Written by Some would argue that an actors resume is even more important than his or her headshot. In this article we will go back over the reasons for creating an acting resume and also what to think about when you are putting one together.
An acting resume should take up precisely one side of one page, and you will usually want to have it stapled to the back of your head shot. This single page should represent you as an artist, as an entertainer, as an employee, and as a colleague. So the main thing is to understand what auditioners want from you. What show are they putting up, and how does it compare to their previous shows? What sorts of actors do they like to use, and who do they usually cast for the role you want? After you’ve thought about and understood these things, the only thing to do is to try and give it to them. Since you’re a professional actor, this will come pretty naturally to you.
The main thing to have in mind is that your acting resume should represent the part you want to play more than you as an independent entity. Don’t be afraid to shape your resume to meet the needs of the character. I would never tell you to lie; simply try to select and highlight the parts of your acting career that are the best fit for this show. This is a little bit of an extra investment in terms of time and energy, but it’s not that big an investment. Five or ten minutes for each audition could be the difference between your next big break and your next season of waiting tables.
