Expert: Taylor Sheppard - 4/13/2007

Question
Well I really want to become and actress,its the one of the only things I'm good at. And I'm wondering how to do this. I really don't know if I need and agent or not...Please help me!

Answer
Hi Mary,

Whether you need an agent depends on where you are in your craft. Have you done at least, a school play? Or have you been involved in community theater? Even if you haven't done that, don't despair! Taking classes counts toward building your resume. An professional actor always trains and even after they are a star. They also still screen test for parts as well. Sometimes, rarely, they don't, but it is really important for the lead actors to have "chemistry" for the movie to work. Anyway, an agent is something you will need once you have done some classes or have done some acting jobs. No one starts out on top, so don't be frustrated. You may find yourself agent hunting a while before you have one agree to represent you.
You can always change agents later...but be careful: sometimes things get slow and you may not work for a bit...that doesn't mean they aren't doing their job! A little loyalty should be there. I have essentially been with my agent for 17 years now. I had three others in three other cities at one time, but they have all closed down. An agent is NOT a manager...that is someone who guides your career and is more aggressive with promoting you for a myriad of things. Your agent is: someone who will know about jobs that you won't know about without an agent....someone who keeps track after the work is done to re-bill clients when they decide to air a project you worked in again....someone who will find out if the job is legitimate and not a scam.
Short answer? Yes, if you have done the above, it is time to start looking! Be prepared for rejections, it's part of the life of an actor. You MUST get a professional headshot and resume together to try for an agent.
To Get Started: Get a professional headshot from a photographer that does headshot photography, not portrait photography. It will not be cheap, but it is the first thing casting people, and in this case, a potential agent will see...it needs to look like you on your best day. What that means, if he takes the picture with a digital camera, that he only photoshop out temporary blemishes. Not scars, but zits. If they call you in to audition and don't look like your headshot, your agent sent them, it will likely hurt your chances. Sometimes you are hired FOR your imperfections.
The headshots should be color, and you will need to bring several different SOLID color outfits to test on what looks best. The headshots will likely be at least two to three hundred dollars or more. But don't cheap out here! If you try to go cheap, the result won't be there.

Once you have the headshot (or shots, it would be good to get a smiling, warm look and a serious look too. One for commercials/comedy films and one for dramatic films), you will need to get them duplicated. I usually get 250 to 300 copies. 100 isn't enough and 500 winds up lasting a LOOONG time.
Then you ask around, and look up talent agencies in phone books in cities closest to you (that you can be driven to within an hour or so at most) If they get you a sudden audition: .."could you get here this afternoon?" you need to go.
Write to the agents and say: "I am ________ and I'm currently seeking representation in the ______________ area. Please see my attached resume and headshot. If you would like to meet, please contact me at: give email, phone and address." Please don't sound desperate. Just go about it like you already have an offer, but are looking around. Expect rejections! You have to find a way to be tough skinned to be an actor.  Think of this as "show BUSINESS" because it is about people making money...they call it "The Biz" for a reason! Be professional, treat your career seriously and have a professionally done headshot because it is your business card so they will take you seriously.

Your training may make up most of your resume. The rest might be school plays, unless you actually played "Annie" as a kid on Broadway,  (but if you did, you likely won't be asking me, right?)
You will put your name at the top of the resume in big letters and a nice, simple font. Then list your work, with the name of the show, director and the venue.
Then follow with a space between each job, each job getting its own line.
Then at the bottom, put "Training" and below that, every class or workshop you have ever done! Training counts toward experience, and they won't expect a huge number of films at this point! Sometimes a new fresh actor that still has some training is what they want.

DO NOT:
Put weight, height, age, or modeling assignments on your resume. Models aren't always looked upon as actors.
The key is to get in the door. If they have it in their mind that the character is taller than you, they won't call you in because they read your height and dismissed you out of hand... MAKE SURE THE SEE YOU BEFORE THEY CAN REJECT YOU! That comes straight from a former Los Angeles Casting director.
Staple the resume, face up, to the BACK of the headshot with two staples spread evenly apart, but not too close to the sides...try to miss stapling over your face on the headshot!
An agent will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER ask for money upfront! They will get the check after you do a job, then deduct their percentage (usually 15%) and cut you a check.

Well friend, that's my take...break a leg!
Taylor