By Ellen M. Newth

Every day, talent agents, casting directors, producers and managers review hundreds of resumes from young entertainers hoping to be the next Tom Hanks or Julia Roberts. Since performers are generally unable to meet with industry professionals until an interview is requested, your resume must speak volumes to make you stand apart from the competition! It must express everything you would say if you could be there in person. It should be CLEAR, CONCISE and INFORMATIVE, while presenting your experience, training and abilities in a way that makes you shine!

Always place your name in bold lettering in the CENTER at the TOP of the page. If you are a member of any unions (SAG - AFTRA - AEA) they should be listed directly underneath. Your contact numbers are extremely important and should be easy to find. Place them near the top on the left hand side of the page. Include EVERY PHONE NUMBER where you can be reached. If an agent can’t get in touch with you at home, he will call you at work, at your Mom’s, or on your cell!

List HEIGHT, WEIGHT, HAIR COLOR, EYE COLOR and AGE RANGE in your heading. Pleeeeease be HONEST about your height and weight. If you are 5’1”, don’t state that you are 5’9” (even in high heels!). I guarantee that Mr. Casting Director will not be amused, if he calls you in to read for a role that requires height! Also, choose a REALISTIC age range. An “appropriate” age range spans about 5-7 years (for example, 22-28). Though you truly believe you can play both “Tootie” in “Meet Me In St. Louis” and “Grandma” in “The American Dream” convincingly, do NOT list 8-80 as your age range…and never, never, never put your real age or date of birth on your resume! It will instantly classify you as “too old” or “too young” to play a specific role. (The only exception to this rule is in the case of young children, where agents really need to know exactly how old they are in order to represent them properly). While you must always include a “job objective” on a business resume, it should be omitted from a performer’s resume. It’s simply not necessary.

Generally, your resume categories will consist of: “Theatre” (“Broadway”. “Off-Broadway”, “Los Angeles” and “Regional”), “Television“, “Film”, “Commercials”, “Training” and “Special Skills”. Don’t list a category such as “Other” on your resume for any reason! Make each heading stand out in bold lettering.

Always LIST YOUR MOST IMPRESSIVE CREDITS FIRST. If you played “Bet” in “Oliver!” on Broadway 5 years ago, but just finished performing the role of “Whoever” at the “Unknown Theatre” in Piddle-Paddle, Nebraska…for goodness sake, put the Broadway show FIRST (just don‘t state that it back in 2003!)

But what do you do if you’ve studied hard and you’re “ready” to audition, yet have little or no experience? This is a bit tricky. To get credits for your resume, you have to get roles. To get roles, you need a resume with credits! It’s a “Catch 22”. Obviously, you should focus on your training and skills…highlight specific classes and abilities. But “Training” is NOT “Experience” and, like it or not, you will have to think creatively…

If you have a little background, DRESS IT UP so it LOOKS PROFESSIONAL. Perhaps you played a “secretary” in “How To Succeed In Business” at Riverdale High School. Give the secretary a name (“Miss Robinson”) and list the venue as “Riverdale Theatre”. If you were in a musical revue with the “Main Street Community Players” ALTER THE NAME SLIGHTLY, making it “Main Street Players”. The words “Community” and “Little Theatre” are death on a resume because - right or wrong - they denote amateurish productions.

In the case of those having NO experience whatsoever…use the actor’s greatest gift…imagination! Fib, but fib cleverly. Did your Senior class put on a comedy at graduation? If you HAD been in it, who would you have played? Was your best friend in a drama back home in Boston, Massachusetts? Did you go over lines with him or her? Could you play the same role he or she played? Do you have a favorite movie that is also in play form? Could you have been a Nun, a German Office or one of the Von Trapp children in “Sound of Music”? Ask your friends how they would cast you…do they see you in the role of a pesky kid brother, a studious librarian, an idealistic young school teacher?

Don’t go nuts here and list 198 roles! Pick a half dozen or so BELIEVEABLE ones (in your age range!) that you could actually be cast in. It’s acceptable to put down one or two leads, but if you’re a beginner, most of your “fabricated” credits should be “small parts”. Believable Parts. For example, Mortimer‘s fiancée “Elaine” or young “Officer O‘Hara” in “Arsenic and Old Lace” would be a ideal choices for young actors. If you include “fabricated” credits on your resume…BE SURE YOU KNOW THE MATERIAL INSIDE OUT! I can’t emphasize strongly enough how important this is. Read each play thoroughly several times as if you were actually playing the part in performance. Agents and casting directors may ask you questions about your roles, so it is YOUR JOB to be well prepared. Until you have “legitimate” parts to list as “experience”…your “pretend” roles must be 100% “real” to you. You have to believe you really did them or your audience - Mr. Agent - won't believe you did them either!

List your credits in neat columns, starting with the TITLE OF THE SHOW, then YOUR ROLE and finally, THE VENUE. (For example: The Pirates of Penzance ……. Frederic ……. Minskoff Theatre, New York). If you have strong credits in several areas, you may require two separate resumes: one that emphasizes Theatre and another that focuses on Television and Film.

When it comes to including details about commercials you‘ve done…don’t. Remember this rhyme: It’s always best to write “List on request”. You never want to mention specific products or companies up front, due to “conflict of interest”. In other words, suppose you were in an add for a hamburger chain and were on-camera for only half a second. It’s possible you might not be considered for a pizza commercial. Why? Because the pizza client may feel that burgers and pizza (both fast food items) are “too similar” and even though you were hardly seen on film, the public could be confused.

In the “Training” section, you may list your college education (especially if you went to Julliard or Yale School of Drama!) but DO NOT include the year you graduated. List all types of relevant training you’ve received: voice, dance, mime, improvisation, stage combat, etc. and who your studied with. While "newbies" can "fudge" their acting experience, everyone should be HONEST when it comes to “Special Skills. I have seen performers' resumes where half the page was dedicated to Special Skills! Don’t include an ability unless you can actually DO IT! If you took one surfing lesson three years ago…don’t put down “surfing”! If you play an instrument and own one...put in down! (If they want you to play an Autoharp, you'd better bring one to the audition!) Unique talents, such as being a professional clown (costume and all), acrobatics or ventriloquism, should definitely be included!

Many performers like to have their resume printed directly on the back of their photo. It’s quick and easy, but making changes can be a problem. Nothing looks worse than a new credit “scratched in” with a ball point pen. If you choose to attach the resume to the back of your picture, use high quality white paper or pastel colors. No Goldenrod. No Fluorescent Green. No Hot Pink. Remember, your resume is your calling card. Your own unique advertisement. IT IS YOUR VOICE. A weak resume may result in your being passed by…but a strong one can help you get that next audition!

Ellen M. Newth is a professional actress who created a highly successful resume service specifically designed for actors and actresses in New York City. Her clients have included Broadway, Film and TV stars as well as novice performers.