03 July 2010 // 01:24 pm // 0 Comments
The Actor’s Resume
By Hollywood Connect
Your acting résumé is a one-page list of your significant theatrical and film experience -- stage roles, film and television roles, training, education -- plus your physical description and contact information. Its goal is to help directors know more about you to help them decide if you should be cast.
You attach your résumé to the back of your headshot so the person to whom you give it -- a casting director, agent, whoever -- will be able to keep them together. Most actors staple the two together back-to-back. Spend a moment or two to be sure the staple doesn't have hostile points. Yes, if you make the casting director bleed, you'll be remembered, but is it worth it? Instead of attaching a page to the photo, some actors have their résumés printed on the back of the headshot, but if you get a great role that you want to add to your resume you'll have to throw out all of the old ones. If you've got money to burn go ahead and get them printed on the back; if not, staples are great. Make sure you trim your résumé to fit the size of you 8"x10" photo.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
1. Never lie about your experience, skills, or training. It is easy to find out if an actor lies, and when he/she is found out, all future opportunities will be lost -- for good. People remember!
2. Don't try to "pad" your résumé by adding irrelevant or unimportant information. People will know if you're just trying to fill up space on your résumé, and you'll end up looking like an amateur.
3. Don't use a resume that is longer than one page.
4. Don't staple reviews or clippings to your resume, as they will just get in the way and annoy the person who is trying to read your résumé.
5. Don't make the type too small, as that is difficult to read. It's better to just edit your résumé down and have it in readable type.
Just as your headshot should be as professional as you can make it, so also you'll want to spend time on your résumé to make it look attractive, clean, clear, and complete. Think of your résumé like an audition, albeit an audition on paper, so be sure it is your best work. This is your professional introduction and is crucially important: Don't rush it.
Click HERE and HERE for some sample résumés.
