hey

So my last name pretty much gives away my ethnicity even though i can look like diffrent ethnicitys. Should i use another last name for my stage name. I feel tha my last name stops casting directors and agents from seeing how diverse i can be. It's Gonzalez by the way.

I photographed a handsome young man by the name of Benjamin Banda.

That photo landed him the starring role in two ABC pilots, "Jericho" and "Bad Boys."

One day he called me to ask if he should change his name to "Benjamin Bratt" to get more non-Latino parts. I actually liked "Banda" better, but he preferred the latter, getting the idea from his acting buddies who were known in the press as, "The Brat Pack." In the ensuing years, he's played many different roles and ethnicities, but I don't think his name change had anything to do with it.

Your situation may be different. Why don't you post your photo here and let me have a look.

"Whatever works."

www.robertkim.com

My headshots are at

www.jocelynGonzalez.piczo.com

and i love bejamin bratt. I do feel the last name influences peoples perception of you no matter what. let me know what you think!

Dear Jocelyn,

I think your name's fine.

But you do need some major changes to your resume. DO NOT list your age, age range or ethnicity. Your current resume reflects a typical LA version, not a New York one. You'll need some theatre credits to place on top.

Do not list the dates of any performances at any time, and never list modeling credits.

You may also want to add a new heading at the bottom. Call them "Special Skills" and list any and all abilities that you perform that could be of value to a production or that give your talents special distinction, your Miss New York credit, for example.

Your headshot looks amateurish and will eventually have to be replaced if you want to remain competitive in the marketplace.

quote:

Originally posted by LatinLady:
hey

So my last name pretty much gives away my ethnicity even though i can look like diffrent ethnicitys. Should i use another last name for my stage name. I feel tha my last name stops casting directors and agents from seeing how diverse i can be. It's Gonzalez by the way.

There are some Latin actors working on Broadway today specifically in the musical In the Heights. For first-hand experiences you might want to write some of them. One of them Mandy Gonzalez has a website through which you can email her.

I use my first name or a nickname for my last name.

Jocelyn,

Your name is your name. You should be proud of it. As an agent, I would never dream of asking someone to change their name to increase their casting range. That's a personal choice.

We have a client with a last name that's very similar to yours and you know what? He works all the time, in a wide variety of roles, from Hispanics to Middle Eastern to many others.

Also, wouldn't your family freak out? I know Latinos are proud of their heritage and I have to imagine that you'd have to face a lot of negative energy from your parents if you became - Jocelyn Smith.

As for someone like Benjamin Bratt, he made it because he's a damn good actor, not because he changed his last name.

Good luck!

Hi Jocelyn,

I saw your pictures, and you're right, you have a very diverse look.

You could look Hispanic, Middle Eastern, African, Indian, ...

With looks like that, I really don't think your name matters -- just submit to what you feel is right for you, and you'll be fine..

She means that people take her for a gal with typical Hispanic looks.

I once new an guy who looked somehow like Irish, but had a name that sounded Asian. He got lots of calls for the wrong part. LatinLady has really diverse looks. So changing her last name is maybe not a bad idea.

Thanks for the feedback! As you can see it's kind of hard I am proud of my last name however I know that names do create a barrier especially when your a actress with not that much credits to your name.I was thinking about using my last name and middle name for jobs which call for different ethnicities and my real last name for jobs which ethnicity doesnt matter!

i believe that is the same reason "Sabrina Bryan" from the cheetah girls uses her mother's madien last name instead of her given name which is Reba Sabrina Hinojos she didnt want to be overlooked or how ever you put it

hey i posted my headshots in thisforum let me know what you guys think!

Changing her name isnt a bad idea Sabrina Bryan (from The Cheetah Girls) told me she uses her mother's maiden last name for similar reasons even though she really doesnt look hispanic she is well half anyway. her real last name is Hinojos and that isnt a very common last name in the entertainment world. She uses Hinojos for dancing though, when she does local things.

Your idea is a great one LatinLady I say stick with it.