How to Use Internet Publicity for Your Acting Career

Traditionally an actor wishing to work in film and television has as his or her first step to put together a professional Actors Demo Reels.

Another important tool for actors not wishing to fly long distances to audition for decision makers and prefer to do it via the internet use - Actors Audition Taping.

Actors Demo Reels

This is still the case, and VFW as Manhattan's most successful editor of demo reels, has done hundreds upon hundreds of successful reels that have empowered working actors to acquire many important jobs in major motion pictures and television shows.

Actors Audition Taping

This is done in our studio against our green screen and again, we have had a tremendous amount of success helping actors get jobs using this method.

But what if you are an actor with his or her own production company (or wishing to start your own production company) and have the entrepreneurial desire to create a media property in development (such as a television pilot demo or feature film trailer demo) and while pitching said property, want to be building an online buzz? If this is the case, you're in luck, because now for the first time in history there is an affordable and effective way to both create the demos and promote the properties in development - NYC Entertainment Creation

NYC Entertainment Creation

The unwritten rules for booking jobs as an actor and persuading entertainment industry decision makers. It's funny (strange funny not ha ha funny), but there appear to be unwritten rules about booking jobs as an actor. As someone who has successfully been editing demo reels and shooting audition tapes for actors for over a decade in New York City, I feel it is time to set the record straight about what really works and truly stands a chance of actually booking the job.

There's lots of misinformation out there – tons and tons of "How To" books about succeeding as an actor. I am now going to do an audio gag. I don't know if this is going to translate to the written word, but if you were here in person with me you would visually see me pretend to sneeze and as I did so I would blow air through clenched lips getting out the cryptic phrase and sneeze simulation of "b***sht". Again, I don't know if you can get the full effect from me just describing it, but I think you'll probably receive the "between the lines" communication I am attempting to impart regarding my opinion of most publications, web site and E-books that give advice around the topic of what is the difference in strategy between a non working actor and a working one.

Here's what I've observed, since over 85 percent of my clients are not only working actors but the celebrity faces you recognize from the Broadway stage, major motion pictures and network and cable television. These are the three major strategies they use – be it the last one is more recent – but they all work if YOU USE THEM IN THE RIGHT WAY. Remember, I can make the tools for you (the best tools in New York City I might add humbly (not) but YOU need to use them strategically. If you don't there is really no point. Also, another thing before I reveal what the three tools are and their corresponding strategies (which each need to be customized to you), I should also mention – JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE IS FAMOUS DOESN'T MEAN THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE SO. This is one of the biggest unspoken myths around.

The general public and those not in the know, assume that if someone is on a hit TV show that they are somehow super human and will continue to get work effortlessly. Trust me, celebs WORK HARD to maintain their visibility status. Their agents, managers, publicists/marketers (me) are ultimately doing what they do UNDER THE CELEB'S DIRECTION. You see, someone who is successful in this business is inner directed. They seek the advice of the experts on their team, but they know that ultimately it is up to him or her to connect the dots and book the job. So if you think getting an agent, manager, publicist or marketer is going to make the magic happen for you without your input, think again. We are really all just pawns in YOUR GAME. And if you are not playing to win, filled with hope, flexibility, street smarts and drive, you're wasting your time. Believe me, I've seen it many times – the delusion actor that puts his or her efforts into dead ends rather than actions that will actually garner a result.

On the other hand, most of my clients are individuals who are low key, smart, strategic and yes – talented. Thankfully they are talented, but frankly talent is a small part of what actually helps him or her to achieve success – they choose their battles and always put their best foot forward CUSTOMIZED to the decision maker. In other words they offer themselves up as the product that is the clear cut SOLUTIONS to the casting director's, director's or executive's PROBLEM of finding the right person for the role. 9 times out of 10 the final decision on the part of the decision maker is based on selecting the person who has generated the most buzz in the business or with the general public. And that 9 out of 10 statistic only applies to .999 percent of those who are actually even IN THE GAME because sadly most aspiring actors are not even in the loop to begin with.

Okay, this can be depression inducing or sobering. Try toward the latter. Think craft of the plan, not emotional impulses and wishes. Put yourself into the head of the decision maker. Or as marketers say – know your demographic whether it be decision makers, or in some cases (though rarely until you hit a certain platue) fans.

Here are the three tools and strategies that need to be tailored to your network, type, temperament and skill set: These are the unwritten rules to the three and as I mentioned earlier, the last one is more recent as an effective means of booking jobs. It has a corresponding counterpart in the larger industry of successful artists starting his or her own production company. All right, deep breath – here are the three...