Back in the days of the Scott Shaw, Donald G. Jackson Zen Filmmaking Alliance, we did a lot of casting. We were shooting movies all the time. …Pretty much back-to-back for a period of time. So, we were always looking for new faces and people with interesting talents or skillsets to put in our Zen Films. We met some GREAT people!
 
Some of the people we met were very nice. Some were very professional. Some were totally full of themselves, proclaiming that they would be a major Hollywood star tomorrow and we would be lucky to have them now. Or course, we never heard anything from or about that person again. But, it was always an interesting look into the human psychology of those walking the path of acting here in the filmmaking capital of the world, Hollywood, California.  The stories I could tell you… (And, maybe already have).
 
One of the common things that a few of those up-and-comers would ask. …Ask before they were even cast in a film was, “How much does it pay?” This question always sent Don through the roof. He was always on edge about stuff like that. About people over valuing their worth.
 
We got to a point where we would immediately jokingly turn it around and say, “How much are you going to pay me to put you in the film?”
 
Think about this… Think about how many people would love to be in a feature film that had guaranteed international distribution as our films did. I believe everyone, somewhere deep down inside, wishes that they could be a star. How about you?
 
Plus, this was back in the days when making a film was still a very expensive process. Not like today, where all you need is your iPhone. But, before I get off track…
 
You know, in a lot of ways, this has all come full circle. I mean, think about it… Think about how many people are putting up notices seeking funding to make their movie on platforms like Kickstarter and IndieGoGo. Sure, they offer get, “Thanks,” credit for sending in some small amount of money. But, a bit up the financial ladder, many offer “Be in the Film,” for X amount of dollars.
 
Back in the day, it was actually illegal to do that. Sure, there were people going around the backside and doing it in hidden ways. But, you could not put an ad out there asking people to pay to be in a film. My-my, how times have changed.
 
When I first saw this taking place, I wondered how they did it. But, times changed, and they do…
 
I’ve never sought funding for one of my Zen Film on one of those sites. I doubt anyone would give me any money anyway. People would just rather throw shade and pay nothing.
 
But, here and now, it has become an entire industry, paying to be in a film or to get credit as a producer or a whatever…

So, this takes us to the pinnacle of all of this… What are you willing to do, what are you willing to pay to get what you want—to become what you hope to become?  And, here’s the deeper question, if you have not reached that goal in your life is it because you have not paid the price, or have not paid the right people to get you where you ultimately want to be?