After you’ve worked so hard to book that job and delivered a flawless performance on set, you’re gonna want that footage! If not for your demo reel, at least for the memories! Getting your footage isn’t always easy. No matter your situation, I hope I can help you here. PLANNING AHEAD The best way to […]
Leaving Your Auditions To Chance? Swipe My Checklist!
“Tristen’s got a checklist for everything!” My friends often tease me for my love of The Container Store, new iPhone apps, and checklists. They think I LOVE to be organized. But I’ll share my dirty little secret. I don’t love to be organized – I’m actually a bit of a mess. But I absolutely HATE […]
What Does "In Perpetuity" Mean For Actors?
So you’ve booked a gig off LA Casting. It’s an infomercial for a hair product that pays $500/day, $1000 buyout…In perpetuity. But what does that mean? WHAT DOES ‘IN PERPETUITY’ MEAN? “In perpetuity” means…forever. And ever. They can use your image in this infomercial FOREVER! Oh, I can hear what you’re saying “Um…so! I just want […]
4 Reminders For Anyone Earning 1099 Income As An Actor
DISCLAIMER: I am not a tax professional, just a helpful guide. Tax laws change from year to year. Nothing on this page is to be cited as a legal source. This is for helpful/informational purposes only and should not replace direct advice from a tax professional. If you’re earning 1099 or cash income, particularly as […]
Face Yourself Out
Do you buy the books that are faced out on the shelves? I do! Ever wonder why these particular books get to be faced out while all the others are sitting on the shelves “the right way” and relying on only the very committed shopper to find them? My guess is it has something to […]
Scene Study: I AM THE NIGHT
In this Scene Study Series, we’ll explore the practice of bringing a scripted character to life. If you’ve ever had an audition that felt “flat” or needed examples of what it means to “take a risk” in your auditions, we hope to help by showing examples of actors bring the page to life in exceptional […]
Pitching Yourself: Your Actor Logline
If I asked you right now, “What role should I cast you in next?” Would you have an answer? How about when someone asks “What kind of acting do you do?” Do you have an answer for that? Or do you fumble your words like I used to do? I would say something like: “I’m great […]
Networking For Actors – Part Two
Welcome back to Part Two of “How To Work Your Contacts”! With any luck, you’ve checked out Part One and got your assets all set up! So let’s dive in! So you’ve got yourself some shiny new contacts and want to make them work for you. How do you do it? How do you ask them […]
Networking 101 – Part One
In a business that is, arguably, more about who know you than actual talent, it can be hard to navigate the murky waters of your “network.” Many of us struggle with the etiquette of how to approach an industry contact. So, I’m here to offer my best advice from both sides of the “asking.” In […]