The Career Checklist

I know you’re dying to hear about Ben and his career. Since I’m dying to tell you, I will indulge us both.

After we had decided to make the move, we told the rest of our family the big surprise. Apparently, they weren’t that surprised… I mean, It seems like it’s every year or so that we are either announcing a new pregnancy or a new job, so they were probably expecting it.

Ben’s family was pretty disappointed we would be moving so far away; my family was celebrating us moving closer. But there was also celebrating by many. I think the celebrations were partly because they hope that they’ll be related to someone famous. I can’t blame them… I hope for that myself, someday! Of course, I’m already pretty famous in my own right. …someone recognized Ben during a 48 Hour Film Festival this weekend, because they’d read about us on my blog. I was freaking out! I’m still freaking out! Totally made my day!

I believe the main reason they were excited, though, is because they believe in miracles and pursuing dreams. In spite of all those realistic worries and doubts most people have, I think people really want to see others succeed. They want to have a reason to believe in their own dreams.

One especially helpful show of support came from one of my darling sisters-in-law. She gave Ben a very thoughtful Christmas present: a wall hanging that said “Here’s to the Ones Who Dream” which is now hanging in our room, and a book called “An Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide” by Jenna Fisher (the actress best known for her role as Pam in The Office). For a newly aspiring actor, it’s a treasure… packed full of great insights, fun stories, and excellent advice.

Ben read it, and loved it. After hearing him rave about it, I decided to read it, too. I wanted to be involved in the process, and I wanted to know what to expect in this new career. Then, with the information that we gathered from the book, Ben made a career checklist:

1. Get professional headshots.
2. Put together an acting resume.
3. Get an agent in Utah.
4. Move to the L.A. area.
5. Register with Casting Central for background work.
6. Find auditions and apply, apply, apply.
7. Build a film reel.
8. Join the actor’s union.
9. Get an agent in L.A.
10. Work on improving and increasing his acting skill set.
11. Get into better physical shape.
12. Create his own content (writing, filming, etc.)

So, first step: Headshots!

Getting good headshots is one of the most important steps, because it’s often the only thing a casting director sees before deciding whether to call an actor in for an audition. It usually means spending lots of money, and finding a photographer who specializes in headshots. We found a photographer in Salt Lake whose portfolio we liked, and set up an appointment right away.

A picture says a thousand words, right? But in a headshot, you need to really capture just a handful. From your photo, people need to be able to see your true essence. Are you funny? Are you kind? Mischievous? Tough? Vain? You want the casting director to already know who you are after a two second encounter with your face. Sounds easy, right?

After some serious reflection, and discussions with family, friends, and even a few strangers, Ben compiled his list of attributes. After discussing what he wanted with the photographer, they set to work. And it was work! Hundreds of pictures, several outfits, and serious acting… just to show who he really is. By the end of the shoot, he was tired, happy, and eager to see the results. We were pretty happy with how they turned out.

Next step: The Resume!