IMDB: How you can become part of the biggest online International Movie Data Base
Most actors have heard of IMDB and I am sure and at sometime in our lives we have all used it. You may have wanted to look up a certain actors credits or wanted to check out some ‘Trivia’ on a particular film but the question is…
Is IMDB just for fans and film geeks wanting to show off their movie knowledge at their next social outing?…….
Well, no it’s not!
It is a prime place for actors to market themselves and find brilliant castings, all around the world.
Now if your an actor in the U.K. reading this then there is no doubt you will be on Spotlight, and it’s likely you are a member of Casting Call Pro, Shooting People etc… but if you have a T.V or film credit then GET ON IMDB.
- IMDB is the International Movie Data Base and it literally does what it says on the tin.
Anything that has appeared, or is going to appear on a square like fuzzy box will be on this website. So if you have and I know many actors have, or certainly will do in the future, appear as ‘Policeman 1’ in an episode of The Hill (didn’t want to get sued!) then your name and character name will be on that website. Exciting stuff, eh?!
‘But how does this help me, man who thinks he knows what he’s talking about?’
Well we all know that the hardest part about being an actor is the waiting around for that next audition and I know that we are all a bit guilty of sitting around waiting for that phone call from our agent, saying, ‘Spielberg just rang and he wants you in his next film’ but unfortunately that is unlikely to happen….well it might for some!
So we must go out there and get the work for ourselves but how do we do this?
- By MARKETING OURSELVES!
Keep in mind, you are a business. You’re the CEO of YOU and the best way to promote yourself is by being in as many places as possible, so when a producer does go online and takes a look at you, you’re everywhere.
Now I have persuaded you to join up (optimistic), let me tell you about how IMDB works and how you can start advertising yourself to the world.
• First of all you cannot be on IMDB unless you do have a film or TV credit.
If you do have a credit then great, you will, most likely, have an IMDB page already.
So take a look at IMDB, type your name in and check it out. Now that’s you've done that, delete your history because that looks incredibly arrogant!
Now, the thing about IMDB is it is up to the public to add/delete/update information on people’s pages, which sounds like a bad thing but IMDB are incredibly strict on this, For instance, to update someone’s date of birth, you have to prove their age. This can be by emailing them a copy of a birth certificate or blah blah blah. Very complicated indeed!
But there is a lot of information you can easily update on your own IMDB and this is how….
• First you need to become a member of IMDB Pro, this costs $149.99 per year.
Now i know that’s a lot of money but it’s an investment. Remember you have to spend money to make money and when you’re standing on the red carpet, excepting your Academy Award, it will be well worth it! Once you have done this you can now begin to create your profile! It’s pretty easy.
• Upload your picture, amend any credits if needs be and watch your beautiful face shine on one of the most important acting C.V.’s in the world.
Now like spotlight, IMDB has a ‘Jobs’ page. Film makers put up jobs for actors, which you can apply for. Every time I have been on there the list has been brilliant. I did find that a lot of the jobs on there were auditioning in America (might be a slight commute!) but there are auditions based in the U.K. too and what the hell, you may be going on holiday to the states and could drop by when your over there.
I would highly suggest you do as I say, not just because I’m always right (well apart from the time I wasted money on IMDB…Kidding!) but because growing your profile as an actor is as important as auditioning.
An agent can get you in the room, yes, but it’s your job to be invited back, your job to be brilliant on screen and most importantly your job to be liked by the viewers.
Check out IMDB This can all be done by branding yourself to the highest standard and i know, IMDB can do that.
