How to Prepare Your Acting Headshot and Résumé
If you are pursuing a career in acting it is important that you have a solid headshot and a résumé. A résumé is the representation of you; this is always true when pursuing any job or career. A headshot is to help the director visualize you in the part you are auditioning for or as part of the production. The information provided must be accurate and honest because if a director finds out that you have lied about working on a project it will cost you the role and any future roles. The acting industry is a very small world and word does get around.
You Résumé
Your résumé needs to be concise and paired down to one page. The director just wants to see your most recent work.
Your résumé should consist of your name – usually at the top and in a bigger font, a good phone number where you can be reached, an email address and/or website. You do not need to provide your home address (it is never a good idea; you don’t know whose hands it will land in). You will get the opportunity to give the production that information when you are hired and are asked to fill out all the paperwork.
Your résumé should also have your hair color, eye color, height and size. Make sure to update this information every time that you make changes to your physical appearance. You do not want to mislead the director, they will be expecting you to arrive matching the description in your résumé.
It is important that you start with your most recent work and you will need to provide accurate information on the production. Agents and directors will want to contact them and inquire about your work with them. As your body of work grows make sure to update your résumé and eliminate the smaller and unimportant parts.
Finally make sure to discuss the production; its name, the director, the role you played. This information will lead the agent or director to ask you about the different parts that you’ve played.
Example of a Resume
Your Headshot
Every actor in the business needs a good headshot to help a director identify and remember them during casting for a production.
Your headshot should be an 8×10 color photo and can be taken either horizontal or vertical. It should not be a school photo, a glamor shot, or a snapshot of you and your friends. The photo should be in color and taken by a professional.
It is important that you remember your photo is your calling card. It should be the best representation of who you are. The photo should also be current and up to date. The worst thing you can do is send the casting director a photo of yourself with short blonde hair and then showing up to the audition with long brunette hair, this is considered a clear misrepresentation of yourself.
Headshot Examples
Submission Tip
Always have your name and any union affiliation printed at the bottom of your photo, you can also print it on the border or at the corner of the photo. This way if your résumé and headshot are separated from each other the director or the assistant will be able to match them up again.
Your headshot and résumé should be 8×10 and stapled back-to-back at all four corners. You can print your résumé on 8×11 paper then lineup your headshot to your résumé and trim your résumé to match exactly, this way both headshot and résumé are the same size and looks professional. If you have a cover letter you can use a paper clip it to your stapled headshot and résumé (Trim your cover letter to match your 8×10 photo).
There is NO “application” to fill out for acting. Your application is your headshot and résumé. Which as previously stated should be an 8×10 photo and résumé stapled together (at all four corners). Always include a cover letter stating that you are interested in audition for a role, always mention the role you are interested in and for which project.
Submit your headshot and résumé to the specifications of the director. Use either a manila envelope or a clear full face window envelope. Write the name of the project, the role you are auditioning for, the director’s name, the director’s submission address and the director’s city, state and zip code in that order.
Example:
PROJECT NAME
ROLE OF ______
CASTING DIRECTOR’S NAME
CASTING DIRECTOR’S ADDRESS
CASTING DIRECTOR’S CITY, STATE AND ZIP CODE
Be Patient
After submission please be patient and wait for a call from the casting team or the casting director. REMEMBER UNSOLICITED PHONE CALLS AND PERSONAL VISITS TO THE CASTING DIRECTORS/TEAMS ARE PROHIBITED IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. Not only is it unprofessional but it takes up the casting director’s time. They receive hundreds, if not thousands of headshots and resumes every week for the projects they are working on.
If you did not receive a call it simply means the role was filled but it should not stop you from submitting to another project.
My name is Trinity I’m a great singer,dancer and I can memorize a whole script I’m a week
My name is Sharon I’m good at acting singing and I could really do great if was given the chance
Hey! My name in Allyson. I am 15. I will be 16 in December. I have hazel eyes and brown hair. I am 145lbs and 5’2. I’ve never acted but I really want to get in it. I’ve always loved acting, I would fake cry and tease my parents. I have cheered on my varsity team for 3 years and been cheering since I was 5. I don’t want any specific part, in any specific show/ movie. Thanks for your time.
Hi I’am Kaitlyn healy and I’am 11.I would love to have any part in this show.Also I have bin doing acting lessons for 4 years.So I’am really good and acting.If you think I can have a part please call me.
Hi i am 15 and i live in Australia and i would absolutly LOVE to be in disney channel show/movie but nearly all of them need 2 b in the area in which they r being shot so i will still be trying 2 get there but may not be able 2 afford it either so that makes it really hard to become an actress.
Hello ! To all members of this section, I m an INDIAN Actor n always wanted to be part of Hollywood movies, films SO if any director is reading this then reply me so that I can send my Headshots n resume.
Hello, my name is Maideh
I’m 17 years old, i live in Belgium but I always wanted to be an actress.
I’m really good at English my Numbers are THE highest of my clas.
I speak alsow fully Dutch, Persian and I can speak THE basics of French to.
My math Numbers are alsow really high.
I took one year acting lessons but i couldn’t continue, because I needed to study more.
I am 14 blond hair green eyes and I am really nice and get along with others you can contact with me at my email please consider me
Hello I’m Melanni Bleke-Powell and am 14. I am the top female gymnast at Mile High Gymnastics and my dream is to play a psychic person:) You can contact me at 360-602-9290
I am 17 year old…….. I am a guy from the traditional… INDIA…….actually i have no experience of playing a role in any act…….bt i ensure. U that if i get any chance then i will do it heartly….thnk u
I would love for you to pick me because I’m fun to be around exciting lovable and I care for everyone even if I don’t know them I will still help them also I’m 11 years old love to dance I have had hopes and dream every sence I was 2 years old I also love to act and would love to be on Disney channel because its my favorite channel also thank you for your time and I would love for you to pick me
I would love to be on kc undercover its my favorite show and I will be goofy when its time to be goofy and I will be serious when its time to work and I think you would love to have me because I’m fun and exiting also love to dance every sense I was little I always worked had and I’ve always wanted to meet Zendaya Coleman
hello,my name is natalie everett. i love disney channel and would like to audition but i need information. i did an audition for disney channel before and i got in but sadly my parents said it was too much money i want to audition again! i want to be an actress when i grow up and i am an A student and an amazing actress…so please give me a call at 9092407230
hi call me maui for short> i would really like to act. ever since i was little i pretended to act alone. because im a shy person but its now improving and im trying to take acting lessons. to try and boost up my confidence. im just turned 15 this september 3 2015.
I would like doing acting. still going to need more training so I can present myself much more better. I know we all have dream. we want to be. my dream is to persue on being actor. ever since I was little. I saw all of robin William movies. he funny and amazing. I study all his movement and personality. all I want is to live up for my dream.
Hello my name is Joshua Barrett. I’m 11 years old born january2,2004. Ever since I was 2 I wanted to be an actor. I can sing,dance, and act. Acting is my dream and I really hope it can come true.
I was dreaming of being an actor, not just to be famous but because I want drama each day! It took me a long time to convince my parents by writing an article. I know it’s hardand takes time, but I will do my very best! Cant wait!
From Valeria Mukhortova★☆★☆★
I love to act and I love to sing. I know that this all I want to do and what I enjoy doing.please let me live out my dream.i have always been taught that you can have your dreams come true as long as you work towards it and do your best. Please give me the chance
My name is Evelyn I pretend to be a actor since I was little and I also like be on film.
I have been wanted to be a singer or an actress ever sience I was 4 I have been practicing singing and acting with my friends and siblings and I would like to know how I could get in a TV show or movie that has maybe like a 10 or 11 year old because I have been dieing to be an actress, singer, or get my TV show idea on Disney Channel. thanks for the tips
Hi,my Name is Brandon it is perfect that you are giving out tips to help get great acting roles. I am defiantly go to use everything that you say.
So I’m 15 and I did not have a job so would that mean it would be harder to get an acting place in a movie or tellivetion show.
I really like acting its something I lovee and i also oove singing and i would really like to play the parte of the mairmade im 12
I’m 11 and how to u apply I wanted to b a actor since I was 6 so I joined a performing arts school
I have been a Federal Agent for the past 20 years. I would like to be considered for either a psychotic criminal or a court room judge or attorney.