How to make an Acting Reel

Everyone knows the age old adage “a picture is worth a thousand words”, but what about many animated moving pictures…the reel?  If the actor’s headshot is his calling card and the potential ticket to an audition, one would think an actor’s reel would be a very important weapon to add to his arsenal.  This is quite true, but beware the double edged sword!  A reel will work against you if some basic rules are not adhered to.

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The Cardinal Rule

With regard to acting reels, there is one cardinal rule that should never be broken:  only use footage for your reel that has great acting in it. If you don’t have some really great acting on film or tape yet, don’t make a reel.  Wait until you do have that footage.  It’s better to have 15 seconds of solid acting on your reel than 3 minutes of mediocre footage.  If your reel has bad acting on it you are advertising to Casting Directors (and Directors) that you don’t have anything worthwhile to show, or even worse you thought your bad acting was in fact good acting!  Make sure you have your acting coach, Manager, Agent, or someone knowledgeable look at what you are planning to use and have them give you honest and objective feedback.

Something IS NOT Necessarily Better Than Nothing

• Don’t use footage that has poor production value, produced by amateurs without the skills to create a professional product.  If you can’t be seen and/or heard it will detract from your performance and project the image that you are an amateur.  Worse yet, you didn’t know better than to avoid using this type of footage in your reel, which makes you look bad.  Just let go of it and move on, even if you think the work you did was amazing.
• Don’t use footage that mostly features somebody else.  Sounds obvious enough, but having a 60 second reel featuring 5 seconds of you and somebody famous who gets all the screen time really isn’t going to impress anybody except perhaps your friends and family.  On the other hand if you are in a scene with a known actor that features you at least half of the time (and your acting is good) by all means that goes in.
• Put your best stuff first.  Most likely, if you are lucky enough to have a Casting Director look at your reel, he or she will decide in the first 10 seconds if they are willing to even watch the rest of your reel, let alone call you in for an audition.  Make sure you catch their attention (in a good way) up front and don’t make them regret having watched the entire reel.  Again, quality over quantity is what matters most.

Reely Good Things to Keep in Mind

• Use work you did on a major SAG film/TV project.
• If you did an Indy project only use it if your acting was really good and the production value and other actors are decent.
• Do NOT use videotaped theater pieces.
• It usually doesn’t work well to video tape your own piece.
• You don’t need anything fancy or a variety of montage sequences. The reason for the reel is to show your acting chops, not to display your artistic editing capabilities!

Reel Simple

Remember, quality over quantity is your foremost concern when creating your reel.  The best stuff first, high production value, and try to include some work that has high commercial value if possible.  Don’t worry about fancy editing with rolling credits and an original John Williams score.  Follow the rules and the double edged sword won’t hurt you, rather it will help you on your conquests!

Sign up for acting classes in Los Angles, acting classes in San Francisco or acting classes in San Jose.

Nancy Berwid‘s First Take Acting Program provides a holistic approach to acting. (Los Angeles acting coach, San Francisco acting coach) Along with a Method that students can use to hone their craft, Nancy provides a keen eye for logic, a sensitivity to human behavior as well as the human heart.

If you are interested in becoming a a working actor, sign up for acting classes at First Take today!

How to Become a Working Actor in Los Angeles
Part 1 – It’s a Marathon

“I will either find a way, or make one.” – Hannibal

With regards to becoming an actor, the one universal truth that resonates in the film and television industry is that it is competitive…extremely competitive.  Every day new faces arrive in Los Angeles with the hope and dream of becoming a movie star.  On those same days an exodus of disillusioned, would be actors leave town abandoning their dreams for a steady income or the security of a profession which provides predictability and normalcy.  Of course there are rare exceptions; that occasion when a young, beautiful talent shows up and gets cast in the next blockbuster without so much as a credit on her resume.  She is catapulted to stardom in the blink of an eye, flying high over the long, emotional process (the trenches) that most actors inevitably must endure and progress through if they are to succeed. Those are rare exceptions however, and not particularly useful to discuss for those who desire entrée into this exciting, sometimes prestigious and even lucrative profession.

The reality is that the decision to become a professional actor in Hollywood is not one to be taken lightly.  Not only does it demand tremendous skill and ability to execute under pressure, but also a level of commitment and perseverance only a small percentage will ever be able conjure up.  In a word, it’s a marathon.  It’s an Olympic level marathon in ninety degree heat, one hundred percent humidity, and some arduous terrain climbs.  The frontrunners are well trained and want to win more than anything and anyone who endeavors to be a part of that elite group will need to be absolutely committed.  That’s also the good news!

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Why is it good news?  Because the challenging nature of this marathon means it will not be completed by all that enter this race.  Moreover, those who train, empower themselves, remain mentally and physically tough, learn how to market themselves the right way, gain skills in networking and relationship building, and above all persevere until the end will have a chance at tasting the glory of winning the race.   By its very nature the competitive business of acting culls out the majority of aspiring actors from the herd.   It is often said that once an actor has done everything in his control, he is only competing with about ten percent of the talent pool.  Even some very talented and promising individuals will fall out of the race due to the myriad of obstacles they are unable to overcome.  It is unforgiving and is indiscriminate in the evenhandedness with which the business of Show Business tests the fortitude and metal of each artist who endeavors to play in the game at the highest level.   On the flip side, for those who endure and ultimately succeed, the rewards can be extremely satisfying.

Once you understand what you are working with and the challenge that lies before you, it is possible to make informed decisions on how to move forward in the most logical and reasonable manner in an effort to attain your goals as an actor.  In this regard an examination of the qualities, habits, and actions of the dedicated individual who stays in the game long enough to actually become a working actor in Los Angeles is worth doing.  It takes the mystery out of the process and allows an actor to mobilize their initiative by taking positive steps towards building their career in film and television.

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Towards that end, this discussion will continue in future segments on how to become a working actor in Los Angeles by covering the following topics in more detail:

• Training
• Professionalism / Marketing / Networking / Presentation
• Auditioning (it’s your job)
• Getting an Agent / Manager
• Be Strong (mental, physical, and spiritual fitness)
• The Winning Mindset

Until next time, enjoy the journey and remember…you are enough!

Nancy Berwid‘s First Take Acting Program provides a holistic approach to acting. (Los Angeles acting coach, San Francisco acting coach) Along with a Method that students can use to hone their craft, Nancy provides a keen eye for logic, a sensitivity to human behavior as well as the human heart.

If you are interested in becoming a a working actor, sign up for acting classes at First Take today!

What do Casting Directors really want?

It is not uncommon for a newer, or even more experienced actors to over think the audition process and spend too much time thinking about the wrong things.  In order to execute the perfect audition and win over the Casting Director, many actors go through a familiar and common list of questions.  Should I wear this shirt or that dress?  Should I pull my hair back or leave it down?  Should I wear make-up or stay natural?  These are all perfectly legitimate questions to ask, in fact making the appropriate choices may give the actor the right feel for the part they are auditioning for…maybe even instill additional confidence.  It’s all part of the product being presented, but is this what Casting Directors base their decision upon?  Is this what Casting Directors really want?

Check out our Casting Director Testimonials.
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To answer these questions it is important to understand what Casting Directors do.  The primary function of a Casting Director is to get the best actors who are suitable for the roles being cast.  No Casting Directors are responsible for getting the actors who knew exactly how to dress and do their hair and make-up.   Think about it.  CD’s spend their lives auditioning actors for every type of role imaginable under the sun.  They can often tell within moments of an actor walking into a room whether or not they are suitable for the part.  What they really need to know is that you have the chops and will be a person who they can trust to put on set.  So, the objective of every actor should be that they are remembered for their performance, not their wardrobe or fashion sense.

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To summarize: Casting Directors really want actors who are skilled, professional and know how to present a put together and professional package in the audition.  First and foremost good acting needs to happen in the room.  Looking appropriate for the role you are auditioning for is a good idea, but not the actor’s main concern.  Don’t dress up in costume, don’t overdo the make-up (unless the role is that specific),  and don’t think for a second the person sitting across from you in the audition can’t smell fear, guise, ruse, and any other trick that deigns to mask the unmistakable stench of bad acting.

Remember…you are good enough!

Nancy Berwid‘s First Take Acting Program provides a holistic approach to acting. (Los Angeles acting coach, San Francisco acting coach) Along with a Method that students can use to hone their craft, Nancy provides a keen eye for logic, a sensitivity to human behavior as well as the human heart.

If you are interested in becoming a a working actor, sign up for acting classes at First Take today!

A picture can be worth a thousand words, but for an actor it must also tell a story and reveal the essence of a human being.   It can open doors and provide opportunities or it can relegate an otherwise talented individual to languish indefinitely outside the doorway of fortuity.   The years of hard work and training to become a film and television actor must be paired with an equal amount of business acumen in order to maximize the number of opportunities to showcase ones talent.   To that end it is imperative that the aspiring actor pay considerable attention to ensuring he is properly represented by his calling card…the headshot.

If you consider it well, there are arguably fewer things that actors have in their marketing tool box of such significance and importance as the headshot.  Why is that?  Casting Directors are continually bombarded with hundreds, if not thousands of submissions for even the very smallest of supporting roles.  They must decide in very short order which small group of actors will be coming to their office to audition for the part based on a bunch of postage sized pictures on a computer screen.   In this competitive universe there is no room for amateur photography, ridiculous poses, odd costumes, or wimpy facial expressions (unless that is your specific type).  Actually, those headshots make it easy for the Casting Director to pare down the list, removing the riff raff from the real candidates.  The latter category is the one you must always be in.  Obviously, the importance of having the right headshot cannot be underscored enough.  But what makes a good headshot?

What Makes a Good Headshot?

A good headshot captures your essence, your uniqueness, your personality, and your specific type.  It makes it easy for a Casting Director or Agent to see what roles you would be right for.   A good headshot looks like you.  It should not be overly glamorized, and you should look like your headshot when you walk into the casting office.  If your headshot has been airbrushed to make you look ten years younger and you can’t produce the same look in the audition, the Casting Director will not be amused.  In their mind you just wasted their time and took a time slot another actor could have filled.

A good headshot shows your face but your entire face doesn’t fill 100% of the frame either.   A good headshot has good lighting, is in focus, does not distract with odd clothing, costumes, patterns, accessories, or any other potential oddity that could take the attention off of you.  The headshot should be pleasing to look at and convey information about the actor, such as a specific type that could be easily cast right now.  The goal should be to move the Casting Director to say something like, “I could see her playing______”.

When Should an Actor get a Headshot?

When they are trained and ready to audition in the market they intend to work in.   Train first, then get headshots done only when you are truly ready to work.

How Often Should an Actor get new Headshots?

A good rule of thumb is every two years.  There are three primary reasons for this.  First, people change all the time, often times without realizing it.  Obviously, any physical change an actor consciously makes to their look is also cause for new headshots to be taken.  Hair length/color, weight changes, and anything else that distinguishes you from the old headshots need to be reflected in the new ones.

Second, the style of what is considered industry standard for headshots changes, albeit sometimes in subtle ways.   Professional photographers working every day in the industry are aware of this.  Keeping with the times is part of being competitive and relevant in the market place.

Third, an actor can and should go through growth and discovery in understanding what their character type is; that is to say, the product they are selling.  As stated earlier, the more specific the actor is with the product, the easier it is for a Casting Director to see where to put them and the easier it will be for the actor to deliver the goods.   The headshot should sell the character and your strong audition should aim to close the deal.

Children and young adults need to get headshots retaken more often due to growth and general physical changes related to the maturation process.

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Who Should Take the Headshot?

A professional photographer who makes a living at professional headshots for actors should take your headshot.  Moreover, this working professional should have clients who are booking work now in the market you want to work in using the headshots that were taken by the photographer.   Given the importance of making your headshot the best it can be, it’s not to be trusted to a family member, best friend, or amateur who will gladly exchange a studio session for free prints.   No thanks.  No amateurs. No arguments.

Technically Speaking

Headshots should be produced as color 8”x10” prints with a matte “pearlized” finish.  Lithographs are not currently recommended.  Again, due to the fact almost all submissions are done electronically, headshots should be very close up to fill the frame with your face.   Otherwise Casting Directors will not be able to actually see what you look like on the small picture they see on their screen.  Professional photographers who specialize in headshots will know the right composition.

Take Control

There are many things that an actor has within his control and many things he does not have in his control.  The important thing to remember is that it is your job as an actor to take it upon yourself to do the very best you can with what you can control.  Acting is a business, and like any other business it requires a significant amount of planning, marketing/PR, as well as backing up the promise with a seriously fantastic product.  Of course, with enough time, experience, and a long list of credits, you may find you will get by with word of mouth advertising and buzz.  In the meantime do your best to make sure your calling card gets you in the door so you can blow them away with your acting chops!

Always remember, you are enough.

Sign up for acting classes in Los Angles, acting classes in San Francisco or acting classes in San Jose.

Check out our YouTube Channel with feedback from our Students.

Nancy Berwid‘s First Take Acting Program provides a holistic approach to acting. (Los Angeles acting coach, San Francisco acting coach) Along with a Method that students can use to hone their craft, Nancy provides a keen eye for logic, a sensitivity to human behavior as well as the human heart.

If you are interested in becoming a a working actor, sign up for acting classes at First Take today!

A 20 year old college student and aspiring actress walked into class the first week and shared that she was moving to LA in a couple of months and wanted to get a little bit of additional training and add to her resume before making the move.  She felt her experience in high school drama productions, and some community theater provided a solid foundation to work in film and television.  She had been told by her friends and family that she was born to perform and with her undeniable good looks would surely go far in Hollywood.  After a few weeks of class it was clear that although the student displayed some good solid potential, she was not trained and still very much a novice actor.  This scenario is common and the perception of this individual is shared by many who are considering an acting career.  But is it realistic?  How much training and experience is required?  How long does it take to become an actor? Watch this testimony of one of our students who recently booked a co-star on a major TV show.

Some hard facts and common sense are needed to answer this question.  First, let’s examine the above scenario with regard to another profession.  Let’s say for example you knew someone who wanted to be a concert violinist.  Suppose this individual played two years of violin in the high school orchestra (averaging 5 hours a week during the school year), and then played about twice a week (an hour each time) in the two years since high school graduation.  In all, this person spent about 650 hours total practicing and playing the violin.  If this individual announced they were moving to England to play in the London Philharmonic wouldn’t you stop them and try to encourage them to reconsider?  Possibly suggest a bit more training was in order before making such a big move?  Wouldn’t we all agree the individual’s perception of their skill set was not matched to their ambition?

Psychologist K. Anders Ericsson conducted a study of violinists at the Berlin Academy of Music in the early 1990’s.  The results revealed a direct correlation between the level of success each musician had achieved and the hours spent practicing their instrument.  Moreover, in Ericcson’s study there were no “naturals”, individuals who seemed to rise to the top seemingly without the amount of practice others required.  The truth is the top violinists practiced a lot more than the other musicians, about ten thousand hours (versus six to eight thousand hours) by the age of 20. Find one of our classes in your area, acting schools San Jose, acting schools San Francisco, acting schools Los Angeles.

It’s been said that it takes 15-20 years of continuous work to master anything.  Professional athletes, concert musicians, ballet dancers, and opera singers generally begin at a young age and don’t reach their peak until their twenties or even thirties.  There are always exceptional individuals that exhibit genius from an early age, but for the most part it takes years and years of hard work to achieve the elite status of these professions.   If it takes ten thousand hours to master a musical instrument, why would anyone think it takes just a small fraction of that to become an actor?  Such misperceptions of the acting profession as a whole are material for another discussion.

The fact is that there are no short cuts when it comes to mastering the art and craft of acting.  It’s a complex and challenging endeavor requiring years of training, dedication and commitment.  However, by embracing the journey leading to mastery the student can find untold opportunities for growth, reward, understanding, and artistic expression along the way.   The really great thing is that you can begin this journey any time and at any age!

Sign up for acting classes in Los Angles, acting classes in San Francisco or acting classes in San Jose.

Check out our YouTube Channel with feedback from our Students.

Nancy Berwid‘s First Take Acting Program provides a holistic approach to acting. (Los Angeles acting coach, San Francisco acting coach) Along with a Method that students can use to hone their craft, Nancy provides a keen eye for logic, a sensitivity to human behavior as well as the human heart.

If you are interested in becoming a a working actor, sign up for acting classes at First Take today!

One of the most unique things about First Take Acting School is the supportive acting class environment.  Most acting classes can be very competitive, and the class environment can be cold, and catty, and not supportive at all.  It’s every man for himself.  First Take acting classes are not like this.  The teachers at First Take really promote and help maintain a healthy and supportive class environment where the students encourage each other, not compete with each other.

Acting is hard.  And because as an actor, you are your instrument, it’s very easy for your self-worth to become attached to how well (or poorly) you’re doing.  This can affect an actor’s self esteem quite a bit.  This makes it all the more important to be in a learning environment where you feel safe and supported, not judged or criticized.  The First Take teachers and students are very sensitive to this fact. Find one of our classes in your area, acting schools San Jose, acting schools San Francisco, acting schools Los Angeles.

Sometimes acting can be extremely vulnerable.  Getting up in front of a class and having your feelings out there for all to see can be scary, but it is necessary for growth.  In order to do this and really grow, it’s important to feel safe.  Because of the sensitivity the classes at First Take have toward this, actors grow more quickly than in other classes, both professionally and personally.  This is another very unique and special thing about First Take.  Many students that study here will attest to the fact that they have also experienced a lot personal growth as well as growth in the craft of acting.  Because of this, the class feels like a comfortable place where you can be yourself, and feel supported.  It feels, in many ways, like a family.  This makes it much easier to learn.

The class environment at First Take is one of humility, where your journey and your growth as an actor is what’s important, not what you achieve or how good you are.  Here at First Take there are no beginning or advanced acting classes.  In any given class you will find students at various levels of experience.  You can be just starting out, or be a working actor.  This is really cool because the students that have been around for a while are really supportive and helpful to the ones just starting out, and as a beginning student that can be really special.

Whether you are just starting out in acting and looking for a great place to study, or you have a lot experience and want to come and learn more, come check out the best acting school in the bay area!!!!  Call First Take today!

Sign up for acting classes in Los Angles, acting classes in San Francisco or acting classes in San Jose.

Check out our YouTube Channel with feedback from our Students.

If you are interested in becoming a a working actor, sign up for acting classes at First Take today!

Acting is hard.  Contrary to what a lot of people think…acting is hard.  If this wasn’t true, the minimum pay rate on a union film or TV project probably wouldn’t be $800 a day.

Because acting is hard, it requires a lot of training and hard work.  If you want to be a good actor, you have to be in a good acting class.  Being good at acting, just like being good at any form of art, requires training, practice, and skill. If you wanted to be a ballerina, you wouldn’t take one ballet class in middle school and then go and audition for The New York City Ballet.  No.  You would find a school that could give you intensive ballet training and prepare you to work as a professional dancer.  First Take offers multiple, on-going acting classes in the Bay Area and acting classes in San Francisco & Los Angeles that prepare and train students to be professional actors.

For some reason people have this idea about acting that if you’ve taken a few theater classes, have the desire to succeed, and you look a certain way, you can just move to LA, get an agent, meet the right people,  and become a movie star.  This just isn’t true.  You have to be good at the craft.  You have to understand the business.  You have to be patient.  Becoming a working actor takes time.

First Take acting school offers a holistic approach to studying acting.  The classes at First Take encourage and help students establish a good work ethic which is required to get good at the craft of acting.  The classes also offer students a supportive class environment, knowledge about the business side of acting, including, how to market yourself, how to interact with agents and casting directors, how to behave on-set, how to maintain good business relationships, and even how to take good headshots.

If you are looking for a great place to study acting, and learn how to succeed as an actor, then First Take is definitely place for you!!  Contact us today and come check it out!

Sign up for acting classes in Los Angles, acting classes in San Francisco or acting classes in San Jose.

Check out our YouTube Channel with feedback from our Students.

If you are interested in becoming a a working actor, sign up for acting classes at First Take today!

For an actor, auditioning for a film or television show typically goes something like this…

You walk in to a small, usually drab room with blank walls.  In the room there is a desk, a chair, a camera, and a casting director.  They say “hi,” and ask you if you have any questions about the scene.  If you’ve done your homework, the answer is probably “no.”  They ask you to say your name for the camera, and then….it’s time to start the scene.

You are a witness for the defense being grilled by the prosecution.  Or perhaps a nurse, comforting a patient who has just been told she has six months to live.  Or maybe, you are terrified, crouched in the corner of a dark warehouse, hiding from a psycho-killer.  Or having an intensely romantic moment with the love of your life.   In reality, you are in a small drab room, reading the scene with a casting director who may or may not come close to resembling the other character in the scene, and who may or may not be reading the scene well.  You have no props, no set, and no other actors to help you.  Because of this, being able to imagine these things is key.

This is the biggest challenge an actor faces when auditioning.  It is the job of an actor to play the scene realistically, convincingly, and compellingly under these circumstances.  It is really hard to do!!  This requires an incredible amount of training, skill, and, of course, imagination.

Imagination is an actor’s most important tool.  To be successful in an audition situation like the one described above,  an actor must master using this tool.  Acting classes (San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angles) at First Take provide actors with the training they need to make this happen.  The method of scene study taught at First Take not only teaches actors how to break down and understand a scene, but how to use their imagination to put themselves in the circumstance of the scene and play it authentically.  This is hard to do.  The more “grown up” we become, the harder it is to use our imaginiations.  The things we imagine become more dull and less vivid.  First Take helps students keep their imaginations alive and imagine situations more vividly.  Students who are committed to the First Take method WILL get better at it and WILL learn to audition more successfully.   First Take is the only bay area acting school that has students working in film and television in the LA market.  This is a result of those students being committed to the First Take process of growing their imaginations and bringing the reality of who they are to every scene.  In class at First Take every actor recieves time and personal attention from their teacher to help them grow and become successful in this proccess.

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If you are interested in becoming a a working actor, sign up for acting classes at First Take today!

FIRST TAKE 4 KIDS!

Join us for a FREE introduction class on June 15th!

Get a feel for what the summer session for kids will offer.

June 15, 2010!

SPACE IS LIMITED! Sign up ASAP!

Summer Session Details:

Location: Jewish Community Center – Los Gatos, CA
Dates: July 6th- August 11th, 2010
Time: Tuesdays from 4-6 PM
Taught by: Kristin Burke

Jewish Community Center
14855 Oka Rd
Los Gatos, CA 95032

Classes are filling up fast!! Work with the acting coach that gets results!

Please call or email for more information:

Marta Madriz
First Take Office Manager
(925) 824-1212 | (310) 364-0525
firsttake@firsttake.org

Auditioning is a big part of an actor’s life.  So knowing how to audition well is VERY important.  First Take offers acting classes in San Francisco and acting classes in Los Angeles that teach actors how to audition well.  Acting in an audition for television or film is a unique experience that is much different than acting on an actual set, and that differs even from acting in most class environments.  The acting classes at First Take provide students with the skills they need to audition, and are structured in a way that helps actors get good at it.  Students that study at First Take will see improvement in their audition technique and ability to audition successfully.  Proof of this is that many students at First Take audition and book acting jobs regularly in LA!  This is a result of the unique training they have received at First Take.

When an actor goes into an audition, it is very important that they know what to expect, and that they are familiar with what it’s like to perform in an audition environment.  Because of this, part of the training process at First Take is participating in mock-auditions.  These are set up in the same way a TV or Film audition would be.  The teacher of the class acts as the casting director, and a student is assigned to be the “reader.”  The reader is the person in the audition room that reads opposite the actor auditioning for the role.  Then the participating actors leave the room and come in one by one to read for the role.  They are taught how to come in as if they were really auditioning for a role in a TV show or movie.  After everyone has “auditioned,” the teacher, with the help of feedback from the rest of the class, chooses who gets the role based on who had the best audition.  Students then have the opportunity to get feedback on how they did, and are given the chance to make adjustments and try again.  This is an incredibly valuable learning experience for the students, and helps them to become better actors! Check out our acting classes in San Jose & our acting classes in the Bay Area.

During this process the students not only become familiar with what it feels like to audition, but they also learn audition etiquette.  This includes how to properly introduce yourself, how to interact with casting directors, the do’s and don’ts of auditioning, and how to handle various challenging audition scenarios.  Having proper audition etiquette is very important and effects, in part, whether or not an actor’s audition is successful.  First Take teacher and founder Nancy Berwid’s experience in the industry really allows her to give accurate insight to her students about the audition process.  Also, the fact that there are working actors in most of the acting classes at First Take, gives students a rare opportunity to learn about how to audition from those who are doing it successfully.  This is something that is very unique to First Take, and you won’t find at other Bay Area acting schools.

Knowing how to audition well is essential to having a career as an actor.  If you desire to grow in audition technique, and become a working actor, First Take is the place for you!