Step 5: Get Subscribed

Some of the best info you can have in your first year out here can be found in great hardcopy and online subscriptions. Here are a few that have been most beneficial to me:

Backstage West – Formerly (like way back in the day) called Dramalogue, Backstage provides all sorts of info, commentary, audition notices, support and resources, mostly helpful for the relatively new actor. You can get a subscription online or hardcopy or both. Discount available for SAG members. Backstage.com

IMDb Pro – The Internet Movie Database is a great resource for looking up the credits of that producer you just gave your sleek little business card to. You can access IMDb for free but to me it’s worth the couple extra bucks a month for the PRO account for more info, pictures, contact, etc. Again, discount for SAG members and a 2 week free trial! IMDb.com.

Casting About – A great online resource for Casting Director info and Production Guides. This is an easy place to find who’s casting that network show you see yourself on, click on the name/address of casting, and turn it into a mailing list and labels to print. Fairly cheap for the year too, I think it’s like less than $40. If you sign up, tell them I referred ya. CastingAbout.com

Hollywood Reporter and Variety – THR and Variety magazines are good tools for going deeper into production. Who’s casting what, what project’s in pre-prod or post, the top stories in film, tv, and more. I often go through a hardcopy of the weekly production charts with a pen, a highlighter and a stack of postcards, looking for projects or names that I know. A little pricy but if you have the money, try it out. Otherwise just look around on their sites for free. HollywoodReporter.com & Variety.com

Film News Briefs – For free, receive some simple daily emails to your inbox. The top stories (mostly pulled from IMDbPro) in text format. Sign up for the newsletter at this site to Stay in the Know. FilmNewsBriefs.com

Info List – Another daily inbox subscription that gives you various eclectic Entertainment Industry Opportunities, Events and Information. And guess what… it’s free! (Seeing a pattern here?) The info is a bit more random but can be worth it. InfoList.com

Step 6: Get Networked

www.facebook.com

So now you’re gonna need a solid support system. Get some folks who can help you out! These are a few places I should’ve sought for great networking support as soon as I got out here…

Facebook – This one is obvious but I fought it for a long while. You don’t have to be on there every other hour (or tweeting every other minute) but it is an easy way (and better than mass emails) to invite folks to plays, let them know your episode on Dexter is coming up, or just keep in touch with folks who are working. Facebook.com

Join TAN – The Actors’ Network is a great resource if you have the money. $50 a month gets you access to their website, forums, topic discussions, and their most valuable attraction: the monthly Power Group – A check-in type of meeting with other actors who are there to inspire you and push you to achieve your goals. Actors-Network.com

Women in Film – Not just for women! This is a non-profit group that actively supports women in the Industry. So many great opportunities for women to learn, meet other female professionals, and connect with and be inspired by each other. WIF.org. There are many other groups out here like this one, you just have to look around online a bit.

Join a Theater Company – One way to develop a family of like-minded individuals is to join a company. If you love theater and want to perform and workshop material, check out this site: Doollee.com/theatres/usa-los-angeles.html. It’s not a comprehensive list but it will get you started. Otherwise go see some shows around town (check out ½ price tix on Goldstar.com) and ask actors afterward how they like being a part of the company. Get a first hand account on the company and what kind of work they do.

Get into class – Another way to meet people is to take classes (which you should be doing anyway to hone your craft.) Get into a Cold Reading class, an On-Camera class, a Commercial class, etc. A comprehensive list of classes can be found in the book, “Acting is Everything” by Judy Kerr. But ask the people you wait tables with, or folks in your new theater company, what they think about their class. Audit a class, if you can, before signing up. But like I said, word of mouth and personal experience is most valuable.

Take some Casting Director Workshops – Now, this is a controversial one but it can help you meet Casting Directors. Some actors say you shouldn’t have to pay to meet Casting Directors – that’s what auditions are for, but other actors swear by them. It’s up to you if you want to spend your money this way but here’s a link for the lowdown on Casting Director Workshops.

BTW, Bonnie is a Casting Director with another awesome column for actors, from a CD’s perspective (on the Actors Access site.) Check out a new article every Monday!

Step 7: Get In Line with your Agent

The person who is going to represent you to the casting world on a day-to-day basis is your Agent. Now is the time to get together with your agent and make sure that you are both on the same track concerning your representation. If you don’t have one, it’s also time to start looking (but I’ll talk about getting an agent in a subsequent post.)

Let’s just say you have one already. Whether it’s from your college showcase, where they signed you on the spot after that killer monolouge you delivered, or the giddy discovery they made while you were blithely enjoying a Mochaccino at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf on the corner of Sunset and LaBrea. You’ve got one. Now (and I use this phrase with all the respect in the world) make them work for you. Remember that they do work for you. Really, this section should be titled: Get Your Agent in Line with You. They absolutely need to be in line with your values, goals, and with how you see yourself in this industry.

And let’s not fool ourselves. If you are a 274 lb actor with little (to no) hair and a crooked smile, you’re not going to be a Leading Man. But what you could be is an awesome Character Actor. Know thyself before demanding that your agent only send you out for leading roles. And don’t be afraid to look at the truth. The Sam Christensen Studio has some great classes for that:

Know where you’re headed and what your goals are for this business. Do you want to be the queen of Independent films? Make your living as a working Commercial actor? Have your own Series? Figure it out. Then call or email your agent and offer to take them out to coffee for 20 minutes to begin a preliminary discussion. Your agent will be one of the most important allies you’ll have for connecting you with the career that you want. Get in line with each other.