The Successful Talent: Tips for the Actor & Model

WHAT WE SEE IN AN IMAGE

Mercedes Rose, blogger for Backstage Unscripted provides perspective on other things the casting directors look for.  As obvious as it sounds, headshots are one of the biggest headaches CDs deal with.   She says . . .

Many actors do not look like their headshots. Or forget them entirely so I have no idea if they look like their headshots or not. This is such a no-brainer I can't believe it is still an issue... bring a headshot and resume already stapled to every audition NO MATTER WHAT. Better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it. And that headshot that you remembered to bring every time should look like you. And preferably it shouldn't have a coffee stain right across your forehead. This is your calling card. What is it saying?

I am sure I haven't heard every excuse in the book . . . yet, but I don't deal with as any talent as a CD would.  Each time a CD hears an excuse, (s)he becomes more callous, which means you could be the next unfortunate soul to have all the negative feelings of prior irresponsible actors or models thrown at you.   No one wants to be the straw that breaks the camel's back when it comes to explosive anger.  Set yourself up for positive feedback and positive experiences - be professional and prepared!

How do you keep your headshots available and in good condition for last minute audition opportunities?

DOES YOUR FACEBOOK HELP YOUR CAREER?

Social media becomes a bigger factor in booking on almost a daily basis.  Repeatedly in the past few months, I have heard producers, directors, and photographers say things like, "I wanted to know more about [insert your name here], so I checked out his/her facebook page and saw . . . "   That lead in has ended with some really positive statements and translated into a booking for the named talent.  It has also sometimes began a displeasurable rant about politics, sexuality, religion, and other topics. 

Social medias are a new front for marketing, entertainment, and communication.  Like most new things, we are going to have to learn some lessons the hard way before the younger generations are coached on how to use them effectively.  Since most of us are already adults and making an effort to join the technological era, these words from BackStage blogger Mercedes Rose are well-timed.

Social media does make a difference. A producer in the room for final callbacks recalled a recent very negative Facebook posting one of the actor had recently done. The producer immediately said he wasn't "overly excited" about the prospect of that negative energy coming to set. Now, I totally understand that one negative FB status does not a negative actor make. The point is: this producer didn't want to take that chance. And that is his right as the one doing the hiring.

In his new book, Talking Back to Facebook: A Common Sense Guide To Raising Kids in the Digital Age, Steyer explores some of the effects of digital media and outlines strategies for avoiding what he calls RAP — relationship issues, attention/addiction problems and privacy pitfalls — while navigating the digital world.  "Young people in particular often self-reveal before they self-reflect," Steyer tells Fresh Air's Dave Davies. "There is no eraser button today for indiscretion."

There is a place for personal discussions in life - it is between those involved and in private.  There is also a time for venting and bouncing ideas off of trusted sources - it is again, between those involved and in private.  Social medias are too easily accessible, too quickly completed, and too likely to not be filtered based on statistical analysis noted in the book, Talking Back to Facebook. 

There are ways to make certain posts visible to a specific group of friends; say, your family of origin, for example.  Keep in mind, though, that the information you posted may only be immediately visible to those you choose, but it is still accessible out there on the worldwide web.  No need to have haunting things pop up later when you make it big, right?

 

How are you using your social media positively?  What results have you seen?

OPEN ANY MAJOR FASHION MAGAZINE . . .

 

Open any major fashion magazine this month and you will see the face of The Avenue's Meghan Wiggins in Guess' latest campaign.  Elle Magazine features a full spread in the front cover!  Watch for more Meghan in future weeks on your local billboards and store campaigns.

TALENT WARDROBE 101

Knowing the right clothing to wear in your headshots can be a tough task for some, especially if you haven't been blessed with what they call the "style gene". But that's why you're reading this, to help you prepare your wardrobe for the photoshoot. While reading these tips, remember this number one rule: Keep it simple!

1. Stay away from prints and bold patterns since these will distract from you. Also limit (or avoid altogether) accessories for the same reason.

2. Solid colors always work best on camera (still or video).  Avoid logos or typeset.

3. For these purposes, color is your best friend! Find a color that works best with your skin tone.

4. Wear clothing that flatters your figure.  Loose clothing does not work well on camera and actually makes you look bigger than you are -- fitted is the way to go!

5. Make sure that clothes are clean and wrinkle free! The camera will pick up wrinkles.

6. The last, and maybe most important tip, is to wear clothing that you feel comfortable in! If you are uncomfortable in an outfit, that will come out on camera. You will get the best shots if you are confident and feel great!

Below are examples of what to wear and what not to wear to your headshot session.

                               
            DONT!-crazy print, not fitted                                                      DO!-great color, fitted, plain, timeless

Erika Ludwig, a Minnesota based photographer, tells you how to prepare and what to bring to a headshot session. She has also attatched several photos of great headshot examples to give you ideas!

What pieces in your closet are your go-to choices for auditions and your marketing or promo materials?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AUDITION REPELLANT

Anyone in our life who is overly needy can drive the most patient person to insanity. Well, neediness drives casting directors, agents, producers, etc. crazy too.  Bonnie Gillespie, blogger for The Actor’s Voice (check out Bonnie's column: http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/index.html), expands on this topic.

Actors are constantly asking, "What can give me the edge?" "How do I get noticed amongst the bajillion other actors out there?" "I'm talented, but I just need a chance I'm not getting. How do I get that?" "What do I dooooooo to prove to them that I deserve a shot?"

You stop needing it.

Because NEED is "casting repellant." It smells like a bad date who leans in too closely when you know you're not feeling it. You'll end up saying, "It's not you; it's me," but, honey, we all know it's him. Or her. Or whomever. The needy thing? Totally unattractive. Both in the Law of Attraction sense and in the actual attractiveness sense.

We want to put people on set whose vibes coast at the, "I've got this. Watch me nail this. I do this all day, people," speed. We want pros. We want folks who don't live and die for each audition, because they know they're in it for the long haul. We certainly don't want to watch you and think, "Wow. If he's this freaked out by the process of auditioning, imagine how nervous he'll be on set!"

 
Be smooth and confident in your performance skills—it will greatly increase your shot at getting booked. Before your next audition, say to yourself “I’ve got this”—and sure enough, you’ll have it!

Check out this website! It has a lot of great, helpful tips for your next audition: http://www.takeabowproductions.com/audition_advice.html

BRANDED

Everybody has, or should have, a brand that they live by. If you had to describe yourself in only three words, what would they be? Do you portray your brand to the people that you come across, especially in your career? Who else has a similar brand to you? How can you develop your brand? Erin Cronican, acting coach, has some advice as to how to create and develop your brand:

 •Start by thinking about what kind of medium(s) you want to work in: film, TV, theater, musical theater, commercials, industrials, etc... What are the similarities between the actors in this medium? What are the differences? Where do you fit in?


• What kind of genre(s) are you interested in: comedy, drama, horror, thriller, romance, etc... Again, look at the main players and then see how you compare. Is there anything lacking that you think would be useful?

• Who are some of the people who have the career you could easily step into? What do they have going for them that you could add to your arsenal? How are you different and, thus, will be able to stand out?


Ignoring typecasting is not going to make your career any easier - the more you can take control over your career and present yourself in a clear, unique, and easy to understand fashion, the easier it will be for you to do the kind of work that inspires you.

Think about what direction you want your career to go in, and try to create a brand for yourself. 
What does your brand say?

 

THE BUSINESS OF BRANDING

A common word thrown around the industry is “branding”. You probably hear it in passing conversations with your agent, casting directors, etc. But what exactly is branding? Erin Cronican breaks it down for us.

Branding, or “the brand” is the company's message to its customers/clients. What are they trying to say? What is their position in the industry? What do they have to offer? For many companies, this includes their logo, the colors on their website, the slogans they use, and how they choose to position themselves. Think of one of your favorite products, and then think about all of the things that make you love it. What do you think/feel when you see their logo? How do you describe the product to your friends? This is their brand - and their job is to a) make sure it always stays positive and favorable, and b) to communicate this to their customers.

As an actor, your job is to figure out what it is that you have to offer that is unique and valuable, and then communicate that to the industry. Your brand is not just your talent, but also your point of view, your connections, your tenacity, your willingness to try anything. It includes the roles you choose to play, the clothing you wear to auditions, what wording you use on your website, how you choose to answer questions in interviews... all of these things reflect your brand. And like all other businesses, in order to be effective in the market your brand needs to be developed and honed before you take your message to your audiences.

If you didn’t create a brand before jumping into talent work, it’s not too late!  Start now by sitting down and answering these questions. Then review them before you put yourself in any entertainment situations (castings, bookings, networking events,etc.) to be sure you are focused on building your brand moving forward.  How do people view you now?  How would you like them to view you differently?

Make sure to check back on monday for more specific ways to go about building your brand but if you want to start now, check out this website:http://www.personalbrandingblog.com/your-personal-branding-worksheet/. Provided for you is a personal branding worksheet to guide you through the process of creating your brand!

STOP BEFORE YOU SPLURGE

Showbiz requires a lot of purchases—headshots, classes and lessons, trainings—the expenses never end, which leaves you with little money to spare.  Why is it then, that actors still make big purchases without doing their research first?  Erin Cronican, professional acting coach, shares an example of this:

I was recently visiting a printer where I was getting reprints of my current headshot. I stood in line behind two women who were talking about the high price of being an actor. They were quoting all of the areas where they were being forced to spend money - headshots, acting classes, dance lessons, dialect training, voice teachers, casting director workshops, mailings ... on and on and on. One of the actors commented that she couldn’t print as many headshot looks as she needed, because she just didn’t have the money to spare. 

When they got to the front, the person behind the counter asked them if they would like to order postcards along with their headshots, saying, ‘You’re already giving us your photo for your headshot, you might as well order postcards while you’re at it.“ The actor (who couldn’t print her full headshot set) said, ”I hadn’t really thought about it, but I guess you’re right. That would probably be easier to do it now.“ She then plucked down around $120 more to buy postcards... with no hesitation. 

Read the rest of Erin's article here:

http://theactorsenterprise.blogspot.com/2011/01/spending-your-money-wisely.html

So when you are approached with purchases that seem like they are worth it to your career, stop and do your research before you jump into anything.  Save those dollars!

THE COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO CLEAR SKIN

Beautiful skin matters in almost every aspect of entertainment.  Beauty may only be skin deep, but there are still things we can do to help our skin radiate a healthy glow.  Surgeries, medicinal prescriptions, and abrasive washes bombard us every day via marketing.  What about an oldie and goodie home remedy?  The cucumber!

Cucumbers are 96% water and almost 1% soluble fiber.  But the remaining 3% is where the cucumber packs it's punch!   This raw vegetable has enough water content to rehydrate the skin if thin slices are applied directly to problem areas, plus the right amount of sulfur to build healthy skin cells, nails, and hair.  And while doing all of that on the outside, the cucumber cleanses the blood stream, too.  Our skin is dictated first by the health of our blood according to research published in The Encyclopedia of Foods and Their Healing Powers. 

In this video, skin care specialist Keeley Selvage teaches us how to make a homemade cucumber mask.  She's endearingly off-beat in her delivery, but dead-on in her science!
 

You may feel goofy for a second when trying it for the first time, but it won't take long to relax and give into the cool sensation they create on your skin.  And in this business of quick first impressions, clean skin can get you off to the best start possible!

STEADY BETTY

Constant and steady may or may not be the plight of Mad Men's leading ladies, but these girls know how to stay in the spotlight!  As talent, you hear the good advice constantly to "market yourself" and "treat it like a your own small business" . . . and the advice is good.  But following through is challenging.  And sometimes knowing where to start can leave the creative mind dumbfounded.

Jodie Bentley and Kevin Urban of The Savvy Actor,  a company that empowers actors to think like small business owners by creating and implementing an effective business plan has this to say: "In order to market yourself effectively, you must know what you’re selling. BRANDING is the foundation of all our marketing . Once you’ve defined your brand, you have to market it with consistency. Consistency is the key to successful marketing. Consistency is the #1 rule of marketing that most actors either lose faith in or forget. We want to be all things to all people. We want to show them we can do it all. Being focused and consistent will build trust in your brand - your product. Everything you do to promote yourself and your brand falls under marketing. You need specific marketing strategies to achieve each of your career goals. It’s about having strategies and systems in place to take the emotion out of marketing."

Taking emotion out of anything after focusing your well-being and success on emoting so much of the time feels counter-intutive.  But learning to follow the plan -- or hire someone who can do it for you -- is healthy, calming, and smart.  It won't be long before you start reporting results from your efforts!