The-importance-of-being-yourself

 

“The person you are is a hundred times more interesting than the best actor you could ever become…..” – Konstantin Stanislavski

 

Many actors make the mistake of believing that they have to fake a performance in order to create a character. They simply ‘become’ the character, or hide behind it and let their own true personality fade into the background.

This is not what great acting is about.

 

Exposing The Authentic Self

The most successful actors realise that in order to give an outstanding performance, they need to bring as much of themselves as possible to the role. Each actor comes to the profession with their own baggage full of emotions, experiences and uniqueness. This combination of attributes forms their authentic self. From the moment that we are born, we live a completely different life to anyone else on the planet. We form our own opinions and perspectives about people and situations. We experience various sets of emotions such as love, hate, sadness, anger, despair and happiness. Each person has a completely unique and individual collection of years behind them and it is this background of memories and feelings that can be tapped into to create some excellent performances.

 

Why Being Yourself Is A Necessity In Your Acting

 

“Acting deals with very delicate emotions. It is not putting up a mask. Each time an actor acts, he does not hide; he exposes himself.” – Rodney Dangerfield

 

Being yourself and exposing your own personality when you create a character can summon up vulnerability. You might feel uncomfortable expressing your own emotions or crying in front of your fellow cast members and the audience. You may even feel a little embarrassed at first. However, revealing the vulnerable side of your personality is an enormous strength if you can bring it to your acting work. If you draw upon your own experiences and emotions when relating to other characters on stage or set, then you will be able to create some truly convincing performances. By doing so, you will also encourage your audience to dig deep and get in touch with their own emotions. Audiences understand vulnerability. If you give them something that they can relate to, then this will allow them to make an intense connection with both the character and your performance.

 

The Challenges Of Being Yourself

Of course, it is not an easy process to bare your authentic self during your performances. We have all been conditioned not to show vulnerability as it is a sign of weakness. Peoples past experiences will vary but generally speaking cultural or familial conditioning provides us with personal inhibitions. Being yourself is something that most of us find hard or even unacceptable when it involves freely displaying certain sets of emotions in public.

Luckily, the Method utilises a tried and tested process which removes these restrictions in behaviour and takes away an actor’s social mask. This allows the true self to shine through.

 

Character Development

Of course, we don’t just possess one true self. In fact, we all have several versions of our character which are based on various events and experiences that we have faced. This is an asset when it comes to acting as it allows you to play around with the creation of a character until you feel that you’ve found his or her personality. If you feel that the role requires you to be jealous, then remember a time when you were overwhelmed with this unpleasant emotion. The Method will teach you to recall these feelings and sensations based on past experiences and then be able to express them without fear in your performances. However, it is important to keep an open mind when developing a character. Don’t rush in and assume that you know how they would respond in a particular situation. Instead, keep searching your own self to find new ways to play the character. This organic way of letting a character evolve both emotionally and physically from your own set of background experiences will allow you to merge seamlessly into the role.

If you’d like to learn more about how to create truly believable characters and deliver utterly compelling performances that your audience can relate to, then consider taking some Method Acting training. Our 3 day ‘Introduction to Method Acting Bootcamp’ will throw you in at the deep end. You will take part in exercises that utilise the sense in order to activate your own personal memories and connect with a character at a deep psychological level. If you’d like to learn how to create fully believable characters, then apply for our next bootcamp today.

The-importance-of-being-yourself

 

“The person you are is a hundred times more interesting than the best actor you could ever become…..” – Konstantin Stanislavski

 

Many actors make the mistake of believing that they have to fake a performance in order to create a character. They simply ‘become’ the character, or hide behind it and let their own true personality fade into the background.

This is not what great acting is about.

 

Exposing The Authentic Self

The most successful actors realise that in order to give an outstanding performance, they need to bring as much of themselves as possible to the role. Each actor comes to the profession with their own baggage full of emotions, experiences and uniqueness. This combination of attributes forms their authentic self. From the moment that we are born, we live a completely different life to anyone else on the planet. We form our own opinions and perspectives about people and situations. We experience various sets of emotions such as love, hate, sadness, anger, despair and happiness. Each person has a completely unique and individual collection of years behind them and it is this background of memories and feelings that can be tapped into to create some excellent performances.

 

Why Being Yourself Is A Necessity In Your Acting

 

“Acting deals with very delicate emotions. It is not putting up a mask. Each time an actor acts, he does not hide; he exposes himself.” – Rodney Dangerfield

 

Being yourself and exposing your own personality when you create a character can summon up vulnerability. You might feel uncomfortable expressing your own emotions or crying in front of your fellow cast members and the audience. You may even feel a little embarrassed at first. However, revealing the vulnerable side of your personality is an enormous strength if you can bring it to your acting work. If you draw upon your own experiences and emotions when relating to other characters on stage or set, then you will be able to create some truly convincing performances. By doing so, you will also encourage your audience to dig deep and get in touch with their own emotions. Audiences understand vulnerability. If you give them something that they can relate to, then this will allow them to make an intense connection with both the character and your performance.

 

The Challenges Of Being Yourself

Of course, it is not an easy process to bare your authentic self during your performances. We have all been conditioned not to show vulnerability as it is a sign of weakness. Peoples past experiences will vary but generally speaking cultural or familial conditioning provides us with personal inhibitions. Being yourself is something that most of us find hard or even unacceptable when it involves freely displaying certain sets of emotions in public.

Luckily, the Method utilises a tried and tested process which removes these restrictions in behaviour and takes away an actor’s social mask. This allows the true self to shine through.

 

Character Development

Of course, we don’t just possess one true self. In fact, we all have several versions of our character which are based on various events and experiences that we have faced. This is an asset when it comes to acting as it allows you to play around with the creation of a character until you feel that you’ve found his or her personality. If you feel that the role requires you to be jealous, then remember a time when you were overwhelmed with this unpleasant emotion. The Method will teach you to recall these feelings and sensations based on past experiences and then be able to express them without fear in your performances. However, it is important to keep an open mind when developing a character. Don’t rush in and assume that you know how they would respond in a particular situation. Instead, keep searching your own self to find new ways to play the character. This organic way of letting a character evolve both emotionally and physically from your own set of background experiences will allow you to merge seamlessly into the role.

If you’d like to learn more about how to create truly believable characters and deliver utterly compelling performances that your audience can relate to, then consider taking some Method Acting training. Our 3 day ‘Introduction to Method Acting Bootcamp’ will throw you in at the deep end. You will take part in exercises that utilise the sense in order to activate your own personal memories and connect with a character at a deep psychological level. If you’d like to learn how to create fully believable characters, then apply for our next bootcamp today.

Building_Your_Acting_CV

 

For actors, a great CV is just as important as it is for any other profession. Your CV (or ‘resume’ for our American friends) should show off your skills and experience and is a key tool for landing auditions. Knowing what agents and casting directors are looking for can help you recognise the assets you already have and point you in the direction of any gaps you need to fill. That way you can soon have a CV that will start opening doors and help you take your first steps into a professional acting career.

 

Acting training

A list of acting training on your CV instantly shows people they aren’t dealing with a total amateur who doesn’t even know the basics. It also shows you’ve committed time and money to making this your career and are not just applying for roles on a whim and therefore likely to end up wasting their time.

Whether you take a short course, evening classes or a more in-depth programme of study, acting classes will make you a better actor, boost your confidence and give you the chance to network with other aspiring actors.

 

Acting experience

If you’re just starting out, you might not have much (or anything) in the way of professional experience to put on your CV. However, chances are you already have a fair bit of “in training” professional experience.

This shows that you have trained professionally and are serious about acting as a business.  The experience of the roles played whilst training helps convince people you’re worth giving a shot.

If you haven’t got any of this type of experience yet, then you really do need to get out there and get some as soon as possible!

 

Headshots

One key difference between an actor’s CV and any other kind of CV is that potential employers need to know how you look. This doesn’t mean you have to have “movie star good looks” but the way you look will have an impact on the type of roles you are likely to be offered.

It is therefore absolutely vital to include a full set of professional-quality head shots with your CV. There are a lot of dos and don’ts for actors’ head shots, but they key thing is that they need to be taken by a professional who specialises in head shots (not your mate on their iPhone) and they need to actually look like you.

 

Showreels

One thing that will instantly make you stand out is including a showreel. This is a video showcasing the highlights of your acting career so far. Screenwriter and director Daniel Johnson specialises in creating showreels for actors and defines the role of a showreel as:

 

“to show the actor acting well in as many ways as I possibly can, in the shortest amount of time.”

 

If you can put together a well-filmed, well-edited showreel that highlights some of your best acting, it will show casting directors and agents exactly what you have to offer and leave nothing up to their imagination. Aim for around 1-3 minutes made-up of clips of your very best work to instantly jump to the front of the pack.

 

CV distribution

You will usually have two main targets for your CV – agencies and casting directors. In both cases it’s important to understand that each agent and casting director is different. They will usually handle different kinds of actors and projects and each is likely to have their own preferred ways of being contacted. Increasingly people prefer being contacted by email and may see phone calls as a nuisance.

Do your research and make sure you are approaching only people relevant to your skills and the kind of roles you are interested in. Make clear in your cover letter why you have targeted this person specifically so they do not think you are just spamming everyone in town. Remember too that getting a response is often about timing as much as anything, so if you haven’t heard back after a couple of weeks it is always worth sending a follow-up email.

 

Don’t forget your CV basics

An actor’s CV is just like any other kind of CV in that presentation matters almost as much as content. A badly formatted CV looks unprofessional and there’s a good chance it will simply end up in the bin without being read.

There’s a whole host of advice out there about the best ways to format your CV but the basics are fairly easy to get your head around.

 

Learn to navigate the business of acting

Understanding the business side of acting is crucial to build a successful acting career. Putting together a professional-quality acting CV is just one of the skills you will need to make you stand out from the crowd and start getting paid acting work.

Our Ultimate Acting Programme is not only the UK’s top method acting course, it also includes a full career-support package covering everything from CV writing to providing you with a set of professional head shots. To find out more, including dates for our next round of auditions for the Ultimate Acting Programme, please get in touch.

Building_Your_Acting_CV

 

For actors, a great CV is just as important as it is for any other profession. Your CV (or ‘resume’ for our American friends) should show off your skills and experience and is a key tool for landing auditions. Knowing what agents and casting directors are looking for can help you recognise the assets you already have and point you in the direction of any gaps you need to fill. That way you can soon have a CV that will start opening doors and help you take your first steps into a professional acting career.

 

Acting training

A list of acting training on your CV instantly shows people they aren’t dealing with a total amateur who doesn’t even know the basics. It also shows you’ve committed time and money to making this your career and are not just applying for roles on a whim and therefore likely to end up wasting their time.

Whether you take a short course, evening classes or a more in-depth programme of study, acting classes will make you a better actor, boost your confidence and give you the chance to network with other aspiring actors.

 

Acting experience

If you’re just starting out, you might not have much (or anything) in the way of professional experience to put on your CV. However, chances are you already have a fair bit of “in training” professional experience.

This shows that you have trained professionally and are serious about acting as a business.  The experience of the roles played whilst training helps convince people you’re worth giving a shot.

If you haven’t got any of this type of experience yet, then you really do need to get out there and get some as soon as possible!

 

Headshots

One key difference between an actor’s CV and any other kind of CV is that potential employers need to know how you look. This doesn’t mean you have to have “movie star good looks” but the way you look will have an impact on the type of roles you are likely to be offered.

It is therefore absolutely vital to include a full set of professional-quality head shots with your CV. There are a lot of dos and don’ts for actors’ head shots, but they key thing is that they need to be taken by a professional who specialises in head shots (not your mate on their iPhone) and they need to actually look like you.

 

Showreels

One thing that will instantly make you stand out is including a showreel. This is a video showcasing the highlights of your acting career so far. Screenwriter and director Daniel Johnson specialises in creating showreels for actors and defines the role of a showreel as:

 

“to show the actor acting well in as many ways as I possibly can, in the shortest amount of time.”

 

If you can put together a well-filmed, well-edited showreel that highlights some of your best acting, it will show casting directors and agents exactly what you have to offer and leave nothing up to their imagination. Aim for around 1-3 minutes made-up of clips of your very best work to instantly jump to the front of the pack.

 

CV distribution

You will usually have two main targets for your CV – agencies and casting directors. In both cases it’s important to understand that each agent and casting director is different. They will usually handle different kinds of actors and projects and each is likely to have their own preferred ways of being contacted. Increasingly people prefer being contacted by email and may see phone calls as a nuisance.

Do your research and make sure you are approaching only people relevant to your skills and the kind of roles you are interested in. Make clear in your cover letter why you have targeted this person specifically so they do not think you are just spamming everyone in town. Remember too that getting a response is often about timing as much as anything, so if you haven’t heard back after a couple of weeks it is always worth sending a follow-up email.

 

Don’t forget your CV basics

An actor’s CV is just like any other kind of CV in that presentation matters almost as much as content. A badly formatted CV looks unprofessional and there’s a good chance it will simply end up in the bin without being read.

There’s a whole host of advice out there about the best ways to format your CV but the basics are fairly easy to get your head around.

 

Learn to navigate the business of acting

Understanding the business side of acting is crucial to build a successful acting career. Putting together a professional-quality acting CV is just one of the skills you will need to make you stand out from the crowd and start getting paid acting work.

Our Ultimate Acting Programme is not only the UK’s top method acting course, it also includes a full career-support package covering everything from CV writing to providing you with a set of professional head shots. To find out more, including dates for our next round of auditions for the Ultimate Acting Programme, please get in touch.

Building_Your_Acting_CV

 

For actors, a great CV is just as important as it is for any other profession. Your CV (or ‘resume’ for our American friends) should show off your skills and experience and is a key tool for landing auditions. Knowing what agents and casting directors are looking for can help you recognise the assets you already have and point you in the direction of any gaps you need to fill. That way you can soon have a CV that will start opening doors and help you take your first steps into a professional acting career.

 

Acting training

A list of acting training on your CV instantly shows people they aren’t dealing with a total amateur who doesn’t even know the basics. It also shows you’ve committed time and money to making this your career and are not just applying for roles on a whim and therefore likely to end up wasting their time.

Whether you take a short course, evening classes or a more in-depth programme of study, acting classes will make you a better actor, boost your confidence and give you the chance to network with other aspiring actors.

 

Acting experience

If you’re just starting out, you might not have much (or anything) in the way of professional experience to put on your CV. However, chances are you already have a fair bit of “in training” professional experience.

This shows that you have trained professionally and are serious about acting as a business.  The experience of the roles played whilst training helps convince people you’re worth giving a shot.

If you haven’t got any of this type of experience yet, then you really do need to get out there and get some as soon as possible!

 

Headshots

One key difference between an actor’s CV and any other kind of CV is that potential employers need to know how you look. This doesn’t mean you have to have “movie star good looks” but the way you look will have an impact on the type of roles you are likely to be offered.

It is therefore absolutely vital to include a full set of professional-quality head shots with your CV. There are a lot of dos and don’ts for actors’ head shots, but they key thing is that they need to be taken by a professional who specialises in head shots (not your mate on their iPhone) and they need to actually look like you.

 

Showreels

One thing that will instantly make you stand out is including a showreel. This is a video showcasing the highlights of your acting career so far. Screenwriter and director Daniel Johnson specialises in creating showreels for actors and defines the role of a showreel as:

 

“to show the actor acting well in as many ways as I possibly can, in the shortest amount of time.”

 

If you can put together a well-filmed, well-edited showreel that highlights some of your best acting, it will show casting directors and agents exactly what you have to offer and leave nothing up to their imagination. Aim for around 1-3 minutes made-up of clips of your very best work to instantly jump to the front of the pack.

 

CV distribution

You will usually have two main targets for your CV – agencies and casting directors. In both cases it’s important to understand that each agent and casting director is different. They will usually handle different kinds of actors and projects and each is likely to have their own preferred ways of being contacted. Increasingly people prefer being contacted by email and may see phone calls as a nuisance.

Do your research and make sure you are approaching only people relevant to your skills and the kind of roles you are interested in. Make clear in your cover letter why you have targeted this person specifically so they do not think you are just spamming everyone in town. Remember too that getting a response is often about timing as much as anything, so if you haven’t heard back after a couple of weeks it is always worth sending a follow-up email.

 

Don’t forget your CV basics

An actor’s CV is just like any other kind of CV in that presentation matters almost as much as content. A badly formatted CV looks unprofessional and there’s a good chance it will simply end up in the bin without being read.

There’s a whole host of advice out there about the best ways to format your CV but the basics are fairly easy to get your head around.

 

Learn to navigate the business of acting

Understanding the business side of acting is crucial to build a successful acting career. Putting together a professional-quality acting CV is just one of the skills you will need to make you stand out from the crowd and start getting paid acting work.

Our Ultimate Acting Programme is not only the UK’s top method acting course, it also includes a full career-support package covering everything from CV writing to providing you with a set of professional head shots. To find out more, including dates for our next round of auditions for the Ultimate Acting Programme, please get in touch.

Building_Your_Acting_CV

 

For actors, a great CV is just as important as it is for any other profession. Your CV (or ‘resume’ for our American friends) should show off your skills and experience and is a key tool for landing auditions. Knowing what agents and casting directors are looking for can help you recognise the assets you already have and point you in the direction of any gaps you need to fill. That way you can soon have a CV that will start opening doors and help you take your first steps into a professional acting career.

 

Acting training

A list of acting training on your CV instantly shows people they aren’t dealing with a total amateur who doesn’t even know the basics. It also shows you’ve committed time and money to making this your career and are not just applying for roles on a whim and therefore likely to end up wasting their time.

Whether you take a short course, evening classes or a more in-depth programme of study, acting classes will make you a better actor, boost your confidence and give you the chance to network with other aspiring actors.

 

Acting experience

If you’re just starting out, you might not have much (or anything) in the way of professional experience to put on your CV. However, chances are you already have a fair bit of “in training” professional experience.

This shows that you have trained professionally and are serious about acting as a business.  The experience of the roles played whilst training helps convince people you’re worth giving a shot.

If you haven’t got any of this type of experience yet, then you really do need to get out there and get some as soon as possible!

 

Headshots

One key difference between an actor’s CV and any other kind of CV is that potential employers need to know how you look. This doesn’t mean you have to have “movie star good looks” but the way you look will have an impact on the type of roles you are likely to be offered.

It is therefore absolutely vital to include a full set of professional-quality head shots with your CV. There are a lot of dos and don’ts for actors’ head shots, but they key thing is that they need to be taken by a professional who specialises in head shots (not your mate on their iPhone) and they need to actually look like you.

 

Showreels

One thing that will instantly make you stand out is including a showreel. This is a video showcasing the highlights of your acting career so far. Screenwriter and director Daniel Johnson specialises in creating showreels for actors and defines the role of a showreel as:

 

“to show the actor acting well in as many ways as I possibly can, in the shortest amount of time.”

 

If you can put together a well-filmed, well-edited showreel that highlights some of your best acting, it will show casting directors and agents exactly what you have to offer and leave nothing up to their imagination. Aim for around 1-3 minutes made-up of clips of your very best work to instantly jump to the front of the pack.

 

CV distribution

You will usually have two main targets for your CV – agencies and casting directors. In both cases it’s important to understand that each agent and casting director is different. They will usually handle different kinds of actors and projects and each is likely to have their own preferred ways of being contacted. Increasingly people prefer being contacted by email and may see phone calls as a nuisance.

Do your research and make sure you are approaching only people relevant to your skills and the kind of roles you are interested in. Make clear in your cover letter why you have targeted this person specifically so they do not think you are just spamming everyone in town. Remember too that getting a response is often about timing as much as anything, so if you haven’t heard back after a couple of weeks it is always worth sending a follow-up email.

 

Don’t forget your CV basics

An actor’s CV is just like any other kind of CV in that presentation matters almost as much as content. A badly formatted CV looks unprofessional and there’s a good chance it will simply end up in the bin without being read.

There’s a whole host of advice out there about the best ways to format your CV but the basics are fairly easy to get your head around.

 

Learn to navigate the business of acting

Understanding the business side of acting is crucial to build a successful acting career. Putting together a professional-quality acting CV is just one of the skills you will need to make you stand out from the crowd and start getting paid acting work.

Our Ultimate Acting Programme is not only the UK’s top method acting course, it also includes a full career-support package covering everything from CV writing to providing you with a set of professional head shots. To find out more, including dates for our next round of auditions for the Ultimate Acting Programme, please get in touch.

art of acting

 

You might be surprised to learn that I’m a fan of Master Po from the 1970s TV series Kung Fu. He doesn’t just teach his students martial arts; he’s also produced some brilliant pearls of wisdom in his time.

Master Po often puts emphasis on the importance of truth and self-acceptance in all walks of life. Nowhere is this more relevant than in the art of acting.

 

“Grasshopper, be yourself and never fear thus to be naked to the eyes of others.”

 

This advice can be applied in hundreds of situations – “be yourself” is one of the most oft-repeated mantras of any motivational poster. In acting, however, “being yourself” is not just self-empowerment; it empowers you to be other people, too.

The final, most extreme stage of embracing yourself and your truth is wearing it on your sleeve – on a stage, no less! This is what the best actors are doing whenever they perform.

Being able to portray all the depths of human experience – pain, anger, fear, joy, surprise, and all the other millions of stages in between – is easier done when you are comfortable feeling them in front of others.

In this way, “being yourself” means being unafraid of your innermost feelings. Only then can you be unafraid of inhabiting your character’s truth.

Using the Method, we encourage actors to find and reveal their true selves; to tap their own emotional resources in order to uncover the depths of their role.

 

My Personal Experience

Your truth can be momentary, a week long, or last your entire life; a person has many feelings and thus many truths. I had an interesting experience years ago, when I let my feelings shine through during an audition.

I was auditioning for the part of a police inspector. The actor playing my suspect noticed that I missed a line, and she stopped the scene to inform the director. This is not common practice, so I was angry.

I took a moment before we began again and asked myself: “where am I right now?” I was genuinely angry, and so I expressed that in the scene.

All agreed it really felt like I was interrogating the suspect!

 

Speak Out

“Yet, know that man so often masks himself. That what is simple is rarely understood.”

 

People often mask their feelings in order to function in the “normal” world. Actors must not do this. The job of an actor is to uncover emotion in a scene or a character, and this is impossible is they’re wearing a mask. An actor must be comfortable in their skin – able to reveal their true self – in order to comfortably portray another person’s truth

There is an improvisation technique particular to method acting that we call “speaking out“. In this technique, actors feeling interference in the scene are encouraged to speak their problem into it. The aim of “speaking out” is to help an actor move past a lapse in concentration.

For example, if there is an underlying problem between scene partners, or if the actor has anxiety about the scene, they would turn that problem into a small divergence from the script: “why do you make things so difficult?” Their partner would “speak out” back – “I’m sorry, it’s not personal” – and then both partners would return to the set script, taking their new and improved truth with them.

So we see the actor taking a moment and taking off their mask. The actor is now grounded: they can own their emotions and carry them with purpose into the scene. This improves relationships and the performance as a whole.

Master Po’s second observation – “what is simple is rarely understood” – is also solved by the use of speaking out. Verbalising problems makes you, your partner, and everyone else aware that there is an issue, and enables everyone to understand and deal with it. Speaking out, then, helps others to appreciate your truth as well as you.

Of course, in a real performance this technique is not encouraged! However, you can turn your “speaking out” into an inner monologue that fuels your understanding of the scene and yourself.

 

Preparation

“What you read in the book is only the merest education of what you do when you enact the part”.

 

All good acting teachers will tell you that scripts are useful but preparation is much more important. Coming into the scene with your emotional reserves tapped, and your characterisation complete is more important than simply remembering lines. Knowing your truth is vital to these kinds of preparation.

One of the most important things for an actor is to come into a scene emotionally prepared. If you don’t, you’re doing what’s called going into a scene “empty”. Emotionally preparing doesn’t have to be so hard; it’s as simple as drawing on your truth.

Strasberg believes that your truth should be real life memories, and Meisner says the imagination can be just as – if not more – powerful. All that matters is you draw on the emotions that are most present in your mind. Everyone is different, and truth is often subjective; but in acting it’s always relevant. Take your “moment of truth,” so to speak, and go into the scene owning it.

Vulnerability

“The dust of truth swirls and seeks its own cracks of entry.”

 

As Master Po says, truth finds a way in. Honesty with oneself and expressing your truth to others – in public, no less! – can be the most frightening thing in the world. You might feel vulnerable.

In many professions, “vulnerability” is considered a weakness. Not so in acting. In performance, a character must be able to reveal their most personal, intimate sides: their motivations, fears, secrets, and habits. This is the true art of acting.

Being vulnerable, then, is a sign of strength in an actor. If you’re vulnerable and open about your truth, then you are free to share in a scene’s emotions and relate to the inner struggles of a character.

You can try to squash your truth, and sew your mask on tighter than ever, or you can take control of your truth and wield it as an acting tool.

To get the most out of your actor’s toolbox, we offer short-term courses in refining new techniques as well as our famous Ultimate Acting Programme. Is your truth ready for the stage?

A-Guide-to-Getting-your-First-Acting-Job

 

Getting your first paid acting job can seem impossible when you’re new to the industry, but remember, every successful actor was once in exactly the same position as you.

Learning how to be a great actor is, of course, the first thing you need to do if you want to break into the industry, but there are lots of other things you can do to increase your chances of getting that first break.

Understanding what agents, casting directors and other gatekeeper of the profession are looking for is vital. It allows you to present yourself as a professional actor. Master the following and it’s only a matter of application, perseverance and time before you get your first professional acting job.

 

Headshots

Acting is a profession where how you look matters. This isn’t to say you need to be beautiful to be an actor, but the way you look will strongly influence the types of acting jobs you are offered. Head shots are usually the first thing a casting director will look at when deciding whether they might potentially use you for a role.

Without a set of professional quality head shots you are unlikely to even be considered for acting job. The key thing is to make sure the head shots are taken by an experienced professional and that they actually look like you! It’s no good using photos from 10 years ago or that are heavily photoshopped. Even if you do get an audition you won’t get the part if you don’t look like the person the casting director thought they were meeting!

 

Your Acting Resume / CV

An actor’s resume CV isn’t quite like a regular CV. It’s all about highlighting your acting experience relevant to the role you are applying for, not just listing your most recent jobs.

As a newbie to the industry, you obviously won’t have any professional credits yet, but you should hopefully have plenty of experience to talk about. Writing a great actor’s CV with a list of the roles you’ve played in drama school and the acting training you’ve undertaken can help prove you are serious about acting and have the skills to be worth auditioning.

 

Show Reels

A show reel is a professional actor’s ultimate weapon as it leaves nothing to a casting director’s imagination. It shows them exactly what you can do, so they can see straight away that they are dealing with a real actor who is worth their time.

Your show reel needs to be a high quality recording that demonstrates the true range of your acting abilities. Knowing what to put in an acting show reel can be tricky which is why it’s important to get professional advice wherever possible.

Many people making their first steps into the professional acting world won’t have a show reel yet, so if you can put one together it can be a big advantage. This is one of the reasons we include a high quality show reel as part of our Ultimate Acting Programme as it gives our students yet another head start over the competition!

 

Finding an agent

Hollywood legend Bill Murray famously doesn’t have an agent, but that’s because he spent years getting to a place where he is so in demand, he can get away with it. For the rest of us, and especially people new to the profession, having an agent does two vital things.

First, assuming you’ve found a good agent, they will know the game inside and out and be able to guide you to success much more easily and effectively that you could yourself. They will be able to get you into auditions and connect you with people you otherwise would never have had access to, making it much quicker for you to start getting auditions.

Second, having an agent shows you’ve already convinced an industry player that you have the necessary skills to make it. This in turn makes you more attractive to other people in the business and makes you seem like less of a risk.

 

Self-promotion

Even if you have an agent, understand that you will still need to be an expert at self-promotion to succeed in this business. These days, you can do a lot of the hard work from the comfort of your own home by maximising your online presence.

Make yourself a website using a popular, easy-to-use platform such as WordPress and get your head shots, CV and show reel up there. This gives you something to link people to online where they can quickly see what you have to offer. A professional-looking website is also increasingly seen as a sign that you are serious about your chosen career.

Once you have your site, make sure to promote it on social media and use it as a point of reference when contacting agents, casting directors and other people you want to work with.

 

Networking

Promoting yourself online is important, but you definitely shouldn’t overlook connecting with people face-to-face. The old adage “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” is still around for a reason – there is some truth to it.

Of course, the reality is that it’s both what you know and who you know, as all the contacts in the world won’t get you acting jobs if you can’t actually act. But assuming you already have the skills, it’s a good idea to know the right people and make sure they’re aware of what you can do and the kind of work your looking for.

Learning how to network as an actor takes time. Make sure you start going to the right kinds of events, including local theatre festivals, launch nights and actors’ groups and you can soon start to make useful connections. Remember, other actors aren’t always rivals, they can be useful contacts who can pass on opportunities and put in a good word for you.

 

Ace Your Auditions

There are so many tips and tricks about how to ace an audition out there it can be overwhelming. This is why audition technique is a key part of our professional development package. It’s not just about what to do once you get in front of an audition panel though, you also need to know which kinds of auditions to go for.

When putting yourself out there, you have to understand where you fit. Be realistic about the kind of roles people are actually likely to cast you in and don’t expect to be playing the lead in a West End show straight out of the gate. Apply for roles that suit your age, look and level of experience and you’ll make it much more likely to get that first job you can begin to build on.

 

Dealing with rejection

There’s no getting away from it – being an actor means learning to deal with a lot of rejection. Remember, even really successful actors often spend significantly more time auditioning than they actually do acting.

You need to be prepared to accept rejection calmly and professionally and always remember to thank people for the opportunity. Throw a tantrum or try to argue your case after a casting director has already made their decision and they’re likely to remember you for all the wrong reasons. If you want that casting director to give you another shot in future auditions, make sure you leave them thinking of you as a polite professional.

 

Professionalism

Giving off a professional impression needs to be on your mind at all times when looking for work. This covers everything, from making sure your head shots, CV and show reel look the part, to your conduct at every stage of the audition process.

Pay attention to the basics, like turning up on time, learning your lines, looking appropriate for the role and knowing people’s names and that will speak volumes. People want to know that you will act like a professional if they give you the job, so don’t underestimate the importance of making the right impression from the beginning.

 

Learn how to become a professional actor in 1 year

There are two things you need to be a professional acting – the ability to act to a high standard and the business knowhow to take those skills into the industry and get work. On our 1-Year Ultimate Acting Programme we teach you both sets of skills, meaning you won’t just know how to act like a pro, you’ll also know how to find and win the acting jobs you need to turn your dream into a reality.

Our programme also includes a career development support package that will set you up with everything you need to start winning roles, including head shots, an actor’s CV and a professional quality show reel.

The 2016-17 Ultimate Acting Programme starts in October and the deadline for applications is 8th June for auctions on 15th June. To find out more please take a look around the rest of the site or feel free to get in touch.

A-Guide-to-Getting-your-First-Acting-Job

 

Getting your first paid acting job can seem impossible when you’re new to the industry, but remember, every successful actor was once in exactly the same position as you.

Learning how to be a great actor is, of course, the first thing you need to do if you want to break into the industry, but there are lots of other things you can do to increase your chances of getting that first break.

Understanding what agents, casting directors and other gatekeeper of the profession are looking for is vital. It allows you to present yourself as a professional actor. Master the following and it’s only a matter of application, perseverance and time before you get your first professional acting job.

 

Headshots

Acting is a profession where how you look matters. This isn’t to say you need to be beautiful to be an actor, but the way you look will strongly influence the types of acting jobs you are offered. Head shots are usually the first thing a casting director will look at when deciding whether they might potentially use you for a role.

Without a set of professional quality head shots you are unlikely to even be considered for acting job. The key thing is to make sure the head shots are taken by an experienced professional and that they actually look like you! It’s no good using photos from 10 years ago or that are heavily photoshopped. Even if you do get an audition you won’t get the part if you don’t look like the person the casting director thought they were meeting!

 

Your Acting Resume / CV

An actor’s resume CV isn’t quite like a regular CV. It’s all about highlighting your acting experience relevant to the role you are applying for, not just listing your most recent jobs.

As a newbie to the industry, you obviously won’t have any professional credits yet, but you should hopefully have plenty of experience to talk about. Writing a great actor’s CV with a list of the roles you’ve played in drama school and the acting training you’ve undertaken can help prove you are serious about acting and have the skills to be worth auditioning.

 

Show Reels

A show reel is a professional actor’s ultimate weapon as it leaves nothing to a casting director’s imagination. It shows them exactly what you can do, so they can see straight away that they are dealing with a real actor who is worth their time.

Your show reel needs to be a high quality recording that demonstrates the true range of your acting abilities. Knowing what to put in an acting show reel can be tricky which is why it’s important to get professional advice wherever possible.

Many people making their first steps into the professional acting world won’t have a show reel yet, so if you can put one together it can be a big advantage. This is one of the reasons we include a high quality show reel as part of our Ultimate Acting Programme as it gives our students yet another head start over the competition!

 

Finding an agent

Hollywood legend Bill Murray famously doesn’t have an agent, but that’s because he spent years getting to a place where he is so in demand, he can get away with it. For the rest of us, and especially people new to the profession, having an agent does two vital things.

First, assuming you’ve found a good agent, they will know the game inside and out and be able to guide you to success much more easily and effectively that you could yourself. They will be able to get you into auditions and connect you with people you otherwise would never have had access to, making it much quicker for you to start getting auditions.

Second, having an agent shows you’ve already convinced an industry player that you have the necessary skills to make it. This in turn makes you more attractive to other people in the business and makes you seem like less of a risk.

 

Self-promotion

Even if you have an agent, understand that you will still need to be an expert at self-promotion to succeed in this business. These days, you can do a lot of the hard work from the comfort of your own home by maximising your online presence.

Make yourself a website using a popular, easy-to-use platform such as WordPress and get your head shots, CV and show reel up there. This gives you something to link people to online where they can quickly see what you have to offer. A professional-looking website is also increasingly seen as a sign that you are serious about your chosen career.

Once you have your site, make sure to promote it on social media and use it as a point of reference when contacting agents, casting directors and other people you want to work with.

 

Networking

Promoting yourself online is important, but you definitely shouldn’t overlook connecting with people face-to-face. The old adage “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” is still around for a reason – there is some truth to it.

Of course, the reality is that it’s both what you know and who you know, as all the contacts in the world won’t get you acting jobs if you can’t actually act. But assuming you already have the skills, it’s a good idea to know the right people and make sure they’re aware of what you can do and the kind of work your looking for.

Learning how to network as an actor takes time. Make sure you start going to the right kinds of events, including local theatre festivals, launch nights and actors’ groups and you can soon start to make useful connections. Remember, other actors aren’t always rivals, they can be useful contacts who can pass on opportunities and put in a good word for you.

 

Ace Your Auditions

There are so many tips and tricks about how to ace an audition out there it can be overwhelming. This is why audition technique is a key part of our professional development package. It’s not just about what to do once you get in front of an audition panel though, you also need to know which kinds of auditions to go for.

When putting yourself out there, you have to understand where you fit. Be realistic about the kind of roles people are actually likely to cast you in and don’t expect to be playing the lead in a West End show straight out of the gate. Apply for roles that suit your age, look and level of experience and you’ll make it much more likely to get that first job you can begin to build on.

 

Dealing with rejection

There’s no getting away from it – being an actor means learning to deal with a lot of rejection. Remember, even really successful actors often spend significantly more time auditioning than they actually do acting.

You need to be prepared to accept rejection calmly and professionally and always remember to thank people for the opportunity. Throw a tantrum or try to argue your case after a casting director has already made their decision and they’re likely to remember you for all the wrong reasons. If you want that casting director to give you another shot in future auditions, make sure you leave them thinking of you as a polite professional.

 

Professionalism

Giving off a professional impression needs to be on your mind at all times when looking for work. This covers everything, from making sure your head shots, CV and show reel look the part, to your conduct at every stage of the audition process.

Pay attention to the basics, like turning up on time, learning your lines, looking appropriate for the role and knowing people’s names and that will speak volumes. People want to know that you will act like a professional if they give you the job, so don’t underestimate the importance of making the right impression from the beginning.

 

Learn how to become a professional actor in 1 year

There are two things you need to be a professional acting – the ability to act to a high standard and the business knowhow to take those skills into the industry and get work. On our 1-Year Ultimate Acting Programme we teach you both sets of skills, meaning you won’t just know how to act like a pro, you’ll also know how to find and win the acting jobs you need to turn your dream into a reality.

Our programme also includes a career development support package that will set you up with everything you need to start winning roles, including head shots, an actor’s CV and a professional quality show reel.

The 2016-17 Ultimate Acting Programme starts in October and the deadline for applications is 8th June for auctions on 15th June. To find out more please take a look around the rest of the site or feel free to get in touch.

A-Guide-to-Getting-your-First-Acting-Job

 

Getting your first paid acting job can seem impossible when you’re new to the industry, but remember, every successful actor was once in exactly the same position as you.

Learning how to be a great actor is, of course, the first thing you need to do if you want to break into the industry, but there are lots of other things you can do to increase your chances of getting that first break.

Understanding what agents, casting directors and other gatekeeper of the profession are looking for is vital. It allows you to present yourself as a professional actor. Master the following and it’s only a matter of application, perseverance and time before you get your first professional acting job.

 

Headshots

Acting is a profession where how you look matters. This isn’t to say you need to be beautiful to be an actor, but the way you look will strongly influence the types of acting jobs you are offered. Head shots are usually the first thing a casting director will look at when deciding whether they might potentially use you for a role.

Without a set of professional quality head shots you are unlikely to even be considered for acting job. The key thing is to make sure the head shots are taken by an experienced professional and that they actually look like you! It’s no good using photos from 10 years ago or that are heavily photoshopped. Even if you do get an audition you won’t get the part if you don’t look like the person the casting director thought they were meeting!

 

Your Acting Resume / CV

An actor’s resume CV isn’t quite like a regular CV. It’s all about highlighting your acting experience relevant to the role you are applying for, not just listing your most recent jobs.

As a newbie to the industry, you obviously won’t have any professional credits yet, but you should hopefully have plenty of experience to talk about. Writing a great actor’s CV with a list of the roles you’ve played in drama school and the acting training you’ve undertaken can help prove you are serious about acting and have the skills to be worth auditioning.

 

Show Reels

A show reel is a professional actor’s ultimate weapon as it leaves nothing to a casting director’s imagination. It shows them exactly what you can do, so they can see straight away that they are dealing with a real actor who is worth their time.

Your show reel needs to be a high quality recording that demonstrates the true range of your acting abilities. Knowing what to put in an acting show reel can be tricky which is why it’s important to get professional advice wherever possible.

Many people making their first steps into the professional acting world won’t have a show reel yet, so if you can put one together it can be a big advantage. This is one of the reasons we include a high quality show reel as part of our Ultimate Acting Programme as it gives our students yet another head start over the competition!

 

Finding an agent

Hollywood legend Bill Murray famously doesn’t have an agent, but that’s because he spent years getting to a place where he is so in demand, he can get away with it. For the rest of us, and especially people new to the profession, having an agent does two vital things.

First, assuming you’ve found a good agent, they will know the game inside and out and be able to guide you to success much more easily and effectively that you could yourself. They will be able to get you into auditions and connect you with people you otherwise would never have had access to, making it much quicker for you to start getting auditions.

Second, having an agent shows you’ve already convinced an industry player that you have the necessary skills to make it. This in turn makes you more attractive to other people in the business and makes you seem like less of a risk.

 

Self-promotion

Even if you have an agent, understand that you will still need to be an expert at self-promotion to succeed in this business. These days, you can do a lot of the hard work from the comfort of your own home by maximising your online presence.

Make yourself a website using a popular, easy-to-use platform such as WordPress and get your head shots, CV and show reel up there. This gives you something to link people to online where they can quickly see what you have to offer. A professional-looking website is also increasingly seen as a sign that you are serious about your chosen career.

Once you have your site, make sure to promote it on social media and use it as a point of reference when contacting agents, casting directors and other people you want to work with.

 

Networking

Promoting yourself online is important, but you definitely shouldn’t overlook connecting with people face-to-face. The old adage “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” is still around for a reason – there is some truth to it.

Of course, the reality is that it’s both what you know and who you know, as all the contacts in the world won’t get you acting jobs if you can’t actually act. But assuming you already have the skills, it’s a good idea to know the right people and make sure they’re aware of what you can do and the kind of work your looking for.

Learning how to network as an actor takes time. Make sure you start going to the right kinds of events, including local theatre festivals, launch nights and actors’ groups and you can soon start to make useful connections. Remember, other actors aren’t always rivals, they can be useful contacts who can pass on opportunities and put in a good word for you.

 

Ace Your Auditions

There are so many tips and tricks about how to ace an audition out there it can be overwhelming. This is why audition technique is a key part of our professional development package. It’s not just about what to do once you get in front of an audition panel though, you also need to know which kinds of auditions to go for.

When putting yourself out there, you have to understand where you fit. Be realistic about the kind of roles people are actually likely to cast you in and don’t expect to be playing the lead in a West End show straight out of the gate. Apply for roles that suit your age, look and level of experience and you’ll make it much more likely to get that first job you can begin to build on.

 

Dealing with rejection

There’s no getting away from it – being an actor means learning to deal with a lot of rejection. Remember, even really successful actors often spend significantly more time auditioning than they actually do acting.

You need to be prepared to accept rejection calmly and professionally and always remember to thank people for the opportunity. Throw a tantrum or try to argue your case after a casting director has already made their decision and they’re likely to remember you for all the wrong reasons. If you want that casting director to give you another shot in future auditions, make sure you leave them thinking of you as a polite professional.

 

Professionalism

Giving off a professional impression needs to be on your mind at all times when looking for work. This covers everything, from making sure your head shots, CV and show reel look the part, to your conduct at every stage of the audition process.

Pay attention to the basics, like turning up on time, learning your lines, looking appropriate for the role and knowing people’s names and that will speak volumes. People want to know that you will act like a professional if they give you the job, so don’t underestimate the importance of making the right impression from the beginning.

 

Learn how to become a professional actor in 1 year

There are two things you need to be a professional acting – the ability to act to a high standard and the business knowhow to take those skills into the industry and get work. On our 1-Year Ultimate Acting Programme we teach you both sets of skills, meaning you won’t just know how to act like a pro, you’ll also know how to find and win the acting jobs you need to turn your dream into a reality.

Our programme also includes a career development support package that will set you up with everything you need to start winning roles, including head shots, an actor’s CV and a professional quality show reel.

The 2016-17 Ultimate Acting Programme starts in October and the deadline for applications is 8th June for auctions on 15th June. To find out more please take a look around the rest of the site or feel free to get in touch.