SHOW ME YOUR PAPERS
February 2, 2014
There's a debate on the internet.
The question was raised: Does a background actor include his or her experience as a background actor on their professional resume?
I'm going to weigh in here because most of the work I am getting at the moment-and I say at the moment because I will move up to the next level-is background work.
The way I see it: work is work.
Listing background work on a resume, to me, shows several things. It shows the most important thing: someone hired you.
Secondly, when someone sees you've worked as a background actor and there are numerous jobs listed they see that you have experience on set. Lastly, if you're working regularly as a background actor on the same project then the casting agent and the production team must like you and what you do as an actor.
You must have something to offer. You must be viable.
My current resume has two sections: one that lists the jobs in which I performed as a principle or leading actor and one that lists my work as a background actor. I would never sell myself as someone I am not. I am proud of my work and want to show that not only have I been hired several times by the same casting agent but also that I have worked on high profile shows (VEEP, House of Cards and currently TURN) I must be doing something right. Right?
When I first started acting again back in June of 2013, I was able to list all of my professional acting experience on two lines. Now, here in February of 2014 I have completely filled the front of a sheet of 8.5 X 11 paper and I'm steadily working my way down the other side.
I list everything I've done. From my work in short film, commercial and television work it's all there. I list the training videos I've performed in as well as my dinner theater experience.
I am a working actor and I want whoever it is that may be considering hiring me to see not only my experiences but my range as well.
There are a few websites that serve as virtual portfolios, if you will, for actors.
IMDb is one such website.
**Internet Movie Database (abbreviated IMDb) is an online database of information related to films, television programs and video games which lists actors, production crew, fictional characters, biographies, plot summaries and trivia. Actors and crew can post their own résumé and upload photos of themselves for a yearly fee.
There's a debate on the internet.
The question was raised: Does a background actor include his or her experience as a background actor on their professional resume?
I'm going to weigh in here because most of the work I am getting at the moment-and I say at the moment because I will move up to the next level-is background work.
The way I see it: work is work.
Listing background work on a resume, to me, shows several things. It shows the most important thing: someone hired you.
Secondly, when someone sees you've worked as a background actor and there are numerous jobs listed they see that you have experience on set. Lastly, if you're working regularly as a background actor on the same project then the casting agent and the production team must like you and what you do as an actor.
You must have something to offer. You must be viable.
My current resume has two sections: one that lists the jobs in which I performed as a principle or leading actor and one that lists my work as a background actor. I would never sell myself as someone I am not. I am proud of my work and want to show that not only have I been hired several times by the same casting agent but also that I have worked on high profile shows (VEEP, House of Cards and currently TURN) I must be doing something right. Right?
When I first started acting again back in June of 2013, I was able to list all of my professional acting experience on two lines. Now, here in February of 2014 I have completely filled the front of a sheet of 8.5 X 11 paper and I'm steadily working my way down the other side.
I list everything I've done. From my work in short film, commercial and television work it's all there. I list the training videos I've performed in as well as my dinner theater experience.
I am a working actor and I want whoever it is that may be considering hiring me to see not only my experiences but my range as well.
There are a few websites that serve as virtual portfolios, if you will, for actors.
IMDb is one such website.
**Internet Movie Database (abbreviated IMDb) is an online database of information related to films, television programs and video games which lists actors, production crew, fictional characters, biographies, plot summaries and trivia. Actors and crew can post their own résumé and upload photos of themselves for a yearly fee.
I have an IMDb page.
Here's the link:
J.e. Matzer ACTOR
Why do I have one?
For all the reasons I listed above of course. I'm proud of the work I've done and, to be perfectly honest, it's pretty freaking sweet to see your name listed on the site. Let's be perfectly honest here. That's what IMDb is all about. Let's be perfectly honest here. No casting agent has the time to go to an actor's IMDb page and go through their resume there. It's about ego and self-promotion.
For the record, some actors hate self-promotion. I've read some things on-line. Ironically these are the same actors who don't need self-promotion and make $20 million a picture. So, let's keep it in perspective. Put yourself back in my size 12's and tell me you wouldn't try to promote yourself Mr. Box Office Magic.
I don't think for one minute I will get work from someone visiting my page.
Not. For. One. Minute.
I think I have a page because it is confirmation that I am an actor and I do exist.
So the question being asked is: Do you list background work on IMDb?
Damn skippy!
I see actors commenting under posts on Facebook that you never, ever list your background work on IMDB. I never say never. Shit. Well. You get my point.
Here's what I say to that:
1. There are hundred of actors who do list their background work on IMDb.
(And please don't ask me if they jumped in a lake would I. That's just silly)
B. My entries are accepted, rejected when I submit them.
3. There are hundred of actors who do list their background work on IMDb.
Here's the link:
J.e. Matzer ACTOR
Why do I have one?
For all the reasons I listed above of course. I'm proud of the work I've done and, to be perfectly honest, it's pretty freaking sweet to see your name listed on the site. Let's be perfectly honest here. That's what IMDb is all about. Let's be perfectly honest here. No casting agent has the time to go to an actor's IMDb page and go through their resume there. It's about ego and self-promotion.
For the record, some actors hate self-promotion. I've read some things on-line. Ironically these are the same actors who don't need self-promotion and make $20 million a picture. So, let's keep it in perspective. Put yourself back in my size 12's and tell me you wouldn't try to promote yourself Mr. Box Office Magic.
I don't think for one minute I will get work from someone visiting my page.
Not. For. One. Minute.
I think I have a page because it is confirmation that I am an actor and I do exist.
So the question being asked is: Do you list background work on IMDb?
Damn skippy!
I see actors commenting under posts on Facebook that you never, ever list your background work on IMDB. I never say never. Shit. Well. You get my point.
Here's what I say to that:
1. There are hundred of actors who do list their background work on IMDb.
(And please don't ask me if they jumped in a lake would I. That's just silly)
B. My entries are accepted, rejected when I submit them.
3. There are hundred of actors who do list their background work on IMDb.
I've heard some casting agents don't like seeing background work on resumes. I can understand that if you were looking at an established actor's resume. What does someone who is just starting out do? Are you telling me that if I only worked as a background actor I should send only my head shot to a casting agent and hope for the best? That's bullshit. Sorry but it is.
Here I am...standing here before you, soul bared, shouting: Here! Look at what I've done.
I'm getting work. People are hiring me. I'm professional and reliable and have, at the very least, some talent. Work is work.
Until I receive specific instructions from a casting director, and believe me some are very specific about what they want and they don't want, I am going to keep doing what I'm doing.
Until I have an agent and the work is rolling in and I have my pick of projects and as long as I am doing everything myself, I will continue to list all of my jobs. When the number of speaking roles or featured roles I am able to list outnumbers the number of background roles, then, and only then will I change how I am presenting my resume.
Maybe its wrong but its honest.
Just keeping it reel.
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