Well, I'm back on my head! Been underground with a real job, retired, traveled, lived in Rio de Janeiro and Europe and Colombia, now 43 and red eyed to LA few weeks back to visit old amigos and renting a Flat in Marina Del Rey.

Questions....

1. Are Headshots still used with resume on back stapled?

2. If so, who is the preffered Headshot photographer?

3. Personal websites, are the used and does it help or just an ego trip for the typical Rookie or Has Been? Example: www.JoeShmow.com

4. Best acting coach in LA?

Thanks

Anyone?

quote:

Originally posted by RayGun:
Anyone?

I'll bite. I'm surprised no one else has. Maybe your questions were too broad.

1. Yes. (The resume must be attached to the photo. I haven't stapled for years. I prefer using double-stick tape. It takes a little longer, but I like the clean aesthetic rather than seeing a piece of metal punctured through the photos I spent so much money on. It also takes up less space that way, and when the resume is updated, I can easily remove the old resume and put on the new one without having to punch yet more holes in the photo.)

2. Too broad a question! Preferred by who? Do research. Find the photographer that suits you. (Various sources are recommended all over this board. You can start with the photo galleries on IsgoPhoto.com and Reproductions.com -- you'll be able to see samples of what's "current". Depending on how long you've been out of it, the first thing that may surprise you is that everybody has color headshots now. Yeah, suddenly not too many years ago, somebody decided it was a good idea to have color shots --- even though they've been making movies in color for about 70+ years. Actually, it only recently became affordable to get color pix.

3. Whether or not to have a website is a personal choice. There are great ones, there are horrid amateurish ones. If you have one, um, make it a great one. No website really helps anyone unless people look at it. It can be a great marketing tool, but you need to market the website too and get people to go there. (And once they do, it better be impressive.) Does it help? It helps some. (And yes, sometimes it just is an ego boost for the actor --- but in that way, it "helps" them.)

4. See #2. The "best" acting coach for someone else may not be the best for you. Shop around. Do research. Visit some classes. Audit classes where they let you. See what rings your bells.

Thanks B2H, now to be more specific.... who is the recommended acting coach in LA now? And who is the recommended Headshot photographer now?

I just wanna get off the ground and get started again.

Throw my some names!

Thanks again for helping out an old skool guy.

Ray

There are so many headshot photographers and acting coaches that I think people can't really answer the question. It might help if you can begin to research classes/photographers/etc. and then come and post questions about them. You can look at the most recent Backstage "favorites" issue to see who won the favorites in these categories if that helps you start. Or you can go to Samuel French and check out the recent guides on these things--(zine-type publications, not books, updated monthly (or so they say)). Even though those might not be perfect, it's a place to start.
You might also attend actorfest and see if anything strikes you as interesting. I believe the trade show part is free and there will be various exhibitors like photographers and teachers etc with booths. OH and also check out the Actors Network. www.actors-network.com
Those guys are legit. And keep an eye open for all the free backstage events this month.
Welcome back!

Here's the reader's favorites link (for CA). Hope it works. I can post the entire thing but it's LOOONG.


http://www.backstage.com/bso/c...e8a24719d91b4d9a6529