Ms. Tunik's List: actors

•    (Tip:  If you use the word “résumé,” note the two accent marks.  You’ll appear less than literate if you omit them.  To make MS Word apply those marks, type “r” then hold down Control while you strike the accent mark—the dohicky below the quote marks.  Release Control, type “e” and—that easily—there’s the é.) 

   

  • I do not agree. The dictionary accepts resume with one, two or zero accent marks.

• Start with, logically enough, your name.  Boldface, center.  (Tip:  if you place your résumé on the Internet, search engines will pick up the first line.  Make that your name and consider adding “actor” or comparable descriptive terms such as "actor-singer-dancer.")

   

          2.  Beneath your name, also centered, list your professional affiliations such as SAG, AFTRA, Equity.  If you're not a member of a union, simply skip this entry.

   

          3.  Give your physical description—height, weight, hair and eye color, and vocal range.  If you’re a singer, specify the notes.  Non-singers will use a generic term like “baritone” or “alto.” Some actors include clothing sizes although that seems pointless to me. 

   

          4.  List contact information—your phone (or answering service) number, email address.  (If you don't have email, you're behind.  There are a zillion free email services.  To find sites that list most of them and tells you individual strengths and weaknesses, try "Free Email Addresses" at link or check "select sites" at "Free Email Providers Guide" at link.  My favorite email server is FastMail, which indeed is fast as well as being extremely dependable link.)  If you have an agent, put his/her name here under "Represented by...."  (Tip:  It is best to have a phone number in the same dialing area as the director’s.  For illustration, if you’re auditioning in New York, a 212 area code is best.  Consider using an answering service or a phone company’s voice mail.  And get into the habit of checking it regularly.) 

   

          5.  If you have a website—and if you don’t, get one!—include the URL so those to who you give your résumé can check your site for newer information than your résumé listed.  We’ll discuss websites in another section of this Primer, and you can link into it with the list of contents at the top of this page.

   

• Training.  Acting, voice, dance, workshops, scene study—where you studied and with whom.  If space permits, and if the training session was substantially long, consider indicating how long you studied.

   

          8.   Special talents.  List your special skills such as juggling, acrobatics, pantomime, dance, stage combat, ability to speak foreign languages, dialects, and the like.  You may be feeling a bit giddy from all this work but fight the temptation to get cutsie-funny here:  this is a professional record. 

   

          9.  Theatrical awards and honors.
• Rosemarie Ballard's home page

  • do you have video from Little Me? Get a copy, so you can put it on a web page resume.

2 more annotations...

• Not all pictures are 8" x 10", however.  Some actors find that a photo business card or postcard can be helpful.  The former has your picture on the front and contact information on the reverse.  The postcard is a regular-sized postcard with your photo and name and contact info on the front, and the back is blank for the mailing address.  Postcards with your picture are great to send to directors or agents w

  • this is inexpensive, and easy to hand out. I like this idea. I would make business cards, with photo. For the information, just name and type of jobs you want (e.g. "actor, singer"), website address, email, maybe cell # if that won't be changing any time soon.
• Your headshot is your opportunity to catch the eye of the casting director and a major business tool, so if at all possible you’ll want to invest in professional photographs.  Yes, this will be expensive, but your headshot is so important you should brace yourself for the costs.  If you're desperately strapped for cash, you can find a friend or camera bug who can take viable photographs but there's a limit what can be achieved without a photographic studio environment where the background and lighting can be controlled, and few amateurs know how to coax great poses from th

  • Do you have a friend who can do this? Perhaps a really good amateur photo would be ok at this stage.

• nstructor: Andrew Hurteau

  • A great teacher. I worked with him at Cal Shakes' class for teachers. He has done fight choreography lessons in my classes.

• Andrew Hurteau
• Andrew Hurteau