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Hi Subscriber - Today's email is one you'll want to keep. I get a lot of mail about how to list a role on one's resume - and truth to tell, I'm always a little in the dark about what decision to make in this area - since I rarely have seen the project in question and am not an expert on contract issues. So, it's my genuine pleasure to pass along this very useful set of definitions of some of the basic terms from my good friend, Bonnie Gillespie. Bonnie is one of the finest writers about actors issues in the business. She is a casting director and writer by trade - and her company Cricket-Feet runs a very professional showcase, here in L.A. Before I get to that, however, I have a request: If you've gotten my course, Nail It! Delivering the Hypnotic Audition and it's been helpful to you ... I can always use actor's REAL experiences using the tactics and techniques - as 'testimonials' on the site. So, if you have a story to tell about your use of the methods in Nail It! - please take a moment to write me an email ... and be sure to include your headshot to run along with your words. If you'd like to see what other actors have written please check the site ... http://www.hypnoticaudition.com Of course the same thing goes for Headshot Secrets Revealed - but in that case, it would be great if you could send along a 'before' and 'after' headshot. Again, check the site for examples: http://www.headshotsecrets.com ====================================== Okay, now to a delineation of standard terms used to describe roles on your resume; This is Bonnie Gillespie's response to a recent question on her Yahoo group, Hollywood Happy Hour, which related to how you should list a role on your resume. Actors are frequently confused by terms like 'co-star,' 'guest-star,' 'day player,' 'recurring,' etc. - and want to know just how to list their roles appropriately. Here's Bonnie's very helpful run-down ... ====================================== Billing "Definitions" From Bonnie Gillespie And the rule for billing is: When in doubt, check your contract. The appropriate term (especially for television) should be used there. Film: check the original breakdown! Roles are listed as exactly the size we'd expect to see you use in reporting your billing. But because billing can be negotiated, it's not usually as simple as "large role = guest star" or "small role = co-star," since a good agent can negotiate a two-line co-star into guest star billing. As for the definition of the terms, here goes: Cameo - not for non-stars; very frequently misused to make people in very tiny roles feel better by being called "cameo." But "cameo" is usually a big star doing a stunt-cast role (like when George Clooney or Brad Pitt showed up on an episode of "Friends"). Co-star -- TV term only (never for film); check your contract; typically a one-day gig but sometimes a week's work, since, as I mentioned above, billing is negotiated; basically, the primary storyline is not yours and you could be cut out of the episode without it changing anything "core" to the story. Contract Role is soap term only; the "series regulars" in soaps Day Player -- originally an AFTRA term only, but often used to describe any non-contract-specified role that took the actor one day to shoot, small role, not central, usually "co-star" for TV or "small supporting" for film but used to get more specific about the size of the role Featured -- one scene, one or two lines, film (not TV), not big enough to be a supporting role but bigger than extra work Guest Lead - non-standard, "guest star" is more typical, and it's a TV term, based on negotiation of the contract ultimately, but also usually the largest non-series- regular cast role of that week's episode Host - non-acting, mic-holding host of the show. Lead -- used interchangeably with "Principal" or "Star" for film roles in which it is your character's story and without you the film would not exist One Day Guest Star -- way more specific than anyone cares about, but it's basically a way of saying you only had a co-star "sized" role in a TV show, but your agent rocks a nd negotiated you some guest star billing (yay, you!) but I would never use this because it makes the work you did seem insignificant compared to the work your agent did (and, in YOUR resum?, it needs to be about YOUR skills, not your agent's, ultimately) Possible Recurring - I'd stay away from this one too, as it says, "If they like me, they'll bring me back," and that's a huge DUH, I'd say, because OF COURSE if they like you they'll bring you back. Only if you're contracted as recurring and then put on hold after shooting that first episode would I use this, and even so, I'd get rid of it for what the situation turned out to be as soon as possible, as that's what matters in the end Principal - film role that's anywhere from the star of the thing on down to supporting; basically a speaking role in a film, without getting specific about your character's "central to the story" status; also used in AFTRA contracts (or at least it used to be; not sure, now) for non-contract players who have five lines or more Recurring - contracted to come back for multiple episodes on TV in the same character Recurring Guest Star -- ditto the above, but this one shows the billing you got (and guest star is bigger/better than co-star) Reporter - non-acting, mic-holding non-host of the show, typically Series Regular -- you're under exclusive contract with this show to appear (or be paid regardless of appearing) every week, you tested at network, you survived (I also see people put this on their resum?s when they have only shot the pilot, and that's fine, because we do realize that unless the pilot BECOMES a series, you won't really become a series regular ... but we get the point) Special Guest Star - usually reserved for celebs (like the cameo billing) and sometimes given to a series regular actor who needs to be more important or stand out somehow (perhaps as a trade-off for taking less money; perhaps because they're also producers on the series) from the rest of the series regular cast, also sometimes used as a way of making a guest star credit more important (so basically, it's anything from Heather Locklear's credit in the opening of "Melrose Place" to Tom Selleck's recurring appearances on "Friends") Supporting - film, not the star/lead, not featured; pretty much 80% of the cast on any given film is a member of the supporting cast Under 5 - AFTRA term only, for an actor who spoke fewer than five lines in the episode Understudy - stage only, an actor whose appearance will only take place if the actor for whom the actor is understudying cannot perform (some theatres guarantee a certain number of performances for understudies, though) Hope this helps! I'm sure others will weigh in too, but that's the "off the top of my head"/experience and I hope it clears up some of the confusion. :) ====================================== Be sure to check out Bonnie's group - it's an excellent resource when you have questions - and be sure to catch Bonnie's regular column, The Actors Voice, on ActorsAccess Here are the two addresses: The Actors Voice ... http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/ Hollywood Happy Hour ... http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hollywood-Happy-Hour ====================================== I hope today's missive has been helpful to you and that Bonnie's definitions have cleared up a few questions you may have had. Don't forget to send in your stories about Nail It! and Headshot Secrets Revealed - and please understand that if you send me a 'thanks' for today's newsletter - I may not get back to you right away ... ... because ... I'm still in the midst of producing the first session for my new series of programs called "An Actor Works." Hopefully the first session of these video seminars will be coming out in mid-May. Don't worry I'll keep you 'in the loop.' Okay, I think I've covered everything, so ... Have a splendid week and, as always ... Much Success, Bob P.S. Don't miss my column today on Now Casting's site. Here's the linkage: http://snipurl.com/26gv6 P.P.S. If you haven't checked out my newest effort, The Show Biz Blog - I hope you'll make a note to have a look sometime this week - I'd love to have your feedback. (It's nothing really special, just a good way to get all my stuff in one central location ... eventually.) Here's the address: http://www.theshowbizblog.com You Must Act! The #1 Virtual Acting CAREER Course http://www.youmustact.com Headshot Secrets Revealed Marketing Your Acting Career In Pictures http://www.headshotsecrets.com Nail It! Delivering The Hypnotic Audition Taking Your Audition Skills to The Next Level http://www.hypnoticaudition.com Action! The Professional Actor's Workbook & Planner Get your business together and follow through. http://www.showbizhowto.com/action.html Bob Fraser Productions 3727 W. Magnolia Blvd. #180 Burbank, CA 91505, USA To unsubscribe or change subscriber options visit: http://www.aweber.com/z/r/?TIwc7CzMtMzsrBwMbGzstEa0zMzMDJysrA== |
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| << April26, 2008 - Subscriber Define Your Unique Character |
May06, 2008 - Subscriber ... Contest, bread, plus fire and brimstone! >> |
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