When Strong Acting Materials Get Lost in the Presentation

Presentation Matters

Strong acting materials are an important part of presenting yourself professionally. Even great work can lose its impact when the presentation gets in the way. Sometimes the material doesn't need to change. The presentation around it does.

1. Clean Up the Distractions

   Strong material can still have distractions. A headshot may be selling exactly what you want, but the background or wardrobe pulls focus. A reel scene may showcase great work from you while something else in the scene gets in the way.

   
   

   Don't be afraid to make adjustments. If the material is strong, clean up what's surrounding it instead of getting rid of something that works.

2. Clear Out the Clutter

   Casting sites give you a place to store your materials. That doesn't mean everything needs to stay there forever. Older material can pile up and make it harder to see who you are today.

   
   

   Take time to clean up your profiles. Keep the focus on what represents you now instead of everything you've collected along the way.

   
   

3. Keep It Consistent

   Consistency makes your materials easier to process. If you title one scene in your reel, title the others the same way. On your résumé, use the same type of information in each section instead of listing a production company for one credit and a director for another.

   
   

   The details may seem small, but a consistent presentation makes everything easier to read.

   
   

4. Present the Same You Everywhere

   Your materials may live on several different platforms, but they should all represent the same version of you. A casting director shouldn't see one presentation of you on one site and something completely different somewhere else.

   
   

   Keep your materials current across each platform. Consistency helps reinforce how you want to be seen.

   
   

Final Thoughts

Strong acting materials deserve a presentation that supports them. Small changes can make it easier for your work to stand out without changing what made the material strong in the first place. Your materials are there to represent you. Make them work for you.