Actor Resources

LA Resources

Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences:
The official information and resource Web site for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the organization behind the Academy Awards and other programs and services for actors, including an impressive and respected research library open to the public on a limited schedule.

Academy Players Directory:
The Web site for the Academy Players Directory, a publication begun by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences in 1937, that is one of the industry's top directory listing and contact information resources on actors for casting directors, producers and other professionals.

​Academy of Television Arts & Sciences:
The official information and resource Web site for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the organization behind the Emmy Awards and other programs and services for actors.

Actors Access:

Breakdown Services has leveled the playing field for actors with Actors Access. You can learn about a wide variety of projects whose casting directors want submissions directly from actors. Not having agency or management representation has never been less of an issue for the empowered actor who learns how to utilize tools like this to benefit their careers.

Actors Equity Association:
The official Web site for the union of American theatrical actors and stage managers. They can also be contacted by telephone. Their New York office number is (212) 869-8530. The number for their Los Angeles headquarters is (323) 634-1750.

AGMA:
The website for the American Guild of Musical Artists.

AGVA:
The official website for the American Guild of Variety Artists.

Back Stage:
The website for Back Stage, the, weekly hard copy newspaper for actors, is loaded with resouces that can benefit an actor at all stages of their career. For $9.95 per month, you get access to news, casting information and other resources on both coasts. You can also purchase subscriptions to the weekly print edition on the site.

Book Soup:
The website for Book Soup, an independent book store in Los Angeles the specializes in books about art and film. They can also be contacted by telephone at (310) 659-3110 or (800) 764-BOOK.

Breakdown Services, Ltd:
The website for Breakdown Services, Ltd., the subscription casting information service for agents and managers. Actors can get limited free access to some casting opportunities approved for release by a project's casting director through the company's ActorsAccess.com (see above).

California Department of Industral Relations:
The official website for the State of California's Department of Industrial Relations. Public records about decisions on cases presented to the Commission involving talent agency or manager vs. artist (or artist vs. talent agency or manager) disputes are available for readind and reviewing.

Casting Networks:
Casting Networks operates L.A. Casting (see below), New York Casting and San Francisco Casting, three terrific resources for the smart, empowered actor to utilize for self-submissions on a wide variety of projects.

The Casting Frontier:
The newest addition to online casting and submission services for actors and industry professionals is The Casting Frontier, which has entered the Los Angeles market alongside competitor L.A. Casting. Both services are in active use by agents, managers and casting directors, primarily for commercial work, and both services rely on the pro-active, interactive participation of actors in the casting process to keep their profiles, photos and resumes current.

The Hollywood Reporter:
The website for the trade paper The Hollywood Reporter. There is limited free access. For a fee of $27.95 per month (or $299 a year), you gain full access. Information is also available on their site about print subscriptions.

Geoffery Donne Photography

Choosing the best headshot photographer in Los Angeles can be simple, when you know what to look for.

Your headshot has one job; to get you in the room. But how?  By clearly showing a Casting Director how to hire you, making you a solution to their problem. I create carefully crafted, casting and branding specific shots that will create opportunities.

Income Tax Advice & Services:
Internet Movie Database (IMDb):
This information-packed Web site for searching and researching television productions and individual credits, and it's sister site (see reference above) IBDB.com (for searching and researching Broadway productions and individual credit information), are two sites all actors should bookmark for quick and frequent reference. Both sites are terrific, reliable, go-to resources for credits and background information on productions, actors, producers, directors, casting directors and others.

L.A. Casting:
L.A. Casting has become the prominent online service for commercial agents for the electronic submission of their clients to commercial casting directors. But they are not alone. The entry into the casting submssion marketplace by The Casting Frontier, in 2009, has served to ramp up the opportunities available to actors through both sites, which is good news. L.A. Casting, like The Casting Frontier, offers a wealth of information and resources for actors, both those who are represented and especially those who are not, including the ability to self-submit yourself of a wide variety of projects that are listed every day.

Larry Edmunds Bookshop:
This Hollywood book store specializes in performing arts and related books, as well as resource publications for actors and show business memorabilia. Their telephone number is (323) 463-3273.

SAG-AFTRA:
In late March 2012, Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists merged in one union, now known as SAG-AFTRA. The merger was voted in by a majority of the members of both the former-SAG and former-AFTRA and stands on a platform to represent all artists and performers through a stronger, unified organization. For information on membership requirements and benefits, please reference both chapter 7 in The New Business of Acting (“Union and Actors”) and the SAG-AFTRA Merger Book Update page on our website and/or visit SAGAFTRA.org.

Samuel French, Inc.:
This book store chain has a long history of offering books, plays, monologues, audition materials and other resources for actors. Visit one of their shops in-person or visit them online. They can also be reached by telephone in Los Angeles at (323) 876-0570; in New York at (212) 206-8990; or in Toronto at (416) 363-3536.

Variety and Daily Variety:
The website for the trade papers Daily Variety and Variety. There is limited free access for non-subscribers. Full access is free with a paid subscription to the hard copy edition. Subscription information is available on their site.

Women in Film:
The official information and resource Web site for Women in Film.

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