Tips to Becoming an Actor

Because so many people have asked me for advice for becoming an actor, I am writing this blog as a resource that will hopefully be very helpful to you. Below are steps that you should take if you or your kid are serious about becoming an actor.

1. Headshots

Headshots is an important and expensive tool you will always have to have throughout your career as an actor. In order to land auditions for major films, tv shows, movies, and commercials you will need an acting agent. In order to submit to agents, you will need a proper acting headshot. It is important that you go to a photographer that focuses and has extreme knowledge in ACTING headshots. Many photographers are MODELING photographers and will take glamorous photos which is NOT what you need for acting headshots. Acting headshots are more the NATURAL you, with less glamour and more of the everyday you. You will need a smiling headshot and a non-smilling headshot. Below are some good photographers. However, this is by far not an exhaustive list and they are many more great photographers, so do not feel obligated to use these. This is just a starter resource.

Babycake Studios: http://www.babycakestudios.com
Amy Jackson Photography: (kids) http://www.amyjacksonphoto.com
Kelsey Edwards: http://www.kelseyedwardsphoto.com
First City Films (Savannah) www.firstcityfilms.com
D Boyd Photography (ATL)

Here’s an example of an acting headshot vs. a modeling headshot:

MODELING HEADSHOT

ACTING HEADSHOT

2. Resume

A) Training

Training is essential to becoming an actor. Find an acting school or acting coach that will help you master acting techniques. As an actor, you have to understand the difference between theater and film acting! Trust me, it’s like apples and oranges. Completely Different! Acting schools will teach you how to emotionally, physically, and mentally become another person. Training builds your acting resume just as college degrees build your academic resume. Many agents and casting directors will not even look at you if you do not have some type of training.
- Example Schools: YourAct Studio, Alliance Theater, The Company Acting Studio, Actors Breakthrough, Creative Studios of Atlanta, to name a few.

B) Experience

Many times when you are starting out, you will not have any credits on your resume. In order to put your training to the test, you need to start auditioning and booking filming projects. Student films and independent films are a great way to start building your resume. Get speaking parts, NOT EXTRA ROLES!! Extra roles are not good for building your resume. However, if you want to experience being on a set, then sure go for a day or two and be an extra to see how a set is ran. But do not put extra roles on your resume!

C) Skills

Building your skills is also good for building your resume. Take classes and do activities that you can say you know how to do. Make sure you are an intermediate/advanced student at doing the activity and not a beginner. Example skills are: boxing, swimming, martial arts, singing, piano, ballet, tennis, basketball, etc.

3. Agents

You can book student films and indies without an agent. But in order to get auditions to major productions and commercials, you will need an acting agent (NOT A MODELING AGENT!). To get an agent you need a great resume and an awesome headshot! There are numerous agents in Atlanta, so do your research! You should NEVER have to pay an agent for ANYTHING! Agents may refer you to photographers, acting coaches, schools, etc but you should never have to pay a dime to your agent for becoming one of their talent. The only time you will pay a legitimate agent is when you book a role. At that time, they will take a percentage of your earnings from that booking. This percentage should not be more than 10-20%! Beware of agents charging more than that range!
Example Agents: Houghton, People Store, East Coast Talent, J Pervis, etc.

Tips

Keep in mind that there are many scammers out there so ALWAYS DO YOUR RESEARCH! Research the production company, the producer, their previous works, and ask around!
FOR KIDS:
- Know that many times kid actors are home schooled due to the days constantly missed going to auditions, filming, etc. You can have many auditions back to back, or film for days/weeks, so remember not only will a parent have to accompany them to set, they will also not be in school. Yes that means, your life will be easier if you are a stay at home parent as it will be extremely hard to maintain a full time job and travel with you kid.
FYI becoming an actor is EXPENSIVE! From headshots to training to traveling, acting is going to put a damp in your bank account so be ready! Traveling to auditions sometimes is out of state, updating your headshots, missing work, going to classes, etc can easily cost you $1000+!
Know that you have to love acting to get in the game. If you are doing it for the money, you should probably stop right now. Starting out as an actor, you will be spending way more than you are making! After booking some substantial roles, you may get paid a few hundred a day. That’s it! And most projects are just a day or two. Major roles will land you bigger bucks and contract deals, but those time ALOT OF TIME AND AUDITIONS TO GET! Many times years and years to get those! So be ready and have side jobs to maintain paying your bills and living your lifestyle.
Hearing the word NO or hearing nothing at all is ALL IN THE BUSINESS, SO GET USE TO IT! It make take you months to years to even get a legitimate good agent and even longer to book a role after auditioning HUNDREDS of time. But you have to be content with yourself and believe in your craft not to give up. Hope that helps!