Congratulations on your decision to pursue an acting career! Have you ever wanted to be in a movie? Did you like watching Star Wars as a kid? Or maybe you’re more of a Lord of the Rings fan? Did you dream of being on stage at the Academy Awards?
Do you want to show that you have the talent, creativity, and ability to be the next big thing in Hollywood? If so, we are here to help! We know what it takes to make it in Hollywood because we have over 10 years of experience in the film and television industry. Our goal is to help guide you along the way by providing information about how to get an audition or how to get an agent.
I have been auditioning in Los Angeles for over twenty years. I made a name for myself as a classically trained Shakespearean actor in New York, but after moving to Los Angeles, I learned how to audition for film and television. Now, I’m sharing what I learned with you.
Here’s a typical scenario: You send your headshot and resume to your local casting director because you are looking for an agent. The casting director calls you in to read on tape. You do the audition and she thinks you are good so she asks if you have an agent. You don’t have one and she says that she has a friend who is an agent she will refer you to. She sends the tape to the agent and he signs you. He sends you out on auditions and after several months of getting no work, he drops you.
If this has happened to you then read on because this is exactly what happened to me when I first moved out here…
I am a Christian actor. I admit it. I am not ashamed of it. But I am not one who will shove my beliefs down your throat. I believe in God, and what Jesus did for us on the cross. And I believe with all my heart that God is still speaking to us today.
I also know that there are many wicked people out there who do not understand the Truth, or want to hear that they should repent of their sins, so they can live in Heaven someday with their Creator.
But if you are a Christian actor, you may be wondering how to go about finding work in the entertainment industry, and whether or not you have to hide your faith from casting directors, directors, producers and writers so you can land an audition or a part.
So let me get right to the point: NO! You do not have to hide your faith from anyone in the entertainment industry! You can tell anyone about your faith and why you became a Christian actor in order to glorify God with your craft.
By: Amy Jo Berman
First, get yourself a good headshot. This is your calling card. Your agent will make sure you have a variety of them – some color, some black and white, a few different looks.
Next, find an agent. How? Check out the Actors’ Guild in your area or the local film commission office. You can also check the yellow pages under “Talent.” I recommend getting an agent with some experience who works fairly close to where you live.
Once you have an agent, they will send you out on what are known as “go-sees.” These are auditions for commercials, voiceovers, television shows and films. They may be paying jobs or they may just be readings to be considered for future projects. In either case, these readings are opportunities to network with other casting directors and producers who then see you in action and consider you for other parts or projects down the road.
This leads us to the next step: You book a job! A paying one! An actual commercial or television show or film! The process is simple:
* You go to an audition (a go-see)
* You read for the part
* You book it
* You
When it comes to the entertainment industry, there are a lot of questions out there. How do I get an agent? Do I need a headshot? What is a demo reel? And one of the most popular questions we receive is: “How can I find acting auditions?”
In addition to this post, you may also be interested in our article on how to get an acting agent and our list of talent agencies.
As aspiring actors, we know that you have spent a great deal of time perfecting your craft. You know that to excel in this industry you must work hard, train often and always be prepared for when opportunity knocks. But what happens when opportunity does knock? How do casting agents find you? How do you compete with the thousands of other actors who are also trying to make it in this industry? And how do you even get your foot in the door for an audition?
This is where Actors Access comes in.
It’s that time again! The casting season has begun and I want to share with you all of the audition tips I received from the many actors I interviewed this year.
1. Don’t stress about it too much.
It’s not a big deal. God’s got this – he’s got you, he’s got your career, he’s got your finances, he’s got everything. And remember that every audition is an opportunity for them to say yes and for you to get better.
2. Be willing to change the way you approach things and try new things!
3. Be nice to everyone, even if they’re not nice to you.
4. Make sure they hear what they want to hear – but don’t lose yourself in the process.
5. Have fun! It should be fun going in, even if they hate you! That way, you can walk away feeling good about yourself and know that you did a good job and had fun doing it!
What is your hair?
As an actor in Hollywood, probably more than any other city on earth, you need to know what your hair is. You have to be able to tell casting directors and directors and agents what your hair is when they ask. It’s not enough just to show them what it looks like because there are so many different ways that it can look. There are a lot of different hairstyles out there and we as actors need to know what our hair is when we are asked.
I’ve been doing this acting thing for a long time now and over the years I have learned that my hair is a dark brown with some gray streaks in it. My hair is salt and pepper. My hair used to be black with no gray but now that I’m getting older it has started turning gray. My hair will probably continue to turn grayer until one day it will be all white.
My wife has brown hair with a few blonde highlights in her bangs but her actual natural color is brown. Some people think that she dyes her hair blonde but she doesn’t, it’s just a natural highlight that she has in the front of her head near her bangs. My daughter has darker brown hair
