Are you thinking of starting your acting career? One of the essential steps to becoming an actor is creating an acting resume. A resume is a document that summarizes your qualifications, skills and experience. It is a crucial marketing tool for actors and provides an opportunity to highlight your unique talents and skills. It is also a great way to show casting directors what you have been up to in the past and what you bring to the table. Creating a resume for acting can be a daunting task, especially for beginners. Here is a complete guide on how to create an acting resume for beginners.
What Should You Include in an Acting Resume?
When creating an acting resume, it is important to include all the important information. The most important elements to include are:
- Headshot: An 8x10 glossy headshot is essential. You need to include a recent and professional looking headshot that captures your personality.
- Contact Information: Include your contact information such as your name, phone number, email address, and website (if you have one).
- Special Skills: You should include a list of your special skills such as singing, dancing, sports, or anything else that would make you stand out.
- Experience: Include any acting experience you have had, such as theater, film, television, commercials, voice-overs, or industrial films.
- Training: If you have taken acting classes, list them here.
- Height and Weight: Include your height and weight.
- Accents: List any accents that you can do.
- References: List at least two references.
These are the main elements of an acting resume. However, you may choose to include other elements such as awards, special abilities, and any other information that would be relevant to casting directors. It is also important to keep your resume to one page.
How to Format an Acting Resume
Now that you know what to include in your resume, you need to know how to format it. An acting resume should be formatted in reverse chronological order. This means that the most recent experience should be listed first. When listing your experience, make sure to include the name of the production, the role you played, and the date it was produced. It is also important to make sure that all of the information is easy to read and well organized.
Sample Acting Resumes For Beginners
To give you an idea of what a professional acting resume looks like, here are three sample resumes:
Sample Acting Resume #1
John Smith
123 Main Street
New York, NY 10001
(212) 555-1234
johnsmith@example.com
Special Skills: Singing, dancing, horseback riding, dialects, martial arts
Experience:
Theater:
• Lead Role in Hamlet, Shakespeare Theater Company, 2021
• Supporting Role in Romeo and Juliet, Broadway Theater, 2020
Film:
• Lead Role in The Great Escape, Universal Pictures, 2019
• Supporting Role in The Last Crusade, Paramount Pictures, 2018
Training:
• Acting classes at The Actors Studio, 2020-present
• Voiceover classes at The Voiceover Academy, 2019-2020
Height and Weight:
5’11”, 180 lbs.
Accents: British, Irish, Southern, French
References:
• John Doe, Director, The Actors Studio, (212) 555-1212
• Jane Doe, Casting Director, Paramount Pictures, (212) 555-1234
Sample Acting Resume #2
Jill Jones
456 Main Street
New York, NY 10001
(212) 555-5678
jilljones@example.com
Special Skills: Singing, dancing, piano, dialects, martial arts
Experience:
Theater:
• Lead Role in Macbeth, Broadway Theater, 2021
• Supporting Role in Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare Theater Company, 2020
Film:
• Lead Role in The Great Escape, Universal Pictures, 2019
• Supporting Role in The Last Crusade, Paramount Pictures, 2018
Training:
• Acting classes at The Actors Studio, 2020-present
• Voiceover classes at The Voiceover Academy, 2019-2020
Height and Weight:
5’5”, 150 lbs.
Accents: British, Irish, Southern, French
References:
• John Doe, Director, The Actors Studio, (212) 555-1212
• Jane Doe, Casting Director, Paramount Pictures, (212) 555-1234
Sample Acting Resume #3
Jane Smith
789 Main Street
New York, NY 10001
(212) 555-9101
janesmith@example.com
Special Skills: Singing, dancing, guitar, dialects, martial arts
Experience:
Theater:
• Lead Role in Othello, The Public Theater, 2021
• Supporting Role in King Lear, The Globe Theater, 2020
Film:
• Lead Role in The Great Escape, Universal Pictures, 2019
• Supporting Role in The Last Crusade, Paramount Pictures, 2018
Training:
• Acting classes at The Actors Studio, 2020-present
• Voiceover classes at The Voiceover Academy, 2019-2020
Height and Weight:
5’7”, 160 lbs.
Accents: British, Irish, Southern, French
References:
• John Doe, Director, The Actors Studio, (212) 555-1212
• Jane Doe, Casting Director, Paramount Pictures, (212) 555-1234
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Acting Resumes For Beginners
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about acting resumes for beginners:
- What should I include in an acting resume?
You should include your contact information, a headshot, special skills, experience, training, height and weight, accents, and references. - How should I format an acting resume?
Your acting resume should be formatted in reverse chronological order. This means that the most recent experience should be listed first. - Do I need to include a headshot?
Yes, you should include an 8x10 glossy headshot. - How long should my acting resume be?
Your resume should be one page. - Do I need to include references?
Yes, you should include at least two references.
Conclusion
Creating an acting resume for beginners can be a daunting task, but it is an essential step to becoming an actor. This guide has provided all the information you need to create a professional and effective acting resume. Just remember to include all the important information, format it in reverse chronological order, keep it to one page, and include a headshot. With a little bit of effort and dedication, you will have a resume that will help you stand out from the crowd and take your acting career to the next level.
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