Headshots, wow!

Hate to break it to you, but as an actor in LA with a manager I'll tell you right now. Those headshots aren't gonna cut it. If a casting director see's any of those he's gonna throw them in the trash and call them bush league.

Real headshots are...shot's of your head. You can keep a few 3/4 shot's just in case you need them. You need one dramatic shot, one comedic shot, and one comercial shot as you basics.

Trust me I've had plenty of workshops with casting directors, agents, etc.

You need to get a real photographer like Paul Smith. Then get them printed at Argentum.
 
Stryfe said:
Hate to break it to you, but as an actor in LA with a manager I'll tell you right now. Those headshots aren't gonna cut it. If a casting director see's any of those he's gonna throw them in the trash and call them bush league.

Real headshots are...shot's of your head. You can keep a few 3/4 shot's just in case you need them. You need one dramatic shot, one comedic shot, and one comercial shot as you basics.

Trust me I've had plenty of workshops with casting directors, agents, etc.

You need to get a real photographer like Paul Smith. Then get them printed at Argentum.
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Not necessarily true. I hired a cop guy to do 5 lines or under on Corrado off of a shot like that - he was wearing a cop outfit he owned and I told him to bring it.
 
HERE ARE THE PROFESSIONAL SHOTS THAT LAND ME WORK!!!!!!!!!
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Stryfe said:
Real headshots are...shot's of your head. You can keep a few 3/4 shot's just in case you need them. You need one dramatic shot, one comedic shot, and one comercial shot as you basics.
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hate to break it to you but I already told him the exact thing. then again..maybe seeing it repeated is a good thing!

but Doc is a cool dude and deserves our encouragement! plus he does some great stunt and gun work! you should see some of the vids'

kimko said:
HERE ARE THE PROFESSIONAL SHOTS THAT LAND ME WORK!!!!!!!!!
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kimko...have i got a part for you....ha ha ha. smart butt!
 
Let me ask this question: What if I only want those types of roles I am "good" at, which would be the ones I show in my pics? Would the pics at least help? I would hate to find out I spent all that money for nothing.

I really don't feel I could pull off comedy or romance, and I have no real interest in doing Heinz ketchup commercials. And keep in mind, I am not a "trained" actor. The only training (save for my stunt/action classes) I have is experience, and I rely on that, wholly. Which is the reason for not going after any type of lead role. I wouldn't feel it was fair or right to interject myself in front of those that have paid their dues in training and education in the art. I would be happy with just doing under 5 lines, as long as I got to do the stunt and action work. That is what I love doing, and I do look good doing it. It's not conceit talking here, just knowing what I see and feel.

Taormina: Thanks for the encouragement! Keep me in mind should you have a role that I could fit. OC is not that far of a drive.
 
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Heya, here's my input.

I am no means an agent or producer or anything like that, though, so this is just my personal opinion. I think you should take Michele Seidman's advice. She is full of extremely good information as you can see from all of her forum posts.

I think agents/casting people should be able to see the potential in faces and don't need to see you in costume, I think if anything, it comes across a little cringe and I imagine could turn people away just on principal. Same reason a busy producer/script reader might see something "unexpected" in a screenplay and just toss it out the window without giving it a real chance. Having said that -- I'm sure there are people who would love to see you in costume, and would see you right for the role.

I agree with Michele though, put them on a website or something. But for your professional shots, I would just go with the simple straight on headshot. When I see someones headshot for a movie I am directing, I can see the potential for their role I don't need to see it there in black and white..(no pun intended!) To me, the straight on headshot makes you look more professional and serious than the ones in costume.

Even though you might not want to pull off comedy or romance, keep in mind shots like that might sway people from giving you a role in say, a complex thriller or slightly bigger role, something like that. Even if it is for a role with just a few lines. Always best to keep your options open, you never know what might happen.

Hopefully I didn't come across as being negative, I sincerely hope you get some work and wish you the best of luck with everything.
 
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Doc Bernard said:
Let me ask this question: What if I only want those types of roles I am "good" at, which would be the ones I show in my pics? Would the pics at least help? I would hate to find out I spent all that money for nothing.
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The Wife use to do headshots and porfolios for aspiring actors and models for years. As mentioned, a 'head' shot is required... You can do theme things, but given your 'looks', I think the action figure "heavy" look is more suitable. That's just a first impression. There are many actors who have bucked the 'body type' vs. role, but I think one will find that for bit parts, one is cast on body type, look, etc. The fellow who does 'comedic' facial expressions, obviously is looking for work where that fits in... say a Jim Carrey stunt face, the one that gets working end of the baseball bat...
 
Doc Bernard said:
Let me ask this question: What if I only want those types of roles I am "good" at, which would be the ones I show in my pics? Would the pics at least help? ......and I have no real interest in doing Heinz ketchup commercials. And keep in mind, I am not a "trained" actor. The only training (save for my stunt/action classes) I have is experience, and I rely on that, wholly.
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Some directors in feature film like to think they have a great imagination and can picture you without having to be beat over the head. So, some will be insulted about the shots while others (and you see it here from time to time) actually like having it pointed out for them. That gets very individual.

and no Ketchup commercials? dude don't bite off your nose to spite your face. I got a female friend in NYC who does about 10 commercials a year and CLEARS over $100,000 in pay and residuals. How do you feel about Kethcup now? :)

Not a waste of money if you use them as promo shots!!!

ChrisHurn said:
I think you should take Michele Seidman's advice. She is full of extremely good information as you can see from all of her forum posts. I'm sure there are people who would love to see you in costume, and would see you right for the role.

When I see someones headshot for a movie I am directing, I can see the potential for their role I don't need to see it there in black and white..(no pun intended!) To me, the straight on headshot makes you look more professional and serious than the ones in costume.

Hopefully I didn't come across as being negative, I sincerely hope you get some work and wish you the best of luck with everything.
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Chris you just made my day. Thank you!

Love that you just made the statement that goes with something I said above...like having the support to it right at hand!

I think you came off well!
 
I agree with Michelle. I've seen actors with some costumed pics, but generally from roles they've done, or characters they have. I don't have anything particularly against them, but they certainly don't help me cast you. Your ability to wear a fireman's outfit means nothing to me.

Then again, personally I want one thing out of a headshot: Do you look like that? I am much much more interested in seeing reels, actual acting on camera.

All that aside, I don't think the photographs are very good. Meaning, you don't really come through them. I think in a good headshot, the person becomes almost 3-D, because they are engaging you through the photograph. Much like on camera. These are kind of lifeless and flat to me. They don't seem to have been done by a professional who knows headshots.

So that might be another point against you using these to get work.

Good Luck!!!!!
 
Hmmmm. A lot to ponder here. I am a little put out at myself right now. Spent a lot of money on these shots and now I need to go get more. Errrrrrrrrr!

Live and learn, I guess. And also a confidence issue. If I have the equipment, it is easier for me to "get in the role". But again, I am not a trained actor, like a lot of you. So my gear is my "crutch", which makes me a method actor?

LOL, Michelle, my lack of interest stems from not being a "good" actor outside of what I know. I know commercial work pays really well, but I am not sure I am able to do it.

Mark, I hear you. But with those "costumes" comes the knowledge behind them. I don't just wear a firefighter's outfit. I wore one for real for many years. I am former military, hence the military garb. You see where I am going with this. I am not an actor that can play any role. I am a more specialized, maybe limited is a better word, actor. I don't want to fool myself or anyone else into thinking I am more than that. But your point is valid.

But on a good note, my local SWAT team found out about my knowledge of tactics/weapons and that I have a videography company. I am now their unofficially official videographer (I even have a title: "the F*ing camera guy", given to me by their newest SWAT member for mistaking me as being "in play", LOL), and I am going on all their trainings to film them. Last Thurs. was my first taping and it will be a twice a month gig. Going to help me in my acting too (they are aware that I am doing this as well). I get to see how they look, their mannerisms, and be able to refine my knowledge of tactics/weapons and appearance.
 
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Like I said, I don't see anything wrong with using those, they just don't sway me. But Adamo said up top, they worked for him. So you never know.

But like I also said, I think the bigger issue is that these photos do not show you as well as they might, on a basic photographic level.
 
My agent does hundreds of these types of character shots for all of his actors and then when he submits us for a job/audition, he chooses an applicable photo or set. He is pretty well known but a lot of the work is tv or commercial work. Not all of it though.
 
Mark Harris said:
Then again, personally I want one thing out of a headshot: Do you look like that? I am much much more interested in seeing reels, actual acting on camera.
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And what Mark said above is exactly what I hear from casting people over and over....does he/she look like their picture. You are not walking in there in a Uniform in 9 out of 10 cases.

But as mentioned by one other...it did work for him!

Doc Bernard said:
LOL, Michelle, my lack of interest stems from not being a "good" actor outside of what I know. I know commercial work pays really well, but I am not sure I am able to do it.
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The cool thing about commercials these days is they don't want people to act so much as they want them to be genuine...so don't fret about acting...just be natural and if you are right for it, cool...if not...no acting would have fixed it anyway!

Mark Harris said:
Like I said, I don't see anything wrong with using those, they just don't sway me. But Adamo said up top, they worked for him. So you never know.
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Just thought the fact Mark pointed out that it did work for someone else should be repeated...

Entity said:
My agent does hundreds of these types of character shots for all of his actors and then when he submits us for a job/audition, he chooses an applicable photo or set. He is pretty well known but a lot of the work is tv or commercial work. Not all of it though.
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Entity...

Thanks for bringing a point home..these types of shots work BEST for commercial stuff! Not saying they can't work for other things but it is what they would work best for.

Doc..a friend is sending me a list of agents that might take on new talent who don't have big resumes. I will keep you posted when it arrives!
 
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Michelle, thank you! I definitely want to weigh my options. I know I have a lot to offer, but I need to find a way to get it out there. Thank you for the words of encouragement! And thank you to all that gave their advice and opinions. It gave me a lot to think about, and reconsider.

And more importantly, thank you for taking it easy on a tyro actor, such as I am. I am so fragile, you know. My feeling get hurt *sniff* easily. Can you feel the love here? LOL!

PS: As to another thread I posted in, I am going to tell you this BG stuff is getting old. Walking in and out of frame and nothing else sucks. Give me a weapon, let me "fight" someone, something!
PSS: They use RED cameras on ER. Droooooollllll!
 
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God, I love acting, it's definitely getting in the blood. Got to work ER (been dreaming about doing ER before they finished) the past couple of days. Actually got congratulated by both 2nd AD's and about 20 of the background people, stood in for a principal, and got a lot camera time, all because of a "stunt" I pulled on set.
 
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