I've been in acting since July of last year. All of my credits are background. I have a student film coming up where I am a main character but don't have any lines "I'm imaginary". But he's going to give me the dvd reel.

So my question is, with a dvd reel, and just background credits..Should I even bother contacting agents?

How can I get more work?

I'm signed up online with lacasting, exploretalent. Central casting/Jeff Olan casting. I want more then background work. Please help me figure this out. Thanks.

Hi, Background credits are better than nothing. Get all the work you can (as long as it is things you'll be happy doing). You could start approaching agents to see what their reaction is, but personally I'd concentrate more on finding work right away, getting to know people, and improving your skills as much as possible. Keep checking Backstage and every place else you can think of to find opportunities. Some of those sites are good...get yourself onto more of them if you can. Contact film schools to see who's casting....do stage work (as all film actors should, I think)...networking with people will often get you more jobs than anything else. Go to every audition you possibly can. Talk to other actors and see what they know, what they've learned. Keep your chin up and be confident. Eventually stuff will happen for you. Good luck

I would concentrate on getting your own work first; background credits are not acting credits.

Ok, let me clarify...I was not referring to 'credits' as in, your name appears on the screen. I was referring to something you can put on a resume. Having done a background job is better than not having been there, period. For that matter, hanging around on the set and learning without ever being hired to do anything is better than not being there.

quote:

Originally posted by Kelly:
I've been in acting since July of last year. All of my credits are background. I have a student film coming up where I am a main character but don't have any lines "I'm imaginary". But he's going to give me the dvd reel.

So my question is, with a dvd reel, and just background credits..Should I even bother contacting agents?

How can I get more work?

I'm signed up online with lacasting, exploretalent. Central casting/Jeff Olan casting.

Welcome Kelly!

You've only been at this less than a year, so you're on the right track. Building good credits takes time. It would definitely be to your advantage to build your resume with acting credits (not background) before seeking an agent. Also, take classes and join a theatre group. Agents want to see experience in principal roles and training on a potential client's resume.

Background work/credits are not supposed to go on acting resumes, even though some actors include them. It is not recommended. If you have a major featured background role, you can include it on your resume until you have principal credits to take its place.

Working background is great on set experience that you can learn from and a source of income, but try to focus on auditions for principal roles. Central and Jeff Olan are good companies, but for background. The most reputable sites to use for principal roles are Backstage, LA Casting, Actors Access and Nowcasting. Audition for everything you can, including student films. Don't waste your time and money on scam sites like exploretalent. http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/932105/m/12110087

Here's another thread with more info. http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/932105/m/98310108

To Mominbiz, I basically agree with everything you said to Kelly. But in all fairness, just two minor points: first, I have been in the position of casting many people; if I am seeing someone who is just starting out or has a thin resume, I like to see everything they've done, including background work. You are right that for high level casting, it should not be on the resume; but no harm is done if a beginning actor includes it.
Second, while many people certainly do get scammed (or at least waste their time) on sites such as the one you referred to, there are also people who have gotten great jobs through the same sites. I don't recommend many of them, but some might be just what a person needs. To Kelly: good luck!

I wouldn't have gotten my featured extra role w/u/5, w/o a couple background credits, also I had a silent walk on, featured extra and a special bit. Of course, the director saw something he liked, even though I kind of blew my audition (another role).

One of the bigger Hollywood/NY casting directors(that I took a workshop with), told me when you do get the speaking roles then replace them(extra).

Hi Kelly. I've been an agent for over twelve years now and I'm going to try to answer your question honestly. (Keep in mind that I don't know what you look like and I have no idea how old you are. I'm basing my response solely on what you wrote.)

NO - you're not ready to look for an agent. You don't really have anything to offer yet. Background work is a great way to get your SAG vouchers but it means nothing to agents. Let's face it - background work is not acting. And please don't try to list it on your resume on a different category. That would be idiotic and you would eventually be found out.

As for the DVD reel, if that's all you have to put on it, then that's a dead end too. It's always nice for us to see how someone photographs but we need to see dialouge and interaction too.

The good news is that you've signed up for all the casting services and you can submit yourself for small roles that will help you build up your resume.

You should also be in a really good class with a teacher that is known to the industry. And you should be doing local theater here in L.A. so that you can build up your skills.

Actors always try to find representation before they're ready. So be smart and get your act together before you try to find an agent. And who knows? At that point, an agent might just find you.

Good luck!

Thank you everyone for your comments. I truly appreciate the honesty.

I didn't think anyone would look at me either, but thought why not ask it here anyways.

I have taken classes at TVI Studios, but I haven't taken any for a year or so. I'm flat broke. So, right now I'm concentrating on trying to find a job and still get some acting in.

I am applying for principal roles as often as possible.

I'm scared to death of theatre. Never done it. But I did have a speech class where I had to go in front and deliver a speech. I turned bright red. Yet I'm fine in front of a camera.

Of course like you all said I've only been background. But I am trying to get better jobs.

Again thanks for the feedback.

P.S. Any of you know good jobs to work while trying to act.

I've tried employment agencies, but they just place you where they have an opening, and don't care about flexibility.

Kelly

Why not take commercial classes? You don't need an extensive resume to get a commercial agent.

I hear you on finances -- as an actor, there's a challenge to pay the bills while still having the time and money to pursue your dreams.

You could check out craigslist -- there are a lot of openings for summer/part time work in art galleries and such that pay some money, not a lot, but it's something.

As far as temping, agencies are starting to falter because the job market is getting dicey. You are better off applying to companies direct if you can, always keep applying and don't stop until you have a firm job offer in your hand from one of them.

Most jobs don't believe in flexibility or pay very little for you to have. You may want to reach out to companies that are in the media and entertainment field that understand that the people they employ are creative beings too and have auditions to go to, things like that.

I don't know if you are in NYC and whether you live on your own or with the parents, but there's plenty of part time/temp jobs if you are willing to not get paid a lot of money and are able to use that money to pay for classes.

Unless you get under 5 lines, you are better off finding work on your own to avoid paying finder fees to others and building your resume and taking classes when you get the money. Agents want to know if you'll be making them some kind of regular money and will already be hitting you up for anywhere between 15 to 30 percent of what you make.

At this point, you can't afford an agent so keep on doing what you're doing and find some work to take some classes. TVI is supposedly a huge networking opportunity thing, you should always make it a rule of thumb to make friends or alliances with as many people as possible, because you never know who might inadvertently lead you to a gig that may not have fit them but may fit you. As the saying, it's not what you know but who...

Being nice -- not overly friendly but nice, can pave the way for you a bit easier. Reach back to TVI, see if they even have a paying job as a receptionist or something, something that pays but also keeps you still in the field (and possibly get a discount on acting classes there).

This is for Secret Agent Man -- you mentioned the two things you'd be interested in looking at -- looks (headshot and bodyshot) and age.

I'm curious -- if someone is over 30 is their job outlook grim as opposed to a 20 year old?

Do agents view older people trying to break into the business not as viable? Does age work against a person trying to get into acting?