5 Tips For A Beginner Acting Resume Template

As an aspiring actor, creating a strong resume is essential to showcase your skills, experience, and training to casting directors, agents, and other industry professionals. However, crafting a resume from scratch can be daunting, especially for beginners. In this article, we will provide you with 5 tips to help you create an effective acting resume template.

Tip 1: Keep it Simple and Concise

Your acting resume should be easy to read and understand. Avoid cluttering your resume with unnecessary information or using fonts that are too ornate. Stick to a clean and simple format, with clear headings and bullet points. Remember, the goal is to showcase your relevant experience and skills, not to win a design award.

• Use a standard font, such as Arial or Times New Roman, in size 10 or 11 points.
• Use bold headings to separate sections, such as "Acting Experience" and "Training."
• Keep your resume to one or two pages, depending on your level of experience.

What to Include in Your Acting Resume

• Contact information, including your name, phone number, and email address
• Acting experience, including plays, films, television shows, and commercials
• Training, including workshops, classes, and degree programs
• Special skills, such as languages, accents, and physical abilities
• Relevant tools and software, such as Adobe Creative Suite or Final Cut Pro

Tip 2: Tailor Your Resume to the Job

While it's tempting to create a generic resume and send it out to every casting call, this approach can actually hurt your chances of landing an audition. Instead, tailor your resume to each specific job, highlighting the skills and experience that match the casting director's requirements.

• Read the casting call carefully and make a list of the required skills and experience.
• Emphasize your relevant experience and skills in your resume, using language from the casting call.
• Use specific examples to demonstrate your abilities, such as "played a lead role in a short film" or "completed a course in improv comedy."

Tip 3: Use Action Verbs and Specific Language

Using action verbs and specific language can help your resume stand out and show casting directors that you have the skills and experience they're looking for.

• Use action verbs, such as "performed," "played," "created," and "developed."
• Be specific about your experience and skills, using language from the casting call or industry-specific terminology.
• Avoid generic phrases, such as "great communication skills" or "team player."

Examples of specific language:

• "Played a lead role in a short film, working with a director and cinematographer to develop a character."
• "Completed a course in screenwriting, learning to write for film and television."
• "Developed a character for a play, using research and improvisation to create a nuanced performance."

Common Acting Resume Mistakes

• Using a generic resume for every casting call
• Failing to proofread for spelling and grammar errors
• Including irrelevant experience or skills
• Using a font that's too ornate or hard to read

Tip 4: Include Relevant Sections and Headings

While the content of your resume is important, the sections and headings you use can also help casting directors quickly scan your resume and find the information they need.

• Use standard sections, such as "Acting Experience," "Training," and "Special Skills."
• Create additional sections, such as "Film Experience" or "Theater Experience," if you have a lot of relevant experience.
• Use headings to break up large sections, such as "Film" and "Television" under "Acting Experience."

Examples of relevant sections and headings:

• "Acting Experience"
  • Film
  • Television
  • Theater
• "Training"
  • Workshops
  • Classes
  • Degree Programs
• "Special Skills"
  • Languages
  • Accents
  • Physical Abilities

Tip 5: Get Feedback and Revise

Finally, don't be afraid to ask for feedback on your resume from industry professionals, such as acting coaches or casting directors.

• Ask for feedback on the content, format, and overall impression of your resume.
• Revise your resume based on the feedback you receive, making sure to proofread carefully for spelling and grammar errors.
• Keep your resume up to date, adding new experience and skills as you gain them.

By following these 5 tips, you can create an effective acting resume template that showcases your skills, experience, and training to casting directors and other industry professionals.

Acting Resume Template Gallery

By following these tips and creating a strong acting resume template, you can increase your chances of landing auditions and bookings in the competitive world of acting.