We are sure you have that one actor friend cast off of a semi-professional photo taken of them at their sister’s wedding 2-years ago. So, yes, that can obviously happen. However, you do not want to let that be an excuse to not invest in yourself as an actor.
Acting is like any other career. You need the proper training, materials, and commitment to make it. Think about it. You would never see a neuro-surgeon land a job at the top hospital if they didn’t endure the years of schooling and testing they need to become qualified. The same goes for being an actor. You must treat it like your job (even if it’s super fun).
Now let’s address some common misconceptions:
Your Headshot Isn’t THAT Important
This is incorrect. In a very visually focused industry, your headshot is everything. Especially since so much of the casting process has been turned digital, you need a headshot that will stand out to Casting Directors that have to scroll through hundreds, if not thousands of faces a day. Why? Because the images that Casting gets to see are tiny thumbnail shots. So anything too low quality will be blurry, anything without proper lighting may not show your features off, and anything with distracting imagery will definitely be scrolled by.
This is why you need proper, professional headshots. Casting must be able to see your eyes clearly, and your facial expressions should be able to tell a story. You also may need to look at getting “character shots” that allow your agent to market you in various looks for various project types and roles. Essentially, you want to sell yourself with impactful photos that can show Casting that you very well could be the right actor for the job.
Remember – you don’t have to break the bank. But you do have to take this seriously and give yourself the best ‘shot’ (no pun intended).
Production & Casting Never Even Looks at Your Resumé
There are varying answers about the importance of having a professional actor resumé, but long-story-short – you need one. Whether they even pay attention to your resumé or not, having one is standard within the industry. Even if you have not a single credit to your name, you should have a resume formatted like an actor resumé with:
- Your Name
- Basic Stats
- Any Relevant Training
- Your Skills
For example, say a job you’re applying for asked you to wear black shoes with black slacks and a green dress shirt, and you only owned the black shoes and slacks. Suppose you went into that job interview without the green dress shirt. In that case, your potential employer will be thinking one of two things or both: (1) This person can’t even read basic instructions, so how could I trust hiring them for the actual job; (2) This person doesn’t care enough about the position to go out and get the required attire, so why would I pay them when I have 50 other candidates that do care.
The above scenario is exactly how it looks to industry professionals if you don’t care to put together a resumé and format it the way an actor’s CV should look. So even if production and Casting do not analyze your resumé from top to bottom, at least they know you have one and that you can follow protocol within the industry.
Demo Reels are Overrated
Demo Reels are a standard practice that never dies but only gets revamped to suit the current modern-day demands that the industry sees. Nowadays, they’re crucial to pitch actors in an overwhelming sea of performers who want the job as bad as you do.
They’re a great way to push for actors starting out or actors that no longer fitting what the market’s demand but still deserve a shot at a role they’d be great for. That’s why finding student work or short films can be beneficial at the start of an actor’s career if they need various project types showing their range. Alternatively, some actors invest in curated demo scenes or reels to showcase specific sides that will help them be considered for the kind of projects they want to do!
Although you don’t need them right away, it certainly can help your career if you do find a way to provide those materials to your agent to do the best they can to get you in the room.
So, if we’re honest – yes. To be a professional actor, you need professional materials. How you get those materials together is up to you. But the actors that #bookIT are the ones that do the work, commit to the lifestyle and present themselves like seasoned performers from the start.
