The content is about an actor who evaluates potential roles based on three criteria: career development, compensation, and personal fulfillment. They prefer principal, speaking roles to enhance their acting reel, need reasonable compensation for their work, and favor projects that resonate with them personally or offer creative growth opportunities. Background roles don't meet their current career needs.
Filmed Hard Rock Casino and Hotel commercial Auditions Recurring principal role in a series filming in South America Community First Credit Union commercial Callbacks Roles Booked Asian Biker. Feature Film. Supporting Chuck. Socially awkward, can’t speak to anyone but his best friend. Short Film. Lead Walden University commercial Other Signed the contract for the SAG … Continue reading Update Week 43
An actor recounted a recent conversation with a friend about navigating the formative period of their acting careers. Guided by prior experiences and advice, a key insight shared was the value of building a resume and learning through every experience, even in less appealing projects. For new actors, taking on any role, practicing auditions, networking, and learning from every opportunity constitute crucial steps toward professional growth.
The casting process in the film and TV industry typically includes several stages post-an actor's audition: initial auditions, callbacks, chemistry tests, director/producer meetings, final selection, offering contracts, negotiations, and final contract signing. However, the process can vary, depending on the project and the size of the role. After an audition, if actors aren't booked or receive a callback, they won't hear back from casting.
While natural talent in acting can serve as an advantage, it's not the primary determinant of success in the film industry. Accomplished actors rely on continuous learning, discipline, hard work, and perseverance. Versatility, the ability to handle rejection, networking skills, self-promotion, and an understanding of market trends also contribute significantly to an enduring acting career. Crucially, actors must work against being typecast and must take chances on unconventional roles to showcase their range.
The text outlines an actor's career progression, with roles ranging from a Stuntgirl in a feature film to a Park Goer in a short film. They have made the decision to stop participating in short films after the SAG strikes, aiming to concentrate on feature films and series.
The author moved to Atlanta to explore acting, initially engaging in networking and trial acting classes. After deciding to pursue this professionally, the writer took headshots, found an agent, and started getting roles. They ended up building a solid acting resume from short films and other projects. Instead of diversifying their efforts, they focused on only acting in TV and movies to advance their career efficiently. They advised others on the importance of having clear goals and tackling these methodically, rather than pursuing various directions.
The author is an actor with numerous tattoos, including on their hands. These tattoos affect their auditions for commercials and roles in SAG films, due to copyright issues. Although these tattoos can be covered with makeup, the process is cumbersome and rarely foolproof. Consequently, the author is undergoing tattoo removal on their hands, a long, unpleasant process that underscores the challenges faced by tattooed actors.
For new actors, building a resume and reel is crucial. Focusing on short films is recommended because they command less time commitment and provide quicker footage return. Feature films have a longer post-production period. Participating in series often equates to underpayment and huge time investment, making them less worthwhile. Unpaid work should be seen as a chance for gaining experience rather than expecting exposure or discovery.
The author emphasizes the importance of valuing one's work in the film industry by avoiding unpaid projects unless it's a student film. They've stopped accepting roles without reading the script first and dismiss non-monetary compensations like food, copy, IMDb credit, or deferred payment as insufficient. The author advises actors to accept free work only for building their resume and reel and demands filmmakers to fulfill their responsibility by providing footage and IMDb credits promptly.
Simon Shih 