Acting's The Ten Commandments

1. NDA stands for Non-Disclosure Agreement. The production side takes these things very seriously...VERY SERIOUSLY. Mess this up and the rest of this blog might be moot to your dead career. Don't be the actor who ends up on a casting director's "do not bring in" list or a network's "do not approve for any show" list because of a NDA violation.
2. Don't exaggerate or make up special skills. When casting asks if you can do X, they are not making conversation. Unless something like a major rewrite happens (You arriving to set and admitting you cannot do X is not considered a valid reason for a rewrite.), there is a 100% probability that whoever is cast will have to do X. Don't exaggerate or make up listings under the other headings either.
3. Look like your headshot. Or make sure your headshot looks like you. If you were kidnapped and the only chance of rescue was searchers being able to identify you using just a single photograph how confident would you be if that photograph was your headshot? No, I'm not looking for you, the girl I'm looking for has long hair and it's blonde. No, I'm not looking for you, the guy I'm looking for is about 15 years younger and clean shaven.
4. Training is career long. In other words, you have a career as long as you keep training. Classes directly related such as cold reading or improv are obvious options. But classes not directly connected such as the violin or judo are also good. Assuming you are a good learner, you can list it under your special skills. Take from the best teachers. I would qualify best as being up to date on the material and able to effectively teach it. Also, avoid gurus and classes that are demeaning. Being actors opportunities to work on our careers are endless. Even watching in production TV shows counts. Of course, there is not a TV shows watched section on a resume.
5. Take care of your instrument. Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. Get an appropriate amount of sleep. Exercise. Don't smoke. Limit or cutout the alcohol. Of course, your instrument isn't limited to the physical. How many have gone off the deep end because the mental was not taken care of? Make sure you are mentally prepared to handle your career without relying on drugs. Actually, this one is a good idea for everyone.
6. Remember, at the end of the day, it is a career not a mission from God. Where you place career when you prioritize the different areas of your life should be the same if you are an actor, doctor, plumber or car dealer. Take time to relax. Even a weekend trip can help rejuvenate you. With today's technology it is easy to keep in touch if being out of contact, even for a day, causes you to break out in a sweat.
7. Have a well rounded life. There is life beyond the set/stage or getting on the next one. What that life consists of is up to you, but have one. Have interests outside of acting. In fact, outside of the entertainment industry. Yes, you might gain contacts or skills beneficial to your career, but that should be a happy coincidence. Other than the fact that this will make you a well rounded person and give you tools to add to your proverbial actor bag, it will help you avoid this thing known as burnout.
8. DO NOT COMPROMISE YOUR PERSONAL MORALS. Feel free to mess up all the other numbers; it's only your acting career. Mess this one up and it's, well, personal. You need to know your personal morals to avoid compromising them. So, if you don't, I suggest figuring them out before it is decision making time. They are your morals, not society's so if there is something that is legal, popular and acceptable on your won't do list: perfectly acceptable. Obviously, the reverse is not true. Oh, this does not mean only accept roles in which the character's morals line up with yours, but feel free to factor it in to your decision making process.
9. Network - this includes marketing. Both online and inperson. Celebrity wish lists and those you have the "hots" for aside, who would you want to work with? Bet the people on your list are professional, enjoyable to be around and most importantly, someone you actually know. Think others might use the same criteria when adding you to their list of want to work with? This is how the industry gets to know you. Make sure you become known for what you want to be known for.
10. There is no "one" way to any aspect of an acting career. Any advice that comes your way, even from me, is through the filter of the giver. Should you do extra work? Are CD workshops a good idea? What type of paper should your headshots be printed on? You know where your career is at best. So don't just blindly follow the latest advice. But don't just outright dismiss it either. And allow others the same courtesy when deciding how adopting a particular piece of advice is best for their career.

Booking the Room

A few weeks ago, I auditioned but did not book a particular project. The email notifying me was very complimentary. I bumped into the producer at an industry event a couple days ago. Learned a couple things from our conversation:

1. The email to me was the only one to go beyond the generic "not right" note.


2. He was definitely going to be knocking at my door if he ever had a part which was right.

I felt as great about this as I would have had I actually gotten the role. Why would I feel as great about "booking the room" as I would about "booking the job"?

• BTR means you made a good impression. They want to work with you in the future.


• BTR means you gave an excellent read. One does not BTR on a slightly above average read.


• BTR means if someone they know is looking to fill a role you would be right for, they might recommend you.

So, how did I book the room? Three words: Strong Character Choice. It was my interpretation of the character which impressed him.

How do you know you booked the room?

• Booking the job is deceiving clue. You could have been choice number five. (Highly recommend thinking of yourself as the first choice. It's better for the ego.)


• Not booking the job is a deceiving clue. You might have given the best read and still not be right for a particular role.


• What is said in the audition room is a very bad clue. They are not going to say "That sucked. I wouldn't cast you to play yourself in a surveillance video. You'll be notified Tuesday if you got a callback." Even if that is what they are thinking.


• Having them tell you in a neutral setting like my case is a very good clue. There was no reason he needed to bring up my audition at the industry event.


• Getting called in for future reads is a very good clue. It means they think you have potential and are trying to find the right fit.

Booking the job is short term. Booking the room is long term. So, book the room.

How Do You Approach Your Acting Career

There are many ways to approach your acting career. Let's look at the examples of two actors, A and B.

• A is proactive in looking for work. B expects his agent (don't ask how he got an agent) to do all the work.


• When A is going to be unavailable, which is the exception, he books out. When B is going to be unavailable, which is the rule, he simply doesn't show up.


• A attends industry events in order to network and support others. B also attends industry events. Particularly those that have an open bar or showcase a project he was involved in.


• A prepares for his auditions by reading the script, making strong character choices, etc. He also keeps his cold reading skills sharp just in case. B gets a copy of the sides when he shows up at the audition and glances over them once before going into the room. The only time he cold reads is in the audition room.


• A looks like his headshots. B, not so much.


• A is a pleasure to work with. He shows up on time, prepared, and is considerate of others. B is not a pleasure to work with. He shows up late, unprepared and gossips.


• A sincerely wants the best for his fellow actors. Even the ones that are often up for the same roles as him. B does subtle things to try to sabotage other actors. (FYI, B's behavior will usually backfire for several reasons.)


• When A posts on actor forums, it is done with the intent to help and give others another option to consider. When B posts on actor forums, it is to belittle those with differing view points.


• Whether it's a formal class or getting together with other actors, A is constantly taking steps to better his acting skills. With the exception of CD workshops in order to "be seen", B never works on his acting skills.


• A realizes this is a business and treats it as such. B doesn't bother with the business aspect.

So, are you an A lister or a B lister?

Casting Notices

FILMMAKERS:

When putting out casting notices, insulting the talent you hope to attract is probably not the best approach. Seriously, if "thinks showing up two hours late, drunk and unprepared is the standard operating procedure for actors" is the vibe I get from your notice, I'm not even going to consider your project. When I see such notices, I think "I wouldn't want to work with such a jerk".

I have better things to do. Like work with filmmakers that appreciate actors and don't look at them as evil necessities.

Oh, on a side note, consider where and how you are posting your casting notices. If you post on craigslist and your entire notice is "submit to be in an awesome feature film" and a craigslist email address, there probably will not be much experience among the submissions. Those with experience will think it is an outright scam or that you don't know what you're doing.

The Importance of Booking Out

Why do actors have issues with booking out with their agents? Actors that book out are really doing themselves a favor.

Think of it this way. If you were an agent and had several choices of who to call when you needed an actor, all other factors being equal, who would you go to first? The choices that are reliably available or the choices that may or may not be available. By reliably available, I do not mean available 364 days/year no matter what. I mean you know 99% of the time that you are not going to be wasting time contacting unavailable actors. The 1% is to allow for extenuating circumstances such as medical emergencies.

What is the proper way to book out? Depends on your agent, but most likely email, perhaps a phone call. Even without taking a survey, I feel confident in stating that no agent approves of a Twitter post or a Facebook update as a proper way to book out. Too easy to miss, assuming the agent even follows you in the first place.

Remember, consistently being unavailable is not a good thing either. Even if you religiously book out. Of course, if you are consistently unavailable because you are consistently on set that is an entirely different matter. Agents like representing actors who are consistently on set.

Time for New Headshots?

Signs it is time to get new headshots:

1. The role is for the Biblical Sampson. Mr. Clean's fans mistakenly ask you for an autograph.
2. The role is for a college age person. Your family threw you a surprise 50th birthday party four months ago.
3. The role is for a ditsy blond. Your parents are concerned about your involvement in the goth scene.
4. The role is for a horse jockey. Five different NFL teams have been trying to sign you as a linebacker.
5. People who have recently come into your life ask "Who's this?" when looking at your headshot.
6. When committing a crime, you purposely leave your headshot at the scene to throw the investigation off track.
7. When asked to submit a photo of yourself from 30 years ago, you submit your headshot.
8. When hand delivering your headshots to agents, casting directors, whoever, the receptionist asks you why the actor couldn't deliver his headshots himself.
9. Your fan club is holding a fundraiser auction. You donate some autographed headshots. They send them back asking if you have any of known, recognizable actors.
10. Your daughter asks you if you still have the shirt you wore when your headshots were taken because she is going to dress like Donna from the The 70s Show for a costume party.

Character Development

Things to keep in mind when taking on a character:

• The character is as real to the character as you are to yourself. Keep your performance based in reality.
• The character knows what is going to happen to him as much as you know what is going to happen to you. Genuinely respond as if experiencing that particular instance for the first time.
• The character knows if his efforts are going to be successful as much as you know if your efforts are going to be successful. Try as if you believe you are going to succeed.
• The character knows everything he is going to say in his life (at least the part covered in the film) as much as you know all your words. Say the words as if thinking of them for the first time.
• What is happening around the character is as real to him as what is happening around you is to you. Believe in what is happening.
• The character knows the hidden agendas, etc of the other characters as much as you know the hidden agendas, etc. of everyone in your life. Act as if the character knows only what the character should know at that point.

Are you really an actor

If you can answer "yes" to the following, you are only an actor in the loosest sense of the word:

1. Do you wait for your agent to call with projects to submit to?
2. Do you ignore the business side of acting?
3. Is your marketing material, if they exist, geared toward something other than acting?
4. Are you only looking up IMDb info on big name Hollywood producers?
5. Are you the acting version of the weekend warrior?
6. Do you look at extra work as a major acting opportunity?

If you can answer "yes" to the following, you can call yourself an actor:

1. Are you looking for projects to submit to?
2. Do you put significant time toward the business side of acting?
3. Is your marketing material, which does exist, geared toward acting and your place in it?
4. Are you learning who the independent producers in your market are?
5. Are you putting in the hours?
6. Are you striving toward bigger roles?