The Successful Talent: Tips for the Actor & Model

YOUR EMPIRICAL AGE

Just today, I had a talent walk into the office telling me a story about being asked her real age during a casting session.  She is the exception to the rule in that she does not play anywhere near her real age, but she decided to answer the question with her legal age.  The Casting Director and she had a short and kind conversation about her not fitting the client's requested age range.   She was advised she would not be submitted because the CD did not want to have to lie to the client, should the client directly ask.  No one did anything wrong, so why isn't she being considered for the gig?

In an industry of perception, these words from NYC casting director Scott Powers are timely!

If you haven't been on the receiving end of this question yet, you will.  How you deal with it is critical to the future (productive or destructive) relationship between you and the person asking for this intrusive information.
 
Keep in mind we're in a visual industry.  What you look like is a big part of being submitted and booked for jobs.  This includes your age - your empirical age.  If you truthfully look 35 - 40, but are in reality 65, you should be submitted for 35-40 year olds.  Not for roles that are looking for 65s.  You don't look that age, so you shouldn't be going out for them.  You will not get that 65 year old part!  You will be wasting your time and your energy.
 
The age question comes up often in agents' interviews.  It's also on a lot of stat sheets.  That doesn't mean you necessarily have to answer the question specifically.  We never advocate lying, but did you know it's against the law to ask your age as a condition of employment, with the exception of alcohols, tobaccos and certain pharmaceuticals?  
 
Here's the smart way to handle the question of what your age is:  put down or tell them the middle year of your age range.  In dead earnestness, as if your own mother doesn't know how old you are.  We all try to get the skinny on you.  Now "they" think  they got some illicit information about you.  "We know how old she really is!"
 
Step two of this process, determining what is your empirical age range.  This is not the time to get too creative crazy.  As a rule of thumb, age ranges tend to be max in a 10-year range (for older actors) down to a few years (for younger actors.  Each year on an older actor is not as specifically registered as on a  younger person.)  To be objective on this, you don't do the numbers.  Have a trusted agent, casting director or manager do this.  Ask more than one and get an average.
 
BTW, did you know you'll drop to the bottom of your age range (the youngest you'll look) when you are smiling?  So on those oh-so-blue days we all have, smiling will make you the youngest you can be.
 
Every few years, recalibrate your age range so you stay current and competitive.
 
AND, now you will be submitted for roles that are truly age-appropriate for you.  AND will continue to have a constructive, rather than destructive, relationship with whoever is doing that asking.

No one in the casting room is going to bother with checking an ID in most cases.  (You shouldn't be taking unnecessary materials in with you anyway, so leave it outside.)  You're an actor, after all!  It shouldn't be difficult to convincely state your character's age if you are in character.  The casting session isn't about you -- it's about your character!

Have your [birthday] cake and eat it, too!  What age are you playing?

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?

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

HBO's Documentary, "About Face:  Supermodels Then and Now" debuted in New York City.  Director and producer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders brought the faces that launched the fashion industry together in his documentary to explore their lives and the complex relationship between physical appearance and the business of beauty.  He disspells rumors, myths, and even conquers the tough realities of aging and it's effects on women worldwide.

You can read HBO's full interview with Timothy Greenfield-Sanders here, including some stories about designers and models like Calvin Klein, Eileen Ford, Isabella Rossellini, Paulina Porizkova, Beverly Johnson, Jerry Hall, Christie Brinkley, Christy Turlington, Carmen Dell'Orefice.

"About Face: Supermodels Then and Now" premiered on July 30, 2012.  You can watch this film and other documentaries at HBO GO® or request it on Netflix (release date TBD).

 

THE NEW SUPERMODEL

 

A few years ago, models were griping that celebrity actors had taken over a significant amount of their opportunity through campaigns, endorsements, and magazine covers.  Like any industry professional with a will to survive, the modeling industry has launched itself full force into on camera work.  Models are no longer just pretty faces and symmetrical features for a posed still camera (although, those in the industry would know they were always more than they appeared to the public anyway).  Designers like Prada are blazing a new path for models (and maybe actors alike)!

Supermodels are taking on camera work seriously and bringing new life to campaigns like this one for Prada's Fall/Winter line.  Famed photographer, Steven Meisel creats a somewhat Matrix-like chess game with Vanessa Axente, Magdalena Frackowiak, Madison Headrick, Elza Luijendijk, Iselin Steiro & Anne Vyalitsyna.

Knowing how to move for the on camera model and actor will be imperative to building a career.  Years ago, actors were thrust into learning how to work the still camera and they opened a whole new income source.  Will models hear the call and follow suit to reclaim their lost opportunities?

What can you do as a model or actor to learn the other side of the talent world and become more sought-after?

RAW SOLSTICE-ANNE HARTLEY

On June 21st, 2012 RAW Nashville put on an event at Mercy Lounge that showcased the work of independent local photographers, fashion designers, artists, singers and film makers. One of the local talent showcased was April Nicolaides, owner of Ferocity jewelry.  The Avenue's Anne Hartley walked in Ferocity's show and we asked her a little about her experience.

Was this your first time walking in a fashion show? How was it?                                               

    This was the 2nd fashion show I've done. It was great! I had a lot of fun and met a lot of really cool people there. 

What was your favorite part?

    My favorite part was walking! I love the rush it gives me! I also liked getting my hair and makeup done, because it's mostly a surprise--they don't show you what it looks like until you're done, and I didn't look anything like myself. It was awesome!

As a model, how does this compare to the other jobs you've had in the fashion industry?

    Runway is more exciting than other things I've done as a model, because unlike photoshoots, it goes by quick and it's less standing around and having your picture taken--which is great too! it's more nerve racking though, because there's tons of people watching and you have to be careful not to fall.

Is fashion a big part of your life? Are you always up to date on the current trends?

    Fashion is a HUGE part of my life. an entire wall in my room is covered top to bottom with fashion photography shots from Vogue and Teen Vogue magazines. I love reading fashion blogs and I'm always shopping!

How was working with the designer, April Nicolaides? Did you enjoy modeling her jewelry? 

    I really enjoyed working with April. she was really nice and I loved her jewelry--it was so edgy and unique!!

To keep up with everything Ferocity, follow April on twitter, or like her on Facebook! And keep an eye out for Anne Hartley on the runways! Cant wait to see what the future holds for these talented young ladies!

Do you have a favorite piece of jewelry in your closet?

 

 

GUESS WHO?

Meghan Wiggins, star of the CW's Remodeled, Network Model, and one of The Avenue's own, is being featured nationally in Guess's new campaign.  What a tremendous accomplishment.  Congratulations, Meghan!

Watch Meghan walk the runway at Guess's 30th Anniversary Event!

 

It's exciting to watch someone's dreams become reality.  What are you doing today to pursue your dreams?

THE VALUE OF RELATIONSHIP

New York Casting Director, Scott Powers, shares his insider's view of the client's perspective after the audition.

An interesting and unavoidable pastime in this business is observing actors commit career suicide. 

Rushing headlong into the buzz saw, with not a clue or a care of what they're doing, not heeding warnings. Happens everyday. It's a given that an actor's plight is to always be looking for a job. In doing so, you never know who can help you get a job or influence a "we'll pass." The hiring process can involve a number of people; if one has a slight negative comment about a select, that often is enough to stop the consideration in its tracks. This we have witnessed more times than we want to. It can be made by a network executive vice president in charge of Primetime Programming or the summer intern. To see an actor lose a big role because of an offhand casual remark is a chilling experience.
 
Moral of the story: Don't make enemies. And its close cousin: be nice. Don't badmouth anyone. Tough to do in this business. Zip the lip. We all wear many hats in this business. The assistant being trashed today by an actor could be the agent two years from now who decides to take a pass on representing that actor. Or one day the actor walks in an audition room and there is the casting director the actor treated badly as an intern. Memories are long in this business. More people know you than you know them . It's very incestuous how agents, managers, casting directors, directors, producers, etc. all mix and mingle with each other. What's a common topic of conversation? You guessed it. The unfortunate part of our business is that once bridges are burned, it's permanent. Time does not heal all wounds here. There is no kiss-and-make-up as in other industries. Somebody wronged ten years ago still lies in wait, waiting for that opportunity to settle the score. If something bad is said about someone it is almost guaranteed that that person will hear about it, including the source. This can be why phone calls can start to fall off or a career never proceeds past doing background work for paid work. One photographer we work with a lot made an astute observation: "We don't have to eliminate actors, they eliminate themselves." Sometimes newcomers just have to find out for themselves and by that time, it's too late. Time for that Plan B.
 
Sherry Lansing, former head of 20th Century Fox and earlier in her career, a model and actor, famously said about the people who gave her shabby treatment on her way up to becoming one of the most powerful people in our business: "I remember them. And they remember me." Way to turn a phrase.
 
As casting directors, we have to work with clients, some are nice and some not so much. We are equally professional to all. They are the beginning of the food chain. Agents may have to work with clients, managers and casting directors they may not be in love with, but professionally are civil to all. This does not always extend to actors. To quote a big commercial agent, "We're very fortunate, we only work with the actors we want to." It doesn't take much to give someone a reason not to hire or represent an individual actor. And there are quite a few actors to go around in a buyer's market.
 
Stories abound about the casualties. Two new ones are especially poignant:
 
One actor recently mouthed off to an important film director. In front of several other people. The director never flinched and no one else did. The director just never hired that actor, and never will. Nor will anyone else who witnessed the display of self-importance. It came as no surprise that actor is never considered for anything substantial . The only paying work he gets is background work.   Principal work? Yes, in student films for free. But he can't progress beyond that. Has a glass ceiling and his resumé confirms it. He became his own worst enemy and his career paid the price for it.   Is he willing to change? No. He's convinced himself he's right and everybody else is wrong. Whatever the case is, he will not get the work he thinks he entitled to. Next!
 
One young actor was doing background work on a TV show that hires a lot of background. She made a snarky comment about an agent. An actor behind her heard it and it was about her agent, and she tweeted the agent word for word. The targeted agent made a casual call to the background casting director about the offending actor.   The offending actor was not invited back to the show the next day. Or ever. And calls from the background casting director dried up. In a twist of irony, two weeks later the offending actor attended a meet-and-greet and guess who was one of the agents? Yep. When it came time for the actor to meet the agent, she was reminded word for word what she said about that agent. Imagine the shock on the actor's face! By the end of the evening, all the other agents and casting directors at the meet-and-greet knew what happened. A very efficient career crash and burn. And the unfortunate actor probably never connected the dots as to what caused this calamity.
 
Actors who have managed to stay in this business for a number of years have learned a number of survival skills. A big one is the accumulation of connections and good will for the care and feeding of their career. And a big way of building that group is being nice to everybody. Never a negative word. They've been around long enough to know even Godzilla may come in handy some day. And for the nod for that big series regular role.
 
To end on a positive note, the industry wants you to succeed, to get the job, to make everybody glad they made the decision to hire you or represent you.  Everyone is plugging for you. Just give them a reason to do so.

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!

"HI! I'M WORKING!"

Does everyone in the industry know you on a first name basis?  Perhaps not since there are so many professionals around the world.  But Barbara offers the talent some advice on how to get results and use your efforts effectively!

Barbara Kerford who works for The Actor’s Key says “I always thought I was doing what I needed to be doing, taking the occasional workshop, getting new headshots, doing the occasional mailing, but until my marketing became consistent I didn't have any results. It wasn't until I started doing monthly postcards-- that I started to really see results. Now I audition weekly. For a while it was just to people I knew, but now I am also auditioning with people I've never met. Marketing is a key part of this industry. I was talking to another actor and she was asking how I was going out on so many auditions. She complained that she had just booked two guest star roles and did not see an increase in her audition activity. I asked how she was telling people about it and she told me she was leaving it up to her manager--that is one way of doing it, but it is up to the individual actor to be out there hustling for themselves.

A postcard, no matter what it says, tells the industry that you are working. Find something to brag about or to congratulate a CD about. Take any business course and they will tell you lack of marketing is why so many businesses fail.”

TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE APRICOT

The industry always talks about what it calls the "it" factor -- that special something that no one can teach, but is so evident in talent who reach celebrity status.  It's also commonly referred to as a "twinkle" in one's eye.  It draws us all in effortlessly and could be responsible for what sometimes seems like someone becoming famous almost overnight.

Maybe you can't be taught the "it" factor, but that twinkle in your eye be found in your diet?  Perhaps! 

Apricots are one of the most widly traveled foods the world has to offer.  The apricot tree originated in China; was transplanted from Greece to California; and ended up with US astronauts in space.   

Despite the good things apricots have to offer in the diet, including being low in sodium and high in potassium and iron, the most imporant nutrient in the apriocot is provitamin A.  And this is where the apricot might give you an edge over your competition!  Provitamin A maintains good vision . . . and is credited with "giving the sparkle and beauty to the eyes that are characteristic of good health," according to The Encyclopedia of Foods and Their Healing Power.

That sparkle isn't the only benefit to consuming this fruit, though.  Ripe or dried, apriocots also help those suffering from anemia, night blindness, and loss of visual acuity, plus disorders on the skin (e.g., eczema) and increase resistance to infections in the sinuses.  Dr. Valnet is responsible for studies that show that apricots maintain equilibrium within the nervous system to help with depression and nervousness credited to it's trace elements, too.

The sweet taste of apricots is readily available in the summer, but can also be found in jellies and dried forms during the winter.  Add apricots to your regular diet . . . and twinkle your way right into that next booking!