Do you want to enter the world of acting, but don't know where to start? In addition to talent and passion, a well-written resume is essential to get noticed. Here are some tips for getting the job you want!
Steps
Step 1. Get a photo portrait
This will be your business card in the world of directors and agencies. It is the element they will refer to when deciding among potential candidates. Hiring a photographer is the ideal option, whether it's to work as an amateur locally or to be able to reach the Broadway limelight.
- Black and white, or color? Talk to a local agency and ask what the preferences of the insiders in your area are.
- Always keep photos updated to your current appearance.
Step 2. Put together the information you need for your resume
An actor resume has different needs than one for business. Don't try to fit your acting skills into a more business-oriented document. Learn the differences and proceed accordingly:
- Your professional name. It can be your stage name or your real name. This is the name you will be known by in the industry, so choose one and always use it.
- Trade union to which it belongs. This is important, because if you are part of a union, you will not be able to work at an amateur level.
- Your contact information. They need to be up-to-date and accurate if you want people to be able to track you.
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Your previous work experience. List the roles you have played in film, TV and theater. If there are many, include only the most relevant ones on a page: where they were made and in what category (film, commercial, theater, etc.).
Playing a supporting role in an important event is better than playing a starring role at an amateur level. Having training credentials doesn't hurt, but they're not essential for certain events - for example, for dubbing jobs
- List the professional courses you have taken, such as acting, voice setting, improvisation, dialects and accents, and physical skills, such as dance, boxing, or acrobat experience.
- List all your skills. Anything that may be relevant to the world of acting should be on this list. You should include things like being able to throw knives blindfolded, losing or gaining weight fast, singing the alphabet backwards while balancing a book on your head. Include anything that makes you unique.
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Your personal information, including your age (mandatory if you are a minor), your height (without shoes) and your weight.
Include eye and hair color, even if you have a color portrait attached. The portrait may be lost, or the director may be color blind. By putting it in writing you will eliminate any possibility of error
Step 3. Create a professional resume
- Use a clean, legible style with professional fonts. Times and Helvetica are safe choices. Conversely, don't use Mistral or Comic Sans.
- Don't prepare a five-page resume listing everything you've ever done. Casting managers want to read the most important information right away and if they are satisfactory, they will call you to find out more.
- Try to stick to a single page if possible and aim not to exceed two pages.
Step 4. Adapt your resume to highlight your most relevant experiences if there is a particular role you would like to get
For example, if you are looking for a role in the theater, please specify your experiences of working in the theater. If you are looking for a television role, prioritize previous roles in that category… and so on. Always keep it updated.
Step 5. Try to have a resume ready for six different types of auditions, which you can leave on the spot
Step 6. Be patient
Realize that the selection process can be non-linear. You can play as many cards as you like, as long as you don't seem like a fool or an overly self-centered person. It may also happen that the casting directors do not have very clear ideas about what they are looking for and maybe use what you can come up with during your audition, without then necessarily choosing you.
A great resume doesn't necessarily get you important jobs right away, at least when you're just starting out. Consider that these people see a lot of them and very frequently. What they are looking for is competence, professionalism and certain other qualities that vary according to the specific project. Format, credentials lists, and lineups may not be the first things they look at
Advice
- Don't lie about the contents of your resume. Just tell the truth. Lying could cause you a bad reputation, which will affect your career for years.
- Make as many auditions as possible. When you're looking to get into the world of acting, auditioning is a full-time job. Trying four or five auditions a week is a good idea.
- Estimate two years of little or no work. Collect enough money to make it through this period, or have a flexible job that allows you to take an audition at any time.
- If your resume is too long, reduce the list of special talents. Preserve elements directly related to your acting career, while you can safely eliminate your writing speed, or the ability to eat ten hot dogs in one minute.
- Pay attention to casting requests! It is very important to show up at the audition with everything you need. Going to audition for Charlie Chaplin without a cane is a guaranteed way to not get the part.
- Don't audition for roles that come with an age that you can't credibly play. If you're 43 and auditioning for a high school role, you're just making a fool of yourself. Conversely, if you are 21 and want to play the role of the principal or a teacher, you probably won't get the part. Most people manage to be credible within 10 years around their real age. For example, if you are 30, you may be able to play roles from 20 to 40.
Warnings
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Never pay for an audition.
Whenever someone asks you to pay, it's almost always a scam.
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Don't mention names on your resume.
Many people make the mistake of mentioning celebrities they know, but this isn't a special ability. In fact, it can be a bad thing for some personnel managers.
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Respect everyone on set.
The feet you step on today may have ties to the "backs" you will have to kiss tomorrow.
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Don't be rude if someone else gets your share.
If you have a reputation for mishandling waste, you will never be able to get a call.
