Attention! That role you’re absolutely perfect for is ready for you. The opportunity that will let you shine and give you total control over how you are portrayed is real! It’s an opportunity that was made only for you, so will you seize it? If you haven’t caught on yet, I’m talking about creating your own content. Here’s why you should do it.
It lets you play the roles you want to play.
Content creation is one of the more creative ways you can help yourself and your representatives. Putting together shorts, sketches, or any form of content where you’re able to showcase your talent will help. If there are parts you want to play but haven’t yet had the opportunity, create them yourself. Know you’re funny? Write a sketch to showcases that ability. If you feel you’re best at portraying tough and stern, write a short that lets you play a cop, lawyer, or CEO.
Yes, writing and shooting may take up some time, but you’re not always going to be busy with auditions. And the auditions you do get will most likely not be for your dream roles. Creating your own content gives you the opportunity to create that content yourself without needing to wait for someone to give you the part.
It gives you space to prepare.
You get to rehearse until you get it exactly how you want it. You can workshop with other actors or your class to make sure it’s the best representation of yourself. Collaborating with other actors that you respect will help everyone and ensure the best product in the end.
You can do it basically for free.
Before you say you don’t have the money, know that content creation doesn’t require a big budget. These days, people are shooting feature-length films on their phones. With a little research, you can learn enough to make passable content that displays your best qualities as an actor.
READ: 4 Things to Keep in Mind When Creating Your Own Content
It gives you a social media leg up.
When it comes to promoting your work, it’s important to recognize that it’s not uncommon for producers to factor in an actor’s following and their ability to help promote a project, especially for lower-budget and independent work. While I’m not implying that roles don’t go to the most qualified actor, social media being a solid check in your column is just a reality of the times. So if you stay committed now to promoting the content you create and building a following, it will only help you in the long run. No matter your views on social media, you can’t deny its effects.
It helps reps pitch you.
Even if you aren’t about hitting the festival market or trying to develop your own web series, you can still create content that will help your reps with their pitching materials. A five-minute short that showcases all of your best abilities is just as convincing to a casting director for a specific role than a quick co-star clip. (Although we would absolutely include that clip on your reel and in pitches as well.)
This works for both adult actors and children as well. Kids these days have such a broad understanding of what is popular and funny online that even if they’re just posting quick Instagram videos about a subject they’re interested in, they can drum up a following and showcase their personalities. Parents, be sure to monitor their accounts and what the content is but if you have a young creative, encourage them to channel that through whatever outlet you deem appropriate.
With guidance from your representatives, you can create work that will showcase your abilities and personality in a longer form than may have been available to you previously. So knock down doors and introduce you in a way you’d like to be seen.
Check out Backstage’s short film audition listings!
The views expressed in this article are solely that of the individual(s) providing them,
and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Backstage or its staff.
