TAKE WHAT YOU NEED AND LEAVE THE REST

TAKE WHAT YOU NEED AND LEAVE THE REST
Sometimes it just hits you like a ton of bricks.  I was teaching yesterday at Loyola Marymount University a classroom full of bright and talented theatre students.  In recounting my early days as an Actor and talking about the difference in technology, marketing capability, research and overall opportunity I realized that even though I was encouraging them to explore and exploit all that was available I had only scratched the surface with my own career.

The amount of educational and resource information that is flowing and available on the Internet is astounding in fact I am part of a group called MASTER TALENT TEACHERS that offers free videos from teachers in the group and guests every four days.  There are so many other free or inexpensive educational resources out there that it is mind boggling; actual classes taught by Sandy Meisner, Uta Hagan, Stella Adler, audition tapes of many Actors for their signature movies or shows, interviews of Actors and teachers about their process in archived TV/News/ Talk Shows, monologues snipped out of famous plays or movies on YouTube or VIMEO and the list goes on and on.

The tangental resource educational material is also extremely valuable; how to videos on production by top industry pros, the movie making process dissected and broken down into all of the fundamental components, casting directors explaining their process, agents giving a behind the scenes look at how their clients are chosen and how they make their decisions, directors discussing not only the technical process of movie making but also how they relate to talent and much, much more.

Education is only the tip of the iceberg as far as tapping into the potential of how the Internet can serve you in moving your career forward.  The marketing and relationship building potential for every Actor is huge.  The instantaneous method of delivery along with the permanence of archiving provides such an amazing and virtually free resource for Actors to showcase their talents and allow their work to be seen by both an appreciative audience as well as potential employers.  The head shot and resume although still the industry standard is dwarfed by ImdbPro, VIMEO, the Casting Workbook, YouTube, LAcasting, and the many other databases and platforms designed to show the work and statistics of the Actors who choose to utilize them.  There are also  other specialty platforms and databases such as VoiceOver Universe, AICP (a great site to view work by commercial directors and production companies), Stunt Men’s Association Stunt Woman’s Association and many others where Actors can not only find valuable information but highlight their own credits and capabilities in their search for work.

With regard to Social Networking and Blogging both are easily accessible arenas to provide information, seek work — directly and indirectly and establish as well as build relationships that will result in experience, monetary reward or both.  Web sites also provide a relatively inexpensive way to upgrade your brand and presence while at the same time provide access and valuable information for others.  Ehrin Marlow a friend of mine recently started a new web site called Actors Info an example of providing information while at the same time increasing your own visibility as an Actor!!

The key to the kingdom with regard to the wealth of information and the breadth of opportunity that is available for you is to dive in and start exploring.  After your initial exploration you will begin to organize and categorize just what will work for you with regard to where you are with your career and what your needs are now and in the future.  You can avoid becoming overwhelmed by taking what you need right now and leaving the rest to explore and exploit at a later time.  The brilliance of the net and the Web is that it is there for you 24/7/365 that can also be the curse if you are not disciplined, pragmatic and practical about how you use the information and opportunity that is there.  Start today, don’t let fear and intimidation keep you away from one of the most amazing and available resources to move your career forward.

Let me Know what your favorite online resource is for YOUR acting career or what valuable resource you have found lately!!!

The First comes from Guy Norman Bee’s facebook post http://www.theuncool.com/press/meet-the-crew-ana-maria-quintana-script-supervisor/ Cameron Crowes official site a blog about script supervisors check out the rest of the Website