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Meeting Strangers on the Internet: Initiating the Conversation with Industry Professionals

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Meeting Strangers on the Internet: Initiating the Conversation with Industry Professionals

Meeting Strangers on the Internet

As the perpetually single friend, I have plenty of experience online dating. While not the intended effect, it turns out that building attractive profiles, initiating effective first contact, and translating e-intros into in-person meetings are all highly transferable skills when it comes to professional networking.

In this post, I share how principles of online dating can be applied in order to successfully convert online interactions with producers, showrunners, directors, and CDs into successful work relationships.

Create an online presence that reflects how you want your future industry besties to see you

Your online profiles aren’t just for you, your college friends, and your crazy aunt who’s still living vicariously through you and your college friends. That said, when creating and maintaining your social media presence, it’s important to be honest, passionate, and be yourself.

To an extent.

Sure, you might like to get hammered on the weekends and make questionable decisions, but would the industry power players actually take you seriously if all they saw were photos of you letting it all hang out?

Filters. They’re for more than Instagram photos. Filter your content to present a version of yourself that the folks you’re trying to build meaningful relationships with would enjoy meeting and spending time with. Beyond what you post yourself, also be aware of what content you’re liking and commenting on (and what comments you ‘re making). All of that is part of your online presence and easily gets traced back to you!

Pro Tip… This is not about misleading people.  It’s about putting your best foot forward and curating a social media presence that reflects who you are and what work you want to attract. After all, people want to hire who they know, like, and trust- your online profile is your opportunity to present yourself as likeable and trustworthy, so that people would like to get to know you!

Figure out what you want

If I had a nickel for every time I’ve said that to someone I’ve dated…but it’s also an important thing in this context. Do your research and find out who, specifically, in the industry you want to connect with. An agent who reps someone you know? A casting director or associate working on a show you’d be perfect for? Don’t forget line producers, 2nd ADs, and UPMs (unit production managers). They also often work closely with producers and may have the power and influence to bring someone in or pass along a self-tape!

Lead with a compliment

Great! You’ve matched! Now what?

You’ve spent time liking each others’ posts, maybe even re-tweeting or reposting ( basically 2nd base in internet friendship terms).

Now it’s time to slide into home base by sliding into each other’s DMs.

Deep breaths, you got this.

When reaching out, it’s highly effective to start with a compliment. You’re much more likely to get a response, advises the dating app Bumble and validated by my own experience. “Thank You,” “Congratulations,” or an engaging question about something they posted or are clearly passionate about are also likely to get responses.

After some back and forth, gauge the friendliness and closeness of this acquaintance and casually ask via DM if they’d be open to grabbing coffee (if they’re local), answering a few specific questions via Skype, or just having a quick 10-min chat on the phone if they seem super busy.

Don’t be weird. At this stage, they already like you! So just keep being your non-weird self.

No pressure.

You got the date! What do I talk about?

Outside interests. Please have some non-industry topics to discuss at your fingertips. Do not be that cliché needy actor who has no other skills, hobbies, or interests, and is solely focused on getting a job on this first date.

On my first dates with guys from the Internet, I’ve got a rideshare app open and ready to go in case they end up being too forward and sleazy, and I’d say these two scenarios are equally gag-worthy.

Networking is for the purpose of building a successful long-term (professional) relationship, so treat your date with the respect and consideration needed to create that foundation of trust, instead of bombarding them with questions and requests that make them think this meeting is all about what they can do for you.

Find an organic connection with the individual or individuals that doesn’t come from you needing a job.

Many industry folks have outside hobbies that they share and talk about as part of their online presence- via Instagram, Twitter, or vlogs/blogs.  I personally feel Facebook should be reserved for people you actually know, but if people have public Instagram and Twitter profiles, that is, their account isn’t set to private and anyone can see their posts, you’re not crossing any social media boundaries by following and engaging, regardless of whether you know them personally or not.

There you have it. Have fun online dating/networking, Internet Friends!

-Coach Melody

How to Get into the Top 1% of Commercial Actors: Part 1 of 2

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How to Get into the Top 1% of Commercial Actors: Part 1 of 2

When I first got to LA I thought “commercials, naaah I’m all about movies.” I only began to reconsider when I got a job running the accounting department at a TOP commercial agency in LA. Every day I processed checks for actors, some of which were making 6 figures in passive income from commercials.

I thought “…maybe it’d be good to check out commercials!”

Now I’m happy to say that in the last 18 months I’ve booked 4 big commercial campaigns and have a 3/5 callback ratio..

Before I got to Hollywood I never even considered commercials. Now I’ve come to find it’s an essential part of creating the time freedom to pursue TV/Film work.

So how can you get into the TOP 1% of commercial actors?

Step 1: Land a GREAT Commercial Agent

If you’re not going on at least 1-2 auditions per month for commercials, it might be time to change agencies.

Caveat, if your headshots are unprofessional i.e. shot by your friend or cousin or super outdated, you won’t get out for commercial work no matter what agency you are at. You know who you are 😉

Top commercial departments are open to signing talent with little to no experience if you present yourself as highly marketable (part of this includes your headshots, which I detail below).

Before you submit to any agency, check for conflicts. It’s ok if a commercial department has a few conflicting clients with your type. But if there are a LOT of clients in your category, the agency has your type covered and probably won’t take a meeting. Use IMDb to go through each agency’s commercial client list and ensure you are a missing piece in their roster.

Caveat, if one of those conflicts is name talent or an actor that works a lot theatrically they don’t count. Most likely, their theatrical schedule takes them out of the commercial game. The agent may keep them as a client for prestige.

If you’d like some awesome insider tips & tricks for landing a great rep, check out our free online training, Get Signed: 3 Insider Strategies to get an Agent or Manager.

STEP 2: Get Rich in your Niche: Take Specific Headshots

The commercial world is all about specificity. Watch commercials and get to know where you fit in. Everyone has about 4 types they play in the commercial world which fit into different categories.

For instance, check out my commercial shots below. Each headshot reflects a different type.

Millennial Hipster Think Taco Bell, McDonald’s

Genuine Aspirational Girlfriend, Barista Think Toyota

Quirky Intern, Entry Level Co-Worker Think Google

Real looking Yogi or athlete Think Hotels.com

Friendly Customer Service Think Best Buy and Verizon

Your commercial types may not be the same types you play theatrically. Talk to your agent. Any top commercial agent should be able to give you specific types they want you to have.

PRO TIP: Ask your agent for examples of headshots from clients that get called in a lot and imitate those shots 😉

-Coach & Diagnostic Expert Alysia

How to Be One of Your Rep’s Favorite Clients via Ammo & Communication

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How to Be One of Your Rep’s Favorite Clients via Ammo & Communication

First off – Congrats on securing representation!!! Pop the bubbly!

Now that you’ve celebrated and had your champagne, know that this is NOT the time to relax, sit back and wait for all those auditions to come pouring in. If you do, I promise, they won’t. Now is the time to really focus on building relationships, and one of those relationships you want to build, is the one with your new rep! 🙂

Here are some of my tips for creating a strong rep relationship:

Give them the Ammo

Reps are not wizards who can procure auditions out of thin air. They need you to give them the marketing tools in order to submit/pitch you to secure audition opportunities. You must provide them with high quality:

  • Headshots— Branded to your type (Check out our branding & marketing class for guidance here), and depending on how drastically your look changes, you’ll want to update them accordingly.
  • Footage— If you’re just starting out, you might not have a full reel yet. If that’s the case, you better have some incredibly high quality self-tapes that they can use to submit/pitch you with). There’s no excuse to not have footage anymore as we all have access to self-taping companies, cellphone cameras, and a host of other services. There are many companies who specialize in creating reel footage. Some of my favorites in LA are Rock Your Reel, Rapid Reelz, & Jig Reel.
  • Relationship Info— Reps are not mind-readers. If you have relationships with casting, producers, writers or showrunners, share that info with them in a handy google spreadsheet. I recommend just including the contact’s Name, Office, some quick notes on your relationship history, and a spot for additional information if there’s something else they should know. Make different pages for different categories of contacts.

Communicate!

When you first start working with a rep, you can ask them, “how do you like your clients to correspond with you?” Most like email, but some prefer texts or phone calls. It’s a great question to ask because it shows your rep you care about making a strong relationship and are considerate of their style of communication.

I advise all my clients to keep their reps updated on what they are doing for their own careers with a brief email update every two weeks, ideally on Tuesday afternoons, so that you’re top of mind for the rest of the week. You can email them something like,  “I want to make sure you’re always up to date on what I’m up to, so if it’s cool by you, I’m going to email you every two weeks and let you know what I’m up to. No need to respond, as it’s just for your reference. It’ll be something like this…” Then bullet 2-4 things you’ve been up to in your career lately.

Example:

  • Met CD X at a casting panel at SAG. We chatted for awhile, she gave me her contact info and asked me to send her my reel. (As always, this connection is updated on my google contacts sheet here: [insert link])
  • Taking class at X. Had a real breakthrough last week playing an addict – a type I’ve never tackled before. Sharing something like this w/ a rep can make them see you in a new way and shows that you’re always working on your craft
  • Working on a short with some filmmakers – should be ready in the next couple weeks. Excited to share w/ you!

IMPORTANT THINGS TO COMMUNICATE TO YOUR REPS:

  • If you are going out of town, book out. I recommend booking out about two weeks prior. So many actors are terrified of booking out, but believe me, reps would rather you tell them and let them know, then just not be available after they’ve spent time pitching you for a role.
  • If you are running late for an audition, let them know.
  • If you are pregnant, tell your reps.
  • If you want to dye your hair or are thinking about a major body transformation like gaining or losing a lot of weight, talk to your reps about it. You do not have to listen to them, but talking to them about these things can be helpful to make strategic career decisions.

With that being said, while most of you are generally radio-silent with your reps, a small percentage are over-communicating and bothering them. Know that you don’t have to email them daily, before or after every audition or stop by every week. They are WORKING. They have a job to do. Your email update every two weeks and any other communication about important info they need to know will suffice. Some people become friends with their reps and some people remain in a strictly professional relationship. You have to figure out what you and your rep will be. Every relationship is unique and you need to find out what works for both of you.

Get Face time!

Make sure you see your reps 3 times a year in person. Maybe you stop by the office with a treat after you’ve been on a vacation or right after a booking. You can drop-off a gift after the holidays (I recommend dropping by in January instead of December when every other actor is going by). When you go in person, dress a little differently every time. Show them different sides of yourself and they may think you can play different types than they initially thought.

Invite your reps to work you’re doing – plays, showcases, etc. You can even invite your rep to networking events you think they would find valuable or perhaps even a social event if you feel comfortable doing so.

Be Your Best Actor

  • Be in class. Be in class. Be in class. Should I say it again? If you are in class, you will be continuously becoming a better actor, and auditions will not feel as stressful if you are acting on the regular. Another great alternative is to work privately with an acting coach and coach on your auditions. Reps want you focusing on your craft and becoming a stronger actor every single day.
  • Be PREPARED for your auditions. That means getting off-book (your sides are just there as a safety net) and with solid thought-out choices. Your audition should never be the first time you say the words aloud with another person. Rehearse. Prepare. Do the best job you can with the amount of time you have and don’t make excuses.
  • If you get a self-tape, make sure it looks great. Shoot the best quality you can with good background, lighting and sound, and do it all in a professional and TIMELY manner. Reps love it when actors get their tapes in early.

Now that you have the main tips, let’s take some action!

  • Take out your calendar and note when you’re going to send your rep updates.
  • Draft your first update.
  • Decide on a time in the next couple months that you are going to get face time with your rep and set yourself a reminder.

Reps are people, just like actors. They cannot work without actors and believe me, they would rather have a positive relationship with you too!

NOTE: If you are looking for a new agent/manager, I highly recommend THIS complimentary training that Jona Xiao will be teaching to help you Get Signed!   You’ll learn creative ways to stand out and get representation!

-Coach Jenna

 

How I Booked the Lead in a Major Feature Film Without Reps

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How I Booked the Lead in a Major Feature Film Without Reps

The Director yelled “cut!” I looked around. And it hit me.

Holy crap. I’m the lead in a legitimate, independent, FEATURE film. I’m working with Emmy-winning actors and people I grew up watching in movie theatres and on television. I am literally living my dream.

Acting in AMELIA 2.0 was a dream come true. I got to spend a month in another city, fully immersed in the story and character I had fallen in love with. And it all happened without reps.

Let’s back up.

But let me start by saying the trap many of us fall into is to immediately become obsessed with tactics. The how.

How did you book the job? What website did you go to, what email signature did you have, how long was your demo reel?!

The truth is there is no specific step-by-step process, no magic “book a job” phone number. You can, however, develop relationships that lead to work.

On the surface, I booked this role by randomly meeting someone and becoming friends. Later I learned they were a producer, focused on helping them out, and then one day they put me on tape and sent it to the director.

But let’s look much deeper.

I’ve discovered there are 5 keys to booking work without reps:

1) ADD VALUE

Quick test: If you needed to pack and move all your stuff tomorrow, how many friends would come help you? If the answer is “not many,” then I invite you to start practicing adding more value to those around you.

When I found out my friend was a producer, my immediate response was, “that’s amazing. How can I help you?”

Turns out he was looking for a certain kind and caliber of script. I started connecting him with various writer friends of mine and their scripts.

And—this is key—I wasn’t expecting anything in return. I was simply helping him because I want to see my friends succeed.

Add value to everyone you can, not because they’ll do something in return, but because a) it’s scientifically proven to make you happier, and b) it’s human nature to treat people the way they treat others.

Treat people with love and support, and that’s how others will treat you.

Be the kind of person people will go out of their way to help. Jona will be going into more detail about a powerful way to add value in our complimentary Book TV/Film on Your Own online training.

2) BE A GOOD PERSON

If I’m going to hire you based on our relationship, I want to know that I can trust you. That you’re going to show up on time, be kind to the grips, and that you’re reliable enough to know your lines.

There will always be more actors than roles. So why would someone hire an asshole? Someone who’s going to be rude on set or a total fun hater.

Go to therapy. Improve yourself. Practice kindness.

Be the kind of person people want to work with.

3) BE EXCELLENT AT YOUR CRAFT

The actual “audition,” if you can even call it that, was at my friend’s house in their living room. I had maybe ten minutes with one of the scenes, and then I read with their roommate. Who was an accountant.

There was no audition room, no fancy camera, no lighting. Just my friend holding his phone and taping me.

All the years of classes, working on bringing my best work even in extraordinary circumstances allowed me to bring my best at that moment. To tell a compelling story regardless of my reader, limited time with the story, etc.

The business side is important—if no one knows you exist they can’t hire you. But skill matters. Artistry is imperative. Being an exceptional storyteller is of tremendous import.

Sure, every once in a while someone gets a job simply on looks or money or whatever, but almost never does that turn into a long-term career if not backed up by skill.

Be a master of your craft.

4) REMIND PEOPLE YOU’RE ALIVE

Just because someone knows you and likes your work, doesn’t mean they’ll think of you for a role.

I hear actors get mad about this, but the human brain can only pay attention to so many things. Studies have shown there is a very finite limit on the number of people we can actively have in our social circle at any given time.

Send postcards, take people to lunch, and send personal emails. Set up a google alerts for people you care about and send a congratulations when something great happens for them. Keep in touch on social media.

Do great work and then get it front of people.

Stay top of mind not just by sharing your own wins and work, but by constantly adding value.

5) MAXIMIZE YOUR LUCK

So you’re working on yourself, committed to genuinely adding value, getting out there, and being an excellent storyteller. Now, it’s a matter of luck.

I mean, it’s a small miracle that some writer imagined a role that’s a good fit for you, that role ended up in a script that’s actually getting made, and the people making the project know you exist.

“I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.” ~Coleman Cox

Luck, in a way, is a numbers game. The more people know and like you, the higher your odds they’ll give you a job. The better actor you are, the more people will want you in their projects. The more value you add to other people, the more people will want to add value to you.

Make your own work, build relationships with casting, and network at film festivals.

Take even small steps forward every day. Put yourself out there and live the life of an artist.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Understandably, as actors we often obsess about auditions—how many we have, what they’re for, and how long it’s been since we’ve had one.

But auditions are NOT the only way to book work.

Think about it. If you were casting your own film tomorrow, would you rather post a breakdown online and find a stranger for the role, or hire one of your friends?

Create authentic relationships with decision-makers and fellow creators, and watch your career take flight.

For more insight, tools, and tactics on booking work, download our exclusive 3-gift series with insider strategies from working actors that have actually worked.  CLICK HERE for your free download.

 

-Coach Ben

 

How I Got a Straight Offer for a Top 5 Billed Role in a Movie

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Last week, I found out that I booked a Top 5 billed role in a new made for TV movie! It was a direct offer, no audition. I started crying the moment I found out, it was such an incredible feeling. Whenever I book something, I like to reflect on the instances that led up to the booking: was it a self-submission? Do I know the casting? Do I know the director or producer? I am excited to share with y’all some ideas as to how I booked this little baby that I hope will help you in your career. 

Connecting on Common Ground with Filmmakers

The TV movie is being directed by a friend of mine (Colin), someone I met through a mutual friend years ago.  We connected over our love of Star Wars. It was an instant connection over Yoda and Han Solo and the Jedi. When we both realized we were in the entertainment industry, it only seemed natural to do a Star Wars fan film together.  That’s how our producing relationship started! We decided to shoot a short he’d written. I played a Jedi, and he directed.  He found that I was not only a talented actress, but also great at producing good content on a low budget level. I found that he communicated well with actors and had a clear idea of how he wanted to tell a story.

Adding Value to a Project After the Cameras Stop Rolling

After our Star Wars fan film, we produced a horror short together. It was an amazingly challenging and fun ride. Working together strengthened our friendship.  We gained respect for each other’s process, as well as the desire to work together again and again. Colin was thrilled that I used my social media as a platform to share details about the project to fans, industry people, etc. He thinks the promotion I did contributed to the festival awards and press we received.

Finding the Win-Win:
 Maintaining Relationships with your Industry Friends

Since our horror short, we haven’t produced anything together again yet, although we are in the very early stages of two feature films.  

However, we are in the early stages of two feature films.  Over the past 2 years, Colin and I met regularly for lunch and coffee to continue to support each other and ensure that we stayed focused on completing the projects. We also supported each other by attending 

screenings or sharing crowd funding links on social media.  This support created a mutual trust between us and we became real friends.  As Colin is moving up in his career, he wants someone he trusts on set wit

h him as one of his actors. He knows how I work, and I know how he works. It’s a win-win for both of us.

Be Vulnerable

I have shared my reel multiple times across all my social media channels. I’ve invited my industry friends to screenings and events. I’ve let people see my work as an artist.  Although that is sometimes scary to do, it leads to so much more! I remember inviting my Colin to my feature film’s theatrical run. I didn’t care if it was going to be a good or bad movie, but I did want to share with people the fact that I could carry a feature film. He of course loves movies and was happy to support. This then led to a great post screening discussion about what worked in the movie and what didn’t. It was such a good night of bonding and learning. Being vulnerable and sharing your work with others is a great way to not only stay on people’s radars, but also to create opportunity to discuss your art and your opinions with other artists.  Because we respect and trust each other, both of us know we can offer honest feedback for projects. He agreed that I had shown the world I could carry a feature film, and I was so grateful that he’d come to the theater to see it.

Ask for What You Want with Grace and Gratitude

When Colin shared with me he was offered a directing role on a TV movie, I was ecstatic for him!  I knew this was going to make his career shine and saw how hard he had to get to this point. Over lunch one day, we started chatting about his upcoming film. That’s when I asked him if there were any roles that fit me well. He responded with, “Yeah, I think there are.” Then we chatted about the logistics of the project. A few days later he emailed me a script and told me which role I would be playing. And that was it– I’d booked it! I responded with so many thanks, letting him know how grateful I was to be a part of the project.

I’d also shown how talented I was through our past projects, how invaluable I was in the promotion process, and how easy-going I would be on this film. It was a no-brainer for him, in all honesty, because people just want to work with people that they like and trust. I had a proven track record.

Finally, Do Amazing Work

Now that I’ve booked it, my focus is to do amazing work for the film. All of my day to day routine of working on marketing materials to acting classes to communications with industry friends to emails with my manager are all foundational pieces that are necessary to build a career. While on set, my focus is to stay amazingly healthy and create an awesomely developed character. Cause that’s the point of all of this right? Telling stories!

The biggest thing I want actors to take away from this is that these types of friendships are based on a genuine connection and support. Whether it’s mutual fandom for a specific film or series or book, or a love for a hip restaurant, finding commonality leads to long term friendships and potentially amazing working relationships. Which makes this crazy beautiful journey we are on even more sweet. 🙂

For more insight, tools, and tactics on booking work, download our exclusive 3-gift series with insider strategies from working actors that have actually worked. CLICK HERE for your free download.

Coach Rachel

How To Get An Acting Agent Meeting Through A Cold Email

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I currently have nine reps (LA Theatrical & Commercial, managers, and six reps in local markets.) By pitching myself via email, I secured meetings or direct offers for representation from all of these reps. (Full disclosure: I did meet one in person, but I had emailed before and after meeting in person!). I know how to write a strong email pitch. So, what are the magic ingredients?

I will happily break it down for you. There is nothing we love more at Career ACTivate than helping actors take control of their own acting careers within the entertainment industry. I’m going to share with you my biggest tips that I teach my clients to make a standout email pitch to reps.

Agents and managers are always looking for actors with talent. If you can effectively communicate with a good agent, you will increase the possibility of being signed by an acting agency. As far as we are concerned, the next talent agent will love you once you learn how to cold email an agent!

There are auditions for acting jobs waiting for you!

*For the sake of readability, I’m going to use the word “agents,” but this can apply to managers as well*

1. HOOK ‘EM BY DOING YOUR RESEARCH

Know who you are writing the email to.

It may sound simple, but most people forget this incredibly important step and send a mass email to many agents that is virtually the same, and then they wonder why no one responds. Agents, like all human beings, want to be desired. They need to know that you want to work with them individually and that you don’t just want any ‘ol agent!

But how do I know anything about them you ask?

  • Find them on social media – learn what they like and dislike – what do you have in common as human beings.
  • On the business side, learn about them and their clients on IMDBpro, their company website & social media.

Now, after researching them, what makes you want to work with this agent – this person specifically? Make the beginning of your e-mail, “your hook” about THEM. Maybe you are excited to work with them because you see all of their clients have booked comedy shows. Tell them you are passionate about comedy as well.

Maybe you see from their twitter account that they are obsessed with Modern Family, which is your favorite show. Perhaps you learn that they are from your hometown or went to the same college as your mom. Whatever it is, use your commonalities and try to form a relationship. Always try to connect to them on a human level.

You want to make your reader feel a special connection to you from reading your opening paragraph. Connecting with them on a deeper level can make them want to get to know you (hence, they may call you in for a meeting). They may even decide they want to represent you because they find you interesting.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

2. GIVE YOURSELF CREDIBILITY

No matter where you’re coming from in your career thus far, we must give ourselves credibility and lead with that when talking about our work in the industry. For someone just starting out, it may merely be your excellent training with notable studios and a quote or two from those acting teachers praising your work (yes, you can ask for these!).

For someone who has booked legitimate TV or film credits, let them know what you booked and include the significant details about your acting resume and any roles you have had in the past. If you have taken any acting classes or went to drama school, include it in the email!

Leave out the info that makes it less appealing.

Check out these two examples –

“Booked a recurring co-star on ABC.”

“Booked a RECURRING role on How To Get Away With Murder on ABC, with scenes opposite Viola Davis and Tom Verica.”

***See how I left out that it was a co-star. Instead, included more details that show you can handle working with starring actors. Make it sound exciting!

“Booked a short student film.”

“Booked a lead in a thesis film at AFI, which went onto win X festivals”

***See how I left out that it was a short film. A film is a film, so add more information to make it more credible.

Sometimes credibility can come in the form of a reference too. Don’t bury a reference at the bottom of an email! Credibility can come in the kind of feedback you’ve received from casting in an audition or workshop or the fact that a casting director has called you in multiple times within the year. Get creative. Think about all the reasons why an agent would want to work with you and what information you have to show that other professionals in the industry have already vetted you.

3. ASK THE QUESTIONS YOU WANT TO BE ANSWERED

What do you want from the agent? A meeting? An audition? Then ask for what you want and make it in the form of a question with a question mark at the end. Do not infer your question. Emails are statistically proven to be answered more frequently when an actual question is asked. Don’t waste time! Get right to it and ask your questions.

Often times, casting directors and acting agencies, in general, respect actors who do not sugar coat things. Be straightforward!

Ex. Are you available within the next two weeks to sit down and discuss potentially working together?

4. DESCRIBE YOUR TYPE

Make sure you clearly articulate what types of roles you are often cast in or would be going out for. It’s usually helpful to compare yourself to another actor to give some context. Consider including a short list of the current TV shows you know you are a fit for.

Ex. People often say I remind them of a young Tina Fey, but I have the heart of Rachel McAdams.Want to learn some tips to hone in on your money-making brand?  Then I HIGHLY recommend you grab some free tips & tricks from Jona Xiao HERE.  She went from making no money in acting for many  years to now being a successful working actor with 45+ TV/film credits (THE FLASH, SWAT & more) so you’ll learn a lot from her.

5. INCLUDE YOUR MATERIALS

I recommend including:

  • A link to your Actor’s Access (for theatrical) or LA Casting/Casting Frontier (for commercial)
  • Your reel. If you don’t have a reel, at least include 1-2 strong recent self-tapes
  • 1 headshot. More than one can be overwhelming & more headshots can be seen on your link.
  • Perhaps include a link to your website if it’s really great and currently up to date.

***PRO TIP: Include one “WOW” marketing material. Some ideas –

  • A list of industry feedback that you’ve gotten (quotes from industry professionals/reviews)
  • A One Sheet (my friends at Jive Duck design some great ones, but you can also make your own: http://jiveduckstudios.com/gallery/marketing-gallery/)
  • A short list of your strong casting director or producer/showrunner/writer connections (I wouldn’t give a full list here as that’s usually something to save for the meeting).

6. SPRINKLE PERSONALITY THROUGHOUT

Be genuine and let your personality shine throughout your email. The hook of your email is now making it personal about the receiver, which is great, but we don’t want to lose sight of who you are throughout this email, so sprinkle your personality throughout. You want to give the talent agency the best possible representation of yourself! Are you a jokester? Include a joke. Is there a cool fun fact about you that really says a lot about your personality? Include it. This will make the email more interesting and possibly your reader and you will find common ground.

Ex.- One of my clients wrote in her training section of her email, “B.A. University of Miami (GO CANES!)” Well, it turned out, someone she wrote to had a family member that went to Miami and they commented on her “go canes” shout-out. You never know how you will connect.

7. PERMISSION TO FOLLOW UP & CLOSING

In your email, give yourself permission to follow up and let them know when and how you plan to do it. Then close the email on a positive note with gratitude and/or warm wishes to their acting agency.

Ex. I’m sure you’re very busy so I will follow up via email in X days if I don’t hear back from you. Thanks for your time and consideration. Have a great week!

A final pro tip – look at the way this article is formatted. Hopefully, it was pretty easy for you to read as we sectioned it out, used numbers, bullets, and bolded and italicized phrases to make it more readable. You can do the same with your email pitches. Emails that are just solid blocks of text are often difficult to decipher. Agents are busy people – make it easy for them to read.

Now spend some time doing your research and writing these personal emails to agents! And make sure to follow up, follow up, follow up. One of our coaching clients stayed in touch with a rep over the course of a year, reaching out 19+ times in order to set up a meeting and sign with their target agent. Just because someone doesn’t respond to your first email, does not mean they are not interested – we truly don’t know what it means so keep on following up until you do! If you get no response after about 3 times reaching out, take a break and touch base again in about 3 months with new wins. You got this!

Coach Jenna

P.S. Check out our free online workshop, you’ll LOVE it as Jona shares super effective tips you can use immediately to see results in your career 🙂

FOX Casting Change: Now Exclusively Using Casting Networks

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FOX Casting Change: Now Exclusively Using Casting Networks

Today, I’ll be sharing what I have learned about FOX’s shift from previously using Breakdown Services (Actor’s Access) to now using Casting Networks (LA Casting).

FOX has used their casting process for years! So, the FOX casting shift is a significant change, and we encourage all of you aspiring actors to continue reading for additional information! Handling casting networks correctly could be your ticket to getting those casting calls that you have been dying to receive!

How Does This Affect You As An Actor?

First, we must understand all of our theatrical materials in Casting Networks.

Actors from Los Angeles typically use www.LAcasting.com, and actors outside of Los Angeles typically use www.CastingNetworks.com.

Before we get into it, if you don’t have a Casting Networks profile, create one. If you do have a profile, make sure you upload your updated resume, theatrical headshots, reels, relevant clips, etc.

Next, make sure you link to your theatrical reps. You have to add your agency to your account through a code. You can’t just type it in. If your rep hasn’t already sent it, contact them for this code.

If you have reps in more than one market, you should create a Casting Networks profile for yourself and add your agency.

Pro Tip: If you have two local hire reps, you only need to add all your photos/footage/resume once. You can then call Casting Networks and have them copy it all over to your other profile. You will get one free photo upload for each network you belong to.

Do You Have To Make A New Profile If You Already Have An Account On LA Casting?

There is a lot of conflicting information going around about this. Many agents, managers, and casting directors have not been able to speak to Casting Networks directly. Because of this, some reps are also getting second-hand information, which makes things even more confusing.Supposedly, once theatrical reps have accounts set up for themselves, they will be able to add their client roster and their client’s profile (at no cost to the actor). Actors will have separate profiles for commercial and theatrical there.That being said, since Casting Networks is so backed up right now, many reps aren’t sure what to tell their clients the next steps are as they are having difficulty getting through to Casting Networks.  Also, many people are having trouble getting their personal accounts on LA Casting set up in a timely fashion, so many reps are unsure of the best next steps for everyone in this case.

The Skinny: What Have I Learned About Casting Network Los Angeles Thus Far?

Cast It and Casting Networks have now merged.

Cast It is the platform that is used for casting to upload and share our auditions with studios for approval. www.CastingItTalent.com

Casting Networks, known to Los Angeles actors as LA Casting, is a platform previously used to send out breakdowns for commercial projects to agents and managers, and a place where actors had profiles to commercially market themselves.

All of this is changing a bit as Cast It & Casting Networks have merged. FOX has now announced that they will exclusively be using Casting Networks to release their breakdowns (actually called “briefs” through this platform) for all their projects – both theatrical and commercial.

Casting Networks is now being used for both commercial and theatrical breakdowns/briefs.

Why Did FOX Make This Decision?

According to Deadline.com:

“[Fox TV Group EVP Sharon Klein had been an early adopter and big fan of Cast It, a paid application used by several studios and networks.  Since Fox started using it a decade ago, the company has been rechecking its security system each year. While Casting Networks had been talking to Fox about a possible collaboration for a while, when POV Partners recently acquired the company and Cast It in short succession, they made a pitch about a secure end-to-end platform.

“It was a way to make a streamlined process for our casting directors, so everything is all in one- briefs, sides, headshots, résumés, demo reels, auditions and all in a secure system,” Klein said.]”

Casting Networks & Cast It have developed advanced technology. For example, Casting Networks can easily delete takes in session while taping actors, ultimately making things much more comfortable for them.

Also, the studios were told that they had developed a new level of security. Studios don’t want info about breakdowns to be getting out publicly, as they believe it weakens the projects.

It seems like other studios may also follow suit and release their breakdowns through Casting Networks, as there are a lot of pros for all involved. Casting Networks and several studios were also apparently told that using this platform would not cost actors anything.

Thus far, I’ve found that this not to be the case. Cast It & LA Casting are free for a basic membership, but if you want a premium membership, you have to pay (and the prices are significantly higher than Breakdown Services). I was told by a major casting office to voice my concerns about the cost of Casting Networks because the studios were excited about it not costing actors money.

The official transition of FOX casting moving to using Casting Networks was announced to begin Nov. 20th, but breakdowns/briefs have already been being released through Casting Networks. Only time will tell the future of casting on FOX.

Hope this is helpful for you all. Let us know in the comments if you have any questions, and if we get any additional information about network casting, we’ll be sure to update this post. Now get over to Casting Networks, get your materials live, and meet casting directors from Fox TV in no time!

-Coach Jenna