Hi. I've been reading here awhile, but haven't had occasion to post until now. Seems like a good place to get your head bitten off ... LOL

As a bit of background, I'm a third year conservatory student in a classically-based BFA Drama program and my professional experience to this point has consisted of work in small market regional theatre. However, based on a student film I worked on a couple of years ago which consisted primarily of a friend and I improvising off a very badly written script - just having fun, really - I'm being told by some people in the industry (NY based) in whose hands it ended up that my main calling card in TV and Film will be in comic roles at first. Apparently, they think my 'unique touch' with that along with the prestigious degree and somewhat prolific 'Special Skills' set is something that will set me apart from the ten gazillion others with my look, etc. I don't know if that's just smoke being blown up my skirt or what, but pretense aside, here's my question ...

I was fortunate enough to play the leading role in "Poona the Fuckdog and Other Plays for Children" last summer. Actually, it's my last professional stage role and will go right on top of the "Regional Theatre" section of my resume if I include it since I'll be doing a film instead of theatre this summer and it looks like I'll NEED to include it given the above. However, how would you handle the language on a professional resume with that one? 'Poona the ****dog?' 'Poona the Dog?' 'Poona ... and Other Plays for Children?' Should I just use the proper title and leave it at that? I didn't even include it on my resume before. Any advice on what the current trends are with that kind of thing will be appreciated.

It's kind of weird looking, really. It's like I have three of the great young womens' roles of the classical stage plus a contemporary role bookended by "Poona" and my first role at the same late-night theatre from when I was in high school which is another equally ridiculous title that, fortunately, contains no potentially offensive/unprofessional language.

That actually leads to another question ...

Typically, when people graduate from my school, they keep their professional and educational theatre credits separate on their resumes. Later, some combine the two into one 'Theatre' section with the roles listed chronologically while others leave things 'as is.' There doesn't seem to be any difference in the two formats as to who is and is not getting work. Is there one 'proper' way to do that with todays trends in resume formatting? I'll have a few more from school by the time I finish which combined with what I've done this year would relegate 'Poona' to the middle the pack.

Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by Fishgurl:
I was fortunate enough to play the leading role in "Poona the Fuckdog and Other Plays for Children" last summer. Actually, it's my last professional stage role and will go right on top of the "Regional Theatre" section of my resume if I include it since I'll be doing a film instead of theatre this summer and it looks like I'll NEED to include it given the above. However, how would you handle the language on a professional resume with that one? 'Poona the ****dog?' 'Poona the Dog?' 'Poona ... and Other Plays for Children?' Should I just use the proper title and leave it at that? I didn't even include it on my resume before. Any advice on what the current trends are with that kind of thing will be appreciated.
Thanks!

I love to karaoke (talk about "weird"?).

One of the titles in the song book is called, "Let's Get Drunk And F**k."

This is the 21st century Fishgurl... pretty soon they'll be singing this on Sesame Street.

Use the full title. They're adults and they may want to look it up. It's probably a good play to be in because it may draw extra attention to your resume.

just leave it. You are an actor, its not like you wrote the title. They won't look down on you or anything.

Okay, thanks! Yeah. They're all adults, but I get kind of paranoid seeing how one little chickenshit detail can put you in the 'circular file.' I'll just leave it as is until someone tells me otherwise ...

REGIONAL THEATRE

Poona - Poona the Fuckdog and Other Plays for Children ...
Julie - Jake's Women ...
Rosalind - As You Like It ...
Nina - The Seagull ...
Ophelia - Hamlet ...
Renee/Tracy - Vampire Lesbians of Sodom ...

See what I mean? LOL

quote:

REGIONAL THEATRE

Poona - Poona the Fuckdog and Other Plays for Children ...
Renee/Tracy - Vampire Lesbians of Sodom ...

Just some editing for impact.

I have a similar resume!! I am in 3 or 4 movies with bad words in the title.

Basically, like anything else, I have a couple different versions of my resume. One with the bad words straight up, one with the "F***" style and one omitting all raunch content all together. Each of these resumes has other variations etc in what I list in my special skills. Who/What I am submitting to determines which resume they get.

Just in case you are wondering, here are my dirty titles (all feature films)

Filthy McNasty 3: Apocalypse Fuck - Supporting

Whatever You Do, Don't Fuck the Dead Chick! - Supporting

Caged Lesbos A-Go-Go - Supporting


i was in Filthy McNasty 3 because I was in Filthy McNasty 1 and my character returns. BUT, I got the first movie because the director had directed a ton of bad word titled movies, including "Scrotal Vengence", "Anal Paprika" and "Blood Fart". I tracked his e-mail down and wrothe him a letter stating I wanted the honor of listing a title like that on my resume!

^ Wish I had some more stuff like that! LOL I do have a Mamet role in 'Theatre' that should show my fluency with profanity ...

Wow. Okay ... I can take Poona and Renee/Tracy and put them in another section entirely entitled 'Comedy/Improv' along with the two sketch and improv troupes of which I've been a member. Hadn't thought of that ... Actually, they were both in the same venue and in the same late night weekend time slot AND with some of the same people in one of those troupes. It's not exactly Second City, but it really is another stylistic category. The main person it will go to (along with a new headshot) wants to see 'that thing I do,' so it makes sense to separate them out for emphasis. It looks good although a bit unconventional.

I'll need to drop another straight theatre role to make it fit and keep the look clean, but I have a couple that were actually in high school (a good preprofessionial arts h/s) that I could drop. Just need to decide which one since I'd like to emphasize range with that section ...

Soooo ... Now I've got ...

FILM
(only 3 credits - 4 at midsummer)

COMEDY/IMPROV
(4 credits - 2 plays and 2 troupes)

THEATRE
(10 representative roles)

TRAINING

SPECIAL SKILLS

Sound okay? Thanks again!

Since you did not list your location, I can't be certain which coast you're on. But since you listed film first, I assume you're on the west coast, or plan to move there.

Place your comedy/improv experience BELOW your theater roles-- if you're an actor, stage is more important, even in LA. If sketch comedy is your strong suit, I'd mention it again on the top line of your Special Skills as, "Strong comedy background." For TV sitcoms specifically, CD's love to recruit actors with prodigious comedy skills (notice how many improv performers and ex-standups now have their own shows?). If comedy is indeed your strength, I'd definitely want to submit to LA agents who specialize in comedic acting talent. Try Omnipop.

I would go ahead and include your high school roles and simply leave out that it was a H.S. production-- you need to list as much experience as you can spare. Additionally, there is no need to separate "Professional" theater credits from "Educational" theater credits on a resume-- they'll immediately recognize the level of the production by the venue.

www.robertkim.com

^ I'm Eas' Coas', yo! The resume is for East Coast film people who booked me for a supporting role in the project I'll be working this summer. It's small, but pretty big for me since they're Taft-Hartleying me for it and I don't want to make anything resembling a bad impression with anything I send them. Is there a difference as to how it should be formatted in that case? There's no real hurry in this because they know and respect that I'm doing 70+ hour school weeks, but I'd like to get it into their files looking as perfect and professional as possible fairly soon. I won't be submitting to agents for another year and hopefully showcase will make that unnecessary. The references I'll get should definitely help my cause in that arena as long as I don't find a way to mess it up ...

Yeah ... I'm not designating which are educational and professional theatre credits. I'm just giving the names of the theatres which are cool and pretentious sounding, but not so well-known outside the region or to those familiar with the names of my schools' performance venues.
Thanks!