Menu

Book TV & Film

How They Did It Paulina Simkin thumbnail

Booking 8 Jobs in 8 Months: “How They Did It” with Paulina Simkin

, , , , , , , , , 1

Booking 8 Jobs in 8 Months:
“How They Did It” with Paulina Simkin

Have you ever relocated your WHOLE LIFE based on a leap of faith?

Elite Client Paulina did just that and booked 8 jobs in 8 months in her new city.

Too good to be true, right?

Not for Paulina, who is now permanently moving from NYC to LA after a serious booking spree 💅

How did she do it?

Instead of relying only on faith, Paulina took action.

Through the help of her Elite Program Coach, Paulina made some strategic career moves that set her up for career success–

…and helped her move across the country with peace of mind.

Check out her How They Did It interview where she tells you how right here:

 

And if you want to learn more about the Elite Program, we offer comprehensive business training for actors that delivers top-notch courses, accountability, hands-on group AND private coaching, plus unmatched community all in one place.

Enrollment is open now!

 
When to get rid of old headshots (1920 x 1152 px)

When To Get Rid of Old Headshots on Your Casting Profiles

, , , , , 0

The very first thing casting directors, producers, and directors see of us are our HEADSHOTS.

Unfortunately, most actors have outdated or ineffective headshots on their casting profiles.

This means that you could miss out on opportunities!

But, how can you tell which headshots work and which ones need to go?

That’s where Coach Cecily comes in. Her latest vlog shares excellent tips on:

  • When to get rid of old headshots
  • Which ones to keep and which to retire
  • Clear steps on how to make your rep’s job EASIER
  • Plus, how to know exactly how many headshots to have

Watch her short (2 min) video here:


And for even more clarity on how to get a stellar casting profile or which marketing materials you really need, check out our Home Study Course on branding/marketing:

GET RICH IN YOUR NICHE: Your Money-Making Brand and Killer Marketing Materials
Click here to learn more: https://www.careeractivate.com/get-rich-in-your-niche-rp/

YOU-nique (1920 x 1152 px)

How To Turn “How Are You?” From Generic To YOU-nique

, , , 1

“How are you?” 

It’s a question we hear all. the. time. And we’re so conditioned to give a generic response. 

What do you usually say? 

  • “I’m great!”
  • “Good, thanks, and you?” 
  • “Happy to be here”

But when you enter a live audition, a producer’s session, or a meeting with someone who has hiring power in the industry, instead of a basic, overused answer, what if you used this question as an opportunity to connect? 

As an artist, when a producer, casting director, or someone else – who has the potential of offering you a job or chance for collaboration – asks this question, this creates a great moment to give a personal YOU-nique response. One that shares your personality and brings out a common human interaction.

For example, I was in a producer’s session and when asked, “Tiffany, how are you today?” I said, “Well, I got my son’s hair in a ponytail today so I am doing pretty good.” Notice how this response is quick, shows personality, and gives information about me.

  1. I have a son.
  2. My son has long hair.
  3. I’ve had a hard time doing my son’s hair, but today was a win so we can celebrate that.
  4. I have a sense of humor.

I knew one of the producers had children. This related to them and allowed us to have some common ground before doing the audition. It also helped me feel comfortable by sharing a normal human interaction despite their titles and experiences.

Now, it’s your turn. Use these tools to help you create a YOU-nique response.

a) If you know who will potentially be in a room, research them.

Find some common ground. You can create a quick quip that makes them perk up and share who you are.

Example:CD: How are you, Tamika?Tamika: I was just on the phone with my mom so I feel like 100 bucks.

b)  Be HONEST. 

Don’t create something just to stand out or sound funny. It will come off inauthentic.

Example:Showrunner: How are you, Darnell?Darnell: Making it. I played Kickball this weekend and I’m feeling it.”

c)  Keep it simple and feel the room.

Sometimes this works well and other times the room needs a generic response.

Think about whether:

  • they are running behind
  • the person/ organization does not like small talk
  • the awesome quick quip you created is not fitting for the tone you are feeling as you enter the room or conversation

Ok, to summarize: Use “How are you” to connect with casting directors, producers, or other career game changers. Research who will be in the room, find an authentic commonality, create a quick quip, and feel out the room when using it.

This takes practice, but don’t be afraid to try it out. You may be one “How are you?” away from a YOU-nique connection.

Coach Tiffany
6 Tips To Deliver A Self-Tape (1920 x 1152 px)

6 Tips To Deliver A Self-Tape (Even When You’re on Vacation)

, , , 2

This past summer, two exciting moments coincided on the same weekend: I organized my best friend’s bachelorette weekend in Miami and I booked the coolest job ever (recurring guest star on the NBC hit show QUANTUM LEAP)! 

Fun times, indeed, and a lot of potential stress that I’m proud to say I was able to deftly avoid. 

Here are some of my takeaways:

TIP 1: HAVE A SUPPORT TEAM AT THE READY

I asked a friend to help me for the first audition, who’s on a campy detective type show with a vibe similar to what I thought the show I was taping for would be. She’s a smart actor and has a solid sense of tone, two valuable assists in a reader. It was the first season of the show I was taping for, so there was no reference material, save the sides and breakdown. Nevertheless, my friend and I were able to make some wise deductions based on what was on the page. Ultimately, my reader choice was clearly a wise decision, as she’s now helped me book two jobs!

TIP 2: DO GREAT WORK, THEN LET IT GO

As much as I appreciate every audition that comes my way, I’m even more appreciative for any precious time off with my friends. So, after I sent the tape, I packed my bags and went to Miami for a weekend of fun in the sun. Most importantly, I blocked out the dates with my team and purposely left my taping equipment at home. I was on a weekend getaway!

TIP 3: BELIEVE IN MURPHY’S LAW (or don’t, but know the Universe works in mysterious ways)

On day two of the bachelorette, my agent calls to tell me that we’ve just received notes from casting and they want me to re-tape. And, of course, I didn’t have any of my equipment to do so. Time to get creative!

TIP 4: NOTES ARE ALWAYS A BLESSING BUT DON’T ALWAYS HAPPEN

Notes are helpful ways of demonstrating a clearer sense of what you’re capable of. Casting liked something you did and wants to give you some direction. Win! They’re already fans, so don’t use this as an opportunity to change everything. Now is your chance to adjust and deepen your performance in ways that make sense to you, not to do more of what you think ‘they want.’

TIP 5: DO WHAT YOU CAN WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

Because I didn’t have any of my equipment with me, my actor brain immediately panicked. Rather than stressing out and trying to find a reader, learn the new sides, and cobble together a new tape, I got resourceful: I sent my agent two other auditions that reflected the kind of character they were guiding me toward. This was an empowering boost and reminder that I didn’t need to bend over backwards to get them a new tape.

TIP 6: BE HONEST WITH YOUR REPS AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF

Tell them if you’re able to do the work or not. There’s no shame in turning something down if you don’t feel like you can do your best. Ask yourself the honest question and listen to your gut.

It can be a really scary thing to take time out for yourself. One of my favourite sayings is: The most interesting humans make the most interesting actors.

So, go live your life and do those things when the impulse guides you. Take that holiday. Go visit that friend. Spend time with your family. And trust that the industry will be there when you get back. Chances are, you’ll be wanted when you’re unavailable, like in my case. And if you’re wondering about the bachelorette weekend, Miami was amazing, South Beach is the best, and I’m so glad I got to celebrate my friend!

Coach Farah
3 Instagram Engagement Strategies To Boost Your Career (1920 × 1152 px)

3 Instagram Engagement Strategies to Boost Your Career

, , , , 0

If you ever hear about other actors creating opportunities thanks to Instagram and think “ The only people who like my posts are my mom and my bestie,” you’ll love the below tips.. Here’s three concrete strategies to boost your IG engagement without feeling like a stalker that have helped me and my Clients:

CASTING
Figure out the shows/films you’re right for, and then follow those CDs to start organically and authentically engaging with their content. If they post something that genuinely makes you laugh, you could comment saying so, you could even share it to your story. And I think using the Stories section of Instagram is great for sharing your new reels or clips, ESPECIALLY if the tone matches the types of projects that they work on.

For example, a client of mine had created a new comedic demo reel, and she posted it to her story and then tagged a comedic CD in that story. That CD ended up watching the reel and then messaging my client, complimenting her work! What a great way to get your work seen by someone you’re targeting!

FILMMAKERS
There are two routes for this, one is to search for filmmakers that you know you already love and want to collaborate with (maybe they directed an incredible episode of TV or the film they’ve written is out in theaters) and the other is to discover new filmmakers through the search function. Let’s discuss option 1…

1) Filmmakers You Already Are Excited To Connect With:

Follow these filmmakers and begin to authentically and organically engage with them. You could even support their current projects by sharing their posts to your story. Most people are happy when more eyeballs end up watching their work, so offering some free publicity for things you really enjoyed is a great way to help them. And since it’s something you actually liked, it’s really easy to be genuine in your posting.

You can also send these people a DM letting them know how much their work means to you, and start a genuine connection that way. I mean, most everybody feels good when their work is seen and praised! Wouldn’t you love it if someone hopped into your DMs to talk about how much your work made them feel? Of course!! And who knows what could happen with that relationship!

For example, a client of mine connected with a writer through Instagram and after getting to know each other a bit over several months via posts and messages, she ended up asking them via direct message if they would consider donating to her films crowdfunding campaign, and this person did! I mean what a compliment and what a beautiful friendship that formed from authentic engagement.

2) Finding NEW Filmmakers To Connect With:

What if you want to discover some new people to collaborate with? I will use the hashtag search option and search for things like #director, #filmmaker, #indiefilmmaker, etc. to see who’s posting content with these hashtags and then checking out their page, their demo reels, their current or previous work. If they are creating content that really resonates with me, then I’ll give them a follow and start authentically and genuinely engaging with their content. This can lead to wonderful lasting friendships and potential bookings, I’ve booked two films through Instagram, one of which came about because a filmmaker and I started following each other and supporting each other’s content.

A couple of tips for this whole thing…

I don’t like tagging people in grid posts because they then get notifications when people comment, etc. I prefer tagging in stories because it goes into their DM folder in their message requests section, so they can choose to look at the tag. Also please remember that AUTHENTIC and GENUINE is key (do I sound like a broken record?) because that is how long lasting relationships are fostered, IMO, and it is legitimately so easy to comment that something was great when you actually thought it was great!

PLEASE NOTE: Please only follow/engage with people that are open about their work on their social media platforms… Some people have private profiles or only post about their family, so I wouldn’t attempt to engage with them from a “work” perspective. Focus on those who are open about their work on Instagram, and then you’ll be 100% sure you’re not crossing any boundaries.

3) Discover Your Community:

While instagram is a great place to network and find potential collaborators, it is also a great place to connect with your community of artists. There are so many actors and storytellers on there, and you can find them through the search function or hashtags. So many schools and actor podcasts are also on there, posting inspiring content and reinforcing that YOU ARE NOT ALONE on this journey. Being an actor can at times be an isolating process, so I do enjoy getting a chance to see what my peers are doing, how they are marketing themselves, how they seek guidance and support. I celebrate their wins because I know mine are just around the corner.

 Social media is a place you can find your artistic community, especially if you are in a smaller market or you aren’t in class right now. I have a few friends that I never met in person, yet I still celebrate their auditions, their bookings, their projects because it makes me feel good to see others succeed!

** Looking for an actor community? Join our Career ACTivate Success Network!**

Now get out there and start posting and engaging! Authentically and organically, of course! Haha!

Coach Rachel
When to loop in your agent (1920 x 1152 px)

Should You Loop In Your Reps When You Book A Job On Your Own?

, , 2

I know you work hard. So, every booking is a cause for celebration! Especially, when you get the gig on your own, without the help of your rep.

In cases like this, you’ve probably wondered…”Should I even bother telling my reps? I worked hard and booked this on my own. So, why should I give them a commission?”

In today’s vlog, Coach Eric dives into why you should consider looping your reps in, even if you booked the job without their involvement.

Yes, you’ll have to pay out commissions. But wouldn’t it be worth it if it meant thousand more dollars in YOUR pocket?

So, check out our vlog below and find out how to get more $$$ into the pockets of your entire team!

Get Paid Like A Boss (1920 x 1152 px)

Get Paid Like A Boss

, , , , , , , , 0

You don’t have to tell me that tax time can be dramatic.

Collecting paystubs, statements, 1099s and W2s takes a ton of coordination and time which, as you know, is always in short supply. It can be downright stressful. But sometimes tax time can be…surprising.

Just like every year, when my W-2s come in, I open each one and check it out. I’m pretty organized (spoiler alert: I love a good spreadsheet), so I’m pretty much up-to-date with my theatrical earnings. Commercial residuals can be trickier to know off the top of my head because of the different pay structures associated with each contract type. But I digress…

This year, as I was getting all my tax paperwork in, there were no surprises until I got to the paperwork for a commercial for which I’d been paid approximately $1,200. Shockingly, the W-2 was for just under $10,000. That meant that I was missing $8,700 in commercial residual payments!

Sadly, this is not an uncommon occurrence. In a 2018 story, The Hollywood Reporter estimated that as much as $315 Million in residuals could be going unpaid annually. Yikes!

It’s super important that you approach this situation from a CEO’s point of view. Stay professional, don’t jump to conclusions, be patient and diligent.

I immediately called the payroll company listed on my W-2 and was told by the very helpful accounting rep that commercial residual checks get lost in the mail all the time. Because they’re still using paper checks…in 2022!

So, how can you make sure all your hard-earned $$$ makes it into your pocket?

Keep scans/photos of all your contracts – all you need is your phone’s camera! 

  • You can create albums in your phone’s camera app or offload them onto your computer. Just make sure you know where to find them at the end of the year.

Check your end-of-year tax paperwork

  • Match all your tax forms up to your paystubs/direct deposits – this doesn’t even require any math! All you have to do is match up the fields labeled “Gross.”

What if they don’t match up?

  • Request a Talent Earnings Report from the payroll company listed on your W-2 along with copies of the cashed checks. You can do this by email or by phone. I called and had the info emailed to me in less than 5 minutes. Easy-peasy!
  • Reach out to your reps and ask for a Client Summary Report. This will include the Gross, Net, Tax Deductions & Commissions paid.

Now what?

From here, you’ll be able to see if your agency received all of your checks.

If checks are missing or unaccounted for, reach out to the payroll company and ask them to cancel any missing checks and reissue them. You can also ask your agency to reach out to payroll on your behalf.

You may still be getting your footing feeling like the badass boss that you are. Fear may sneak in because you don’t want to make waves with your agency or feel accusatory. But remember: this is business. The CEO of any other small business would feel empowered to take care of their finances and you can, too.

It’s up to you to make sure you get every cent of your badass boss paycheck. And you will be a more well-respected business person when you do!

So, what would you do with $8,700 unexpected dollars? Tell me in the comments below.

 

Your Power (1920 x 1152 px)

Are you giving away your power?

, , , , , , , 0

Sometimes it just feels most comfortable to go with the flow and not rock the boat. But, let’s be honest for a hot sec: giving up your power is uncomfortable, too, and can have negative consequences. By power, we’re not talking brute strength , we mean holding to your boundaries and doing what’s right for you, especially on-set.

In our newest vlog, Coach Eric explores several ways that he sees actors give up their power when they fear being seen as a “difficult” actor. After booking 14 TV shows and commercials last year alone, he’s seen a lot. You may have even done one or more of the things Eric talks about.

So, whether you already feel powerful, or you’re looking for a boost, Coach Eric has some great advice to help you keep hold of your power in our vlog.

Audition Curveballs (1920 x 1152 px)

What Tom Hanks Taught Me About Baseball and Acting

, , , , , , , 0

Tom Hanks famously said in A League of Their Own, “It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. The hard… is what makes it great.”

Even though Coach Jimmy Dugan from the movie was talking about baseball, Career ACTivate‘s Coach Eric applies this philosophy to his acting career. And you can, too.

Coach Eric hits a grand slam with his great advice on how to create the right mindset when you get thrown an audition curveball.

He shared tips about:

  • The pros and cons of memorization
  • How to position ad-libs, improvisation & buttons to be memorable
  • A simple process to fin the right audition coach (and when you may not even need one)

When you’re ready to get off the bench, click below to watch Coach Eric’s vlog so you can book a commercial home run of your own.

Below is the finished commercial that Eric booked using his vlog tips

Interested or Interesting (1920 x 1152 px)

Are You Interested OR Interesting?

, , , , , , , 0

Producer Jimmy Nguyen dropped in for a Q&A with our Elite Clients to talk about the difference between being interested and interesting. 

His insight just might be a big wake up call. 

You’ll also learn: 

  • What one thing actors do that drives casting crazy (and not in the good way)
  • The best way to ask for what you want
  • Who you should be “networking” with

Watch below to see some of Jimmy’s suggestions on how you can be the kind of business-person who finds success in your career.

PS. if you’d like to get guided step-by-step through how to best build relationships, deepen those relationships, and collaborate with people whose work you really respect, check out our Relationship Roadmap Live Virtual Program. 

Load More