3 replies to this topic

[Jonathan Parker]

An actor’s resume is quite literally, an ever-changing work of art. Well-crafted, it can open the doors you desire. Thrown together, incomplete, with misspelled words—or worse in this business—names, it can quickly become your ticket back to the sidewalk. Time is everything to busy casting directors. Don’t give anyone an excuse to throw your resume away before they at least see your headshot.

Your resume must represent you in the best possible light for a particular audition. Gone are the days when you could hire someone to type up a single resume that got you a job for life. This is particularly true for the acting profession. It is best to have your resume stored in your computer or on a disk you can use on a publicly accessed computer, like those at the library. This way, it is easy to store several different versions, and to update them as you do more work, spotlighting your experience based upon the audition you plan to attend.

Unlike other resumes, where every job you ever held must be included, it is best to pick and choose. For example, if you are auditioning for the theater, you will want to show that you had the lead in your high school musical. This is something you might want to put a bit farther down the page if you are trying for an industrial job.

Each resume follows the same basic form. Your name is either centered at the top or justified into the upper left corner, in 14 or 16 point Arial or Times New Roman typeface. Your name is in bold, but the remainder of the resume is printed in 11 or 12-point type, without boldface, except as noted. Do not change the type; settle on one or the other. This is not the place to be creative or different. If you use a script style or other fancy type of print, you will be circle-filed immediately. (That means tossed into the nearest trashcan.) Remember, if you are not professional here, you are giving them a reason to dismiss you before they have even seen you.

After your name, go to the next line and type your union affiliation and number (if applicable). The next line is for your email, contact address, and a phone number separate from your personal phone number if possible. Next, include your city of residence, but NOT your address, unless you have a P.O. Box. Having a separate box for your professional work is a good idea, but can be expensive when you are first starting. It can also be humbling as the weeks and months pass with nothing but cobwebs inside it.

Dave Rave
SAG #xxxxxxxxx
dave@actorsrock.com
(310) 555-5555
Los Angeles

Do not put your social security number on your resume. If you are hired, you will write it in the papers you have to sign. Nobody needs to see it until that time. This is for your safety.

Hair color, eye color, and height come next. Weight is only included if you are male, or a model, or if it is significantly more or less than average for your height. If you sing, you can add your vocal range.

This is where you can be more creative. You can choose to put this information under your city, in block form, or, if your resume is crowded, spread it out on a single line, like this:

Hair: blond Eyes: brown Height: 6’ 1” Weight: 160 lbs. Tattoo: ship on chest Voice: Baritone

You can bold the categories if you like, (see example above) or leave them, which is the norm.

Remember, if you have blond hair, you may be a blonde, but you do not put an “e” on the end. A blonde is a person. Blond is a hair color. In the same fashion, saying you are a brunette is a bad idea. Light brown, brown, and dark brown are the hair colors. If your hair is reddish brown, you should put auburn. These are the industry standards. Of course, now, everything is available, which is all the more reason to have a resume that can be easily changed if you are in the habit of having purple hair one week and pink or blue the next. Tattoos and piercings should also be listed.

After this personal information comes your acting experience.
Still using the 11 or 12-point type, bold each category in which you have experience. The usual order is film, television, commercial, theater, voice over, music video, concert, spokesperson, and modeling. If you haven’t done them, leave them off and move to the next category. It should look like this:

Film:
The Great Gopher Johnny Angela Tsugawa
Copper Pennies Alex Jones John Hartsman

Television:
Everybody Loves Me, 3:5 Joe the Plumber CBS

Commercial:
“Sweet Nothings” Guy in the pink boxers Eversweet Water

Voiceover:
Studebaker Young Studebaker PBS

Modeling:
Calendar Mr. March Reno Police Charity

After this you add your education, special skills, and awards:

Education:
Oxfords College BA Communication June 2002
Redcliffe University MA Theater May 2004

Skills:
Equestrian, specialty: jumping, Swimming/Diving, Trampoline, Snow Skiing (beginner) Water Skiing (expert), Rock Climbing, Juggling (4 items), Flying (wire), Roller Blader, Power Eater (22 hot dogs in 10 minutes)

Awards:
Guiness World Record, 1992, Pole Vault

You will notice the format is different. For film, you list the name of the film, then, the name of the character(s) you played, followed by the Director. In Television, you first list the name of the episode, followed by its number. 3:5 indicates the third season, episode five. Next is your character, and the network. You don’t need to include the dates in film or television, as these are easily found online if you have the titles correct, so the casting director can access your work.

Get into the habit of updating your resume each time you have a new role. If you have a lot to choose from, keep a separate list including all the information you have--names, dates and complete addresses. Even though the addresses are often used only for the shoot, it pays to keep an accurate record.

Never lie on your resume. You will be caught, and the results are not pretty. You may have heard some famous actor boast that he couldn’t swim, but lied to get a part, and taught himself overnight. Not worth it. Keeping track of lies is exhausting. You need your head clear and confident to make a good impression. Another word of caution; if you starred in a porno film, do not try out for Disney. Bad choices will follow you forever.
Don’t make them.

Now you are ready to print your resume. Don’t forget that standard paper is 8 ½” x 11”. You need to cut your resume to 8” x 10” to fit your headshot. Use good quality white paper. Once again, be professional. You may think neon green is cool and will get you noticed, but it will tag you as a beginner who doesn’t yet know the rules of the game, and you won’t get to play.

A cover letter is used only when submitting by mail. If you carry one into a live audition, don’t be surprised to have it crumpled up in front of you as the assistant shouts, “Next!”

At an audition you carry just two papers; your headshot, and your resume. Do not staple, paperclip, or put them into a plastic sheet protector. Also, don't have your resume printed on the back of your headshot. It seems like a great way to never have the two separated, but casting people hate to flip back and forth. Some will staple the headshot on top of the resume, but that is for them to decide, not you.

For more information about resumes you may visit our online entertainment community.

by Kjirstin Youngberg

[tmeminem]

jon, on Oct 3 2005, 10:17 PM, said:

An actor’s resume is quite literally, an ever-changing work of art. Well-crafted, it can open the doors you desire. Thrown together, incomplete, with misspelled words—or worse in this business—names, it can quickly become your ticket back to the sidewalk. Time is everything to busy casting directors. Don’t give anyone an excuse to throw your resume away before they at least see your headshot.

Your resume must represent you in the best possible light for a particular audition. Gone are the days when you could hire someone to type up a single resume that got you a job for life. This is particularly true for the acting profession. It is best to have your resume stored in your computer or on a disk you can use on a publicly accessed computer, like those at the library. This way, it is easy to store several different versions, and to update them as you do more work, spotlighting your experience based upon the audition you plan to attend.

Unlike other resumes, where every job you ever held must be included, it is best to pick and choose. For example, if you are auditioning for the theater, you will want to show that you had the lead in your high school musical. This is something you might want to put a bit farther down the page if you are trying for an industrial job.

Each resume follows the same basic form. Your name is either centered at the top or justified into the upper left corner, in 14 or 16 point Arial or Times New Roman typeface. Your name is in bold, but the remainder of the resume is printed in 11 or 12-point type, without boldface, except as noted. Do not change the type; settle on one or the other. This is not the place to be creative or different. If you use a script style or other fancy type of print, you will be circle-filed immediately. (That means tossed into the nearest trashcan.) Remember, if you are not professional here, you are giving them a reason to dismiss you before they have even seen you.

After your name, go to the next line and type your union affiliation and number (if applicable). The next line is for your email, contact address, and a phone number separate from your personal phone number if possible. Next, include your city of residence, but NOT your address, unless you have a P.O. Box. Having a separate box for your professional work is a good idea, but can be expensive when you are first starting. It can also be humbling as the weeks and months pass with nothing but cobwebs inside it.

Dave Rave
SAG #xxxxxxxxx
dave@actorsrock.com
(310) 555-5555
Los Angeles

Do not put your social security number on your resume. If you are hired, you will write it in the papers you have to sign. Nobody needs to see it until that time. This is for your safety.

Hair color, eye color, and height come next. Weight is only included if you are male, or a model, or if it is significantly more or less than average for your height. If you sing, you can add your vocal range.

This is where you can be more creative. You can choose to put this information under your city, in block form, or, if your resume is crowded, spread it out on a single line, like this:

Hair: blond Eyes: brown Height: 6’ 1” Weight: 160 lbs. Tattoo: ship on chest Voice: Baritone

You can bold the categories if you like, (see example above) or leave them, which is the norm.

Remember, if you have blond hair, you may be a blonde, but you do not put an “e” on the end. A blonde is a person. Blond is a hair color. In the same fashion, saying you are a brunette is a bad idea. Light brown, brown, and dark brown are the hair colors. If your hair is reddish brown, you should put auburn. These are the industry standards. Of course, now, everything is available, which is all the more reason to have a resume that can be easily changed if you are in the habit of having purple hair one week and pink or blue the next. Tattoos and piercings should also be listed.

After this personal information comes your acting experience.
Still using the 11 or 12-point type, bold each category in which you have experience. The usual order is film, television, commercial, theater, voice over, music video, concert, spokesperson, and modeling. If you haven’t done them, leave them off and move to the next category. It should look like this:

Film:
The Great Gopher Johnny Angela Tsugawa
Copper Pennies Alex Jones John Hartsman

Television:
Everybody Loves Me, 3:5 Joe the Plumber CBS

Commercial:
“Sweet Nothings” Guy in the pink boxers Eversweet Water

Voiceover:
Studebaker Young Studebaker PBS

Modeling:
Calendar Mr. March Reno Police Charity

After this you add your education, special skills, and awards:

Education:
Oxfords College BA Communication June 2002
Redcliffe University MA Theater May 2004

Skills:
Equestrian, specialty: jumping, Swimming/Diving, Trampoline, Snow Skiing (beginner) Water Skiing (expert), Rock Climbing, Juggling (4 items), Flying (wire), Roller Blader, Power Eater (22 hot dogs in 10 minutes)

Awards:
Guiness World Record, 1992, Pole Vault

You will notice the format is different. For film, you list the name of the film, then, the name of the character(s) you played, followed by the Director. In Television, you first list the name of the episode, followed by its number. 3:5 indicates the third season, episode five. Next is your character, and the network. You don’t need to include the dates in film or television, as these are easily found online if you have the titles correct, so the casting director can access your work.

Get into the habit of updating your resume each time you have a new role. If you have a lot to choose from, keep a separate list including all the information you have--names, dates and complete addresses. Even though the addresses are often used only for the shoot, it pays to keep an accurate record.

Never lie on your resume. You will be caught, and the results are not pretty. You may have heard some famous actor boast that he couldn’t swim, but lied to get a part, and taught himself overnight. Not worth it. Keeping track of lies is exhausting. You need your head clear and confident to make a good impression. Another word of caution; if you starred in a porno film, do not try out for Disney. Bad choices will follow you forever.
Don’t make them.

Now you are ready to print your resume. Don’t forget that standard paper is 8 ½” x 11”. You need to cut your resume to 8” x 10” to fit your headshot. Use good quality white paper. Once again, be professional. You may think neon green is cool and will get you noticed, but it will tag you as a beginner who doesn’t yet know the rules of the game, and you won’t get to play.

A cover letter is used only when submitting by mail. If you carry one into a live audition, don’t be surprised to have it crumpled up in front of you as the assistant shouts, “Next!”

At an audition you carry just two papers; your headshot, and your resume. Do not staple, paperclip, or put them into a plastic sheet protector. Also, don't have your resume printed on the back of your headshot. It seems like a great way to never have the two separated, but casting people hate to flip back and forth. Some will staple the headshot on top of the resume, but that is for them to decide, not you.

For more information about resumes you may visit our online entertainment community.

by Kjirstin Youngberg

hi all my name is tyler and i live in canada i want to become a huge actor and i joined because you all said that it was a good site and i think that that will help me out a lot so thaks

[thakur29]

Its been a great help for me...thnx Jon...

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