Acting Tips: Finding Roles

If you're just getting started in acting, or any part of film making, it is often difficult to get started.

• Finding Roles
• See if there is a local film school that has a bulletin board with auditions posted.
• If you know any actors, ask them how they get roles. Networking is always a good thing.
• Do internet searches for local casting calls and auditions.
• Look up local filmmakers and send them your information and ask them to keep you updated on casting for their future projects.


• Open Calls
• These are when casting people ask for actors interested in their projects to send resumes and pictures.
• Nowadays, most independent projects do this electronically (via email).


• Cover Letters
• If you reply via mail, include a cover letter. If you reply by email, the text of your email should act as a cover letter.
• I'd recommend taking a few extra minutes to personalize it rather than sending out generic emails.
• "I am interested in one of the roles in your new movie, Zombie Attack 2. It sounds like a fun project. I've always wanted to work on a horror movie" sounds a whole lot better than "I am interested in acting in your project".
• You don't have to sound like a kiss ass, but if you think the project sounds good, or original, or fun to work on, you can say so.
• Address ALL items listed in the call information
• If one of the characters drives a motorcycle, don't rely on the casting person to find where it says that you can ride a motorcycle in your resume's "skills" section, write it in the email/cover letter. Something like this can get a casting person's attention before they look at your resume or pictures.
  • "I think I would be great in the role of Frank. I am muscular and have dark hair, just like the character description. He is also supposed to drive a motorcycle. I have my own bike and we could even use it in the movie if you'd like. I am fine with getting fake blood on me and any other gore fx you would need to do in the zombie massacre scene you described."
  This not only lets the casting people know that the actor may be a good fit before they look at their information, but also that the actor took the time to read the information and send a well thought out response.
• Always give whatever information they ask for, even if they say it is optional or not explicitly asked for.
  • If they ask for a resume, send one.
  • If its a horror movie and the information says that the actors will need to get fake blood on them, mention that you are fine with that.
  • If they say "feel free to include headshots or pictures", then send pictures. You will technically still be following their guidelines if you don't send the pictures. But when a casting director gets 25 responses; 20 with pictures and 5 without, they are going to ignore those 5.