How to pitch yourself as an actor.
Knowing your wheelhouse of roles when you’re starting off is essential. As much as we want to be a blank canvas and we know the diverse roles we could play if we were given a chance, you need to go after the roles you are most likely to be cast in, in the beginning.
Before anyone will give you a chance at anything that challenges people’s assumptions of you, they need to see you do the thing they expect you can already do. And they need to see you do it well.
So PRACTICE. Hone that particular archetype or that particular genre that people will pigeon-hole you in at first glance. Whether this is to do with your age or your hair colour, knowing how others first see you is going to help you deliver what they want.
Studies surrounding confirmation bias prove that people seek out information that supports their expectations, rather than seeing information that disproves their assumptions. This is important to remember when trying to sell the idea of yourself, or your brand, to someone who will purchase your skills.
Gone are the days of the simple “lead” and “sidekick.” Today's stories are so varied. Think how many different ways these types of characters show up now. Sometimes an entire film focuses on “the sidekick.”
To get more specific, think about:
Age. Do not try and tell a story that is not relevant to your age. Look at actors your age and the work they have done recently, and try work with that. It will give you an indicator as to the type of work available at the moment as well.
Genre. Certain looks suit certain genres. Certain costumes suit certain genres. If you have good comedic timing, work towards comedy EVEN if this isn’t where you want to end up long term. It is a rare skill and can really shine in a self-tape. If you have great stillness, work towards drama, though often it is advisable that your self-tape isn’t a hyper-dramatic screaming-and-crying scene.
Archetype. Knowing your archetype is a good way to know how to market yourself. Look at the actors you look up to and the roles they have played in their career. Often, you will see a pattern. They are either the protagonist/hero or the supporting/side-character. They are either sure of themselves or riddled with self-doubt. They either abide by the rules or have a rebellious streak. They either represent the lightness in the world or the darkness. When it comes to archetype, marrying your personality and your look is always ideal because it will come off most authentic and fully-formed. If you feel these things about you don’t align, try changing your hair style or colour – it might sound superficial, but this is a visual medium and it does make a difference to how people recognise what type of person you represent.
Costume. Be conscious of the costumes that you wear in auditions. I struggle with this because I have an eclectic sense of fashion, and it is sometimes hard for me to know what a certain character would want to wear. Don’t wear anything too distracting, stay away from patterns, and wear necklines that flatter your shoulders and jawline. When it comes to costumes, understanding the psychology of colours can also help as well – certain people and personality types are drawn to certain colours. Also, some colour tones look much better on certain skin tones than others. Know what colours make your eyes pop. If you have one outfit that you wear for every audition, because that makes it easier for you, then please do that. Consistency is highly valued in the world of business.
Preparation. Always be as prepared for an audition as you can be. Squeezing them into your schedule can be tricky, but never be complacent with the idea that “next time I’ll try harder” because what if there isn’t a next time? You would regret not giving that audition everything that you had to offer. Learn your lines, do your homework, and get your audition in on time.
Update your online profiles. Casting Directors check back in on your work every now and then to refamiliarise themselves with what you can offer them. Directors who don’t know you will watch these tapes to get more of a sense of your ability. If you need new self-tapes, to keep putting forward the most recent and most skilled work that you can, head to the GScenes Store to browse my catalogue of self-tape scripts or book a Consultation so I can write you your ideal scene that you want Casting Directors to see, to help guide them in how to best cast you.
Remember: you know yourself better than anyone else. Often we want other people to tell us what to do, where they see our career headed, or give us guidance as to the best decisions to make about marketing ourselves and our career. But we will always know what type of character sits best on our skin because we are the ones doing it, and we know the type of work that gets us excited to perform. Don’t underestimate your own intuition when it comes to presenting yourself to the world. If something feels completely wrong, it’s probably because it’s not the right fit for you.
Most other things are completely out of your control, so please don’t be hard on yourself.
Certain faces are easier to sell. Certain character-types appear more often in scripts than others. This doesn’t mean your chance won’t come to showcase the best that you have to offer.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to Contact me. I am so passionate about giving young actors the guidance that I never received.
Warmth and kindness,
G x
