Tips for Getting Your Movie Career Launched

Hollywood helps those who help themselves! In you want to get your movie career fast tracked then here are three common sense tips to help you on your way.

1. Borrow the Boy Scout's Motto: Be Prepared.

Once you start the ball rolling you never know when you're going to get a casting call. When that call comes there isn't going to be any time to get all of the basics covered so get them out of the way right now.

Get your portfolio in order. Have plenty of copies of your PROFESSIONALLY done publicity photo's on hand.

Have all of your stage and screen credits listed even if it's only summer stock and school performances.

List any special skills you have, such as dancing, juggling, yodelling, foreign languages, anything which might catch a casting director's eye.

List any union memberships such as SAG, AEA or AFTRA.

Build a web site that contains everything that's included in your portfolio and make sure that there is contact information available. If you have an agent then list the agent's contact information instead of yours. If you stink at building web sites then pay a pro to do it for you. Hire a copywriter as well if you have no writing talent. Register your name, if possible, and make that your domain name.

2. Stay Connected

Join local theater groups, read the trades looking for casting calls, hang out where other actors hang out so you can stay on top of the local gossip and happenings. Sometimes you can pick up a valuable tip or hear about a film crew that's coming to do some local shooting. I know a girl who landed an extra role in Robert Dinero's 'Meet the Parents' by "accidentally" showing up at the train station in Oyster Bay, NY where a scene was being shot. She picked up that juicy tip at an actor's workshop she attended.

3. Make your own luck

The harder and smarter that you work the luckier you get. Remember my friend from 'Meet the Parents'? What's the chances that she'd have that screen credit if she didn't go out of her way to "get lucky".

If you live in Podunk, and no one ever films in Podunk, then move somewhere where they do film.

If your state or city has an agency that works with movie companies to help scout locations and strip away red tape, call them and see if they have a mailing list or any other way of finding out IN ADVANCE when a film crew will be shooting. SHOW UP on shooting days. Don't make a pest of yourself but be "noticeable". Hey, you might just get noticed. If you have enough advanced notice then find out who the casting director is and fire off a copy of your portfolio. Sure, it's likely to get "filed" but you never know when yours will show up and be the right thing at the right time.

If you look like someone famous then make that work for you. Now, I don't mean that you kind of resemble Julia Roberts if only you lost 60 pounds, got a cut and dye, and had your teeth capped. But if people come up to you in restaurants and ask for your autograph then you could have an instant ticket to the movies!

Get a recent publicity photo of Ms. Roberts and take it to the hair salon. Have your stylist cut, style and color your hair to exactly match the style and color in the photo. Then make your way to the local boutique and buy something to wear which matches as closely as possible what Ms. Roberts is wearing in the photo and then get a professional photographer to shoot you in the exact same pose.

Now, take the real photo of Julia and your own and fire it off to her agent, your agent, any agent you can find. Send it to casting directors, heck, send it to the local and national newspapers. Write a letter asking: Can you tell which one is the real Julia Roberts? Might not work for you; but I'll tell you this -- It doesn't have any chance of working at all if you don't at least try it.

The road to Hollywood can be long an never ending, or it could be the next exit on your journey through this world. The fun thing is: You never know!

For more info: http://www.TalentInternet.com

About The Author

Bas de Baar is editor of www.TalentInternet.com, a site with everything about movie and modeling auditions.

For more info: http://www.TalentInternet.com.

---

Job Layoff: Confronting Why Me?

Perhaps you saw it coming. The fall in company stock... Read More

Which Half Are You?

When more than half of Americans were identified as overweight,... Read More

The 10 Biggest Career Change Mistakes - And How to Avoid Them

Career change is no walk in the park.If it was... Read More

The Big Mo : Momentum and the Hiring Process

Momentum as defined by Webster's is: strength or force gained... Read More

Simple Tips to Move Forward on the Job, Part II

After establishing a trusting relationship with the safety officer, it... Read More

Five Powerful Tips for Interns

Interning is about more than earning money during summer break.... Read More

Need a Job? Put a Gun to Your Head

A legendary marketing genius once said that, if he had... Read More

In a Rut? Ready for a Career Change?

Are you unhappy at work? Tired and lacking energy and... Read More

Ten Great Careers For Computer ?Geeks

The universal acceptance of computers into our daily lives, both... Read More

Have You Given Up On Yourself?

Have you given up on yourself? Have you decided to... Read More

The Recruiting Truth...Time Is Not On Your Side

In today's marketplace things are constantly changing and so are... Read More

Job Hunting Tips: Containing Anxiety

It hangs from the ceiling above your bed while you... Read More

Ideal Job and Handling Criticism

How many times have you been asked, "What is your... Read More

Why Use a Resume Writer or Resume-writing Service?

Here are some of the questions we have been asked... Read More

Use Job Search Hacks to Get Hired Faster

Job searching alone is like hitchhiking a scary ride with... Read More

Career Discovery - Pinpoint Your Ideal Career

Determine your ideal career--one that's in alignment with your values,... Read More

Workplace 911

I've watched a few episodes of Nanny 911 and with... Read More

Career Change: From Suits & Sales to Boots & Rails

Peter Humleker had it made. As the general manager of... Read More

Playing from the Blue Tees: Women in the Federal Government

Throughout the past decade, workplace diversity issues have allowed organizations... Read More

Hey, You Cant Ask Me That! (How to Respond to Inappropriate Job Interview Questions)

I received the following questions from a visitor to my... Read More

Can You Actually Fail A Personality Quiz?

Q. I didn't get a job that I interviewed for.... Read More

Moving Without A Job: Should You Move to the Location of Your Dreams and THEN Look for a Job?

Moving without a job will challenge your identity -- but... Read More

3 Ways To Succeed On Your First Job (Or Any Job)

You've heard the real estate cliché: the three factors that... Read More

Business & Career: Know Your Ruling Star!

"Know your Ruling Star. One man is better received by... Read More

8 ?Thurvival Skills? for 05

Just what is a "thurvival skill?" It's a skill that... Read More

How to Make Your Career Change Easier

Despite what your grandmother told you, life is not supposed... Read More

Resume 101

Whether you've been downsized, are looking for a career change... Read More

Overcoming the 7 Roadblocks Women with Families Face Making Career Changes

Family is the driving force of our lives. You need... Read More

Assess Your Transferable Skills

One of the most important parts of a job... Read More

Write Resume Keywords That Gets Your Application Read

As children we often used to read stories where magical... Read More

Intuition: The Secret To Your Career Success

For far too long, we moderns have relied on our... Read More

Words. Words. Words.

They're only words. Some believe the school-yard taunt: "Sticks and... Read More

3 Creative Job Search Tactics

It's a fact: the best jobs attract loads of competition.... Read More