SUBMITTING YOURSELF FROM HOME
May 1, 2008
If you are truly adventurous and able to afford a quick trip to Hollywood (frequent flyer miles, anyone?), you may occasionally want to submit yourself for some of the projects you find listed in Backstage. If you have the equipment and capability of taping an audition from home, there may be the rare casting director willing to go along with that idea. If you can up-load that audition to a website (even YouTube or MySpace can be used for this purpose), all the better.
When you make your submission (and it had better reach the casting office overnight!), be prepared for the remote possibility that they will call and tell you that you have an audition TOMORROW! It’s at this point that you must tell them you’re out of town “at the moment”, but could send them a taped (uploaded?) audition. Tell them that you’re available to come to the callbacks or, if they’re planning to book directly from your audition, OF COURSE you’re available for the job. (ONLY say that stuff if you mean it. Duh.)
But do not fool yourself into thinking that it will happen very often, if at all. It won’t. Casting directors don’t need to reach outside of Hollywood for more actors; they already have literally hundreds of choices for each role right here at their disposal and they will always prefer meeting and auditioning actors in person.
Bear this in mind, too: The vast majority of projects you will find in BSW are either non-paying or so low-paying as to be almost ridiculous. Would you really be willing to fly to L.A. and put yourself up in a motel just for the possible chance to work for free (or worse, after expenses, to be out-of-pocket)? In our opinion, you should only consider doing that if it would not be a financial hardship and if you can look at it as a mini-vacation/adventure/learning experience. Otherwise…fuggedaboutit!
*When we say “home”, we mean those of you living outside of L.A.
Hello,
I am Carlton from Jamaica and i am interested in acting.
Thanks for letting us know, Carlton. Keep reading this website and you’ll learn more about Hollywood and acting than you could ever imagine in beautiful Jamaica. But…this site is NOT designed to accept any actor submissions for jobs. It is strictly ADVICE that we offer, not work. We hope that advice helps you a lot with your future career!
HI Jackie:
I am a young attractive actor/model who has studied acting at Playhousewest in North Hollywood and have acting experience. I am interested in getting into soaps but how do I get an audition and get seen by the casting directors. Could you please advise me.
Thanking you.
sincerely,
Sandy Khanzode(professional actor)
Sandy,
You are a professional actor?
I’m not nitpicking, but a true professional in this field knows exactly how to track down CD’s and source curent and future casting calls.
A true professional in this field, unless a highly motivated and successful freelancer, already has an agent to do your footwork, arrange meets and source casting calls and submit you for audtions for you.
Not knowing these BASIC’s is not professional and will lead to no career.
So learn, train, work hard, get an agent and then you’ll be in there with a chance.
Best of luck.
Steve Innes,
Aussie actor.
I was recently at the Applause Rising Talent Showcase and they had a very interesting seminar specifically about sending video auditions to casting directors. It was very interesting to watch and also to hear about how much the industry is changing into a more techno business. For someone who doesn’t know much about how to do these things it it would probably be quite difficult.
It’s also interesting because the industry hasn’t had a change like this happen in a very long time. Usually the only changes have to do with the gloss of headshots, or things of that caliber.
I want to be an actor but I don’t know where to go.
And we don’t know where you ARE! Which makes it very difficult to offer any words of advice, other than to read this entire website thoroughly and then see what applies to you and your situation.
Hi.
I’m 15 years old and I’m from Europe, from a small country.
My parents support me in everything but they think that I should go to med. school and forget about acting because there is such a small chance for me to succeed and if I told them that I’m thinking of not going to college because I want to pursue my dream .. ohh
Although I do not have much experience in acting I know what I want.
I think I was born to be an actress
and I am ready to put everything on the line if there is a chance
for me to succeed.
I can not even describe the feeling I get
When I think that I will not be able to achieve my dream
because I was not born in the U.S. (my parents do not have the money for me to move).
I know I’m young but it’s just the way I feel and I can not change that and I know that there are a lot of teens who want to be famous and everything but the way am feeling is not some phase that will go away i just know i was born to do this.
Please give me some advice.
Dear Petra,
If it makes you feel any better, there are thousands of teenagers right here in the U.S. who have the same desires and fears as you do. Their parents also have the same worries for their children. The current “recession”, which is world-wide, doesn’t help.
Our suggestion is this: Continue to study for a degree in school, to reassure your family. At the same time, though, find any small theaters in your town and see if they will allow you to audition for plays. Offer to trade some kind of work (selling tickets, building sets, etc.) in exchange for acting lessons. And if your school offers theater classes, take them!
Start saving money and target it specifically toward your future acting career. That way, you can prove to your parents that you are responsible and willing to help toward this future you so desire.
Finally, there are many, many actors who came from small countries…or small towns. That didn’t stop them and it shouldn’t stop you.
Good luck!
Well after i saw your advice i googled some more and i found out that mi city’s main theater is giving acting lessons and because of my school (I’m in school for the whole afternoon and in the morning I’m studying) i taught that i wont be able to get some acting lessons because of my schedule but as it turns out acting lessons for kids my age are at the weekends so I’m so happy =).
Tnx a lot.
You really do help stumbling actors like me
and please don’t forget about this site
I’m gonna need you when i finish high school =)
Ohh when i just think about being on stage in front of so many people i get so nervous i mean it’s a lot easier being in front of the camera.
And do you have any tips on how to memorise faster??
Thanks again.
You just made our day. A result like this is exactly why we built this website.
And don’t worry: We KNOW we’ll hear from you again and we intend to still be here.
- Editor