Casting Director Renee Godbout Gives You 10 Easy Ways to Impress a Casting Director on InstantCast
By Renee Godbout
Your InstantCast profile isn't only a social networking tool like MySpace or Facebook. It's also a professional resource! That’s not to say you won’t meet new friends on InstantCast, but your profile is also a tool to help you start and maintain a career in acting. In the coming months, more and more casting directors and agencies will be using InstantCast to search for new talent. They want to cast you, so they'll be looking closely at certain parts of your profiles.
Want to really impress casting directors? Just follow these 10 Steps to a Better InstantCast Profile!
1. HAVE PROFESSIONAL-LOOKING PHOTOS.
Make sure the photos you have included are clear, well composed, and show you in a flattering light. If you have a professional headshot, make that your default profile picture. (Don't have professional headshots yet? Click here to get them today!) If you do not have professional photographs, use nice, well-lit photos taken with a digital camera. Include close-ups of your face as well as full-length body shots. Do not use photos with obscene nudity. Photos should be current, and the majority of them should show you alone. And absolutely no cell phone pictures! These are very low-quality and extremely unprofessional.
2. BE DETAILED ABOUT YOUR BODY.
Make sure to include your height, weight, clothing size, and measurements. You may be hesitant to share some of this information, but a casting director needs specific details. If they are looking for someone to fit a certain uniform, they will need your exact information. For those of you without your measurements listed, a casting director might just pass you by.
3. LIST ANY SPECIAL SKILLS.
For example, if you are a sword swallower, then have that listed! If you dance at an expert level in any style, make sure you include that as well. Sports, foreign languages, and any other unique skills are also important. These differentiate you from other actors and make you more memorable.
4. USE FULL SENTENCES AND PROPER GRAMMAR.
When entering information about yourself, read over your sentences to make sure they are coherent. Making a list is fine, but use numbers or bullet points to make that clear. It’s all about first impressions and you don’t want to come off as someone with no attention to detail. Casting directors want to that you are motivated, professional, and care about how you present yourself.
5. LIST ANY LANGUAGES YOU KNOW.
Finding actors that can speak different languages is highly desired. Actors that know more languages aside from English often have an advantage. Be honest about your skills: Don’t include Spanish if you only know how to say “Hola!” The last thing you want to do is find yourself in a situation where you cannot perform what you promised. This is embarrassing for you and your casting director, and is not a good way to make a first impression.
6. INCLUDE YOUR TOWN AND STATE.
Casting directors often want actors who can easily commute to set. This is especially important if you're applying for a role as an extra or a day player. Casting directors need to know that they can rely on you showing up on time every day.
7. REMEMBER YOUR FUTURE GOALS.
Describe what type of work you are looking for in the "Goals" section. Whether it is principle film, principle TV, reality TV, commercials, promos, extras, or modeling, your details will help the casting director know what area you are pursuing.
8. TELL US ABOUT YOUR ACTING CLASSES.
Under "Experience," list any acting or modeling classes you have taken and who you have studied with. Everyone pursuing an acting career should be taking classes. Casting directors like to know your experience level.
9. DON'T GO OVERBOARD WITH PERSONAL INFORMATION.
Remember, InstantCast is a way to meet professionals in the industry. Looking at someone’s profile that is filled with all their favorite movies from their childhood can be distracting. A good rule of thumb is to limit yourself to your 3 favorite movies, television shows, celebrities, et cetera. Additionally, be sure to spellcheck and use proper capitalization. A casting director will not take you seriously as an actor if you can't spell the title of your favorite movie!
10. UPDATE OFTEN!
If you change your hairstyle, take a photo and upload it. If you enroll in a new class, list it. If you land a new role, make sure you include it on your profile! Your profile is your resume and people are always taught to update their resumes when looking for a new job. Make sure your profile is up-to-date on everything you have been doing in your quest for stardom!
Renee Godbout - Freelance Casting Director. Renee Godbout recently worked on the first season of The CW's popular teen show Gossip Girl at Grant Wilfey Casting. Some past projects include Law & Order: Criminal Intent, the pilot for Dirty Sexy Money, and the upcoming Jonathan Demme-directed Dancing with Shiva.
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