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What's your type?
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Now that we've got the ten basic rules for becoming a working actor out of the way, what's next? Where do we go from here? After all, if it's that easy, the ten articles I wrote, each focusing on one specific step, would be all you need to make it in Los Angeles, and there would be no need for me to keep writing this advice column.
However - and this is both a blessing and a curse - there is no one correct way to do anything in LA. I've heard of actors trying the most ridiculous stunts and having it not only go over well with casting directors or agents, but also having it actually help them book a job or land representation; and I've heard of actors who played by all the rules, leaving LA after five years of working their butts off, unable to make it work.
So now we go deeper. Writing general advice articles only leaves so much room to really, truly delve into what makes this city tick, what makes the business run, and what gets an actor a job. From now on, I'll be focusing on going deep into specifics about tips I wrote earlier about, or I'll focus on answering any questions you have (and please, ask them! I can't help you if I don't know what you're confused about!)
Let's start with an oft-repeated question that you will probably hear most frequently from your agents, acting coaches, or casting directors:
"What's your type?"
And this question is, for all intents and purposes, somewhat loaded and somewhat hypothetical. Because, you see, an agent or casting director or coach will be able to see immediately what your type is. So why would they even ask you?
They ask because they want to know if you can be honest, sometimes even brutally, with yourself about where you fit in in Hollywood.
Another way they might phrase it is, "What kind of characters do you see yourself playing?" It's the same question, though. And it takes some careful consideration on your part, because you have to consider, very, very honestly, a) what you look like, b) who you look like who's already successful in the business, and c) what your talents are.
If you can't do it for yourself, ask your friends. Ask them, "If I were in a horror movie/romantic comedy/indie film/popular medical drama on tv, what role(s) do you see me playing?"
Then listen, and listen honestly, without getting defensive. Do people peg you as the plucky best friend? The action hero or heroine? The ice queen nemesis of the female lead? The down-on-her luck, accident-prone female lead?
Part of this, sadly, will have to do with your appearance, and no, it's not just for women. I'll tell you a secret: it's very hard for men over 6'3" to become leads in movies or television -- good luck matching that height on camera with a woman who's probably not above 5'6". Men definitely have "types" as well.
So let's look at appearances, because until you are a star and can break out and change your look (and you are being hired for your box office appeal and acting reputation), you are going to get stereotyped and classified and boxed in.
What do you look like? What race are you? Are you super-thin, muscular, moderately built, heavy-set? How tall are you? What's your hair color? What's your skin color or complexion?
Now think of celebrities whose body types, hair color, weight, height, or physical appearance you resemble. What roles do they typically play? Are they leads, supporting ensemble characters, quirky cameos, funny best friends?
And what happens if you (and your friends) think, I could play all these characters! I have a face/body type/hair color/physical appearance that transforms dramatically whenever I change something. What does that mean?
This means you are probably what Hollywood calls a Character Leading Lady or Character Leading Man. Some examples are: Cate Blanchett, Russell Crowe, Johnny Depp, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Hillary Swank, Morgan Freeman, Allison Janney, etc. These are people who manage to look and act differently enough from role to role that they play leading characters who are not simply personas of their offscreen personalites.
For example, how often does the public want to see Harrison Ford play a bad guy? Julia Roberts play an evil, conniving woman? Angelina Jolie play a frumpy, depressed housewife? Nope. Not gonna work. We are too tied into their offscreen personas and the fact that they play very similar characters in most of their projects.
So be honest with yourself, find out how others look at you (it might surprise you), and find out what "types" you can play and what characters work best for you. Remember, looks aren't everything (being funny also goes a long way -- look at America Ferrera, being a leading lady on her own television show) and know that, while it's important to be aware of your type so that you can let agents and directors know where you think you'd fit best, it's also important to stay true to yourself, and take risks every once in a while.
After all, David Schwimmer was originally asked to be Tommy Lee Jone's sidekick in Men in Black until he turned the role down - and Will Smith, with a completely different look, energy, body type, even RACE, stepped in and made it his own.
Got questions on acting in LA? I'll make sure you get the answers: email me at tracyclifton@hotmail.com and put "Examiner readership question" in the subject line :)
