Found a great blog! Thanks Mark:)
“Ways to Succeed” from
The Casting Corner by Mark Sikes
Ohhh I’m so jealous of NY snow!
Ways to Succeed
There are many ways to fail in this business. Many of you complain that nobody tells you the ways to succeed. I can’t control your casting, but I can offer you some ideas that will guarantee that you progress as an actor in the entertainment industry.
Be more like Larry Dorf
Larry Dorf is a Groundling. I hired Larry six years ago to star in a romantic comedy I was casting. He was a Groundling then and he’s a Groundling now. They’re like the mafia of comedy. No matter how hard you try to get out, they keep pulling you back in. But he’s in good company because most of the cast of “Bridesmaids” were Groundlings.
I brought Larry in six years ago because he was a Groundling. I had never met him before. Now I would bring him in because he’s Larry Dorf and I enjoyed working with him and he’s really, really funny. Would you like us to call you in this year when we need somebody funny? Maybe you should be more like Larry.
Submit as if your life depended on it
Well, it sort of does, doesn’t it? At least your life as an artist depends on it. You can’t get called in if you aren’t submitting and every actor tells me that when they are submitting every day they get more auditions.
Find a way to make submitting more enjoyable. Treat yourself to a cup of coffee or something else you enjoy when you do it. I’m not recommending any controlled substances but if it gets you submitting every day who am I to be all “judgy.” I like to bring a book to the gym because I hate to work out but if I’m looking forward to my book then I am a lot more likely to go to the gym. Do whatever you have to do so that you don’t dread this part of your process. You can’t work if you don’t submit.
Also, give yourself a target number of auditions you want to get each week and if you come up short one week then make sure to submit to more projects the following week. Perhaps you are submitting too conservatively. As long as your headshot is accurate I would rather actors submit more liberally so that they are in the mix for more roles and more projects. This should be your position on submissions as well, whether you are politically conservative or liberal.
Make some friends
This is how you really take huge strides in this business. Yes, you need to be a great actor, but knowing a few people who can help you climb the ladder wouldn’t hurt, would it? You only need a couple of true friends in order to break into the bigger projects.
Realistically, this one won’t happen overnight. It takes time. But you can cultivate real relationships with industry members. The trouble is, you have to really mean it. You have to be willing to actually show up for a serious relationship with anyone, industry members included. I know how many actors would love to be “friends” with me so I am slow to let that happen. But it happens.
When you work on a project, see who among the group you have the most in common with and take them to lunch. You can’t be friends with everyone. You can be nice to everyone but to become friends with everyone isn’t even a desirable goal. You’d be having lunch with somebody every day!
This doesn’t mean that you should become a “collector.” A “collector” is an actor that befriends industry members strictly for what they can do for them. We all know a couple of these people. Make friends. This way if they help you, great, if not, well, you’ve got a friend.
Call DirecTV Today
Why is it like pulling teeth to get actors to watch some television? You sound ten years behind the curve when you make comments like, “TV sucks,” or “there’s nothing good on television.” Seriously? There’s nothing on television that you like? Every time I hear anyone say this I immediately rattle off my five favorite shows and it makes me smile when the person admits that they haven’t ever seen any of those particular shows.
“Baywatch” isn’t on the air anymore, people! Drag yourself out of the 90’s and sit yourself down in front of the television. And by the way, if you have money for booze and five dollar Frappuccinos then you need to call DirecTV and get yourself some cable. There are too many Emmy-winning shows on cable these days for actors to say that they can’t afford access to any of them.
Are you really going to tell the casting director of “Dexter” and “Breaking Bad” that you don’t have cable? When an actor tells me that they don’t watch much TV I realize one of the big reasons they are struggling after ten years. They are under the misconception that they can break into an industry that they do not properly respect.
Next week, I will continue to show you the ways to make 2012 your best year ever. We’re just getting started.
I’m here every week.
Since you made it all the way to the bottom of the column this week you get a reward. Over at “The Casting Corner” Facebook page this week I will be posting a bonus item that will only appear there. Come on over and check it out and join in on the discussion.
I’m there every day.
Ways to Succeed: Part Two
Okay, here’s week two of my list of ways you can better succeed as an actor in Hollywood. If you missed part one you can find it in the archives at left.
Take Steve Levitan to lunch
Okay, first, learn who Steve Levitan is if you don’t already know. Casting directors bring you in but directors and producers will be the ones to ultimately hire you so put a little effort in this year to meeting a few of them.
Probably not wise to aim for Steve Levitan right off the bat but everybody knows producers and directors so start with the ones you already know. Don’t ever think a person is “too low on the ladder to be worth taking to lunch.” Until Steve Levitan’s office is calling you for a lunch date it’s wise to meet with the ones you have access to right now.
Based on the cost, wouldn’t lunch with industry members be the absolute best way to spend your money? Every time you work for a casting director you should invite them to lunch as soon as the project is finished shooting. Will they accept? Not every time. But if they do then you will have their undivided attention.
Here’s a little tip. Eat before the lunch. Remember why you’re there. Sure, you will order something light and play with it, but the last thing you want to do is sit there the whole time wolfing down the meal. I don’t care how well you like the food, it’s a business meeting.
We don’t need you to buy us lunch. I had to explain this to an actor last month who thought he was doing some big service by trying to take a few directors to lunch. I’d rather pay for it myself than have somebody else pay for it and feel they did me some huge favor. Let’s keep some perspective.
Focus on only acting
You will never become a working actor in film and television while devoting half of your time to singing, dancing, writing or nuclear fusion. Actors try this all the time and all it tends to accomplish is making them fall short of both dreams. Think about this: if you could be a successful actor or singer, which would you be? Knowing that you only can be successful at one thing, which would you pick? Once you figure that out, you have taken a huge step towards your dream. Indecision is just one of many ways we sabotage our goals.
Imagine the odds of becoming a working actor and then think of the odds of becoming a working actor and a working director. Your odds of becoming either are greatly diminished if you split your time, energy and funds between multiple pursuits. You just became a statistic because you refused to pick one. Keep the other thing as a hobby and pursue number one as if it was your most fervent wish. That’s the kind of dedication and perseverance required to be successful at one dream in the arts. You won’t have enough left over for another one.
Research Every Day
It isn’t enough to know just Steve Levitan, but it sure couldn’t hurt. If you do get the chance to meet industry members maybe a little research before the meeting. Along with networking, research is an area that all of you could vastly improve on in 2012.
I love actors that do a little research before meeting me. I was a guest at a SAG workshop a few years back and right off the bat I asked if anyone there read my column. A fair amount of hands went up, but there were a lot who just stared at me blankly. Next I asked if there were actors in the room who didn’t know that I even wrote a column. A bunch of hands went up! Really? Why are you there if you don’t know anything about me? Is your time that worthless? Don’t you want to be able to ask intelligent questions? Holy hell!
Follow up and repeat
This year is the year you follow up. Every time I appear at an event and speak to a group of actors I predict the future. I tell them that despite me telling them to follow up with me from that point on, the majority of actors in the room will not follow up more than once if they follow up at all. And my powers to predict the future have always been flawless so far.
This is the year that you are going to defeat those demons that tell you that you are bothering industry members by following up with them. You are going to drown out those little voices in your head that say there’s no point in following up so why waste your time.
And you’re going to keep doing it because it is an integral piece of the puzzle. Following up is inexpensive and doesn’t take all that much time. There are no good reasons not to follow up and there is every reason for you to do it. And then do it again.
And a few more next week!
I’m here every day.
Ways to Succeed: Part Three
Welcome to the third and final week of my “Ways to Succeed” column. I have several more ideas about how actors can make improvements on their game plan for the New Year. And I know the first one won’t be popular.
Forget about Pilot Season
Too many actors get excited for Pilot Season when in reality they have almost no chance to get any Pilot auditions. I have a student who has a good agent, a good manager and she has TV credits. She went out for two pilots last year.
If you don’t already have some guest-star credits on the resume you should focus on booking some in the next few months and hope that next year’s Pilot Season includes you. Unless you are 21 years-old they want to see actors with credits. It makes perfect sense. I want to hire actors with a little experience before I expect them to carry a show.
If this is not 100% clear you should log on to http://www.imdbpro.com and look up some of the actors on television right now in series regular roles and see all the television credits they had before booking their current show. Typically an actor books several pilots that don’t even get picked up before seeing their way onto the air.
There’s enough to stress about in this business. Don’t lose any sleep over Pilot Season.
Get your work in front of casting directors
I don’t care what you have to do. You should be putting up prepared work in front of legitimate casting directors a minimum of once a month so that your industry base keeps growing. In a perfect world you are meeting a new casting director every week but I know that may be taxing on your budget if you are resorting to workshops.
See if SAG is holding any workshops if you are a union member. If not, budget to get in front of them. The alternative is unacceptable. Actors who spend years in Los Angeles without getting in front of casting directors simply because they don’t like the idea of casting director workshops are making the choice not to work in my opinion.
And notice I said to get your “work” in front of casting directors, not just your face. Meeting casting directors is fine but unless you are showing them your work you are only accomplishing half the goal.
Utilize Facebook and Twitter
Some of you are still too cool for school. If I were you I would prioritize success over feeling “cool.” Who are you? Fonzie? Actors and other industry members are using Facebook every day to network, build relationships and keep in touch with industry members that they work with every day. It’s time you joined us.
I don’t care if you have Twitter and Facebook accounts for your personal activity. That’s optional. But in 2012 actors have Twitter accounts, Facebook fan pages and personal websites that they publicize via Facebook and Twitter. If these minor concessions seem like a huge burden on your acting career I’d like to direct your attention to TMZ. If you have even moderate success these guys are going to be waiting for you every time you come out of a restaurant in Los Angeles. By comparison, Facebook and Twitter are minor inconveniences.
Give me a reason
Why am I going to call you in over all those thousands of other candidates? Give me a reason. Do you have amazing training? Did you just star in a film? Can I come see you in a sketch comedy show that is getting great reviews? Give us a reason to call you in. Give us a reason to come see your work. You’re aiming way too low if you think your smile is going to suffice.
Remember, most casting directors already know hundreds and hundreds of actors. How are you going to get their attention? We need a reason to pass over all those other actors who are ahead of you in line.
Find your “Cheers”
You want to go where everybody knows your name. One of the reasons so many actors never feel comfortable in Los Angeles is because they never find their “Cheers.”
Find that bar, restaurant or bowling alley that will become your “haunt.” I have so many “haunts” in L.A. that if I were ever struck with amnesia there are several restaurants that could identify me the minute I walked through the doorway. It’s a great feeling, isn’t it? You walk through the door and just like Norm on “Cheers” they all shout your name.
If you want to feel better about being here you have to let yourself get attached. I stay away from actors that seem to hate being here. If all you can talk about is how much better the pizza is in Chicago or how much easier it is to hail a cab in New York City, very few of us are going to want to be around you. Find your “Cheers.”
And that’s that. Those are my guidelines to get you started on your way to a productive and successful 2012.
Join me over at “The Casting Corner” Facebook page all week as we discuss this and many other topics.
I’m there every week.
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real WASPy 