Ten Things Every Actor Should Have On Their Resume
1.Featured/Lead Roles
Your resume should include featured extra roles and preferably lead or co-starring roles. If all you have is extra work of the non-speaking persuasion, it tells a casting director nothing about your capability to perform. So, its not easy to get a big part in a big production, but there are hundreds of non-union, low/no budget, and student projects going on everyday. Sure, extra work is a great way to network, to gain experience of what goes on on-set, and of course, to pay your bills, but it wont do anything for your acting resume. Put in your time as an unpaid non-SAG actor and build up a strong resume for when the big boys come calling.
2.Well-Known Acting Class, School, or Teacher
So youre from North Carolina and took Mr. Smiths monologue class, big deal! If a casting director hasnt heard of it, he/she wont remember it and most likely wont give it proper respect. Take a class that is well-known, with a teacher who is well-known, and it will add credibility to your resume. For ex, Stella Adler Studio.
3.Vocal Training
Are you a classically trained singer? Do you know whether youre a baritone or alto? Do you only sing in the shower? Regardless of your vocal skill, a little bit of training can go a long way. If youre a natural born singer, training will help with your breathing and projection. If youre borderline tone-deaf, training can bring you up to average, help you regulate your rhythms, and give you the confidence you need to deliver lines with conviction.
4.Dialects/Accents/Languages
If your Aussie accent has people turning heads, great! Write that down! Obviously, the most commonly booked sought after tends to be the good ol British accent, but there are also different dialects of the accent, for example cockneyed. If you can do a great impression of De Niro or Pacino then write that down too! Also, speaking another language is a big plus to your resume.
5.Dance
Casting directors are always asking you to dance on auditions, even if theres no dancing required in the role. They want to see how you move and how comfortable you are in your own skin. If youre not a good dancer, take some lessons to become one. If youre good, but not great, take some classes and become great. And if youre great, well, take some classes and learn new styles. Being a great dancer will only set you on par with the thousands of other talented acting hopefuls out there, but being a diverse dancer with many different styles, will set you apart.
6.Sports
List every sport you know how to play from tennis to dodgeball. You never know what a role calls for. Hell, maybe theyll write something in for you if youre an expert hula-hooper or can high jump through a ring of fire.
7.Everyday Skills
It would seem matter-of-fact, but dont underestimate your everyday skills. You might think having a drivers license or knowing how to hotwire a car would be pointless to list on your resume, but its not! Movies call for actors to perform tasks they normally wouldnt in real life, but also the opposite is true. How many behind the scenes have you seen where actors have to take driving lessons so that they can better act like theyre driving the getaway car or similar? The more you already can do, the less you need to be trained, and the more of a hot commodity you become.
8.Something Quirky
What can you do that no one else can? Can you play the recorder with your nose? Do you do an amazing human beat box? Whatever your unique talents and quirks are, let them know! Someone might call you in just because theyre really intrigued to see you bend a spoon with your mind or break a board with your bare fist. The running theme is to set your self apart from the other resumes out there.
9.Union Status
If youre SAG, say youre SAG. If youre SAG-eligible say that too. You might be holding off on joining the Screen Actors Guild because you want to build your resume with independent film roles and student films, etc, but if youre eligible, its good to know so if you are up for an important Union role, a director knows that you are able to join if necessary.
10.Contact Info/Website
Everyone all together say Duhhhh!!!! Ok, so the first thing you did was put your name and number on your resume, obviously. But what about your website and email address? While its not necessary to have your own domain name to look professional, it is only to your benefit to have a page somewhere so casting people can look you up and see more pictures, information, and more about your personality. Try signing up to a free acting/modeling site, but one where a person does not have to login or register in order to see your page. That is a hassle most would not deem worth it to view your page.
Your resume should include featured extra roles and preferably lead or co-starring roles. If all you have is extra work of the non-speaking persuasion, it tells a casting director nothing about your capability to perform. So, its not easy to get a big part in a big production, but there are hundreds of non-union, low/no budget, and student projects going on everyday. Sure, extra work is a great way to network, to gain experience of what goes on on-set, and of course, to pay your bills, but it wont do anything for your acting resume. Put in your time as an unpaid non-SAG actor and build up a strong resume for when the big boys come calling.
2.Well-Known Acting Class, School, or Teacher
So youre from North Carolina and took Mr. Smiths monologue class, big deal! If a casting director hasnt heard of it, he/she wont remember it and most likely wont give it proper respect. Take a class that is well-known, with a teacher who is well-known, and it will add credibility to your resume. For ex, Stella Adler Studio.
3.Vocal Training
Are you a classically trained singer? Do you know whether youre a baritone or alto? Do you only sing in the shower? Regardless of your vocal skill, a little bit of training can go a long way. If youre a natural born singer, training will help with your breathing and projection. If youre borderline tone-deaf, training can bring you up to average, help you regulate your rhythms, and give you the confidence you need to deliver lines with conviction.
4.Dialects/Accents/Languages
If your Aussie accent has people turning heads, great! Write that down! Obviously, the most commonly booked sought after tends to be the good ol British accent, but there are also different dialects of the accent, for example cockneyed. If you can do a great impression of De Niro or Pacino then write that down too! Also, speaking another language is a big plus to your resume.
5.Dance
Casting directors are always asking you to dance on auditions, even if theres no dancing required in the role. They want to see how you move and how comfortable you are in your own skin. If youre not a good dancer, take some lessons to become one. If youre good, but not great, take some classes and become great. And if youre great, well, take some classes and learn new styles. Being a great dancer will only set you on par with the thousands of other talented acting hopefuls out there, but being a diverse dancer with many different styles, will set you apart.
6.Sports
List every sport you know how to play from tennis to dodgeball. You never know what a role calls for. Hell, maybe theyll write something in for you if youre an expert hula-hooper or can high jump through a ring of fire.
7.Everyday Skills
It would seem matter-of-fact, but dont underestimate your everyday skills. You might think having a drivers license or knowing how to hotwire a car would be pointless to list on your resume, but its not! Movies call for actors to perform tasks they normally wouldnt in real life, but also the opposite is true. How many behind the scenes have you seen where actors have to take driving lessons so that they can better act like theyre driving the getaway car or similar? The more you already can do, the less you need to be trained, and the more of a hot commodity you become.
8.Something Quirky
What can you do that no one else can? Can you play the recorder with your nose? Do you do an amazing human beat box? Whatever your unique talents and quirks are, let them know! Someone might call you in just because theyre really intrigued to see you bend a spoon with your mind or break a board with your bare fist. The running theme is to set your self apart from the other resumes out there.
9.Union Status
If youre SAG, say youre SAG. If youre SAG-eligible say that too. You might be holding off on joining the Screen Actors Guild because you want to build your resume with independent film roles and student films, etc, but if youre eligible, its good to know so if you are up for an important Union role, a director knows that you are able to join if necessary.
10.Contact Info/Website
Everyone all together say Duhhhh!!!! Ok, so the first thing you did was put your name and number on your resume, obviously. But what about your website and email address? While its not necessary to have your own domain name to look professional, it is only to your benefit to have a page somewhere so casting people can look you up and see more pictures, information, and more about your personality. Try signing up to a free acting/modeling site, but one where a person does not have to login or register in order to see your page. That is a hassle most would not deem worth it to view your page.
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