Modeling & Acting 101 - A Model/Actor's Diary

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Acting Invoices: How Actors Get Paid

Acting is fun, no doubt about it, but it's even better when you're being paid for your craft! Whether you're new to the industry or consider yourself a veteran, I decided to do a general post to cover the topic of getting paid as an actor, the popular/common methods used today, and things to keep in mind as a freelance actor, agency-repped or both! Models, don't worry, my next blog post will be tailored just for you. FYI: I purposely write about the industry in a generalized/standardized manner. There are always exceptions to the rule but I feel tackling what tends to affect the majority is more beneficial from an informational/educational standpoint. GETTING PAID AS AN AGENCY REPRESENTED ACTOR Direct Billing. When you're booked for an acting job (commercial, short film, feature, etc.), some talent agencies automatically invoice the client through direct billing once you've officially wrapped. This is a popular and super convenient arrangement because you as t

The Differences Between Actor Headshots & Model Headshots

One of the many things both actors and models have in common is they require professional headshots for use as proper marketing tools. Whether freelance or agency represented, this is your biggest calling card. To get caught up on why these types of photos are so essential for pursuing the industry seriously, check out my previous post: "The Importance of Actor Headshots & Model Headshots." So let's dive into what makes an acting headshot different from a modeling headshot (the "why" is answered in the blog post link above btw). MOOD/THEME Acting and modeling headshots all have a particular theme or mood they're trying to capture. Model Headshots: Fashion, Runway, Editorial Headshots for models often are very dramatic/moody in nature. No big toothy smiles or fun facial expressions. This is especially true for high fashion, runway, and editorial models. Although black and white headshots (for acting) are seen as "old school" these days, in the

The Importance of Actor Headshots & Model Headshots

It doesn't matter whether you want to be a model and/or an actor, one of the most important materials you'll need for marketing/promotion is a professional headshot. As I've mentioned before, there are many similarities between pursuing a modeling career and an acting career but it's essential to understand the nuances. One of the first to take note of is that the road to getting a professional headshot comes at different times for a model than it does an actor. MODELING HEADSHOTS When first submitting to agencies, aspiring models with no experience aren't expected to have professional headshots yet. In fact, a majority of agency websites state their preference for non-professional, digital snapshots, with female and male models wearing no makeup. In addition to other digital snapshots (profile, full body, etc.), those types of images are enough for an agency to determine your modeling potential. If you already have professional headshots to submit, a modeling age

What Kind of Training Does It Take to Be an Actor?

Happy July, my dear readers! I don't know about you but I've gotta say that this new schedule of posting once a month has been a delight for me. While followers/readers of this blog since 2007 were spoiled with much more frequent posts, this slower pace helps me feel a whole lot more confident in bringing you quality, thoughtfully written, and insightful content. Either way, thank you to my old and new followers/readers for being along with me on the next chapter of this blog. Let's get to it, shall we? Interested in both acting AND modeling? For more details about the training required to be a model, check out my previous post: "What Kind of Training Does It Takes to Be a Model?" Without further ado, let's get to the topic at hand: what kind of training must one do in order to become an actor? Let's first ask the most obvious question: DO ACTORS NEED FORMAL TRAINING? Yes! As much as we can be confident in our natural talent, these days that's just n

What Kind of Training Does It Take to Be a Model?

The worlds of acting and modeling both fall under the entertainment industry but they don't always share a lot of the same factors. Whether you want to become a model or an actor or if you want to do both, it can be helpful to understand exactly what kind of training/background one should have to pursue these paths properly. There's always an opportunity for misinformation to arise or people identifying a chance to make a quick buck with engaging content encouraging model and actor hopefuls to pay X amount of money to fast track them towards success. While the industry has evolved and adapted to keep up with the latest happenings online and in the real world, not all of it has completely changed. Many of the same things that were true for getting into the industry back in the day still holds true today. In this post, I'll focus on modeling specifically. DO MODELS NEED FORMAL TRAINING TO SIGN WITH AN AGENCY? The short answer is, "No." Why? Because modeling is the

The Elevator Pitch: A Tool All Models & Actors Must Master

Of the many hats I wear, being a coach is one of my favorites. I've seen way too many aspiring models and actors make needless mistakes and the opportunity to prevent people from that kind of stress and heartache always fills my cup. Whether I'm coaching an actor, a model, or a pageant contestant, the concept of the "Elevator Pitch" is part of my spiel. And for good reason. WHAT IS AN ELEVATOR PITCH? The idea for the elevator pitch comes from the business world and basically describes a brief way to introduce yourself in order to get your message/points across in a way the other person can easily understand. And when I say "brief" I mean brief ...30 seconds ideally. Picture yourself in an elevator with someone of importance. This person can make all your dreams come true but you've only got seconds before they reach their floor and step out of the elevator. You may never get this opportunity again. So you decide to briefly introduce yourself and what you