What experience can I put on acting resumes?

Question:I've been in mainly only school plays, but I was in a local commercial, and a film done by a graduate student. I wasn't paid but I did have to audition, so could I put that on there? Should I put the commercial under tv and the film under film, or since I haven't done much should I just put it all under experience? Thanks

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I've been in mainly only school plays, but I was in a local commercial, and a film done by a graduate student. I wasn't paid but I did have to audition, so could I put that on there? Should I put the commercial under tv and the film under film, or since I haven't done much should I just put it all under experience? Thanks

it doesn't matter whether the work paid or not, experience is experience. you should indeed file the commercial under "tv", and the film is also very justified experience, even if you only had one line, or even if you had no lines. the fact is, you've worked in front of a camera and you now know how to handle ourself on a set, with a film crew. that's what they want to know.

also list any special talents- able to sing, juggle, play an instrument, etc. sometimes even the tiniest upper hand will land you the role.

good luck in your endeavors!

I believe that you can. It's still experience. A couple of friends of mine are on-screen actors and they included local work that they've done before. I'm not sure what section you should put it under though.

Those are good enough.

They mean something

Have a copy of the commercial and student film, it's worth showing if they are any good. part of your demo reel

When you get a network series you update it, that's all!

Divide it up. Do "TV and Film Experience" and "Stage Experience" or something. Because the format of listing what you were in and such is very different. With plays, you have to put the production, the year, the producer, and who you were. I'm not sure how the format is for film, but I just know it's different. Plus, film acting is different than stage acting, so depending on what kind of acting you want to do, whoever looks at it is going to want to look at what they're most interested in.