Theater:
“The 1st Annual Achadamee Awards.” – Daisy(Cheerleader) Directed by Rickie Newell
Film: HIgh School Student – “Mean Girls 2”
I just returned from giving my The Best Way to Get Work as an Acting and Commercial Model Workshop in Florida, Los Angeles, Sydney, Australia and Des Moines, Iowa.
There were a number of great learning experiences I gained through my travels. At one of the events, the director of the event was very upset. She told me that one of her guest speakers canceled his talk just one day before his scheduled time. He left her a phone message saying that he just got an acting job that he did not want to turn down. Essentially, something “better” came along.
I understand how difficult it can be to turn down work. However, if it were me, I would have called the director and started off our conversation as such: “I want you to know that I will not cancel my talk at your event. I do have a situation to discuss with you in the hopes of making things work for both of us. I just got a booking for the same date as my talk. Is there any way to change that date or time?” If that request was not possible, then I would have said “OK, see you at the event.”
Even though the acting and modeling world is pretty big, in some ways it is very small. You can bet that the event director will talk with her other special guests about this actor. She will describe to some photographers, casting directors, agents, managers, and producers how unprofessional this particular actor was. This negative news will spread fast.
Your word is one of the few things you have complete control over. Be up-front and dependable; it can help you tremendously. People will really appreciate your honesty, and this can help you get even more work in the future.
Let me know your thoughts. Add a new comment below.
Acting Schools
I just worked on a TV commercial with another actor who got his Masters degree from one of the most prestigious acting schools in the U.S. He is incredibly talented and I just saw him on a TV show. He told me something that I want to share with you.
He told me how incredible his training was at this institution. And, even though a few of the people from his class are now seen in tons of movies and TV shows, the majority of those who attended are not working in the industry.
What I took away from this conversation is that having talent is very important. Being a very skilled actor is very helpful, however there is more to having success than just talent.
I truly believe that just as important to having amazing acting skills is knowing how to run your acting career as a business. We also need to have the passion to do whatever it takes to get work. In order to have success, we need to understand how to market ourselves, properly interview with agents, learn how to audition, create an amazing head shot/resume and many of the other necessary things a successful actor needs that are not necessarily taught at colleges and universities.
Going to a great acting program is wonderful, but I truly believe that there is a lot more that needs to be learned in order to have success.
If you have any experience with acting schools, leave a comment below.
Theater:
Revue of Les Miserables Leading Christendom College
Film:
Immortal Supporting Colin Mason Mirandum Pictures
Budget Justified Supporting Lisa Schaefer RoleModel Enterprises
TV:
Conviction Supporting Eric Hunsaker MSNBC
About a year ago I was working on an independent feature. Because of a limited budget and tight schedule, the only choice we had for lunch was Mexican food, which we had to eat fairly quickly.
The meal was delicious, but I don’t think the producers were taking into account that right after lunch, two actors were involved in a scene where they shared a private and intimate conversation.
Because of the meal, the actors were scrounging around for breath mints. The mints can help, but not completely mask strong breath. The other problem was with the sound. During some quiet moments, everyone on the set could hear one of the actors stomach begin to growl. The scene had to be re-shot a few times due to the stomach noises.
So, as a suggestion, if your scene is happening soon after lunch, keep your meals light, and bring a toothbrush, toothpaste and some mouth wash with you to the set.
Let me know your thoughts. Have you ever had any experiences like this? Add a new comment below.
Agent
Signed with FFT – New York
Eli recently sent me this note.
I have been working in the music industry for the last 8 years, but want to get back into acting. Prior to my music work I worked extensively in theater. Can I list plays on my resume that are over 9 years old? Would you recommend I list an acting honors that I received on my resume, as well as some of the technical work I did in the theater, such as, lighting, scene design and directing?
Dear Eli:
You can list any and all of the theater experiences you have had, no matter how long ago the performances took place. Since there is no need to place a date on your resume no one will know how long ago you did this work. The only thing that matters is that you acted in these productions
I would not list any technical experiences you had in the theater. These skills do not show that you have any acting skills. You can place some of your awards in the education section of the resume.
You can also see a sample resume in my book, How to Become a Successful Actor and Model.
If you have other suggestions on creating a strong resume, please leave a comment below.
I recently had an audition for a TV commercial. The other actor in my scene was great. There were no lines in the spot, so it was all improvisational with a lot of physical movements. We had great chemistry and timing during the audition. The six people watching the audition genuinely seemed to like our work. They laughed at the right spots, and things felt great when we were done. I did not book the job.
Even though I believed the audition went well, I know from having been cast 1,197 times so far, that having a great audition is only the second most important aspect to booking a job. The number one factor for getting the job is your look.
I am sure that everyone who attended the call back for this TV audition was very good. I know the final decision came down to looks. Who matched up best with whom, and which actor had the specific look that was right for the product.
So, not booking the job, in many cases has nothing to do with your actual performance.
Let me know your thoughts. Share your audition experiences. Add a new comment below.
Theater:
Heaven’s Gates Drug Dealer
Vinita Ministerial
Hell’s Flames Alliance Theatre
Signed: with Wilhelmina
Theater:
Scrooge Tiny Tim Old Opera House Theater Company (WVA)
TV:
Good Day DC Exercise Demo Fox
Film:
Capital One Gordon’s Mom/Supporting Bonsai Productions
Film
Jackie Patricia Lawford Kennedy Fox Searchlight
Reunion Reunion Chairwoman Next Indicated Action Prod.
TV:
Game Change Adviser to John McCain HBO
Top Doctors Infomercial Janice TV
Industrial Film:
Proctor & Gamble Spokesperson CVS
Modeling:
Exercise Model Nurtured Bones
Page just sent me a note asking for help in dealing with nervousness
primarily when auditioning for musicals. However, this situation can
also hold true for any type of audition or go-see.
I let her know that being nervous is normal and can actually be very helpful to ones audition.
The trick is to harness your nervous energy and incorporate it into your audition.
She is better when auditioning for non-musicals. I wonder if she lacks the same confidence in her
singing as her acting skills. Perhaps that is what is causing more tension when auditioning for musicals.
The best thing to do is to acknowledge your nervousness, don’t try and squash it,
get into character, and use this added energy to give a powerful audition.
Have you ever felt nervous during an audition? If so, share your experiences with others in a comment below.
Theater:
Laura, The Glass Menagerie – Freeport Factory Stage, Freeport, ME
Helena, All’s Well That Ends Well – Acorn Productions, Westbrook, ME
Rootie, Graceland – Sanford Maine Stage, Sanford, ME
Florence, The Odd Couple (female) – The Little Theater, Springvale, ME
Adeline, from Paris just wrote to me asking which cities in the U.S. would I recommend
her visit in order to get acting work.
That is a complicated question. If she is interested in doing TV shows and films,
then Los Angeles is the place to live. For getting work in theater, New York is
number one, and Chicago would be my second choice. I would also
recommend those same cities for commercial modeling work.
If she is just interested in getting started in a smaller market, then there are many
cities that would offer her great opportunities in the commercial field. Some of the
best jobs I have done took place in small markets, in cities such as, Richmond, VA,
Columbus, Ohio, Pittsburgh, PA, Lancaster, PA, Columbia, SC, Baltimore, MD and
Washington, D.C., to name a few.
If she is interested in making the move to the U.S., then it would be very helpful
to her to have an agent already in place, along with all of her working papers.
Just because you live in a small market, it does not mean that the work you
get can’t be incredible projects and created with some very talented people.
If there are any cities in the U.S. where you have found acting work, let us know in a comment below.
I was recently asked by a woman living in Alberta, Canada, if she
needed to move to New York or Los Angeles in order to get
acting or modeling work.
This is what I told her.
Canada offers some great acting possibilities. Toronto and Vancouver are the
biggest cities for film, TV and commercial work in Canada. There are some
great projects being shot in those cities.
If she is interested in pursuing the fashion modeling industry, then Montreal
would be a great place for her to be.
Have you done any acting or modeling in Canada? If so, leave a comment below.
TV: “Warrior Update” – Principle/Self – Brainerd High School/Lakeland Public Television
Theater: “The Laramie Project” – Tiffany Edwards – Erik Stein (Director)
TV Spot: Audition – Mall of America – MN
A dad from Indiana asked me what I thought
about his daughter having to take an agent’s acting
class and shoot with the agent’s photographer in order
to get representation.
All agents need great photos to market their talent. It is also
imperative that all talent have great acting skills before
attending an audition. However, it would make me a bit
nervous to sign with an agent who won’t represent your daughter
if she does not study and shoot with the agents industry
professionals.
It should not matter where your daughter get’s her training or
photos taken. It is one thing if the agent suggests people to you,
even if it includes their own in-house professionals. that is fine, but
to have them say that they won’t represent her if she does not shoot
or study with them raises many red flags for me.
Maybe the agent’s classes are great, but I would audit a class in order to see
if you you are getting the kind of information that will be helpful to you. I
would also want to see the photographers work to make sure you are getting
your monies worth if you decide to work with them.
SAG-AFTRA, the main Union for actors, do not allow their Signatory agents
(agents who have signed contracts with the Union) to offer classes. They are concerned
about this exact issue – an agent not representing talent if they don’t take their classes.
So, I would check out the agent’s contacts, and see if the agent will still work
with your daughter if you decide to shoot and study elsewhere.
Have you ever run into this issue? If so, leave a comment below. I would prefer that specific names of schools not be mentioned.
Theater: “Uncle Phil’s Diner” (Dinner Theater) Gidget