Contacts

Useful Contacts:

Casting Websites

I think that it would be useful as an actor to apply for different profiles on casting networks across the country, which will ultimately increase my opportunities for auditions and acting jobs. I think that by applying for jobs via a website will put me in a category with other actors who are committed to putting themselves out there into the industry and promoting a professional and sophisticated reputation. I feel that whilst it would be impressive for a casting director to whiteness an actor promoting themselves, I feel that one con to this would be that usually actors can apply themselves to wrong jobs, as they are not experienced in finding jobs that are best suited to them, their skills, and their looks as a performer. Therefore I have researched into what my agent applies for that he feels suit me, and what I would apply myself for, and the difference between. I think that by doing this I am being more percautious by selecting auditions that are more likely to suit me, resulting in casting directors being more likely to read and accept my applications. I think that one negative point about casting websites is that they can be expensive, and as an actor you need to take care in saving money for applications to people such as agents, who will apply you for bigger jobs and auditions which will increase your experience and paid jobs.

Equity

Equity are an online casting website used by an array of industry professionals around the world. I have not put Equity in the same category as other casting websites, as their approach is a lot more professional. I think this because the website states that it is well known and appreciated both nationally and internationally, therefore I feel that it would be useful to create a profile on Equity in order to promote myself worldwide to a vast range of casting directors for acting and comedy. Whilst I think that Spotlight is the most respected casting website in the country due to its popularity and demanding applicants, I think that Equity shows the level of commitment that performers wish to pursue into their chosen art, and the lengths that they will go to promote themselves to get a job. I think that by applying for equity I can link my other current profiles and show to casting directors that I act professional and I am serious about pursuing a career within the industry. I think that it would be useful to promote myself via Equity as it will increase my chances of gaining a reputation as an actor in the performing arts industry and also increases my audition experiences and opportunities. 

My Current Contacts:

Agent

I am currently on the books of a Guilford-based agency, who specialise in representing young actors and performers for television and films, and occasionally theatre productions such as musicals, pantomimes, and shows. By having an agent I feel that it gives me a stronger reputation as an actor, as I am able to contact casting directors via my representative, which makes the experience overall, more professional. Agents represent their clients via different casting websites, contacts of their own depending on who they know within the industry, and often make showreels and headshot for their clients.

I became in contact with my agent when I was 15 years old, and was given the opportunity to audition for them via a Youth Theatre that I was once apart of. The Youth Theatre itself had, and still upholds an outstanding reputation within Sussex, and they were able to attract the attention of the agency, Platform Talent Management, through exchanging of emails, after my drama teacher at the time was searching for opportunities for the children involved in the Youth Theatre. When preparing for the audition we were asked to prepare a monologue and be ready for an interview, therefore to brace myself for my first professional audition experience I learnt and memorised my monologue within the first day of being handed it by my teacher, and from then on I worked on adding characterisation and movements for it. I feel that throughout the process of learning this monologue I begun to understand that I was stronger in comedy acting as opposed to another genre of acting, and this remains the case today. The audition was obviously successful as I am on their books to this day, and their comments were inspiring towards me, by saying things such as 'you remained focused throughout which was impressive', which was what I was already conscious of prior to the audition, and 'you have a naturalistic approach to your acting as someone who has had so much stage experience' which was important to me as acting for film (which is my ambition) is a lot different than acting for stage.

My agent switched management when I was 17, which meant that I had to make preparations to introduce myself to a new agent and try and make a good impression on them so that they were more likely to apply me for professional jobs. Unfortunately, due to college commitments, I wasn't able to contact my new agent for 4 weeks, however he was understanding and discussed how he can work around my college plans. I feel that my role as an actor when working along side an agent is to be committed to attending auditions that I am sent, to uphold my reputation as an actor, and his reputation as an agent. This has had a 50:50 effect as I am also committed to college and my qualifications which he understands, however it means that in the past year I have had to turn down two auditions, which would have caused him to explain to casting directors that I am unavailable which effects my professionalism, and his.

My name on my agents client list on the website. The link on the picture links to my spotlight CV which will allow any professional who is interested in seeing me for an audition can view my experience via a professional casting website, and then contact my agent. 

My new agent has obligated to making me a showreel to promote my skills as an actor by filming a comedy monologue with a plain studio background, which is his themes for his other clients as well. The showreels look professional as they represent each actor as individual, however they have the same look to them so that it represents a smart and sophisticated company which will gain the attention of industry professionals such as casting directors.

My Showreel by Platform Talent Management.

Usually depending on the popularity of the agents, they can get around 5-6 auditions per year for film and television, and vary in numbers of auditions for commercials and smaller jobs. This has been successful for me as I attending several auditions in the past year and was successful in two auditions. My goals for the coming year, it to land a role in a paid film as my previous film experiences are in student films and commercials which were unpaid. To do this I phone my agent and discuss my plans and he tells me what is achievable and what isn't. I think that it helps when I speak to my agent regularly as it shows my commitment and passion as an actor and how eager I am to work within the industry, and I am going to commit more to my auditions when my college commitments are finished for the year.

Spotlight

Spotlight is one of the most well-known websites within the performance industry, as it is used by the majority of agents, casting directors and other industry professionals to promote, represent and find performers for auditions which range from jobs as small as commercials, to jobs for top film companies, and West End Productions.

The restrictions to spotlight are that to apply for an account an cv page as an actor, then you must have either had training at university with a BA honour degree, have an agent, or have already had professional experience as a performer in which that title would mean that you should already have paid work. I feel that without having an agent it would be difficult to find an audition for a professionally paid performing job, therefore would decrease your chances of applying for spotlight, however by obtaining an account for spotlight via a qualification from a degree that motivated you to work hard would be a big achievement, however I feel that it would delay your experience as a performer by holding you back 3/4 years depending on how long the coarse is, ultimately postponing your experiences with auditions, nonetheless, balancing out the cons, it will allow you to gain more knowledge into both the industry, and what it expects from you as a performer which could increase your chances of successful auditions.

Fortunately I am a member of spotlight, being represented by my agent, as an actor, singer, and dancer. I have recently begun discussing with my agent that whilst I sing and dance, I would rather promote those as skills other than career choices, and instead focus on acting jobs and comedy jobs. I asked him that it would be wise to keep my singing and dancing skills on my CV, so that should an audition for a job that requires an actor to dance or sing, I would have a better chance of being successful and he agrees. My agent is the contact who applies for my auditions via spotlight, and he often emails me lists of audition applications that he has sent to keep me informed and updated, and to also prepare for if one of the casting directors on the other side of the application would like to see me for an audition so I tend to keep the dates free to prevent seeming unprofessional.

Above is a shortened list (as I could not capture all of it) which was sent to me by my agent, which state what auditions I was applied for in the month of November. I feel that it was effective for me to be notified on this, as it gives me an insight of what I am heading towards, and I can therefore give my input to my agent as to whether I feel that the jobs are appropriate for me as an actor.

My Spotlight CV, in which casting directors can view in order to decide if my look and skill set are what they are looking for. They can also view my experience as an actor and contemplate whether they would feel comfortable hiring me and my experience. The photos on the CV show different looks such as school uniform photos, different facial expressions, and a dance photograph to portray my different characters that I could play and to represent my skills.

Casting Call Pro

Casting Call Pro is another online casting website in which actors can apply themselves for jobs, with no qualifications, experienced, or professional representation such as agents. I think that this allows performers to start their careers within the industry and gives people an equal opportunity in applying for jobs that they think they are suitable for, and personally speak and contact the casting directors themselves when chosen for auditions. I do however, feel that due to the fact that anyone can create an account for Casting Call Pro, it will reduce the amount of larger production companies advertising their upcoming auditions, because they would mainly wish for professional actors. I also think that it seems more unprofessional applying for jobs by yourself as a performer because it will mean that you need to represent yourself in a positive way, but be truthful of your skills and abilities to prevent unexpected auditions, for example, applying for a musical without dance experience and not realising that it requires dance, causing you to experience a negative audition.

I was previously on Casting Call Pro for a platform for my agent to represent me with, however when the terms and conditions of Casting Call Pro changed with a new update, my agent decided to move on from Casting Call Pro and instead use mainly Spotlight. I decided to keep my Casting Call Pro account, because I think that it will boost my opportunities to get my name out into the industry, and allow people to refer back to my commitment as an actor. I looked on my profile recently and I have noticed that due to the fact that I am used to my agent applying for my auditions and updating my CV, my profile appears old and unprofessional which will reduce the chances of being contacted for an audition. Therefore I am going to update my profile with new headshot, update my CV, and update my 'about me' section to appear more focused and professional.

PROFILE

CV

SKILLS AND ABOUT ME

Professionals

Agent- In my first year of working freelance as an actor and comedian I think that I need to know an agent, which I have already achieved, so that they can apply me for jobs that I cannot apply myself for, and to give me a higher status as an actor because I am represented by a known agent within London.

Actors- I would like to get to know other freelance actors who have already had professional experience so that they can give me advise, and I can also learn what they have achieved and how they achieved it. I know a few actors who have been in well known films and television programs who have inspired me to work harder as an actor, and I would like to continue to keep contact with them so that I can reference them to different industry professionals.

Directors- I think that it is important for me to get to know directors around the industry so that it increases my chances of being called for an audition. This is because a lot of directors know who they want to cast before auditions even start, and knowing a director and having a good relationship with them will promote me as a motivated and committed performer.