NUMBER 10: FIGURING OUT YOUR TRANSPORTATION SITUATION

● LA is massive and you need to be able to get all around easily. ​For this reason I highly
recommend having a car.
● If you don’t have a car. Try to live near a metro station.
● You have to plan, which can be tough when you have to be somewhere quickly.
● Ubers add up if you’re auditioning a lot.
● Waze is best map app I have found, but watch out for left turns.
● Traffic is brutal, ​so have some podcasts at the ready!
● READ PARKING SIGNS! The parking attendants here don’t mess around. Everyone I
know in LA has had at least one parking ticket

NUMBER 9: DECIDING WHERE TO LIVE

ANY OF THE ABOVE PLACES ARE A TOTALLY GOOD SPOT FOR AN

ACTOR TO LIVE

● Each neighborhood is different and has its own strengths and weaknesses.
● The cheaper spots that I would immediately recommend would be either
Koreatown or North hollywood.
● Move fast if you find a place you like​. This isn’t Ohio. Real estate moves fast. Looking at
1-2 months in advance for apartments.
NUMBER 8: REQUIRED STUFF (Headshot, resume and reels/demos)

● Your headshot is your calling card.

● Typically headshots will run you $500 out here, but there are plenty of people willing to
do it for less.
● Before you shoot,​ be sure to ask the photographer how many looks you are getting
out of the shoot,​ because you want to get a couple different sides of you.
● Also, ​keep in mind that retouching fees are not always included​, so be sure to ask your
photographer how much additional photos cost after the shoot.
● If you don’t want to get professional shots, have a friend do it. A solid photo of you will
work just fine, but you will eventually need a professional headshot.
● IN YOUR HEADSHOTS:
○ Don’t wear anything too distracting.
○ You want a couple different looks.
○ Have a smiling one ​(commercial)
○ A more serious one ​(theatrical)
○ And maybe consider a ​body shot​ so people know what you look like.
○ A ​character shot​ might help for character actors, you know who you are. For
example If you look like Santa Claus, get a photo of yourself as Santa Claus.
YOUR RESUME:
● There are plenty of examples of actor’s resumes online. ​My resume can be found here.
● Follow the format closely, list your past projects and be sure to include all the training
and special skills you have that are unique.
● Keep your resume to one page​ because you will staple it to the back of your headshot.

YOUR REEL​:
● If you have no previous projects to pull footage from, shoot a scene with a buddy and
put it on tape. We just need to know what you look and sound like on camera. YOUR
REEL WILL GROW WITH YOUR CAREER.
● For reference, ​here is my reel.
○ SO, when you book and shoot a project, ​make sure you know how you can get
the footage so you can add it to your reel.

A reel isn’t absolutely necessary at the very beginning of your career.​ ​BUT YOU NEED A
HEADSHOT AND A RESUME.

NUMBER 7: ONLINE PROFILES/SOCIAL MEDIA

● LA Casting, Actors Access, Backstage, IMDB Pro and Casting Frontier all are websites
that allow you or your agent to submit you on roles.
● Fill out your profiles completely​ so the search filters will find roles fit just for you! It’s
tedious, but it will save you a lot of time in the long run.
● Check these websites everyday and read the character breakdowns.​ I usually check
the websites 3x a day on weekdays and once over the weekend.​ If I find something
that suits me, I click and submit all the relevant info.

● All of these cost a combined $600/yr. However, these are all the premium accounts, and
you do not need all of them. ​I’ve found most of my work with ​LA Casting​ and ​Actors
Access​,
● If you are just starting your career then you don’t need IMDB Pro just yet.
● Get your social media under control.
○ Casting directors could (​and definitely will​) be seeing what you’re posting so be
tasteful. There’s a difference between vanity and being professional.
○ Keep it positive while still being you. And put some effort into making it all look
good (it’s a lot harder than it looks).
 NUMBER 6: AUDITIONS AND SELF TAPES

BUT, most importantly....

Also, please be safe at auditions. You should never be made to feel uncomfortable.
SAG/AFTRA no longer allows auditions in private residences, but non-union auditions do
not have to follow that rule.
Bring a buddy if you think you may be going to an unsafe location/ audition.

SELF TAPE AUDITIONS...

Here are links to the lights, camera, microphone, tripod and iPhone tripod I use:
My main camera:​ h ​ ttps://amzn.to/2vJ7P3F 
Drone:​ ​https://amzn.to/2KV5Lul 
Ring Light:​ h
​ ttps://amzn.to/2vL77mK 
Umbrella Lights:​ h ​ ttps://amzn.to/2vKEmqp
Manfrotto Tripod: ​https://amzn.to/2PCb7ll
Manfrotto Tripod Head: ​https://amzn.to/2Dpr9YG
Microphone: ​https://amzn.to/2BdF6r5
iPhone Tripod: ​https://amzn.to/2S0PmIQ

NUMBER 5: GETTING AN AGENT/REPRESENTATION

I MADE A VIDEO SPECIFICALLY ABOUT GETTING AN

AGENT ​HERE.
● You do not need an agent, but it helps. Don’t stress it too much in the beginning. You
can self-submit on so many roles and you can find plenty of work (especially if you are
non-union).
● Agents submit you on projects that you cannot submit yourself for. And they take 10% of
what they get you. ​A full list of SAG franchised agents can be found on SAG’s website.
This is the best place to go to start your agent search.
● I found a new rep by doing my research and making cold calls.
○ BEFORE YOU MAKE THOSE CALLS, BE SURE TO HAVE YOUR
HEADSHOTS, RESUME AND ONLINE PROFILES AS FILLED OUT AS THEY
CAN BE. (Reel and demo if you have it) The more you have, the better you look
to an agent.
○ While your agent works for you, you still have to make an effort to show that you
are someone worth their time.

NUMBER 4: JOINING A UNION

● If your goal is to be on the silver screen, or anything on Netflix Hulu etc. You’re going to
need to be in the union.
● SAG/AFTRA is the tv and film union for actors.
● Equity is the union for stage performers. Equity actors get to go first in Equity
productions.
● You are allowed to work on 2 union jobs before having to join the union immediately on
your third job. Most people join after their second union job.

NUMBER 3: TAKE CLASSES

 ● Not only are classes a great way to continue to hone your craft but you can meet a lot of
great people so you expand your network.
● Also, classes are a great way to show that you are taking an active role in your career. It
shows that you care. People like seeing that on your resume.

Here are some of the classes I have taken and learned a lot from:

● There are plenty of other classes all over town and plenty of capable teachers. ​Do
research and find classes that work for you.

NUMBER 2: YOU NEED A JOB

● Headshots, gasoline, classes and online profiles cost money, and chances are you may
not break even off acting alone for your first couple years. So plan accordingly and be
smart with your money.
● Have a side hustle.
● Try and make it something that you like, because​ you will probably be doing this more
than you will be acting.
● Not only will you be making money, but people can smell that hustle on ya.’
● The most important thing is that you are practicing your craft, and you do not need to
break the bank to do that.
● Be smart about your money. I highly recommend ​“The Money Book for the Young
Fabulous and Broke”​ by Suze Orman. Actor or not, you could use this.
 NUMBER 1: Make your own stuff and hustle

● You are not going to get where you want to go by sitting on your ass waiting for the
phone to ring.​ You have to get involved.
● Making your own content will give you some semblance of control in this crazy world
while honing skills that you need to be in charge of your career.
● There are over 1 million people on LA Casting​, and they are hungry to work! Your
hustle has to set you apart from the other actors. Opportunities will present themself to
you, but you have to be ready for them. Work begets work, so make your own.
● This is one of the hardest career paths in the world. So stay the course and know that it
takes time, ​there is no substitution for just getting out there and auditioning constantly
while making your own content.
● The best part about this place is that you have no idea what each week will bring!

If you are having a really tough time as an actor... ​Read this.

“We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising 
program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated 
sites.” 
 
Will Westwater 2019