Acting Professionally By Robert Cohen and James Calleri Summary chapters
In
the introductory chapter of Acting Professionally the author give us a fact how
to face acting career in general. He mentioned how acting is a fun, and
interesting hobby or career to do or even for those who want to purse acting
professionally and make their living from it as well. Some people do acting for
free for a quite long time whether they were students or already graduated, and
some think that they should start thinking on how to apply their skills and
talents and start building themselves as professional actors even before they
go and face the reality of how to get enrolled in the artistic career whether
it was in theater, cinema or both of them together. Also let’s think about it
this way, in order to become and actor/ actress, you must first have a passion
for it and be always motivated to learn more about the acting techniques and
preferably being enrolled in theater community, and take some acting courses to
get you into the right direction as a first start. However, do not rely on
simplifying this if you really consider acting is something that you really
want as a career job. In my personal opinion, I think educating myself during
college by taking theater and directing classes will benefit me a lot if I
decide to continue working on my dream goal to be an actress or stage
performer. There’s absolutely nothing wrong to be a dreamer kind of person
instead of jumping into the career itself without having the education taking
care of first, and that can simply guide you to build your future goals step by
step even during college life. Believe it or not, most artists in acting career
might have not completed their education or they might even have had other
majors during their college life. (Everything is possible). Yet, we may notice
that 20 or 30 years ago with some actors and actresses who were lucky enough to
enter the theater, or cinema world without education depending on what they
have from knowledge, talents, and mentally and physically together and we began
to notice that itself started to change especially here in the United States
where you almost struggle finding a job in acting or performing arts if you
don’t have the education background developed within you. Not to mention, that
you won’t get the chance to get casted in a role for a TV show, or a movie at
all, you may if you try hard enough, but the key here is receiving a certain
degree in acting/directing or any sort of preforming arts will give you more
and certainly a better chances to appear in better places with good roles
whether it was on television or on stage.
At the same time, that’s not always the case really, most of it depends
on the luck, too! Some places when you go to audition for them even if you were
highly educated besides your talents and skills you might have besides acting,
you still can be rejected multiple times not even one or tow. Just for a fact
that acting, or directing or even if you are interested to work as a stage
manger for a specific production you may not get the opportunity to get hired
right away. That itself, can hold you back for awhile and then you may sit
asking yourself why I’m getting rejected multiple times? Where was one of my
most weaknesses points that they have found while I was performing a monologue
or even auditioning for a certain role? Or what they didn’t like the most
during the audition? And many other questions start going back and forth into
your mind wondering whether you didn’t do so well, or you just couldn’t meet a
certain requirement for the role you spouse to perform in specific. However, do
not give up and start searching for different theater companies, or film
companies that interested to hire actors and actresses for specific roles. The
idea is to keep trying and never let such experience hold you back to where you
started off from the beginning and say okay I’m done and I should move on into
something different to purse and continue with it as a life career especially
if you are that type of person who can give up trying and pushing hard on
himself/herself or getting really sick of giving themselves more chances. The
luck can’t play against you all the time; there must be a way and a day that
you will get casted in a movie or a theater production as well. Trust yourself
a little bit more, and say yes I can do it and even improve more from the
skills that you already have whether you were a student, or you just thrilled
to be an actor one day or another, even though you didn’t actually study acting
for camera, or even experienced any acting techniques in school. As long as you believe in yourself that you
got what it takes to be an actor, or an actress then you should always keep
that as a number one goal to achieve.
Another
important point to mention that many young actors don’t realize its results
when they actually face the fact of how there is much more to living the
actor’s life. A key part of beginning (or transitioning into) your acting
career is insuring your financial stability. Before you even start thinking to
move somewhere else nearby the big cities such as New York, or Chicago and so
on you actually during that time should have a supply of cash available with
you in place and be always prepared for that. If you already planning on
pursing acting as a career job and try to make living from it, you have no
problem with that at all. The problem actually takes place whether you are
finically aware of the high costs of places that we can bring up here as an
example if you plan on moving to a city like New York, Los Angeles or even internationally,
you’ll absolutely need to factor in the higher costs of urban living. What you
supposed to do in that case is start to spend some time researching banks and
credit unions in the city, noting comes that easy either. You need to keep in
mind that the research itself could take some time as well as trial-and-error
situations. Commit yourself to a reasonable budget; because obviously I don’t
think you want to end up with unpaid bills and that itself can be one of the
reasons that delay the start of your career, which hopefully you don’t like to
deal with that problem either. So, always keep in mind how to be responsible
and reasonable at the same time.
Not
very far from that, the author of acting professionally book made a good
standard and important points to stop on to understand basically what it means
in terms of the “Acting jobs-and the entertainment industry” and here’s a
direct quote that I found most interesting in this section on top of page7,
second paragraph when it says: “Entertainment is not just one of the nation’s
largest industries, however. It is also one of its most economically
important.” “American entertainment (particularly through movies and
television) provides the United States with____apart from airplanes-its
strongest trade balance with the rest of the world. It truly is a blessing for
the American economy.”
“American
films and TV shows-and the actors who appear in them-are as familiar in Rome,
Rio, Seoul, and Jakarta as they are in Peoria and Sioux Falls. Broadway musicals,
many of them cast in New York, are on the boards daily in major world capitals.
And the spread of American films, theater, and TV- and of American acting-has
played a major role, like it or not, in making English the world’s universal
entertainment language. Even foreign films these days are often filmed in
English with American actors, such as Roman Polanski’s Polish/German film, The
Pianist, staring American actor Adrian Brody. The reason? Major films need an
international audience to break even.” “Go above three million dollars and you
have to sell abroad,” Says a Spanish producer.
The
whole point of the quote that has gotten my attention the most, when we simply
see many opportunities are basically available for anyone who thinks he carries
what it needs in the first place, and especially here in the US where we can
see a numerous number of actors who are originally not Americans but they can
still play such a big and such an important role in the film, theater, and
television industry. Believe it or not, sometimes the story itself requires a
foreign character who preferably bilingual or speak another language besides
English such as, Spanish, French, Italian, Farsi, or Arabic and so on. Also
keeping in mind, competition will be always taken a place in any artistic field
not only in acting; the meaning is broader than that for sure.
Moreover,
if you really decide to tackle the hard part not just to get a job but make a
living as an actor then you must meet and possess at least the following:
1-
Talent
2-
A
charming/fascinating/interesting/likable/definable personality
3-
Looks
4-
Training
5-
Experience
6-
Contacts
7-
Commitment
and a massive will to succeed
8-
A
healthy attitude and a capacity for psychological adjustments
9-
Freedom
from entanglements and inhibitions
10- Good information, advice, help
11- Luck
Talent
is how it mentioned in the book: “The first requirement for professional
success, and this should be no surprise, it acting talent”. Personally, I think
talent can’t be explained truly because you either born with it or you don’t
have it. You can’t really earn or learn it from books, school, and teachers.
Talent of course reflect the person you are and how capable you can be by doing
a complicated and mixed characters and how to make the audience believe you as
if what you were preforming on stage, film or television was all real. In order
to consider yourself talented person then we have more to add over here if we
are taking the talent element itself as one of the major requirements for every
actor and actress for instance think about it as how it was already mentioned
in the book through the following points:
1-
A
person whose able to sing, dance, juggles, tell jokes, back flips, handsprings,
design a seat, or work on designing costumes, drawing, painting, writing
stories or short plays and the list may go even longer than that but put in
mind you will be considered officially a talented person if you do any of the
above besides acting.
2-
A
person that can direction, make quick adjustments when asked, problem solver,
and remain flexible for a director without apparent effort or discomfort, while
still maintaining a sense of self and unique point of view.
3-
A
person who can be absolutely all relaxed and comfortable in front of others,
and when performing for others- and can be seen to enjoy performing.
4-
A communicator
person in a better words, “ A person can communicate nuances clearly yet
subtly, varying inflection and timing with both assurance and consistency so as
to communicate what a director wants without excessive coaching or reworking.
Whether the actor does this from technique that the actor must be able to do it
and do it rapidly, particularly during an audition.
5-
A
person has a flexible and infinitely expressive voice and body, and it should
be no surprise to anyone in which all of these are the actor’s basic tools.
Personality:
The
personality of an actor/actress or any other creative artist usually his/her
personality featured and described as the following: quiet person, serious,
sensitive and kind-hearted. He/she does not like differences and conflicts, and
likes to do the work may cause. The artist personality most likely known as a
sincere believer, five senses are very sophisticated, it is all about the
estimated beauty, art and love. Most of the time actors don’t pay attention to
people or led their control. Flexible and open minded and their imagination
doesn’t stop on a certain point in any creative work, they may pass the limits
of what they are preforming whether its on stage, television, and so on.
Overview
on the personality of an actor/actress on stage:
Personal
self play its own specificity not from the underlying objectivity while
surrounded by assets within the biblical text, theatrical and personal adopted
by the author, where the product comes from the author's experience or
stimulating imaginable him. The personal representative of the self comes the
embodiment of the theatrical experience of public life and Technical
Representative as a human being is the result of different experiences within
the context of his life lived. Without going to far from the main subject about
the personality of an actor, here is a quote that I found interesting to
indicate in my analysis here in which I liked the most because it explains the
personality of an actor and what does it mean with another and different
opinions based on the author’s perspectives, of course. Especially from
director’s perspective as how it says in the book, “One other aspect of
personality deserves some attention. It is so obvious that most young actors
completely ignore it: Will the director enjoy working with you? There should be
nothing surprising about this. Like everyone else on this planet, directors
want to enjoy their work, and they would rather work with the people they
like.”
Chapters Summary 3, 4, 5, 6
How do YOU become a working actor?
That's quite a question! The answer lies in these three simple words: practice, persist and personalize.
The art of acting is not easy, no matter what people say. It is especially difficult at the "star" level. Think about it, you have to say other people's lines flawlessly while you hit all your marks, wear other people's clothes, work with other people's props and speak to someone you barely know as if you've known them forever. And, you have to do all that with a sustained level of concentration, at full emotion, all the while being believable, vulnerable and entertaining while a whole crew of people stare at you from mere feet away. Most importantly, you have to find a way to make the role uniquely "you" and captivate an audience take after take, scene after scene, film after film, year after year. Like mastering a musical instrument, there is no other way to do it than to practice, practice, practice.
Professional acting is a tough career choice. Actors have to be artists and entrepreneurs all at the same time. Like any successful small business owner, you have to package, promote and sell your own product. And, to complicate matters that product is "you."
The market is small and the competition is fierce. The numbers are against you, especially in recent times. Stars are taking more rolls than ever and that is your competition. For example, this past pilot season was one of the best in years and yet only 2% of the roles went to unrecognizable working actors. That's it! So, what can you do? The only thing you have total control over... is persistence! As Calvin Coolidge said, "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race!"
Finally, if you really want to make it as a working actor you have to make it personal. Or, to put it another way, "acting is all about you!"
The one role that no one else can play is you. Like a snowflake, every single person is unique. There is no one else out there like you. The brilliant TV director David Nutter said, "Acting is autobiography." It is presenting, little by little, bits and pieces of yourself. It is telling us how you act and react in life changing situations (which is what happens in every good script). No one acts and reacts like you. No one can do or say exactly what you do or say in any given circumstance. It took me twenty years to finally realize this in my own acting work. The second I showed them "me," rather than try to be something I'm not, my career began to take off. Simply put, become a skilled craftsman at being "yourself" in EVERY situation, conversation and opportunity.
If acting is your dream then you have to pursue that dream with all the passion you can muster. Don't get to the end and say, "I wish I would have tried harder!" Master the art, be determined in the business and insist on showing them who you are!
How important is typing?
In LA, typecasting is of utmost importance. It is basically the code of conduct here. Casting is too fast anymore for casting to get creative, especially in TV. It is common for actors in LA to get their audition times and sides at 6 PM for a producer's session the next morning, on a job that shoots the following day. Casting directors basically have enough time to call in the actors they know who fit the role like a glove. Why? Because, Network needs a decision immediately. They don't have the time or the money to try all options.
Casting director April Webster once said "I basically remember actors for doing one, maybe two and at the most three things. That is how actors are typecast in my mind." And, that is the norm. The key to success is to know what those one, two or three types are for you. Then practice and market them like crazy. Alex O'Loughlin, star of "Hawaii Five-O," recently said in GQ Magazine, "For (the actors who have not made it yet) in Hollywood, one of the first things you need to do is realize where they're going to pigeon hole you - how they're going to market you. Because if you don't know how you're marketable, it doesn't matter how persistent, driven or talented you are. You've got to know where you fit so you can kick off from there, then you can shine in whatever direction you want. But that's where it starts."
Fortunately, in smaller markets like Miami there is a smaller talent pool to choose from. So, actors are typically called on to do more diverse roles and work outside their primary casting types than in a market like LA. That's good news. I read the other day that the typical casting director in LA gets 2,000-3,000 submissions for each role. And, those are just the submissions from agents. In a market like Miami, your odds are dramatically better. So, if no one fits the role perfectly, you might get the chance to work outside your types.
But, make no mistake, the actors who know their types, even in the smaller markets, still have the advantage. They know how to sell themselves better than those who don't. Don't forget, you're an entrepreneur. You have to know your product if you're going to sell it.
How do you know your type? There are four effective ways to know your type. First, if you have a great agent who understands the business or if you know of a working casting director who will be frank with you, you can ask them. Hopefully, they will be honest enough to tell you.
Second, if you have worked on at least ten big budget shows or films, you will begin to see how you typically get cast.
Third, petition total strangers. Here's how. Go on to a casting website and look at all the roles that are being cast. Write each type of role on a piece of paper. For example you might write down roles like, Dad, Mom, Best Friend, All-American, Jerk, Nerd, etc. Do this for several days until you have a well-rounded list of at least twenty or so of the most common roles. Next, put them in alphabetical order on a single piece of paper. Then make 50 copies and go with a friend to a public place. Have your friend hand out the papers to strangers and tell them you are doing a class assignment. Have your friend ask them to circle the types they think describe you. Tally up the 50 sheets and see which three come to the top. Those are most likely your primary types. Please don't hand any of the sheets out to friends or family. They know you too well and won't be honest and/or unbiased.
Finally, the easiest and probably most thorough way is to take a Type and Image class like mine (insert shameless plug here). Or go to a Type Expert or an Image Consultant who specializes in type. In a class you will find out what types you naturally play, how your image is defined, how to effectively brand and market yourself and you'll learn how to use this information to better yourself as an actor.
How important is a first impression?
It's incredibly important. According to Malcolm Gladwell's brilliant book, "Blink," first impressions are usually made in less than a second. They are deadly accurate and usually define you for that person for years to come. It's only when someone gets to know you closely and personally do they change their initial opinion. Think back to the last person you dated. What was your first impression of them? How long did it take before that changed? Or, did it ever change?
How often do casting directors and, directors and producers really get to know you personally? Chances are, not very often. Their decisions are based on their first impressions. I have heard it said by numerous casting directors that they usually make their decision whether or not to cast you within two seconds after you walk in the door (even before you open your mouth). If you are what they are looking for then what they do next is hope that you can act once you open your mouth.
You need to know how the industry sees you. What are casting directors first impressions the second you enter the room. Once you know that, you can embrace it and use it to your advantage.
How does physical appearance, wardrobe, hair and styling play into how you'll be perceived by the industry?
It plays a vital role. Once you've done the work I mentioned above and find out how people perceive you, you need to fit the image you portray. Let's look at it from a business perspective. Can you imagine if Harley Davidson changed their colors from black and orange to pink and lime green? What if Oil of Olay face cream was packaged in a rusty old tuna can? Malibu Barbie sold really well but how would Crack-house Barbie sell? You get my point.
Years ago casting director Mike Fenton saw Ed Harris in a small role on TV and was blown away. So, he started calling him in for auditions. But, Ed wasn't booking. Mike told him that he was trying too hard to be young even though he came across as mature, He told Ed to cut his hair so we could see that he was balding and dress more mature. Ed took his advice and shortly after booked his first big film role, "The Right Stuff." He hasn't stopped working since.
“As I mentioned before, you are unique. Develop a style that fits you, one that agrees with how people see you. Be unique, be yourself. Guy Fieri, of the FoodNetwork, comes to mind as a great example of what I'm talking about. He dresses and accessorizes in a style that is truly his own and yet it fits our perceived impression of him perfectly.”
How has the acting world changed since internet & new media?
It has changed greatly. Casting submissions have gone from 8x10 prints to online files. Headshots have gone from ¾ shots to head only shots (now that they are viewed as thumbnails). More and more auditions are being filmed by actors themselves and sent in to casting directors instead of having the actor come into the office and read. Shows are now being cast and crewed on Twitter, FaceBook and LinkedIn (I have booked three roles via FaceBook alone). Actors can market themselves almost for free thanks to the help of social network sites and email addresses. Fan bases are being built faster than ever online. And most importantly, actors can make and distribute their own films and series for almost no money at all thanks to sites like YouTube and Funny or Die. Self-promotion has gone from nearly impossible to just another part of our daily routine.
I recently read that all three top agencies, CAA, ICM and WME, have at least one staff member who looks at YouTube, FaceBook, Funny or Die and Twitter all day hoping to find people who have talent and huge fan bases. Two weeks ago the final decision for the casting of the lead female character on a major motion picture came down to who had the biggest fan bases on FaceBook and Twitter. The studio even bragged about it in the trades. Make no mistake, social media and new media are here to stay. Learn it, use it, conquer it! Your career will thank you.
How does typing play into good headshots?
Actors make the mistake of thinking a headshot is merely to show the casting director what you look like. It's so much more than that. Casting is about identifying an actor's type and then determining if they fit the role.Type is a combination of your physical type (based on the established physical types from casting breakdowns) and your personality type (or psychological type, behavioral patterns and charisma). If casting involves determining your type then your headshot needs to show those things.
First, your look is defined as your physical type. Your headshot has to show it in a natural way. And by the way, rule number one in headshots is that it has to look like you. If your headshot doesn't look like you the casting director will resent you the second you walkin the door. They called you in based on what they saw, not on what you wish you looked like. Second,your headshot has to show your personality. Make sure you have fun when you shoot. Be yourself and show us who you are. Show us your personality.
Finally your headshot has to show us if you are talented or not. A CAA agent friend of mine defines talent as "the ability to be yourself on-camera, in an audition or on stage." That means when you shoot your headshots you have to have something going on behind your eyes. Let the camera catch those moments. Don't pose and be a deer in the headlights. How will they trust you to be yourself on a set if you can't do it in your headshot session?
How important is a good headshot? (scroll down for examples of headshots Mark has taken)
Headshots are your most important marketing tool. They are the primary method in which you will be introduced to casting directors, directors and agents. Casting director Bonnie Gillespie says she looks at about six headshots a second when she is casting from Breakdowns online. That means your headshot has about 1/6th of a second to catch her attention, define your type, show her your personality and prove to her that you have talent. How can a tiny little thumbnail headshot do that? It all comes down to the eyes. All the attention needs to go to your eyes. Not only do your eyes need to be the center of attention but they need to be alive and show us your soul. A good photographer knows how get a shot like that. They know how to draw it out of you.
If you don't have the money for a "known" photographer then find someone who is good and knows how to capture someone's personality. Look at their shots, look at the eyes. Talk to them about these things. When all is said and done, it is your responsibility to bring your A-Game to the session and find someone who can capture it. Be alive and have fun so whoever does shoot your shots has something to capture. Hopefully they know enough about lighting and backgrounds to bring your eyes to the center of focus.
One final thought... don't shoot with a friend who just got a cool new digital camera, or with your dad or any other amateur who says they will shoot you for free so they can try out some new ideas. Get a professional who knows how to shoot head shots, head shots that get actors cast. It's a matter of winning or loosing jobs.
How does an actor take a headshot that will guarantee them work?
Follow the steps above and most of all have fun. Come prepared with dialogue for each of your primary types. Even if you don't say it out loud it helps if you have something specific in your brain when the shots are taken. Mess around with the photographer while you shoot. Nothing sells a shot more than someone who is playing with the person behind the camera. I'll say it again, have fun and be yourself. Casting director Steven Schnyder once said, "The second I look at a headshot my first thought should be, 'I want to hang out with that person.'" If you're having a good time and are completely comfortable being yourself during your session, I guarantee you, we will want to hang out with you.
What are the most important marketing tools for an actor?
“As its mentioned above, headshots are by far the most important tool. In LA postcards are probably the second most important marketing tool. They are a nice way to remind the casting directors, directors and producers that you are out there working. Every time you do a job or something good happens in your career send out a post card. Let them know. The hardest part of acting is changing how the casting community thinks of you. It's tough to make the change from being thought of as a "wanna' be actor" to an "up-and-coming actor" to a "working actor." By reminding them via postcard that you are out there working, not just sitting by a phone waiting for a call, you are helping them to see you in the light of someone who works, not waits.”
“Well-designed post cards can also remind the casting community who you are and what types you play. If you are consistent in your design, thorough in your presentation of your brand and types and persistent in your mailings, post cards can be very effective at marketing "you." If they have seen your postcards enough times, casting directors will eventually remember you when the right role comes up.”
“Never forget, work begets work. So, keep working, no matter what. Do plays, make short films, do some stand up comedy. You'd be amazed at how many casting directors hear about or see shows, films and plays beyond what they are casting. In my opinion, there is no better marketing tool than word of mouth. If you're in something that is getting great word of mouth, it is only a matter of time before it spreads like wild fire. “
Can you give us a couple tips on how an actor can brand & market themselves? Branding is defined as what people say about you, NOT what you say about yourself. So,do your research, find out what they say about you. Do the typing exercise I mentioned above. Ultimately, the best way to brand and market yourself is to associate a word or phrase that is common in the industry and then put your own turn on it. For example, if you do some surveys and find that people predominantly see you as the "boy next door" type first and the "bad boy" second, you might brand yourself with the phrase "The Boy Next Door You'd Never Take Home to Mom." The casting community is very familiar with the phrase "boy next door" so when you twist it and make it your own I guarantee you they'll remember you. Plus, each time they see the phrase "boy next door" they will automatically think of you because you've identified yourself with that phrase. They now know exactly how to cast you when the right "boy next door" comes up. You'll be the first one they think of.
Remind people on your website, in your post cards, in the signature of your emails, etc, what your branding phrase is. After they've seen it several times they won't forget you.
What are some critical steps that you feel can advance an actor's career?
There really is only one that I feel is critical: practice being yourself in every aspect of your work. I can't stress that enough. Like I said it took me years to grasp that concept but now that I have I am busier than I have ever been. Take classes that encourage you to be yourself in your acting. Be yourself in your auditions. Do plays that fit you. Keep exploiting your primary types. Market them, practice them and put them in every aspects of your work. Charlize Theron could never have done "Monster" when she first started out. But, she was smart. She got so good at playing her primary type, the sexy hot blond chick who's a little rambunctious, that it made her a huge success in a matter of a few years. Once she became a recognizable star she could do anything she wanted, thus her Oscar win for "Monster."
Okay, one more thing... persist. Keep on keeping on. Molly Shannon did her one-woman show in LA for 10 years before someone from Saturday Night Live finally came and saw her. And the rest is history. But, you have to wonder how many times she wanted to quit. I'm glad she didn't!
How important is training? Very Important. Anyone can get famous, look at people like Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton, but nobody can sustain an acting career if they don't have talent. How many films can you name that starred Kato Kaelin or Anna Nicole Smith? Both were famous and both worked as actors. Training is the key to longevity. It helps you hone your talent and streamline your chances for success.
Like I said at the very beginning, acting is one of the toughest careers on the planet. Yes, there are a few stars who have made it without training but they are far over shadowed by the number of stars who did have training. I'd rather take the surest path to success. No one wins the Olympics without diligent training. Training gives you that objective eye that we all need in order to find our weaknesses and our strengths. Great teachers can inspire you and help you move to the next level far more quickly than you could ever do on your own.
How important is a demo reel? It depends on your market and your level. Some markets use them more than others.
In LA demos are rarely viewed by casting offices for developing talent or for actors who play the smaller roles. Demos are mostly needed by actors who audition for the larger roles: series regulars, recurrings, good feature film roles, etc. Often times casting will come down to who has the better demo or who looks stronger in their prior work. Sometimes lesser-known actors have to "prove" themselves to a director or network before they are cast. They want to make sure the actor can handle the part. A good demo might convince them. I know several actors who booked pilots because of their demo. I did.
Regular working actors aren't the only ones who might benefit from a demo. A great demo might get a developing actor a good agent. I have often referred an actor I am working with to an agency and they inevitably ask them for a demo. A few times the demo was so good that the actor was signed on the spot, even though they didn't have that many credits. Agents are often pressed for time and seeing a demo online allows them to see the actor's work before they call them in to meet.
In the indie world demos are used all the time. Without a significant budget it's hard to get recognizable actors. So, if they're going to go with unknowns, they need to see an example of what they are dealing with. Auditions don't always tell the whole story. Producers know full well that you can't sell a film with unknowns if the acting is mediocre. On a side note, some casting sites, like ActorsAccess.com, have a default preferential setting that puts actors who have demos above actors who don't. In other words if you have a demo online with ActorsAccess, and you are submitted for a role, by default your profile will appear above and before those actors who don't have a demo. Casting directors have the option of changing that default but apparently most don't. That alone is a nice reason to have a demo online.
Many times I hear actors complain and worry that they don't have a good demo to show. As a result, they are afraid that they'll never get work. Demos have their purpose but they aren't the be-all-end-all of the business. Great acting skills and good marketing will almost always get you farther than a good demo. Every star you can think of at one time in their career didn't have a demo either. That didn't stop them.
That's quite a question! The answer lies in these three simple words: practice, persist and personalize.
The art of acting is not easy, no matter what people say. It is especially difficult at the "star" level. Think about it, you have to say other people's lines flawlessly while you hit all your marks, wear other people's clothes, work with other people's props and speak to someone you barely know as if you've known them forever. And, you have to do all that with a sustained level of concentration, at full emotion, all the while being believable, vulnerable and entertaining while a whole crew of people stare at you from mere feet away. Most importantly, you have to find a way to make the role uniquely "you" and captivate an audience take after take, scene after scene, film after film, year after year. Like mastering a musical instrument, there is no other way to do it than to practice, practice, practice.
Professional acting is a tough career choice. Actors have to be artists and entrepreneurs all at the same time. Like any successful small business owner, you have to package, promote and sell your own product. And, to complicate matters that product is "you."
The market is small and the competition is fierce. The numbers are against you, especially in recent times. Stars are taking more rolls than ever and that is your competition. For example, this past pilot season was one of the best in years and yet only 2% of the roles went to unrecognizable working actors. That's it! So, what can you do? The only thing you have total control over... is persistence! As Calvin Coolidge said, "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race!"
Finally, if you really want to make it as a working actor you have to make it personal. Or, to put it another way, "acting is all about you!"
The one role that no one else can play is you. Like a snowflake, every single person is unique. There is no one else out there like you. The brilliant TV director David Nutter said, "Acting is autobiography." It is presenting, little by little, bits and pieces of yourself. It is telling us how you act and react in life changing situations (which is what happens in every good script). No one acts and reacts like you. No one can do or say exactly what you do or say in any given circumstance. It took me twenty years to finally realize this in my own acting work. The second I showed them "me," rather than try to be something I'm not, my career began to take off. Simply put, become a skilled craftsman at being "yourself" in EVERY situation, conversation and opportunity.
If acting is your dream then you have to pursue that dream with all the passion you can muster. Don't get to the end and say, "I wish I would have tried harder!" Master the art, be determined in the business and insist on showing them who you are!
How important is typing?
In LA, typecasting is of utmost importance. It is basically the code of conduct here. Casting is too fast anymore for casting to get creative, especially in TV. It is common for actors in LA to get their audition times and sides at 6 PM for a producer's session the next morning, on a job that shoots the following day. Casting directors basically have enough time to call in the actors they know who fit the role like a glove. Why? Because, Network needs a decision immediately. They don't have the time or the money to try all options.
Casting director April Webster once said "I basically remember actors for doing one, maybe two and at the most three things. That is how actors are typecast in my mind." And, that is the norm. The key to success is to know what those one, two or three types are for you. Then practice and market them like crazy. Alex O'Loughlin, star of "Hawaii Five-O," recently said in GQ Magazine, "For (the actors who have not made it yet) in Hollywood, one of the first things you need to do is realize where they're going to pigeon hole you - how they're going to market you. Because if you don't know how you're marketable, it doesn't matter how persistent, driven or talented you are. You've got to know where you fit so you can kick off from there, then you can shine in whatever direction you want. But that's where it starts."
Fortunately, in smaller markets like Miami there is a smaller talent pool to choose from. So, actors are typically called on to do more diverse roles and work outside their primary casting types than in a market like LA. That's good news. I read the other day that the typical casting director in LA gets 2,000-3,000 submissions for each role. And, those are just the submissions from agents. In a market like Miami, your odds are dramatically better. So, if no one fits the role perfectly, you might get the chance to work outside your types.
But, make no mistake, the actors who know their types, even in the smaller markets, still have the advantage. They know how to sell themselves better than those who don't. Don't forget, you're an entrepreneur. You have to know your product if you're going to sell it.
How do you know your type? There are four effective ways to know your type. First, if you have a great agent who understands the business or if you know of a working casting director who will be frank with you, you can ask them. Hopefully, they will be honest enough to tell you.
Second, if you have worked on at least ten big budget shows or films, you will begin to see how you typically get cast.
Third, petition total strangers. Here's how. Go on to a casting website and look at all the roles that are being cast. Write each type of role on a piece of paper. For example you might write down roles like, Dad, Mom, Best Friend, All-American, Jerk, Nerd, etc. Do this for several days until you have a well-rounded list of at least twenty or so of the most common roles. Next, put them in alphabetical order on a single piece of paper. Then make 50 copies and go with a friend to a public place. Have your friend hand out the papers to strangers and tell them you are doing a class assignment. Have your friend ask them to circle the types they think describe you. Tally up the 50 sheets and see which three come to the top. Those are most likely your primary types. Please don't hand any of the sheets out to friends or family. They know you too well and won't be honest and/or unbiased.
Finally, the easiest and probably most thorough way is to take a Type and Image class like mine (insert shameless plug here). Or go to a Type Expert or an Image Consultant who specializes in type. In a class you will find out what types you naturally play, how your image is defined, how to effectively brand and market yourself and you'll learn how to use this information to better yourself as an actor.
How important is a first impression?
It's incredibly important. According to Malcolm Gladwell's brilliant book, "Blink," first impressions are usually made in less than a second. They are deadly accurate and usually define you for that person for years to come. It's only when someone gets to know you closely and personally do they change their initial opinion. Think back to the last person you dated. What was your first impression of them? How long did it take before that changed? Or, did it ever change?
How often do casting directors and, directors and producers really get to know you personally? Chances are, not very often. Their decisions are based on their first impressions. I have heard it said by numerous casting directors that they usually make their decision whether or not to cast you within two seconds after you walk in the door (even before you open your mouth). If you are what they are looking for then what they do next is hope that you can act once you open your mouth.
You need to know how the industry sees you. What are casting directors first impressions the second you enter the room. Once you know that, you can embrace it and use it to your advantage.
How does physical appearance, wardrobe, hair and styling play into how you'll be perceived by the industry?
It plays a vital role. Once you've done the work I mentioned above and find out how people perceive you, you need to fit the image you portray. Let's look at it from a business perspective. Can you imagine if Harley Davidson changed their colors from black and orange to pink and lime green? What if Oil of Olay face cream was packaged in a rusty old tuna can? Malibu Barbie sold really well but how would Crack-house Barbie sell? You get my point.
Years ago casting director Mike Fenton saw Ed Harris in a small role on TV and was blown away. So, he started calling him in for auditions. But, Ed wasn't booking. Mike told him that he was trying too hard to be young even though he came across as mature, He told Ed to cut his hair so we could see that he was balding and dress more mature. Ed took his advice and shortly after booked his first big film role, "The Right Stuff." He hasn't stopped working since.
“As I mentioned before, you are unique. Develop a style that fits you, one that agrees with how people see you. Be unique, be yourself. Guy Fieri, of the FoodNetwork, comes to mind as a great example of what I'm talking about. He dresses and accessorizes in a style that is truly his own and yet it fits our perceived impression of him perfectly.”
How has the acting world changed since internet & new media?
It has changed greatly. Casting submissions have gone from 8x10 prints to online files. Headshots have gone from ¾ shots to head only shots (now that they are viewed as thumbnails). More and more auditions are being filmed by actors themselves and sent in to casting directors instead of having the actor come into the office and read. Shows are now being cast and crewed on Twitter, FaceBook and LinkedIn (I have booked three roles via FaceBook alone). Actors can market themselves almost for free thanks to the help of social network sites and email addresses. Fan bases are being built faster than ever online. And most importantly, actors can make and distribute their own films and series for almost no money at all thanks to sites like YouTube and Funny or Die. Self-promotion has gone from nearly impossible to just another part of our daily routine.
I recently read that all three top agencies, CAA, ICM and WME, have at least one staff member who looks at YouTube, FaceBook, Funny or Die and Twitter all day hoping to find people who have talent and huge fan bases. Two weeks ago the final decision for the casting of the lead female character on a major motion picture came down to who had the biggest fan bases on FaceBook and Twitter. The studio even bragged about it in the trades. Make no mistake, social media and new media are here to stay. Learn it, use it, conquer it! Your career will thank you.
How does typing play into good headshots?
Actors make the mistake of thinking a headshot is merely to show the casting director what you look like. It's so much more than that. Casting is about identifying an actor's type and then determining if they fit the role.Type is a combination of your physical type (based on the established physical types from casting breakdowns) and your personality type (or psychological type, behavioral patterns and charisma). If casting involves determining your type then your headshot needs to show those things.
First, your look is defined as your physical type. Your headshot has to show it in a natural way. And by the way, rule number one in headshots is that it has to look like you. If your headshot doesn't look like you the casting director will resent you the second you walkin the door. They called you in based on what they saw, not on what you wish you looked like. Second,your headshot has to show your personality. Make sure you have fun when you shoot. Be yourself and show us who you are. Show us your personality.
Finally your headshot has to show us if you are talented or not. A CAA agent friend of mine defines talent as "the ability to be yourself on-camera, in an audition or on stage." That means when you shoot your headshots you have to have something going on behind your eyes. Let the camera catch those moments. Don't pose and be a deer in the headlights. How will they trust you to be yourself on a set if you can't do it in your headshot session?
How important is a good headshot? (scroll down for examples of headshots Mark has taken)
Headshots are your most important marketing tool. They are the primary method in which you will be introduced to casting directors, directors and agents. Casting director Bonnie Gillespie says she looks at about six headshots a second when she is casting from Breakdowns online. That means your headshot has about 1/6th of a second to catch her attention, define your type, show her your personality and prove to her that you have talent. How can a tiny little thumbnail headshot do that? It all comes down to the eyes. All the attention needs to go to your eyes. Not only do your eyes need to be the center of attention but they need to be alive and show us your soul. A good photographer knows how get a shot like that. They know how to draw it out of you.
If you don't have the money for a "known" photographer then find someone who is good and knows how to capture someone's personality. Look at their shots, look at the eyes. Talk to them about these things. When all is said and done, it is your responsibility to bring your A-Game to the session and find someone who can capture it. Be alive and have fun so whoever does shoot your shots has something to capture. Hopefully they know enough about lighting and backgrounds to bring your eyes to the center of focus.
One final thought... don't shoot with a friend who just got a cool new digital camera, or with your dad or any other amateur who says they will shoot you for free so they can try out some new ideas. Get a professional who knows how to shoot head shots, head shots that get actors cast. It's a matter of winning or loosing jobs.
How does an actor take a headshot that will guarantee them work?
Follow the steps above and most of all have fun. Come prepared with dialogue for each of your primary types. Even if you don't say it out loud it helps if you have something specific in your brain when the shots are taken. Mess around with the photographer while you shoot. Nothing sells a shot more than someone who is playing with the person behind the camera. I'll say it again, have fun and be yourself. Casting director Steven Schnyder once said, "The second I look at a headshot my first thought should be, 'I want to hang out with that person.'" If you're having a good time and are completely comfortable being yourself during your session, I guarantee you, we will want to hang out with you.
What are the most important marketing tools for an actor?
“As its mentioned above, headshots are by far the most important tool. In LA postcards are probably the second most important marketing tool. They are a nice way to remind the casting directors, directors and producers that you are out there working. Every time you do a job or something good happens in your career send out a post card. Let them know. The hardest part of acting is changing how the casting community thinks of you. It's tough to make the change from being thought of as a "wanna' be actor" to an "up-and-coming actor" to a "working actor." By reminding them via postcard that you are out there working, not just sitting by a phone waiting for a call, you are helping them to see you in the light of someone who works, not waits.”
“Well-designed post cards can also remind the casting community who you are and what types you play. If you are consistent in your design, thorough in your presentation of your brand and types and persistent in your mailings, post cards can be very effective at marketing "you." If they have seen your postcards enough times, casting directors will eventually remember you when the right role comes up.”
“Never forget, work begets work. So, keep working, no matter what. Do plays, make short films, do some stand up comedy. You'd be amazed at how many casting directors hear about or see shows, films and plays beyond what they are casting. In my opinion, there is no better marketing tool than word of mouth. If you're in something that is getting great word of mouth, it is only a matter of time before it spreads like wild fire. “
Can you give us a couple tips on how an actor can brand & market themselves? Branding is defined as what people say about you, NOT what you say about yourself. So,do your research, find out what they say about you. Do the typing exercise I mentioned above. Ultimately, the best way to brand and market yourself is to associate a word or phrase that is common in the industry and then put your own turn on it. For example, if you do some surveys and find that people predominantly see you as the "boy next door" type first and the "bad boy" second, you might brand yourself with the phrase "The Boy Next Door You'd Never Take Home to Mom." The casting community is very familiar with the phrase "boy next door" so when you twist it and make it your own I guarantee you they'll remember you. Plus, each time they see the phrase "boy next door" they will automatically think of you because you've identified yourself with that phrase. They now know exactly how to cast you when the right "boy next door" comes up. You'll be the first one they think of.
Remind people on your website, in your post cards, in the signature of your emails, etc, what your branding phrase is. After they've seen it several times they won't forget you.
What are some critical steps that you feel can advance an actor's career?
There really is only one that I feel is critical: practice being yourself in every aspect of your work. I can't stress that enough. Like I said it took me years to grasp that concept but now that I have I am busier than I have ever been. Take classes that encourage you to be yourself in your acting. Be yourself in your auditions. Do plays that fit you. Keep exploiting your primary types. Market them, practice them and put them in every aspects of your work. Charlize Theron could never have done "Monster" when she first started out. But, she was smart. She got so good at playing her primary type, the sexy hot blond chick who's a little rambunctious, that it made her a huge success in a matter of a few years. Once she became a recognizable star she could do anything she wanted, thus her Oscar win for "Monster."
Okay, one more thing... persist. Keep on keeping on. Molly Shannon did her one-woman show in LA for 10 years before someone from Saturday Night Live finally came and saw her. And the rest is history. But, you have to wonder how many times she wanted to quit. I'm glad she didn't!
How important is training? Very Important. Anyone can get famous, look at people like Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton, but nobody can sustain an acting career if they don't have talent. How many films can you name that starred Kato Kaelin or Anna Nicole Smith? Both were famous and both worked as actors. Training is the key to longevity. It helps you hone your talent and streamline your chances for success.
Like I said at the very beginning, acting is one of the toughest careers on the planet. Yes, there are a few stars who have made it without training but they are far over shadowed by the number of stars who did have training. I'd rather take the surest path to success. No one wins the Olympics without diligent training. Training gives you that objective eye that we all need in order to find our weaknesses and our strengths. Great teachers can inspire you and help you move to the next level far more quickly than you could ever do on your own.
How important is a demo reel? It depends on your market and your level. Some markets use them more than others.
In LA demos are rarely viewed by casting offices for developing talent or for actors who play the smaller roles. Demos are mostly needed by actors who audition for the larger roles: series regulars, recurrings, good feature film roles, etc. Often times casting will come down to who has the better demo or who looks stronger in their prior work. Sometimes lesser-known actors have to "prove" themselves to a director or network before they are cast. They want to make sure the actor can handle the part. A good demo might convince them. I know several actors who booked pilots because of their demo. I did.
Regular working actors aren't the only ones who might benefit from a demo. A great demo might get a developing actor a good agent. I have often referred an actor I am working with to an agency and they inevitably ask them for a demo. A few times the demo was so good that the actor was signed on the spot, even though they didn't have that many credits. Agents are often pressed for time and seeing a demo online allows them to see the actor's work before they call them in to meet.
In the indie world demos are used all the time. Without a significant budget it's hard to get recognizable actors. So, if they're going to go with unknowns, they need to see an example of what they are dealing with. Auditions don't always tell the whole story. Producers know full well that you can't sell a film with unknowns if the acting is mediocre. On a side note, some casting sites, like ActorsAccess.com, have a default preferential setting that puts actors who have demos above actors who don't. In other words if you have a demo online with ActorsAccess, and you are submitted for a role, by default your profile will appear above and before those actors who don't have a demo. Casting directors have the option of changing that default but apparently most don't. That alone is a nice reason to have a demo online.
Many times I hear actors complain and worry that they don't have a good demo to show. As a result, they are afraid that they'll never get work. Demos have their purpose but they aren't the be-all-end-all of the business. Great acting skills and good marketing will almost always get you farther than a good demo. Every star you can think of at one time in their career didn't have a demo either. That didn't stop them.
* "How Do YOU Become a Working Actor?"
Actors Info Booth. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2013.
<http://www.actorsinfobooth.com/industry-news/hollywood/1837-how-do-you-become-a-working-actor>.
http://www.actorsinfobooth.com/industry-news/hollywood/1837-how-do-you-become-a-working-actor
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