More to acting than just headshots...

I was an actor for 20 years (well, just over—but who’s counting?), and it’s a wonderful job. Yes, it has its challenges at times, but then we didn’t want it easy, did we? Where’s the glory in that? I certainly never wanted to complete Street Fighter on easy mode...

So, what are the tools we need to make life as an actor just that little bit easier?

First up, I’m going to suggest a sense of self-care. Not always easy, this one—but in an industry that has a penchant for telling you “no” a lot (and sometimes even “absolutely not”), it can be vital to look after your own ego and wellbeing as much as you can. This will be different for everyone, of course, but finding whatever it is that makes you happy outside the acting industry—and keeping that ticking along—will likely help keep your soul just that little bit fuller.

Secondly, I’d say a solid showreel is a must these days. Back in the dark ages, you had to wait until you’d been in several episodes of The Bill before you could cobble together a showreel to show off your chops. But now, you can just reach out to your favourite showreel folk and you’ll find yourself with a script, a scene partner, and some high-quality footage before you can say, “Damn, I wish I was in Doctor Who and had some sweet footage from that.” Check out Milestones Showreels for affordable, actor-friendly rates. Drop Jacob at Milestones an email and tell him the Wulf sent you—you’ll even get a little discount.

Training. Keeping the muscle working. When you’re not on a show, you don’t want to get rusty. Acting is like any other skill—the more you practice, the better you get. We love Lonesome Workshops and all they do. Led by the wonderful Niall Phillips, you can drop into a Lonesome Workshop and flex the acting muscle to your heart’s content. They also have a constant stream of special guests—from agents to major casting directors. Check ’em out and keep the juices flowing.

Another thing you can look into is working with a creative career coach. When I was working on transitioning from acting to photography I worked with Andrew Macklin who helped steer me through the process of a little creative side step with ease. He works with all kinds of creative folk and his guidance for me was invaluable.

And finally, the last thing to fly out of the actor’s toolbox is a healthy portion of hope. Keep that flame burning, and the gods of acting will look out for you. They’re watching—from the wings. Ready.

BW.