Tom Christensen

*Note: If you haven’t read TSBA2 yet, do so before you read further.

I got feedback from yesterday’s post! I don’t know how he found it – perhaps a reader sent him an email from the address listed twice within the article? – but Andrew was kind enough to let me know that he read my post. Well, I don’t have to tell you…read for yourself!

Hey their Tom your post about the littlest firefighter was true I did have a lot of errors in it. you were also kinda nasty in what you said about me, but whatever . Anyhow I would like to send you the film when its done. and plan on fixing the website. Also please understand I’m not an adult but im not 9 either. In fact I am horrible at grammer and spelling. But no matter at least I wrote a good story. To be honest I found that post quite entertaining to read, even though you called me a rtard. But to tell you the truth t if you are goin to be that nasty and wanted to apply for the role of Sam Brown I’m afraid Im goin to have to say no.

Best regads

-Andrew

He was kind enough to write me, and I was kind enough to respond:

Andrew,

My blog is intended to be cynical for the purpose of amusement, and I apologize if you thought things were nasty. Furthermore, I apologize in advance if you find what I am about to say nasty. However:

As you admit, you are horrible at grammar and spelling. You may not believe that spelling and grammar count for much, but that casting notice was your first impression on all of the people with whom you intend to work.

Poor spelling and grammar are signs of laziness and stupidity because, as we all know, you could correct your errors with barely a modicum of effort. Mind you, I am not labeling you “lazy” or “stupid.” I don’t know you that well, and, for all I know, you could be either one or both.

If the rules of English grammar simply escape your savant-like mind, there are many free and easy to use resources at your disposal. For example: computers frequently come with pre-installed software to minimize the difficulty of correcting spelling and grammar. I would wager a princely sum that you have at least one spell-checker on your hard drive right now. I would even go so far as to assume that you are capable of using these programs without further training, seeing how you managed to post a casting notice, find my blog, find my email address, and email me using Gmail…which has a built-in spell-checker.

“The Littlest Firefighter” is a SAG project; hence, you intend to audition members of the Screen Actors Guild. As you know, SAG is a union of professional film and television actors. When I say “professional,” I don’t mean that they are all fantastic. But they do expect to be treated with respect, and a well-written job notice is a basic courtesy, especially when you are asking actors to donate all of their time and energy.

It was an epic struggle to get through your writing. I’m certainly not the only one who thinks this, though I’m probably the most outspoken.

It pains me that you won’t let me audition for your film. I think I’m perfect for the role of Brown the Fire Captain, a father or grandfather figure, aged 30 to 75. But as a matter of principle, I don’t audition for films in which I have little or no confidence in the creative staff. I’m probably unduly limiting myself; after all, you are not the only filmmaker who refuses to write properly. I’ve likely excluded myself from several excellent projects this way. But this screening process has saved me from working with lazy, inarticulate, immature, boorish, irresponsible, and unmotivated filmmakers, too.

You don’t consider yourself an adult, yet you want to make a film with professional adult actors and with the very adult themes of childhood mortality, loss, charity, substitution and projection, struggle, and grief. I would honestly love to see a screening of the film once you have completed it.

I also apologize if I offend you by posting your email on my blog. The email with 26 errors. I’ve gone ahead and corrected them for you, leaving certain “style choices” as is:

Hey there, Tom! Your post about the littlest firefighter was true; I did have a lot of errors in it. You were also kinda nasty in what you said about me, but whatever . Anyhow, I would like to send you the film when it’s done, and I plan on fixing the website. Also, please understand I’m not an adult, but I’m not 9 either. In fact, I am horrible at grammar and spelling. But no matter; at least I wrote a good story. To be honest, I found that post quite entertaining to read, even though you called me a retard. But to tell you the truth, t if you are going to be that nasty and wanted to apply for the role of Sam Brown, I’m afraid I’m going to have to say no.

Best regards

-Andrew

Andrew, I honestly wish you good luck with your future endeavors, which I hope you treat with more respect.

Yours,

Tom Christensen
SAG Actor, Writer, Commentator, Humorist
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I love feedback!
http://www.tom-christensen.com