Dear Struggling Actress

Kyle C wrote in with a question:

I have my headshots. I've taken and still am taking classes. But, I have no experience whatsoever. I've done a few plays in my high school, though.

1. Should I just not put anything on the acting experiences part of my resume or put in the ones in my high school?

2. I have a few friends that work in videography. Would it be fine if I put up a quality demo reel of things that we can film ourselves or would that be a bad idea?

I'm eighteen, by the way. I don't know if that makes any sort of difference.



Hi Kyle! Thanks for reading and submitting your question.

You're 18. That makes a HUGE difference, because, at 18, your tv age could be anywhere from 15-21. You might have a bigger range than that, even. And when agents open up your submission envelope and see that you're young, they're going to already expect minimal credits. Score!

And correct me if I'm wrong, but doing a few plays in high school required a lot of time and commitment on your part. You rehearsed every night for weeks, right? You had what, 4-6 performances? Where you acted? That definitely goes on your resume! You're young, you want to act, so you've already auditioned and booked a role in your high school, and performed the role. These are all good things.

When I was 18, the only experience I had was the community and high school plays I did, and various videos, or indie films, my friends and I made/produced. And those things were on my resume.

And under training, I had my choir class listed too. Anything performing related will go on there. If you took 3 years of a language and are fluent, put that under Special Skills. Played varsity sports? Marched in band? That all goes on there. And agents can get an idea of how well rounded you are.

And now for your second question. If you have a few friends that can create a quality reel, then YES, YES, YES, film yourself. Find plays at your school or local library and find a good scene, or, heck, record yourself doing a monologue because having a reel is only going to help you. Especially if you're currently taking on camera acting classes and know how to perform for camera.

Here's a great sample of an actor's resume from the good people at actorresumeservices.com. The only thing that's missing is the online link to your reel (once it's all finished).

Thanks for reading, Kyle, and let me know if you have any more questions!