An Actor’s Guide to Getting Work

Description

‘Essential reading for any young actor’ Dame Maggie Smith Competition for acting work is fierce and talent is not necessarily enough. Actors need all the help they can get with all aspects of the profession. Now in its fifth edition, completely revised and updated, this practical, comprehensive guide contains invaluable information and advice to enable actors to succeed in the business. Written with honesty, humour and thoroughness, An Actor’s Guide to Getting Work draws on the author’s rich experience in the field to offer advice to both the novice and the seasoned performer. New material in this fifth edition includes what drama schools are looking for, approaching Shakespeare for audition, professional email etiquette, using the internet as a self-marketing tool, and many more useful checklists and updated insights into the profession. Cover Contents Acknowledgements Introduction 1: If you really want to be a professional actor Those of school age School-leavers The mature entrant to the profession Preliminary training Full-time training Choices Some fundamental considerations Early preparations A drama school applicant’s toolkit ‘What are audition panels looking for?’ 2: Applying for training – the details The paperwork Audition speeches Rehearsing your speeches Some practical considerations Performing your speeches Audition songs Selecting and preparing your songs Performing your songs Dance auditions Movement, improvisations and self-devised audition pieces Sight-readings in drama school auditions Interviews Audition days After your auditions If you get a place Reserve/waiting lists Funding your training If you don’t get a place Summary 3: The training Being at drama school Your first public appearances Your first professional steps . . . Early work (and the lack of it) An actor’s toolkit Slog 4: Equity and Spotlight Equity Spotlight 5: Directors, producers, agents and casting directors Who’s who in casting Directors Producers Casting directors The mechanics of casting Other issues Agents Finding an agent Working with an agent Co-operative agencies Final thought 6: Your promotional material Letters, CVs and photographs Some pitfalls to watch out for in your letters Writing good letters Some pitfalls to watch out for in your CV Creating a good CV Some pitfalls to watch out for in your photographs Getting good photographs Other things to think about before sealing the envelope/pressing the send button Targeting your submissions The following correspondence or lack of it Other promotional material Business cards and postcards Showreels Voicereels Recording your voicereel Personal websites Additional internet promotional opportunities Final note 7: The casting point: inter viewing and auditioning Interviews Preparations for an interview Some things to consider on the day Pre-interview checklist A few final notes . . . Sight-readings In advance Textual details On the day In the room Additional considerations for television, commercials and films Television interviews Commercial castings Films Digital acting opportunities 8: Low-pay/no-pay ‘work’ Fringe theatre Setting up your own production Setting up your own company The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Showcases Low budget films Summary 9: Other forms of acting income Role-playing Presenting at trade shows and business conferences Enhancing the business-person’s presentation and communication skills Getting work in these fields Role-play companies 10: Professionalism: the business of being an actor Organisation of interviews/auditions/castings Casting information You! Professional public relations Public relations while working Essential professionalism Some additional thoughts Two theories Some other thoughts Bibliography Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y