When Actors Turn Down Roles

Actors turn down roles more often than we hear about it. When you decide to become an actor, the first thing you do is try to find auditions. Then, you start getting role offers. That is exciting at first. But after you play a few parts, you might wonder whether or not you should accept every role that comes your way.

Some jobs are not worth accepting. It is not just about getting paid. When you are building your career, everything you do should have a reason. If you are doing a job for the money, the pay needs to make sense. If you are doing it for your resume and IMDb credits, you should target your specific goals at that stage of your career.

In this post, we will discuss when to turn down roles that do not help our acting career and our goals. In addition, we will also give you tips on how to be professional when turning down a role – because actors turn down roles all the time.

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Background Work

Actors turn down roles that are merely background or featured background because it hurts their career. If you have never been on a movie or TV set, perhaps accepting a couple of background gigs may help you. When you have no idea about the work, from what a Call Sheet looks like to how a director collaborates with actors, you may give it a shot. But, keep in mind: a background actor, AKA “extra” is, unfortunately, considered a human prop. That means directors are not looking at them as actors. For that reason, you should turn down roles as background work if you want to have a successful acting career.

If the only way for you to get started is to do some background work, just accept enough jobs to give you some set experience. Once you understand how work happens on set, you should focus only on auditions for real roles. It can hinder your image if you start being recognized by producers as an “extra.” So, don’t overdo it!

It is important to know that some people choose to be background actors as a career. There is nothing wrong with that. When someone makes enough money and has fun being an “extra,” it is perfectly fine to do that full-time. But if being a principal actor someday is your main goal, you must focus on that and stay away from background work.

If your agent offers you background work, it is especially important to make it clear that you do not accept that type of work. Think about it: when your agent sells you short like that, they will not have any reason to help you book real acting work.

[Read also: Can Background Acting Ruin My Career?]

A Quick Tip About Background Work On An Actor’s Resume

The most important tip we can give you is, never to add background work to your acting resume. If you do that, a casting director or agent will consider you an amateur. And never lie on your resume by writing a background credit on it as if it were a principal role. That type of resume lie is very easy to spot for industry insiders and makes you look like a fool. “Feature Background” is not any better, unfortunately. 

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Gratuitous Nudity Or Violence Make Actors Turn Down Roles

Gratuitous or not, nudity and violence are difficult to play. Plus, a bad scene can make the actor look bad. Poorly directed shots and extreme physicality do not help your reel or your career. Be mindful of your image. Understand that, after you film a scene, you have no control over how it will be edited. Unless you trust the filmmakers and believe the scene should be played with nudity or violence, be careful. And remember, actors turn down that type of role all the time.

[Read also: The Emotional Toll of Being an Undervalued Actor in Hollywood]

Roles That Go Against Your Moral Values

You should also turn down roles that go against any of your personal beliefs or values. Your agent should understand your reasons. For example, if you are a vegetarian, your agent should not expect you to audition for a burger commercial.

Most importantly, never feel pressured to perform something you do not feel comfortable with. Be confident to decide when to turn down roles that do not resonate with your vision for your career. Especially roles that you feel will not showcase your talent in a good light. By setting yourself up to evaluate roles, and communicating your needs with integrity, you will be well on your way to growing the career of your dreams.

Low Pay And Bad Credits Make Actors Turn Down Roles

The only important reasons an actor should have to accept a job are either money or a great role. Outside of that, there is very little (maybe nothing) worth considering. An actor should feel confident to turn down roles that do not help move up their career.

If accepting an acting job means you get to pay some bills, that is a reason. Too many actors, unfortunately, keep working for free after they have already built a resume. For that reason, too many producers expect actors to work for low or no pay. But we are professionals and we deserve to be paid for our time and work. Actors turn down roles that pay little all the time.

Unless you are working on a zero-budget production because you love your role or want to help a fellow industry friend, you should not feel bad turning down low-pay and no-pay roles.

But even when there is pay, you should also make sure the job aligns with your goals. For example, if you keep accepting small roles, you may never be requested to audition for a bigger role. Just as you need to stay away from background work, you should keep building your acting credits upwards. It is important to communicate to your agent or manager what your goals are. When you are ready to move up from co-star to guest star, for example, discuss that with your team, so you can plan a strategy. A good agent or manager will help you move up in your career and be ready for better roles after you have some experience.

[Read also: What To Do When You Don’t Get Paid]

How To Be Professional When You Turn Down Roles

Turning down a role can feel like a sin when you start off struggling to even get auditions or an agent. But you have to think of your acting career as a business. Continuously taking jobs you don’t like just to pay the bills is not how you will grow. And you should not feel bad for aspiring higher. 

When you decide to turn down a role, be kind and courteous. If you are declining it directly to casting or production, you can simply say you are booked or even explain that you do not play that kind of role. If the offer came from your agent, you need to be completely honest. Your agent must be very clear on your acting goals so they can properly help you achieve them. So, if you need time to share your goals with them in detail, request a strategy meeting, and bring your notes to share.

Conclusion

Contrary to what most believe, actors turn down roles all the time. Deciding to turn down roles does not have to be a negative experience. If you are honest with the production and your agent about your reasons for declining, they will be more likely to remember you and consider you again in the future. Treating your acting career as a business allows you to make decisions that will help you advance your career while keeping your integrity and values intact. So, never be afraid to take risks and keep progressing until you reach your acting goals.

“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible.’” – Audrey Hepburn

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