Tag: acting career hollywood

Mirdon

April 23, 2020

5 Things Actors Should Do during COVID-19

Many of us have wondered what we would do if we happened to be on an island for a long vacation. Or, what we would do if imprisoned. The answer is everything that we do not manage to do in our everyday life. COVID-19 has given us a unique chance to do whatever we have been procrastinating for a long time, to work on ourselves or to open up new talents in us. I am a Los Angeles headshot photographer, and I have closed down my Glendale photo studio in mid-March.

It’s been about a month without headshot sessions. So, I’ve started to paint. I had zero knowledge about painting. Meaning, whatever I used to learn at primary school. I was lucky enough to purchase professional paints and canvases right before everything shut down. Online painting classes have come to replace my regular professional photography workshops and masterclasses.

With this blog, I would like to share my thoughts on what actors could do during the self-quarantine to grow as a professional and not to waste time while at home. Some people say that to be an actor one has to have natural talents. However, the professionals state that acting is a skill that one can develop over time. If you want to become the actor you dream of, to be confident and captivating, you should build your acting skills. And, now is the right time for that.

This article will help you enhance your acting skills irrespective of your acting level and where you are in your career. Everything mentioned in this article requires efforts and dedication.

If you think it is impossible to strengthen your acting skills every day, I am going to prove you wrong. We will talk about working on movement, knowledge, text work, voice, and acting. All the elements mentioned above are crucial for you as a professional actor.

1. Voice

Some actors neglect the importance of voice; however, it is one of the essential instruments that an actor should work on. It includes your form of expression, articulation, breath support, and resonance.

1. Why Work on Your Voice?

Voice is one of the essential aspects of the character. If you want to get various roles, your voice has to vary, too. You cannot use your voice for all the roles you get. What if your character speaks twice as fast as you? You cannot develop a fast-paced speech overnight. It is long hours of out-loud reading and practicing. When my clients try to create various characters during the headshot session, they even change their voice, accent, and overall their way of speaking.

Los Angeles actors know how to make the headshot sessions fun. Professional photographers know that, too. So, for emerging actors, we use some of those techniques to help them relax and calm down. The professionals’ advice is to keep your voice flexible to embody any character you want. Collect as many “voices” and accents as you can. You have plenty of time now.

2. Voice Warm-Ups

If you google, you will find plenty of voice warm-ups for you to choose from. All shapes and sizes. You need to define which one works for you. The best option is to have a professional acting coach to select the best warm-up that will work for you. If you have a chance, try to schedule an online lesson with an acting coach. I am sure there are many acting coaches available online. Or, if you have done it beforehand try to remember what warm-ups you used to do with your acting coach. When you finish choosing the warm-ups now, it is time to schedule a 5-10 minute warm-up every day. As a professional photographer, I can tell you that consistency beats everything. When I was learning adobe photoshop, I would watch online lessons every single day. It would work for me better than a three-hour session just once a week.

3. Articulation Exercises

Choose a literature piece that inspires you and start working on your articulation. Some actors often neglect this skill; however, it is vital to work on it. Don’t forget that every skill you are working on has to be on a daily basis. Add 5-10 minutes of articulation exercises to your daily routine of becoming a better actor.

– Strengthen your Tongue

There are several articulation exercises that can help you strengthen your diction. Firstly, work on your tongue. Try to get more control over your tongue. You can do it by reading aloud or just talking to yourself whenever you are by yourself.

– Work on your Articulation Muscles

Learn tongue twisters and practice them as much as you can. Whenever I feel that my clients cannot relax during the headshot session, I ask them to say 3 pf their favorite tongue twisters. And here they are laughing. Besides, it helps them relax their facial muscles. Another good exercise is stretching the jaws and running the tongue around the walls of the mouth.

– Mirror Exercises

While doing all these articulation exercises sit or stand in front of the mirror. Choose a favorite story or a dialogue from a Hollywood movie and try to read out loud. If it is a movie dialogue, try to mimic their style and pronunciation.

2. Move and Do Yoga

Every professional actor has to be able to move freely. Like with voice, being able to move and do any basic physical movement is essential for a good actor, not to mention how much more role opportunities get the ones who specialize in martial arts and other sports.

As we all have to stay home, and there is no hassle, it is the right time to do yoga. Find an online yoga course on YouTube and work on your body on a daily basis. Here is my favorite yoga channel. Day by day you will feel how flexible your body becomes. Like with any skill, you have to be consistent. Whenever I was fully booked for headshots, I would spare 5 minutes in between headshot sessions and stretch my body on my yoga mat in my photo studio.

3. Enrich Your Knowledge

Quarantine is the right time to challenge yourself and expand your knowledge. Write down a list of books, scripts or plays you wish to read. Be realistic but don’t pity yourself. Ready at least 100 pages per day. It can be something about the Hollywood industry, acting skills, self-improvement. For example, I prefer reading books on photography business in Los Angeles, online marketing and psychological books as every headshot photographer has to know psychology as well.

To improve your acting skills, some professionals advise reading drama plays and movie scripts. Most reading materials are available online, even for free. Reading helps you observe different characters, genres, language styles. After reading so much, you may start writing yourself. This is what some actors do after a certain time in the industry. If you don’t know what to start with here is a list of top 50 drama plays.

Watch Online Movies, Theatre, and TV Shows

When you get tired of reading there comes another great way of expanding your knowledge as an actor. Watch a movie, or a TV show or an online drama play. Here is an excellent list of streaming theatres. Now, it is the right time to enjoy almost live performances. You have to engage in the industry to be able to get your niche in it. Challenge yourself to at least a movie or a performance a day. Even if you think some of those are terrible, you will also learn how you should not do and will be able to tell the good stuff from the bad stuff.

4. Work with Text

Working with text is tied to your voice exercises. A good actor can bring any text to life and give it a unique interpretation.

1. Read out loud

Another thing that you can do while at home is reading out loud. This point is tied to your daily voice exercises and expanding your knowledge. It will help you become more confident with text, try various accents, voices, styles. Choose an article, a dialogue, a script, or just read the rest of my blogs. I have a lot of blogs on the acting industry in Los Angeles, networking in Hollywood, tips on how to choose the headshot wardrobe and get ready for a headshot session. Just make sure it is out loud.

2. Learn a Monologue

As you have to stay home during this COVID-19 pandemic, it is the best time to learn a monologue. Some emerging actors think one cannot practice acting alone. In this case, it is not true. Pick at least two monologues a week and learn them. As you have a lot of time, you can record yourself and share them on social media and get comments. You can also send them to your acting coaches to get their professional feedback, too. Or, just send it to your headshot photographer who is sure to have some spare time to watch your video. In my practice, I always end up being friends with my headshot clients as they come back again and again with their friends and classmates.

Work on Your Acting Skills

COVID 19 has shut down all the acting schools. But it cannot stop you from improving your acting skills. Consider taking an online acting class. There are plenty now. My advice is not to just watch them as entertaining stuff. Take notes. The best thing about online courses is the opportunity to pause, to watch again or just to jump if it is too boring. From my personal experience, as once I was watching a lot of photography courses, I can say that Masterclass has the best stuff for online learning. Read more on Los Angeles acting career.

5. Keep Learning

The key to becoming a professional actor is to keep learning. Again, I’m not tired of saying that you have to learn on a daily basis. Don’t strive to be a perfect actor, just be better than yesterday. If your goal is to be perfect, it won’t work because none of us is perfect. Moreover, it may make you miserable.

I may take you years to become a skilled actor. But hard work will take you anywhere. Use this time, and by the end of the quarantine, you will become a better actor, and you will not feel depressed or even lonely. Of course, nobody knows when this pandemic will be over, but we should not get miserable because we have no chance to do our jobs as an actor or, me, as a headshot photographer. Now, it is the right time to invest in yourself. If you had an idea to start an Instagram page or a vlog, it is the right time to do so. It will strengthen your acting muscles and improve your on-camera techniques.

Organize online reads

If after all these you feel lonely and need some companionship, schedule a skype call with an actor friend and do dialogues with them. When you master the craft, you can do a live performance for your social media followers. Another motivating thing is to do all the mentioned above exercises on camera, record yourself and turn it into a success story that can become a movie or a YouTube vlog. Why not? Entertain your friends, family, and followers who are at home. Share the tips from this article with them with your samples. That will definitely be motivation not only for you but for the viewers as well. It can turn into a job as you get more views on Youtube and monetize them.

As a Conclusion

Now that you have plenty of time, you can plan your actors’ post-COVID-19 activities. Define what kind of actor you want to be. Comedy or drama? Stage or screen? The same is true for the photography industry. Nowadays, most of the headshot photographers in Los Angeles have turned into product photographers.

Consider taking an acting class. There is a huge selection of acting classes in Los Angeles. Google or ask your friends. Read the reviews. Explore their pricing. And make sure they are not a one-time or a one-weekend deal as it is crucial to keep the consistency even after the pandemic.

Learn more about headshot pricing in Los Angeles.

Click here to book a headshot session in Downtown Los Angeles.

You can view more Professional Headshots | Los Angeles Headshot Photographer on our home page.

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Seda Stepanyan

March 9, 2020

10 Tips on Actors’ Career in Los Angeles

I am sure each day you listen or read a lot of advice on how to create a successful career. Me, being a headshot photographer in Los Angeles, I also heard a lot of useful and important advice. But also in my career, I understood that being talented is never enough. Yes, if you are talented, then you will be noticed by many people. But besides talent, one of the most important things are the habits that you have as a professional, and how you develop them during your life. Habits can be a crucial part of any professional’s career, and more important is how you use and develop them step-by-step to become successful. I am sure every person has their own set of rules which are tested over time. As a headshot photographer in Los Angeles who does affordable headshots for many young actors, I want to share the ten most important habits that can improve actors’ career in Los Angeles.

1. Start Developing Your Listening Skills Right Now

Sometimes listening is better than talking. Knowing how to listen carefully is an essential skill, which helps you to orientate in many situations. It is not important what your profession is, if you are not a good listener, then I would advise you to dedicate time each day to master that skill. Because if you don’t know how to listen, then you will never become advanced as a professional. If you think that you are not a good listener, or you get distracted easily, then don’t panic, because it is possible to develop that skill. Have a goal to listen more and get as much information and knowledge as you can. Try to listen very carefully and keep eye contact, because it always helps. If you tell yourself that in front of you stands a person who can transform a huge amount of knowledge to you even in 10 minutes, then I am sure you will be able to listen and master your listening skills in a very short time.

2. Read More Books

Books develop the imagination of a person. As we grow older, we become busier in this quick life and don’t provide enough time for reading. But even if we read for ten pages in a day, it will make a great difference. If you read books, it will not only help you to become more developed and educated but also will help to understand how to create the character better. You can share your book with other actors, and they might also recommend you the new ones. This will help to develop networking with others and discuss the book with each other. If you are going to play a fictional character from the book, then it would be more useful to read the book rather than the script. Reading books will also master your language skills and will help you to express yourself more beautifully. And in addition to this, reading books is one of the most interesting and enjoyable things in the world. The one who reads books always stands out from the crowd.

3. New Mentors

It is hard to reach any success if you don’t have someone who will guide you and help during the journey. Each of us has at least someone in our life who motivates us and helps to move forward. Teachers and mentors are one of them. They help us to learn something new and acquire new information. And most importantly, it is always a pleasure to know that there is someone who wants to spend their time educating us. They may give very valuable advice which can be crucial in your career. But if you understand that you are not growing anymore with them and that there are no challenges for you, then you can always try to find new people who will create new challenges for you, and help you to develop. Being among the headshot photographers in Los Angeles, I also have important people in my life who play a very crucial role. But in addition to that, I always try to get to know new people who may bring something new with them, and I can learn many new things from them.

4. Follow the News

Our generation is lucky enough because we live in the 21st century, where many sources have been created for us to get more information. In one minute we can be informed about something new which happened on the other end of the world. In such a fast-developing industry, every actor must be informed about what happens in the world. It doesn’t mean that you must be an expert in every aspect, but being aware will never hurt. For example, it will help you with networking. You will always find a topic to speak to someone who is not from your industry. And this will help you to be a developed and interesting person. Successful actors’ career in Los Angeles is very much connected with the trends, so remember to be aware of them always. As I am one of the headshot photographers in Los Angeles, I always try to be aware of not only what happens in my industry but also all over the world. For example, in order to take affordable headshots, I examine what the new trends are, how to do something new, and create one-of-a-kind pictures.

5. Decrease the Time Spent on Your Phones

Yes, I know what you may think. Above I have mentioned that you must follow the news every day. And most of us mostly do it with the help of our phones. But there are many other ways to get useful information. They become one of the most important parts of our daily life, and we can’t imagine our lives without them. Actually, the reality is that most of the time, we are just killing time with our phones. And the majority of the information that we get may be useless. And that distracts us from the important things. If you want to have a successful actors’ career in Los Angeles, you must know that your time is the most valuable thing, and you should take care of it. When I do affordable headshots for many actors In Los Angeles, I understand how they value their time, and they are very careful about how much time they spend daily on their phones.

6. Learn From the Best

If you are a beginner actor, it is important to make sure that you learn from the giants in the industry. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should do exactly what they do. But when you watch a movie with a famous and talented actor in it, try to analyze and learn something from their acting. I am sure there are many techniques which can be useful for you and will help you to develop your techniques. In order to have a successful actors’ career in Los Angeles, you should learn as much as you can. And I am sure there are many people who can help you with their own experience and with their acting style. Headshot photographers in Los Angeles, also always try to learn. Because there are many people who have passed a tough and valuable road, and we can learn a lot from their journey. I highly recommend you to watch this fascinating and motivating TED talk by Adam Driver.

7. Network

I have a separate article for this important topic, because it is too important. I’m not tired of saying that networking skill is the most essential skill in the actor’s life. And not only in an actor’s life but also in every professional’s career. You should always try to get to know different people. Try to attend events, classes or other places where you can meet interesting people. As I am a headshot photographer in Los Angeles who takes affordable headshots for actors with low photoshoot rates, I know many cases, when because of a certain person, an actor becomes successful. Of course, talent always plays a huge role, but imagine if you get to know a famous director who tries to find a new and fresh actor for his or her movies. Wouldn’t it be great if he would suggest that role to you? Of course, it would. So start mastering your networking skills, and be ready to meet new people. Here are a couple of networking dos and don’ts about which every actor must know.

8. Explore Hobbies

Being in love with what you do is one of the best gifts that one can have. But dedicate time on doing something completely different than acting. Find new hobbies, and try to explore them. This will help to relax and clear your mind, and eventually, you’ll notice that your acting becomes better and better. I am sure there are many activities which might interest you. You can attend painting classes or do some sports etc. The most important thing is that it has to be different from your profession. Don’t be afraid of trying new things and experimenting with your abilities. For the actors’ career in Los Angeles, this is very important. Being a headshot photographer in Los Angeles, I also have my favorite hobbies, which help me to turn off my mind and fully relax. And that helps to become more creative and create one-of-a-kind affordable headshots with low photoshoot rates in Los Angeles.

9. Don’t Compare Yourself with Others

As I have already mentioned above, it is important to take an example from other successful and talented people. But today, in such a fast-developing industry, it is crucial to understand that you must have your individuality. So, don’t try to compare yourself to anyone, and more importantly, don’t try to be like someone else. This may lead to jealousy, and eventually, you will easily lose your uniqueness. Many actors may face such a problem, especially when it seems that nothing goes right. In every profession, each person has his or her path, which is built over time. Sometimes it may seem that for others, the road is more effortless. But believe me, it’s not. And it is always interesting how everyone is creating their road to success. Work hard, and don’t let jealousy take over you.

10. Become Confident

If you are an actor, then being confident is one of the most important things for a successful actors’ career in Los Angeles. You should be confident enough to present yourself, to talk with other people, to create roles, etc. If you are not confident, then people will notice it, and it will affect your acting. Of course, at first, it may not seem simple, but in time you will already feel comfortable in most of the situations, and hence you will feel confident. As a headshot photographer in Los Angeles, while taking affordable headshots of actors, I always understand when the actor is confident and when not. And I always try to create an atmosphere where it would be comfortable for them to pose for the camera. So, in every situation, you must be calm and try to feel and behave confidently.

To become successful, at first, you must have a clear and focused mindset. You should develop habits, which will guide you through your acting career. As I have already said in the beginning, there is no specific rule for this, and each of us can develop our own set of habits. I am sure these habits will only help you to become a better version of yourself and be more powerful day by day. We have read many success stories of how people reached significant heights, and if we explore their journey, we will notice that most of it are because of the habits that they have. So in order to have a successful actors’ career in Los Angeles, develop your own sets of habits with the help of this list, which I have shared with you.

Learn more about headshot pricing in Los Angeles.

Click here to book a headshot session in Downtown Los Angeles.

You can view more Professional Headshots | Los Angeles Headshot Photographer on our home page.

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Seda Stepanyan

January 16, 2020

6 Best Free Casting Websites of 2020

Today, thanks to the development of technologies, actors who are about to begin their acting career in Los Angeles, have the chance to find job opportunities online. Casting websites make that process accessible to actors, thus making it simple to respond to Los Angeles casting calls. It is no more necessary to print out your resume and a headshot made by a Los Angeles headshot photographer. Opening your computer right now, you have the chance to find casting opportunities that are appropriate and free. If you are a starting actor and if you are looking for a place to make your first step in, this is the right place for you to be. Below you can find the best free casting websites of 2019 with detailed descriptions.

1. Backstage

Backstage is one of the dominant acting websites. It describes itself as a platform that educates and informs emerging actors about the requirements of their career. Backstage essentially leads actors to become talented performers and achieving their goals. It is a a webpage that is looking for your talent and does everything possible to make it possible for you to reach your purposes.

You can see Los Angeles casting call opportunities just by entering the casting calls section of Backstage. You will find out more than 10000 acting job opportunities there. It provides the following information for each job opportunity:

Description

Backstage provides a detailed description of each casting opportunity it offers. You can select the “read more” button of each of the description sections, and you will find all the information you need about that job. It enables you to find the company name, the production details, and the suggested roles. You will also be able to apply in this section just by clicking the Apply button.

Dates And Locations

You will find the location of the production and what time you need to be there right below the Description section. You will also see any dates with important meetings or rehearsals that you need to attend. If a special interview date is listed, don’t forget to take your resume and headshot. You may need these two at any moment.

What are you auditioning for?

A commercial? A theater performance? Or, a film? What kind of film is it? You will see a small icon in the upper part of the job offer. In case you are interested in the particular form of an acting career, you may consider this tool helpful.

Additional Information

Backstage also notifies with a green icon whether the job is paid or not. Further, the casting call provides some information about additional requirements, such as the desired age or gender for a specific role.

Filters

The ability to filter among the thousands of job opportunities is the best thing about this website. It enables you to filter the characteristics of the casting call you wish to have. You may choose a special role type, production, and location. You can also filter your gender and approximate age in order not to waste time.

Backstage serves as a casting streaming tool where you can find a job among numerous Los Angeles casting calls. You can get quality opportunities here as it truly cares about your career and is willing to work with emerging talents.

2. Casting Frontier

Casting Frontier is one of the first innovators to implement an online casting opportunity. Launched in 2006, it made it possible to do the step-by-step audition online. Now there is no more need for struggling through the stress of entering the audition room. This platform allows casting directors to post their announcements on the website. Consequently, it becomes easier for emerging actors to do the preparatory work, including writing a resume and getting a headshot at a Los Angeles headshot photographer’s studio as the auditioning process itself is less stressful.

Casting Frontier, as one of the best casting websites, suggests the following 4 steps that lead to reaching your goals.

Create Your Profile

Here you can showcase your professional resume, headshot, and demo reel.

Find Acting Roles You Want

You can search among dozens of casting calls and filter with characteristics that are applicable to you.

Apply To Auditions With A Click

The only thing you have to do for applying to a casting call is just one click.

Audition From Anywhere

You can be located anywhere in the world, and the casting directors can contact you remotely.

On this website, with numerous casting calls in Los Angeles and other locations, you have three membership options. Signing in to the Casting Frontier, your free account will include the following:

An online resume
1 headshot by a professional headshot photographer
Casting call submissions with limited role possibilities

The free subscription already provides decent opportunities. However, if you want more professional headshots and other options, you can pay for premium or premium plus membership level.

Thanks to casting frontier, it becomes easier both for the actors and for the casting directors to organize the auditions. Take advantage of the fact that it is free and start your phenomenal acting career in Hollywood.

3. Casting Networks Incorporated

Casting Networks Incorporated is also one of the best free casting websites that is a pioneer in this field. It was one of the first organizations that understood that the so-called talent scouting is not making the casting process productive. That is why this is a great place to respond to Los Angeles casting calls and audition online.

Casting Network Incorporated scheduled 14 million auditions since its creation in 2002. As you can see, Casting Network Inc. is one of the best casting websites right now, so you can think about finding your dream job here.

There is a free account opportunity on this website, but it requires you to have agency representation. The free membership includes the following:

A free professional headshot
A profile that casting directors can search and find
An online resume with a personalized Uniform Resource Locator
Free access to new projects
Access to people such as directors, Los Angeles headshot photographers and acting coaches

Casting Network Inc. is a professional website and one of the best ones where you can find quality casting calls. Therefore, even if you do not belong to any agency, you might think about paying $25 and becoming a member here.

4. Playbill

If you live in the United States, you have probably heard about playbill. You should be familiar with playbill as a magazine, and you may associate it with the famous yellow pamphlets. Some people find them cool, while others think they are annoying. But did you know that Playbill does something more than just producing those yellow pamphlets? Yes, it does, and it is actually what you desperately need if you are an actor.

The company has a casting website where you can find numerous casting calls in Los Angeles and other cities as well. On the website of Playbill, you can find new jobs and auditions every day. This website serves as a free resource for you to look for opportunities to start your career or to earn some money as an actor.

Unfortunately, Playbill does not have a submission portal; however, all the posts are legitimate and of high quality here. They provide all the necessary contact information so that you do not have difficulties. It also provides information on what you should have for your application, including the number of headshots, the details about your demo reel, etc. Make sure to know how to prepare an excellent demo reel and where to get a headshot by a professional LA headshot photographer.

5. Actors Access

Actor Access is a fantastic platform today not only for emerging talented actors but also for casting professionals. Breakdown Services run this website, which talks about nothing else but the professionalism of the website. Being one of the primary distributors in the acting industry, Breakdown Incorporation makes Actors Access one of the best casting websites in 2019.

Actors Access is a website where you can find high-quality gigs even if you don’t have an agent. As the website has a free membership opportunity, you may want to know what it includes:

All-day access to breakdowns in the website
A resume, a size card and 2 headshots to upload for free
A 7-second-long video where you introduce yourself

As in any casting website, Actors Access also has maintenance fees. Therefore, the additional elements that you wish to have in your profile need payment. However, the free membership provides opportunities that are surely enough for responding to Los Angeles casting calls.

There is one thing that makes Actors Access special among the other best casting websites. It has a tool called Showfax, which allows you to search for future projects in your city. For instance, if you live in Los Angeles, just choose your city here and find the best casting calls that have the potential to put a start for your acting career in Hollywood.

Actors Access provides every single service that may come to an actor’s as well as a casting director’s mind. It is a perfect place for the actors to make the first step towards their acting career in Hollywood and. It is also a great place for the casting directors to find the most talented actors for their projects.

6. Mandy.com

Among the free casting websites that you had a chance to read here, Mandy.com is the one with the highest recognition. There are certain characteristics that define Mandy.com as a quality website.

Many opportunities

Mandy.com provides free access to auditions in different spheres of acting, including theatre roles, films, and TV productions, voiceovers, and child acting. What is more, in case you are interested in, there are also casting opportunities for musicians, dancers, and singers at Mandy.com.

Simplicity

Mandy.com is very simple. Right after entering the website, you make your free registration and start looking for casting calls.

Rich

Mandy.com has over 6500 casting calls each month. You can have access to various job opportunities with their contact information and choose the best one for your acting career.

In addition to this, Mandy Network is in the leading position among the best free casting websites thanks to the services it provides. Here they are:

Instant Job Alerts

Registering at Mandy.com, you will receive notifications about new jobs and auditions via email. This may seem natural. However, the ones that you receive will match your location and correspond to your skillset. Sounds great, right? Mandy.com facilitates your research.

Professional Profile

You will have the opportunity at Mandy.com to create a personal profile, where you can upload your headshots made by your Los Angeles headshot photographer. You will create a platform where casting agencies will be able to find out some information about you as well.

Network and Connections

In a community with over 2.7 million participants, you will be able to find new contacts and new opportunities to achieve new goals in your acting career.

Create a Website

The Mandy Network creates the opportunity to turn the profile you made into a real website just with one click.

As you may already guess, Mandy.com is a fantastic place to consider for starting an acting career in Hollywood. It is also a great place for agents to find new jobs for their clients. The Mandy Network is a professional platform and is in a leading position among the best casting websites.

So, let’s imagine that you, as a starting actor, have just finished writing your resume and have just got a fantastic actor’s headshot from a Los Angeles headshot photographer. It is now time to look for Los Angeles casting calls for your career. As you already know, it is not necessary to go to a casting agency physically. The new age with digital technologies allows you to look for opportunities and build your career with the use of your electronic devices. You can get your job online thanks to the best casting websites that you had a chance to read about above.

Articles to check out: YouTube for Actors in Los Angeles. Get more information on useful information that actors can get from YouTube. Another article you should read is about capturing personality in portrait photography.

Learn more about headshot pricing in Los Angeles.

Click here to book a headshot session in Downtown Los Angeles.

You can view more Professional Headshots | Los Angeles Headshot Photographer on our home page.

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12 Comments

Seda Stepanyan

October 10, 2019

Wanna Quit Los Angeles Acting Career? Read this!

Your bills are stacked up on the kitchen table, your family is asking what TV show your next role is in, and all you receive are rejection emails. You thing that it is hard to start acting career in Los Angeles? I have been present at many venting sessions about these difficulties when actors in Los Angeles come to me for headshot sessions. Trust me; everyone has been there. Many successful actors thought of quitting acting in Los Angeles. It isn’t a comfortable life. Before you take drastic action, you might later regret, here are some things to consider.

Ask yourself

Have I given it all I got?

Have you really taken all the steps to make acting a full-time career, or are you only regarding it as a hobby? It is a tiresome process and takes time, but until you’ve done it all, you shouldn’t think about quitting. Maybe you aren’t getting bookings because you don’t have a digital brand. Or, perhaps it’s time to update the headshots. Fill your day with a rigid schedule of activities that will benefit your career. Go to so many open castings so many times that you lose count. The day you have genuinely given it, everything is the day your career truly starts.

Does my team do me justice?

Ask yourself if your team really has your best interest at heart and what they’re willing to go to you for the sake of your career. Your team will be your primary source of motivation and hope; they should be people who are rooting for you. If you are always frustrated with your agent, maybe it’s time to get a new one. Does your resume represent you and your experience correctly? Try to understand what type of role you are looking for and refresh your demo clips to match. A tip is to invite your headshot photographer to your demo reel shooting, and you can do both tasks at once. Your headshot photographer in Los Angeles is sure to capture some dynamic shots in the process. This can be an easy and affordable process if you pick the right photographer.

Do I really want to quit?

For some people quitting may be the right step. Take the time to understand what the thought of quitting acting and pursuing a different career makes you feel. If you feel light, happy, and relieved, then maybe you have lost interest, and it’s time to pick a different path. But, if the thought makes you feel defeated, lost, and sad, then maybe you just need a recharge.

…if the thought makes you feel defeated, lost, and sad, then maybe you just need a recharge…

Take a day off and go out of town with friends or anything to distract yourself from your struggles. Give yourself some time to miss the hustle and bustle of acting life. I promise it’s still there, but everyone needs a burst of fresh, positive energy to put them back on their feet.

Remember Why you Chose this Path!

Inspire yourself

To be inspired, you must expose yourself to more than just the entertainment business. Immerse yourself in arts: painting, music, dance, theatre, etc. Try to visit the Los Angeles County Museum of Art or the Met regularly, and visualize everything. Turn off your electronics and people-watch in the street, or the park. Visit beautiful and hidden places in your city, take photographs, and explore your creativity. You almost never realize how easy it is to get caught up in the details of life and lose perspective of your goals. A Los Angeles agent talked about how impressed he was when the young James Franco always showed up to waiting rooms with a book in his hand. James Franco even went on to write his own book titled “Palo Alto.”

Motivate yourself!

If you’ve chosen the acting path, it’s because you feel that you’re good at it, or you’ve been told you’re good at it. Deep down in your heart, you understand that you genuinely do love acting, but sometimes you need a refresher. Make some popcorn and rewatch the movies you used to love. Watch behind the scenes clips on sets and old Oscar footage.

Look up and watch interviews of actors who you look up to. You will soon realize that they have all been through the same struggles.

Go out with your friends and share your troubles, and they may be able to help you with encouraging words. Those close to you know how much you’ve been through. They won’t be able to get you the part or find you an agent, but they will be there to listen to you and help you take your mind off things.

Make a Pact with Yourself!

No one knows your goals, your struggles, and your ambitions except yourself. And no one other than yourself can entirely give you the advice and motivation you need. You must make a pact with yourself to devote a few days every week to do something for your career. Choose the days of the week that best fit your schedule and book auditions, interviews, workshops, and classes. But, it is also important to have days off to rest. A well-made schedule and hard work always pays off in the end.

Don’t slack off on the days you must work, and your rest days will surely be more rewarding.

It took me many tries and lots of time to become a successful headshot photographer in Los Angeles. But now I do what I love every day, and nothing can beat that.

Enjoy the process

Obviously, being on set, seeing yourself in a movie, and going to the biggest parties in Los Angeles are all fantastic experiences. But so are acting classes, headshot sessions, auditions and meetings with your agent. Most actors will tell you that in the end, it’s the stops on the journey that they cherish the most. The roommates in your tiny Los Angeles apartment know what you’re going through and will live your hardest days with you. They may even become your best friends for a long time to come. Next time you get an audition, try to enjoy the whole process and not just on the part. Don’t focus on the job that comes after and be excited about the opportunity you’ve been given.

Instead of complaining that you need new headshots taken, book your session, make friends with your photographer and have fun along the way.

Headshot photographers in Los Angeles have seen so many actors come and go and make it big, that they can surely give you some tips and tricks that you wouldn’t find anywhere else. Maybe you’re not in a designer gown on the red carpet, but you’re surrounded by like-minded people who share that same dream, motivation, and drive. So take the time to make friends, learn from their experiences and understand their mistakes in order not to make the same ones. Try always to be present, and at the moment, experience the highs and lows of being a newbie. Who knows, maybe all these small adventures will be a hit with the audience in your next talk show interview or Oscar acceptance speech 🙂

Understand How Familiar this Feeling is!

When you talk to any actor who has made it big in the industry, they are sure to tell you how long it took them to get that one role, which made their career. For some of the rare lucky ones, it might’ve been very early in the time they’ve spent as an actor. But for most people, it has taken them years of blood sweat and tears. Ten years ago, Johnny Depp might have been the man who was selling you pens over the phone, and Rachel McAdams might have been serving you burgers at McDonald’s. Look where they’re at now!

Jenna Fischer

Jenna Fischer often recalls how she arrived in Los Angeles on the first day of choosing to pursue an acting career and that everything was perfect for one day. But then nothing happened for six years.

It took her six long years of crying, debt, and letters of rejection to make a living in Hollywood.

Then two additional years later, she landed her break out role as the beloved Pam Beesly on “The Office.” And now, she says that the struggle was a natural part of the process and that it was a way of testing her desire and creativity for acting.

Bradley Cooper

Considering how well-known he is in the industry today, you wouldn’t be able to tell how much Bradley Cooper has been through. But like the rest, he too has considered quitting many times. Before his breakout roles, he was acting in commercials that never left the drafts of the editors. After many rejections and small parts, he experienced his so-called “Do or Die” moment at the audition of the 2006 theater production of “Three Days of Rain”. He says he vividly remembers thinking that if this part didn’t work, then he wasn’t cut out to be an actor. It was time to consider a new path. But as you know, it did work out for him in the end. Shortly after, he got one of his first significant breaks with “Wedding Crashers” and the rest is history.

Uzo Aduba

Before her significant breakout role as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren on the hit-Netflix show. Orange Is the New Black; it really was a whole bunch of lows with no ups. She tells of a rough time in her life when she basically quit and was crying everyday. Her mind was telling her that this was the end and that she’s finally done with acting. But then, 45 minutes later she got the call of her life. Uzo Aduba said in an interview that she’ll never forget that moment for her entire life.

“I could be 98 years old, and my grandchildren can ask, ‘Grandma, when did you get the role?’ and I’ll say, ‘5.43 pm. September 14.'”

Kristen Stewart

Kristen Stewart has recently become a household name and has reached the top of the Hollywood after her role in “Panic Room” and teen-hit series “Twilight.” But before all the fame, she was seriously considering leaving the acting industry. She wasn’t getting any commercials, and she was going to quit and leave acting career in Los Angeles for good. Kristen was only receiving rejections and was crying after every audition. Her mom instructed her to go to her last casting appointment, and that got her breakout role in “The Safety of Objects.” If she hadn’t gotten that, she would have been done.

“There was one guy who once said to me; there are no failures in Hollywood, only people who gave up too soon.”
-David Carradine

Acting isn’t easy. And making it big is even harder, especially when you’re in the heart of the industry in Hollywood. But it’s important to understand that these struggles are temporary. Temporary can mean 2,5 or 10 years, but if you are consistently putting in the work, your results are eventually going to show.

This is an industry that is growing with every passing day, and it is always in need of talented actors, you just have to know where to look. Don’t mistake exhaustion or frustration with the need to quit, and don’t make rash decisions. Take the time to sit down, think about my tips, and choose your steps wisely. Your future largely depends on your present and what you decide to do with it.

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Seda Stepanyan

September 28, 2019

Actor’s Resume - Everything You Need to Know

Every job requires a resume. The resume is your image in the eyes of your employer regardless of the job type you are applying for. That is why people always spend time and efforts to create a great resume that will help them get the job of their dreams. If you are an actor, the resume is a very special and important thing for your acting career in Hollywood. You need to have a good resume with a professional headshot for auditions in Los Angeles casting agencies. So, do not panic, concentrate, as here you will find everything you need to know for creating an outstanding resume.

First Steps

If you have just graduated from an acting school and these are your first steps for an acting career in LA, you should start looking for auditions in Los Angeles casting agencies. Even if you think that the particular role does not speak to you that much, still go for it. Remember that any kind of acting is right for a start. Even if the work is not paid, you should absolutely apply! After doing a certain amount of auditions in LA, you will become a more established actor. The more auditions you have in your resume, the higher are your chances to start a professional acting career in Hollywood.

Components

An actor’s resume, just as the one of other professions, has particular musts that should be completed. Some of them may seem logical and even ridiculous, but we assure you that there have been cases when people forgot to include the most essential ones. Down here, you can find the absolute must elements that need to be included in your professional actor’s resume.

Your Name

Yes, the presence of this point up here is really necessary. Some people do forget to put their name in the resume. In LA casting agencies, the casting group comes across wonderful resumes, which lack the name of the actor. You may say, “I am not that dull,” but still, please be attentive.

Contact Information

Your resume should absolutely contain your email and a working telephone number. These are the means by which Los Angeles casting agencies contact you when they when consider you for the role you applied for. In case you have an agent, his or her contact information should also be listed in your professional resume. Your agent is your representative, and if you have them, the casting group will contact you through him/her. Sometimes actors do not even include their personal email address, but rather write the one of their agents.

Union Partnership

If you have an affiliation to any union in both the acting sphere and others, it should be mentioned in your resume. You should write about your union affiliations below your name. This information is especially important for the Los Angeles casting agencies, as your membership gives you some kind of recognition. For instance, if you are a member of Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), Actor Federal Credit Union (AFCU) or Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the casting agency may be interested in it and consider you accordingly.

No Personal Address

Acting is a job that deals with some amount of fame and recognition. At some point of actor’s life, you will begin being identified for your roles, may those be movie, theatre or commercial ones. For that reason, you may want people not to know where you live. Once you put the information about your residence in your resume, it will become public. There are stalkers in every sphere, and acting is not an exception. What is more, actors deal with stalking really much. Your email address and phone number are more than enough for the Los Angeles casting agencies. So, save yourself from stalkers and never ever put your home address in your resume.

No Age, No Birthdate

There is absolutely no need to state your age or the date of your birth in your resume. That is considered a piece of excessive information for the casting personnel. Do not forget that the people who you send your resume to are the ones to either give or not to give you the part. If they have not seen you yet, they may look at your resume, learn about your age, and decide not to hire you because you are too young or too old. They may assume that your age does not match the one of the offered characters. Yes, it is unfair, but it is also the truth. However, if your age is not written in your resume, you may go to auditions in LA, impress the casting personnel, and they will give you the part regardless of your age. Besides, if you want something to signal about your age, let it be your headshot.

Headshot

Here we arrived! The headshot is the most essential thing in the actors’ resume. If you are in the process of writing a resume for your acting career in Hollywood, the very first thing you should do is to get a headshot. If you are new in the acting domain, you may want to start by looking for affordable headshots for your first auditions in LA. However, as mentioned, headshots are the most important element of your resume; that is why they should be made by a professional photographer in the Los Angeles area. Your headshot is the first thing casting agencies notice in your portfolio. The reality is that images do talk about people. Images are the things that create the first impression, which, as we know is the most significant one. So, make sure your headshot is a really good one and by all means. You can find some headshot tips here. Besides, take some time to choose the best outfit for your studio headshot. The best suggestions for a headshot wardrobe are listed here.

Your Acting Credits

The toughest one has come. You are required to mention your actual acting credits in your resume. Are you a newly developing actor? If yes, then list every single part you played throughout your academic life. Start out with secondary roles of plays you made in your acting school. Have you played Benvolio in “Romeo and Juliet” or Cassio in “Othello,” Olivia in “Twelfth Night” or any other Shakespearean staff that any actor plays at school? Do not hesitate to include those. If you had a chance to play a more leading role such as “Hamlet” either professionally or no, it should absolutely be in your resume. The size of your part really does not matter. If you are just starting your acting career in Hollywood, list every single thing you have done so far.

If you are already a little experienced and you have more professional parts left behind, you can be selective in your acting credits. You may want to remove your high school acting experiences as those may seem to be too amateur. After that, when you gain even more qualified, you can also consider removing some of your small parts of college. Even if you have played smaller roles professionally, they may seem unnecessary in your resume. When you are more mature and more acknowledged, your post-graduation part is more relevant.

How to List Acting Credits?

When listing your acting experience in your resume, it is not only important to know what to list, but also how to list. It is not enough to write the title of your performance. That will tell nothing to the Los Angeles casting agencies who consider you for a particular role. Here you can see what information makes the acting credits section of your resume complete and relevant.

Role

Who do you play? If you list a theatre role, you should write where the character you play belongs to. Is the character taken from a famous play? Is it a new personage from a modern play? Include both the title of the play and the author.

Institution

Where did you play the role? Is it a theatre role? Write the name of the theatre and its location.

Is it a movie character? In that case, write down the film studio who produced the movie you played in. For your roles in commercials, there is also a lot of information to put in. You should write the name of the company which produces that commercial. If it is an advertisement, you also have to write the name of the product. Do not forget about the location.

Production

Who produced the content you played in? This is probably the central thing that defines the quality of your acting experience. You may have played a 5-minute long part that appeared only once on the theater stage. However, if that role had been in Broadway Theater, it would be considered a huge plus in your resume. On the other hand, if you played “Hamlet” but did it in a middle school, it would obviously not seem to be a big thing.

Director

Director is the person who makes the play or movie or a commercial. Not listing the director means a lack of information and appreciation. You may have made a one-minute appearance in a movie and pronounced one line that did not have much significance in the whole movie; however, that may have been a Tarantino movie. So, if you forget to mention the director’s name, you may not be adequately appreciated and vice versa. Do not forget that the casting agencies in Los Angeles know names very well. They want to know what directors you have had the experience to work with. Listing directors is not only absolutely required, but it can also be beneficial for you.

An acting experience contains a lot of information about its place and the people involved in it. All of these should be listed appropriately in your resume so that your credits are considered countable.

Special Skills

The special skills section is vital in an actor’s resume. This section should include all the skills you possess that may be useful at any moment of an acting career in Hollywood. As you can understand, these skills refer not only to acting abilities. They can range from singing to biathlon skiing.

The special skills section is principally important when you apply for commercial roles. You can revise your resume when you are about to audition for commercials and include every single thing you are good at. Literally, anything you do well or are somehow experienced at will be a huge plus in your resume. Here is a list of things you can surely consider for adding to your resume, in case you can do that, of course.

Foreign languages/dialects

An outstanding skill which can make you compatible not only in Los Angeles acting agencies but in other countries as well.

Vocal Abilities

Vocal abilities are essential in commercial ads. Companies usually hire special people to do voice acting. If you already have those abilities, you are one step ahead of your competitors.

Sports, Dancing

This is especially important. If you are good at any sport, list it in your resume immediately. You will have an advantage over other actors, as no stuntman will be needed. Therefore, hiring you will be beneficial for your employers as well.

Playing a Musical Instrument

Why not? At least, it will never be worthless. And there are many other skills like this that may seem irrelevant at the moment but are in fact very important and valuable for casting agencies in LA.

The resume is the identity of an actor. All the information about your acting skills, and most importantly, your experience as an actor is listed there. Your resume is what the casting personnel looks at to consider you for a particular role. A professional resume with all its components and a good headshot is an absolute requirement for auditions in Los Angeles. You now know how to write a resume for your future acting career in Hollywood. You are ready to go and rock at your auditions.

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