Answering YOUR Questions: One-Sheets!

(When is it your turn? When you ask me a question, silly. Get on that!)

My new friend Kate O'Phalen says:

"Your one-sheet looks totally awesome. Have been meaning to make my own, but feel a bit overwhelmed with where to start. Tips on that would be awesome!"

The one-sheet to which she is referring is this one:

Create

So Kate, how do you get from desire to product? (Well, first of all, with pulling my hair out over my first one-sheet last year---but after that, it was cake!)

Big Things to Have in Place Before You Start:
 -Your Brand. Definitely Absolutely. Your ANGLE. Don't have that yet? Here's some help. 
-Your Message--maybe it's your first guest star or off-Broadway show? Maybe a first starring role? My news on this is that I'm basically sweeping film festivals--so I keep the news about films!
 -Your Creative Bent. Is your one-sheet gonna be a sort of ad, like mine? Is it going to look like a magazine cover? Maybe it looks like a news article, or like a scrapbook or collage! Whatever your approach is, GREAT--just go forth with it in mind!
 -Your preferred software. Most of you folks will be on Macs--in that case, Pages is the shizz. If you're a PC like me, you can either create giant graphic files or use MS Publisher.

So let's assume all that IS in place. You're rock-solid about your brand, you have a clear message, and you have some creative ideas about what you want to do. Really, brand should steer you entirely. So if you're doing a magazine cover, what mag is on-brand for you? Is it Essence, or GQ, or MAD magazine? Is it Tiger Beat or Simple Living? Or maybe O! Go with fonts, colors that feel like the magazine (which, of course, means they're on-brand for you). Introduce clever article blurbs that relate to you--your jobs, your personality, your castability or interesting talents.

My dear friend Suzanne Smart is a KILLER baker, so hers is modeled after a Bon Appetit magazine index page. Marissa Kelton's simply looking for a job--so hers looks like job applications! Shamia Casiano here looks like hers should be gracing a SAG or AFTRA newsletter cover! My silly friend Natalie Kim makes hers seem like an interview in a magazine. Find even MORE examples in Dallas Travers' FB photos.

Oh, and one more big thing--don't feel like you need SO much content to do these! :) They should be really easily digestible. Just little blurbs and pictures here and there, as long as they're super on-brand and sending an authentic message. You'll know you got it right when you swell with pride just looking at them!

Does that help, Kate? Readers, what do you think? Let me know in the comments, on FB or Twitter!

And psst...if you STILL feel lost? No worries! I make killer one-sheets! Just ask! :)

Ahoy, Mateys!

Jen 

Answering YOUR Questions: Website Content!

Whaaat?! I write tailor-made blogs for your burning questions?! Of course I do! Just ask, like my new friend Amanda Brewer Valley: 

What's your content advice for actor websites?

Brilliant! You've lucked out, Amanda--the necessities for your website are surprisingly low. You don't need bells and whistles and page-after-clickable-page of goodies--you just need a good, strong site with essential clickables.

What SHOULDN'T be on my site?
-Any start-up video or music
-Flash stuffs (if you can help it)
-Overload in general--you want your content to be digestable, right?

What NEEDS to be there?
-A prominent headshot, with maybe a link to online shots of your work. Mine reroutes to a Picasa Web album; you can also link to an open FB album or a Flickr, whatever!
-An embedded video of your work! Reel, scenes from an episodic, etc.! (You can also include links to other videos nearby)
  -A clickable PDF of your current resume (make sure it's updated regularly)!

And if you want a KILLER website, these, too:
-Access to your fan newsletter signup, Facebook 'Like' Box, blog and Twitter access. Make it easy for people to become fans!
 -Any reviews that really POP can go on this main page, too!

Let's see these in place for a 1-page site, like mine:

 If that's all too small, click the picture. :)

What about a full, multi-page site? My friend Ari Rossen's is delightful:

So, bottom line? Just make your stuff CLEAR & ACCESSIBLE. Make it somewhere that fans can go to get lots of juicy content (pictures! blogs! videos! ZOMG!), and make it somewhere your employers--CDs, directors, producers--can go to get the necessary info quickly. :)

Oh, and by the way--if you love my site, it is designed by the WONDEROUS Erin Cronican, owner of The Actors Enterprise. I adore her and can't recommend her enough!

How did you like this advice? Please give me your feedback in comments below, on Twitter or on the FB page! 

Ahoy, Mateys!

Jen

What to do when you find The Perfect Breakdown

Ah, yes, the elusive projects that we hear of once in a while--a film, pilot, episodic, show that has the PERFECT role for you!

NOW what? Let's pretend this is one of those pick-your-own-adventure books. 

Do you have representation? If yes, take Agent Alley. If no, take Free-Agent Freeway.

Agent Alley: Email or call your rep and let them know that you found this MARVELOUS role, and ask how open they'd be to submitting you for it. Donesies!

Free-Agent Freeway: How comfortable are you picking up the phone and calling a casting director? If so, take Dallas Travers' Phone Parkway. If not, Postal Promenade.

Phone Parkway: Give the casting office a very polite call, and make sure you have a script. Something to the tune of: "Hi, I'm Ladybird McGillicuddy, and I'm calling to request an audition for Dolly in 'Hello, Dolly.' How can we set that up?"

Hold the phone. What if they ask for my agent to submit me?

NOT an issue! Just reply, "Great. I'm currently representing myself, so what's the best way I can get my materials to you?" Donesies!
 
Postal Promenade: This may be the 2nd best way to submit (even better if you drop it off). It's best if you can send a 5x7 H/R, not an 8x10--but if it IS 8x10, make sure the envelope CLEARLY states the role and project it's a submission for! That way it gets sorted with the more immediate mail than the giant pile of general stuffs. 

Other byways to support you: Depending upon how much contact info you have for this CD, you may want to send an email their way--"Hey, just saw that you're working on HELLO DOLLY! I have a headshot coming in the mail for you, I'd love to be seen for Dolly!." If you don't have that, it can't hurt to try FB or Twitter. But please always ask permission and respect boundaries! If you have to send an FB message or you want to friend them, *definitely* make sure they're cool with it:

"Hey Lulu, I see you're on FB! I would love to ask you about upcoming projects here, but I'm not sure if you're comfortable with FB for that purpose. How open are you to discussing business here? If not, no problem--just let me know!" (And then, respect their request.)

And of course, if you know the director or producer or someone? For the love of Pete, reach out to them and let them know you'd love to come in--if they like you and think you're right, they'll request you for an audition!

Ahoy, Mateys!

Jen

Branding 101

If you feel completely overwhelmed and lost, wondering what your primary brand or type is, here ya go, friends: the quickest DIY technique (from who else? Dallas Travers, of course).

1. Make a list of your favorite performances. Actor- Project- Descriptive word.

So, here are a few of mine:
BILL MURRAY..."What About Bob"....Effervescent
STEVE MARTIN..."My Blue Heaven"...Charming
BOB MARTIN..."Drowsy Chaperone...Scene-Stealer
ELLEN DEGENERES..."Finding Nemo"...Endearing
LUCILLE BALL..."I Love Lucy"....Genius

Get my drift? Do as MANY as possible; as many as you need.  

Now, this is important--DON'T READ BELOW UNTIL YOU'VE DONE IT. Otherwise it could disrupt your creative flow. I'm serious.

Have you done it? Do you sweeeeear? Well then.

2. What's that? 'Jen, the same words keep popping up'?
Of course they do--that's the point of this exercise! The whole reason you relate to others' performances the way you do is BECAUSE they broadcast what you master the best. And then, you end up with a FLURRY of brand-descriptive words to give yourself a blurb.

On my list, 'effervescent' appeared only once, but 'charming' took a whopping 4 places. Those were the 2 that most resonated with me the most, so they became my 2 brand adjectives. 

3. These words betta WERQ!
Make these adjectives get you some mileage--it's time for your brand blurb! You have your 2 adjectives...now you need your noun. So what ARE you? Leading Lady? Indie Starlet? Action Hero? Strapping Leading Man? Goofy Best Friend, Manipulative Villain, Straight Man, Character Woman, Scene-Stealer, Award-Winner? Have fun with it, and maybe even craft one--mine is 'Character Dumpling.' When the noun SPEAKS to you, you've hit the right one.

 4. Get it together!
 Now, you've got your blurb! Adjective + Adjective + Noun! "Charming, Effervescent Character Dumpling." Use it wherever you want! Your Twitter Bio, on your resume as a logo, in your email signoff...have fun with it!
 
Have you made one yet? Please share yours with me in the comments, write it on the FB wall or Tweet it!

Ahoy, Mateys!
 Jen

Blank Notecards: TREAT YO SELF!

Yes, I *am* all about creating really self-branded, photo-dense, customized products for you to mail out to your intended recipients! Things that just glow with YOU. :) But--as with thank-yous--there are totally occasions where it's NOT about you. Many of them! (Dallas calls this 'Whuffie.') 

What kind of occasions? Award nominations, award wins, reading an article online or in print about your recipient, congratulating them on acquiring a new project, sharing a cool resource, seeing a project that they've done...and from there, the possibilities keep multiplying! Let your imagination take hold. :)

When you have the opportinity to send some WHUFFIE someone's way, you're not only making someone's day better, you're also building on the relationship. And to give Whuffie in the most honest, transparent way possible, it's best to deliver it on cards or paper that aren't all inked up with your lovely visage. 

So....get some blank notecards! On-brand, of course. My blank notecards are just a jumble of fun, bright-colored circles. I send THOSE when someone deserves some Whuffie!

Whuff away! And to learn more about this warm-fuzzy currency, here ya go: The Whuffie Bank!

Ahoy, Mateys!

Jen