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Step #1: Add Slate Shots To ALL Your Headshots
For any profiles that allow for slate shots.

A slate shot is basically a very short video clip attached to your headshot on Actor's Access and a few other casting profiles that allow for it. They usually last about 3-5 seconds and you just say something along the lines of, "Hey, I'm Martin Bentsen."

Many actors include a slate shot attached to only ONE of their headshots since there is often an extra charge per slate shot.

The problem is, when it comes to bigger productions, many casting directors won’t even consider you if they can't see a slate shot attached to whatever headshot you submit!

This means that if you use a few different headshots, like one as a CEO, one as a detective, and another as a professor, but you only have a slate shot attached to your CEO headshot, any time you use either of the two other headshots, casting directors will be WAY less likely to offer you a self-tape opportunity.

Casting directors like to look at slate shots because they give a 5 second impression of the actor’s personality, voice, and how they actually look on camera.

And this last point is key - with AI and photoshop these days, most casting directors don’t trust headshots anymore, and so they ONLY pick actors for auditions where they can see a slate shot to make sure the actor ACTUALLY looks like they do in their headshot.

Step #2: Get at Least One Interesting & Emotional Clip Online
You don't want boring clips!

These days, almost every actor knows how important it is to have at least one clip on their casting profile.

But what most actors don't think about is the importance of how interesting and emotional the clip needs to be.

Focus on these two things for the next clip you choose to upload to your profiles:
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1. Make it interesting: the written text (words you speak) need to be very interesting. What are you talking about and why should the audience care? Focus on something everyone can relate to so it's more engaging for people to watch. If what you're talking about is something the audience doesn't care about (in other words, a boring topic), they'll be less likely to watch it all the way through to the end.
2. Make it emotional: Think about who you're talking to and why you're telling them this. The more emotional you can make those choices, the better (as long as your choices make sense and are realistic). Imagine the difference between talking to a friend, for example, or talking to your dying mother in a hospital bed. Or the difference between telling someone something because you just want to talk to them, or because if you don't tell them right now, you'll never have the chance to tell them this important thing again.

When you nail both of the above, the monologue becomes WAY more interesting to watch, and people instantly want to see more of what you can do.

Step #3: Use a Submissions Note
Especially if you're submitting to indie productions.

A great submissions note can absolutely help you stand out – in fact, with one of my 1-1 consulting clients, by improving his cover letter alone we were able to crank up his audition rate from 5% to 20% – meaning one in every five submissions online resulted in an audition – and he didn't even have professional headshots or footage yet! That's how powerful a compelling submissions note can be.

While many casting directors won't look at these, you can be sure that indie filmmakers do – especially if the first few words of what you write captures their attention. It's their project, so they're excited to read what everyone is saying about it!

You can use their excitement to your advantage. Here's an example of a good submissions note:

I've had a few dogs throughout my life, and unfortunately my most recent passed away from bone cancer, so this project hits a personal note for me. It'd be a privilege to audition for the role of Mark!

Here are some things to keep in mind when writing Submissions Notes:

• Keep it very short – ideally no more than 2-3 sentences altogether. Too long and they won't read it!
• Be sure to show your enthusiasm! Filmmakers want to work with an actor who is just as excited about their production as they are, so don't be afraid to show them how much you'd love to be a part of it.
• ​Be specific. Try to relate the production to your own life somehow, but use specific examples to make it real. If you just say, "I deeply connect with the character's love of dogs," it might seem like you're just making that up. Instead, saying, "My own dog passed away when I was 14" is a specific example that makes what you're saying more believable.

If a production doesn't genuinely connect with you on a personal level, here are some other idea on how you can relate it to yourself:

• ​​Mention skills that are relevant. Some skills to consider mentioning include adaptability, improvisation, physical stamina, fluency in different languages or specific accents, martial arts skills, etc.
• ​Tell them why you are qualified for the role. You can show how the film or character matches your goals and brand, or even highlight experience you've had that is similar. If you decide to highlight other productions you've been in, be sure they're relevant and/or recognizable.
• ​Name drop. You can research the casting director's name on LinkedIn to see if they know anyone you know or if they've been involved in any productions you've also done (theatrical shows) – this is a great way to instantly stand out.​

​I hope you found these three submissions tactics helpful!

If you'd like to work with me personally to start getting WAY more auditions and sign with a great agent/manager, just fill out the application on this page.

I'd love to work with you!

 - Martin Bentsen
Actor Marketing Coach