More than a couple people have asked me for roles in projects I might have coming up. There is a way to find acting roles and there is not a way to find acting roles. This post covers both.
I’m sure most people who want to get into acting know this but for the few who don’t. No one will give you an acting role just because you ask. Or if it does happen, it’s super rare. In order to get a role, you have to apply to audition. If the casting people like the way you look or have seen you in a reel, then they send you sides to audition. Once you audition, then casting looks at all the auditions and picks who they like best.
WHAT NOT TO DO
Do not ask random people who you don’t know and don’t know you to be in their next project. They get asked all the time and it’s a huge turn off.
Do not ask people if they have a role for you. There is a process to getting an acting role
Do not post on facebook that you are an actor and looking for acting roles. It doesn’t work that way.
WHAT TO DO
Do join casting websites like Casting Networks, Actor’s Access, and Backstage. There are more, but these are the three I use.
Do join every facebook acting and film production group in Atlanta and turn on all notifications. People post casting calls all the time for roles (paid and unpaid) and you want to see the post as soon as it’s made.
Do network and meet people who are filmmakers, writers, directors, producers. I can’t tell you how many times I have met a filmmaker that said to me that they want to put me in a future project. I never ask, but instead, I ask what they are working on or what they have in the future. I am genuinely interested in what they are doing and am just trying to make friends and meet people. I repeat, do not ask if they have a job or role for you. It is annoying because they get asked all the time.
Simon Shih 