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Your Acting Résumé – Avoiding Expense and All That Jazz

by Aimee Mitchell

You can create a great acting résumé on a budget – or really, if you have paper and a printer – no budget at all! If you're already in the business you may have seen actors résumés that are fancy and over-the-top. You may also have seen the most basic of actors résumé. All you really need is for your résumé to appear professional and informative – not too fussy and not too far away from the point you are trying to make, which is that you are worth casting!

There most certainly aren't 101 rules and reasons to make an acting résumé look like everyone else's, wouldn't this be monotonous and a little more than dull? By following just a couple of handy hints when building your résumé, your acting career could be sprinting off the starting line, rather than lagging behind it.

I've listed some tips below that should help you avoid the expensive options and assist when you are creating your acting résumé. Where some actors might print their résumé on the back of a professional, and pricey, photograph you really shouldn't need to. When you think that a good thing to do is alter your résumé each time you apply for an audition, this could cost more than an arm and a leg.

First things first, use 8 x 10 inch white paper to match the size of your headshot or photo.
Make the font small enough so you can fit everything on the résumé, but not too small that it's hard to read.
Don't use fancy fonts, the simpler the better – Arial or Verdana are good and easy to read.
Put your name in bold as the main header and so that it's clearly visible.
Below your name put down whether you are a singer or dancer. Or do you sing, dance AND act?
Add your vocal range only if you are a singer (e.g. Alto, Tenor, Baritone, ect.) Omit if you cannot sing.
Add credits to each category of your résumé. If you don't have many in one category, add more to another category. List the most important or impressive ones first.
List a director's name if you took part in a performance that was directed by a well-known director, the same goes for actors – only list names of those you starred with if they are well known.
Add the location in which you performed / filmed. For example: Appeared in scenes 1, 3 and 6 at the recording studio at Disney, for the Mary Poppins film.
Put your training last. Don't forget to mention the acting school you went to if applicable or singing lessons that you are currently taking.

As a rule of thumb, use only standard white paper. Don't use color paper or anything with flamboyant designs. The only thing that casting director or talent agent is interested in is YOU.

Never include your Social Security number. Once you are employed you can supply your details to whoever handles pay role, but not before.

The final word?
Good luck!

Aimee Mitchell is an acting coach, short story author, community theater director and playwright. She has spent the better part of her adult life working with young actors and actresses.

Copyright © Aimee Mitchell. All rights reserved. Used with permission of the author. Not to be reproduced or distributed.

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