Resumes and Headshots are really important, yes even resumes; the casting directors and agents will want to see more than just your headshot in Perth. Having a professional headshot in the entertainment industry is even more important as well. Resumes can be polished but if you are pairing it up with headshots that look like selfies taken off your phone, you will not see much in the way of auditions in Perth. Your headshots will ultimately be the way you present yourself and your appearance to casting directors in Perth, so they can decide if they want you to come in for an audition. Yes, the casting directors judging prospects based on looks is a little unfair but you can not be Caucasion and expect to be casted for an Asian role. They are only looking to find someone to fit the character and role, it is not to be racist or make someone feel bad.
It is not uncommon for casting directors to be expected to sift through thousands of headshots everyday until they find the actor or actors that will best fit the parts that they are responsible for casting for in Perth. At that point the casting director will bring the actor in to see if they are good fit for the part. Which is why it is important that you learn how to make a great impression everytime you walk into the audition room and this may even open you up for other parts too.
Casting directors have developed skills in how to take a look at a headshot and determine if that person has the experience they are looking for and can fit the part they are casting for in Perth. They can also get a sense of whether you can even act, they can see this by just noting your expression. There is so much they can learn from a headshot including your training, brand and the type you fit into. This is why it is important to have solid headshots and footage showing your ability (demo reels) along with your resume, that lists your training and credits. Without having these things in Perth it can make getting booked for a role much harder and you are making things more difficult for yourself without even trying at that point.
So the question now is what should an actor's headshot look like in Perth? To put it simply, an actor’s headshot needs to show you clearly, have a good expression and look like you spent some money on it. Low budget, unprofessional headshots tend to perform poorly because casting directors (who look at thousands of these a day) can tell right away if you spent money on it and shot it with a dedicated headshot photographer. Their thinking goes, “If an actor has a low-budget headshot (one that doesn’t look expensive”, they probably won't take their career seriously and won’t be worth bringing in.”
In Perth, headshots are expected to be stapled to the back of your acting or modeling resume even. The resume should be the same size of your headshot, on 8 x 10 inch paper. You should staple your headshot to your resume on all four corners, with the staples positioned a quarter of an inch away from the photo’s edges. Staple them together with the headshot facing up, so that the staple’s pincers are visible only on the resume side.
Alternatively, you can opt to have your resume printed directly on the back of your headshot. Some casting directors discourage this, however, as they prefer to separate your headshot and resume for filing. Printing your acting resume directly on the back of your headshot can also make it more complicated to update your resume. It is important to keep your resume up to date in Perth. Having an up to date resume can ensure that you are noticed and will get more auditions in Perth because casting directors will be able to clearly understand what experience you already have and the skills that you have as well without having to ask too many questions before setting up the audition.
