Sunday, May 15, 2011

Actors for Headshots: No Fake Eyelashes

Don't just take this advice word for word. When you are getting your headshots taken, don't bring fake anything! Don't do things that aren't what you always do because if you look different in your headshot than when you come in to audition for the role, it's over.

I don't want to be harsh, but I'm not lying when I say that a lot of actors I've worked with in the past have come to their auditions and looked nowhere near the same as they did in the picture. What false advertising!

I can stand how much it bothers me when that happens. I've directed a bunch of short films and a feature, and some of the people who came to the auditions looked way different than they did in their headshot.

Remember this: casting directors want you because of what you look like!

So if you look different in real life than in your headshot, you won't get the part. I know that a lot of you think that if you can just get in, and then they like your performance, they will hire you... But think about the possibility of that. You come in and look different than what they want, and five other people come in and look exactly the way they want. And you all do decent auditions. Now who is going to get the role?

Make sure your headshot looks like you AND captures the essence of who you are.

Your headshot tells a story, your story. If it's telling someone elses story, you won't get called back.