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The film industry is a beast. If the film industry were a mythical land it would have everything. Mountains to climb, oceans to cross, deserts to shrivel up and die in, and buried treasure that a few lucky souls will find! Here are 10 things I wish some barnacle head would have told me when I started acting in film.
1. You are not in control of a lot of things in this business When I started out, my goal was to book a network television job within the first year of being with my agent. That is hilarious to me now because I realize at this point that a goal like that, while attainable, is not something I have a lot of control over. Here’s why. You can audition your butt off, become the best actor you can be, have the most amazing headshots and reel, do everything right, and if there isn’t a role for you, then there isn't a role for you. That’s that. There are a zillion factors that go into casting a role that actors are not aware of when we are submitting to a project and a lot of those factors have nothing to do with us. That’s not to say that hard work doesn’t pay off, it does! But to have a specific goal like that might mean that you don’t know how the industry works. And that’s okay, it’s just better not to beat yourself up over things that aren’t in your control. 2. You can change your look I seemed to think that keeping my hair the exact same all the time (a tight, blonde bob) was extremely important. The truth is, yes, you need to have updated headshots, but you don’t have to keep a certain weight or style just because you feel like that’s how the casting directors currently know you. They will adjust. Live your life. And dare I say… blonde vs brunette? Bangs or no bangs? Glasses? Doesn’t matter that much in the grand scheme of things. There are roles out there for the bang-ed and the bang-less. 3. Those student films you did will pay off I don’t regret a single film I did for free or little to no money. There’s no better training than actually doing the work. There’s also no better way to meet other creatives than on a film set. Of course there is a time as an actor when you have to think about when to draw the line at working for free and that is definitely something to consider as you move along in your career. When you’re just starting out though, student films and short films are your best friend. Most of the people I know now are people I met at the very beginning of my film journey. (Pro tip: be cool to work with, you never know if you will cross paths with these lovely people again. Like any industry, it is smaller than you think!) 4. No one knows what they’re doing, but you can learn something from everyone Go easy on yourself and humility is always a good trait. 5. Just do it A lot of people say that the camera can tell if you’re lying. I would argue that this is not always the case. Maybe I’m just a terrible actress, but I don’t think so. There will be times you will be shooting and “you’re just not feeling it” or you can’t “find it.” (Whatever it is for you.) You’re a human being and humans get tired. Acting is hard! My advice is, it’s okay if you don’t feel anything while you’re acting sometimes. Adam Driver said in one of those round table interviews something to the effect of “we’re not paid to feel.” Ain’t that the truth. Sometimes you just have to get out of your head, say the words, mean them, and stop worrying about how you are feeling while you’re doing it. At the end of the day, we are talking props and we have a job to do. Feeling is not one of our jobs, making people feel is our job. 6. You can push through the jitters I used to think that when I was nervous everyone could tell. They couldn’t, but thinking they could would get in my head. Stage fright is normal and it is most certainly not a death sentence to your performance. Accept the nerves and find a way to perform while your heart is beating and your palms are sweating. Eventually I learned that if you don’t let the nerves defeat you, they will quiet down a reasonable amount. After some success in acting, confidence does wonders for the nerves. That can take time, but it should give you hope that it can change. 7. Everyone has an opinion Acting is an extremely vulnerable craft. There’s a lot of rejection and opinions flying around about how to act, how to be your own business, how to audition, and so much more. This includes my opinion, too! Take it with a grain of salt! At the end of the day, you have to do what is best for you. This seems obvious and is probably said too much, but I wish I embraced my own path and instincts even more at the beginning of my acting journey. Acting is about letting YOU come out, so playing your strengths and where you are comfortable is a great place to start. Are you naturally serious? Funny? Good at mimicking? Like doing commercials? Voices? Embrace it, use it, and run with it. Don’t take your talents for granted. Use them! Make money! 8. 5 years into my career and it is still an expensive endeavor Headshots, taking time off from your serving job to do a student film, acting classes, the list goes on and on. Acting costs money. Some actors say that acting shouldn’t be a hobby, it should be a job. I somewhat disagree with this because acting has to be a hobby and a job. Hobbies cost money and free time. So does acting. This is my perspective as someone who treats acting as a craft and a journey, though… I admit I lack some business sense! This takes me to my next point: 9. It’s called show business for a reason Show biz is show biz. It’s about making the dollar bills for those big picture shows. It’s something to always remember when you want to make sense of it all. 10. Your career changes as you change As your acting career evolves, you must too. Since I haven’t been going to acting classes in awhile, I feel the effects of that. Some actors I know grow too big for the New Orleans market (or they feel they don’t fit into it) and they move to Atlanta. Some actors decide that at some point they are going to need an LA manager in addition to their New York agent. When things feel stagnant, sometimes you have to be willing to take a risk and make some changes. If you are interested in a free 30 minute consultation to help you get started, send me an email at helpimcreative@gmail.com and mention this blog post!
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In this list I have compiled some of the websites that I use to help facilitate my creative businesses. There are different types of creatives out there, of course, so keep in mind that these websites are what I use as a performer, teacher, and creator. If you are reading this, chances are you consider yourself a multi-hyphenate as well! I am also willing to bet you are trying to build multiple sources of income streams, or at the very least multiple avenues in which people can find your work. Here is a list of websites that I use that have proven to enhance my creative life.
Weebly, Wix, Squarespace, or any other website builder Building a website gives you a platform to link all of your stuff! I can’t tell you how many times my simple website wowed new clients. Websites are a great way to present your portfolio, show your resume, link your social media, link your online shop, and show your personality! Having a website alone will make you more professional. The website builder I chose (and still use) is through Weebly.com. I might transition to Square Space as Weebly consistently has issues with supporting videos, even though I pay for a subscription that allows videos on my website. Weebly is great, but it is not as good as the others in my opinion. (It is outdated.) Instagram is a place where people go to see what you’re all about and build a community with you. It’s a scouting tool and networking must. (I totally understand if you choose not to have a social media presence, though.) If you do choose to use social media as a tool, having a presence on Instagram will help you build trust with your audience. Period. Like instagram, having a Facebook page for your business is essential in terms of building trust with your community. Facebook ads are affordable for brand new businesses and will give you a lot of reach! Most of my students come from Facebook and I think it’s because Facebook makes it easy for potential clients to thoroughly vett you. I mean we’ve all creeped on Facebook at least once… right?! Put simply, people think they know you after they creep your Facebook profile regardless if that is true or not. Google Business Profile If you use the internet, chances are you use Google. A lot. Join the party and make a business profile for your services. Google Ads are definitely worth it. I have gotten a lot of traffic to my website thanks to Google and have even landed on a South African online bulletin board (I am in the USA) all because someone snatched up info on Google and shared it. I am glad they did because I got two regular clients out of it! It’s always a plus when you can say that your business operates globally. Side note: I also use Gmail and Google Drive a heck of a lot and definitely can’t imagine not having a Gmail account because of this. Craigslist I know what you’re thinking… sketchy much?! But hear me out, if you are smart about your interactions on craigslist, it can be an amazing way to build great connections with people. Craigslist is not as busy as it once was, but there are lots of people who still peruse the listings. Many of my students have come from craigslist and on top of that, I have found THREE awesome long term jobs on there and one creative project that to this day is one of my favorites to look back on. None of them were weird! Pro tip: if you are advertising an online service, post your listing in multiple cities. (Keep in mind that there is a small fee per listing.) Etsy These days it is insanely easy to make print on demand products. If you aren’t a creative maker already, you can 1) design some merchandise 2) slap it on some t-shirts with a print on demand site like Printify and 3) link it up with your Etsy store. I like to use indie musicians as a model for creating multiple platforms and income streams. Creating merch is a great way to get your name out there and it doesn’t have to be complicated! I like Etsy because it is easy to use and takes care of the sales tax for you. Canva For a long time I ignored Canva, despite the fact that I heard about it from multiple creators who use it DAILY. This website is a gamechanger. In Canva you can customize anything from mugs to flyers to videos to banners, you name it. Don’t sleep on Canva, use it up and create your own brand! The first logo I made for myself was on Microsoft Word. Don’t do that. You really don’t have to do that anymore. Oh, and it’s much easier to use than photoshop. YouTube Having a YouTube channel is a lot like having a Facebook. Just having an account in general helps put you on the map. Another great thing about the tube is that these days you can learn ANYTHING on YouTube if you know what to search. Having a YouTube account allows you to create video playlists, like videos, comment on videos, and subscribe to other creators. YouTube is the best place to show your audience who you are. They can see your face, hear your voice, and get a sense of your essence better on YouTube than any other social media platform. Anchor If you’re making YouTube videos, why not extract the audio and make a podcast? Anchor makes it easy to get your podcast onto Spotify, iTunes, and other podcasting sites with a click of a button. Having a podcast is yet another great way to get yourself out there and build an audience. These are just a handful of sites that I use, but they are the most crucial ones that I use. Of course there are tons of alternatives to each of these, but I can say that all of these sites are easy to use and cost little to no dollars! The cool (and also a little scary) thing is, with these sites anyone can make a creative business within their home. Will it be successful? Well, that’s up to you, the market, advertising, and a little bit of luck. These sites are my recommended starting point in building your online presence. If you are interested in a free 30 minute consultation to help you get started, send me an email at helpimcreative@gmail.com and mention this blog post! |
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