Find out if you should pay for a Web designing service geared toward actors.
By Christopher Zara
There’s no doubt that having a Web presence can give actors a competitive edge.
Whether it’s a tricked out MySpace profile, a few dozen clips on YouTube or a
personal actor Web site with your own domain, having your name and face online
is the most convenient way for interested folks to learn more about you and your
career. These days, it’s easier than ever to create your own personal actor Web
site, and while such sites won’t replace hardcopy headshot submissions anytime
soon, they can still be a valuable networking resource.
"I find Web sites are most helpful when they contain an actor’s demo reel," says
talent agent Jamie Harris of the Clear Talent Group. "I can just forward
someone’s link to a casting director, who can view the reel instantly." Harris
goes on to admit that he doesn’t comb the Internet looking for actors’ Web sites
to discover new talent, but he often uses them to stay connected with actors he
already represents.
Many services that specialize in creating Web sites for actors have popped up
over the last few years. The popular site Actor Gear 2.0, for example, provides
sites with domain names, photo galleries, various design templates, and
audio/video galleries for demo reels. Other sites, like ActorWebs, offer custom
design packages that will give your site a unique look based on materials you
provide. Rates for these services vary greatly.
Maintaining a site can be time consuming, and many companies offer upkeep
services along with design. Maintenance can run you up to $50 per month, pricey
when weighed against a free profile on MySpace. True, having a page on a social
networking site may not convey the same professional air as a personal Web site,
but Harris says it can serve the same function. "More and more I find myself
visiting MySpace pages," he says. "With younger clients, it’s like you’re almost
expected to have one."
Whether or not actor Web sites are worth their design and maintenance costs is
open for debate. Some entertainment professionals, like Jay Binder of Binder
Casting, contend that having a Web site will make little difference in
determining if an actor will land a particular role. Binder, who casts for film,
television and Broadway, says he rarely uses Web sites to learn about actors
he’s interested in. "I’m much more inclined to use IMDb," he adds, referring to
the Web portal Internet Movie Database. "Would I visit a Web site? Sure, but
probably because it belonged to a friend, and I just wanted to see what he was
up to."