Moviepreneur

Mindset, Positive Outlook and facing Rejection.

The first steps in getting an agent are listed below. There’s no standard method here but there are some suggestions that have worked for others. The most important thing is keeping a positive mindset in the process and not getting discouraged. You will most likely get a lot of “no” responses or no responses at all. Just be aware of it now so it doesn’t bum you out later. Keep your head up and you’ll get an agent.

Marketing Material that you’ll need will include Headshots and a Resume.

At some point I’ll put together an article on how to find a good headshot photographer. The key here is just to find someone within your budget that you feel comfortable with. You don’t have to spend $800 to get good headshots. You can find a lot in the $200-400 range, that are VERY good. Also make sure that you have a standard formatted resume to send in as well.

Submissions are the bread and butter method of getting an agent.

There are two standard submission methods that actors use when they are figuring out how to get an agent. Mailed Submissions and Emailed Submissions are the two standard methods. Mail is generally used a lot more than Email for that matter. You’ll be able to find the addresses on IMDB Pro for the agents and send it in a standard envelope. A nice cover letter would also help.

A good Cover letter can make all the difference

This is one of the most commonly overlooked aspects of trying to get an agent and doing submissions. Your cover letter is essentially your pitch and if you have a bad pitch, you are lowering your chances of getting a positive response. One tip that I’ve learned is that you don’t want to come across as “needy” and if you do and it looks like you’re going to take a lot of work to get making any money, it makes it that much easier for the agent to pass on you.

Referrals can be your savior

If all else fails referrals can be your backdoor into an agency. Keep in mind this is just going to get you in the door, it’s not going to make an agent want to work with you. A referral can come from a fellow actor, industry contact like a producer or even just a friend of an agent. I’ve heard stories of agents own mothers meeting someone and getting the agent to do a meeting. You never know who knows who, so don’t burn any bridges!

Today I’m going to demystify the age old question of how you can get started in the acting business. If you’ve always been wondering, this will tell you all you need to know on how to be an actor.

A friend of mine who isn’t in the business asked me the question the other day and it got me thinking of what the best way to get started is.

There are several things that are important if you want to know how to be an actor.

Time commitment

The first thing you need to know before you get started is the time commitment. You can’t treat it like a hobby and expect great results. You should think about it like getting a new job or starting a new business. You are going to have to put serious amounts of effort in to get a return on your time investment. Don’t let that deter you, that’s just the reality of the business.

So, you’re willing to put in the time. What’s the first step?

Training

You’re not going to make it very far if you don’t have some level of training. Some people are “naturals” but there are still a lot of things you need to know that you aren’t going to find out unless you join a reputable acting class or training program. In fact, I would specifically recommend what’s called a Scene Study class. That will get you in the habit of analyzing scripts and characters, and making acting choices. If you’re not in Los Angeles or New York it might be harder to find a really good class. If you have to drive a couple hours to the next biggest city to find a good Scene Study class, it’s going to be well worth it until you get in a bigger market permanently.

Prepare your mind

You are going to fall down, fail and feel like you’re no good. Don’t worry, this is a very common reaction that people have when they first start. It’s a scary business, acting can be scary and emotional, you are forced to wear your emotions on your sleeve and tap into them on a moments notice and the business is full of rejection. If what I just said doesn’t bother you much, you are probably strong enough and will be able to persevere to be a successful actor. If you can keep a positive attitude even knowing about these negative aspects, you’re going to be a step ahead of your competition. Train your mind to accept criticism with your ego going into defense mode and you’ll be on your way.

Get out and start Acting!

The next most important thing is to get out and start acting. Do student films, short films, create your own short films for YouTube, join a Theater group, practice with friends with or without a camera, get in a scene study class, do whatever you can to work on your acting. It’s like anything else, it takes time to develop and strengthen your “acting muscles”. The more you can practice the better you’re going to get. It’s like if you wanted to become a professional basketball player and didn’t have a very good shot to begin with, you have to develop it and train yourself.

Look for auditions

When you feel you are ready, maybe after taking an audition class or several months of scene study classes start looking for audition notices and casting calls. ActorsAccess is a great resource for that. And, there are countless other resources down to things like Craigslist where you could probably find small local projects that would cast you without too much competition. One note here and something you should keep in mind is that your mind is going to fight against you and tell you that you’re never ready to go audition. I would suggest auditioning after a little bit of training even if you don’t feel you are 100% ready, just to get a sense of what it takes and what you need to work on. You can also go to things called Casting Director Workshops which will help you tune your audition skills in a friendlier environment than a real audition.

Have fun and do it for the right reasons

The most important thing is to make sure that you enjoy acting and having fun with it. Don’t do it for the wrong reasons. If you just want to be famous, there are plenty of other ways to become famous aside from acting. Hopefully you have better intentions and at some point those intentions are going to keep you going when you face obstacles. I believe that if we are doing things for the right reasons the universe rewards us at some point!