I'm SUPPOSED to be Cleopatra in a local commercial...?

Question

I just started getting work and have yet to be cast in anything more than local commercials and extra work.  My friend owns a vintage store.  She and an acquaintance of ours from a local production company contacted me to appear in a commercial for it.  My friend wants me to be Cleopatra, and I liked her ideas.  It sounded fun.  The other day, I went to get fitted and my friend put together this ABSOLUTELY TRASHY costume.  It looks like a cracked out pimp dressed for a really bad Parliament cover band.  Awful.  It's not even ironic or funny.  I didn't realize I held Cleopatra in high regard, but this seems disrespectful.  When I think of her, I think of a majestic, beautiful, elegant, powerful and intelligent woman (who was also selfish, crazy, evil and never got a man to commit to her).  She was the last Pharaoh for crying out loud!  I doubt anyone is even going to recognize me as Cleopatra in this hot mess!  I'm embarrassed and frankly, am tempted to hire a seamstress!  My friend only wants to advertise costumes that are available in her shop which makes sense- the commercial should represent what she actually has available.  Seriously, she shouldn't try to dress people as characters that she doesn't have the wardrobe for in the first place.  It may be a decent trade off if I have a more accurate costume made, then DONATE it to my friend's store.  That way, someone could actually rent it!  I'm not the only person in the commercial and will probably only be on screen for a few seconds, but this is nagging at me.  What would you do?  

Also, I've worked with this production company three times. The second time I got messed over.  They were once rude about giving, then not giving me a part.  I get the feeling I should learn the art of taking care of myself among them without being an a**.  So would you hire a seamstress (money out of your pocket), try to re-negotiate the outfit or shut up and deal?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Spend money for an outfit that rooked you over once? No way. 

As far as inaccurate Cleopatra goes, this kind of thing is part of having an acting career. Playing an imaginary samurai for a car lot commercial (my BFF), dressing up as Elvira to entertain rich drunks at a party (me), getting a plate of food dumped on your head and then having that scene cut out of the film (my ex-hub)--it's all part of the life. None of these roles made us proud, but we got paid for them, and our careers didn't suffer. 

A part is a part. Do your best, put it on your resume, and go on to the next job. Nobody will hold you responsible for the costume.

Gray Area · Answer

Are these costumes for Halloween? Are you certain you understand what look, trashy or otherwise that they are going for? Have you discussed the issue of the costume with your friend? If not then that is your first step. If she sees nothing wrong with it, politely decline to appear in the ad or shut up and deal. I wouldn't be spend money out of my own pocket for her commercial. 

All in all it sounds like you've learned a very important lesson about doing business with friends.

Anonymous · Answer

We have these guys called the Carpet Medics. They bought two old ambulances and they clean carpets. They have sirens blasting and they play like carpets are dying and they rush to the residence and "bring them back to life" with their life saving skills. They are really lame. Then you see the stupid ambulances all over town!!! UGH!!!!! They are so lame and so UGHHHHH!!!! Just plain annoying!!!

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I'm SUPPOSED to be Cleopatra in a local commercial...?

3 Answers