Need to break into the industry? Packed with professional advice on how to break into acting, this is how.
How do you get noticed as an actor? Is it hard to get a job, or can you just send your headshot and CV to the casting director of your dream show? With so many actors in the industry, we know it can be tricky to stand out.
So we’ve compiled some insider tips and insider secrets on how to get noticed. If you want to break into the acting industry, or know someone who does, read on…
No-one ever knows if they need a specific role, or if they are right for an audition unless they actually try it. Instead of worrying about creating your own CV template, create something that the director or casting director will want to look at.
The good news is that we live in the age of Google, so don’t spend ages agonizing over a CV, just get creative with the information you have available.
Include the areas you have experience in, along with contact details for professional references.
Don’t include any dumb mistakes, so be smart with the CV you send to a casting director. If you want to be noticed, be clever.
A good agent will be able to source roles for you and network with their friends and colleagues to help you get the right jobs.
At the moment, agents are the key to getting actors great work, so if you can afford to work with one, get a good one.
You will be able to work with a good agent for free if they represent you, so get a good one.
After that, write to their contacts at the casting director’s office and keep your finger on the pulse.
Attending casting calls can be the best way to get noticed by casting directors, directors, and agents.
Most casting directors, directors, and casting agents attend casting calls, so check your local events list first.
There are casting calls for almost every genre of film and TV, so if you’re interested, definitely consider one.
If you think you’re going to be busy at the casting call, bring some things with you. You’ll need your CV or headshot, and the film you’re auditioning for, your résumé, and ideally, an audition letter.
Remember to include the contact details of your agent.
We all have our own fashion sense. One of the first things a casting director or casting director assistant will do when they view your CV is to skim through your pictures. If they see you in a pair of sweatpants or joggers then they might not take you seriously.
Similarly, if you have been labelled "overweight" or even have a visible stomach on your CV, your chances of getting hired go way down. It's a fine line between looking too slovenly for the role and looking too skinny and sickly. Be aware of what style you are going for and always dress the part.
Like your CV, your IMDB page is the best opportunity you have to make a good impression on casting directors and casting director's assistants. And just as you want to personalize your CV, you also want to personalize your IMDB page so it's interesting and eye-catching.
The profile section is where you want to start and have a bio up front that explains who you are, what you do, your age, etc. Most importantly, the information needs to be current and updated so you make sure it has your latest interviews.
The overall page needs to be good and it needs to be a photo-driven page.
Networking is all about meeting new people and having a conversation. It’s also a great way to find new contacts to make new contacts.
Networking events can be very useful for getting a job however it can also be nice just to meet others in the industry. Think about the film you’re looking to get into and work out which events will help you the most.
Look for events in the town you are in, or online events, which are increasingly more common and have many groups you can join and be apart of.
If you’re a newcomer to the industry, events like this can help you network with other people and make connections.
If you are ever going to get hired, you need to maintain an excellent work ethic, and that means putting in the hours. It's very important to be an actor because you cannot get ahead of yourself, or look for the next job instead of the next role.
However, in order to do this, you have to learn your craft so you become familiar with the process.
This is why you attend workshops, classes, talk to other actors and keep up to date with all of the latest news.
Getting exposure doesn't have to start with your big feature film. By getting exposure to the work you've already done, you'll be building a buzz and potentially reaching people who read certain blogs online.
PR also helps with search engine optimizing yourself and managing your reputation. If you'd like to learn more about this or are interested in PR, visit our website, where we work with artists and brands to promote themselves and their work.
