The Successful Talent: Tips for the Actor & Model

ACTING IS IN NELSAN ELLIS' BLOOD

Gayle Jo Cater, a writer for the USA Today, wrote about the underlining success of the True Blood actor Nelan Ellis. The following will provide you with further information about the actor and the character.  
    True Blood’s resident drug-dealing, fang-banging Internet-pornographer/prostitute Lafayette can get anyone just about anything he desires.

    And he has managed to do just that for Nelsan Ellis, the actor who plays him.

“I don’t think my agent has to beg to get me in the room for an audition anymore,” says Ellis, who can also be seen this fall on the big screen in Secretariat.

But playing such a wildly flamboyant character has caused more tension in his family. “They accept that I’m an actor and I can now pay my rent, and that’s about as far as it goes,” says Ellis, 32. “I don’t necessarily think they appreciate Lafayette.”

Ellis mother hasn’t seen the show, and only the sister out of “about eight (siblings), give or take” is a fan, Ellis says. “Lakieya never misses an episode: she texts me before and after. I took my brother to a premiere and he sort of disappeared. I think he was a little embarrassed.”

Regardless, Ellis relishes the role he describes as “an actor’s wonderland” for giving him stability in a life that began with a turbulent childhood.

Ellis and his siblings were wards of the state, moving from his grandmother’s house to his aunt’s house to other relative’s homes in Alabama.

“They were strong women,” he says. “They told me if I wanted to do something, to be something, I had to make it happen.”

Ellis did just that. First he joined the Marine Corps, where he says he “loved and appreciated” his first taste of discipline, and then he attended the Juilliard School, where he wrote and staged Ugly, a play about the tragic consequences of domestic abuse, after his sister Alice was shot and killed by her husband. From there, he wrote a screenplay, which he describes as “basically the white version of Precious.” But it was a hard sell.

“It’s something very real, but you have to take the truth and put it in a dress in order for people to want it, to buy it. You can’t just tell the truth, the truth isn’t commercial.”

True Blood, however, has drawn in fans despite its dark story lines, one of which last season revolved around Lafayette being locked in a dungeon, shot and then ultimately saved by drinking lifesaving vampires’ blood.

Ellis promises Season 3, which starts Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO, won’t disappoint. “The werewolves are coming in. The vampire King of Texas is being introduced. I get a love interest. I get a mother (played by Alfre Woodard), and you’ll see the softer side of Lafayette.”

Off screen, Ellis’ softer side oozes out of him, whether it’s when he’s talking about his on-and-off girlfriend of 17 years, aspiring actress Tiffany Snow (“When I lose my way, she brings me back”) or the aunt and grandmother who took him in (“They told me my life was my own, to do whatever was in my mind to do with it.”)

“If I didn’t do anything with it, it would be my own fault,” he says. “Whatever happens with it is up to me.”  

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HOW DO MALE UNDERWEAR MODELS GET FIT

The Underwear Expert, which are best known for their fit models were asked to gather advice from some some of their most dedicated underwear models. When it comes to being fit to model underwear, each model has a different stratedgy. Here are some tips to consider.

5. According to Jeremy Brink, it all starts with the right attitude:

“Best advice I could give in terms of working out: Always bring the highest intensity to the gym. If you don’t, there’s really no point in being there and doing a half-assed workout. Go home and come back when you’re ready to bring it.”

4. Mike Stalker is all about his weekly weights.

“In the weight room, I basically follow a body-building type program, which focuses on one muscle group a day, and I lift for about 1 1/2 hours 5-6 days a week. I also try to do ab workouts about 3 times a week. An example of my week would look like: Monday- Chest, Tuesday- Back, Wednesday- Shoulders, Thursday- Legs, and Friday- arms. Then, on either Saturday or Sunday, I will focus solely on some sort of core workout.”

 3. Personal trainer/model Go Green swears by decline push-ups:

“Decline push-ups are performed by propping your feet against a wall or on top of a bench or chair. The higher your feet are placed, the more severe the decline angle, and the more significant the isolation on specific muscle fibers,” says Green. “Decline push-ups incorporate the muscle fibers in the upper portion of the pectoralis major muscle, which means more bang for your push-up buck.”

2. Davey Wavey gets inspiration from our Commander in Chief:

“Did you know that Barack Obama spends one hour a day exercising? If the leader of the free world has time to hit the gym, then so do you. It’s not a matter of not having enough time to exercise.”

 1. Julian Gabriel on the importance of striking the right balance:

“I used to use a lot of weights and I was always trying to get bigger,” explains Gabriel. “As soon as I entered the modeling world, they were like ‘yeah, everything’s great but you need to tone that down.’ So my current gym regimen is pretty much cardio-cardio-cardio and abs-abs-abs. I look at the weights from afar and say, “hi,” but then I keep walking the other way.”

In your opinion, what tip would work best for you? If you have a workout technique what is it and how does it work for you?

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WHAT DOES YOUR AGENT NEED?

Pamela Goldman, an agent in the commerical department at Don Buchwald and Associates Inc., shared what some agents look for in a talent on backstage.com. There are few things more exciting to an agent than a talented model or actor who knows the ropes and has a professional approach when they walk in the door.  Even if you don't have experience, showing you did your research to be prepared speaks volumnes!

When an actor becomes a client of a talent agency, especially a larger one, it is essential that he or she realizes that they have certain responsibilities. Agents must delegate their workday to securing and signing talent, pitching their actors to casting directors, and putting out auditions in a timely manner. We often don’t have time to check up on each client to make sure all documents are in order. Here are some of the things that youth agents, specifically, rely on parents to be in charge of:

1. Current headshots. If your child looks nothing like their photo that your agent has on file, it’s time to update. This is an investment! It is the number one thing we need. If we don’t have a current headshot, it’s not very likely they’ll get any further than a submission. If you’re going to spend money anywhere with regards to a child’s career, this is it.

2. An updated resume. We can’t keep track of everything your child books, their current height or weight and their latest special skill. Along with a headshot, this is very important especially in the theatrical world. Please take a look at your child’s resume every few months and make sure that it is current. Children's information changes often, and the casting director needs up-to-the-minute information on who the talent is and what they’ve done.

3. Work permits and trust accounts. If you’re new to the business, the agent will most likely walk you through getting a 15-day temporary permit that can be downloaded from the NY State Department of Labor website [see your own state's regulations on what permits your child may or may not need if outside of NY]. After that, parents must mail in an application for a permit that is valid for one year. Please, please keep this date on a calendar. If we book a child on a job and the permit is expired, they cannot work under any circumstances. It is the parents’ responsibility to know the expiration date and send away for a renewal with time to spare. There have been many, many instances where agents are left with no recourse when a child is booked and the permit isn’t valid. Don’t let it happen to you. As well, trust accounts are a must by law for child actors, and parents only need to open one (in person) once. Do it early.

5. Passports. More and more, commercials shoot outside the United States. We get numerous castings that take a child and parent to Europe, African countries, and on international cruises. There is no reason why a serious actor in this business shouldn't be willing and able to leave the country for a job opportunity. Again, it means your agent giving up an appointment time for your child if you don’t have the proper documentation. Make sure an adult in your family also has a current passport to travel as their guardian.

6. Bookouts and current school/after school schedules. As stated in previous columns, agents need to know when a child is unavailable. It’s your responsibility to email that information to your representation so they can document it in the system. We have no idea if you’re out of town if you don’t tell us.

7. Knowledge of the material. If your agent gives you copy to learn for an audition, please make sure the child knows it (preferably off book). Most of the times in the commercial world, scripts aren’t given in advance, but when they are, our clients need to be very familiar with them. Agents consistently hear from casting offices that their talent wasn’t prepared [and OH, It is embarrassing and causes the agent to lose confidence in the talent for the next pitch]. Parents need to do their part and study it with their child if they confirm the audition. There are probably other things going on that night – homework, soccer practice – but if acting is a priority, please make sure they know their lines.

You have expectations for your agent's place in your success -- likewise, your agent has expectations for you as the talent.  The end result is a successful team for those who both pull their weight.  What are you waiting for? 

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WANT AN AGENT?

Brian O'Neil, a former agent and author gives us insight into the process of getting an agent.  Looking for the right fit?  Try one of these suggestions!

1. School Showcase. This is one of the more common ways a young actor secures representation. Each spring, hundreds of BFA and MFA graduates strut their stuff for an industry-filled audience. However, if you’re not in one of these programs, you don’t qualify.  [Insider note from Melinda:  These types of showcases are also done in some acting workshops with coaches outside of educational institutes.  Check with coaches in your area to find out more on what is available.]

2. Getting your work seen. In this instance, an actor’s work is seen in a play, at a film festival, on YouTube, etc. The downside is it's difficult to “make happen.” Often it’s by fluke that this method comes to pass. However, it’s always the best. Having your work seen and being called in as a result of it trumps everything. They like your work. Now they want to see if they like you!  [Note from Melinda:  Don't lose sight of this last statement!  Stellar work is great, but it only gets your foot in the door.  You still have to sell yourself as someone we want to work with!]

3. Referral. Actors are often granted a meeting when a mutual party (i.e. casting director, current client of the agency, friend, etc.) ask an agent to see a particular actor. The downside is the meeting has been arranged by a mutual party and not out of pure agent-to-actor interest. Often, an actor will say to me, “I had a meeting with an agent yesterday. It didn’t go well.” And I’ll say, “Oh, was it a referral?” And the actor always says, “Yes! How did you know?” And I say, “Because they didn’t want to see you; they had to see you as a courtesy to whoever referred you.” Still, it sometimes does the trick. A note here: If you attempt to go this route, try to get whoever is referring you to pick up the phone, or at the very least, email the person to whom they are referring you. Simply mentioning the person’s name in your cover letter is far less effective and too easy to dismiss or not see.

4. Mailing of photo/resume. This method is usually effective when the actor is a) young and extremely attractive or b) has amassed – perhaps through the efforts of a previous agent – a reasonably impressive resume. If an actor is not in either of these categories, a mailing is a usually a long shot, especially for legit/theatrical representation.

5. Industry classes/seminars. This refers to venues where actors pay a fee, and as a result their work is seen by agents. Mostly effective for actors who fall in either category “a” or “b” as described in number 3, above. It is a more flexible method for attaining commercial representation, however.

Here's a note for all the methods listed above. Although it sometimes happens that the interest isn’t as strong as the actor hopes, it doesn’t mean the situation is dead in the water if representation is not initially offered. Pro-active career measures and reports of the results can make an agent who has previously passed on an actor the first time around, later re-visit the situation. As a former agent, I’ve seen this happen far more than one might think. Hang in there.

What challenges do you encounter (or have you encountered) when submitting for representation? 

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STOP PLAYING THE BLAME GAME

 

Anthony Paul Meindl, a stage and film actor is the founder and artistic director at the MetaTheatre Company and the Director's Workshop in Los Angeles, California. In this video he explains how we as people tend to avoid taking ownership of our actions or results by playing the blame game.

When I was in New York recently, I went out dancing with some friends and I tried to do a very "Dance Fever"-ish kind of move. The tightness of my jeans prevented me from getting as low as I could go so I got stuck somewhere in between. Awkward.

I blamed it on the jeans, which is what one does when one’s ass can’t get quite as low as it used to.

My friend, watching the whole escapade, rolled his eyes and said, “You can’t blame that on the jeans!

Busted.

I immediately realized that was a great metaphor for life.

It’s easy to blame outside forces for where we are (or aren’t) in life. In love. In career. Whether it’s too tight jeans or an agent (or zero agent) or a boyfriend (or lack thereof) or the business.  When we play the blame game, we simply refuse to take responsibility for what actually is holding us back.  Which is essentially . . . you.

People don’t hold us back. We hold ourselves back. There’s no force outside us. That idea suggests someone else is in charge of your happiness. Your creativity. Your self-expression. Your success.  The more we give up our power to external events and experiences, the more we get to remain the victim. We get to be stuck. We receive a pay-off in staying in stasis and not really doing anything to improve our situation.

I get it.  At times it’s easier to blame than to step up and face the fears we project onto others and onto external events. Doing that means we don’t have to examine our own insecurities, our own fearful thinking, our own self-imposed limitations. So we continue to experience more of what our own self-worth demands. And to be honest, our collectively low self-worth doesn’t demand a lot.

So we settle. Or complain. Or get angry. Or blame.

So who would we be without the blame?  Well try it and see for yourself. Even if everything doesn’t come up roses right away, there’s a freedom, a sense of empowerment in finally letting go of all the energy we’ve been expending toward blaming others.  It might feel like a sense of peace. Or resolution. Or lightness. In short, dropping the heaviness that we carry around with us and perhaps realizing, for the first time, that to not blame feels like . . . well . . . the jeans fit just right.

Instead of blaming outside forces on your undesired results, meditate on what you can change to support the results you would like to see.  Now, go try it!  Feel empowered?

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RECIPE FOR DEEP DOWN SUCCESS!

Photographer Van Rossen shares on his website modelingadvice.com, just what it takes to be a model, and it's surprisingly deeper than the surface!

Besides needing the physical requirements to be a model you also need a personality for it. Professional modeling is a tough business. Only certain people can stand up to the hard work schedule and stress that modeling demands. So what are some good traits for a model?

1) Love the Show - When you hear, 'It's show time' or 'Time for magic' do you come alive? If you love performing and being in front of an audience, whether it's a room full of people or the eye of the camera, you will enjoy modeling. If it is something you enjoy you are more apt to work hard at it, take greater risk, and work through the hardships that come along. If you love the work, you will love your life. If you hate the work, you'll be miserable.

2) Hard Working - Modeling takes a lot of hard work and stamina. A photo shoot can run as long as 16 hours and at all times of the day & night. Just getting a job can have you running all over town. And at the end of the day you still have to do all the stuff needed to keep you in shape and looking beautiful.

3) Projection - You need to be able to project your personality, your charisma, your charm, and your sex appeal. You need to be able to sell yourself to be able to sell the product.

4) Intelligent - There is a lot to learn about modeling, being an independent business person, about yourself and about surviving in a big world of sharks. If you can't learn it fast you could get eaten alive.

5) Extrovert - You will be constantly meeting new people and walking into new situations. You will be performing before strangers every day. You need to like new experiences, challenges, and meeting new people. If you are shy and reserved you will forever be uncomfortable modeling.

6) Good Self Esteem - Ok, so it doesn't hurt to be a little bit of an egomaniac. This industry is a real ego bruiser. Good self-esteem can help pick you up and get you through those tough times.

7) Ambition - For most, careers in modeling won't come easy. You will have to go through trials and tribulations before you achieve success. The ambition and desire to succeed and achieve your goals in modeling will help you over the temporary set backs that come along.

8) Self-Starter - As a model you are an independent businessperson in charge of your own career. You must be able to take charge of you. This includes your training, your physical upkeep, your professional practices, your finances, and your life.

9) In Control - You need to be able to control your health (size and fitness), your body for posing, your emotions for acting them out, and your life so you show up on time.

10) Organized - You have to keep track of your schedule, your finances, your modeling materials, and your body's up keep.

What is your best personality trait and how does it work to your advantage with modeling?

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HOW TO BECOME A FEARLESS ACTOR

Gwyn Gilliss, the founder and creator of the Actor's Market provides advice from backstage.com; on how to overcome your fear.  It is merely human nature to feel fear of the unknown and entertainment has an endless supply of both!  How can you learn to harness your natural fears to create something artistic and exciting?

Whether you are preparing an audition, or on your way to an interview with an agent and you suddenly have an attack of fear or doubt, how do you get over it?  What do you do?

First, recognize what fear is and where it comes from. Second, fight it the moment it raises its ugly head.

A client recently called me in tears. She was delighted with the idea of relaunching her career and coming back into the acting business after a hiatus to raise a family. Still a beautiful, vibrant, and talented woman, she was in a panic. Overwhelmed with the idea of getting new headshots, meeting new agents, auditioning when she hadn't been active in a while threw her into agony.

"Where does this morbid fear come from?" she asked. It comes from anticipation of failure and a negative outcome. It comes from the "What Ifs" – "What if they don't like me?" "What if the pictures turn out bad?" "What if I'm too old?" "Or not attractive enough?" "What if I spend all this money and I can't get an agent?"

Fear comes from living in a thought realm, an imagined future, that isn't real. It's only a thought, a negative thought, and it can be a habit if you’ve created negative thought patterns. You need to change the habit. Sometimes fear comes from the past when things didn't work out and the thought pattern – "This awful thing is going to happen again" – sets in. It's negative energy stored in your memory. It's also the old part of the brain we all have as humans. It's called the "Croc," "Mammalian," or "Lizard Brain" (the amygdala), the one that is always on edge waiting for a future event for you to be attacked or devoured by a Dinosaur.

Wait! There aren't any dinosaurs or monsters out there! It doesn't matter. The Lizard Brain doesn't know we’ve left the caves and there aren't any stalking animals, fires, floods, or volcanoes. The Lizard brain was dominant in our systems to protect us eons ago. Seth Godin writes in Quieting the Lizard Brain, “It hates change, achievement and risk.”

But those are the very qualities you need as an actor and a creative entrepreneur to be successful!

The good news? The more modern, intelligent, creative brain developed – the one responsible for science, math, writing, the arts, happiness, JOY! So all you have to do is tap into the more modern brain, and that is sometimes difficult because the Lizard Brain has dominance most of the time. Yes! Most human beings are walking around in a state of fear, doubt, and depression. It takes effort to change that condition. How to fight back? Think of something or someone you love – something that would make you happy!

For my client I advised her to think of the flip side of the previous "What Ifs." For example: "What if the photos come out strikingly beautiful?" "What if the interview goes well and the agent loves me?" "What if I'm really good at that audition?" "What if it all works and I book that guest-starring role?" "What if the investment in my career pays back times a thousand?"

Now wouldn't that make you happy? Right. That's using your modern, creative brain overriding the other circuit. And in the process of thinking about what you love, what will make you happy, you become a warrior who wins the battle! You trick the lizard into thinking everything is safe. If you do that daily, for 21 days, you create the habit of conquering the fear. YOU control your thoughts and your reality. So you control your success!

Just by thinking a thought about what you love, you stay in the creative brain.

Then, that brain releases endorphins and all kinds of happy chemicals so you feel better, function better, and accomplish everything easily and successfully! See? It's fun to outwit monsters!

Next time you're afraid to audition, return an agent's call, commit to that class, buy those gorgeous red shoes, or take any step to go forward in your career, call it what it is, Lizard Brain! And tell it to go away!

Yes, whistling a happy tune or just daydreaming about playing your dream roles, working with your ideal agent, or on the set with terrific A-List actors you admire, all those thoughts become your reality. Just do it – it works!

How do you control your "iizard brain" -- and in turn, control fear?

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YOUR HEALTH AND CAREER

When you think of the modeling industry, the thoughts that may come to mind is how stressful and competitive it may be. Your perspective would be on target, but Marcia of modelingjobshq.com shares her perspective on what to expect vs. what is marketed to us in a model's lifestyle.

Mental Requirements of Becoming a Model

Fashion models and aspiring fashion models don’t have to take written tests to work. The work can be very testing however. Models who work in television often have to pass speaking tests if they have “lines” to say in a commercial.

Understanding the goals of the people who hire models is essential to the success of any prospective model.

Why?  Team players get ahead. Prima donnas get work – for a while. Keep in mind that for every successful model there are literally thousands waiting for a turn. You can’t afford to be a prima donna unless and until you deserve it. Given equal physical attributes and knowledge, clients will choose those who are pleasant to work with versus those with an unjustified attitude.

Until you have been in front of the camera you cannot judge what work goes into the photographs or what the model has endured to get that great shot. Models must be strong enough to endure tough conditions, repulsive environments and less than dignified surroundings at times in their careers. Just ask a swimsuit model how many times those beach shots were taken in bitter cold temperatures!  A model must know and understand that being a model is very hard work! And a model must understand that there are many types of modeling besides fashion modeling.

Health Requirements of Becoming a Model  A model only looks good when they are in good health and take care of their bodies. This means always getting a good night’s sleep before a shoot. No one looks good with bags under their eyes (no matter how good the make-up is), and no one looks good suffering from a hangover either.  Drugs are a definite no no as well. The stories of wild parties and high drug use in the modeling industry are usually just rumors. No successful model would jeopardize a career just to get high. No one can look healthy when they are addicted or are a heavy user of any illegal drug.

How do you maintain your health to stay focused on set?

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OVERLOOKED HABITS OF A VOICE ACTOR

Want to be a voice over artist?   Want more voice over work?  Learn the ropes!  Dave Courvoisier of corvo.com, provides seven habits/tips that are overlooked on how to be a successful voice actor.

#1 Overlooked Daily Habit of Successful Voice Actor

Take care of your mind and body and soul.  Health, good eating, sleep, exercise, and equanimity/moderation in all things.  It’s the core.  The center.  Get off-kilter in any of those foundational concepts, and the strain starts to show elsewhere…like your reads!

#2 Overlooked Daily Habit of Successful Voice Actor

Relationships.  Before we knew anything else, we were relational.  Family, friends, acquaintances, work-mates, neighbors, and virtual/distant persons.  Not just people in voice acting, but people from your past, your present, and relations-in-progress.  This is the richness of life.

#3 Overlooked Daily Habit of Successful Voice Actor

Perspective.  …also known as balance.  Spend too much time on any one thing, and you miss the big picture (forest/trees?)  Be a well-read, broadly-influenced, renaissance man/woman.  Inspiration can be drawn from the most unexpected reaches of newly-discoverd corners.

#4 Overlooked Daily Habit of Successful Voice Actor

Career vs. Job  I’ve mentioned this before on my blog.  Jobs can be gotten.  Careers are planned.  Jobs pay the bills (sometimes).  Careers set you up for life and retirement.  Jobs can run your life and your schedule.  When you have a career, you can more often choose time and place.  A job will keep you in the trenches, with a career, you can at least choose which trench.

#5 Overlooked Daily Habit of Successful Voice Actor

See the broad/high/long view.  Details are important.  You can diligently build a beautiful house, but if you did so with the wrong plans, then your detail work is for naught.  Keep the value of hard work, but look up from the plans long enough, and often enough, to make sure you’re following the right blueprints.  In Driver’s Ed (remember Driver’s Ed?) they used to call that the broad view — keeping your eyes high and attentive.

#6 Overlooked Daily Habit of Successful Voice Actor

Surprise yourself.  Restated:  Stretch yourself.  Sometimes you just have to ask yourself:  “If I don’t do this, will I spend the rest of my life wondering if I should have?”  But the admonition here is beyond challenging yourself.  It’s choosing to place yourself in an uncomfortable position to reap the rewards of discovery.  Did it work?  Maybe not, But you learned something.

#7 Overlooked Daily Habit of Successful Voice Actor

Never underestimate practice, persistence, patience.  Now it’s time to get into the trees.  Application of desire and planning.  Can you look yourself in the mirror at the end of the day and assure yourself that you did the WORK?  Was there progress?  Do you have the patience to build on today’s incremental success to achieve your goal in the long run?

What are you overlooking in your career that could make a difference?

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GAINING THE MODELING ADVANTAGE!

Marcia an author from modelingjobshq.com, provides useful information about the importance of learning what type of modeling is right for you. Knowing this information may secure your delivery in audition and may set you apart from your competition. 

It is important for a prospective model to understand two ineluctable facts.  First the needs of the market determines what models are needed; and second, the prospective model should understand the type of model that they want to become.  By understanding the type of modeling you are interested in, you can learn what the requirements are and if you can meet them.

Understanding the divisions in modeling can also help in avoiding a rip off.  Most rip offs and bad business decisions happen when a wannabe model is thinking of one type of modeling (usually high fashion) and a scout, agent, photographer, etc. is recruiting for another.  The garment and beauty product industries are large users of models. People want to see what clothes or beauty products look like on a body. High-fashion, designer-label garments, are designed for what fashion designers view as the “ideal woman.”  In smaller markets fashion models often don’t meet these measurements. It is more important the look of being tall and slender be there and that the sample clothes fit. The “look” can run from classic beauty to some extreme looks for fashion magazine editorial.

If you are going to work in front of the camera you need to be photogenic and you can’t know [if you are] until you do a test shoot. This doesn’t mean you need to rush out and find a photographer. If you are photogenic in snap shots that have been taken of you, chances are that you will be in front of a professional photographer as well.

What type of model do you want to be?  What type of modeling is a good fit for you according to industry standards?

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