I am not sure whether it's because I am not, strictly speaking, in "the business" that I have a different take or because I have met famous actors in a social situation and was adamant that I did not wish to cross the line by pitching an idea (its just not the done thing....) Ironically if I had not met them in that situation, I would not have thought twice about exploiting the opportunity. I remember some years back, hearing that Ken Loach was attending an event just around the corner that I had been invited to but couldn't make - I looked up his itinerary and saw that he was due at a book signing re the making of "Looking for Eric" about 200 miles away in Manchester the very next day. So I booked a ticket and travelled to Manchester, queued up and when it was my turn to get my book signed, I put a friend's film script synopsis in his hand and said "please could you look at this - it would be great if you made it". He took it, smiled and said "I will look at it - are your details on it for a reply". I assured them that that was very much on it and turned and left and travelled back to London. A week later, he contacted me and said it wasn't "his film" but he recommended another director whose genre it was. When I tell that story - some people think it was crazy of me to travel so far when I could have done the same thing the previous night just around the corner with a drink in my hand at the social event that I had been invited to but......it just isn't the done thing. I rather like Will Smith's approach - he hung about outside a theatre every single night, approaching actors that he could have approached in another venue - but felt it was more appropriate to do it by hanging about outside than approach someone through a network. It's a weird thing but when someone becomes successful in an industry, psychologically (cos that's my industry) - a direct, "you are famous, you have influence" request is more attractive than someone sidling up to them at a social event under the guise of friendship and interest in them. Equally on Stage 32 - I would consider that a direct approach should be the recommend. I could be wrong - but the actors I have asked thus far, seem to agree with me. If opportunity doesn't knock - build a door is an old phrase but it is where you build that door that makes the difference, in my humble opinion.