So, you’ve taken some classes, you’re feeling confident, you think you’re ready for your close up and then you realize most projects ask for headshots and a resume. “Aauugghhhh!!! What do I do now?!”
First, never panick. This is a process that calls for a bit of repetition and some pre-planning before you run out to get headshots and format a resume.
HEADSHOTS
Type the word “TALENT AGENT” in a search engine. Find one that is closest to you. Check their page to see what the talent they represent looks like. Some agencies are gracious enough to list photo resources. That is normally in smaller markets. I found the photographer who did my 1995 headshots through a seminar I took. When I moved to Texas I volunteered for our local PBS station to help with pledge drives. One of the women on the set had an agent. So I asked her who did her headshots. She emailed me the names of her photographers and stated who her favorite was. I spoke with the photographer prior to the shoot to discuss dates, poses, clothes and fees.
Now, I am not going to list photographer fees. Here’s why. It varies from state to state and you really do not want to invest a lot of money in photos until you get an agent. Agencies know how they want to market you. So, if you go out and get an avant-garde photographer to take pictures of you so that you look like Lady Gaga, I guarantee you will be using those photos as coasters.
Again, visit the sites of TALENT AGENCIES in your area (or an area you would like to work in) and glean from their pages. Look at their SUBMISSION GUIDELINES and then pay close attention to what their represented talent looks like.
Your first photo should be a real photo of you. Kinda like one you would take with your phone. Seriously! They need to see every pimple, cut, bruise and hair (ladies, please pluck your facial hair – facial hair only applies to men). Agents have eyes that are trained to see if you’ve got it of if you don’t.
You also need a full body (more like 3/4) shot. This shot would be from your shins up. The Ford Modeling Agency has a great example of how to take and correctly submit a photo.
RESUMES
Rule #1 and the most important rule for a resume is never lie!! If you want your career to end shortly after it begins, lie on your resume.
“Why?” you ask. Well, let’s use the cautionary tale of . . . we’ll call him “Sam”.
Sam has a very impressive resume with many blockbuster movies. Sam does not list himself in any starring roles. But he lists roles that were still played by C list actors. Sam gets an audition with . . . let’s say Jerry Bruckheimer. Sam talks about his speaking role on one of Jerry’s shows from fall 2010. Jerry immediately knows that Sam is lying because the role Sam states he played was actually one given to Jerry’s cousin.
Producers and Directors know who they work with (or have people on staff who know). Most actors immediately update their information on the IMdB page to validate who they have worked with. Most directors will automatically give actors IMdB credit and link the info to their page as a courtesy. You will not get away with a lie in this business and you will not live long enough to live it down. Just don’t do it!!!
If you want to start building a resume here are some places to get work
If you’re still in high school you can put your school productions on your resume. Community theater is a fantastic way to get started, get credits and start networking. Your local PBS station. I did on-air commentary during pledge week and was able to use that experience for host credits. Volunteer! Find local non-profits who need story tellers or performers for their community events. There’s a fantastic non-profit organization in Dallas called the Reading and Radio Resources . They produce audio materials for the deaf and hearing impaired. Many voice actors contribute to this resource. Here’s the big one. Work as a background performer (extra). Find the Film Commission in your area. Any movie productions being filmed have to get permits through the film commission. The commission page normally will have contact information about the production and guidelines for getting involved. This is also when you will look into CASTING AGENCIES in your area.
Casting Agencies do not represent you. Casting Agencies will find extra/background work for you. Some times they list it on their websites. Some of the roles will be unpaid. But you still get to list it on your resume.
So, your homework for this lesson is to –
Research Talent Agents (I’ll explain Casting Agents in a later lesson) Review the SUBMISSION GUIDELINES on the pages of Talent Agencies (LEARN THEIR PROCESSES until you can recite them in your sleep) Volunteer or find a production where you can become an extra to start building your resume. Research Casting Agents.
BAL!!!