I mentioned in a previous blog that I was going to be attending the Denver Film Festival Events. It kicked off last week with a screening of a film with tons of Oscar buzz called Precious. I had the privilege of listening to a couple of producers speak about the film before the screening: they said throughout the filming they heard a lot of “No’s.” People never thought they should be making a movie based on the story of an obese African American girl from the Harlem. In the long run, all those negative people were wrong. With Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry as an executive producers, this film has only great things coming ahead. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re in New York City right now, you’re probably hearing the echoing cheers of hundreds of Yankees fans. The ticker tape parade in honor of the Yankees kicks off at 11:00am at Battery Place and will proceed up the “Canyon of Heroes” to City Hall. There Mayor Bloomberg will present them with a Key to the City!

So what are you waiting for? Get downtown and be a part of the action! You could be interviewed by a multitude of media outlets and just get into the excitement of it all. And rumor has it that famous Yankee girlfriends Kate Hudson, Minka Kelly, and Gossip Girl actress Joanna Garcia will all be joining the parade!

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As most of you know, I am now living in Denver and trying to continue on my road to success in the entertainment industry even though this city has a much smaller media presence than i had living in NYC.  In a couple weeks Denver will be hosting a film festival: many people in the industry will be gathering for screenings, parties, and events.  For me this is a great opportunity to network and learn more about the ”who’s who” in the biz out here. 

Even when you already have a job, it is important to keep looking ahead and check out everything that is going on around you.  A lot of gigs in this industry are short term and although it is exciting when you have it, the next one may not come as easily and can take longer than you expect.  Read the rest of this entry »

The life of a performer can definitely be a roller coaster. You can go from working several gigs at once to none at all. This unpredictable spin makes life challenging and can affect you physically as well as emotionally.

Say you aren’t working– you might wake up everyday at noon and go to the gym, cook meals, run errands, meet up with friends. Then all of a sudden, you have a new gig that involves 12 hour days and a bad commute.

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Just about everyone feels most comfortable in their home city, where they have developed close relationships with friends and coworkers. It’s refreshing to go to your favorite coffee stop, see your local hairdresser, jog by your favorite park, and so on.

However, in this business, you may not always have the comfort of being in your hometown. But there are also amazing opportunities where you go on location!

And I know it sounds great, but I can tell you from personal experience that a long term adjustment is not always easy.

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Be courageous when it comes to your career and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Email your casting contacts to tell them what you’re up to and send a second email to people who didn’t respond.

But while sending cold emails is perfectly fine, popping in and or dropping by offices is not recommended. The person should know you are coming to see them. It will seem rude and uncalled for if you just drop by.

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I know it is hard to find work as an actor. And a lot of work goes into just making the contacts and getting those auditions. And there may be times when you feel your talent is being wasted as you wait for gigs to come through. Well I have a solution for your actor blues:

Teach your skills! Get involved in acting schools or special acting programs for children and help prepare your students for this fun yet challenging industry.

If you can get a paying gig it can be some extra money for you on the side too.

Volunteering can be just as fun and rewarding. You can even start up your own acting sessions. Think of the opportunities you wished you had  had as a kid… and make it happen for other kids around you. This will help challenge your creativity and express your skill in a new way.

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Resumes are so important, whether you are trying to get a job or trying to get cast in a production. You will not go very far if you don’t have a resume helping you sell yourself!  And yes, it’s perfectly okay to beef up your resume and put something on it just to have more content, especially if you are new to the business.

Who really cares if you’ve only done local plays and the person next to you had some roles on Broadway

Your resume will help you get seen so as long as it is truthful and represents you accurately. Click here to get a custom-made resume on InstantCast today!

Don’t be afraid to note all of your acting experiences to fill up one page.  I would rather see a bunch of productions listed than just a few.

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InstantCast Exclusive: Time is running out to enter to win a one-on-one interview with a seasoned casting professional. Click here to enter to win right now. We take your career seriously here at InstantCast and you should too! No matter where you’re located you can win this casting director exclusive interview: get the career advice and support you need to succeed. Offer expires soon so be sure to click here & enter today!

By: Isabelle Dungan, InstantCast Editor

Social networking is an amazing tool, but you must be careful with what you put out there. Remember, the information you share online represents you: you want to put your best face forward at all times… especially in this business. Here are some DOs & DON’Ts to help you construct a great online persona:

DO: Be friends with your favorite actors, celebrities, contacts, and future employers. This includes Production Companies and Movie Studios etc. or anyone you want to be connected with on face book and follow them on Twitter. This way you’ll get all the inside info on appearances, hosting specials, casting calls, giveaways and news updates.

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A term frequently used in this business is elevator pitch. It’s a 30 second pitch (the time it takes to ride an elevator) about something, including yourself. This ties into this week’s theme of leadership because the elevator pitch is about how you present yourself.

The next time you’re asked the most common question at auditions – Tell me a little about yourself – you’ll have a sentence or two prepared in advance.

When constructing your pitch, make sure you draw from the following categories: Read the rest of this entry »