This particular post is going to be geared towards my actors, especially those getting the momentum to start putting together materials to search for agency representation.
The holiday season always tends to be slow for obvious reasons -- any projects currently casting are pretty specific to the holidays/seasonal trends, meaning there's not as much work to go around. This year was a very slow one for many in the entertainment industry, which is always a tough pill to swallow.
But if you're wondering what you could be or should be doing while you've got this downtime, my biggest piece of advice is to work on yourself and get all of those materials together and prepped now!
IF YOU'RE SEEKING AGENCY REPRESENTATION
Talent agencies no longer have the luxury of prepping/developing a new actor on roster from scratch. More and more agencies are requiring actors to come ready and "pre-packaged," so to speak. What does that mean? Before even filling out that application, you should ideally have the following lined up:
- Professional Commercial & Theatrical Headshots
- In a style that reflects current trends.
- Profiles Fully Filled Out on Casting Sites -- Namely Actors Access & Casting Networks
- These are the two most popular/widely used. For the sake of simplicity, that's why I'm only mentioning these for now.
- FYI: you can start with the free versions of these profiles but you WILL need a paid account once you get an agent. Be sure to budget for that inevitability.
- Demo Reel OR Acting Clips
- Newbies aren't expected to have a demo reel if they've never booked work before so acting clips in a self-tape setup at home show casing your ability to do commercial copy and narrative scenes are great to have uploaded to your casting profiles until you get actual footage.
- Actors with experience and footage via freelance endeavors, it's time to start putting together those demo reels or updating existing ones with current footage. If you've been procrastinating on this, you're doing a great disservice to yourself.
- Get Training
- An additional step to take during the slow season is to sign up for training: whether that's an in-person class, online, or one-on-one with a coach. This all counts towards building your skillset.
- Adding the names of the training you've done to your resume/casting profiles is a small detail that will also strengthen your submission to agencies because it shows them how seriously you're taking the craft.
- It is important to try and work with at least 1-2 "recognized" coaches/instructors. This is a people person industry. Reputable casting directors foster strong ties not just with agencies but coaches as well. If they see you've worked with someone they know and have a great relationship with, it's all brownie points for you.
IF YOU'VE GOT AN AGENT
Securing an agent and being a working actor puts you way ahead of the game but that doesn't mean you should just rest on your laurels during this time of year (unless you're in the top 1% of working actors that's consistently booked and busy).
If you're like the rest of us wondering what to do with ourselves, here are some suggestions:
- Film Special Skills Clips
- More castings are looking for actors who demonstrate "real" skills related to the role they're submitting for (i.e. athletes, dancers, musicians, etc.). If you don't already, make a list of the special skills you actually have experience in performing successfully and record yourself doing said skill.
- Depending on the special skill, you might have to go outside. This is especially true for athletic activities like playing basketball, tennis, martial arts, or other physically demanding skills such as running/jogging, dance, yoga, roller skating and ballet.
- Skills like juggling, playing a musical instrument, and singing can be done in the comfort of your self-tape setup indoors.
- Each special skills clip shouldn't be super long. Keep it between 30-45 seconds. Some could even be as short as 10-15 seconds.
- Update Your Headshots/Portfolio
- Been procrastinating on getting new headshots or even full body photos with different looks? Hop on it now so you have new photos to shower your agent with in the new year.
- Many photographers run holiday discounts/specials. This would be the perfect opportunity to invest in yourself without spending a small fortune.
- Don't be afraid to try different looks/wardrobe based on the types of roles you're interested in.
- Update Your Casting Profiles
- It isn't uncommon to let our casting profiles get away from us. Take a day to review your photos, resume, list of credits, links, media uploads, and sizing information.
- Doing this now will save you a lot of time in the future and allow your agent to keep sending you out for castings without worrying about outdated images or info causing hiccups.
- If you've been keeping your agent waiting for your profiles to be updated, chances are they won't submit you at all until it's all been brought up to speed.
- Continue Training
- Even A-list actors attend a class or work with a coach now and then to refresh their skillset and grow within their craft. If it's been a while since you've been in a class, workshop, or worked one-on-one with an instructor, start looking at what resources are available to you online or in-person and knock the dust off.
- Doing so also means additional training credits to update your resume with.
- Update Your Demo Reel
- Have you been sitting on recent footage and dragging your feet to update your demo reel? I can't think of an easier way to screw yourself out of potential work for the new year. Make time and update those reels! It doesn't take very long and once it's done, you don't have to worry about it for a while.
- Create Acting Clips
- Unable to book the roles you've been really wanting to go after? Then take matters into your own hands by putting together acting clips. This type of acting material is super simple: in your self-tape setup, record yourself on your phone like you would any normal self-tape. Cover all the bases by doing acting clips of yourself performing commercials, monologues, and 2-person scenes (narrative).
- Commercial clips should be no longer than 30 seconds (ideally). Monologues can be up to 1 minute, and 2-person scenes (should have an off-camera reader) can be between 1 minute and 30 seconds to just under 2 minutes depending on the scene and what's happening.
- Uploading acting clips to your casting profiles is becoming more common and are received well by casting directors because it allows them to see firsthand your talent on display without the distraction of costars, production quality (or lack of), and it also shows how well you can execute a performance in that type of setting. Strong actors can put forth an amazing performance regardless of environment.
- Improve Your Self-Tape Setup
- This is the perfect time to upgrade your self-tape setup at home, as well as experiment with how to create the ideal filming environment if you're not 100% happy with your existing arrangement.
- Whether that means buying a new ring light, playing with the settings on your phone, or painting that wall in your house that you've always wanted to use to avoid fussing with backdrops, now is your chance.
- Starting the year off with a new and improved self-tape setup is a wonderful way to motivate yourself to get excited about the castings to come.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Actors have to constantly work on themselves in all aspects. Using slow seasons to take action on the very things that will contribute to your success and future goals can only help you, not hurt you. So make those to do lists for what you need to get done while you have the gift of time and let's hit the ground running for 2026!
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