Casting Director Renee Godbout gives your profiles a polished, professional edge
By Renee Godbout
As you know, InstantCast is making strides in attracting professional casting directors! With more casting directors looking to cast you in new projects, it’s very important to have a profile that’s easy to read and catches the eye of whoever is looking. Your profile is the only thing casting directors have to go by when they are scanning the site.
To improve your chances of getting cast, I’m going to take a few different people’s profiles and offer suggestions from a professional casting director's point of view!
This week we’ll start with Ruth Casserly. Ruth is a college student from Massachusetts, and at just 18 years old, she's already worked as an extra on the Kevin James feature film Mall Cop!
Ruth has done a wonderful job of making her profile both interesting and uncluttered. I like that she has included her exact location, height, and weight. If a casting director were looking for someone in her location with her body type, she would be very easy to find. However, while she wisely included her shoe size, simply adding in her dress size will help casting directors ascertain if you will fit into a certain costume. Additionally, because she has such a unique look, I would love to know Ruth’s ethnic background as well.
I also like that Ruth noted her experience as an extra. It’s good to know she’s been on set before; this shows me that she is ready to act professionally on-set. It would also be helpful to note any acting classes she might have taken. If she hasn't taken any yet, enrolling in a class would be a great next step in getting herself ready for this industry.
Be careful of spelling errors and fragmented sentences. Remember, your InstantCast profile is like a virtual resume. You would never apply for a job with a resume that had spelling errors or improper phrasing. Simple changes for Ruth include:
- Changing "To be an actress to make movies that everyone will enjoy." to "To be an actress and to make movies that everyone will enjoy." It may seem like an insignificant change, but adding “and” really does makes a difference.
- Changing "I love the buisness and I'm also very patient easy to work with.I'm just in love with this industry." to "I’m patient, easy to work with, and looking for chance to gain more experience. I'm just in love with this industry." Sometimes small tweaks are all that you need to come across as a true professional.
Ruth looks beautiful in her photos, but she only shows herself smiling or sexy. Additionally, 5 out of 6 photos are taken from the same angle. You should use each photo on InstantCast to showcase a different look, and make sure to include one full-body shot as well. Casting directors don’t have time to call you and ask for one, so they may just skip over you instead.
Whether your InstantCast photos are professional headshots or digital photos taken by a friend, make sure you include a variety of outfits. You want a casting director to know you are versatile, so they will consider you for a multitude of projects. But while I like to see variety, don’t go overboard either. The last thing I want to see is 15 to 20 different photos of someone in every outfit imaginable! Pick 3 to 5 flattering outfits and stick with those.
Overall, Ruth has a good job of balancing her profile with fun and professional details. Her photos are attractive without being overdone and she’s included a lot of helpful information. With the few tips I've provided, I have no doubt that her InstantCast profile will attract the attention of many casting directors in the future!
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 2 seasons of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, the pilot for Dirty Sexy Money, and the upcoming Jonathan Demme-directed Dancing with Shiva.
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