Talent will always ask, “What is the secret to getting started in the business?” There is one simple answer: The secret of the business is not cutting corners!There are two very important tools you need to have in your belt if you are serious about starting your career: pictures and training.
Pictures are your business card! The first step is finding the best photographer for you. If you have representation, ask your agent or manager as they might have a preference. If not, ask fellow actors and even acting coaches. Do your homework and look at their websites, and remember: it’s not how much they cost, it’s about the picture itself! Your first impression with a casting director is your picture, and you only get one chance.
You might need to shoot more than once to get a great shot, and to get that shot, there are a few important things to keep in mind:
- Don’t wait until the day of your shoot to select your wardrobe.
- Make sure to hire a make-up and hair stylist (this is more important for the ladies).
- Go to the shoot rested, talk to the camera, become the character of the outfit you are wearing.
- Most importantly, make the camera your new best friend!
Training
The second tool that is absolutely vital is training, training, and training! Like finding a great photographer, it is important to find a great coach! Audit workshops until you find someone and somewhere that will serve as a place of growth for you. After you find the right place, it’s all about showing up and being prepared! Know your scenes, be a team player, and be ready to get down to work. In classes especially, you will learn as much from doing your own scene as from watching scenes executed by others. There is important growth in observing others do their craft, not only in a class setting, but anywhere you can find more information and examples. Read books on acting, study bios on your favorite actors, and watch shows you can see yourself being cast in. From there, you can look up the casting directors, the producers, and directors of these shows online. IMDB is a goldmine when it comes to finding information.
The best advice I could give to anyone looking to make the business their playground is that even though this industry may not be classically structured, you have to give 200% to reap the rewards. The entertainment industry is just like any school or business regarding the amount of work you need to put in – but the biggest thing that sets us apart from the rest is that when it comes down to it, you can only be in this business as long as you have the passion to fuel you through it. There is no textbook answer for how long it will take, but there is no doubt that sooner or later, giving your all will pay off, while walking through the door and owning who you are! #teamwork
About Debralynn:
Debralynn opened the doors of Discover Management with a solid foundation of experience. She first worked in Europe and New York as a model, commercial artist and ran an award winning self-image studio in Los Angeles. Debralynn then joined forces with Beverly Long, a Clio award winning casting director, who garnered great respect within the entertainment industry.Only a few months after Debralynn founded Discover, her first client booked a series regular role on One Life to Live. Since then, Debralynn’s clients have done a variety of projects ranging from major feature films, television shows, voice-overs, as well as an original web series recently produced by Discover Management’s eponymous production company.
Debralynn has an unmistakable passion for her company and it is evident by the way she champions both her clients and her team.