The Successful Talent: Tips for the Actor & Model

REMODELED ON THE CW

The CW is set to air the first six episodes of REMODELED starting on Jan 17 @ 9:00pm as reported in The Hollywood Reporter.  The Avenue Model & Talent Agency is a member of The Network, which the show revolves around.  Catch it and keep up with the excitement!

10:13 AM PST 12/9/2011 by Lesley Goldberg

The CW is betting big on Remodeled.

The young-skewing network has delayed the midseason returns of Sarah Michelle Gellar's Ringer and 90210 to make room for two airings of the new modeling reality series Remodeled.

Featuring modeling industry veteran Paul Fisher as he attempts to create one "Network" of smaller agencies, the CW will air the show's premiere on Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 9 p.m. following the return of 90210, which has been pushed back from its original Jan. 10 return.

A rebroadcast of the Remodeled premiere will air the following night at 9 p.m., in the same slot where the network had initially planed to launch the series. A third airing of the premiere will be broadcast on Friday, Jan. 20 at 8 p.m.

The following week, the second original episode of Remodeled will air on Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 9 p.m. and be rebroadcast Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 9 p.m.

Ringer, which was to return with new episodes on Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 9 p.m., will return to its regular time slot with new episodes starting Jan. 31 with nearly all original episodes through its season finale in May.

Remodeled will air its third episode in its regularly scheduled slot on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 9 p.m.

The broad exposure for Remodeled comes two months after the CW yanked struggling reality series H8R from its schedule following a handful of low-rated episodes.

An updated schedule of the CW's midseason premiere dates follows.

Tuesday, January 17
8-9 p.m.            90210 (original episodes return)
9-10 p.m.          Remodeled (series premiere)

Wednesday, January 18
8-9 p.m.            One Tree Hill
9-10 p.m.          Remodeled (special encore)

Friday, January 20
8-9 p.m.            Remodeled (special encore)
9-10 p.m.          Supernatural

Tuesday, January 24
8-9 p.m.            90210
9-10 p.m.          Remodeled (original telecast)

Wednesday, January 25
8-9 p.m.            One Tree Hill
9-10 p.m.          Remodeled (special encore)

Tuesday, January 31
8-9 p.m.            90210
9-10 p.m.          Ringer (original episodes return)

Wednesday, February 1
8-9 p.m.            One Tree Hill
9-10 p.m.          Remodeled (original episode)

THE NEW YEAR

 

As we enter 2012, most people are excited about the opportunity of a fresh start.  The new year is a great time to recap the past and set your sights on the future, but tackling such immense and abstract ideas can be challenging to the creative mind.  How are you going to make the most of 2012?

At The Avenue Model & Talent Agency, this time of year is one of my favorites!  We reach out to our talent and get one-on-one time with every face on the roster to help them recap the year and prepare for the future.  The talent who make the most of their time reviewing the prior year and setting goals for the new year consistently show the highest earnings in the next 12 months of work.  As an agent whose income is directly proportional to my partners, I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to pad both of our pockets!

Your review and goal setting can be just as effective on your own!  You can make it as elaborate or simple as you feel comfortable doing -- and the bottom line is that you will reap the benefits of having done so!  Here are the basics of what we find most effective during this season of out-with-the-old and in-with-the-new.

First, take time to really measure the prior year.  (If you do this in the middle of the year, set a clear start and stop time line for consistency.)  I ask talent to clearly tell me what their highest moment and lowest moment were.  These triumphs and challenges are personal.  Sometimes they involve monetary gain; sometimes they are simply personal fulfillment.  However you judge them, they are YOUR high and YOUR low.  Write the down to make them tangible!  Then also make note of any other significant events in the given time-frame.  Did you get new headshots?  Did you have a break-through booking?  Again, make it tangible by putting it on paper for you to see!

Second, take time to really set specific and well-defined goals for the new year.  The hardest part of this step is making the goals specific and measurable.  Common knee-jerk responses are usually, "Make more money" and "Book more jobs."  Well, you can make those your goals if you so choose, but more streamlined -- and therefore, more effective -- goals would be specific steps you can take to get there.  Think about what the year is likely to hold . . . or maybe some time last year where you were unable to meet the demand.  Did you lose a casting opportunity because your English accent comes and goes?  Are you embracing your stereotype?  (Red heads better have good Irish and Scottish accents!!)  Is there a hobby specific to your region in which you don't excel?  In the midwest, riding horses might be important!  Adding to your skills, hobbies, and experience will always help you book more jobs which will in turn, make you more money.  Be specific with your goals so that when you look back at the end of 2012, you can honestly pat yourself on the back for completing the things you said you would.

New Years Resolutions rarely stick -- just don't bother!  Put your hand written list of no more than 3 goals (maybe four for those who are self-starters with high drive) on your bathroom mirror or inside your closet door.  Pick a place where you will see it daily to be reminded of your aspirations.  Then be inspired to accomplish them and dare to launch your career!

How are you going to make the most of 2012?

VIRTUAL MANNEQUIN

H&M Virtual Models

By Sarah Lorsch 

Do you ever look at an image of a swimsuit or lingerie model and wish you had that PERFECT body? The just right legs, the slightly protruding hipbone and the flawless breasts to fill the most adorable bras?

Surprise, surprise, your dream body may not be so real after all. H&M was exposed earlier this week for using computer-generated models for their swimsuit and lingerie apparel online. Claiming it’s the same idea as using a mannequin in the store, H&M sees nothing wrong with deceiving viewers into believing that the Barbie body does exist.

Claiming this technique is used to make the consumer concentrate on the garment as apposed to the model, H&M press officer Hacan Andersson told a Swedish Newspaper, “This is done for all garments, not just underwear. It applied to both women’s and men’s clothing.”

Very curious, I immediately hopped on my computer and went to the H&M site to check out these cyber models. Andersson spoke the truth. These “models” are used for all forms of clothing. However this girls isn’t used for every image and I’ve come to wonder why this is the case.

They aren’t worried about a blond bombshell steeling the attention away from a sparkly push up bra, but fear high-waisted underwear wouldn’t be sold if a normal model wore them. Something isn’t adding up.

H&M spokesperson Nicole Christie said it was not their intention to make anyone believe that these “virtual mannequins” were real bodies. If this were the case, then why would they intermingle fake models with real ones? I have my own conspiracy theories but…

Regardless of the reason, H&M either needs to make clear that the model bodies are fake or use them all of the time or not at all. I’ve been to the H&M site countless times and never before noticed the use of fake women, just perfectly shaped ones.

The lesson to be learned from this is, fake or real, we need to become aware of what we are taking in on a daily basis. Don’t aspire to be like anyone but yourself.

[This post was reposted from The Network's Talent Community.]

What do you think of using virtual models to sell clothing?

 

FINDING CENTER with Kristina Anapau

Finding Center (In Your Life and Acting Career)

By Kristina Anapau 

As I embarked on writing this article, I abandoned my plan to discuss goal-setting as it pertains to one’s acting career. Instead, I thought I should address what must take place first, in order to make one’s goals a reality. The concept of finding your ‘center’ is expounded upon around the globe, through an endless stream of New Age masters, ancient belief structures, yoga classes, self-help books, and so on. I am a proponent of engaging in any activity that brings you a modicum of peace and clarity, and it is important for you to seek out the avenue that best resonates with you.

But who (without trying to sound too esoteric) are ‘you’? That is really what you must contemplate before finding your ‘center’. Some call it the soul. I have a very easy time thinking of it in this way, but – living in a city (LA) with enough spiritual jargon to make your head spin - perhaps we should refer to it as the animating force that is beyond your physical body and mind. Creates a slightly more inclusive description. My boyfriend is an atheist neuroscientist, so this description was a necessary element in our relationship.

You may be wondering what all of this ‘finding center’ business actually has to do with your acting career. It has everything to do with it. Can one succeed in this business without having attained this? Certainly. Your chances of reaching all of your goals and continuing to constantly expand even after you have reached them are much higher if you do, however. Or at least attempt to. You will be able to accomplish what you desire with greater ease, have greater depth to offer on stage and screen, and have a sense of peace and certainty that will affect all you come in contact with. All of which helps you book the acting jobs you want.

In many ways, if you are immersing yourself fully in each character you audition for or portray, you must temporarily relinquish a portion of who you are in order to serve that character. Even if the character is very similar to you, I think most professional actors would agree that this process takes place on some level. This can be a dangerous game if you don’t have a solid center to come back to. In addition, as I previously mentioned, your acting will be even more multidimensional if you have a solid center to expand from.

With the time for New Year resolutions fast approaching, this is a great opportunity to explore that ‘you’ within the you that walks around the world. While I am in no way going to sell you on the teachers, practices and knowledge that I have incorporated into my life with wonderful results, feel free to contact me on the twitter page below if you have any questions or would like some guidance.

More on detailed goal-setting next time. In the meantime, contemplate what you really want to accomplish while you are here in this life. I think you all would agree, we are meant to be more than just amoebas checking things off a to-do list. It is due time to inject a bit of consciousness into our lives… and our careers.



Photo Credits: Half-face Kristina is Mike Ruiz. Kristina looking down is Paul Smith. Kristina smiling is Paul Gregory.

Born in Hawaii, Kristina Anapau spent her youth studying classical ballet, music and theatre. She graduated from high school at the age of 15, and that same year began her studies at The University of Hawaii.

Proving to be a true triple threat to Hollywood, Anapau has wowed audiences on the big and small screen. She plays “Galina” in Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan, in which she starred opposite Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Winona Ryder, and Barbara Hershey. Kristina recently completed the starring role in the feature film, Sighting, directed by Tedi Sarafian and will be seen next on Alan Ball’s HBO series, True Blood.

[This blog has been reposted from The Network's Talent Community.]

COUNT DOWN #3

#3 --  BE NICE TO EVERYBODY . . . AND LOOK LIKE A MILLION BUCKS!

"No one cares what I look like.  They just want to know I can act.  That's what the hair/makeup people take care of after I get the job."

Wrong.  Discrimination is a human personality trait.  Pretending we live in an idealistic society isn't going to get you the job.  The bottom line is that this is an image business.  Everyone around makes judgements based on how you look within the first five seconds of seeing you . . . long before you have a chance to show how talented you are!  Do you look like what they are looking for?  Your answer will likely be the same answer to the question, "Did you get the job?"  Looking your best sends the message that you take care of yourself . . . that you like yourself . . . that you are proud to offer what you have to offer as a talent!  Those three things are very attractive to our human nature.  Boiled down, we call it confidence.

And if you feel good about yourself, you will likely meet a positive reception.  When received positively, you will in turn want to be kind to those receiving you.  But don't be deceived by current status!  Many talent forget that the gate-keeper (e.g., the Casting Assistant, Grip, Production Intern, etc.) is frequently the first access to the prominent person's ear.  Disrespect the gate-keeper and you will surely be cast aside!  Everyone surrounding (and even down the block from) the person you want to impress is connected.  People talk to people with whom they are connected and negative rumors are no help to the talent in pursuit of a booking!

On the flip side of not disrespecting the gate-keeper or production crew, it's important to realize that the new assistant may turn into a long term assistant.  That long term assistant may one day turn into a casting director or director themselves.  First impressions don't get a second chance! 

Befriend everyone you meet.  The larger your network, the more people who will be on your side when push comes to shove.  And the more people who back you, the better your chances of booking that job, no matter their status or title!

What can you do to befriend the gate-keeper without coming across insincere?

 

COUNT DOWN #5

#5 -- Poor or Mediocre Marketing Materials

Cutting corners on your marketing materials can sink a ship faster than almost anything else.  A professional photographer is worth hiring not because they have a cool camera, but because they have an eye to impress . . . they know lighting and angles . . . and because they have experience with what works and what doesn't!  Anyone can take a picture with a digital camera, but the question is whether or not someone is going to present that medicore image to their client. 

We all want to impress the people we could potentially work with.  As an agent, I won't submit a talent whose marketing materials make our agency look anything less than stellar and professional.  But thinking even farther into the process, what casting director would present a poor headshot to the director that pays their bills?  In the talent world and the business world, ladders are climbed the same.  If we impress those in a position to move our careers forward, we will likely get promoted [or book the job, in this case]. 

Talent who cut corners -- knowingly in the hopes that their skill set will compensate or just because they are naive -- commonly get pushed into the "we don't have time for you to waste our time" pile.  Professional materials tell casting directors, agents, and directors that this is a serious endeavor; that you have something worth experiencing; and that you want to make quality films, television series, editorials, advertisements, etc. 

If you were investing you bank account in another person's work, who would you choose to partner with?

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?

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!

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!