2 posts tagged “portfolios”

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Is It Time For New Headshots?

Feb 27, 2008
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Ever wonder what kind of an impression your headshots are making on casting directors? Your headshot is your passport to the role of your dreams. So if your headshots are not a good reflection of you and your personality, or the quality of your headshots is poor, it may take you longer to get to attain the level of success you’d hoped for. Whether your photos are outdated, or simply not the best reflection of your personality, new headshots are often just what an aspiring entertainer needs in order to land the auditions and the roles they have their hearts set on.

But how do you know if it’s time to take new headshots? Consider these questions:

Does your photo look natural?
Does your photo reflect the way you look now (and not five years ago)?
Is your photo a clear shot of you, without distracting objects in the background?
Are you looking directly at the camera?
Does your photo convey the right image for you?
Are the clothes you’re wearing in the photo contemporary?
Did you use a professional photographer?
Does your photo conform to industry standards?

If you’ve answered no to any of these questions, then you may want to consider taking new photos. Ask friends in the industry (or other Elite Casting Network members) to help you select a professional photographer. It’s also critical that your hair, makeup and attire help you portray an image that will grab the attention of casting directors the moment they set their eyes on your photo.

Once you’ve taken your photos, don’t rush to the printer. Make sure you have several people look at your proof sheet and offer their opinion on which photos are the strongest. Once there’s a consensus, you’ll be in a much better position to decide which photos would help you get the best results.

A headshot that accurately portrays your personality and lets your charisma shine through is the first step towards success in the entertainment industry. Check out some of the head shots posted on our members pages by visiting http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com. You can also get referrals for photographers in your area by posting to our community forum.

Make The Most Of Your Callback

Feb 17, 2008
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Jonathan Parker

You recently auditioned for a role and the casting director was so impressed that they want to see you again! Congrats! Getting a callback is great validation for a performer. It means that out of the hundreds of people that the casting director initially auditioned, you were among a small few that really stood out.

While the casting director typically selects a handful of people out of hundreds that he or she thinks would be most suitable for lead and supporting roles – it’s rare that the casting director gets the final say. When you go to your callback, you’ll most likely audition in front of high powered decision makers such as network executives if you’re auditioning for a role on a television show, advertising executives if you’re auditioning for a commercial, or the director if you’re auditioning for a film. Additionally, you may even have more than one callback.

This is your shot to land the role, so make sure you take the opportunity seriously. In order to make the most of your callback:

Arrive early and ask if there have been any changes to the script. Unfortunately actors can spend hours practicing material they’ve received in advance, only to get to an audition and learn that the material has been revised. If you arrive early, you give yourself an opportunity to prepare for issues like this.

Don’t alter your look. You don’t have to wear the same thing you wore to the initial audition (though many people do), but you want to ensure the casting director remembers you, and that you reflect the same image that you did initially because based on the fact that you’ve been called back, that’s what the casting staff is looking for.

Try to get a copy of the entire script so that you have a better understanding of who the character is.

Be friendly, upbeat, positive and professional. If you’re auditioning in front of the director, he or she will not only be evaluating your talent, but also if you’re the type of performer they will want to work with for the duration of the project.

If you don’t land the job, take it all in stride. By securing a callback you’ve proved that you have something really special and others are sure to see it as you continue auditioning for other roles. Additionally, the influential industry executives who you auditioned for during your callback may be interested in calling you in for upcoming projects.

Curious how other performers have handled the pressure of callbacks? Log in to http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com and connect with other members in our community forum.