Creating a Great Resume - Actor's Guide
As an actor, you will have to 'apply' for an acting job, except that in your profession, it will be called an audition. Your acting resume is one that casting agents take a look at first in order to determine whether you're right for the job or not. It's an essential tool in your career as an actor because it shows your training, acting experiences and important projects you've worked on. Here's how to make an impressive acting resume that will get you noticed:
What your acting resume should contain:
- Your name, address and contact numbers.
- Your acting training, if you have any
- Your acting experience, including the title of the film, play or TV show you worked on
- Include other acting experiences like voice overs, commercials, etc.
Resume must-haves:
Keep a short but concise acting resume. A one-page resume is perfect and don’t forget to include a headshot. Better yet, use your headshot and staple or print your acting resume on the back so it's easy to review.
If your acting experience is short, make sure to highlight the major ones. If you have a lot, include only the more important assignments. Don’t worry too much if you only have a few projects under your belt. All actors have to start somewhere.
While a standard acting resume size is 8 x 11, you can trim it down in order to make it the same size as your headshot if your photo is a little bit smaller. Use staples to attach your acting resume to your headshot, using one staple for every corner of the paper.
Use at least a 10 pt. font to make your acting resume easy to read. If you have a lot of acting experience, try to include only the most significant jobs. You can also make different resumes, each one with a different focus in order to fit a specific part for an audition.
Resume must-nots:
Never lie on your acting resume, it could be found out. The acting industry, while huge, is well connected and documented so whatever work you'll write about will be easy to reference. You should also never lie about special skills or other abilities.
Don’t write a long resume. Casting directors are always in a hurry and don’t have enough time to read everything you've written. Make sure you include only the more important information.
Don't handwrite additional credits on your resume. Everything should be typed.
Don’t name names on your acting resume. If you worked with a famous actor or director, you don’t need to mention it. The casting directors will know.