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Step #1: Add Slate Shots To ALL Your Headshots
For any online 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, most 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 have a few different headshots, like one as a CEO, one as a detective, and another as a professor, for instance, and you only have a slate shot attached to your CEO headshot, any time you use either of your two other headshots without the slate shot, 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.

This applies EVEN if you have a demo reel.

Most casting directors won’t even click to play your demo reel if they can't see a slate shot first because they don’t have time for it. The first and most pressing question in their mind is, “Is this what the actor actually looks like?”

Step #2: Get at Least ONE "Level 4" Monologue Online
​Level 3 and below won't stand out enough.

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

Without any clips at all, you're automatically moved down towards the bottom of the submissions list, and will likely never be seen by casting directors to even get considered in the first place.

But what most actors don't think about is the importance of the emotionality in the clip they use.

If your acting has any problems with it, or it's simply boring to watch, you're WAY less likely to be offered an audition opportunity.

The 4 Levels of Acting is a concept I teach my 1-1 coaching clients.

In a nutshell, Level 1 is a performance that's plagued by technical problems such as lack of memorization, theatrical (instead of on-camera) acting, an unprofessional self-tape setup, etc. A Level 2 performance is one where you've fixed all Level 1 issues, but you're still not clear on choices, like who you're talking to and why you're saying each and every line. Level 3 is where you've fixed all that, but the performance is just plain and straightforward, instead of emotional and super interesting to watch.

So how do you bring your performance up to Level 4?

By focusing on 2 things:
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1. Subject matter of the monologue: the lines 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 interesting for them 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. Emotional stakes of the monologue: 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, you're entire life is going to end.

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.

And when a casting director wants more, you WILL get an invite to audition and/or submit a self-tape.

​By the way, if you're interested in getting personal coaching on this, you can sign up for my coaching waitlist here.

Step #3: Use a Submissions Note
Yes, even casting directors glance at these.

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.

Here's an example:

​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! Casting directors want to work with an actor who is just as excited about the 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 saying that to say it. 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 ways 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!

I've helped thousands of actors move their careers forward, and I hope that one day we can all end the cliche of "the starving artist" together.

​If you enjoyed this resource and are interested in working with me 1-1, consider signing up for my coaching waitlist here.

 - Martin Bentsen
Actor Marketing Coach