Expert: Taylor Sheppard - 2/4/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi Taylor, my name is gemma I am 21 years old and have always dreamed of being an actress as i love everything about it since a little girl. After school I went on to do a national diploma in performing arts which i thoroughly enjoyed, i finished this in 2006 an decided to take a year out to make money etc and that has turned into 3!!...I am so frustrated an eager to make a start at a career in acting as I cant see myself doing anything else as im definitely NOT the 9-5 type and love acting so much its all I think about! But dont know where to start since I have been off the scene for so long. I need advice on my headshots, how to make an acting c.v and also how to go about finding an agent/agency to help me and just getting myself out there! and of course any other helpful tips and advice you may have for me... i look forward to hearing from you soon.

Many thanks

G X

ANSWER: Hi Gemma,

Yes, taking time off can really side-track you, although sometimes you sometimes need time to come to realize what you really want.

The best thing to do first is to get back into a class to get the cobwebs off and start growing again. You always want to train if you are able. A lot of people think that you take classes and you're done, NOPE! You can always learn more. Many pro actors have trainers and people who read and "spar" with them. I personally have a coach I employ prior to certain auditions. They can make you aware of blind spots you may have when interpreting a role. They can also point out something is BS and doesn't work. You always need to come prepared with a few different ways to perform the role. The director may not use all of them, but they want to see that you can do your job and create, because they don't want to do your job for you! Also, I highly recommend finding an audition class to learn the art of cold reading. Auditions are very different than regular acting. You must be able to pull something good out of your ass within like 5 minutes from getting the script. Improv classes also go hand in hand with avoiding being "stuck" when you need to be able to shine in an ad-lib situation!

As to headshots, you need to go to a professional headshot photographer who knows what the current standard or "look" is needed. You don't want a cheapo shot from the mall or department store guy. You need to expect it to be around $300. or so. You need one "serious" look that you are communicating with your eyes, and a second, where you look energetic and smiling. The first, for film and the second for commercials, which may be your bread and butter. You will likely have digital shots, where you will get a couple prints and a CD with all the shots. That way, you can find a reproduction place (I tried several until I found one which prints true color and looks good)to get copies to mail out to talent agencies in the yellow pages. If he or she is good, they can make altered "web ready" copies of the good shots to submit to your agent's website for the face page. Normal copies are too large in file size usually. You only need to send the headshot with your resume and a short note stating in few words that you are currently seeking representation in the local market (nearest big city) and would like to meet. Check google for sample resume layouts. You will only put name, acting jobs, education and special talents -which can be dancing, dialects, twirling, swimming, Mongolian throat singing, juggling -whistling: anything you can do well, but ONLY well. Do not put down age, weight, height, hair color or personal phone info! Only put the contacts addy, email and phone on intro note! Don't be discouraged if you get a few rejections, get used to it, its part of the deal! Acting means being emotionally sensitive, yet thick skinned. It doesn't mean you don't look right, it may just mean they have enough talent in your "type" or look. Agencies who over-stock talent do no great favor to their talent by having a thousand faces.

Be prepared to audition at the agent's office, that's pretty standard these days. It never hurts to have a memorized, polished, monologue with range of emotions ready. If you look around the acting community, you can find a fairly low-cost person who will film the monologue for you to send out on dvd. That's how I have gotton several jobs, when it was posted on my agent's website.

Hope this gets you on the way! Break a leg!

Taylor

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hey Taylor thank you for your reply it is very much appreciated will defo be a big help! Just wanted to ask out of curiosity and for my own knowledge, why do you not age , height or anything like that I would have thought that info was needed..? Also once you are with an agency can you join another? and also what is the usual process once you are?..(just to know what to expect etc...)aand I think thats it!

look forward to hearing from you!

G

Answer
Hi again Gemma,

Sorry the slow reply, computer issues!

You don't put personal info on your resume for 3 reasons: You don't want anyone contacting you directly...you will have an agent who negotiates deals if you are a pro -it makes you look pro. Plus safety reasons, when an audition is over, if not picked, or there are extra copies, they can go into the trash unshredded, and do you want some dumpster diving perv knowing where to find you? AND Many an actor has lost an audition before ever getting it, because they never got in to see casting. The more info you provide, the more they have to decide against even seeing you. Many actors who got in the door, wowed the casting and director and changed their mind from what they originally wanted. I got in and auditioned for a movie once, but the casting director didn't like my take on the character so much. Luckily, she still showed my tape to the director and SURPRISE! He hired me on the spot! The others all did the same thing, I was more unique. You know, some people look younger or older than what they can play. There ARE fixes for height, etc., if they really want to use you. But they first need to want to see you, so make sure they are curious, don't overdo the info, plus they will see your headshot -they aren't blind.

Yes, you can have more than 1 agent. At one time I had four in my state to cover each big city. I cut it down to 3, then just two as business changed, finally, my Houston, Texas agent closed and my Austin agent evolved into a multi-office affair: LA, New Mexico, New Orleans and Austin, Texas. Maybe someday New York too. Who knows? The thing is, you will only have one in a given geographic market area (too many issues if more than one). That will also be in your contract.

How would you know to pay commission to if there were two in one city and they both submitted you? I find that a lot of casting won't look at non-local talent sometimes, so having a local agent keeps you in the loop for more opportunities. Luckily, I live where much of the business is for my state. If something good comes from New Orleans, I can always submit and if needed, work local to qualify for the job as my agent has an office there. (some films are low budget and don't want to pay a per diem -food/lodging/transportation allowance to use non-local talent).

When a casting director has something to cast, they send out a "breakdown" to the agents they trust and work with. The agent reads it and sees that they want say, a young woman around 21 who can play a college student (or is Goth, etc.) Your agent goes: "Well we have Gemma and a couple others if that type". So she submits by email (used to be mailed pictures) your hedshot/resume with the other girls. If the casting likes what they see and read, they email back to your agent to have you come in during a time slot. Your agent assigns you a spot, emails you to see if you want/can audition (always do so, even if you aren't that interested in the show, because every audition is good practice and a chance to get "known". At this point, you reply "Hell Yeah!" -or something more appropriate- and get your audition outfit ready. I have a shirts and slacks or jeans I ONLY wear for this purpose. Why? because over time I learned what works (auditions won over lost) and I know for say, commercials, I need my blue polo shirt, blue contacts, etc. I stand out in an acceptable way. Film varies. The project varies. If I'm a nerd, I would dress nerdy, or in a lab coat or scrubs if I were a doctor. I walked into the audition for a rock video for the Crash Test Dummies in green scrubs and nailed it! (I went by a hospital in the scrubs and got a mask and gloves free -they had no idea I didn't work there!) You NEVER wear stripes, checks, patterns, bright red, black or white. Really, just wear solid colors, light makeup and very little jewelry and no, or faint perfume. Use your head though: if you are going for a "hoochie mama" part in a video, than "Ho it up!" lol. Patterns or white and black or bright red can jack with the camera and cause issues. Some patterns "animate" -appear to move on video and are distracting. Remember they should be looking at YOU!

So you go 15 MINUTES EARLY to the audition, get signed in, get the sides (script pages, if available)and either sit quietly, or if you have time, step outside and read your part aloud so you won't freak at the sound of your voice during the audition. (It happens). Be sure to not have them have to look for you, so check back regularly while working your part. What you will need to do is read carefully and ask yourself: "What does my character want in this scene?" You won't have time to ponder her entire life in the time you have, so this is a shortcut to having SOME idea of what you should be communicating/feeling at this moment in her life.

What next? Thank the casting person, smile again (just like when you walked in) and leave. Once in a while you can get away with asking a reasonable question, if needed, but don't ask them to tell you how to act. That's your job, not theirs, and they want to see if you are talented. Also, they are busy, so don't chat them up unless they initiate it.

You go home, depending on your agent, you can check in with them and report how it went. As I said before, your agent isn't your best friend/shrink, etc., so don't lean on them for strokes or to feel sorry for you, but you can communicate, but be a pro!

Maybe you will get a callback, maybe you won't. Don't call the agent repeatedly asking. Sometimes it takes a while to hear back, most times you WON'T hear back if you were not picked.

Should you get a callback WEAR THE EXACT SAME OUTFIT YOU DID BEFORE! The only thing you will want to have ready, again, is a few different ways of presenting your part if asked. Whatever they saw that made them call you back in, try not to change that!

Then, hopefully, your agent calls or emails and says: "Gemma? We just heard back, and they want you for the role!"

Best,

Taylor