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Question: I have 500 headshots. I have absolutely no experience except a class I took for auditioning. What can I put on my resume? How horrible is little or no experience? –Amy
Answer: Hi Amy,
“Little or no experience” is not at all horrible! It’s where EVERYBODY started. Don’t let anyone make you think or feel otherwise.
Now, you may have put the cart before the horse in getting all those headshots printed up before having some more experience under your belt, but it doesn’t mean you can’t get somewhere! You just need to be creative.
What does that mean? Well, one actress I once worked with had her resumé laid out with her name, contact number, height, weight, hair color, eye color (all standard stuff) and then a little paragraph that basically said, “Why try to make it look like I have more experience than I do? You either like my look or you don’t and, if you want to know if you like my acting ability, you’ll have to call me in. I hope you will!” And people did! They said they loved her blunt honesty.
So, first off, I would try to get some student credits (get involved with student-directed projects in your area–which you won’t likely be paid to do), take an actual scene study or acting technique class that meets on an ongoing basis (rather than just an audition technique workshop), and do a little community theatre. You’ll find that your resumé will build up in just a matter of months.
Meanwhile, you can try the creative approach and see how many doors that opens for you. You never know! Good luck!
-Bon.
Casting QsBonnie Gillespie is a Los Angeles casting columnist, the owner of Cricket Feet Management, and the author of Casting Qs: A Collection of Casting Director Interviews.