SO YOU WANT TO BE A MODEL? AN ACTOR OR ACTRESS?

** Learn from margo's years doing work in print, commercials, television, movies and radio

***HERE ARE SOME TIPS....

THE CAMERA LENS, EITHER STILL OR MOVING LIKES YOU OR IT DOESN'T. SAME WITH THE PEOPLE WHO WILL HIRE YOU. YOUR LOOKS ARE MALEABLE TO AN EXTENT WITH MAKEUP, HAIRSTYLE AND BODY SHAPING. TRAINING AND UPKEEP ARE HEALTHY MANIPULATIONS OF THE PHYSIQUE. AS FOR THE PEOPLE YOU DEAL WITH, ATTITUDE, SMARTS/TALENT AND PERSONALITY ARE KEY FACTORS FOR GETTING ALONG. BE SMART BUT ALWAYS BE POLITE.

ABOUT MODELING AGENCIES AND THE LIKE

1 - BE HONEST, ARE PEOPLE TELLING YOU COULD BE A MODEL BECAUSE THEY CAN MAKE MONEY OFF OF YOU VIA THESE METHODS. IE. A PHOTOGRAPHER, A MODELING SCHOOL OR MAKEUP ARTIST. IF SO RUN!

2 - ALL LEGITIMATE AGENCIES HAVE A LICENSE ON THEIR WALL FROM THE STATE. IF YOU DON'T SEE IT, ASK WHY?

3 - LEGITIMATE AGENCIES CANNOT COERCE YOU TO GO TO THEIR PHOTOGRAPHERS. IF THEY PRESSURE YOU TO DO SO, IT'S NOT ONLY ILLEGAL, BUT THEY ARE PROBABLY GETTING A KICKBACK FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHER.

4 - WHEN YOU SPEAK TO AGENCIES ASK WHO ELSE THEY REPRESENT AND WHAT JOBS HAVE BEEN BOOKED RECENTLY. BEWARE, SOME AGENCIES EXTEND THE TRUTH.

5 - CALL CASTING AGENTS AND SEE WHAT AGENCIES THEY CALL FOR AUDITIONS

6 - CALL MAJOR SHOPPING MALLS AND STORES TO SEE WHAT AGENCIES THEY BOOK THROUGH FOR MODELING

7 - CHECK WITH SAG AND AFTRA IF YOU ARE A MEMBER ABOUT ANY AGENCY CONCERNS, CASTING CALLS OR WORK

8 - READ THE SAG AND AFTRA BYLAWS - IF THERE ARE ANY PROBLEMS ON SET, CALL THE SAG/AFTRA OFFICE.

CASTING AGENTS

Tina Real Casting is straightforward and Tina Real has been a pleasure for me to work with over the years ** ring 619-298-1766 for the hotline and 619-298-0544 for details and regristration.

Background San Diego ** click to Stu Segall Productions and then click Background San Diego for information.

MAKEUP

1 - LEARN MAKEUP TRICKS FROM PEOPLE WHOSE PROFESSION IT IS TO WORK IN THE MEDIUM. FOR EXAMPLE, FOR STILL PHOTOS, CALL TOP PHOTOGRAPHERS AND FIND OUT WHO THEY USE FOR FASHION EDITORIALS. THE PERSON WHO WORKS AT THE TOWN'S DEPARTMENT MAKEUP COUNTER HAS ONE GOAL. TO SELL YOU PRODUCT. IF THEY WERE SPECIALIZED IN PRINT WORK THEY WOULD BE DOING IT AND MAKING ALOT MORE MONEY.

2 - REMEMBER THAT MAKUP FOR PRINT IS DIFFERENT FROM VIDEO. THE TWO LENSES REACT DIFFERENTLY TO YOUR FACE.

PERSONALLY I'VE HAD THE BEST LUCK WITH MAC MAKEUP STUDIO FIX AND NO FOUNDATION. BUT THAT'S WHAT SUITS MY FACE WHICH EASILY SHINES. IT'S ALSO A FAVORITE OF NEWS PEOPLE AND HOLLYWOOD BECAUSE IT WITHSTANDS THE HOT LIGHTS.

3 - REMEMBER TOO THAT BLACK AND WHITE MAKEUP APPLICATION IS DIFFERENT FROM COLOR. BLACK AND WHITE TYPICALLY REQUIRES STRONGER ACCENTUATION.

MAKEUP ARTISTS

Dyon Rogers ** for film, tv and print ** there's a reason she's always working ..... she's good... really good... ring 760-730-3181 for details

PHOTOS

1 - GET THE BEST YOU CAN, AT A PRICE YOU CAN AFFORD TO THROW ON THE GROUND AND WALK AWAY FROM. JUST IN CASE YOU DON'T GET ANY WORK.

2 - SKIP MAJOR RETOUCHING, CASTING AGENTS ARE ULTIMATELY GOING TO SEE THE REAL YOU. REMEMBER WRINKLES ETC. ARE JUST PART OF YOUR UNIQUENESS.

3 - GET THE SHOTS THAT ARE APPROPRIATE FOR YOUR JOB GOALS A - MODELING, SEVERAL LOOKS FROM DRESSUP TO DRESS DOWN, DIFFERENT HAIR STYLES, HEADSHOT TO FULL BODY B- ACTING, GIVE ME THE HEADSHOT LOOK THAT TELLS ME WORLDS ABOUT YOU. IS IT MYSTERY, WARMTH, COOLNESS. IDENTIFY YOUR LOOK THAT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WORKING WITH AND BEING ID'S WITH.

4 - The best photographers in town are Jeremiah Sullivan, John Durant, and Gene Nocon * See services

5 - The best makeup artist in town is Dyon Rogers and Meleah * see services

ON AN AUDITION

1 - DRESS SIMPLY WITH SIMPLE MAKEUP UNLESS YOU ARE REQUIRED TO COME FOR A SPECIFIC LOOK

2 - LISTEN TO WHAT THEY ASK, DON'T BE A CHATTERBOX......UNLESS THE PART CALLS FOR IT

3 - BE HONEST, CASTING AGENTS HAVE DEALT WITH MOUNTAINS OF FALSE JABBER

4 - WALK IN WITH AT LEAST TWO CURRENT RESUMES READY AND TWO CURRENT HEADSHOTS

5 - IF AN AUDITION SMELLS, EXCUSE YOURSELF AND CALL YOUR AGENT IMMEDIATELY. AGENCIES TYPICALLY CANNOT SCREEN ALL THE CASTING AGENTS. SOME CASTING AGENCIES FLOATING THROUGH TOWNS ARE SLEAZY.

ACTING LESSONS

TAKE LESSONS FROM THE PROS THAT PRODUCERS RECOGNIZE. OTHERWISE YOU ARE THROWING MONEY AWAY AND VERY IMPORTANTLY, YOU MAY BE LEARNING BAD ACTING HABITS. HOLLYWOOD AND THE LIKE RECOGNIZE AND VALUE CERTAIN ACTING COACHES. THESE ARE THE ONES TO SEEK OUT. STUDY WITH THE BEST. YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO LEARN BRAIN SURGERY FROM A MEDIOCRE TEACHER. TREAT ACTING THE SAME WAY.

BEST WAY TO FIND OUT WHO PRODUCERS RECOMMEND OR TOP L.A. OR NEW YORK AGENCIES FUNNEL TO IS TO CALL THEM AND ASK.

GO TO A RECOGNIZED L.A. ACTING CLASS WEEKLY.

* SPECIAL NOTE - BEWARE THE CASTING AGENTS WHO CONVENIENTLY PLACE THEIR ACTING CLASS SCHEDULE BY THE CASTING SIGN IN SHEET. A FORM OF SWITCH AND BAIT. ANOTHER FAVE THING FOR UNSCRUPULOUS CASTING AGENTS IS TO CLAIM THAT THEY HAVE OFFICES IN MAJOR CITIES AROUND THE WORLD. IF IT'S NOT A MAJOR RECOGNIZABLE CASTING AGENCY FROM NEW YORK L.A., I WOULD CHECK IT OUT.

CONRACTS

1 - READ THEM CAREFULLY, IF NECESSARY CONSULT AN ATTORNEY

2 - BEWARE THAT SIGNING OFF OF YOUR IMAGE IN PERPETUITY WITHOUT CONTROL MEANS JUST LITERALLY THAT.

RAMP MODELING

1 - WATCH THE BEST FREE LESSONS IN THE WORLD, THE CNN STYLE SHOWS WITH ELSA KLENSH AND E'S FASHION FILE ARE VERY GOOD.

2 - IMITATE THE WALK AND ATTITUDE, BUT REMEMBER, YOU ULTIMATELY JUST LISTEN TO EXACTLY WHAT THE SHOW'S PRODUCERS AND DIRECTOR WANT.

3 - A FEW PRIVATE LESSONS FROM A SHOW'S PRODUCER CAN QUICKLY LEARN YOU THE ROPES

STORY TIME - I LEARNED FROM IMITATION. AT AGE 43 I GET BOOKED NOT FOR MY TALLNESS, I'M ONLY 5'7" BUT BECAUSE I LISTEN TO THE DIRECTOR, I SHOW THE CLOTHES AS IF EACH OUTFIT IS MY FAVORITE, I'M ON TIME, I'M PREPARED AND I'M A TEAM PLAYER.

SMART MARKETING AND SELF PROMOTING

1 - WORK YOUR CONTACTS, CASTING AGENTS, AGENT, PRODUCERS IN A POLITE MANNER, REMEMBER TO SELL YOUR QUALITIES AND ALWAYS GIVE THEM A PERCEPTION OF GETTING MORE THAN THEY BARGAINED FOR

* SOME OF MY BEST JOBS HAVE BEEN FROM PEOPLE I HAVE ESTABLISHED A RELATIONSHIP WITH OVER THE YEARS

* REMEMBER THERE ARE KEY WORDS IN MODELING AND ACTING -

PROFESSIONALISM -

BE ON TIME, BE PREPARED, HAVE THE LOOK AND IF APPROPRIATE HAVE YOUR LINES READY, -REMEMBER THIS IS BUSINESS AND TIME IS MONEY

WHO YOU KNOW - MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU THINK!

HOLLYWOOD HAS BEEN CALLED ONE OF THE MOST INCESTUOUS BUSINESSES. THERE'S A REASON. IT'S NOT THAT MANY OF THE RELATIVES OF ESTABLISHED PRODUCERS ETC. ARE NOT TALENTED, THEY USUALLY ARE. BUT MORE THAN THAT THEY BEAT THE ODDS. THE RELATIONSHIPS GOT THEM THAT LUCKY BREAK TO BE SEEN

BE POLITE TO EVERYONE - NOT ONLY IS IT CIVILIZED, BUT EVERYONE'S JOB IS IMPORTANT. BEING POLITE ALSO REFLECTS WELL ON YOU.

STORY TIME - I KNOW ONE BIG ACTRESS WHO TICKED THE CREW OFF. THEY CONSEQUENTLY SMURFED HER IE. THEY GAVE HER BAD LIGHTING SO THAT EVERY WRINKLE SHE HAD SHOWED PROMINENTLY ON FILM.

SOME PEOPLE GET BLACKBALLED

STORY TIME - I WAS ON A TELEVISION MOVIE SET YEARS BACK AND AMONG THE STARS WAS ONE UP AND COMING ACTRESS. SHE MADE ENEMIES FROM THE GET GO BY ANNOUNCING THE FIRST DAY TO THE DIRECTOR AND THE CREW TO JUST CALL HER PRINCESS. SHE THEN PROCEEDED FOR THE NEXT SIX WEEKS TO FURTHER ALIENATE THE CREW BY TREATING THEM LIKE DIRT. CONSEQUENCE, THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER CAME DOWN FROM L.A. TO SMOOTH OUT THE LAST WEEKS OF FILMING. I SPOKE TO HIM AT THE WRAP PARTY. HE SAID THAT THE NETWORK WOULD NEVER WORK WITH HER AGAIN PERIOD. SHE WAS BLACKBALLED. REMEMBER ALMOST EVERYONE IS REPLACEABLE.

BRAVO STEPHANIE SEYMOUR

I MET ONE SET OF PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO DEAL WITH POWAY RAISED SUPERMODEL STEPHANIE SEYMOUR FROM TIME TO TIME. THEY RAVED ABOUT HER. NOT ONLY DID THEY SAY SHE WAS FANTASTIC TO WORK WITH BECAUSE SHE KNOWS HER ANGLES FOR THE CAMERA, BUT SHE ALSO WAS PURE FUN JOY TO WORK WITH. THEY SAID THEY ALWAYS LOOKED FORWARD TO A PHOTO SHOOT WITH HER.

KEEP YOUR REPUTATION CLEAN ON SET

DON'T BE A SNOB BUT PARTYING WITH A CREW DOES GARNER A REPUTATION, AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ONE YOU WANT.

STORY - ON ONE MOVIE SET, THERE WAS A FEMALE STAND IN WHO GOT BUSY HAVE FLINGS WITH THE CREW AND THE MALE STAR OF THE MOVIE. SHE ENDED UP WITH THE WORST REPUTATION AND A BROKEN HEART. THE PEOPLE SHE DALLIED WITH WENT ON TO WORK OTHER MOVIES. SHE HAS NOT BEEN WORKING SINCE.

Copyright Margo Schwab 2005. All rights protected.

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