The Blind Side

[britneyfan]

I really want to write to Sandra Bullock. It says that they're are currently filming? Anyone know an address?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0878804/

thanks.

[stellar_fuse]

They started filming just over a week ago in Atlanta. I should think an address will pop up pretty soon.

[nightowl]

The on set production office does NOT forward fan mail! I called and asked them.

So don't send anything to them or it will be tossed out.

[Larisie]

Thanks for the info, nightowl!
Out of curiosity, what exactly do you say to them when you call? And wow, doesn't all these calls rack up your phone bill?

[nightowl]

I borrow my brother's phone. He has unlimited long distance for Canada and the US.

When I call an on set production office I first want to establish that they are in fact the "on set" PO. So I come straight out and ask: Is this the on set production office for Blind Side.

If they say yes, you continue.

I then ask: Do you forward fan mail?

The girl answering the phone for this production didn't know, so she asked someone else in the office and then came back on the line and just said: No.

Now here's where you need to listen carefully. If the person on the phone pauses for a period of time that is a sure sign they don't know. So anything they may have to say at that point is uncertain. If they say: Um, . . . no we don't. Or, they aren't sure. Then ask them if they can ask someone there in the office that would know for sure.

More than once I have called a number to be told no, by someone that seemed "very" uncertain, only to call back and have a different person answer the phone and say yes.

If they say yes, I then need to establish a number of things. I ask: When you say you forward, is that to the set, or to their agency?

At this point if they say agency, then our conversation is over.

If they say it will go to their publicist, or PA, or straight to them, then we have established what we want to know.

Then I verify the address by reading it out to them. If I don't have it I ask for it. Once I have it written down I read it back to them to make sure I have it correctly.

Then I ask if it needs to be put in c/o anyone in the office. 99% of the time the answer is no. But on rare occasions they give you a name, or volunteer it without you needing to ask. This could mean the difference between a success or a failure.

I then ask if there is a Floor, Building, or Suite, that needs to go with that address. More than once they have neglected to give that to me, and it can be pretty important!

Once all this is established I then ask how that should be set up by saying: So I put the name of the actor, then the name of the film, and then c/o that address? To which they'll "usually" say yes. If that is not the way it should be set up they will tell you. On rare occasions they set it up completely different.

I'll then ask if I need to put production office, or the name of the production company in there. Once again 99% of the time the answer is no. But once, or twice, I was told to put it in, and that it was very important that I do so.

There are some other questions you may want to ask, BUT they usually won't answer these as they aren't permitted to give out these kind of details. BUT on rare occasions they do.

Sometimes an actor is "rumoured" to be in the film. On a couple of occasions I found out, by accident, that Catherine Zeta Jones was NOT in the film. The person answering the phone asked who I was sending to, and when I told her she told me that actor is not in the film.

So I now I always ask if they are in the film, but 99% of the time they say they are not permitted to tell me that.

When first talking to them I will mention who it is that I am sending to and hope that they tell me if they are not there---if they are not.

Another thing you really need to know, that they won't tell you 99% of the time is: Is the actor still there? Have they completed filming their part and already left the set?

To this they usually tell me they aren't allowed to say. BUT on rare occasions they will tell me.

So, if they are only rumoured, try to get them to verify that they ARE in the movie. And, if possible, try to get them to tell you they are still there, or you will again have wasted your stamps.

For anyone calling PO's I recommend you write all the things you need to ask down on a piece of paper before you call. That is what I do. I make it like a check list. That way I don't forget anything, and get all the information I need.

I have formed this check list over the months, through trial and error, and by learning the hard way.

At least you can benefit from seventeen months worth of experience.

[Larisie]

Thanks very much for your details in how to call a Production Office or company involved with a film! I'm definitely going to hold onto this for further reference. Would you allow me to make a thread titled something like "What to say when calling a Production office/company?" This way members who would like to call and make sure offices pass on can do so and know the types of things to ask them. Or if not maybe you'd like to make the thread and I'll just sticky it? Of course I'd credit you for the guideline if you were to allow me to do so!

Thanks!
Larisie

[nightowl]

Sure, you can do whatever you wish with the information. I don't need any credit. I've covered everything that has come up over the last seventeen months, and it's pretty much complete.

I can't think of anything else that would need to be asked.

Other than, how much longer are you filming (if you don't already know)? But they won't always tell you that either. It depends on who you get on the phone.

[Larisie]

Alright! Thanks very much for the info! I'll credit you anyways!

[thebucch]

That a great post you should repost it as a?sticky

[Larisie]

Its posted as an announcement at the moment, but will move it to a sticky!