Understanding your Character

Breaking Down the Character

I have made the mistake of judging my characters too many times. I have also made the mistake of playing the idea of the role, and not being the role.

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First off, let me preface this blog by saying that “The Power of the Actor” by Ivana Chubbuck is a MUST READ!

The book teaches actors a 12-step technique that is quite impeccable and should be read whether or not you practice her technique.

I think it is important for actors to have had the chance to get their feet wet in a variety of different acting techniques and then dry off the parts you don’t want. But keep learning different perspectives, because each coach can give you something to draw from and that will help you create a memorable, and workable performance.

As a general rule: Never judge your character. To do so you play a “title” and not a character who has a past, emotions, and purpose in life. If your character is the villain, do not play the villain. Instead, work on being charismatic.

Ask yourself:

“Who are you?”; “What is important to you?”; “What is the motivation driving you to do what you do?”

You do not want to make a judgment on your character, instead, draw the audience in with your charisma.

Take for example Angelina Jolie’s character in Maleficent. She did not want to be evil, she had a good heart, and that heart was merely broken. Yet the other characters saw her as an evil being, instead of a grieving fairy.

When you are playing an authoritative character, a lawyer, a detective, a witch, a bimbo, or a villain, for example, be true to who the character is, not what the character is perceived as.

Steps to Take in Understanding your Character Begin with an Objective

Find the character’s objective.

“To be loved” is a very broad category but it is a strong objective.

Take the movie WARRIOR for example, and the character played by Tom Hardy: Tommy.

Tommy’s ultimate objective was not to win the fight and be the best fighter. Granted, he did have motivation towards that goal (ie: giving money to his friend’s widow), but the real drive behind his desire to win, was to be loved. Hardy’s character needed reassurance from his father and that their bond went deeper than their anger towards one another for whatever reason. He needed to feel love from his brother and that their lives could be good again despite the hurtful past.

On the outside, it may appear that Hardy’s character’s ultimate objective is to win the fight, but that wouldn’t push him to win as hard as he tries.

Every character’s goal is to win. Each scene they want to win. Just as it is in life. It is human nature to want to win.

When you find your character’s overall objective, the rest will fall in to place. Therefore in the book “The Power of the Actor” Ivana has this step as the number one thing to do.

Remember! Don’t try to act angry, or evil. Leave that decision up to the audience.

Try not to Judge the Audition or Yourself

Don’t Judge Your Next Audition Because of a Past Experience in the Audition Room

I tell my husband, who is a day trader, that he shouldn’t judge a new stock by a different one that he previously lost on. Each stock is different than the other, granted some may have similar patterns, but they are each unique. Same goes for the audition process.

I can’t count how many times I did not go to an audition because I felt like it was like a similar audition/role that I  had failed at, or that I wasn’t right for. One time the casting director of Modern Family actually told me I was wasting his time because I wasn’t right for the part. (Well, my agent told me to go in, and he called me in by my headshot in the first place). But I think that experience may have messed with my head whether I like it or not.

When there is an audition, I look at the character breakdown and examine who I am as a person (meaning I am judging myself, which no one should ever feel like they should do) and I think of my past auditions (and what that experience was like) and then I make the assessment about going in to the room to read or not. An actor should never do that. To do that, you may miss out on a role that you could have actually booked.

Even if you have made the assessment of “I do not fit that character”, or “That role isn’t right for me” you could actually be shooting yourself in the foot, so-to-speak.

Here is one of my life examples:

I read a role description breakdown on LaCasting for a role in a commercial. It read:

“Very attractive girl who can make a funny face while doing a dance move.”

Well, I thought, I may have pretty pictures, and people may tell me that I am pretty BUT I don’t feel pretty enough to fit this description. Then I thought, they probably want a girl who is a Kate Upton type who is sexy and guys’ jaws drop when she makes a funny face while dancing. That being said, I did not submit to the role.

The next thing I find out is that my agent got me an audition for that part. Because I had already made the assessment that I wasn’t good enough, I didn’t go in.

Next thing I know, I am on set for that very same project in the BACKGROUND! I was watching the girl who got the part I would have had, and she did a very good job. She had an angry look on her face while twerking. But I could have easily gotten the role. I even booked background, which is still hard to get for commercials, because you are still picture-picked.

I should have NEVER judged that part by my previous experiences, or my insecurities. I should have gone in to the audition and went with the flow of what was asked. But I think of all the times I have made a fool of myself in the audition room, all the times I was told I wasn’t good enough, and my current self-esteem issues, and I blew my chance at making $300 more than what I would have gotten, plus residuals, plus exposure.

On the Positive Side

I was going through the same process over another audition and I wasn’t going to go in for the read. It was for a commercial, and the description read: Brunette female, approximately a size 6, who can preferably play guitar.

I am not a size 6, I am a size 0. I have not played guitar in YEARS. I wasn’t going to go in. I was just coming out of an audition I should not have gone in for because I was clearly too young. I was mad that I went in for that part because I was stuck in traffic for 2 hours, and drove in circles looking for parking. Then I went in and sat next to women in their 30s and 40s to play opposite Julia Louis-Dryfus and clearly I was too young.

However, I ended up going to the next audition anyway (I almost turned around and went home several times) but I went in and I did well enough to get called-back. (I did not book the role) But this is somewhat of a positive example, because I did get called back, so that being said, you NEVER KNOW!

My advice is:

Listen to your heart. Do what makes you happy. Try not to regret any decision you did or did not make. Each casting process is unique. Try not to judge the role because you actually might end up being what they are looking for, and if not, well then at least you tried.

What Should My Resume Look Like?

Good morning! I had a dream last night that my resume was loaded with television credits that were put in by my manager as fake credits in order to get me into the casting room. Therefore, I thought I should share what resumes should look like.

In college one of my film professors said to make your resume short and sweet and that if you have over 20 theater/film credits, to only add about six of your best credits on your resume.

I know what you’re thinking, I thought about the same thing. You desire to show the director, the casting office, the producers, etc, that you have had loads of experience and you deserve the role. However, my professor made a good point. He said that if you bombard your resume with too many credits and you are still a no-name, it makes it appear like you are workable, but they’re wondering why you haven’t caught your big break and you’re basically someone who can’t carry the project. My manager made another excellent point: You want to look like you are the next big thing, that if casting hires you, they have “discovered” you, and that you are something new.

I was once asked this question by a casting director “So, how long have you been working in LA?” I said 6 years. Because at the time I had been living in California for six years. Well, I didn’t know that was the wrong answer. My reps informed me that I had only really been successfully working in LA for a year (at that time). I was taken aback because I had actually been working my ass off doing short films, low-budget indies, and theater for six years. But, remember, you want to have a resume with work on it, but you also want to look as though you are a new, great talent that casting wants to discover. It’s a horrible catch 22, just like the fact that you need TV credits to get an agent, and you need an agent to get TV credits…..

So, what should your resume look like?? Below is my resume (it has gone through MANY stages) Finally this is what my resume looks like today. My new agent gave me a template and I filled in my information.

click on the image to enlarge.

resume: using the template from Almond Talent.

If you are not represented, be sure to include all of your contact information such as telephone number and email. If you are represented, include ONLY your representation’s information. If you are auditioning for a student film that you got on your own, you may pencil in your own contact information, or make a separate resume that includes your personal contact info as well.

Some casting offices, or representation will say that they don’t want a commercial list on your theatrical resume. I say it’s up to you, because everybody holds a different opinion, and if you book commercials, you are still working on a professional set and it demonstrates experience. So I add it in.

Some will also say that you do not need your stats. But then some offices want to know your height when placing you next to other actors, and weight (because they can’t tell how your body-type by just looking at your face). Again, I think putting stats on your resume is up to you or your agent. In this case, my agent wanted it.

In the special skills section: do not list things you cannot do. If casting sees that you can do a Russian accent on your resume and they ask you to do it in the room and you can’t, they may write you off. I knew this actress who said she could snowboard and she booked a film where she was required to snowboard, but she couldn’t do it. She was fired immediately. So don’t lie about your special skills. If you are a novice at something, but you think you could work on it if cast, write-in “novice”

I did a casting workshop at ACT NOW and a casting director said that it is alright if you pencil in a new credit. They understand that printing out resumes costs actors money and uses paper. If you book a new credit and you didn’t have time to make a new resume, just pencil in the credit.

Always put in your training. Who you have studied with, etc. because it is very important that you have had some training.

A HELPFUL TIP***  try not to print out a mass amount of resumes, because you could book a bunch of roles in a row and then have to throw all your resumes in the recycle bin because you can’t use them. Always print out a little at a time, and leave about four in your car (attached to headshots of course) just in case you are out and about and you have a call to a last-minute audition. Always bring more than one into the room as well, because casting may ask for more than one (in some cases, they may not ask for one at all.)

Make the resume clean, clear and simple. Don’t over-load it. Also, don’t lie about credits that you can get caught on. It could bite you in the booty. (if you say you were a co-star on a TV show, and then you go into a casting office with the same CD who cast the show you lied about, then they will know they didn’t cast you and that you are lying.) BE WISE.

Hope this helps!

Production still from Tourbillon.

 

What Acting Websites Should I Shell Out For?

So now you are in Hollywood and you  need to start booking roles. Here is a list of casting websites that I find are the best to sign up and pay for in order to start auditioning, gaining reel material, and resume credits.

Many new actors will jump on a submission that reads “taking submissions for a principle role for NCIS” or some other Network television show. Be advised that these are scams. Network television will only go through reputable agents and managers and will not take open submissions from no-name and/or non-represented actors. That being said, check out the following sites that I recommend paying for.

The List:

Actors Access

http://www.actorsaccess.com/

ActorsAccess.com is connected to a sister site called Showfax.com and together a year membership is $68 or so (it may have changed). The membership includes access to sides on Showfax.com and unlimited submissions to projects that are suited to your stats and what you would be cast as. There are two FREE photos you can upload! Each additional photo is $10.00. To upload a reel on the site costs $80 or so.

LA Casting

http://home.lacasting.com/

LACasting.com is a website that is great for beginner actors because there are so many listings everyday for both union and non-union roles as well as background roles (which is where you can learn more about what set etiquette is like, and the inner workings of set life). Through this website I have booked some really great projects! The site costs about $14/month give or take what membership you sign up for. Your first photo is $25 and each additional photo is $15. To host reels: commercial, comedy, drama, or any athletic clips cost around an additional $5-10/month. This site is more costly, especially when your look changes and you need to add more photos! But it’s worth being on. Rarely will there be any big-time TV or film spots on here. However, I did book a background gig for the PURGE ANARCHY through here, and then I was upgraded on set and got a principle contract and one line!

Some other websites that are recommended are:

Now Casting

Backstage West (works great for theater actors)

Frontier Casting (works well along with commercial representation for commercial casting)

CAZT (lists projects that are being cast out of CAZT that you may submit to for about $15/month or so)

I have had the most luck with Actors Access and LA Casting. I only get on other sites per my agent’s request.

Hope this helps! If anyone recommends anything else, feel free to list it below in the comments!

So You Want to Be an Actor, eh?

On the outside the acting profession seems a glorious, glamorous, and money-making profession. Only after one attends film school, will they realize that money in Hollywood is scarce, and that money doesn’t grow on trees, but if it did, all the trees have been chopped down. Unless one is independently wealthy, or has a sugar daddy/mommy (literal or not) it is really hard to make a living as an actor in Hollywood. Here is a list of what is recommended (or even required of) actors in Hollywood. I will go into more detail on the items in the list in future blog posts.

Take it from someone who has been here for, eh-hem, ten years: me.

List:

Acting Class: (agents and casting directors, CDs, always ask who you study with or where you have trained.) Acting classes range from $250-$1200 a month! Some of those classes are only held 4 times a month!

Headshots (Shot/Printed/Uploaded): An actor needs at least 3 professional headshots that showcase different looks. Since CDs can’t use their imagination, it is recommended that actors have multiple headshots that show different looks: lawyer, student,  nerd, mother, druggie, badass, doctor, etc. The list goes on and on. Should you wear scrubs in a headshot? NO! But it is a wise thing to indicate “doctor”. Some people like to dress up in their photos. I don’t think it’s necessary. But you can’t submit a cutesy image to a CD who is casting for a lawyer in Law & Order. Headshots cost from $150 (cheapos) to $1600 (EXCUSE ME?!!).  Then you have to print off the headshots, and if you get more than one look, you are spending some $$ to get all those looks printed off. (AVOID Kinkos).   THEN, (what there’s more?!) you have to upload these headshots to casting sites (will go into further detail in the future blog “What Acting Websites Should I Shell Out For?”) which can cost anywhere from $10/per photo to $25/per photo.

(I usually go out for the CW, ABC, and Indie movies where I play a girl with an attitude)

Business Cards: Networking is a HUGE part of being an actor. Although social media sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn are great ways to meet other professionals, if you are out and about, business cards are a great way to leave an impression on someone you meet. VistaPrint usually has good deals on 500 business cards and it’s an easy online process. I spend about $30.00 every year or so on business cards.

Postcards: Some people have postcards, some don’t. I personally think postcards are a great way to say “thank you!” or “Remember me?” I have actually sent out a postcard saying my thanks to a casting director for a great workshop, and a week after I sent it, I got a call to come in to audition! Do they work? Maybe! Do they annoy Casting? Maybe! Here is an example of one of my recent postcards. (Make it simple, Pitch yourself, and make it memorable).

Casting Director Workshops: I think these are a waste of money anymore; however, I do think they are pertinent to new actors. I do recommend them, because after I met with Dean Fronk (CD) he called me to audition twice for him. I also did a casting workshop with Michael Testa who called me in for Cold Case. So they do work, and they don’t work. It’s really up to you. I am just tired of spending $ on endless crap. One of the most well-known workshops is ACT NOW! and I do suggest checking them out, especially if you are not in the union (SAG-AFTRA), because then the CCD can see you and maybe bring you in to audition, considering how difficult it is to get an agent without TV credits and TV credits without being in the union or represented. It’s an endless catch-22.

Casting Websites: I will go in order from what I think is the best first: Actors Access, LACasting, Now Casting, Casting Frontier, CAZT, and most definitely EVERY actor should pay for IMDBPro! Please do AVOID Explore Talent, John Robert Powers, and Barbazon (nothing but scams and empty pockets).

Reel: If you don’t have any footage for a reel, film yourself doing a few different scenes that demonstrate your range, and even include a short monologue. You can also pay a reel company to shoot scenes with them and they will cut you a reel. Again prices range from $100-$1,000 and that doesn’t include the cost of uploading the footage to casting websites. To upload a reel onto Actors Access costs around $80, and to have it on LACasting is an additional $5-$10/month depending on your plan.

Union: To join SAG-AFTRA which is an actor’s union, and is the only way to book legit work costs 3 vouchers (proof of work under a SAG contract) and a whopping $3,000!! Each year, if you work or not, to stay in the union you must pay $198 in dues. SAG dues change depending on income earned under SAG-AFTRA contracts.

Rent: Unless you have a great, FLEXIBLE job, are independently wealthy, or have that sugar daddy, you will need to pay rent and living ANYWHERE in LA is NOT cheap. So find a roomie that you trust and get ready to spend $700-$2000/month on rent without utilities. Oh and did I mention that you need a flexible job in order to make it to auditions?? Good luck!

So if you have read the above and you’re thinking “Awesome! Let me buy a one-way ticket to LA” then kuddos to you!

Next step is finding an agent or manager who will represent you. As a new actor with ZERO credits it is extremely hard to get represented. From experience it all comes down to luck, or knowing someone. Some of my acquaintances have been pageant winners, or models which was an easy transition for them into Hollywood due to their  amazing PR reps. But having a publicist is a whole other ball game. You need a PR team to get you into events, premiers, red carpet events, and interviews, but they need you to have something to promote, oh and did I mention they are upwards of $2,000/month!

Take a deep breath in, I want to help you, a nobody, make it in Hollywood. This blog is for those who are completely new to the business, people without nepotism, and those who want to feel as though they’re not alone in their struggle to make it as an actor.