Sunday, June 03, 2012

As of 2025, please go to stuff.davidaugust.com, my newer blog. See you there!

How Not to Choose a Headshot

The key, and challenge, is knowing what you are offering as an actor, who you are as an actor. What actor the market sees you as, who you are as an actor, is not usually identical to who you are as a person. And, the actor you want to be and the actor you actually are may not be the same. Choosing pictures becomes easier to do by yourself if you know who you are as an actor.

A not good way to go about choosing a headshot is to ask someone else to choose it for you. Bob Fraser explains why:

You know exactly what it is you are trying to accomplish - and why. No one else in the world has the knowledge you have ... at this point.
DO NOT ASK ANOTHER ACTOR'S OPINION.
Believe me, the great majority of actors are generally not 'clued in' about this process and their advice is, by it's very nature, skewed. Other actors may have an "agenda" when you ask for their help.
Some actors think this is a competition.
This is just not a very good idea at all. (One exception: If you are friends with a successful actor - who has a lot of experience - it might be worth asking a favor.)
But again, most actors have a difficult time explaining their own procedures - so take all advice with a grain of salt.
BE CAREFUL ASKING AN AGENT'S OPINION.
Your agent is a salesperson. Do you think that the salesmen are consulted when a car company takes photos of their cars? Many agents will try to help when asked, but it has been my observation that a good agent is not necessarily a good judge of what constitutes a good headshot - for you.
ASKING FRIENDS & FAMILY IS NOT A GOOD IDEA EITHER.
If your friends (or family) are not in the business (as a casting director, director, or producer) - they will be almost totally useless in helping you choose a 'working' headshot.
If you happen to have a friend who IS a casting director, director or producer, then by all means, ask for opinions.
BUT ... don't go to your professional friend with several dozen photos and expect them to spend the kind of time it takes to pick out the good ones.
That's asking too much.
It's always been my experience that when you ask too much - you will receive too little.
THIS IS IMPORTANT: Before you ask anyone else's opinion, take the time to cut the choices down to a manageable number.
YOU have to do this!
You must practice becoming the best judge of what will get you to where you want to go. If you're looking for someone else to help you, or merely justify your choices - you will be searching for a good long time - maybe forever.
Most of the time, other people do not care deeply about your dreams.
You DO care deeply, so I urge you to 'gird your loins' and do the hard work part.

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this posted by David August at 2:48 PM - 2 comments -  

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

As of 2025, please go to stuff.davidaugust.com, my newer blog. See you there!

Success Is Not Convenient

If you want to achieve your goals, the work you have
to do will probably have to happen in that "personal time" away from your regular job, during your favorite TV show, or while other people are enjoying "happy hour."
The successful person always exhibits the following character traits:
  1. Has a vision rooted in the future.
  2. Knows that success demands a price of admission - and is eager to pay it.
  3. Has an absolute passion for new skills.
  4. Loves the game. (Successful actors seek to understand the rules, learn the strategies, and develop a "game plan.")

(from Bob Fraser).

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Tuesday, April 08, 2008

As of 2025, please go to stuff.davidaugust.com, my newer blog. See you there!

Casting 'Actors' vs Characters

When I'm hiring people for a show, I know what I need and want.
And that is ALL I'm looking for.
When it comes to people who appear on-screen, I almost never need an actor.
I need a homeless man with a Harvard education. I need a mother of three who is accused of murder. I need a hapless hero with red hair. I need a villain who's willing to kill kittens and eat lard.
So, while you are trying to sell me an actor, I'm not paying much attention to you, because I have a show to get on - and I need characters.
Which means ... your product should be a character.
You may have the range to do anything we throw at you ... but we'll never know that unless you get on the soundstage with us.
(from Bob Fraser's MySpace blog).

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Thursday, January 24, 2008

As of 2025, please go to stuff.davidaugust.com, my newer blog. See you there!

Handling Rejection

Bob Fraser, in mourning Heath Ledger and Brad Renfro, cautions actors to handle rejection properly:
DO NOT try to deal with the inevitable rejection you will face in your career, by using any of these 5 VERY BAD WAYS:
  1. Lying to yourself.
  2. Lying to others.
  3. Listening to other people's lies.
  4. Being lazy.
  5. Destroying your product.
If you catch yourself doing any of these things - STOP IMMEDIATELY!
(from Bob Fraser's MySpace blog).

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Friday, August 17, 2007

As of 2025, please go to stuff.davidaugust.com, my newer blog. See you there!

What 'They' Want

The outcome of the audition is usually not affected by the performance of the actors who are auditioning - but only by what the producer really wants.
What ‘they’ are looking for is something that is completely out of your control.
(from Bob Fraser’s new acting career course, Nail It! – Mastering the Hypnotic Audition, which will be available soon.)

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this posted by David August at 3:27 PM - 1 comments -  

Friday, June 15, 2007

As of 2025, please go to stuff.davidaugust.com, my newer blog. See you there!

Bob Fraser: Actors vs. Moneymen

Shows are being trumpeted to the sky when they get 17 million viewers. Cover of TV Guide 'hit.'
Less than twenty years ago, 17 million viewers would have meant cancellation and worse. A number that bad could get you drummed out of Hollywood.
Friends, don't let anybody kid you - the audience has left the building.
The entertainment industry really belongs to the entrepreneurial artist
(from Bob Fraser).

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