You don't have to be in LA or NY to get started with a career in acting. But, if you are planning on making the big move to LA or NY, it's definitely in your best interest to get a head start on building your resume with experience and training in whatever city you live. Any theatre workshops and/or training, student films, classes in various techniques, scene study or improv, anything you can get yourself involved in will help you grow as an actor and help prepare you for moving to any one of the major acting communities in the world.

With a focus on LA, and whether you've had training or not, here are some of the most widely used industry sites to help you get started navigating your way through LA.

Remember, these are the basics, folks. These resources will help lead you to the rest. Enjoy!

#1 - Be prepared! Headshots, resume, PASSPORT!

Casting / Resume / Photo Sites:
Actors Access – www.actorsaccess.com If you have a reel, get it on here. If not, have an actor’s slate made at the Showfax office. http://www.breakdownexpress.com/content/aboutvideo.html

Showfax – www.showfax.com (associated with Actors Access)
Where to find sides for auditions; Excellent weekly columns written by Bonnie Gillespie and Mark Sikes covering everything from headshots, resumes, cover letters, auditioning, actor taffy, etc., that are a must-read. Showfax also has a great discussion board/forum, run by Bob Brody “ShowfaxBob” who is directly connected with Breakdown Services http://more.showfax.com/bbs2

Casting Networks/LA Casting – www.lacasting.com Also includes excellent columns.

Now Casting – www.nowcasting.com
www.nowcasting.com/actorsink - excellent must-read columns

Backstage.com - http://www.backstage.com/bso/index.jsp

IMDb – Internet Movie Database
This is the #1 site used by the agents and casting directors, even though it is not directly affiliated with any of the unions.
IMDb Resume and Photo options. – Yearly fee. You can now have an IMDb page without having any film or TV credits, by registering for the resume or resume/photo option.
IMDbPro.com – (they have a free month trial offer) OFfers contact listings, company directory, entertainment news, in production charts, rankings, message boards. It’s a great way to find current casting information for self submissions.

Focus on theatre audition information:
Playbill – www.playbill.com (mostly NY)
AEA - Actors Equity – www.actorsequity.org

Place for Actors to Network:
The Actor’s Network – Rated #1 by Back Stage West
http://www.actors-network.com/html/new/main.html

The Actor's Lounge http://www.theactorsloungela.com/index.html

SAG members:
SAG Foundation Events – Take advantage of being a SAG member
ActorSpeak: (Conversations & Conversations for Kids), is a nationwide speaker series that features high-profile SAG members sharing their experiences in the entertainment industry. The primary objective of the ActorSpeak program is to reinforce and strengthen the relationship of the Actor to the larger entertainment community. We achieve this goal through weekly events that engage, inform and foster dialogue between actors and the entertainment industry professionals as well as through our professionally produced videos which are made available free of charge to actors, scholars, film schools, universities and the general public for research and educational study.

LifeRaft is a series of professional development workshops and seminars to help educate actors and their families about the business side of the entertainment industry.

Casting Access Project offers Guild members free access to casting workshops at no cost. Made possible in partnership with the support of the Industry Advancement and Cooperative Fund and the valuable contributions of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Casting Society of America, the Casting Access Project provides actors the opportunity to meet and learn from respected casting directors.
Free Mailing Lists to Be On

Judy Kerr’s e-mail news group – Judy keeps you up to date with classes/workshops that are starting, book signings, gatherings, etc. http://www.judykerr.com/mailinglist.html
Judy is a sweetheart. She’s the author of Acting is Everything, an actor, acting coach and consultant.

HHH – Hollywood Happy Hour - join the yahoo group for the interactive e-mail list
www.hollywoodhappyhour.com moderated by non other than CD/author Bonnie Gillespie
This is great for current, everyday questions, answers and issues that actors have.
Topics are anywhere from which acting classes to take, agent/manager questions, announcements for plays and workshops to garage sales and apt. rentals.

Bob Fraser’s You Must Act – http://www.youmustact.com Scroll to the bottom and click on FREEBEES for his free online Show Biz How To. Bob also writes columns for Nowcasting’s Actors Ink.

Actor Site - www.actorsite.com – Very informative with free mailing list. If you join, they also offer current CD lists with information on what is currently casting.

Books: (also available on Amazon)
Self-Management for Actors: Getting Down to Show Business (2nd Edition)
by author/casting director Bonnie Gillespie http://cricketfeet.com/publishing.html

Casting Qs by Bonnie Gillespie – interviews with casting directors – Excellent and informative resource. http://cricketfeet.com/castingqs

Acting is Everything - An Actor’s Guidebook for a Successful Career in Los Angeles
11th Edition by Judy Kerr – considered the LA actor’s Bible. www.actingiseverything.com
Includes lists of acting teachers/coaches, photographers and a whole spectrum of info and resources every actor can use.

Acting Qs by Bonnie Gillespie – http://cricketfeet.com/actingqs One-on-one interviews with actors, sharing their experiences along the road to becoming a working actor.

Periodicals:
Back Stage West - www.backstage.com - includes excellent columns and advice. Read it weekly for all the latest info for LA.
Ross Reports http://www.backstage.com/bso/rossreports/directories.jsp
The Hollywood Reporter www.hollywoodreporter.com
Daily Variety www.variety.com
Show Business Weekly (New York) www.showbusinessweekly.com

DVDs for Actors:
Michael Caine: Acting in Film
http://www.netflix.com/MovieDisplay?movieid=70034962&mq...0186664&trkid=129129

Uta Hagen’s Acting Class
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001Z3IHG/002-0433530-8311214?v=glance&n=130

Joel Asher Series
http://www.joel-asher-studio.com/actorsatwork.html

The Business of Acting – How to Become a Professional Actor in Hollywood
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00003JRCE/002-0433530-8311214?n=404272

Film DVDs with Auditions in the Special Features: (these are fun to watch)
House of Sand and Fog
Holes
Wake Up, Ron Burgundy
What a Girl Wants
Shaun of the Dead
Tigerland
Junebug

Be proactive!
Monthly postcards – announce any new progress.
Do drop-offs to CD offices. Send postcards or submissions targeting shows your right for.
2007-08 CD Casting Assignments for TV http://more.showfax.com/dox/cd2007-8.pdf

Reel – get one made (1 to 3 minutes of film/commercial clips highlighting “your” best work) and include it on your website, also making sure you link your website to IMDb and vice versa. If you don’t have a website or a reel, do the actor’s slate on Showfax.com. When you do have a reel, include it on your website (linking it to IMDb and back) and if you can afford it, also include it on Showfax, LACasting and/or Nowcasting. Myspace is also another good option for those Myspacers.

If you don’t have a website, register for the free resume and photo options on nowcasting.com
and/or actorsaccess.com. Include your personal link from either of those sites on all your submissions, when allowed. (LACasting does not allow this) If you can afford the reasonable yearly fee, put your resume and photo on IMDb.

Actor sites that help inspire:
Actor bios on The Actors’ Network http://www.actors-network.com/html/new/main.html
Stephon Fuller http://www.stephonfuller.com Stephon if the King of drop-offs and be sure to check out his long-ass bio.

Actors' Book Stores:
Samuel French (Hollywood) (323) 876-0570
7623 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90046
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/destinationmap.cfm?destID=14&s_id=28319

Samuel French (Studio City) (818) 762-0535
11963 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604
http://www.yelp.com/biz/uYssXYJYIG5nfUM7BPEsoQ

Larry Edmunds Bookshop (323) 463-3273
6644 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028

Resumes: http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8011031/m/24410001

Cover Letters: http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8011031/m/9...?r=92710675#92710675

Looking for Agents and Managers: http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6031061/m/77910356

For more info pertaining to specifics on children getting started, check out For Parents of Children Getting Started http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9611031/m/9461061

For TEENS, go to Teens Getting Started http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9611031/m/6061061
These sites will lead you to more info for young actors including the most helpful BizParentz.org - (Thank you Anne and Paula! )

Here's a great link I found. Fun read!

http://www.um-ec.org/UMEChandbook.pdf

Excellent column about coming to LA by one of our faves!http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/archives/2007_07_09.html

Happy New Year Bump!

An important must-read thread for all beginning actors.

http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9611031/m/902106201

Career advice columns from BackStage.

http://www.backstage.com/bso/career_advice/index.jsp

LA neighborhoods and information. http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/922105/m/26...?r=44010495#44010495

Most current, Agent, Manager and Casting Director listings with descriptions:

Breakdown Services Directories - Online
http://www.breakdownservices.com/store/directories.html

Ross Reports - Online or in drama book stores.
http://www.backstage.com/bso/rossreports/index.jsp

www.castingabout.com - daily CD updates

The Agencies by Acting World Books - (I would get this at the drama book store. Not sure about current online service status)

For those interested in background work in LA.
http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/932105/m/87...r=600106901#60010690

www.backgroundbeat.com

Here's the updated website for Bob Fraser and his free Show Biz E-ine and the You Must Act information. Thank you Bob!
http://theshowbizblog.com/?page_id=2
Also, here's his blog on Getting an Agent, in addition to his archives that are filled with valuable information. http://theshowbizblog.com/?p=24

Hey, great info! You have your own column here! Keep it running! We are reading!

I wanted to comment on all the great info, but I refrained cause I didn't want to ruin the streak, hehe. But thanks a lot MIB, You've answered a ton of my questions even before I knew I had them!

Great info Mom in the Biz!

Thank you, Truthie, Brittany and Annie. I try to help when I can!

Don't forget your PASSPORT!!! If you don't have one, get it now. If you have one, check to be sure it's not going to expire in the next 6 months. To be valid, they must be renewed 6 months before they expire.

http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/922105/m/28110711