Acting Resume – An actor’s resume should list his physics (height, hair color, eye color…), his credits (projects he has done), his contact info (usually the agent or manager), and his skills (sports, languages, hobbies).
Steps to do an acting resume:
1. Get a headshot
It really depends on how professional you want to be when it comes to headshots. If you’re trying out for Broadway or a really big theater, get it done professionally. Get them taken in color, as black-and-white headshots are now considered old-fashioned.
2. Include these things on your resume (be truthful of course):
* Who you worked with (if you ever worked with anyone)
* Your age and age range (the youngest to oldest age you can pass for). Some experts will advise against this in favor of letting the director decide how old you look. However, if you are a minor it must be there.
* Your height to the nearest inch, without shoes. If you are 5’7½” you can reasonably say you are 5’7″ or 5’8″.
* Your weight – be honest about this one, at least to the nearest 5 lbs. You can get away with saying 100 lbs. if you’re really 104 pounds, but if you actually weigh 148, you’re not fooling anyone…
* Hair color (if you use black and white headshots)
* Eye color (if you use black and white headshots)
* Your acting credits (with which role you played and what theater it was done in)
* Your agent (if applicable)
* Special talents such as dance (jazz, modern), weight lifting, musical instruments, singing, ect.
* Contact information
* Your name (or stage name)
3. List your acting credits chronologically, with most recent at the top
If you have many acting credits, consider only including the roles which you played large parts, or in big theaters but it is your choice.
4. Be sure to list all this stuff in this order
Tips to make acting resume
* Don’t lie about your experience or make up something just to fill in the skills area.
* Do not make a resume larger that 8.5 x 11. If possible stick to the fundamental size of one page resume.
* Your resume should be well readable by others, so take care of the appropriate font size.
* Make sure the headshot shows your face.
* If possible include a headshot that is better or more glamorous.
* The contact information should be up-to-date.
* Create an email address just for your acting resume.
* Emphasize on your education and training to add strength to your resume.
The Top Ten Mistakes Actors Make on Their Resumes
1. They overfill their resume.
2. The print is too small and/or they use the wrong fonts.
3. They use chronological listings.
4. They print their resumes on 8½” X 11″ paper, when their headshot is 8″ X 10″.
5. They list roles they are too old/young to play.
6. They have errors and misspellings.
7. There is no focus to the resume.
8. They put their Social Security number on the resume.
9. They forget to put their contact information on their resume.
10. They lie on their resume!
Acting resume sample
YOUR NAME
AFFILIATIONS (if any) such as SAG / AFTRA
|
| Height: 5′ 10″ |
Representation or other contact information |
| Weight: 160 lbs. |
8686 Any Road |
| Hair: Black |
San Diego, CA 92008 |
| Eyes: Blue |
Telephone: 760-599-5400 |
|
| Film |
|
|
| Titanic |
Mike |
20th Century Fox |
| Over the Hedge |
Supporting |
DreamWorks |
| Star Wars |
Featured |
Lucas Films |
| Hart’s War |
Lead |
MGM |
|
|
|
| Television |
|
|
| Lost |
Guest Star |
ABC |
| Jew Tales |
Co Star |
MoonQuake |
| Alias |
Mr., Kahn |
CBS |
|
|
|
| Theatre |
|
|
| Catch that man |
Lou |
Theatre of the Arts |
| Mental case |
Bob |
Elite Theatre |
| Lovely Tom |
Tom |
The Clash Theatre |
|
|
|
| Commercials |
|
|
| Nike |
Athlete |
B.B. Productions |
| Ford |
Narrator |
Mobile Video Productions |
|
|
|
| Training |
|
|
| Dan Sam |
Stage and Screen |
Los Angeles, California |
| Bobby Rid |
Auditions Techniques |
New York, New York |
|
|
|
| Specials Skills |
|
|
| Basketball, African Dancing, Martial Arts, Mime, Extreme Biking, Rock Climbing, Hip Hop, Singing, Stunts, Basketball, Football, Diving |
|
The Resources
- http://www.wikihow.com
- http://www.actorspages.org
- http://www.bestsampleresume.com
- http://www.suite101.com
The Top Ten Mistakes Actors Make on Their Resumes
1. They overfill their resume.
2. The print is too small and/or they use the wrong fonts.
3. They use chronological listings.
4. They print their resumes on 8½” X 11″ paper, when their headshot is 8″ X 10″.
5. They list roles they are too old/young to play.
6. They have errors and misspellings.
7. There is no focus to the resume.
8. They put their Social Security number on the resume.
9. They forget to put their contact information on their resume.
10. They lie on their resume!