The Internet has made it a lot easier to connect with casting directors. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the Internet has made it easy for everyone to connect with casting directors. With so many online submissions being sent to casting, it has never been more important to have all your online ducks in a row. Here are a few tips to help your online submission get seen and get you in the door.
1. Be prepared: It’s important that your profile is fully fleshed out. Make sure you have taken care of the following items:
Have multiple looks. At a bare minimum, your online profile should have two photos. One should be a commercial look—the image that shows off your winning smile and makes us want to hang out with you and buy whatever product you might be selling. The next look should be your theatrical (or dramatic) look. This photo shows off your serious side and makes us wonder what secrets you may have. If you have the ability, you should have a few more specific looks as well, such as office and casual looks showing you with facial hair or clean-shaven. Women can add a dressed up look with straight and or curly hair styles. If you are submitting for a role that takes place in an office, use a photo that looks like you work in the cubicle next door. You should include a body shot on your profile page.
Attach a reel. Casting directors expect to be able to see what you look like on film. They need to know what your energy is like, your type, and your skill level. Even if it’s a small-budget shoot, have some material that shows casting what you can do. If the role you are submitting for is comedic, by all means send your comedy reel and leave the drama reel out. If the casting breakdown is for a voiceover job, send your voiceover reel, and so on. Similarly to headshots, also be specific when submitting the right reels for your roles. You should have both a comedic and dramatic reel, and submit the appropriate one. Casting has a lot of actors to sift through, so if you are submitting for a serious role on a police drama, make sure they see you being dramatic the moment they hit play.
Update your résumé. When you receive a new credit, you should immediately update all résumés casting might see. Also, make sure to check off all of your special skills. When they are looking for someone with a particular skill set, casting often does a search via these skill lists. Remember the industry needs actors who surf, play an instrument, horseback ride, and many other skills. However, if you say you can perform these skills, be sure you can do so with a certain confidence.
2. Utilize the notes section. Most submission sites have a small section for notes before you officially submit. This is the place to catch the casting director’s eye. If you have previously met a casting director and felt strong about your performance, remind them where you have met. Such notes will help build your personal relationship. Also, if you’re submitting for a role that requires a special skill (for instance, salsa dancing), write something that pertains to your previous experience. Those details will make you stand out!
3. Be at the front of the line. Timing is everything. With the amount of people who have access to the public breakdown listings, you can be sure that casting will have a hundreds (if not thousands) of submissions minutes after they post the job. Make sure you are at the head of the line and be checking the casting notices that are sent to your email, and don’t miss the jobs listed on the casting site. If you wait to submit, casting may never reach your submission. This is another reason to have a reel attached to your profile. Some casting sites give priority to profiles that have a reel attached. You can be sure that much of your competition has a reel. Make sure you have the leg up.
If you follow these three steps and remain diligent, you’ll go from clicking on your computer to walking into the audition room!
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