Discussion: Good resumes for actors?

Hi, i was going to apply for the NIDA Young Actors Studio youth ensemble this year and in order to audition they require everyone have a resume. Although they have taught us the basics at school i don't really know what needs to be included in an acting resume or what makes a good one.

What are the basic elements that need to be included, and does anyone have any tips on how to make a great acting resume?

Any advice would be of great help, and i hope too for other fledgling actors such as myself.

Livy.

Have a browse through http://www.actorsnow.com.au/

There's heaps of actors resumes available online, mostly in the correct format, which should give you a good idea of what's required.

Melissa

I keep three resumes updated on my computer. But I usually create a new one for every audition situation.

The first one is for my eyes only. It includes everything I've ever done, runs for about 8 pages, and is only used as a reference for the other resumes.

The second one is limited to two pages, and has sections outlining my stats (physical description), skills (special abilities, training), and recent (past 5 years) history in theatre, radio & TV commercials, film, awards won, singing/musical skills, festivals/tours I've participated in, and workshop/directing experience.

The third one is whatever I can keep from the second resume so long as it fits on ONE page.


The one-page resume is really the most important. If someone's reading my resume to get an idea of what I can do, I want them to see it immediately. And I don't want to risk them missing anything if they happen to not turn over the page.
This is why I usually create a new copy for each new interview/audition. For theatre, they tend to be interested in my skills and range of characters, but I can cut the bits about commercials. For TV auditions,
I'd give a far briefer summary of my theatre experience, but be detailed about my on-camera experience and range of skills (including sports, drivers licenses, etc).
I'll only present the two-page resume if I'm reasonably confident that they'll take the time to read it.

Sometimes it's a toss-up as to keeping my most impressive credits or keeping my most recent. Because I have a pretty constant track record, I think it looks better to keep my most recent credits. (I might have full details of the past five years...by which I mean Play title, character, director, theatre company, and year...and then basic detail of stuff older than that: just the Play title and the theatre company.
But it might be pertinent to include details relevant to the job I'm going for...for a musical I'd probably include details of past musicals even though they might have been quite some time ago.
In general, although there may be a lot of pride and sentimental value in mentioning that great starring role I played in 1991, it really doesn't mean that much to someone who wants to know what I'm capable of NOW.


For someone with fewer credits, who may have just left school for instance, there's no reason why you shouldn't include everything. But eventually as you get more and better experience, I'd suggest dropping your least favourite credits rather than making the resume too big.

If you're going to list a skill (juggling, saxophone,...etc), make sure that it's something you could easily do tomorrow on camera if they wanted a credible juggler/sax player...not something you could get back up to speed if you had 6 months practise.


My tip on how to make it look great is all about the formatting and making it clear to read. (Again, trying to clutter it with too much can be detrimental...however, fit as much as you can while keeping it neat and readable.)

Clear headings. Relevant categories. Information well set out across the page. Organised by year, most recent first.



Cheers,
Craig

[%sig%]

craig,
that is great advise that you have given. what is it exactly that you do

ck wrote:
>
> craig,
> that is great advise that you have given. what is it exactly
> that you do


(Taking a deep breath)...I'm an actor, predominantly in theatre. Specialise in highly physical theatre, theatre for young people, devised shows. Often in non-traditional or outdoor venues. Have worked for Barking Gecko theatre company for 18 years, as well as many other companies, and therefore have a LOT of performances under my belt. Do some improv, and have a range of musical skills, including composing, writing lyrics, arranging harmonies, playing various instruments, and singing. Have some puppetry and circus gymnastic skills. Been lucky enough to tour nationally and to many festivals around the world. Occasionally get radio commercial work, and more infrequently work on TV or film. Have directed on occasion, and been a tour manager. Often run skills workshops. Resident musician at The Big HOO HAA comedy show. WA Branch Councillor for the MEAA (Equity). Was WA Citizen of the Year (Youth Arts Award) in 1995.

Used to be a scuba instructor, and have worked as a safety diver on film shoots. Also occasionally in theatrical productions. Now get occasional work as an Outdoor Ed instructor, usually on school camps/expeditions, and supervise snorkelling, kayaking, rockclimbing, mountain biking, and hiking/camping. Can drive a truck/bus.

Occasionally get asked to do corporate functions, and host events where I usually only vaguely know what I'm supposed to be doing, but am pretty happy just to wing it..!

I'm currently booked until the end of April, but feel free to approach with offers of work..

Cheers,
Craig

[%sig%]

Craig wrote... oh never mind. You really must have a lot of time on your hands buddy!

Graham wrote:
>
> Craig wrote... oh never mind. You really must have a lot of
> time on your hands buddy!


Hi Graham

Here's what I posted last week in response to someone else who said the same thing:

> Having too much time on my hands? I guess I do. After rehearsing
> full-time during the week and learning lines after hours for the
> Barking Gecko show I'm in for PIAF; working weekends as an
> entertainer at the zoo; Saturday nights musician at the Big Hoo-Haa;
> I've almost finished sanding and polishing the floorboards in my new
> house; writing a song to use at the Finley Awards I'm hosting this
> weekend; and I caught up socially with several mates on both Friday
> and Saturday night...sometimes I just need to take some time off for
> mindless entertainment, and surprisingly enough I often find some
> here. Probably helps that I don't have a TV at present, although I've
> watched a couple of DVDs this week on my computer.
> What are you getting done with your free time?


This weekend was the Finleys, more work entertaining at the zoo, and I was involved in a playreading for a new musical. Didn't do the Big Hoo Haa on Saturday (because of Finleys) but am doing a special performance at the Brass Monkey this Wednesday.


I don't think my clock operates any slower than anybody else's; I just seem to always be doing something with my time. As far as seeming prolific here...well, the computer's always on, and if I see something that catches my eye, I can type fast.

Hope you're keeping busy...

Craig

[%sig%]

Thank you Craig for such a great response, this info will be very useful especially when i and others get more experience under our belts. It definitely seems to have worked very well for you. :)

I do have a few more questions however about the basic makeup of the resume.

1. Does it go in order of: Stats, Skills, Training, History, Contact details? (or should the contact details be in with stats?)
2. What information is required in the stats? Name, age, height, eye and hair colour, anything else? I read a few resumes that had other things such as dress sizes included but do casters really require that?
3. In a professional resume should a headshot be included?
4. Should i ever attach a copy of an award or certificate of graduation of a course to a resume or just list them? I can see that with an experienced actor this would probably be a sin but i don't have much to work with yet.
5. Is the classic black and white layout the most professional look for a resume?

I know this is just for a course for young actors but i find i might as well find out how to make a truly professional acting resume sooner rather than later. Thanks for everyone's help so far!

(I put this post in the wrong place so i'm adding another here incase it gets lost.)

Thank you Craig for such a great response, this info will be very useful especially when i and others get more experience under our belts. It definitely seems to have worked very well for you. :)

I do have a few more questions however about the basic makeup of the resume.

1. Does it go in order of: Stats, Skills, Training, History, Contact details? (or should the contact details be in with stats?)
2. What information is required in the stats? Name, age, height, eye and hair colour, anything else? I read a few resumes that had other things such as dress sizes included but do casters really require that?
3. In a professional resume should a headshot be included?
4. Should i ever attach a copy of an award or certificate of graduation of a course to a resume or just list them? I can see that with an experienced actor this would probably be a sin but i don't have much to work with yet.
5. Is the classic black and white layout the most professional look for a resume?

I know this is just for a course for young actors but i find i might as well find out how to make a truly professional acting resume sooner rather than later. Thanks for everyone's help so far!

Well, that's telling me!!

Graham wrote:
>
> Well, that's telling me!!



Sorry mate, didn't mean to appear rude. Fair enough, I'll shut up about it now.

crg

craig,
congrads on your achievments so far. I am only a mother of guy who is trying to break into the industry and has done alot of courses/workshops and it only seems that all the jobs he gets are unpaid. he is even finding it difficult to get an agent even though where
ever he goes they tell him to get an gaent quickly.
It is good to read informative stuff on this site. Sometimes however i do feel as though it shows alot of jealousy and tall poppy syndrome.
keep up the hard work and your well time managed life
cheers

Now, now, no one likes a show off, craig.

Hi Livy,

This subject was addressed in the TECH-TALK section of this site in February of last year; initiated by 'aeva'.

Use the "Search" facility provided in this site. Type in "Writing a Resume"; check "All forums"; check "All words"; check "All dates". Read the advice given in the threads there, too. It may support what you've gathered here.

Cheers,
Russell

Livy wrote:

> Thank you Craig for such a great response, this info will be
> very useful especially when i and others get more experience
> under our belts. It definitely seems to have worked very well
> for you. :)
>
> I do have a few more questions however about the basic makeup
> of the resume.
>
> 1. Does it go in order of: Stats, Skills, Training, History,
> Contact details? (or should the contact details be in with
> stats?)

I don't think there's any hard and fast rules. For me it depends on who I'm creating it for, and what I want them to notice as being most important.
My standard theatre resume announces my Name, Agent, and contact details right at the top. Sometimes I include a one-paragraph biography (like you might write in a theatre programme) just to give an overall view of who you are and what you've done. Then I list a history of recent productions, and divide it into categories (theatre, film, radio) if it's relevant.
I don't really have any official training, so I list a few of the courses I may have done (Stage Combat certificate, film classes, etc) under the heading 'Skills'. And perhaps also awards I have won.
I usually subdivide Skills into categories as well : Musical (list instruments and other skills), Circus (list abilities), Sports (scuba diving, kayaking,...you never know with a TV commercial), and Driver's licenses (motorbike, truck etc).
My Stats I usually keep very brief: age, height, hair/eye colour, build.



> 2. What information is required in the stats? Name, age,
> height, eye and hair colour, anything else? I read a few
> resumes that had other things such as dress sizes included
> but do casters really require that?

Some TV commercial screentests aren't much interested in your history, except whether you're recently onscreen for something else. And then they want to know age/height/eye colour , wardrobe details like shoe/suit/dress/hat size, and practical skills like 'can surf'.
They'll often have their own form to fill in, so I'd have that info handy.
In general though, you don't need to go overboard on the vitalstatistics. Anything unusual might be worth noting though....an ethnic accent, an obvious tattoo, a missing leg...


> 3. In a professional resume should a headshot be included?

Yep. Definitely. A standard black & white 10x8 portrait photo, with your face filling the frame.
The photo is almost MORE important than the resume. That's why I reckon you can whittle down that resume to one or two pages...a picture tells a thousand words, and it's already done most of the work for you.


> 4. Should i ever attach a copy of an award or certificate of
> graduation of a course to a resume or just list them? I can
> see that with an experienced actor this would probably be a
> sin but i don't have much to work with yet.

Look, if you need to pad out a resume, then mention everything worth mentioning. Awards, eisteddfodds, school productions, amateur shows....a drama school or theatre director is going to be more interested in the fact that you've done 20 play productions at school, than that one professional commercial you shot. And if it's short, then fine! Better than giving them ten pages of something they might really only flick through.
I don't think you need to include photocopies of certificates, though. Just listing them is sufficient.


> 5. Is the classic black and white layout the most
> professional look for a resume?

I think so. Clear and easy to read is way more important than flashy with coloured highlights.


> I know this is just for a course for young actors but i find
> i might as well find out how to make a truly professional
> acting resume sooner rather than later. Thanks for everyone's
> help so far!


All good questions, worth discussing. And my answers aren't definitive...even within my suggestions there is plenty of room to be individual and create your own style.

Being flexible, being prepared to slightly modify your resume to suit each audition is probably the best way to eventually find out what works as an overall template. You have to slightly modify it everytime you do a new job anyway, putting recent achievements to the top and deciding if you need to let old ones go.


Cheers,
Craig

[%sig%]

Russell E Williams wrote:
>
> Hi Livy,
>
> This subject was addressed in the TECH-TALK section of this
> site in February of last year; initiated by 'aeva'.



Here's the link:

http://theatre.asn.au/read.php?f=22&i=1710&t=1710


Cheers,
Craig

Thanks guys! You've all been so helpful and now i feel i know much more about it all. :D

Cheers, Livy

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