrook raises in his article is how, ‘The real problem is when big organisations exploit unpaid actors. If the BBC or a big funded film company expects people to work for free, then the problem should be dealt with by Equity or SAG’.  He is telling the reader that he believes the big companies and organisations who ask performers to work for free are the ones who exploit them and this is not ok.  He believes that working for free or for experience should be happening on both sides of the spectrum, ‘But should interesting projects just get killed because the director isn’t rich? How would the neophyte director ever get to put something on?’  He is informing his reader that this isn’t exploitation, when everybody involved is doing it to try to reach a goal together it is ok to work for free.

In conclusion I feel that Westbrook raises some very interesting points and this article will help me in my inquiry.  I also feel that his closing statement of his article is very true, ‘I think we need to calm down about biting people’s heads off for suggesting that people could work for experience but also those offering the work should work hard to keep things above board and not suggest that ‘doing it for the experience’ is why the actors should do it.’  He believes it is each individual’s choice, and if they believe there is a good reason for working for free then they should do it.