Hey, I was wondering if I could get some opinions on Explore Talent.com. I had signed up with them a while ago and of course I get emails day after day, but for some reason I just so happen to read one about a casting for "Teen Wolf" It said call a number for more details. So I call the number and the lady tells me there are many different acting jobs open right now and that she wants me to go to some kind of auditions in my state to get me some experience. Then of course she dropped the money bomb on me. I knew there would be some sort of fee seeing how I didn't have the "official" membership, and I only had the free one. So its almost $200 for a year, which really isn't that bad. But I have done some research on them and I've seen people who absolutely love them and have had an awesome experience using them and I have seen people say don't do it, its a scam. So I am a bit confused on what to do and I wanted to see what you guys thought. I think it seems legit, but then again it kind of seems too easy to me? Thanks for your response!
2013-09-06T11:30:07Z
By the way I have no experience. So if someone can point me in the direction to go. What are the first steps into becoming an actress?
2013-09-06T11:30:19Z
By the way I have no experience. So if someone can point me in the direction to go. What are the first steps into becoming an actress?
Katrina E.2013-09-06T12:12:19Z
Favorite Answer
Look - actors are not "discovered". There are not a bunch of open auditions for professional work that you can just show up at. Casting directors for major TV shows are not listing opening on websites for the general public to come to. For most professional work you have to be invited to audition, usually through a talent agent.
Here's how casting works. A casting director (CD) is hired to help cast a show. If they know some actors they think would be good for a role, they'll contact those actors (or their agents) and invite the m to audition. They also write a "breakdown" - a description of the project and the roles to be cast. Then they release these breakdowns through an online communication network like Breakdown Services (http://www.breakdownservices.com/ ). The CD controls who sees these breakdowns. They're not looking for people who walk off the street thinking they can act. CDs want people who know what they're doing. So often they release the breakdowns to licensed talent agents and mangers only (who play big bucks to subscribe). The agents review the breakdowns and then submit their clients to the appropriate jobs. (So they send the client's acting resume, head shot and acting reel to the CD.) If the CD is interested, they'll contact the agent about setting up an audition for the actor.
So these breakdowns are not listed on sites like explore talent. If a CD wanted to cast a wider net for a project, they may list it on a website like actorsaccess.com But even with those - it's not audition. You still have to submit your professional head shot, resume and acting reel (if you have one) and hope to get invited to audition.
Now talent agents are paid on commission - they get a percentage of what their clients make. So they're not interested in trying to book their clients into low-to-no-pay jobs. So, those are the jobs that get listed on websites. Why pay $200 a year for a listing that is not used by casting directors when you can join actorsaccess.com for free (you only pay to electronically submit)?
The first steps in getting to be an actor is training - get some classes. Start to network and get to know people in the industry. Networking is how actors find out about opportunities. Research the industry where you are and lean the business end of acting. An acting career is not a lottery - you'll have a better chance of succeeding if you approach it like a business. Read industry trades and websites like backstage.com. Read book books about the business end of acting and how to manager a professional acting career. Make sure you understand how things work so you can make good business decisions about your career.
It's not an agency - more of a sort of collection of information. But nothing you couldn't find out on your own for free. Any auditions they mention are going to be amateur, scams, or out of date.
My advice is to forget it. If you've had years of training and experience - ask for recommendations at your acting school or look on the SAG/AFTRA list for real agents. If you haven't - that's what you need.