This article will give some tips for how to get noticed for your undiscovered acting talents.
There is no avoiding the fact that few people are lucky enough to be aware of the talented actors hiding in their midst. It is the same in theatre and film. You could be one of the best actors in the world but if you're not given the chance to show what you're capable of you'll probably never be known.
Luckily there are some very useful tips for actors (note: we've saved the best for last so read everything!)
Actors will often succumb to the temptation to skip around their stage work. On stage, they can feel that it isn't time to show the full breadth of their talents.
At least in theatre, this is not an option as a first show is usually with a fringe theatre company. It's a time to get some experience in front of an audience.
There's no excuse to not take the opportunity to show what you've got.
You don't have to do the whole play to get some work in front of people. You can do a few short scenes, or just two scenes, and then give them a talk back session.
For the beginner, it's hard enough getting out there, but to not even have a chance to show off what you've got is a crime.
On film, this tends to be a different story. If you do get noticed then a lot of the time it is because you were signed up by a producer and then put into a film. At least in this case, you're guaranteed some work.
But in order for this to happen, you'll need to make sure you're building a portfolio. When you're first starting out, you'll find that the types of things you're able to get work in are mainly non-stereotypical genre films. Some of these will be the biggest budget films of the year and be completely well known.
On the other end of the spectrum, there's also a lot of indies that are made for next to no money and barely seen. There's a huge range in between. But even these genres still have to offer something unique.
These are the sorts of films that may not have massive audiences. But there's nothing wrong with that. It means you don't have to worry about pleasing everyone or making people forget they haven't seen you in a while.
On the other hand, if you're given the opportunity to perform a role in an indie film, or play a role in a larger budget film, then you have a great chance of getting noticed.
There are a number of ways to get noticed. The most obvious is through auditioning. When you have some shows coming up, you can send them your reel and pictures. You can also get in touch with casting directors.
It's crucial that you come with your A-game when you audition. It's not something you can half-arse. If you only send a reel and some pictures, you won't impress anyone. You also won't get a look in if you're simply not the right person for the role.
Another way to get noticed is through networking. It's not the glamorous life but it does help. You can make friends with other actors, directors, and producers — and learn a great deal from them.
Networking has changed the game for actors. It gives you a huge opportunity to meet people and for these people to help you get work. We're not trying to sell you an empty marketing pitch. It's a necessary thing to do.
Everyone who is training for a part should be involved in theatre festivals. The best part about theatre festivals is the diversity in the choices. You will meet actors from all over the world. In short, it's a great chance to network and have some fun.
You don't have to be scared of competitions. In fact, there's something to be said for testing yourself against other people.
The creative industries are fast-changing and a lot of actors are starting to consider the online way to show off what they've got. There are many acting websites that help network creatives together—actors with filmmakers, etc.
It's not always about getting a social media profile up, but keeping it active to show off your work. There's no point in tweeting about an audition you didn't get. You have to do something with that information and you have to do it well.
There's nothing worse than doing a cool indie film that you thought you gave an excellent performance in only to see it never get the recognition it deserves.
Public relations can help change the game and help aspiring artists get the recognition they deserve by letting someone else handle the media side!
A good PR person will get you great write ups in online blogs with HUGE readership. This way people who were not searching for your film will be able to find it from a neutral third party.
