How To Create A Acting Resume

There are a number of different kinds of resumes out there that a person can create for their career. If you are actor or actress, you need to know how to not just create a standard resume, but rather an acting resume to properly showcase your most valuable career qualifications and industry-specific talents and details. If you have never created an acting resume, you may have no idea where to start; but we offer the right protocol below for your convenience.

1. Headshot Photo: Though a photograph of yourself is not required of anyone seeking any other kind of career, someone in the acting and performing industry must have a recent photo of themselves, as how they look is necessary to their profession. Though you may need to provide other types of photographs later in the hiring process, initially all employers want to see a headshot of the actor or actress applying for the open position.

This said, you cannot skimp on the quality or professionalism of your headshot. Even though professional photos can be super expensive, they are worth it in the long run-as an amateur photo will be obvious to an employer, and a reason not to consider you for the role. Moreover, make sure you know what is preferred as far as color is concerned. While most arenas prefer color shots, some might want to see black and white instead.

2. Contact Information: For an actor, it is not enough to just have a header that lists their full name, mailing address, phone number, and email address; you must also list the contact information of the agent that represents you. If a director or producer is to hire you, they have to go through your agent to discuss terms and what have you. This is why you should include all of your contact information, as well as that of your agent.

3. List Personal Identifiers: On the reverse side, you will be pasting a document that provides a description of your physical characteristics, as well as relevant skills and experience. This said, you should begin with your name and contact information, and then the personal identifiers. What are personal identifiers that an employer might want to know? The following are key on any actor’s resume: eye color, hair color, age, height, and weight.

4. Acting Credits: Next, you’ll want to include in chronological order-with most recent role first and descending to least-your acting credits, or acting experience. This is just like the section in a professional resume that is normally entitled Employment History. In this section, you’ll want to list who hired you, what production it was, was role you played, what theater or set it was done in, the location of the theater or set, and any details that the hiring manager may be interested in hearing about.

5. Special Talents: As a part of any actor or actress’ experience is typically a set of special skills and/or talents that they bring to their qualifications. It could be that you know how to sing, a certain range of dancing genre, can play a musical instrument, or perhaps specialize in Shakespeare plays. Whatever it is, it should be included and briefly discussed in your special talents section. Though the advertised role may not call for the skill or talent, it does not mean that the director will not find it useful that you know how to do this-and perhaps, they may alter the script to include this talent. You can never be sure. This is why you should always include this information in this section.

6. Education: Make sure to include educational experience in a special section, if you have specialized training in acting or performing arts. You may include high school education in this section if you have taken any acting classes, or any training in this field. List all applicable details in this section from most recent to least, to include: name of the institution, the degree obtained, classes taken that are relevant, years attended, and any special achievements pertinent to the field of performing arts.