Acting

Before you submit your resume and headshot, read the breakdown thoroughly. Make sure you are the perfect fit. Most breakdowns will clearly describe the type of person they are looking for as well as the filming dates. Make sure you fit that description and that you are available for those shoot dates. Follow the instructions in the breakdown.

Unless stated otherwise, address the subject line with the name of the character or position you are applying for, along with your name (i.e. Submission for the role of Andrew by John Doe).

When the casting call includes a contact name, make sure you address that person in your email and use the right gender and correct spelling.

In the body of the email, state the role(s) you are applying for and give a brief description of why you consider yourself the perfect fit for that role or what makes you eager to join that production. Include any details requested in the breakdown like your weight, height, and size of your shirt, pants, and/or shoes, and where you are based.

Make sure you include an eye-grabbing digital headshot which should be 500kb or less and your resume in PDF. The files should simply be your name (john_doe.jpg, john_doe.pdf). You can also provide a link to additional photos, your website, and two to three links of clips of your work.

Keep your email simple. At the end of the email add a short and polite note indicating the materials you are submitting.

Use a professional email address. While this may sound silly many forget this simple rule. Imagine receiving an email from I_am_the_actor_for_you@gmail.com instead of john_doe@gmail.com

When signing off, use your full name. It is best if you create an email signature which links to your website and has your contact details.

#actor #script #audition #casting

Keeping a small portion of your closet devoted to clothes for auditioning that are kept clean and pressed can save time and panic later.

Here are just a few to consider:

- Basic Commercial:

Before getting into character types, it’s important to have a few basics.

For commercial auditions, this will typically be something in a solid color, and on the more cheerful side.

Think of the “family friendly” version of you.

- Basic Theatrical:

Same idea as commercial, but a more serious look.

This might mean darker or more muted colors, possibly longer sleeves, something that makes you feel grounded.

- Mom/Dad:

Having a parental look will go a long way for commercial auditions and day players.

A solid cardigan or polo shirt you can throw on to look approachable and relatable can easily suggest the role. Maybe have a pair of glasses handy. You want a slightly more conservative look for this one.

- Flirty/Seductive:

If it’s in your wheelhouse, having a flirty ingenue or vampy look might be something to consider. It’s a fine line to walk, as you still want to look professional. Hair and makeup can also go a long way here.

- Dystopian/Gritty:

Get yourself that grungy gray tank top or noticeably worn tee. Having an appropriately lived-in looking jacket (army green, brown, or other darker earth tones) might also be a good idea.

- Professional White Collar, putting together a look with a blazer or suit with a tie can suggest a lawyer, CEO, detective, accountant or any type of white-collar professional.

- Professional Blue Collar, on the other side of the spectrum, a nice denim shirt that you can roll up the sleeves can easily transform you into a farmer, hometown clerk, etc.

- Scrubs, bring on the medical dramas! If you don’t have actual scrubs (though they can often be found in uniform stores) a solid color v-neck shirt can suggest a nurse or technician. A lab coat might be good to have on hand if you can find one.

#actor #audition #selftape #wardrobe

You know that social media offers excellent tools to market yourself, but are you using each platform properly?

As an actor, you want to constantly strive to create an image of yourself as an interesting and relatable person. So often, though, through the misuse of social media, the blending of personal and professional comes through and it becomes difficult to showcase ourself in the appropriate light. This isn't a rebuke on sharing parts of your life that are interesting and unrelated to acting; relating to your followers is an important part of being social. However, being consistent and molding your image is critical to gain a consistent and dedicated following.

In the entertainment industry, image and perception are (almost) everything. You should strive to show your professionalism, talent, skill set, and appreciation for working daily to make yourself a better person and talent.

Aspects of who you are and how you work to become better at your craft is very important to your social media profiles. Posting that you are at your workshop, getting new headshots, going to an audition, listening to a podcast about how to give an energetic performance every time, working on a new accent, etc., are all fantastic examples of what you could be telling your followers to boost your credibility.

This also highlights that you are serious about your work as an actor.

Focusing your time and energy is key to your online engagement. Don't spread yourself too thin by using more than three social media accounts. You should be using social media to show followers and fans what you're doing career-wise; it should not be the activity itself.

Don't spend more than 15-20 minutes per day on each platform and spend it crafting what you are saying rather than mindlessly roaming around wasting time.

Spend time talking to and responding to your friends/fans to show that you hear them. Did you know that Mr. Rogers reportedly responded to every single one of his fan letters? That's the commitment and respect he felt his audience deserved.

#actor #socialmedia #lifestyle

- Using lines as an excuse

- “When I know the lines I’ll be able to perform the scene better” - this is an excuse to cover up many things, mainly inhibitions, the fear of trying something or not knowing what to do because you haven’t read the scene/script enough. As Lee Strasberg (The Method guru) once said, learning lines is about memory and acting has nothing to do with memory. My advice is to play and experiment with the scene. You can only do this by reading it and making justified choices. Find a suitable way of training your memory to learn lines effectively because that’s not the job of your acting coach.

- Not reading the script enough - AKA lazy acting. Some actors go through the script, but only to learn their lines. You need to know the full story, not just the story of the scene your character appears in or only the story of your character. To get the full picture you must read the entire script (more than once). Depending on your character and the size of your role this may not be possible because casting isn’t allowed to send you the full script, but if they can this is the best scenario of course.

Here are some things to think about when reading the full script: Why does your character choose those specific words? What do they really mean? What is really going on? What has led them to where they are now? In the early stages of character development you’re like a detective; you have to piece the full picture together to be able to connect to the character, then you have to figure out what the motive behind the character’s behavior is so you can make clear choices in each scene you appear in.

- Forcing emotions/trying too hard - this is usually done to impress, and there is logic in that, but acting should feel effortless. When you try too hard or try to force something, it looks fake, feels strange and just doesn’t make the thing you’re trying to make happen appear. The same happens with emotions. Find inner purpose for what your character is going through and demonstrate through gestures and expressions.

#actor #tv #film #script #casting

I’m in rehearsals for my PSYCH thriller and I’m working with relatively new actors. Sometimes it’s challenging to get them to deliver consistent performances. They might deliver a line perfectly Tuesday, and then Thursday do something totally different. I want to say NNNNOOOOOOO!

An expert on the subject Jim Johnson, who teaches voice and dialects at the University of Houston and has coached many well known actors, also runs AccentHelp, one of the leading resources for dialect training at home. Jim recommends that the first thing a student does is listen to native speakers.

“Just get used to hearing it, without trying to listen for anything specific,” he says. There are a number of resources for listening to authentic dialects, including Johnson’s AccentHelp courses and the International Dialects of English Archive, a website Johnson highly recommends.

“It’s free, and a number of people, including myself, contribute recordings,” he adds.

After a few initial listenings, he says, students can then get into the details: “Start listening for sound changes, trying to get the intonation down. Get the rhythm of it, where the pitch moves.”

To incorporate the “musicality” of a dialect, Johnson will often have students use physical actions to follow the movement of pitch and rhythm, such as moving their arms up and down with the pitch or tapping out the rhythms. He finds this helps speed up the learning process. “Hopefully, they’re not just feeling it, but they’re seeing it as well,” he says. “They learn it through auditory, kinesthetic, and visual means.” Exaggerate the dialect, study vowel sounds, record yourself, keep practicing, and use your acting skills: In the end, Johnson thinks the most important element in a believable dialect is great acting, with the ability to sell it.

#voice #dialect #actor #voiceover

Melanie Scroggins shares five essential tools you need to build a voiceover business in today’s blog.

Melanie is a Voice Actor, Audio Producer, and Host of The WFH Voice Actor Podcast. She has worked on campaigns for Google, Nintendo, Hyatt, Target, NerdWallet, AT&T, and more all from home.

www.stage32.com/blog/5-tools-you-need-to-build-a-voiceover-business-3596