The Stage

A long road for walk-ons

Published Tuesday 9 February 2010 at 11:20

Tom Laughton (Protect professional opportunities, Letters, January 21, page 8) cites the encroachment of amateur performers into professional work, in latter years - specifically the role of walk-on in television and film. He has a point. Accepting that there has been a fair degree of dumbing down in television production, there remains a body of professional members who have relied on paying rent in that capacity and not just as a day out. In fact I recall many years ago engaging in a conversation with a young actress who was understudying a senior A-list actress in theatre, while working a few days on a television production in order to get a taste of the medium and earn a few useful pounds to boost her theatre income. I don’t think she told her agent. In fact in earlier days, members were instructed by council, not to work with non-members unless given permission to do so. Besides, at that time one had the deputy making card checks and it was certainly the case that only professionals would be found on a studio floor or on a location shoot, which was right and proper.

Legit actors or not, people were often very seasoned performers in their own specific field of entertainment and thus would provide a given director with the goods, ie they most certainly did not gaze into the camera during a take. I remember well a production, when, during a lunch break, a very senior A-list player turned to his neighbour - a middle-aged supporting artist - and asked: “What do you do?” The gentleman replied: “When I retired from teaching, I took up conjuring at kiddies parties - that sort of thing. And what do you do?” Short pause and elegant smile, followed by: “Oh, I am an actor.” Enough said.

Finally, as to stars insisting that only professionals be engaged as walk-ons. Don’t hold your breath. Mind you, I am reminded of yet another A-list actor, on hearing that the walk-on contingent had not been given food and drink for a considerable period of time, firmly insisting that the matter be attended to without delay. Which it was. Mind you, he was also a damned fine actor and seemingly devoid of any ego.

JA Last

Salisbury Road

Whitchurch

Shropshire