Acting Career Quick Start Workbook Materials Module 2.4 Table of Contents The Concept of Type All About Headshots: Things To Look For In A Headshot Photographer Questions To Ask When Interviewing A Photographer Danger Signals Headshot Retouching Tips Headshot Reproduction Considerations Practical Application Goals For The Week Preview of Module 3
"#$%&'(#)*$&+$,)#$ When looking for an acting agent, TYPE is an extremely important concept that many young aspiring actors either overlook or don t fully understand. It makes a big difference in helping an actor to funnel his/her marketing efforts. It helps keep them get focused in that they are better able to create a message that speaks to the casting director, agent, director or other industry professional whose attention they wish to get. To better illustrate what the concept of type is and how it can help you, let me tell you about a question I received not long ago along with the answer I gave. Question: If you were to produce a film about your life, who would you get to play you and why? My Answer: That's a fun question And it is one that has hidden meaning and value. Actor Denzel Washington. Maybe not so much from the look, but from the attitude and the similarity of the type of actor he is. What Type Are You? That brings me to type. Especially if you are looking for an acting agent, in your preparation for the first interview this is a great question to start thinking about what your type is. When pitching yourself to casting directors and agents, you should know that Not only who would play you, which is an interesting question, but what types of roles. For example, (I know you didn't ask, but your question inspired me) I was watching TV with my son and we were talking about acting. I told him that I see myself in a lot of roles that Denzel plays. He told me (he's 11 years old), "Papà you're pretty good at acting, but you're not as good as Denzel." I smiled and said, with my feelings a little hurt, "I'm not saying I'm as good of an actor as Denzel...YET I'm just saying that I see myself in the types of roles he plays." To prove the point, we both wanted to watch the dvd of the movie Man On Fire starring Denzel. There is a scene in that movie in which Denzel's character is training the little girl he has been paid to guard. She is a swimmer. During that scene my son looked at me and smiled and conceded that I was right. That scene was so much like what I do with him when I train him, both in the way I talk to him, the attitude, everything It was a great moment So, to finish answering your question, when I say that when you are looking for an acting agent that you need to know your type, here is what I mean. When asked what my type is, I respond: Father/Husband Attorney Politician Detective (not police officer) Coach So when you are thinking about your type, if you can THEN find some examples of actors in specific roles in specific movies, dramas, plays, soaps or whatever, then that kind of completes the answer. A noted casting director for CBS once told one of her classes in which I was a participant, that if we are interested in theatre, we should go see plays. If we are interested in acting in films, then we should go to the movies often and if we are interested in acting on television, that we should watch television and the shows and programs we are interested in pursuing. She said, Look hard and find yourself, because you are already out there somewhere. What she meant was that there is another type, another actor or actress who is very similar to you, who is already working. Find that actor and begin to understand even more, what your type is. Thanks for asking the question and don't forget that you need to know your type So having said that and now that you are looking for an acting agent, what s your type?
There are certainly other things you need to do first before you are ready to put yourself out into the acting industry, but if you think you are ready, then by all means start looking for an acting agent. Just make sure you know what they want from you before you start contacting them. All About Headshots Right from the start of your acting career, it's important to know that an actor headshot is your business card. It's necessary because before they actually meet you, talent agents, casting directors, producers and directors want to see something of you that lets them know whether or not they should call you in for an interview or an audition. It helps them to see if you could be the right person for their project, play, film or television show. It's called the actor headshot, because it is a picture of your head area only and could go down to the middle of your chest area, but no more. What is really important in a good headshot is that your eyes are visible and have a strong expression in them that communicates something. It about much more than just looking into the camera and smiling. It's about owning the camera and being in command of yourself. A good headshot photographer can help you achieve that, so choose him/her carefully. The guide below will help you with that. Actor Headshots: A View From The Other Side Your actor headshots are your business card, so to speak. It's your chance to make a first impression, a positive first impression Use that opportunity to the fullest I recently conducted my first casting session that I actually executed myself in search of actors. So instead of going into a casting director s office to audition for an acting job I wanted, it was I who was searching for actors for my new web video project. What an interesting experience So interesting in fact, that I have to tell you about it. Submitting Headshots Briefly here s what I experienced taking into consideration that the casting notice was directed to Non- Union Actors and I also stated that I would also consider actors with little experience. Another thing to take into consideration is that the things that I will talk about here below that I didn t like are exactly that, things that I didn t like, as in me personally. My aim here is to make you think again about your own submissions and about what your headshots look like and how they could be perceived by the casting directors and agents you submit to.
Actor Headshots: 7 Things I Experienced 1. Many submitted actor headshots of poor quality. It was so obvious in some cases that the pictures were not of professional nature, i.e.: taken with an unprofessional camera, poor lighting, expressionless, taken in a poor and inappropriate setting, vacation pictures, inappropriate poses, etc. 2. There was one girl whose picture I saw and I really liked the energy she projected in the photo. I then was curious to read her résumé and look at some more of her pictures. I opened up a page with the original picture I saw as well as three others. The other three pictures were so bad, that I didn t want to call her back. They were very unprofessional and showed me that the one that I originally saw, was retouched to the extent that it didn t look like her. 3. Many of the actors had posted several of their pictures on the website where I posted the casting notice. A few of the women had submitted pictures in which they were blond and another in which they were brunette. I personally preferred to know what I was getting right away. I didn t know if they would come in blond or brunette. So, if I had really been interested in having on of them come into audition, I might have had to call first and ask if she was blond or brunette. Is it a big deal? Maybe. Maybe not. But it really doesn't matter what we think. It's the casting directors and agents who count the most. 4. Another girl had submitted two different pictures and one of them was retouched so much that it didn t look like her anymore. Unbelievable That s bad. 5. I had one girl come in, who didn t look a lot like her headshot. Not good. You should always look like your photo, because that s part of the reason why you get called in by a casting director or agent. If you walk into their office and you don t look like your picture, i.e. your hair is a different color or shorter or longer, or your picture has been retouched too much, that you could seriously upset someone. 6. Finally, something else I saw quite a bit of were terrible, terrible poses. What kind? Like a model, a full-body shot leaning against a wall, so far away that you really can t see the facial expression. Some of the women had very promiscuous poses, that seemed like they could have been on the cover of a pornographic magazine For some casting calls that might be appropriate, but in my casting notice I did not hint in that direction, not even a little bit. The things is, aside from that possibly damaging your chances to get the audition, what it really shows is that the person is not fully aware of herself, otherwise she would not have sent in inappropriate photos like that. One girl submitted a picture that, while I'm sure she must have thought it was sexy, but to me it looked like she was posing as if she were to have a bowel movement Actor Headshots: Who Got The Job And Why? 7. The people I liked the most, which means those who gave the best interviews, were also the ones who submitted actor headshots that were professional, that looked liked them and that matched the energy they projected when I finally got a chance to meet them. For me, that was very precious. With those people I felt like I got exactly what I asked for and what I wanted. And those are the reasons why they got the job
What To Look For When Choosing A Headshot Photographer Choosing a headshot photographer is a big decision, as our actor headshots are a very important piece of our marketing package. We need to make sure we have thoroughly evaluated potential photographer candidates before deciding who will have the honor of taking your pictures. While searching out photographers in your city or in the city you want to have them taken in, there are 10 things you'll want to consider. This list was put together with the help of Peter Hurley, one of New York's most sought after headshot photographers. First of all look at the different headshot photographers' websites and look over their pictures. When looking at photographers pictures, take particular note of the following things: The quality of the pictures: 1. Lighting 2. Quality of the printing (if you see hard copies) 3. Expressions on the faces of the actors 4. Does the photographer have everyone pose in the same way or do you see individualism expressed with each actor? 5. Are the women photographed all in a certain way? 6. Are the men photographed all in a certain way? 7. Are the poses of the actors appropriate? 8. Ask yourself the question, If I were a casting director looking at these photos, would I call these people in? 9. Another question to ask yourself, especially if you see some photos that just aren t of very good quality and/or with poor lighting and poor expressions: Why does this photographer have these photos on his website? Are they the best actor headshots that he/she has to show off to prospective clients? 10. Do you like the photographer s style? If a photographer doesn t have a website, that s not a good sign, that he/she is reputable. Today in 2007 a website is the way to showcase yourself in this business. If a photographer doesn t have one, then that should raise a flag as to his/her credibility in this business. It doesn t mean they are not good, but let it be a first alarm that you park in your mind until you move on and see his/her work. Peter Hurley is one of the leading photographers in New York. His skills are highly sought after and he receives numerous referrals from casting directors and agents alike. A special thanks to PETER HURLEY PHOTOGRAPHY 601 W 26th St. Suite 1425E 212.627.2210 www.peterhurley.com And thank you to Joe Barna of www.colorworksnyc.com (for retouching and headshot reproduction) Both are divisions of Hurley Productions LLC
Questions To Ask When Interviewing A Headshot Photographer 1. How many pictures will you take of me? 2. How long will the session last? 3. How many different looks are included in the price? 4. How do you direct the actor during your sessions? In other words, do you help the actor to come up with different expressions or is the actor responsible for doing that on her own? 5. What colors should I not wear? What color would be best to include in my wardrobe? 6. What happens once the session is complete? How do I get my pictures? 7. How will I view them? 8. What will you give me? A cd with the photos? Will you upload them to a website for me to view? 9. How will/can I make copies? How much will my acting headshots cost? 10. What about retouching? Do you offer that service as well? Is there someone you can recommend? 11. What about hair and make up during the shoot? Do you provide that service? If so, is it included in the price? Do you have any recommendations with regard to hair and make up? (This is also a moment to express any concerns you have about blemishes you would like not to be visible in your photos, etc. Once you have gone through this with the photographer and you have the answers to all your questions, you will also have a feel for whether or not he/she is a person that you feel you would like to work together with to produce your acting headshots. Remember, it s about rapport. You must have a good feeling with your photographer. If you get the feeling that you are being treated as a number and that everything is hurry, hurry and you don t feel good around that person, then follow your instinct and go elsewhere.
Danger Signals To Beware Of When Talking With A Headshot Photographer You Are Thinking Of Hiring A photographer who: o Insists that a meeting isn t necessary o That charges you for the meeting o Who doesn t have a website o Who gives you quick answers that aren t thorough o Who seems bothered by your questions o Who treats you like a number o Who gives you the impression that they are more interested in making money than making sure you get a good headshot o Who doesn t want you to talk to anyone else who worked with him/her Important Principles To Consider When Thinking About Getting Your Headshots o o o Don t just get a headshot photographer, build a relationship It s not just your headshot photographer alone who will be responsible for getting you the result you want. Think that the result that you get from your photo shoot will be the result of your working together with your photographer and not just your efforts alone. Retouching Tips 1) Look first at the work that the photo retouching service has done. For example I have some samples with before and after headshots you can view. That way actors can see how I work. 2) Don t try and second guess what casting directors and talent agents want. You just don t know. You ll make yourself crazy trying to figure it out. 3) Always remember that less is often better. By retouching photos too much, you run the risk of having the photo not look like you anymore. 4) After the photo retouching service has done it s job, make sure you do a test print out. Things can change from what you see on the computer to what you actually get when the photo is printed out. 5) Maybe the most important rule of all is, make sure that the photo looks like you
Considerations for Reproduction of Headshots What you ll Need 1) Headshots (100 or more depending on where you live) 2) Postcards with one of the headshots on it. (500 or more depending on where you live) 3) Business cards (150 or more depending on where you live) Other Considerations 1) Post your photos and get feedback from a) Friends b) Qualified people in the industry o Casting directors o Agents o Acting teachers o Working actors o Career coaches 2) Make your selection a) Commercial b) Theatrical c) Keep the others for your site 3) Cost 4) Quality 5) Speed of service
Practical Application Goals Research headshot photographers Narrow down your selection Start interviewing headshot photographers If you can, make an appointment Continue to look on www.actorsaccess.com for auditions to see what s casting and what roles could be right for you. Preview of Module 3 Weeks 9-12 Resume for new actors Cover letter Pick the low-hanging fruit: - Submit for the easiest acting jobs to get What we ve done and where we re going Your 3 rd Bonus A Surprise that I m sure you will absolutely love