Youth Resume Reminders

Don't forget!

Follow these basic resume rules:

• Your resume should never be more than one page long.
• The resume should be stapled to and trimmed to fit the headshot, or even better, printed directly to the back of your photo.
• Don’t staple clippings or reviews to your resume, they will just get in the way.
• You should have an email address created just for your acting resume.
• Never make the font on your resume smaller than 10pt. It is difficult to read in any situation, whether it’s in a well-lit office or a darkened theater

Youth Resume Tips

Sample Resume Outline:


Opening/Heading: This should include your name, contact information ( cell phone or service), height, weight, age range, eye and hair color.

Body: Any lead or featured acting experience you have had belongs in this section. Use the sections: Theater, Film, Television, and Commercials. If you have done voice-overs as well, you can include that here.

List in columns the title of the piece, then your character’s name, then the place where you performed. (i.e., Once Upon a Mattress; Winnifred; Bucks County Playhouse)

Education: List here any acting programs you have attended, any production companies you were apart of as well as any schools you have gone to.

Special Skills: This is a list of skills you have that may be needed for certain roles. (i.e., Spanish speaker, horseback riding, fencing, dialects (list them), etc.

Shaun Robinson

The collected wisdom and shared experiences of Hollywood superstars and everyday teenagers—inspirational advice encouraging young women to be comfortable in their own skin and showing them how to become tomorrow’s leaders

Q: What do Vanessa Williams, Meredith Vieira, Queen Latifah, Danica Patrick, Helen Mirren, Janet Jackson, Julianne Moore, Jennifer Hudson, and Eva Mendes have in common with most teenage girls?

A: They have all struggled with self-esteem and body image; they’ve compared themselves to their peers and have sometimes felt that they come up short.

Drawing on personal interviews with these and many other celebrities, and her volunteer work with teens around the country, in Exactly As I Am, Access Hollywood entertainment co-host Shaun Robinson shares the intimate thoughts, revelations, and feelings of these powerful women, illustrating how similar they are to those of average girls struggling to find their voices. For example, Kelly Clarkson discusses the pressure to be thin, Virginia Madsen talks about standing up to the “in crowd,” and Gabrielle Union shares her thoughts on being yourself. Exactly As I Am shows young women how to achieve a balance between accepting how they look and appreciating who they are on the inside, emphasizing the importance of having a mentor or role model and the support of family. Inspiring and motivating, this tapestry of perspectives will inspire every reader to say, I accept myself “exactly as I am.”

Youth Acting Resume Tips

Your acting resume should begin with your physical statistics and contact information.

The auditor may already have your headshot, but listing your physical attributes is necessary in case the picture and resume are ever separated. Be sure to include height, weight, hair color, and eye color (your real eye color).

When listing contact information, give the address and number where you can be reached most quickly (remember you want the job). If you have an agent or manager, it is that entity's contact information you should list, not your own.

More Youth Resume Tips

Education on Your Acting Resume

It is necessary to include your education in your resume. This way, auditors can be sure of the degree of skills that you possess. Be sure to list any training you have with Acting Technique, Scene Study, Voice (not singing), Movement, Improvisation, On-camera Scene Study, and On-camera Commercials. Also, include the names of the production companies you were apart of and the institutions you have attended and the names of the teachers involved in your training.

Youth Actor Resume Tips

Your Experience

The experience section of your resume should highlight the primary roles that you have played. When considering what to include and what to leave out,

here are a few tips:

• List your lead or featured theater, film and television roles in separate sections.
• Do not list your roles as an extra.
• Keep from listing any non-speaking roles, even if they are primary roles.
• Only include work that you feel best represents you as an actor.

Youth Acting Resume Tips

A Small, Powerful Acting Resume!

Don’t be afraid if your acting resume is sparse. A small but powerful resume can be very convincing. Each item in your resume should stand alone and leave no questions as to what your role was, what the production was, and where. Your work should be credible, which will help to develop an image of you as an actor. You won’t have a lot of experience to list at first, but your resume will evolve with your career, changing as you develop more experience.

Don't be afraid.

Youth Resume Tips

Ross Reports and Your Acting Resume

Mailings are a great way to get your resume seen by agencies and casting directors. What you need to start mailing is: a copy of Ross Reports. Get relevant addresses from there and put your package together. Your package should include a headshot, resume, and (brief!) cover letter. You should have separate resumes for film work and commercial work. Use the cover letter to show your creativity and personality in three short paragraphs: who you are, what do you want to accomplish, and why you are mailing the agent and/or casting director.

Again, brief on the cover letter!

Youth Acting Resume Tips

Be Truthful on your resume! Only include truthful information in your resume for acting.
The industry is big, but it isn’t that big. Chances are that the person interviewing you knows someone who knows someone who knows all of your previous work. A little lie told early on can become a huge problem later. No one expects a young actor to have a stellar resume.

In the end, it is your audition and interview that will land you that job.
Remember, a small, credible resume is much more effective than a large one padded with lies.

Youth Resume Tips

Resume Content

A well-formed acting resume is very important to a performers' career. Be discerning when you are writing your resume. Include only items that highlight and enhance your experience and strengths as a performer. Your resume should allow your auditor to see what kind of roles you have played in the past, and help them to envision the kinds of roles you will play in the future. Your details should be accurate and well-placed. Provide just enough information; too much information will only hurt your chances.

The Resume

Your acting resume is your calling card.

You are presenting yourself to complete strangers who know nothing of your talents. With that in mind, be sure your resume is:

1. Neatly typed
2. No longer than one page
3. Edited and proofread
4. Updated on a regular basis
5. In correct format
   
6. In addition, you should be sure that your name and contact information are prominently displayed at the top of the page. This is so your resume can be found easily among others.
   
7. When attaching your resume to the back of your headshot, be sure it adheres solidly. There should be no clips or opened staples to snag on other photos in the casting director’s pile.
8. Don’t use clever fonts or colors on your resume.
9. Keep the type simple, such as Tahoma, Courier, or Times New Roman.
10. Always use black ink to print your resume, and be sure it doesn’t smudge.

A small effort on your acting resume will go a long way toward presenting yourself as a professional.

Drama School Electives

So you’ve decided to go to a drama school. Great! Now, what courses should you take? Remember that your goal is to become a well-rounded performer. Don’t shy away from classes that challenge you. For example, if you can’t sing, take a singing courses and a lot of them. There’s more to learn than carrying a tune. As an actor breath control is crucial, and there’s no better way to learn the tricks of this skill than a course in vocal music. And who knows, you might land a singing job from it.

Monologues

Monologues for Your Acting College Audition
If you’re planning to attend an acting college, you’ll need to pull together a powerful audition to get accepted. Most acting colleges require that you prepare two monologues, one classical and one modern. Classical monologues are generally thought to be any theatrical piece written prior to the turn of the 20Th century, although some colleges define it as later than that.
Your best bet is to choose any of the Greek classics; Shakespeare, Moliere, Voltaire, etc.

If you’re stuck, go to a local bookstore and search for compilations of classic monologues.
Modern monologues are more recently written, usually within the last 100 years. Try not to choose overdone monologues, as the school's casting directors can get bored hearing the same pieces over and over again. That won’t work to your advantage. Do your best to select a monologue that represents you. Rehearse both monologues enough so that you will go into your audition fluidly and with confidence. It is the confidence that sells.

Drama and Mood

There is a saying in performing; that you should leave your personal problems outside the door. In other words, don’t let your current issues and mood affect your performance. Remember that while on stage or in front of the camera, you are the character you are playing, not the other way around. However, you are human, and the character you are playing is (sometimes!) human. Don’t refuse your feelings, but patiently observe them so that you can call upon them to give life from them into your future roles.

Choosing a School

When you’re in the market for drama schools, you may be overwhelmed by the amount of places to choose from. You’re going to have to weed out the schools that are not a perfect fit for you and find ones that will work with you to help you become the best performer you can be. Here are a few things to consider when searching for a drama school:

• Location. How far are you willing to travel to go to school? If you need to relocate, where will you live?
• Budget. Can you afford tuition at the drama school? If not, are there alternate ways to pay for your education such as financial aid, student loans, or work study programs?
• Coursework. What types of classes are offered? Do they suit the kind of acting you want to be doing in the future? Is there decent variety?
• Faculty. Who will be your teachers? Do you recognize any of them as established current or past actors? If not, what are their credentials and connections as a whole? Are they writers, directors, etc.
• Current and Past Students. What have the graduates of this school done with their careers? Can you speak to current students to find out why they like the school?

Drama and Acting

Drama involves a plot and characters that are ruled by a certain overriding theme. As a performer, it is your duty to understand this theme and let it suffuse your work. Work within the script and let it flow through you and the relationships that you build with other characters. You can begin by discussing the stage- or screenplay with your fellow actors and/or the director. Coming to a common agreement about the motivations of each character will indeed fill out the production to its entirety.

Drama School

Drama schools tend to have a highly competitive admissions process. Applicants must submit to an audition process before they are granted admission. Drama schools focus on the development of acting technique, usually focusing on work in the theater. Although the work is performance based, students typically also learn about stage craft. Classes on set building, lighting design, and even dramatic writing are often offered so that students get a well-rounded education.

Drama Strategy

A simple strategy for creating an honest script is through the use of mantras.

Mantras- an expression or idea that is repeated, often without thinking about it, and closely associated with something...like a life's story.

While you are acting in a scene, recite an appropriate motivational phrase over and over again in your head. The mantra will subconsciously affect your performance, making it seem more natural. For example, if you are playing in a loving family scene, you may want to try reciting, “I love you,” in your head during the scene. The mantra will help to add depth to your character.

Elements of Drama

The primary elements of drama are plot, character, and theme.
The theme is the central idea of the work, or the message the writer wishes to impart on her audience. The theme governs the progression of the plot. The plot in turn governs the characters, who move through the plot’s conflicts, thereby helping to further develop the theme. Other elements such as irony and symbolism can be added to lend more subtle touches to the script, making it more human and accessible.

Acting in Theater

Drama and Humor. Comedy acting is often a critical component within a dramatic piece, though it is one that is difficult to create. Because humor is subjective, one can’t be sure what will make an audience member laugh. Usually the best rule of thumb is not to try hard. In life, many things can and do make us laugh, even in moments of high tension. Ideally the writer will have achieved honesty in the script, so as an actor you have only to portray the role as honestly as possible. One of the worst things to do is to go for the laugh or “milk” the audience for a laugh. The audience will feel manipulated and lose interest in the world you have created with your character. And all that hard work will be for nothing.

Acting in Theater

Playing Drama, and the act of performing drama, teaches us to re-engage the skill of discovery. As children, we discovered all the time. In the creation of relationships, and the art of imitating relationships that stem from drama, we are again taught to relearn how we engage in relationships. The writer of script must study how to bring characters together within the plot, while the actor must learn how to imitate these relationships on stage. It is perhaps why we call it “playing” a role, or even why a dramatic production is called a “play”!

Jitters

Techniques for the Jitters First night jitters affect almost all actors. Rumor has it that Steve Harvey is nervous before every show he does! As an actor, you need to develop your own personal strategy for defeating the jitters. Your method can be something as simple as going over your lines again or as complex as yodeling. Meditation and other breath control techniques often helps. What matters most, however, is that you come up with your own personal way of managing nerves and stick to it.

Loose the Script

Scripts are great to have your nose in when you’re sitting around before rehearsal, or waiting for your turn, but get rid of it before you hit the stage. Many actors have become so accustomed to have an off-book date set for them that they will cling to every available second of script they can get during rehearsals until that date arrives. Trust me, don’t wait, ditch the script fast!

Learn your lines for a given scene in a given day. If you’re blocking Act I, Scene 1 then memorize that and nothing else for that day. It’s hard to do if you’re unaccustomed to it, but I stand by this method. It lets you learn your lines sooner, lets you become accustomed to moving in character without something in your hands and it lets you look your partners in the eye from day one. And if you can’t remember all those lines? Well, that’s why there are those wonderful Assistant Directors. “LINE!” Just stick to and remember all of your acting training and you will be just fine.

Relaxed and Confident

A crucial acting tip is to always remain relaxed and confident. Granted, you may play characters that display the extreme opposites of these emotions. What matters is that you approach the role with these attitudes. Learning to be relaxed within your role helps you to be a more flexible talent, allowing you to respond instinctively. Being confident helps to you develop your character more fully, even if you are playing a role that calls for a doubtful characteristic.

The Vocal Warm Up

Part of any serious actor training involves training the lips, voice and tongue to articulate and project.

Here’s a great exercise to get you in tip-top shape for performance time. Begin by standing up straight, knees unlocked. Breathe long and deeply. Exhale through your lips in a sigh. Open your mouth very wide, and stick your tongue out. Then pull it back in.
Next, blow air through your loosely closed lips so that they flap like a horse. Stick your tongue out and move it in all four directions and hold for about 3 seconds in all directions. Then, place a pencil in your mouth, bite down, resting the pencil on top of your tongue. dig up all the tongue-twisters you can find and repeat them out-loud, correctly, 12 times with the pencil in your mouth.

Here are a few I use:

• A tutor who tooted the flute tried to tutor two tooters to toot. Said the two to their tutor: "Is it harder to toot,Or to tutor two tooters to toot?"

• The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick

• What noise annoys an oyster? The noise that annoys an oyster is a noise that knows no oyster. 

• The Leith police dismisseth thee, The Leith police dismisseth us.

 **Be sure to check out why young artists need                             Digital Press: My Digital Press Agent

Show and Tell

Showing verses Telling:
A critical acting tip is to remember that you are showing a story, not just telling it. This may sound simple at first, but it’s harder than you might think to engage your audience. Simply reciting your lines and obeying stage directions won’t be enough. Acting involves the whole of your being. Each movement, each breath, and each spoken line contribute to your performance. When you are on screen or on stage, know that your actions must be deliberate. Everything you do (your “stage business,” in other words) must work to show the audience the story.

The warm up

The Relaxation Warm-up:

Acting training isn’t all about learning lines and how to move around on the stage. One of the most vital acting techniques is teaching and training the body and mind before you set foot on the stage or in front of the camera. The first part of any warm-up exercise is relaxation. This may appear counterintuitive, as you will want to have lots of energy to perform. What the exercise does is turn your body and mind into a blank slate, ridding you of…you, for lack of a better term. You want to remove all thoughts and tensions in order to rebuild a different person who will take on the role he or she has been assigned.

Example; Lie down in a quiet area, arms at your side, palms facing up. Take 12 long deep breaths. With each inhale, imagine you are breathing in pure energy. With each exhale, push out all toxicity and negative thoughts. Allow every muscle in your body to unclench and relax. do this for 12 minutes, then slowly revive yourself by wiggling fingers and toes before you slowly sit up.

The Alexander Method

The Alexander technique is another way of approaching acting. It involves a complete restructuring of the way your body responds to stimuli, re-realizing how your mind and body integrate through retaining breathing and movement. It was Alexander’s belief that breathing and vocalization determine how the body functions as a whole. This technique allows actors to retrain any bad physical habits they have developed and create more efficient ways of moving and breathing.

Method Acting

The Stanislavsky method,

is one of the most common acting strategies.


It involves studying and living as the character you are portraying. Basically, with the Stanislavsky Method, you are working to find common emotional experiences with the character. Once those common emotions are identified, you draw on your own experiences of those emotions to fill out your character. In this way the emotions of your character become more sincere. They become you.

Playing for Status

Status is a big part of acting technique. Most of human interaction could be broken down in to shifting issues of status. During the course of an average conversation, a person’s status may shift from high to low, and back again, depending on the topic of the conversation. In order to be an effective actor, these status changes must be replicated on screen or on stage. Be conscious of your body language. What kind of status is your body projecting? You should also take note of the timbre of your voice. Is it clear and confident or low and quavering? These factors help determine your status in a scene, and thereby establish your position and goals within it.

Acting Techniques Tips

Acting Techniques for Warming Up:


A well known warm-up acting routine involves re-naming your surroundings. The point of the exercise is to break down external barriers in the hopes of challenging any inner barriers that you may have.

Follow these steps:

1. Take a deep breath



2. Choose an object in the room, and rename it. It does not have to be a special name, just different. Example: change chair to elephant.



3. Move on to the next object, rename it, and repeat the new name of the first object.



4. Repeat until you have renamed everything in the room.

It sounds corny...I know. But it works for some.

What I Love about my mom

There is a concept, an idea, a thought: I don't want to be average. I got that from my mom.

She, from a small southern town in Alabama always stressed; "When you open your mouth, nobody should be able to tell where you come from." The second thing she stressed is work. She did not wait or depend on the government. She worked.

She worked. She paid her mortgage. She bought our food with cash. She did not want public housing or food stamps..."It's not my pedigree."

Because of that, work is my philosophy today. You may be a little smarter than me, you may have more connections than me, you might have more talent than me or a few more other things than me, but I will not be out worked or out hustled. I will not. If we run a race, one of two things will happen: you will quit or I'm going to die. It is that simple. And I do not die. You are not going to out work me. I get up very early and go to bed late. Work full time, school and a business. Hard work is the who, the what I am. I even named one of my businesses with that name.

...And this hard work ethic that I love about my mom is what I love about my grandmothers, my cousins, my sisters, my friends and all women who work and work hard. Work to provide for their families. Not waiting on the government for public housing and food stamps. Loving and wanting a man instead of needing one.

HardWork...

This is my pedigree!

HeadShot Format

Format for Your Headshot. Having a proper headshot is crucial to your acting career. Consider a black and white 8×10 photograph. Commercial headshots should frame only your face from the shoulders up. You should be smiling, showing a little of your teeth. It’s not a bad idea to have an alternate shot as well that shows off your body. This picture can be more casual. Once you have a headshot, make sure that it evolves with your acting career. If you drastically change hairstyles or gain or lose weight, make sure to have up to date headshots taken. Remember, you want to be recognized.

Theatrical HeadShots

There are two basic types of headshots: commercial and theatrical. A commercial headshot should be attractive, warm, and open. A theatrical headshot, on the other hand, is more serious, and should try to represent your characteristics as a person. The format for headshots varies throughout the country –- from close-ups to 3/4 shots, from bordered to borderless. Make sure you use the preferred format of the theater company who is requesting it for your area of application.

HeadShot Tips

Little things can make a big difference.
When mailing; enclose your headshots in an envelope that is easy to open. That way, the casting director doesn’t have to struggle with your materials. A simple clasp envelope sealed with a small piece of tape should do the trick. Attach a small note to your headshot. It will gain you a few extra moments of the casting director’s time without being annoying. Your name should be printed on the front of your headshot and your resume should be on the back. If you have not printed it directly to the back of the headshot, staple your resume to the photo. Never use paper clips as they snag on other documents

St. Pete's Monica Raymund

Shorecrest Preparatory School graduate, Monica Raymund is to appear on new show. Raymund has a supporting role in Fox’s Lie to Me, which stars Kelli Williams from popular ABC series The Practice. The Lie to Me series begins Jan. 21.
Read article by St. Petersburg Times' Mary Jane Park and blog post by St. Petersburg Times' Eric Deggans.

Selecting A HeadShot

Get your headshots taken by a professional headshot photographer who knows how to capture your personality. When you go over the proof sheet, view the entire shoot, not just the photographs that the photographer selects for you. This way, you get a better idea of the photographer's overall skill, rather than letting them hide behind a few good shots. Remember, you want an experienced photographer who not only makes you look as good as possible, but also captures the true you.

Inauguration Day

CHILD ACTING TIPS

Television Acting Tips:
You’ve just landed your first acting job on television, and you’re feeling overwhelmed. Episodic television acting can be extremely demanding, particularly when you’re the new kid. The pace is frantic, the writers keep changing the script, and there’s so much to learn. How will you ever cope? Relax. You already have the essentials — the acting skills and the talent. The rest is just a steep learning curve. You’ll get the hang of it. Keep in mind that television is a writer’s medium. That fact coupled with the reality of television production schedules means scripts are forever being altered. If you’re used to features, you’ll have to be ready — to change, that is. The better prepared you are for all surprises, the less harried you’ll feel on the set. That kind of readiness requires a lot of work ahead of time. Just Do it. You’ll be grateful.When things start getting crazy, keep your cool and remember to breathe. You may not think you know how to pull it off, but you do. So search within yourself, stay in the moment, and have fun!

Acting School

You’ve decided to follow your dream and apply to acting school.

Congratulations!

Whether you move to a different part of the country or stay closer to home, there are many acting and film schools to choose from. These tips will help you find the right program for you.Visit the campus. Check out the facilities. Talk to the other students. What’s the atmosphere like? Do students and faculty alike seem jazzed and happy to be there? If you can, catch a student performance. Ask about the faculty: Are the drama teachers experienced actors? Are they well-respected? Do they have connections in the industry? Try to meet with first-year instructors during your campus visit. Ask about the curriculum: Besides acting technique, what else will you learn? Does the school offer courses in film and drama history? How about dance, movement, and voice classes? Will you also learn practical skills for making your dream happen, such as how to approach agents, put together your resume and headshot, plan your career, and keep your books?

Much Success!

Youth Voice-Over Acting

Many actors at one point or another will have an opportunity to audition for voice-overs as well as theater, film, and/or television. There are some actors, however who go out of their way to narrow their career to doing only voice-overs. You may wonder, “How do I become an actor who does just voice-overs?” The answer is: With a lot of training and experience. Becoming a voice-over actor does require you to have a decent voice, but it’s also great if you have a unique or quirky voice. Example of unique would be James Earl Jones. Regardless of the type of voice you have, you will need training to help you learn to sell the product or entity for which the advertisement has been written.There are several classes available devoted to just the art of the voice-over. You can also find voice-over classes within most acting colleges’ curricula. Once you have received training, you’ll still need to practice almost on a daily basis. Daily practice can be accomplished at home (by just reading copy) or in a studio, if one is available to you. You should look for voice-over auditions. Be sure to attend as many as you can, especially when you’re first starting out.

ENTERTAINMENT CREDITS

A writer is anyone who puts pen to paper, whether for enjoyment, artistic talent, creative outlet. In entertainment, a writer provides the words the talent uses in television, film, radio or on stage. A freelance writer is simply a writer who acts as a small business or independent contractor; s/he sets his own pace, seeks out his own work, and pays no one but himself.



A director is responsible for overseeing every creative aspect of a project, from start to finish. From the "look" of it to atmosphere or mood, When a director reads a script he or she develops a personal vision for how that story should be told. Whether it is a dark tale, a story of triumph, or one of passion, the director's unique vision will be responsible for presenting it in a way that no other director would. A director sees beyond the words on the page to a moving picture with specific angles or scenes, lighting, mood, nuance and emotion -- all visually created for the audience.


An executive producer is someone who is either financing a project, or is representing a studio or entity that is financing a project. Entertainment projects can have multiple backers, and therefore more than one executive producer is possible. Executive producers -- often referred to as "the suits" because of their formal attire -- some EPs do not have any entertainment-making experience at all---JUST MONEY.

Just Waiting Around

If you got into acting for the glamour, you’re in for a shock. You may make it to the small screen or even the big screen. You may be required to do night shoots, act like you’re freezing in 90-degree weather, or jump over that thing-a-mam-bob over there a million times. Your days will for sure start early and usually end quite late. For most of those long hours you’ll be just sitting around. Unless you’re a mega star, your chair probably won’t be that comfy, either. Setting up a shot takes time. LOTS of time. As the actor, you’ll be twiddling your thumbs while the technicians do their work. That can get to be draining. How on earth will you be able to deliver your emotional scene when your energy levels are depleted? You may not have a lot of control over the filming schedule, but you’ll be a much happier camper if you learn to spend your “waiting around” time in a constructive manner. What’s constructive for you will depend on your personality and on the demands of the film. If goofing off with the other actors will lead to greater freedom in front of the camera, then go for it. On the other hand, if being around people leaves you feeling dispersed, spend the time alone in quiet meditation. Or you may need some physical activity, to chill out with some music, or to run through your scene one more time. Each role, each film, will be a new experience and may require a new approach. But if you remain tuned into your own deepest needs, you’ll find the time spent on set less tedious. Both you and your performance will be better off.

Youth Acting Tips

Want to keep your acting from getting stale? Make sure your life is interesting!
Your most crucial dramatic lessons won’t come from acting class but from your own life.

Sure, it’s important to go to movies and plays, read scripts, and study the great directors. But if your only reference point is other movies, your performances will come across as flat and derivative.

An actor has to continually fill her/his well of creativity to stay inspired.

For me, I must immerse myself around art and creative people frequently. The broader your experiences and your studies, the more resources you’ll have to draw from during a performance.

Follow these tips to spice up your acting:

Read. Learn all you can about art, music, family, science, psychology, history, politics and theology. Each field in its own way examines what it means to be human.

Become a first-class people-watcher. Keep a notebook with you and jot down dialogue, mannerisms, and interesting situations.

Develop a desire to experience other cultures. How do people greet each other within their own race, age group, social economical level? And then observe those same people interacting outside of their groups.

Follow current events for insights into the best and worst of human theater.

Seek novelty. Do something you’ve never done before, such as learn another language, repair a car’s engine, or pet-sit a snake.Take risks. Bungee jump. Travel solo. Scuba dive. Love and lose.

Love and win.

Live with your mind and senses fully engaged, and you’ll perform the same way. Not to mention you’ll have fantastic stories to tell your grandkids someday!

Casting Call Tips

A huge part of getting a casting call or finding out about open casting calls is working your connections. A good actor keeps track of the people s/he meets. A good actress believes: no role is too small. A good actor always have his/her feelers out looking for leads; casting directors from your previous work might be able to recommend a new direction for you. Be active in the industry community. You’re not going to find any leads by sitting at home. Try to introduce yourself to new casting directors, producers, and writers every week.

Casting Call Preparations

Make sure that your training is up to date and be sure to practice beforehand. Gather information through any connections that you have made in the industry. Whenever possible, prepare by reading the script from which you will be performing. If this is not possible, get all the information about the key players: director, writer, producer, etc. The more you know, the more you will stand out.

Casting Call Attitudes

Here are another essential elements of advice:
Do not be annoying, or needy, whiny, and don’t beg for a break. Nobody wants to hear it. Be confident and respectful. Let you light shine from within. Be yourself. Even if you stumble on a line or two...you can always start over.You can always train more and improve, you can always give it another shot, but you can never again make a good first impression. Remember that you have a set amount of time with a casting director; they have to sit there and audition people all day. Be considerate of their time. It will pay off!

Casting Call Tips

There’s a basic application process behind getting into a casting call. Keep it simple unless you are asked for a package. If asked, your mail-in package should be simple as well: just a headshot, cover letter, and resume. Make sure to put your name on your headshot, so the casting director is not forced to flip through pages to remember your name. The cover letter should be brief. Introduce yourself, highlight apart of your resume, and give them a reason to see you. You can always try to send something crazy to seem creative, but they might just remember the crazy part and forget all about the creative. It’s best to stay professional. You don't want to be remembered for being crazy. You want to be remembered for talent.