The questions actors ask about acting resumes, and the formatting conventions casting directors, agents and managers already expect. None of this is our house style. It is what the industry reads, which is why Resume For Actors builds to it by default.
What format should my acting resume be?
Your resume should fit on a single 8″ × 10″ page. At the top, include your name, contact info, union affiliations, and physical stats. Organize your experience into categories like “Film,” “Television” and “Theater.” Within each category, list your credits in three columns: Project Title, Role, and Production Company or Director.
Every template here is single page and three column, and the 8″ × 10″ export comes out trimmed to size. You pick the paper at download time, not when you build it.
How do I list roles for film and TV versus theater?
For film and television, list the type of role (Lead, Supporting, Co-Star) rather than the character’s name. For theater, list the specific character name you played.
The credits form asks for the category first and then labels the second column to match, so the convention is the default rather than something to remember.
How should I attach my headshot to my resume?
Print your resume on standard paper, trim it down to 8″ × 10″, and staple it securely to the back of your headshot. Do not use paper clips, tape or glue. Make sure they are oriented so a casting director can flip it over easily.
The 8″ × 10″ size exists for exactly this. Print it at Actual size, never “Fit to page”, or the margins come out about 4% short and the trim will not line up.
What kind of headshot do casting directors look for?
Major markets lean toward high-quality, professional close-up headshots, because so much casting now happens through online thumbnails. Make sure the photo looks exactly like you do right now.
Your headshot is also what the business card is built around, so it is worth keeping current in one place.
Should I combine film and TV credits if I do not have many?
No. Even if you have very few credits, keep film and television as separate categories.
They are separate categories in the builder and they print as separate blocks. A category with nothing in it is skipped rather than printed empty.
What should I put in the special skills section?
Be highly specific. Instead of vague claims, list actionable skills: fluency in a particular language, named accents, a named instrument, a certification. Never list a skill you cannot perform on the spot.
Add them once under skills and pick which ones print on each resume. A commercial submission and a Shakespeare submission rarely want the same list.
How do I handle a lack of experience?
Focus on your training, education and workshops. You can also list representational roles, as long as you do not attach a production company to them or imply you booked the part.
Never write “experienced actor” under your name to fill the gap. A short, honest resume reads better than a padded one, and training is a category casting actually reads.
Industry consensus
Every row is one rule, with the mistake it prevents beside it.
| Do | Don’t |
|---|---|
| Limit your resume to a single page and trim it to fit an 8″ × 10″ headshot. | Use the metric system for height and weight in the US. |
| Staple your resume to the back of your headshot. | Use paper clips, tape or glue to attach it. |
| Use a three-column layout for credits: title, role, company or director. | Combine film and TV into a single “Film-TV” category. |
| List role types (Lead, Supporting, Co-Star) for film and TV credits. | Use character names for film and TV roles. |
| Save and send your digital resume as a PDF. | Send it as a Word document. |
| Include your own phone number and email address. | Replace your contact details entirely with a manager’s. |
| List highly specific, demonstrable special skills. | List general skills, or claim anything you cannot do on the spot. |
| Remove outdated or irrelevant credits as your career grows. | Write “experienced actor” under your name when you have no credits yet. |
Every one of these is the default here
You fill in your credits once. Resume For Actors lays them out the way the industry expects, and exports a PDF at Letter or at 8″ × 10″ ready to staple. One payment of $19, yours for life.
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