Expert: Hyunjin Jo - 4/25/2004

Question
How would I go about getting in or at least auditioning for independent films.  I have no acting experience but the acting I do in everyday life, with the ability to convince people of anything.  I love the independent film industry and I'am a regular of the IFC Channel.  I hope you can point me in the right direction.  Alot of people either tell me I look like Patrick Dempsey or Sean Penn.

Answer
Hi Richard,

Normally, an agent and manager submits their client (actors) for auditions directly to the casting directors for various projects.

Now with many independent projects you would be able to submit yourself for the project which means sending in your headshot and resume.

The Hollywood Reporter and Daily Variety publish a production listing once a week of projects and the name of the casting director.  You are free to submit, but I would not recommend doing so, because more than likely your headshot and resume would be thrown out.

Backstage West (the LA version--the east coast has their own version) comes out weekly which has many independent production listings and many of these welcome submissions outside of representation.  Therefore, you can submit yourself (send in your headshot and resume) to the production.  HINT:  the publication comes out on Thurs, but you want to get your hands on this when it comes out Wed NIGHT, but either going to Samuel French directly or using their website.  The reason for this is that you receive the listings Wed. Night, you mail your headshot/res on Thursday in order for the production company/casting director to receive the submission on Friday--increasing your chances to get an appointment.

Each audition runs 10 to 15min. and of course means there are only a limited number of spots available on the audition days.  If you wait to look at the listings on Thurs and mail on Friday, it means the casting director will not receive your headshot until Monday, which by that time, all if not most of the audition times will  have been filled.

Now, all of this of course, means that you have some sort of experience.

Because you don't have any acting experience, I recommend that you sign up for an extras agency (aka background casting agency).  For about $20 to $50 for a year, you will be placed on their rooster and then they will send you out to be extras on projects.  Obviously this means you will not have speaking lines, BUT it will give you experience being on set AND have the possibility that the company will use you for a close up OR even give you a line (speaking line).  ALL Major and most smaller independent films use Extras agencies.   So every crowd scene that you see in a movie--all the people walking in the background are paid actors.

Non-union extras make about $55-$65 per 8 hour plus overtime.  A production day is usually 12+ hours.  It's important to know if you do get chosen for a speaking part you will more than likely be bumped up (Taft-Hartley) to a union extra rate which is about $280 for a 8 hour day + overtime.  The key here is that you increase your chances of being bumped to a union rate if you are on set.

As an added benefit of doing the extra work you will have set experience (understanding what happens on a film set).

So in summary.

1. Sign up with a extra/background actor agency.  Central Casting is a very good reputable one.  It is not completely necessary to have a headdshot/res in order to sign up.  Most part you can bring in a 4" x 6" photos or they take a polaroid of you on the spot.
2. Once you have at least a few credits, Get a headshot--makes sure it looks like you, not some uber version of yourself and prepare a resume (make sure it is in the correct formating for an actors resume).
3.Submit yourself for projects listed in Backstage.
4.I highly encourage you to take some acting classes.  If you can get in with Larry Moss or Ivana Chuback--it will go a long way to help you not only auditions but with securing work, because many people do go to these acting coaches to find new talent.  They will also be able to help you gauge on your current and potential acting abilities.

I wish you luck on this and all your future endeavors.

H

PS  If this has been helpful to you, I would appreciate you taking the time to fill out a recommendation.