Quick Summary
Creating a professional acting portfolio is essential for young performers breaking into the industry. Here are the must-have components:
- Craft a Clear, One-Page Acting Resume
Include the child's personal details, experience (even school plays), training, and special skills to highlight their versatility. - Invest in High-Quality Headshots
Work with a professional photographer to capture natural expressions and facial clarity, focusing on age-appropriate authenticity. - Include a Compelling Demo Reel
Even without on-screen credits, feature monologues, improvisations, or scenes that showcase acting range in a 30s–3min video format. - Organize and Digitize the Portfolio
Combine resume, headshots, and demo reels into an easy-to-navigate digital portfolio for quick submissions to casting calls. - Keep It Updated as Experience Grows
Regularly add new credits, updated photos, and training to stay competitive and reflect ongoing growth as a young actor.
How to Write an Acting Resume for Kid Performers
At first, it might seem confusing what exactly is the point of an aspiring kid actor having a resume, but the reality is that the lack of acting experience is the exact reason the early success of the young performer with getting noticed in casting calls, which lies within a well-written acting resume.
The acting resume should be easy to read yet professionally structured with the standard font and formatting. Aim to not exceed the length of one page with the resume. Start by listing all the basic information about the kid - name, surname, contact information, including the city, state, and zip code, and various appearance-related data, including age, height, weight, and the color of eyes and hair.
Follow it by listing the kid actor’s experience and other special skills. Continue writing this section of the acting resume in an arrangement that will be easy for casting staff to check out and find the necessary information at any given moment.
The experience section should list all and any credits and other production projects the kid has acted in before, including various details related to the respective role. Depending on the level of acting history the kid has, this can also include school plays and other more minor experiences. Also be sure to add any professional training or classes the aspiring actor has taken by including the name of the institution or acting coach, specific information regarding the training received, and the period of time when the classes or training was taken.
The special skills section should list all and any special skills the child has besides acting. It can be anything, from being able to speak another language to having dancing skills. This section should also give extra information about the level of these skills the kid has, if they have performed with them in public, e.g., competitions, and more. It all can come in handy for specific acting roles one day, so it is essential to let casting directors know about it beforehand when applying to casting calls.
Why Headshots Are Critical in a Kid’s Acting Portfolio
It would be impossible for casting directors to choose actors from the waist casting call applicant pool without any visual representation about these kids. Headshots are the first thing that gives a visual impression about the respective candidate and plays a key role within the acting portfolio, which largely influences casting decisions regarding the person.
When creating actors’ headshots, there are a few pointers everyone should look for regarding their qualities. While parents certainly can try to make them themselves, it is highly advisable to do a photo session with a professional photographer in a photo studio instead. As they will almost certainly be better equipped to efficiently deliver final results to be high-quality and on par with the most relevant industry standards, it will ensure the headshots are as clear and sharp as possible, with the appropriate background and lighting.
A professional photographer will also be able to navigate the kid with posing appropriately for acting headshots to showcase the young performer’s body language without overshadowing the facial features, as well as give more tips, including how they should try to control their eye stare, or what sort of clothing choices are best for such headshots.
Speaking on facial features, the kid actor’s face should always be the focal point of any headshot. Regardless of the type of emotions being showcased in the given headshot, from serious to joyful, it should be the natural expression of the kid instead of a visibly forced one. With authentic emotions being captured, the casting directors will get a better idea about the kid actor’s possible range.
How to Create an Effective Acting Demo Reel for Kids
One thing is to only describe a kid's acting skills, but a whole nother thing is to actually show them in footage for casting directors to see. A demo reel serves pretty much as an acting resume in a video format, which showcases fragments from the performer’s most notable and diverse performances in 30 seconds to at most 3 minutes.
Since the majority of aspiring kid actors might lack significant performance footage for creating such a reel, there are different strategies to use to still include this essential part for an acting portfolio. The main aim of the demo reel is to show a young actor’s acting on-screen presence through range and skill performances. Videos of the kid performing monologues, improvisation, short scenes, and rehearsals can accomplish that due to demonstrating the child's abilities to act on camera.
Kid’s demo reel should start with a visual slate of the actor’s name and contact information, or the kid stating this information themselves, for a few seconds, then move on to the aforementioned footage reels of performance examples. The hiring of a professional video editor should be considered, as they will be able to deliver a more polished final demo reel that is engaging, as well as fits industry standards and casting call typical requirements.
How to Organize a Digital Acting Portfolio for Kids
Once all of the aforementioned acting portfolio contents have been completed, it is time to put it all together. The kid’s acting resume, headshots, and demo reels all should be arranged in a cohesive manner, so casting directors and other industry professionals can easily find the exact information they need without going through clutter.
As the show business industry is fast paced, and most applications for casting calls will be online, it is key to prioritize creating a digital version of the acting portfolio over only a physical one as it allows flexibility in terms of updates and other changes. The digital version will also be able to showcase the demo reels appropriately, as well as save the costs of printing the physical copies and even mailing expenses, if you choose to stick with only the digital portfolio.
Why Regular Portfolio Updates Help Kids Land More Roles
As the kid actor gains more training, participates in more auditions, and gets more acting experience in various types of productions, the acting portfolio must get updated accordingly. Such regular updates are essential for any acting portfolio, as every new relevant information can play a key role in further success at casting calls and beyond.
