Here's How to Make an Acting Resume, Step by Step.
|
|
|
Section 1: Personal Information
This is where you'll list the basics, such as your contact info and descriptive information about yourself. Use the following checklist and include everything you can (it's OK if you don't have everything listed below):
- Your name, phone number, email address (don't include your home address), and website. Make sure your email address is professional, meaning something like [email protected] or [email protected] Avoid unprofessional email addresses like [email protected] Having a website is not mandatory but can definitely make you appear more established.
- If you have an agent or manager, list their contact information. Some may prefer you to hide your own contact information and only list theirs, but you can speak with them about it.
- Include your height, weight, hair and eye color. If you're in the US, be sure to use inches and feet, and if you're outside the United States use the metric system. Do not include your age unless you are under 18.
- Include a headshot to fill up space. Although it's true that you'll have your headshot stapled to the back of your resume, you can also include a different one printed on the front as a way to fill up some of the white space (especially if you don't have many credits yet).
- Include vocal type or range if you sing. An example would be Tenor, or Low E-Flat to High D.
- Include union affiliations. If you're just starting out, chances are you're not a part of a union yet, so you should write "Non-Union." Otherwise you can write SAG-AFTRA or Equity/AEA. Some people include SAG-AFTRA Eligible if they are eligible to join the union.
Having trouble with formatting/alignment? Download our free actor resume template here.
Section 2: Credits
This is where the bulk of your resume content will be, unless of course you're just starting out (in which case the bulk of your resume will be under Training & Education). Follow the below guidelines to ensure your resume looks professional:
- What to Add: If you're older than 25, you can include any credits you've had from age 18 and up, but unless it's something very noteworthy, avoid including credits from productions you did when you were younger. For anyone younger than 25, it's OK to add any roles you've played within the past 5-10 years, but you shouldn't go much further back than that. For instance, if you're in your forties, avoid including roles you played when you were in high-school. But if you're only 20 and you don't have much on your resume, you can absolutely include productions you worked in when you were 10-15 years old. Feel free to include anything you've been cast in, and when you're first starting out, it's completely fine to include roles from classes and workshops.
- Alignment: Be sure to have the name of the production in the left-most column, the name of your role in the middle column, and the name of the director or theater company (whichever is more well-known) in the right column.
- Categories: Usually, you'll see credits listed under two categories: Film/TV and Theater. When you're first starting out, it's OK if you only have credits from one of these, like Theater. Just be sure you divide up the categories properly, and don't include a category if you have no credits for it. Eventually, you might have two separate resumes, one entirely for Film/TV and one entirely for Theater, and then you can further break up your categories into Broadway, Off-Broadway, Regional Theater, or Feature, Short Film, Prime-time TV, etc.
- Extra Work: "Should you put extra work on your acting resume?" No, it's not a good idea to include extra (background actor) work on your resume. It doesn't really tell the casting director anything useful because background actors often don't need specific skills and are hired frequently without auditions. Another reason to avoid including it is that the more extra work you include, the more likely a casting director will think you specialize in that instead of speaking roles.
- Character Names: For Theater, it's best to include character names unless the show is not well-known. For little-known productions, you can include the character name and then in parentheses next to it, add "cast," "ensemble," etc. For Film/TV, it's generally best to avoid character names completely and just use the role descriptions ("lead," "supporting," etc.). See the image above to get an idea.
- Famous People: If you had the opportunity to work with a famous actor in a scene, add their name in parentheses next to the role. An example would be (w/ Lindsay Lohan). This lets casting directors see that you're good enough to perform alongside well-known actors!
- Voiceover Credits: "How do you list a voice over on a resume?" Well, you should generally add another section to your resume if you do voiceover work. For voiceover credits, you'll list them out exactly the same way as for Film/TV credits, with three columns.
- Commercial Credits: It's generally not a good idea to list commercials on your primary resume. You should create a completely separate resume for commercials and only email it to people when requested. This is because of possible conflicts of interest (for example, if you were the lead in a Coca Cola commercial, PepsiCo would NOT want you to be in their commercial because people might think of Coca Cola instead).
- Lead With Your Most Impressive Stuff: It doesn't matter whether you played a role 10 years ago or this year, just put your best credits first. Do not include dates of productions on your resume.
Having trouble with formatting/alignment? Download our free actor resume template here.
Section 3: Training & Education
In this section, you'll list out your formal training (what you majored or minored in if related to acting) and/or any noteworthy acting workshops, seminars, studio classes, master classes, or private coaching you've taken. This also includes special training not directly related to acting, such as singing or stunt-work.
If you're new to the acting world and don't have many (or any) credits yet, you should spend some time making sure this section stands out, and then as you start filling up your resume with credits, you can cut back on training and make this section smaller.
What Casting Directors are Looking For:
- Names of program directors, teachers, or educators they recognize (try typing your instructors' names into Google – if their name shows up in lots of articles, chances are casting directors will recognize them).
- Names of schools or workshops they recognize (you can use the same strategy as above to see how well-known the workshop/school is).
- Length of time you studied a particular skillset, and how recently you studied it.
- Type of training you've had.
There's no specific right or wrong format to list out your training, but just make it extremely easy for a casting director to see what you've done – especially if you don't have many credits.
Using a two-column format like below can make it easy for them to read, and including dates is optional but recommended if you completed the training within the past 2-3 years.
If you need to fill up a lot of space, feel free to list bullet points under each training, showing specifically what knowledge was gained. Example:
2011-2015, BFA in Acting
University of Southern California, Los Angeles
- Pursued my passion for acting and singing
- Won “Best Actor" Award in USC's Student Film Festival
- Starred as lead in three college theatre productions
Having trouble with formatting/alignment? Download our free actor resume template here.
Section 4: Special Skills
Did you know that special skills can help you jump past actors with decades of training and credits? It's true. If you know how to play the piano but the more experienced actor you're competing against doesn't, you'll be chosen for the role over them (if the role requires a piano-player).
Not only do special skills help you book more roles because they're unique and less people have them, but they also use up some of that dreaded white space on your resume.
Not only do special skills help you book more roles because they're unique and less people have them, but they also use up some of that dreaded white space on your resume.
"So what skills should I put on my acting resume?" Here are some examples:
- Special Abilities (singing, cry on cue, etc.)
- Dancing Ability (hip hop dance, ballet, etc.)
- Combat Training (weapons handling, marital arts training, etc.)
- Accents (Southern dialect, Irish accent, etc.)
- Fitness Level (7% body fat, 6 pack abs, etc.)
- Fluency in Other Languages (Spanish, Mandarin, etc.)
- Musical Instruments (guitar, violin, piano, etc.)
- Driver's License (yes, this can be listed since many people don't have one)
- Acrobatic Abilities (flipping, juggling, etc.)
- Sports/Games (skiing, fencing, golf, chess etc.)
As with your credits, be sure to put whatever you think is most noteworthy first so casting directors notice it. And don't say you can do something if you're not actually proficient at it!
Having trouble with formatting/alignment? Download our free actor resume template here.
General Tips for Your Acting Resume
- Your resume MUST be saved as a PDF format. When emailing your resume, do not send Microsoft Word formats. Unlike most other industries, ATS (applicant tracking system) is not used to automatically screen actor resumes, so there is no need to send in a .doc format. Most casting directors dislike opening .doc format resumes because the size and style changes on different computers, and what might have been one page with perfect alignment on your computer will suddenly look all messed up (and sometimes even two pages) on someone else's computer. PDF format almost always keeps the alignment perfect no matter where you send your resume.
- When printed, it must ONLY be one page and cut to fit on the back of your 8" X 10" headshot. You’ll align your resume so it fits perfectly on the back of your headshot, and then staple it at all four corners (don't use tape or paperclips). Then you can cut off the extra paper with scissors. Don't print your resume directly on the back of your headshots because it's going to change every time you book a new role and you'll have to throw all those headshots with the old resume on them out. Watch the video below to learn how to attach your headshot to your resume.
- It must be easy to read. This is why using columns and sections is absolutely critical. Make sure to use professional fonts like Times New Roman, Helvetica, Garamond, or Arial.
- Each heading should stand out. The different sections of your resume, such as TV/Film, Theater, Training & Education, etc., should be bigger and/or a different style than the rest so they stand out. It's good practice to avoid using different colors because some casting directors print resumes on black & white printers, and your section headings won't stand out.
3 Secret Actor Resume Hacks
Think "Outside the Industry"
As Einstein says, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."
I'm all about thinking differently, and I teach actors how to break the rules and do things most other actors don't consider.
In fact, one of my clients landed his first-ever Broadway role in just 4 weeks of implementing some of these "outside the industry" strategies.
So now that you understand the basics of a professional acting resume, I'd like to present you with three "outside the industry" hacks you can use to make your resume even MORE effective:
I'm all about thinking differently, and I teach actors how to break the rules and do things most other actors don't consider.
In fact, one of my clients landed his first-ever Broadway role in just 4 weeks of implementing some of these "outside the industry" strategies.
So now that you understand the basics of a professional acting resume, I'd like to present you with three "outside the industry" hacks you can use to make your resume even MORE effective:
"Outside the Industry" Hack #1:
Awards and Quotes
A unique way to stand out from other actors (and use up some dreaded "white space") is to include noteworthy reviews or quotes from people you've worked with in the industry. You can list 2-3 simple one-sentence reviews at the very bottom of your resume (center-aligned), such as "John Doe was one of the most consistently on-time and professional actors I've ever had the pleasure of working with. – Jane Smith (Director, Bluefin Dolphins)"
Don't have any quotes? Just email some past teachers or friends you've worked with and ask them to write 1-2 sentences. Obviously, the bigger their names the better, but even if they're unknown people, you can still include their quotes on your resume just to provide some "social proof" so to speak.
You should also include any awards you've won in parentheses next to the role you played. Keep in mind that these awards should actually be noteworthy and professional – don't mention the high school "Funniest Actor" award you won for the little video you made with your friends.
Don't have any quotes? Just email some past teachers or friends you've worked with and ask them to write 1-2 sentences. Obviously, the bigger their names the better, but even if they're unknown people, you can still include their quotes on your resume just to provide some "social proof" so to speak.
You should also include any awards you've won in parentheses next to the role you played. Keep in mind that these awards should actually be noteworthy and professional – don't mention the high school "Funniest Actor" award you won for the little video you made with your friends.
"Outside the Industry" Strategy #2:
Resume Objective
A resume objective is one of the simplest and most powerful "outside the industry" hacks you can use to INSTANTLY stand out to casting directors.
A resume objective tells casting directors right off the bat what your goals are... or if you do it right, why they should hire YOU over other actors for this specific project.
Most actors don't use a resume objective at all, but those who do will write something simple like:
Objective: To become a successful, world-renowned actor who is reputed for her craft and compelling performances on stage and film.
This is OK, but is focused on YOU, instead of the production. Casting directors don't care about you, they only care about what you can do to help them.
Instead, do a bit of research on the production and then tailor your objective for the type of project you're submitting to. If you're submitting to a slapstick comedy TV show, for instance, chances are the production wants an actor who can make the audience laugh. So you can customize your resume objective like so:
Objective: To bring smiles and laughter to the faces of as many people in the world as possible through my acting.
Do you think the casting director will notice? You bet they will!
If you're submitting to a dramatic indie film, think about the purpose of the film... is it trying to share an important message with the world? Is it trying to make a political statement? Make an educated guess about the purpose of the project and then tailor your resume objective to that.
Since it's right at the top of your resume, the casting directors will notice and be more likely to bring you in for an audition!
A resume objective tells casting directors right off the bat what your goals are... or if you do it right, why they should hire YOU over other actors for this specific project.
Most actors don't use a resume objective at all, but those who do will write something simple like:
Objective: To become a successful, world-renowned actor who is reputed for her craft and compelling performances on stage and film.
This is OK, but is focused on YOU, instead of the production. Casting directors don't care about you, they only care about what you can do to help them.
Instead, do a bit of research on the production and then tailor your objective for the type of project you're submitting to. If you're submitting to a slapstick comedy TV show, for instance, chances are the production wants an actor who can make the audience laugh. So you can customize your resume objective like so:
Objective: To bring smiles and laughter to the faces of as many people in the world as possible through my acting.
Do you think the casting director will notice? You bet they will!
If you're submitting to a dramatic indie film, think about the purpose of the film... is it trying to share an important message with the world? Is it trying to make a political statement? Make an educated guess about the purpose of the project and then tailor your resume objective to that.
Since it's right at the top of your resume, the casting directors will notice and be more likely to bring you in for an audition!
"Outside the Industry" Strategy #3:
Manipulate Your Resume Strategically
Can you lie on your acting resume? No. But you CAN manipulate it, and we'll discuss how in a moment.
Do NOT outright lie on your acting resume because it can immediately get you blacklisted by the industry.
An example of a lie is completely making up a fake credit on your resume – for instance, saying you played the lead in a student (or professional) film if you never actually did. If found out, casting directors will share your name with each other so you never get hired again.
Another example of lying is called "padding" your resume, which is also frowned upon in the industry. An example would be taking a tiny production of Les Miserables you did at a school and removing the "school" part so it looks like you were in a Regional or Off-Broadway production.
Lying aside, there are three manipulations you CAN do to your resume so a casting director feels more compelled to bring you in. Here they are:
Do NOT outright lie on your acting resume because it can immediately get you blacklisted by the industry.
An example of a lie is completely making up a fake credit on your resume – for instance, saying you played the lead in a student (or professional) film if you never actually did. If found out, casting directors will share your name with each other so you never get hired again.
Another example of lying is called "padding" your resume, which is also frowned upon in the industry. An example would be taking a tiny production of Les Miserables you did at a school and removing the "school" part so it looks like you were in a Regional or Off-Broadway production.
Lying aside, there are three manipulations you CAN do to your resume so a casting director feels more compelled to bring you in. Here they are:
- Push Certain Roles Higher: If you want more Film/TV roles, move those types of credits higher on your resume. Minimize your theater credits and mention even the smallest of the small film credits you've done (even if they were just tiny unpaid student films) just to give the impression that you have as much experience as possible in Film and Television.
- Customize the Special Skills section of your resume: To show how qualified you are for a role, move to the beginning or bold your most relevant special skills so the casting director notices them!
- Create separate resumes for each type of work you do: Eventually as you build up your credits, you can make separate resumes for separate types of work. Most actors know they can have a Film/TV Resume, a Theater Resume, and a Voiceover Resume, but an "outside the industry" way of thinking is this: create separate resumes for your different "types." If you are submitting for a cop role, create a resume specifically focused on all the cop and detective roles you've played. This will show casting directors you're super experienced in playing that kind of character!
Want to Keep it Simple?
Download the Free "Actor Resume Checklist"
This handy checklist is perfect to review as you build your resume. I've condensed the most important points from this article into 7 key checkpoints to help you build a resume that gets taken seriously by casting directors.
|
Here's what's covered:
|
|
Can You Audition Without a Resume?
You can! But keep in mind that it's generally harder to get invited to auditions without a resume. Here are some ways to get called in without a resume:
- Become friends with people in high places. You can meet people by attending film festivals, playhouses, or other places where people in the industry might congregate (such as industry events like Actor's Pro Expo). Then if you keep in touch with them, they might overlook the fact that you have no resume and let you audition for a role (if they like you). My free Actor's Toolkit shows you how to become friends with almost anyone in the industry by sending them an email or social media message (even if you haven't met them in person).
- Shoot a scene for your reel. You can hire a reel production company like Actor Screener Shoot to shoot a scene for your reel, and if your acting is on point, casting directors will overlook the fact that you have no resume or credits and just call you in based on the clip you send them. In some cases, a single great clip alone is enough to get you in the door!
- Create a resume without any credits. If you have any training (even just high school or middle school theater programs), you can list it on your resume. Casting directors want to know about more than just your credits, such as your education, special skills, and even personal information like height and vocal range.
- Become younger again. Just kidding! But seriously, if you're a student and haven't graduated high school or college, casting directors are much more lenient and don't care if you have no credits on your resume. The more years past graduating you are, the harder it becomes to get in the room without a resume.
How Do You Build Up a Resume?
"Can you put student films on a resume?" Absolutely! The fastest way to start getting credits is to audition for unpaid student productions.
You can submit to projects through websites like Actor's Access or Backstage, and then whenever you book a role, you can immediately add it to your resume – even before they shoot! And keep in mind: if you're hired to act in a production and it gets cancelled, you can still list the credit on your resume because you booked it.
I've written an in-depth guide on how to get called in without a reel, and I'd happy to send it to you for free! Just click here to get instant access.
You can submit to projects through websites like Actor's Access or Backstage, and then whenever you book a role, you can immediately add it to your resume – even before they shoot! And keep in mind: if you're hired to act in a production and it gets cancelled, you can still list the credit on your resume because you booked it.
I've written an in-depth guide on how to get called in without a reel, and I'd happy to send it to you for free! Just click here to get instant access.
Want Success With Your Acting Resume?
Think "Outside the Industry."
Most actors are afraid to do things without first asking, "Is this OK?"
At the end of the day, this is YOUR resume and no one can tell you how to design it but you.
Don’t be afraid to step out of the mold and break the rules. You don’t have to ask permission. The sooner you feel confident in your choices, the sooner you'll start seeing more success come to you!
If you're interested in learning more about my "outside the industry" actor marketing strategies, please take a look at www.martinbentsen.com, where I give away over 97% of my material for FREE.
At the end of the day, this is YOUR resume and no one can tell you how to design it but you.
Don’t be afraid to step out of the mold and break the rules. You don’t have to ask permission. The sooner you feel confident in your choices, the sooner you'll start seeing more success come to you!
If you're interested in learning more about my "outside the industry" actor marketing strategies, please take a look at www.martinbentsen.com, where I give away over 97% of my material for FREE.
Me (Martin Bentsen)
--About the Author of this Guide--
Martin Bentsen uses “outside the industry” thinking to help actors book more work. He’s helped over 6,000 actors with their careers and actor headshots since 2009 and his photography studio City Headshots is ranked #1 on Yelp. He’s spoken at NYU, The New England Theater Conference, The Actor’s Green Room, and other venues.
Want to book more work by thinking strategically? Start with his free Actor’s Toolkit to create new opportunities right away, or visit his website at www.martinbentsen.com.
Want to book more work by thinking strategically? Start with his free Actor’s Toolkit to create new opportunities right away, or visit his website at www.martinbentsen.com.
Further Reading
If you enjoyed this article, you'll probably enjoy these:
0 Comments
