Azumi Tsutsui wields her skills like a weapon—even for projects that may not at first appear to be a good fit.
Always apply, and quickly.
“I use Backstage every day. I submit [for roles] quite a lot every day. You have to submit a lot. And submitting sooner is always better. It’s crucial to turn the notification on so that you can submit soon after the notice was posted.”
Don’t count yourself out before trying.
“[A recent project I booked] is a musical, but there were non-singing roles. I love musicals, but I can’t sing well, so this project was perfect for me. The audition was at the theater in Pelham, the venue for the actual show. I live in Queens, so it was quite a thrilling short trip to Pelham.”
The perfect project is waiting for you.
“I liked working on films and commercials, but now I’m focusing on stage productions, especially classics. Also, I speak Japanese, so I never miss a breakdown that looks for a Japanese-speaking actress.”
Your reel is your greatest hits—in under three minutes.
“A reel has to be short, like, two to three minutes. I first cut out some of my speaking scenes (Japanese and English), followed by a sword fighting scene and a crying scene. This way, I can showcase my skills without losing their attention.”
Let your reel grow as your credits do.
“First, you have to get some high-quality clips. If you don’t have any, start applying for student films. That’s how I got the clips, and I edited them myself [using] free editing software. If you know how to create a reel on your own, you can update it whenever you get a new clip. I try to keep it updated. Whenever I get a new headshot or clip, I upload them. It won’t take you much time on Backstage.”
To see your success story in print, tweet @Backstage using the hashtag #IGotCast.
This story originally appeared in the Nov. 5 issue of Backstage Magazine. Subscribe here.
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