Your Resume

Unlike those in the 9-to-5 or corporate world who only need a resume when changing jobs or bucking for a promotion, actors use this important tool on a regular basis. Every time an actor seeks representation from an agent, submits his picture for a "picture-pull", or goes on an audition, his resume must be up-to-date, professional and formatted according to "industry standards". A picture - or "headshot" as it's known in the business - is used for identification purposes and to see your personality. A resume shows that you are a professional, that you have experience and training, and what (besides acting) you can do well.

Unlike a business resume, acting resumes should never include career objectives, dates of employment, job descriptions, training/education or employment outside of the industry, references or the word "experience". I once auditioned a girl who listed "Hooters" under "Experience" because she worked there as a waitress. As a Casting Director, whenever I see these things on an actor's resume, I know that he or she is not a professional, has not been properly trained, and unfortunately my opinion of them is instantly compromised. This same reaction is felt by agents, directors and producers; thus, a well written resume is a must in this business.

There is an accepted standard by which to set up an acting resume. Read the following desciption, and you may look at the SAMPLE in another window.

First, your resume must fit neatly on the back of your headshot. Since pictures are 8x10 and paper is 81/2 x 11, your resume must be cut to size. It is easier if you set it up on your computer (type-written resumes are no longer acceptable) in the upper left hand corner, so that you only have to make two cuts rather than four. Another option is to run them directly onto the back of your picture from a laser printer - but more about that later.

Your name should be in the center of the first line in a bold font size of at least 16-18 points. The less work you have, the bigger the font should be. Under that (also centered, but in a smaller type) should be hair and eye color, height and weight. Next would be a phone number or two. Do not use your home number, instead, list a beeper or cell phone.

Do not put your address or Social Security number! After the part is cast, everyone else's headshots are thrown away. This puts your personal info (and a picture of you) into the hands of anyone willing to look thru the garbage. I know of several actors and actresses who have been stalked, had their SS#'s used to get fraudulent credit cards and worse.

In South Florida, if you are bi-lingual (Spanish-English) this should come next, also centered and in fairly large print.

The following categories should all start at the left margin. The first category (if this is for TV/Film or commercials) should be "Film/TV." (Many people who also do theater have a separate resume with Stage first, but this is for theater auditions only). Align the category name with the left margin, then hit "enter" so that the first entry is at the margin as well. If you do not have any entries in a specific category, such as Film, do not put the category. I know this sounds like common sense, but we see it all the time. All this does is call attention to the fact that you haven't done any!

In the first column, list the name of the TV Show or Movie, then tab over a few inches to your next category - the role you played. In South Florida it is acceptable to put extra work on your resume if you haven't done any principle work, as it shows that you have worked on a set. You should not put "extra" as your part; instead, list whatever you portrayed in the scene such as "restaurant patron" or "party guest", or whatever.

If you work more than one day on the same film, playing different types, only use one on your resume. If you had a speaking part, list it as "principal", "under 5", "guest star", "co-star", or "lead".

The next column (once again a few inches to the right) is for the production company or Studio. For example: Paramount, TriStar or even University of Miami, if it is a student film. If it is TV, list the network.

List your credits by which is the most impressive - regardless of when you did them. A lead in a student film would definely take precedence over any extra work -- even on a blockbuster film! But, a principal role in a major film would be rated more highly then a co-star in an unheard-of indie.

Your next category would be "Theater." Again, list the name of the play in the first column, the name of the character you played in the second, and the name of the theatre third. If you are in your early 20's you may use high school theatre if you don't have anything else, but people usually list high school credits and college credits by the name of the troupe (like "Piper Players"), rather than "Piper High School." <This is not lying, this is just good marketing.>

After Theatre, list "Commercials." If you are an experienced actor or in NY or LA, simply write, "List available upon request". This is an industry standard that any agent or casting director understands. If you've done a Coca-Cola commercial (as long as it's not still running) you are free to do a Pepsi commercial; but the Pepsi clients might reject you if they see "Coca-Cola" on your resume. Instead, make a list of your credits and give it to your agent. This way if the Pepsi people ask you if you've ever done a Coca-Cola commercial you don't have to lie...but what they don't know can't hurt them. However, if you are new to the business and have only done a few local spots such as Psychic Solution or Joe's Plumbing, go ahead and list them. At least it shows, once again, that you've worked on a set. In that case, you would have three columns Product ("Psychic Solution") Role ("Caller") and Production Company ("Star Productions").

"Training" comes next. This should be limited to training for acting and auditioning, which may include stage, TV/Film, commercials, music, dance, voice and body, stage combat – and anything else an actor would use in his career. College degrees in anything other than related fields need not be mentioned. Again, do not list chronologically, but by "industry importance". If you take a weekend on-camera auditioning workshop with a well known casting director like Lori Wyman or Tom Logan, this will mean more to a client than your two years of acting training with a local acting teacher. This is not to say that you don't need quality acting training in order to get the most out of these weekends. I'm simply talking about setting up your resume.

Of course, if you have a degree in acting from a respected college or University, this would rank far above a five or six week class. Set up your resume as YOU think it should be. Then ask your agent to make alterations before heading to the copy shop.

"Special Skills" and/or "Sports" should be the last thing you list. They can be put in one category, in columns (suggested if you don't have much work) or on a single line separated by commas. These should include any skill that might be needed in a Commercial, Film or TV show, that not everyone can do. You need not be a professional or olympian in the field but you must be able to do it well for a full day. Acceptable entries include rollerblading, languages spoken, firearms, improvisation, swimming, diving, golf, drive 5-speed etc. If you do any of them extremely well, such as having a great handicap in golf or 12 years of ballet, then put that in parentheses next to it. Things that shouldn't be included are cooking (unless you're a master chef), sewing, computer skills, etc., because anyone can do these convincingly on TV.

If you're non-union, you might also want to list unusual props that you own and are willing to bring to the set — for example, if you have a collector's car, or own a tuxedo.

Once you have everything in the computer, send a copy to your agent for approval. Ask them how they would like your credits ordered. Don't just go into them and ask "How should I do my resume?" It's your job as an actor to know the set-up. When the agent "ok's" it, make copies, and have them cut to 8x10. You can do this at home with a laser printer or at a facility like Kinko's. I do not recommend printing too many at a time (100 is enough), as hopefully you will keep getting jobs and updating it regularly!

It is perfectly acceptable to handwrite your last booking on your resume until you are able to update it, but generally you should keep it current. Clients and agents won't know what you've done if it's not on there. If your resumes are separate, staple them to your headshot with one staple in each corner. This is much better than using glue sticks or sprays, which come apart in humidity.

Last but not least, do not lie on your resume. You will eventually get caught and it will be very embarrassing. I had a friend who had major theatre, TV/Film and commercial credits. For some reason, when she moved to NY, she decided to list a play for which she was called back four times, but didn't book. She then went on a film audition in NY and the producer interviewed her. With resume in hand, the producer looked my friend in the eye and said, "So you were in 'such-and-such' at the Dallas Theatre?" My friend smiled and said "Yes, it was wonderful", at which point the producer exclaimed, "That's amazing, because my fiancee wrote and directed it — and I'VE NEVER SEEN YOU BEFORE."

Needless to say, her audition was over.

Remember...a professional resume, regardless of your credits, will always make a good impression on an agent, casting director, or industry professional.

Thanks, Linda Zerne