What does that role need that only you can bring to the part?
If your acting career is going to thrive … and your website to help you achieve that goal … you need to know what you bring to a role that no other actor can.
This goes beyond the specific skills you have and training you’ve taken. It taps into what makes you special as a person, that core of who you are that you can bring up and use to bring the characters you portray to life.
You need to know what sets you apart from all other actors that some might see as similar to you.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to be completely different from other actors like you … just different enough. And you need to be very clear on that difference so you can communicate it on your website and when you’re networking.
For example, let’s compare Jet Li, Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung. They are all male, Chinese and known for their martial arts talents. But, can you see Jet Li taking the place of Jackie Chan in Rush Hour? Could Jackie Chan take the place of Jet Li in Romeo Must Die? Could Sammo Hung play either of those roles? Certainly not in the same way, and if they did these would be entirely different movies.
Each actor has his own unique energy he brings to a role. Jet Li has a gentle, subtle power to his presence that allows him to play innocent heros and calculating villains with equal ease. Jackie Chan is the Gene Kelly of martial arts, with his acrobatic abilities and innocent smile, enabling him to play lovable, affable protagonists. And Sammo Hung’s physical comedy has an entirely different flavor from that of Jackie Chan. He has the gravity required to play a cop but also the levity to play the buffoon.
So, dig deep and ask yourself, “What is unique and special about you?” Here are some ways that you can set yourself apart.
Is it your unique life story?
I’m not an actor, but one thing that sets me apart is the fact that I grew up in East Africa. My family move to Nairobi when I was 2 1/2 and I don’t remember anything before then. Also, the reason we moved back to the U.S. was that my sister was born disabled. These little facts affect who I am and how I perceive the world.
Do you have a unique upbringing or life journey that you could call upon to bring texture to a role? Include this information on your bio page.
Is it your special combination of skills?
Maybe you’ve been riding horses since you were knee high to a grasshopper. Maybe you were on the swim team in high school and can perform a near perfect double back flip. Maybe you speak seven languages. Be sure to include these unique, non-acting skills on your website, too. You never know when a casting director may be looking for someone with your unique skill set to play the role in their movie or TV show.
Seek out what is different about you and your life and play that up. Communicate your uniqueness with color, imagery and word choice on your website. Let it help you decide which head shots and clips to include. Highlight those roles you’ve already played that demonstrate your individual, signature style.
Yes, being unique will preclude you from some roles … but those were roles you weren’t suited for anyway!
