14 May Marketing Essentials: Who Are You? Or More Importantly, Who Can You Be?
“Who am I?” isn’t simply an existential dilemma that philosophers and sleepless insomniacs toil with in the darkened corners of their minds. As an actor, you have to constantly ask yourself who you are… in a scene… in an audition… in a film role. Most importantly, though, asking yourself who you are and who you can be is an essential factor to building your career. Who you can be is the cornerstone to effectively marketing yourself as an actor in today’s entertainment industry.
Every actor has the big dreams of landing THE role of a lifetime. Meaty, gritty, Oscar-worthy. But there are so many stepping stones along the way to that role, and marketing yourself as certain “types” is the key to landing roles along the path to that ultimate career-maker situation.
Taking an honest look at your talent strengths and your physical attributes plays a key role in landing roles that are perfectly fit for you.
You’ll hear it from everyone in the entertainment community and see it in every casting breakdown. Types. Young mom. Old executive. Grandmother. Harlot.
What are you and what can you play? Every actor wants to say, “I can be everything!” and that may translate better in a theater setting, but in a film arena, what you actually are has to genuinely fit what the casting breakdown is looking for.
Having headshots that fit a few key types that fit who you are is the key to getting in the door and getting seen. You may want to be the dashing leading man, but if your physical attributes and comedic stylings play better on camera as the hilarious, quirky best friend, that’s what you need to play up until you’re noticed, until you’re seen as more than simply a face on the page.
Get in the door first, wow them later. Marketing yourself effectively as an actor is the key to getting in the door.
Things to consider:
Your age range… you may be in your 30s, but if you look like you’re in your 20s, you may still get passed over for that mom/dad role. Don’t waste a lot of time and effort gearing all of your headshot choices toward that one type. Choose a mix of looks and maybe just one that calls to that type.
Your strength… you may want that dramatic scream scene, but are you actually best at delivering one-liners? Have one zany headshot. Nothing so brazen as hanging off some monkey bars, but a smirky smile, an oddly-patterned shirt. If you choose your photographer wisely, they’ll know how to factor these in for a look that sets you apart.
Your community… how does your acting coach often cast you? Coaches have a lot of industry insight, and they may see your look and skills in a way that differs from yours. Nailing your marketability is only a few questions away.