3 Tips to Help Launch An Acting Career – Marketing
3 Tips to Help Launch An Acting Career
Eilolin Marhutk
Hollywood will help you...but only once you are making a million dollars and Hollywood can take 10%.
1. BE PREPARED.
The time to learn the basics of acting is not on the way to your first audition or job. Assuming that you have taken an acting class that covers improvisation/scene study/cold-reading, have a great headshot, and a resume that lists your acting acheivements/special skills/classes taken/union affiliations, then I would say that you are on your way to beingg 75% prepared for an audition. I am surprised at how many actors go into an audition without knowing what exactly they are walking into. There are alot of things that an actor can do before an audition to prep themselves...do an internet search on the project- it can be eye opening to ty[e in the directors name and see what types of things come up. Also- for me I have learned that before an audition I need to distance myself from the other people in the room. Mainly because I am really talkative and it seems to break my focus if I am chatting about nothing before I enter the audition.
2. STAY IN-TOUCH/REACHABLE
Join theater groups, hang out where other THESPIANS are hanging, so you can stay on top of gossip and network. Finding out who is who in the local industry will help you play the game.
Build a web site that people can log onto and get all of your information from. Resume, photos, and contact information are vital. If you arent great at building a website then hire someone that is.
3. CREATE LUCK
I came across a thin-as-a-rail actor named Paul Cram that consistently seems to get lucky. It doesnt make alot of sense considering this guy is almost six feet tall and only wrighs about 120pounds. He seems to be the polar opposite of what an actor should look like. But upon observing what he was doing to market himself and how he handled himself in social and business settings I noticed that he was setting himself up to get lucky. He wasnt sitting back in his chair waiting for lady luck to notice him, he was activly pursuing her. I even noticed that on his car he had written his website "www.paulcramactor.com" I have never seen another actor with that type of enthusiasm.
If you live in a city or state that doesnt film movies or commercials- move.
Some states have agencies that work with film companies to assist in scouting shooting locations and striping away legalities. Find out who they are and if they have a mailing list or another way of finding out in advance if a film crew will be shooting in your area. Then fing out who the casting director is and send a copy of your headshot/resume. Who knows...the road to acting in movies and commercials is long, but maybe your exit is just a few blocks or a mile away.
About The Author
Eilolin Marhutk has worked as a casting director in Minneapolis Minnesota since 1997, working with such clients as Warner Brothers, Disney, and Fox.
Tips for getting your movie career launched – Domain Name
Tips for getting your movie career launched
Bas de Baar
Hollywood helps those who help themselves! In you want to get your movie career fast tracked then here are three common sense tips to help you on your way.
1. Borrow the Boy Scouts Motto: Be Prepared.
Once you start the ball rolling you never know when youre going to get a casting call. When that call comes there isnt going to be any time to get all of the basics covered so get them out of the way right now.
Get your portfolio in order. Have plenty of copies of your PROFESSIONALLY done publicity photos on hand.
Have all of your stage and screen credits listed even if its only summer stock and school performances.
List any special skills you have, such as dancing, juggling, yodelling, foreign languages, anything which might catch a casting directors eye.
List any union memberships such as SAG, AEA or AFTRA.
Build a web site that contains everything thats included in your portfolio and make sure that there is contact information available. If you have an agent then list the agents contact information instead of yours. If you stink at building web sites then pay a pro to do it for you. Hire a copywriter as well if you have no writing talent. Register your name, if possible, and make that your domain name.
2. Stay Connected
Join local theater groups, read the trades looking for casting calls, hang out where other actors hang out so you can stay on top of the local gossip and happenings. Sometimes you can pick up a valuable tip or hear about a film crew thats coming to do some local shooting. I know a girl who landed an extra role in Robert Dineros Meet the Parents by "accidentally" showing up at the train station in Oyster Bay, NY where a scene was being shot. She picked up that juicy tip at an actors workshop she attended.
3. Make your own luck
The harder and smarter that you work the luckier you get. Remember my friend from Meet the Parents Whats the chances that shed have that screen credit if she didnt go out of her way to "get lucky".
If you live in Podunk, and no one ever films in Podunk, then move somewhere where they do film.
If your state or city has an agency that works with movie companies to help scout locations and strip away red tape, call them and see if they have a mailing list or any other way of finding out IN ADVANCE when a film crew will be shooting. SHOW UP on shooting days. Dont make a pest of yourself but be "noticeable". Hey, you might just get noticed. If you have enough advanced notice then find out who the casting director is and fire off a copy of your portfolio. Sure, its likely to get "filed" but you never know when yours will show up and be the right thing at the right time.
If you look like someone famous then make that work for you. Now, I dont mean that you kind of resemble Julia Roberts if only you lost 60 pounds, got a cut and dye, and had your teeth capped. But if people come up to you in restaurants and ask for your autograph then you could have an instant ticket to the movies!
Get a recent publicity photo of Ms. Roberts and take it to the hair salon. Have your stylist cut, style and color your hair to exactly match the style and color in the photo. Then make your way to the local boutique and buy something to wear which matches as closely as possible what Ms. Roberts is wearing in the photo and then get a professional photographer to shoot you in the exact same pose.
Now, take the real photo of Julia and your own and fire it off to her agent, your agent, any agent you can find. Send it to casting directors, heck, send it to the local and national newspapers. Write a letter asking: Can you tell which one is the real Julia Roberts Might not work for you; but Ill tell you this -- It doesnt have any chance of working at all if you dont at least try it.
The road to Hollywood can be long an never ending, or it could be the next exit on your journey through this world. The fun thing is: You never know!
For more info: http://www.TalentInternet.com
About The Author
Bas de Baar is editor of www.TalentInternet.com, a site with everything about movie and modeling auditions.
For more info: http://www.TalentInternet.com.
Is A Career a Calling or Choice – Stress Management
Is A Career a Calling or Choice
Michelle L. Casto, M.Ed.
How much of our career path is destiny and how much is free will In my opinion, it is 50/50. We are given a life map at the beginning of our lives, and there are things we are meant to learn, people we are meant to meet, work we are meant to perform. But many of us are not tuned into ourselves and the signs that are presented to us. We often miss important information, and miss out on those lessons, people, and jobs.
The use of free will comes about when we are presented with options. Choices are really curves in our path. We can choose to take the long route, or the quicker, easier route. No path is better, it just impacts how quickly we move along our route, but remember: when climbing the mountain of self discovery, taking the long, hard, scenic route can be a rather enjoyable, enlightening experience.
Confucius once said,