The Successful Talent: Tips for the Actor & Model

COUNT DOWN #9

"Honesty is the best policy."  It's an age old adage, but there must be a reason that it has stood the test of the time!

#9 - The Lie.

There are so many versions of this problem, I hardly know where to begin.  Yes, this is acting and as actors, you will play characters who are not truly YOU.  That is not an example of a lie.

In an industry ripe with untruths, we are inundated with inaccurate statistics, credits, and even sometimes representation.  Please do not list an agent who has not agreed to represent you.  It's one of the most puzzling choices we see talent make and inevitably, word will get back to the agent, who will clarify the misunderstanding.  It's only that talent who ends up looking sheepish! 

Lying about jobs booked with certain clients is also a good way to be caught red handed.  I once sent a talent to see someone I assumed they had already worked with, as listed on their resume.  After the talent left this photographer's studio, he called me to inquire about the job that he was listed as having shot.  The photographer had never shot the campaign listed on the talent's resume.  Maybe we can give him the benefit of the doubt and say that the photographer's name was a typo, but the point here is that the photographer now wants nothing to do with the talent or any set he is connected with -- a permanently burned bridge.

The most common lie on a resume is sometimes intended well and is found in the special skills section.  Actors and models both tend to inflate their abilities.  Even those who are modest can be caught off guard if they don't keep their skills section up-to-date!  If you once yodeled in Switzerlrand over a decade ago, putting "yodel" on your resume may be a stretch.  If you list a skill on your resume, be prepared to do it right now.  In my interview process, I frequently as talent to talk to me in the accents they have listed.  I am most impressed when someone flips from one accent to the next in mid sentence!  [I will definitely be sending them out!]  But I am most annoyed when the response I get is, "Oh, man.  I haven't done that in while.  Lemme see . . . I, um  . . . "  Usually what follows is quite the disappointment.

Be honest with your skills.  They are a great conversation starter and set you apart from your competition, but listing things inappropriately can do more damage than good.  Only use special skills, credits, and other information as you truly can follow through on should someone ask!

Take a look at your resume -- what might be something you should practice in order to keep listed?

COUNT DOWN #10

Here, a top 10 count down of things that are often found in a CD's notes during the casting process.

"Soooo now you want me to sing my sides and do a timestep at the same time, run my fingers through my hair, and look wistfully out the window...."

Sometimes casting requests seem so ambiguous and unclear!  This is where the industry separates the professional from the amateur.  Juding your script, outfit, storyboards, or treatment is not your job as the actor or model.  Your job is to make it look like it's natural -- and a cinch!

#10 - Submitting yourself for roles you can't play.

Sure, there is makeup and wardrobe.  And maybe a good stylist can make you look like an old woman, but that doesn't mean that casting wants to read a 30-something for a 60-something role.  Know that there is a little fudge everyone has in their age gap -- and as an actor you want that gap to be as wide as possible!  But there are some things that are just unreasonable.  A forty year old woman is never going to play 21, despite botox and a perfect figure.  So know who you are and what you are capable of right now.  There will be a day when you will play the 60-something role, but today you will likely only play five years older or younger than you are.

A NY CD complains that he hears actors tell one another that they should submit for any and everything -- just to be seen!  Unfortunately, actors give other actors some of the most harmful advice out there.  Trust that your agent will submit you for roles -- and maybe even stretch from time to time -- as appropriate.  You need to do the same thing in order to have a successful partnership and so that the industry takes you seriously!

What is your current age range?  When might you have [had] the widest range in your career?

WHAT IS THANKSGIVING, ANYWAY?

We all have something to be thankful for -- and what better time of year to show our gratitude than the national Thanksgiving holiday.  But do you know where this holiday originated?  Most of us were taught that pilgrims and native americans gathered around the dinner table together and broke bread.   This is a story that the big screen hasn't yet jumped on, but might one day, so knowing the history is a step in the right direction . . . not to mention a fun fact with which you can awe your trivia competitors!

The first thanksgiving in the early 1600s was a feast to celebrate the Pilgrims who had not only survived the devastating illnesses of their first winter in the new land, but also had a successful harvest.  The Pilgrims gleaned this harvest by following the Native American model of working the land, but they did not eat turkey, gravy, dressing, mashed potatoes, or pumpkin pie -- and they most certainly didn't have butter! Their feast was made of fish, corn, berries, fruit, clams, lobster, and vinison [sounds pretty good to me].

Many years later in 1789, George Washington proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving.  The holiday still was not widely appreciated, however, until magazine editor and writer Sarah Josepha Hale wrote editorials and letters in Boston Lady's Magazine and Godey's Lady's Book.  After forty years of her persistent efforts, President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November the official day of thanks. In 1941, Congress sanctioned the last Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day, our National holiday.

Whether you are gathering to give thanks for a year of plenty, or just to watch football and chill with your family, use this time to give thanks to those around you personally and professionally who enrich your life.  Celebrate your possibilities, your triumphs, and even your challenges while knowing that they will keep you growing into bigger and better adventures.  I also encourage you to take into consideration those who have less to celebrate.  Giving back to the community around you is the best way to give thanks and grow as an individual and as a talent!

DO THEY KNOW YOU APPRECIATE THEM?

Showing appreciation to our family and friends, that's sort of a given around the holidays. But what about that casting director who booked you on your first commercial, or that director you just worked with who you loved, or your agent who believes in you, or that casting office that always calls you in? Take the time to thank people -- truly thank people -- for being in your life. You might have heard me say this before, but all the people in this industry are just people. People love to be thanked and feel they make a difference.  They like to be acknowledged for what they do. Most of us only reach out to the industry when we want something - come to my show, or can I get seen on that project, or think of me, or I want an interview because I need new representation. All that is understandable as a part of our business. But take your business to a new level and show your team, your contacts, your support system, your fans that you are grateful for them and wish them luck in what they are doing. Human kindness goes a long way and is not forgotten!

I work with a talent who used to hold quite a high status in another part of the entertainment world.  This talent actually received a note asking for help from someone who is now a prominent casting director.  The CD was just thinking about getting the business started and wanted referrals and support.  The talent, who was quite busy with a full schedule and demands of the business, stopped and gave the soon-to-become CD some help.  Now that the talent pursues acting full time, this CD has made a point to be as responsive and supportive of the talent as possible, which has lead to quite a profitable reciprocal relationship!

So, as the holidays approach plant your seeds. Make a list of the casting directors you see a lot, and people you've met at networking events that you just really liked, and anyone that would you would like to show your appreciation towards and send them a card, an email, a small gift, whatever rings true to you. But reach out and be thankful. That is the way to move forward in life and enjoy this period of Thanks Giving.

UNFORGETTABLE, THAT'S WHAT YOU . . . SHOULD BE!

Casting Directors, Managers, and Agents are all meeting more talent in today's technologically advanced market than they ever have before!  Not too long ago, a meeting with an agent would have been the event of a lifetime.  But just because industry professionals meet more talent, doesn't mean they book or work with more actors or models!  In fact, the competition is more fierce!

How do you make the most out of meeting the industry through the various ways that exist today? Keep in mind, those same industry professionals are on the "circuit," attending showcases, workshops, and other scouting outlets.  One recent Saturday I ran into a casting director on the street. She was running from one meet-and-greet to the next. She was bragging she had four meet-and-greets back-to-back. How many actors do you think she'll remember come sundown?   And that doesn't take into consideration all those talent conventions with their thousands of hopefuls looking to be discovered. The human brain was never designed to remember an infinite number of faces.
 
How do you not get lost in the clutterd crowd?
Do not make the fatal assumption that just because they met you once, they are going to remember you.  Within 24 hours of meeting someone, send them a picture post card to say thanks, reminding them where the two of you met. Don't have a picture post card of you?  Get them! They become every bit as useful as your headshots.
Thereafter until your last breathe as a booking talent, send them a monthly picture post card bulleting what you have done to be pro-active in your career.  For example, list your "Activity for the month of October:" Start with bookings (keep in mind not everyone has bookings every month and that's OK) and be specific. Then drop down to callbacks, then auditions; then classes or forums; then other things you have done like getting new headshots, slimmed down, joined the unions, etc. This is a name-conscious business so don't leave out your agent, the director, the product, your role, or anything else that would add validity and increase your standing with the industry.

Make it a plan to see them more than once. It's been reported back to us that an agent may see somebody at a Forum and express a mild interest. Then see them again a month later at a showcase. [Hmmmm, seeing them again.]  Finally, at another event or class - and it clicks. Like looking at a magazine ad: first time you see an ad, you look at it briefly and turn the page. The second time you see the ad, you pay more attention to it. The third time, you buy what the ad is selling. As humans, you and I are the same way -- it's the number of impressions that made the difference!

Keep in mind that there really is work for everyone. Anyone can be very discouraging and unresponsive to your overtures today, but practice the show business mantra: "No" means "not now."  Tomorrow or six months from now their world can be very different. You may have to wait things out.  It could be that someone has a long standing relationship with a certain client, and naturally therefore, an edge over you.  But sooner or later that talent will move, already be booked, or have a vacation planned when you pop on the scene.  Now's your chance!  Or suddenly your type becomes very popular, sometimes in response to a hit movie or TV show and they need more of your types. All of a sudden you can be getting a call!
 
Never let them forget about you! And in doing so, you'll maximize your investment of time and money and your career will show the results!

WHO'S YOUR MUSE?

In agents' and casting directors' offices, many times we hear reference points in casting.  The conversation goes, "Get me a so-and-so type," . . . or they may ask a talent, "So, who do you think you're similar to?" followed by an expectant expression.  Do you have a good answer -- an answer they want to hear?  An answer that will not only impress them, but then get you hired?
 
In preparation for these inevitabilities, it is your professional responsibility to know the names of three actors or models that you are similar to in terms of personality, looks or style.  These actors and models are primarily seen in movies, TV, or major campaigns.  You should know the talents' names and the relevant shows, campaigns or movies. This will require "professional research."  (Keep in mind these don't necessarily have to be actors that you as a talent personally aspire to be!  I've had many great actors or models tell me they hated being compared to a certain celebrity, but the comparison doesn't have to be shameful.)
 
Actors and models come in and out of popularity, shows come and go, so be sure to keep your list of "similar to's" current!
 
So when that question comes - and it will - you're going to look and sound really sharp. Just try not to look too smug!

Who do you commonly get compared to as an actor or model?

A TALENT'S TO-DO LIST

When a client is reviewing hiring an actor, often what is under consideration are versions of: "Give me 10 reasons why I should I hire them."  During a pitch, agents find themselves answering questions like, "What do they bring to the table?" and "Promote them to me. Now." Hesitation means that the actor or model may not be considered.  The same thing holds true when an agent or manager considers representing a particular talent. Of course, an actor or model has to have some developed skills and the appropriate look, but that is only a start.  There is a long distance between getting the job and someone's look or skill set.

 
Do you know what makes you marketable?  I usually ask a version of this question while interviewing a talent. Take 15 minutes, remove yourself from outside distractions, silence your iPhone (not even vibrate), turn off the TV, and feed the dog so he'll sleep.  Now that you can focus, have an inner dialogue with yourself and complete the following:
 
Industry Skills That Will Interest A Client:
1.  _______________________________________________________
2.  _______________________________________________________
3.  _______________________________________________________
4.  _______________________________________________________
5.  _______________________________________________________
6.  _______________________________________________________
7.  _______________________________________________________
8.  _______________________________________________________
 
Life Skills That Would Interest A Client:
1.  _______________________________________________________
2.  _______________________________________________________
3.  _______________________________________________________
4.  _______________________________________________________
5.  _______________________________________________________
6.  _______________________________________________________
7.  _______________________________________________________
8.  _______________________________________________________
 
Now you can see what you have to offer our world, even if you need to take a nap from the effort it took to find your selling points!  Is it enough to get a big, paying job?  Can it sustain you and lead to consistent paying work?  Is being viewed by "them" - not by yourself or your friends - as a professional actor, worth taking your business seriously?
 
This list will grow and change with you as a you develop, so revisit it at least once a year to add or reword things as appropriate.  Knowing what you have to sell or offer a client in need is the first step to being booked!  Now make those things the focal point of a client's experience the next time you're in the casting room!

Sometimes having ideas or suggestions is helpful.  Share them here and someone else might remind you of something you could add to your list, too!  What life skills did you come up with?

CARD CATALOG PHOBIA

 

Sometimes booking a job is about more than diving deep into character development and memorizing sides.  There are plenty of auditions as a talent in which the material is brand new.  Developing a solid character off of a few pages or less of dialogue and a storyline can be intimidating enough, but we are seeing a consistent trend in best selling books hitting the big screen.  Are you arming yourself with all the information you'll need to be competitive?

Huge blockbuster hits like Twilight, The Hunger Games, Shutter Island, Alice in Wonderland, Eat Love Pray (starring Julia Roberts), and Harry Potter all started in your local library.  The idea of going back to school or crossing the threshhold to your local library may not sound immediately appealing, but as with the Mad Hatter, things are not always what they seem!!

Your card catalog and librarian are only there to help you utilize the resources at your hands!  Why is this important?  In the case of a book being readapted to film, there is more information than just the sides and a storyline.  Other actors are going to have that information at their fingertips.  The only way to book those blockbuster hits is to beat your competition to the punch.  In order to do that, it requires some planning ahead and commitment on your part.

Typically, you have less than 24 hours to develop a character for your initial audition.  Very few talent are able to read an entire book (let alone a full series like Harry Potter) within this time frame while still developing a character and memorizing sides well enough to give a star performance.  Even those who are speed readers are likely not taking the time to dive into the character's deepest emotional life while under the constraints of time.  This is where planning comes in. 

Remember the blog about Getting Off To A Good Start (Part 2)?  You guessed it!  The point is that reading is not only a great way to start your day, but it's also imperative to the future of your business!  Don't know where to start?  First, get a library card.  You'll be surprised how happy they are to see you show up!  Second, check out the New York Times Best Seller List each time you finish a book.  Last, follow the trends.  Right now, fairy tales, magic, and supernatural topics are a hot topic!  And give yourself time.  This isn't a contest; enjoy the ride, the creatures, the people, the relationships!

The best part?  It doesn't cost you a penny to have all the information at your fingertips.  Like a casting, all you have to do is show up!

 

THE SECRET TO COMMERCIAL AUDITIONS

 

Nailing that commercial audition doesn't require any special powers.  Yes, some models or actors are more 'commercial' in their appeal, but that doesn't mean they are the only ones who can book a nice paying commercial gig! 

Commercial casting is like casting for a day player role in a television series.  You may have a few lines or it may be nonspeaking, but either way, you get paid to make them feel "real" or natural for the viewer.  In other words, the viewer needs to be convinced that you (as the actor/model) really are that person!  This is one reason that commercials are so natural for children.  Tap into your inner kid and find out how to be a natural in a commercial audition, too!

Put your focus on building a character that will come across as believable. That means you'll have to do as much homework ahead of time as you would for a television series or even a movie.  Here are some pointers on what to prepare from CD Terry Berland:

    #1. Who am I as the person in the scenario? To give your answer as much texture as you can, take it a step further. What     did this person do earlier in the day and what is this person going to do after we encounter him telling us whatever he     has to say?

    #2. Where am I? It’s not good enough to just make a statement as to where you are. You have to do lots of sensory work.     Identify things like what is the temperature, time of day, lighting, what does the furniture look like, floor, etc.

    #3. What and who are my relationships. The trick here is to look into the script and find relationships that are not so     obvious. Sensory work again.

    #4. Of course you have to choose an attitude. You have to know how to analyze the script to know what attitude works.     How is the ad agency selling? Notice I said how is “the ad agency” selling? I did not say how are “you” selling. Yes, the ad     agency has a salel, but they are just using you as a vehicle for their product sale. You need to use what they give you as a     vehicle to let out who you are and how you feel.

 

So what sets you apart in a commercial audition?  What might have been holding you back that you can try the next time you walk into the casting room?

THE VALUE OF FACE

Aside from gift-giving around the holidays, surviving the winter chill and showing your face at every opportunity is a great way to build relationships and secure future bookings in a more relaxed atmosphere.  It's easy to picture yourself attending party after party in the cool fall air, but when winter is full swing, having the fortitude to brave the icey roads, icey stoops, and still look like a million dollars after you arrive can be daunting.

Planning ahead will set you up for success.  Right now, clear your December calendar.  Holiday festivities hit full swing starting at the beginning of the month and may continue right through the New Year itself!  Commit to being available to every party, dinner, or group function sent your way.  Next, address the situation in your closet, so you can look presentable and make a lasting first impression with those new decision makers.  Need an attractive winter coat?  Get it now!  Being warm will go a long way to your willingness to leave the comfort of your heated home and your attitude once you get there.  Women might need some fancy attire for high end parties.  Pick the options you feel most confident in now so you're not scrambling the day of.  Guys will need attractive sweaters, jackets, pants, and shoes.  Warm socks might be helpful, too!  Missing something?  Get it now while you can find a good deal without breaking the holiday budget!  Feeling attractive and confident is imperative in this aesthetic industry!

As an agent, I like to use this time to introduce talent to decision makers in a relaxed atmosphere.  I trust that each introduction I make will give the model or actor an opportunity to bond with someone who could work with them on a future set.  The talent who show up to the parties get an added endorsement when there is a manager or agent present -- and I've seen it lead to multiple bookings in years past!

Every time you show up, you'll be building your network, making new friends, becoming a real person to more decision makers, and giving yourself every opportunity to get the new year started professionally and successfully!