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Resources

Helpful Websites, Online Services & Other Resources for Actors

updated

There are many services, resources and information available for actors. Being able to sort through and evaluate what is legitmate, what is professional and what is worth your time, attention and maybe even dollars is critical. Remember, it's buyer beware in any free marketplace. You must perform "due diligence" before pushing any "purchase" button on any Web site for any service. That's part of your job in the business of acting.

Here are some Websites and service providers we love, not just because of the people connected to them, but, more importantly, because of the value they provide in service to your career journey.

Be sure to check this site frequently for relevant updates, news and information about topics covered in this book and revisions to these listings. If you discover new resources that we haven't included that you would like to share with other actors, please let us know.

	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: The official information and resource Web site for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization behind the Academy Awards and other programs and services for actors, including an impressive and respected research library open to the public on a limited schedule.
	Acting Answers: Questions about the business of acting abound and actors of all levels can find easy answers on a terrfic website operated and written by prolific character actor David H. Lawrence XVII.
	Brian Reise Acting Studios, in Hollywood, offers a variety of good classes for actors at all levels. For information, call (323) 874-5593.
	Former agent and casting director Craig Wallace offers his unique approach to the audition process through his Wallace Audition Technique classes. For information, visit WallaceAuditionTechnique.com or call (323) 960-7852.
	Actors Access: Breakdown Services has leveled the playing field for actors with Actors Access. You can learn about a wide variety of projects whose casting directors want submissions directly from actors. Not having agency or management representation has never been less of an issue for the empowered actor who learns how to utilize tools like this to benefit their careers.
	Actors Equity Association: The official Website for the union of American theatrical actors and stage managers.
	ACTRA: The official website for the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists. The Alliance's Apprentice Membership Program is a valuable way into the organization for new-to-the-business, Canadian-based artists.
	AGMA: The website for the American Guild of Musical Artists.
	AGVA: The official website for the American Guild of Variety Artists.
	Backstage: Backstage has been the go-to source for news, information and casting announcements for actors for over 50 years.
	Bios: Chapter 12 in The New Business of Acting: The Next Edition gives you all the information you need to get started on creating your professional actor’s biography. Whether for use on your own website or for publication in the program for a theatre production you appear in, a great work-in-progress bio is an important tool to have, to use and to help market your brand. Suggestions for the format of your bio are contained in the same chapter “An Actor’s Resume and Bio: Create Critical Work-in-Progress Tools that Define Your Unique Brand and Your Potential. Click on these head shot thumbnails of Henry Polic II, Pamela Roylance and Betsy Mitchell, three Lemack & Company clients, to view their bios as samples and templates for you to follow in the creation of your own work-in-progress bio.


	Ken Weingart Photography: Every head shot photographer brings his or her own brand to every shoot. Ken’s brand is on display in his head shot samples at EdgyHeadShots.com. If you contact him, tell him that you found him on the Business of Acting website for a special discount.
	Breakdown Services, Ltd: The website for Breakdown Services, Ltd., the subscription casting information service for agents and managers. Actors can get limited free access to some casting opportunities approved for release by a project's casting director through the company's ActorsAccess.com (see above).
	California Department of Industral Relations: The official website for the State of California's Department of Industrial Relations. Public records available for viewing detail the results of actor vs. talent rep or talent rep vs. actor cases that have come before the Labor Commission.
	Campbell Darkroom Hillary Campbell has captured some terrific images of some of my clients that have resulted in that special “pop” that gets them noticed. Check out her Website for additional details and if you contact her, be sure to mention that you found her on The Business of Acting Website.
	Canadian Actors Equity Association: The official website for professional artists in Canada.
	Casting Networks: Casting Networks operates L.A. Casting (see below), New York Casting and San Francisco Casting, three terrific resources for the smart, empowered actor to utilize for self-submissions on a wide variety of projects.
	Casting Frontier: Casting Frontier is one of the industry go-to resources for casting directors looking for talent submissions from agents and managers and for self-submissions directly from actors.
	Drama Book Shop: The website for this New York City book store specializing in books and resource materials on all aspects of the performing arts is a terrific resource, whether you live in New York or visit them online. They can also be reached by telephone at (212) 730-8739 or (800) 322-0595.
	Equity/United Kingdom: The website for professional performers and other creative artists in the UK.
	Facebook: Join in on the conversation about The New Business of Acting on our Facebook page.
	Head Shots: Chapter 6 in The New Business of Acting is all about the art of the head shot: how to seek out the best photo artist to take your pictures, what to do with them after you have them and how to root the creation and launch of your brand in the images chosen to establish you and your career. “The Art of the Head Shot” is more than just about having your pictures taken. It’s about knowing how to get the most out the experience in ways that serve your wallet and your career needs. What makes a really great head shot? Chapter 6 offers up lots of information on that. But a picture is, indeed, worth a thousand words, as the old saying goes, so let me share with you examples of three primary head shots we are currently using for Eric Rollins, Mike Korich and Amy K. Harmon. I love these shots.


	The Hollywood Reporter: The website for the trade paper The Hollywood Reporter.
	Internet Broadway Database (IBDB.com): If it’s been on Broadway, off-Broadway or on tour, odds are it is listed on this go-to treasure trove of information website. Listings include detailed casting and production information compiled by the research department at The Broadway League.
	Internet Movie Database (IMDb): What IBDB.com is to stage, IMDb.com is to film and television. IMDb is a free service with limited, but still vast information available on movies, series, episodics and new media productions. To access contact information on the actors, projects and companies listed, you will need a paid subscription to IMDb’s partner platform IMDbPro.com.
	"Inside the Business of Acting": Our popular YouTube series, “Inside the Business of Acting,” hosted by Brad Lemack, features interviews with a wide array of industry pros, from award winning actors to award winning, behind-the-scenes creatives talking about their career journeys in the business of acting and the lessons learned along the way.
	IRS: Like it or not, when we earn money we're expected to pay taxes on it -- and that's were fiscal fitness in the business of acting is crucial. Check out the Self-Employed Individuals Tax Center on the Internal Revenue Service website for information on the forms you will need and the requirements that must be met to claim "Independent Contractor," "Employee" or "Schedule C" status.
	Robert Kazandjian Photography: Robert's official website where you will find examples of his work and information about his head shot sessions. Los Angeles-based, he can also be reached by telephone at (818) 249-4495.
	L.A. Casting: L.A. Casting is the local Los Angeles arm of Casting Networks. It is one of the primary industry go-to sources for casting director, talent reps and actors seeking self-submit opportunitites.
	Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance/Australia: The website for the people who "inform and entertain Australia."
	Bettina Niederman Photography: Bettina is a cutting-edge head shot and editorial photographer, and a director, who applies her keen eye on a film set to every still image she takes.
	Pilates Training: Mark A. Saucedo is a Los Angeles-based certified Pilates trainer who offers private sessions at a Pasadena, California studio facility. For information, call (323) 574-3600 or visit his Website.
	RerunIt.com: If "classic" television shows like "I Love Lucy," "The Brady Bunch," "The Jeffersons," "Star Trek," "Lost in Space," "Green Acres" and hundreds of others interests you, you won't want to miss an opportunity to view interviews clips with many of the stars of these series talking about their roles, the impact of their work on American pop culture and how their success impacted their lives. RerunIt.com, created and hosted by Brad Lemack, offers a terrific and entertaining perspective on the business of acting from a different angle.
	Resumes: Chapter 12 in "The New Business of Acting" gives you the low down on how to create a killer resume to slap onto the back of your hard copy photos (when you need them), but more regularly, how to put together a great resume that serves both your career and your brand when viewed on the self-submission website services through profiles that you create for yourself. The book gives you the hard facts about truth in resumes. Read it and, I urge you, please heed it, in service to the truth of how you are perceived and how your potential shines thorough the document you create. After reading “An Actor’s Resume and Bio: Create Critical Work-in-Progress Tools that Define Your Unique Brand and Your Potential,” you will be ready to understand the hows and whys of resume creation for success in the new business of acting. I have created a template to help guide you with the creation or recreation of your professional resume. If you are conflicted about whether to put something in or leave it out, send me an e-mail.
	SAG-AFTRA: Since March 2012, the former Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) have been merged to form one actor’s union for film, television and digital work, SAG-AFTRA. The union’s website is packed with information for members, as well as for non-member actors who are exploring their union options.
	SAG-AFTRA Federal Credit Union: The SAG-AFTRA Federal Credit Union is a full-service financial institution serving the banking, loan, credit and investment needs of SAG-AFTRA members, as well as the members of other select industry-connected companies, groups and organizations.
	Samuel French Film & Theatre Bookshop Samuel French has long been a go-to trusted source for actors seeking books, plays, monologues, audition and showcase materials and other resources. They have a brick-and-mortar store in Los Angeles that is easy to spend hours in. Everything they have to offer is also available through their website.
	The Television Academy: The official information and resource website for the Television Academy, the organization behind the Emmy Awards and other industry programs and services for actors.
	Variety: This once daily and weekly trade publication has seen its format and delivery platforms change over the years, but, along with its competitor The Hollywood Reporter, it remains an industry standard for news about the new business of acting at every level.
	Women in Film: The official information and resource Website for Women in Film.

	These listings are provided for your information only. Their inclusion in this listing does not imply nor is it intended as an endorsement of or responsibility for the quality of the goods or services offered by the organizations, individuals or companies listed. The contact information was verified as accurate as of the book's publication date.