Andrew Pickwood has been in the acting game for a while now. That means he knows exactly what he’s looking for.
Treat every character as a full human being.
“I generally look at the depth of the character descriptions and storyline. I look for unusual topics and characters that don’t appear to be one-dimensional.”
Backstage streamlines the submission process.
“I like the variety of the projects that I find on Backstage. I also really like the way the site is set up, the resources for storing media that I use for submissions, and the application process. It allows for much more detail to be provided for a submission than other services.”
Always remember why you’re in it.
“There is a difference between loving the craft of acting and wanting to be a celebrity. Which gives you more pleasure: the time spent on set or stage working with other characters, or getting media attention and appearing with other stars? Plan how you will achieve either of those goals.”
A reel is a showcase for your very best work.
“I believed from the beginning that making a reel out of clips from projects I have done would best show my ability to work with a team of filmmakers, as well as show my acting talent. As I did more projects, I lifted clips from footage I got, made my decisions about what I like, got opinions from other people with experience in TV and film, and, finally, put them in an order that I think will grab attention up front and keep people watching to the end of the reel.”
Everything worthwhile takes time and effort.
“For people just starting out, your experience level is lower, and you won’t have a collection of completed projects to showcase, so you will need to do one of two things: Find a service that will create a reel using stock settings and provide scenes and partners for you, or commit the time and energy it takes to build your experience. Doing a variety of projects with new people telling interesting stories is more my goal, so I prefer to take on as many good projects as I can.”
To see your success story in print, tweet @Backstage using the hashtag #IGotCast.
This story originally appeared in the Dec. 17 issue of Backstage Magazine. Subscribe here.
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