What is a good acting website

A good acting website, should be a very simple layout, and very clean.  The pages that you really need are the following:

Home page – Introduction of who you are and what you do.

Bio – Which is the one page of you!  Who you are, what are your dreams, and where have you come from, and why are you a great actor.

Resume – Just like the one on the back of your head shot, same format, and have the ability to print it right from your website

Photos – do not over do a photo gallery, put up your main shots that you have on your 8 x 10′s and maybe 10 more, that show you much different than the others.  You want variety… do not put up 100 of them either, as its just too much.

Contact – a way for people to reach you… and for god sake do not put your address or phone number, have them send you an email.

Mailing list – so you can inform everyone that signs up what your next appearance will be.

Demo reel – Where you can show at least one 3-5 minute reel of what you have done.  And maybe eve have two or three, but no more than that.  You can also and should also put up your voice reel if you have one.

That really about covers it.  You do not want that site in 100% flash, otherwise no search engine will list you and it will be harder to find you.  And you need to register your name as you .com or .net address.  Do not use this site for anything other than your acting career… if you want more than this build another site.

Hope this helps!  Again the ONE PLACE I have found that does all of this right for $19.95 per month is here:  MYACTINGSITE

Here is a good example of a great website

Here is a good example of a poor website

- Frank

 

Actors Reel

The great demo reel, how long should it be, what should it show…  I have at least a dozen close friends that are casting directors, and they all say the same thing:

Most actors blow their reel by making it #1 too long, #2 showing off too much of others (like that scene you did with a major celebrity) They do not care, they want to see YOU!!!  not them…

A good real is 3 minutes long, anything less is too little, and anything more is boring…  Sorry but that is the way it goes.

Casting directors also hate seeing reels that are on the internet, because they download slow and are too small too see.  They do however like what Myactingsite did, as they turn the video into a big sexy flash movie that downloads as it plays, so they can see it all FAST!!! and its BIG!!!  

You want a pro quality reel, which you need to probably pay for, unless you are a great video editor…  there are many places that do this, and it should cost no more than $250.00 to take all of your tape and turn it into a great 3 minute short film about you and your great work.  Then you can post it on your web site, if you have one that converts it to a flash movie, or else get one from myactingsite.com as they do it as part of the service they provide for $19.95 per month.  

You will also want to copy the DVD that you will get and sent it out to those that need it… CASTING DIRECTORS!  and yes, believe me they watch them.

What I have been doing lately is sending out head-shots  with my web site address, and a personal note to have them watch my new reel on myactingsite, its been working out great, and I have had several responses and auditions as a result!

If you use technology correctly it can only help, and its not that hard.  If you have a myspace account you can figure out anything.

So remember its a THREE MINUTE REEL!!!

Take care, 

Frank