Category Archives: actor 101

December 18, 2013 · 8:18 pm

Actor 101: The Actor, The Art & Advertising

Being a working actor can be tough. You willingly jump into a world where only a very small percentage  of people in your field know where their next paycheck is coming from. It is a world where you constantly put your talent on display and are regularly told “no.” Those without thick skins are harried by doubt and even those who have the mental fortitude have moments where they wonder if it’s all worth it.

So it’s easy to see why, when the actor is working, they take a great deal of joy in being a part of whatever production they are a part of. But what I want to remind you of today, especially given the current shift in how media works, is that the actor, no matter what media they perform in, is a sales person and as much as we want to use our art to effect people we are being hired to sell things to them. 
You may be saying to yourself, “Whoa, dude, I’m an artist! I’m not some shill!”
I have bad news for you, you are totally a shill. 
Here’s the good news, these things DO NOT need to be mutually exclusive. 
Note One: television exists because of and for commercials, not the other way around. 
If it wasn’t for the products that need to be sold there would be nothing on television. It would be a dead platform. Ever heard of soap operas? They got their name because they were paid for by the soap companies that wanted to be seen by mothers who were home during the day. Ever wonder why network television doesn’t push boundaries very often? They need to sell ad space and, as anyone whose ever heard the word “boycott” before knows, the networks are very nervous about alienating their audiences. Ever wonder how HBO manages to create shows like “Game of Thrones?” One word: subscribers. All television is paid for by the audience, whether indirectly by buying products or directly by paying subscriptions. 
Note Two: Performing in commercials is an art all on its own. 
As I just mentioned, the reason “Breaking Bad” is on TV is to create a space of sixty minutes where 13-18 minutes can be filled with ad space to sell to the companies that want you, the “Breaking Bad” audience member, to see their products. Advertisers know that the double edged sword of this relationship is that most of the audience doesn’t care how essential these commercials are and they would rather not see any commercials so they work VERY hard to create little 30-second stories that sell a product and try to be as entertaining as possible. We, as the commercial actors, are then required to bring life to these stories so that sales are made which then translates into revenue that can be budgeted to be spent on more ad buys. There’s a reason that whole classes are dedicated to commercial acting and it’s because it has a very different feel and goal than what you would learn in your standard on-camera Stanaslovsky based classes. The basic techniques are the same, but execution is very different. 
(Author note: I will probably do a whole different entry about the differences in acting styles. They are very different and understanding them can be the difference between booking and not booking. – CA)
Note Three: Selling something is not the same as “selling out.”
For the actor as an artist, “selling out” can be one of the worst things you can be accused of. Music artists are accused of this all the time and it usually comes when the artist in question starts making a whole buncha’ money and becomes more well known. When the original fan base feels marginalized they lash out, but actual selling out is different. Selling out, by definition, is accepting money or other compensation for compromising your principals and/or integrity. Integrity – that’s the name of the game. So, by that definition, a militant vegan actor doing a commercial for zucchini? No problem, sell away. Same militant vegan selling sausage? Well, that isn’t looking great for your integrity. And things like this are considered even by the talent agencies. Each time I have signed with a commercial agent they have always provided me with a data sheet that asks if there are any products or companies that I am not willing to endorse or work for. And they pay attention to that. You should too. Even in this economy, where it can feel like heresy to decline any kind of work, if you can’t maintain your personal integrity you may not be in the right field. Paychecks are great, for sure, but are they worth the regret and resentment that it may come later? Only you can answer that. 
Note Four: Media is changing so fast that we are doing sales more than ever. 
Let’s just ignore the traditional sales aspects of the job for a second. As any actor has noticed the whole internet thing seems to have caught on and it has changed our career completely. Instead of hard copy head shots being delivered by messengers we now just sign up for a few different casting sites and get our info emailed. Instead of just the networks and cable there’s now internet commercials, web series, webisodes to supplement network shows, personal YouTube channels and a host of things that can hire you that didn’t even exist three years ago. There’s also about 1000 times the competition for those jobs. There has always been a “personal branding” aspect to the business and to some extent a need to sell yourself, but now you need to get yourself above a growing amount of noise from up and comers who may have a better knowledge of After Effects than you do (I’m not saying that your acting reel should have light sabers in every scene, but it can’t hurt, right? But seriously, don’t do that.). Now marketing yourself is as important as technique because you could be the most amazing actor in the world, but it doesn’t mean a thing if people don’t know who you are. I’d be lying if I didn’t mention that this blog is part of a bigger strategy to help sell myself! Social media, the right pictures, websites and, when appropriate, public relations professionals are all important components to a personal marketing strategy. 
Sales and selling can feel like bad words sometimes. It carries a connotation of lying or being disingenuous, but in the end what it really does is let tell people about a product or service. In the case of the actor it advertises you and your talents. It’s important that you not ignore this aspect of the career. Remember if you maintain your personal integrity and remain authentic to what you are then you have no reason to feel bad about what you put out. 
Do you have opinions about selling, whether it be of yourself or products? Tell me in the comments. 
See you soon. 

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Filed under acting, actor 101, actor stuff, commercials, marketing

October 11, 2013 · 12:04 am

Actor 101: Picking Up The Pieces – What Happens When A Project Fails

In 2012 I had a bad July.

A very bad July. 
We were just coming off of a successful production for the plastic surgeon documentary and were heading full steam ahead into post. The next two projects were lined up and crewing up. We were knee deep in casting and then disaster struck – all but our initial financing fell through…
…on both projects…
…at the same time. 
The next six months worth of work were gone. Worse than that, being the lead producer, I suddenly had employees who were also out of work. The projects were shot and my credibility was shot. 
It was a very bad July.

Losing funding is nothing new in the entertainment industry. It, literally, happens every day. In the initial days of the financial crisis it was sometimes happening several times a day (that’s a different, less terrible, story). But the devastation caused by the loss is dependent on several key factors:

  • Type of project.
  • People associated with the project.
  • The likelihood of replacing the funding.
For big studio pictures having a project flounder isn’t such a big deal. They can repackage and attempt to get it made for years or even decades. 
If you have major stars in your project it’s a bit easier to keep interest up and entice new money.
In the end, if you have a strong track record, are a major studio and/or have the star power to put butts in seats then your likelihood of replacing funding is strong and you just need to survive the delay.
We didn’t have any of those benefits. 
What we did have was a great idea, a FANTASTIC crew and some interest from prominent distributors who were looking forward to seeing a final cut. But it wasn’t enough to get the funding back in place in time to keep our production schedule.
Working in Hollywood often means that your credibility is also your line of credit. Things can happen on a handshake, but then they better happen. Just like your credit score, it is very easy to damage your credibility and not as easy to build it back. I like to pride myself on keeping my word, especially in business, but that July the rug was tugged out and, direct fault or not, I was holding the bag and all the excuses and apologies in the world doesn’t change that.
It’s easy to find stories about success in Hollywood, it’s all anyone wants to talk about. Scoring deals, making movies, living the dream – the whole town runs on the hope and wish fulfillment popularized by the trade and gossip magazines and entertainment shows. But you can’t throw a stone in the Los Angeles Metro Area without hitting someone who’s had it all fall apart on them…
…and everyone else is scared that they’re next.
You can feel it in the casting waiting rooms, executive board rooms, and every Studio City apartment. No one is immune, but you do have a choice about how you cope and what you do. 
I decided to fall back. 
With the projects completely stranded, we used what money we had to pay out who we could (everyone who wasn’t a producer) and I went back to my desk to start shaking the money trees. For months I was pretty much locked away at home licking my wounds and looking for rent money on top of project funding. I was making daily phone calls of apology to partners, crew and fellow producers. I was working out what the tax issues would be… I was mourning the loss.
Normally this is where I’d tell you that at least something good came out of it, there’s a moral about keeping hope alive and the music swells as we get to a happy ending… but, no, that’s not really how this story ends. While my life certainly hasn’t fallen apart, I am still recovering, career wise, from the loss of these projects. We have gotten some things back on track, but not made. I have regained at least a little bit of my credibility with the people I was most worried about, but frankly I’m not sure about everyone. Even fifteen months on I carry a great deal of guilt about the whole thing. 
I don’t know that I have any good advice about how to deal with this since I’m still in the thick of it, but I did think that it was something that was worth writing about because, whether you’re a vet or noob, nobody tells you about the failure part. It happens, more than anyone wants to admit, and you aren’t alone if it happens to you. In fact, if/when it does happen, you’re in really good company. Every major entertainment player has a horrible story they never want to tell and really they are the best example to follow. Anyone who finds success in this business does so due to a combination of hard work, determination and skill. Perseverance, talent and an eye for opportunity can turn the whole thing around and, as quickly as everything was taken away, the ship can be righted and back on course. 
What I hope you take away from this is that failure is only as bad as you let it be and that it’s OK, healthy even, to be upset and mourn the loss of a project, a part or a gig. The end of a project is merely the end of a project, not the end of the world. The nice thing is that there is always something else out there. It might not be right around the corner, and you may not be ready to hear it, but it is out there. It’s up to you to get yourself collected and get back on the horse. 
I’ll see you out there.

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Filed under actor 101, career, Create with Jenna, learning experience

September 25, 2013 · 12:05 am

Actor 101 – Catching the “Bug”

I had a conversation with a marketing client. He asked me, because I’ve been in the entertainment business for a long time, why his niece, who is struggling to make it as an actor, won’t join him part time in his office. The way he sees it, if the whole “acting” thing doesn’t work out, she’ll have a job that can grow into a decent career.

I didn’t know what to tell him.

He commented that actors seem to really hang on to the idea of being actors even if things don’t seem to be working out.

I didn’t know what to say.

Then he waited for me to respond.

…

I know that I’m not unique in hearing this. Usually when you hear it it’s coming from a relative or authority figure you are close to. Not usually from someone else’s relative where you have no context on the situation and, as I’ve mentioned before, context is important!

I fumbled and flailed for an answer. Since it was completely off topic I tried to just brush it off, but he was persistent. I implied that it’s very hard to give up on a dream; he countered that she isn’t making a living. I asked what she had been working on, he had no clue. It was a circular conversation headed nowhere. I finally finished by telling him that when you catch the acting bug it can be very difficult to shake and that the more he pushes it, the more she’ll likely push back. That must have been what he needed to hear because he was ready to move on after that.

But I thought about that conversation the rest of the day. I didn’t know why it was so hard to give him an answer. I tried to think about why I stuck with it, but I always feel like I’m a bad test case. I “caught the bug” back in kindergarten and was fortunate enough to have a variety of things all fall in my favor:

  • Supportive parents who didn’t mind making the commitment with me.
  • Moving to Southern California at an early age.
  • Beginning a professional acting career as a child and having success right off the bat.
I credit these three things, things that I had no direct control over whatsoever, to me having any kind of career more than any talent I have or persistence I may show. Not everybody is as fortunate. So I thought about it in a more abstract way. There is a trope, almost an archetype, of the hopeless actor who is always ready for the next audition as they get ready for their waitress job. It is a reality, but I’m talking about the way it’s portrayed in movies and TV shows where there’s an unfettered optimism about how they will make it soon, but it will probably be after they deliver that last coffee to table 22.  There are lots of reasons why people want to become an actor, but I believe that when it shows up in its most honest form the only people who are willing to go for it are optimists or natural gamblers. Or both.
There are, of course, lots of lures to becoming an actor: fame, respect, money, attention from the desired sex; all of these reasons, though, usually lead to burn out pretty quickly when/if there isn’t a relatively quick reward. The people who truly stick with it, who have a hard time doing anything else, they require that optimism/gambler mentality. 
It’s not an easy life to be a performer in the United States. As much as the life is praised and desired in the public eye, in private it gets very little respect. It isn’t seen as a “real’ career and too many times the very people you count on for support are the ones who will tell you that you can’t do it. They’re right to be skeptical, if it were easy then EVERYBODY would do it (and sometimes it feels like they are) but if they don’t support your choice it can be very hard to stick to it the way you need to to make it. That last reason alone is why so many working actors in the U.S. are also self-starters and entrepreneurs. It takes a lot of drive to actually make it and “making it’ at even the smallest level can take years. 
But there’s a flip side to that coin: not everyone who really wants it, no matter how much, are going to make it. Some people, most people, will not work enough to support themselves. That is a fact backed up by actual numbers and here are three articles that I found just doing a very basic Google search:
Like I said, the people close to you have a reason to be skeptical, but here’s the thing – it’s worth the shot.
Dreams are dreams for a reason, they are the things we want most that we know are hard to get. A dream career is something that at least has a shot of coming true provided you are willing to do the work. Yes, the numbers are against you, but if you’re an optimist/gambler then that doesn’t matter. Liker Han Solo said, “Never tell me the odds!” If you are an entrepreneur then now is the best time to try your hand at an entertainment career because all the old models are dying and everyone – big studios, small studios and anything that shows video content – is looking for the new way to monetize the work. It’s going to happen, but it’s still very much in the air as to who is going to show the rest of us the way.
So I guess, if he were to ask me again, I still wouldn’t have a great answer to his question but I do understand where she’s coming from and I’m right there with her.
See you next time.

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Filed under acting, actor 101, actor stuff, career, jobs

September 3, 2013 · 7:59 pm

Acting 101 – Headshots and Headshot Photographers

Headshots are the marketing lifeblood of an actor. They are on every casting site, website, social media page and with you at auditions. A good headshot can help and a bad headshot can kill. As important as they are, people don’t always take them seriously. For the actor just starting out the up front cost of everything can be a bit daunting: casting sites charge, classes charge, some showcases charge and then there’s gas and general living expenses… it makes sense to look for ways to cut costs.

Don’t skimp on your headshots, though!

I’m not saying to spend thousands of dollars – that’s excessive – but you should be prepared to spend between $150-$450 on a good photographer and between 2-4 different looks.

Let’s talk definitions:

Headshot Photographer – A headshot photographer is not:

    • Your cousin who has, “A really good camera.”
    • Your friend that took that really good picture of you once.
    • A portrait photographer.
When looking for a headshot photographer it’s important to know that they can shoot what is considered a “headshot.” A headshot is more than just a good picture of you, it is a marketing picture of you so it needs to show what you look like (what you really look like, not the idealized, super Photoshopped you), your personality and have that special “something” that will help it stand out among the thousands (yes THOUSANDS) of other submissions that are coming through the casting director’s inbox. There’s a reason why a good photographer costs and it’s because they have developed a way to get all of those elements into a picture. It’s not that any photographer can’t produce those results, but when you’re talking about your career, especially when starting out, do you really want to take your chances with someone who hasn’t developed this skill?
Looks – A look is an outfit or style of dress that you take a series of pictures in. In my last headshot session I did three looks: Casual Business (seen above),
Comedy Casual,
and Casual Commercial. 
There are plenty more you can do as well like Theatrical, Character shots (although those are less viable now a days), “Young Dad or Mom…” There are as many variations as you can think of. Know your type and plan ahead. If you have an agent then ask them if they have any looks they’d like you to shoot. They are trying to get you work, it’s a good idea to give them the materials they need.
So now you may be saying to yourself, “OK, I get it, I need good headshots. Fine, cool. Who do I go to?”
If you have an agent ask for their recommendations. They will usually have a list of people that they like. If you have friends who have killer headshots that you love ask who did them, then interview the photographer and make sure they can shoot what you need. If you live in California here are four photographers that I have used and recommend in no particular order:

Alan Mercer – He does a great job at capturing personality and making a promo photo look and “feel” like you. Lots of celebrity clients, but not celebrity prices: http://www.alanmercer.com/

Aaron Huniu – The nice thing about Aaron is that he will absolutely work with you to create what you need. He shoots documentary style, portrait style, artsy-fartsy, whatever you need:  http://www.aaronhuniuphotography.com/

Molly Hawkey – I just did my new headshots with her and she is an awesome shooter! Lots of fun, funny and, as you can see from the site, she likes to capture the natural “you.” : http://www.hawkeyphotos.com/

The Schultz Bros. – 30-something years later and these guys are still kickin’. OC local and they can do everything. Fun Fact – The Schultz Brothers did my very first headshots over 28 years ago: http://schultzbrosphoto.com/

If you have questions don’t hesitate to ask in the comments.

See you next time!

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Filed under acting, actor 101, actor stuff, headshots, how-to, photos

July 8, 2013 · 6:00 pm

Actor 101 – The Audition

Auditions: they are the key to employment as an actor in the entertainment industry. You want an agent so you can get auditions. You subscribe to LA Casting and Actors Access so you can get auditions. It’s the mantra of the struggling actor, “I just need an audition!”

Auditions are literally the job interviews of the acting world. Just getting an audition is an accomplishment in and of itself (that’s a story for another time), but what we all really want is the job at the other end of that audition! There are some key things to remember you go into an audition and many of them might not be what you think.

When I talk to the actors in my class about auditioning I ask them what they feel they need to do to succeed in that audition room. The common answers have to do with their technique:

  • Bring strong choices into the room.
  • Take direction and apply it to the best of my ability.
  • Connect with the reader to make the emotional reaction stronger.
These are all great but they all have to do with your talent. Yes, your talent has a lot to do with why you are in the room, but  it’s kind of expected that you have the ability. Casting directors are purposely looking for good people. Nobody really wants to be in the the business of grooming talent (although finding the next great talent isn’t bad) so when you get the audition there’s already an expectation that you are good or at least good enough. So that may not be the final decision maker. You need to have a good interview.
It’s easy to forget about the interview aspect of the audition. You’ve done so much work on the character and scene, you’ve been memorizing as much as you can, maybe you’ve picked out the perfect audition outfit, so there’s already a lot going on in your head and now we need to add another level to it.
  • It’s an interview with the casting director not just this show. 
Casting directors don’t stay in one place forever, they get new jobs too. And when they move on they know who they liked and who they didn’t so it’s a good idea to treat every audition like a general meeting (General Meeting: A meet-and-greet with a casting director or casting decision maker without a specific project in mind.). Don’t be afraid to have a small conversation, be personable and, it should go without saying but….
  • Be Polite!
I really wish I didn’t need to make this a bullet point, but it’s shocking how many actors will forget the general courtesy of being polite. C’mon, your parents should have taught you better than that.
  • “Own the room.”
There’s an old saying that I remember from my earliest days of auditioning, “Go in and own the room!” Translated into specifics it means to go in confident and prepared. Be friendly and ready to meet people. It DOES NOT mean be annoying or obnoxious. For some folks this can be a tough line to walk. If you aren’t sure whether you’re bubbly or obnoxious ask a good friend – the kind of good friend who will tell you if you’re being an ass. 
  • Take away the reasons to say “no.”
When you walk into an audition there are already 1000 reasons why they can say no. You could be the wrong height, wrong body type, wrong hair, you may not match the family that has already been cast, casting could be having a bad session, the person ahead of you was kind of a jerk and it has everyone on edge… lots of things you have zero control over. It’s your responsibility as the professional actor to bring in as few reasons for them to say no as possible that includes all the things bullet pointed above, including the talent based ones, and also being sensitive to the energy in the room. Don’t walk in all loud and boisterous if they are trying to have a small private meeting before you begin. Don’t be the depressed guy if they’re all laughing and joking. Be aware and be appropriate.
There’s so much more that can be talked about when it comes to auditions but these are a few things that are good to start with. Do you have specific audition questions? Post here in the comments. Also, come check out our scene study and audition courses at Studio 105.
See you next time!

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Filed under actor 101, actor stuff, auditions, how-to

March 27, 2013 · 6:00 pm

On-Camera Class Starts April 3rd!

In case you haven’t heard, my on-camera acting class at Studio 105 begins this April on Wednesday the 3rd.

I’m very excited about this class. For a long time now (about a decade) I’ve been working with actors young and old to build up their skills and help get them started. Steven’s studio gives me the opportunity to explore that with a whole new group of people. We’ve done some really good work in the studio already and students are already booking work – that’s always my favorite part.

For April we’ll be focusing on improvisation and getting comfortable on the camera. This is a great way to start whether you’re fresh off the bus or a seasoned pro. You’ll get to know your group, make some new friends and on day one do some on-camera work. The nice thing about this month of study is that it isn’t just for actors. The skills we’ll be building are good for students, real estate professionals, sales people and just about anyone who has to deal with the public.

Also, the blog deal is still in effect until the first class! Say “super blog” when you sign up to get your first month for only $175 (normally $250)!

There are still some slots available so check out Studio 105 and secure your spot today!

See you next time.

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Filed under actor 101, actor stuff, blatant plug, studio 105

March 22, 2013 · 10:00 pm

Studio 105 Commercial!

Steven from Studio 105 and I put together a quick commercial about the studio, and here it is:

We have on-camera acting classes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights from 7-9pm in the Studio 105 space in downtown Long Beach. Steven teaches Tuesdays and Thursdays and I teach Wednesdays.

In fact, because my class is just starting, we’ve got a deal going on!

Normally you’re first month of class is $250 – but if you sing up for my class and give the code “Super Blog” you’ll get 30% off! So your first month is only $175, and then each month there after is only $150!

Amazing, right?

Remember this offer is only valid for your initial sign-up for my new Wednesday night class and expires May 1, 2013. You must use the code  “super blog” when signing up.

You can go to the Studio 105 website or call this number: 323-898-3567 to sign up. Space is limited to get your spot soon.

Have questions? Leave them in the comments.

See you next time!

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Filed under acting, actor 101, actor stuff, blatant plug, studio 105, video, videos

March 12, 2013 · 6:00 pm

The Actor and Marketing

So you’ve got your agent and you’ve got the perfect headshots and whenever you’re in class your coaches and classmates are consistently amazed at your abilities and choices…

…but you’re still not working.

So what’s wrong? What can you do to help fix it?

Well, unless you make friends with George Clooney or Joss Whedon you’re going to have to market yourself. Having talent is great, but talent on its own is useless if no one knows about it.

So what can you do to market yourself?

There is no single “right” answer to this and solutions will vary based on type and current level of visibility, so today I’m going to focus on 3 things that can help you no matter what level you’re at that are simple and easy to maintain.

  1. Facebook Fan Page – I know. It’s so simple, right? You’re on Facebook and so are your friends and you’re probably getting a few requests a day from other people wanting you to “like” this or go to some event? But then there are all those articles talking about how Facebook is becoming irrelevant and how to deactivate your profile and blah, blah, blah. Here’s the fact of the matter: Whatever the media journalists say, Facebook still has over 500 million users and your friends, even though they may complain about it, still use it. And so do their friends and their friends and their friends – except for that one hipster dude who gave up social media in favor of posting flyers. A fan page is an easy way to update large numbers of people about all things related to your career. Fan pages serve the purpose that a web page used to serve, and it’s free to set up and easier to maintain. You can post videos, links and send event invitations to premieres or to your one-person version of Cyrano de Bergerac. If actively maintained this can help create rapport and a “personal” relationship with your fan base. Remember: the internet is forever! Post only what you want the world to see!
    1. Pros: Easy updates that can be automated by sites like Hoot Suite to your fan base. Large user base. Ability to advertise at a low cost point.
    2. Cons: You have to build your base, which means sending request to friends, family & anyone with an active account. It’s no good to send updates to your dog and your mom, they already know what you’re doing. Facebook’s new ad policy – you can still set-up and post for free, but they try and get you to pay for access to your full base. Personally I haven’t seen the need to pay for ad space, I advocate only spending when you have to, but this will be a personal decision based on how much reach you want to achieve.
  2. Twitter – I can already hear some of you, “I don’t get Twitter.” “How do you use it?” “I have Instagram, can’t I just use that?” I want you to know that I hear you and I understand you, but you also need to look at the business that you’re working yourself into. We sell ourselves as a personal brand. Our look and our personalities are the things that get us noticed, and getting noticed is what can lead to work. Who is Tom Hanks? He’s the nicest guy in Hollywood. How do we know that? Well, really we don’t, but we assume it’s true from interviews that we’ve seen and how he interacts with his fan base. For the unknown actor Twitter can be a wonderful way to demonstrate your personality and that makes it a wonderful resource. It has broad spectrum appeal, it requires very little to start up and maintain and it forces you to speak in small phrases that can capture your personality “essence” (and I apologize profusely for using that word). Go look at a few Twitter profiles. The ones with followers have a clear point of view and are, unmistakably, the voices of the author.  Check these out: Rainn Wilson, Joel McHale, Elizabeth Banks. And these aren’t even the most popular on Twitter! Like a fan page, you still have to build a following, but Tweeps (is that what we can call them?) are, in my experience, far more willing to take a chance on someone.
    1. Pros: Easy start up. Can be linked to Facebook and to other social media platforms. Supports photos and now videos with Vine. Community that is open to new members. Easy to do, can be posted from a smart phone or even a “dumb” phone.
    2. Cons: Must build your following. Easy to post means easy mistakes for the impulsive poster. 
  3. YouTube Channel – This is different than just posting things to YouTube (although that can be a good start). Supporting a YouTube channel requires a little more effort than the other two, but as an actor trying to start out nothing can be more beneficial. The catch 22 of professional acting is that no one will hire you unless they know what you can do, but no one can know what you can do unless you’re working. YouTube offers you a great way to get around this problem. On your channel you can post your work, whether it’s your improv performance or a sketch you and your friends make. Shoot it, edit it if you can, and post it. In the modern electronic world there are so many ways to shoot and edit video (you can do all of the above on most smart phones now a days pretty easily) that there’s no excuse for your work to be hidden from the world. Also, for those of you with credits and some video of your stuff, YouTube is the place to put your reel. Vocabulary Check – Actor’s Reel: A short video (under 5 mins, probably shorter) featuring bits of your work from television shows, films or commercials. The nice thing about YouTube is that you can usually convince your friends to watch your videos and get the views started. It’s even better if you put up something that’s good that they’ll want to share. Also, these videos can be passed around on your Twitter and Facebook page and help broaden your reach! It’s all interconnected!
    1. Pros: Easy to start. Views can come from family and friends who will help build your audience. Technology makes it easy to create content.
    2. Cons: YOU MUST HAVE CONTENT! A YouTube page with no videos isn’t going to help you much.
That’s a good start. Once you’ve started working with these resources you can branch out. Branding yourself is important, but remember it takes time and dedication. Most “overnight sensations” spent years building up to what they’ve become. Be patient and be consistent, these are the keys to building a brand.
What ways do you market yourself or interact with your friends? Let me know in the comments. 
Also, if you have any questions you can write those too.
See you next time!

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Filed under actor 101, actor stuff, blatant plug, Facebook, marketing, social networking, twitter, YouTube

January 21, 2013 · 1:17 am

Actor Advice: This is Good Stuff

I am posting this link from ReadySetAct.net because it talks about something that every actor needs to hear. It’s something that I discuss with my young actors, but really all actors should read this, no matter how old. Danielle Eskinazi did a similar article that I wanted to post to, but I haven’t been able to find it. This one came along and covers almost the exact same thing  – which just goes to show how universal this information is. So read it and enjoy and if you have any thoughts don’t hesitate to mention them in the comments.

This post is by Joan Sittenfield and she wrote the book “Ready?… Set?… Act!” You can check her resume as a casting director HERE. Her IMDb hasn’t been updated for a while, but the information in the article is still 100% accurate. Here’s the post: http://readysetact.net/why-does-one-actor-get-cast-while-another-one-doesnt/

Thanks to Jenna Leigh Green for posting this on her Facebook feed.

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Filed under acting, actor 101, actor stuff