When is an acting credit really a resume-worthy credit?

When is an acting credit really a resume-worthy credit?

Good question from John, a young actor who recently located to Los Angeles from Connecticut. He sent me an e-mail with an important question that is worth sharing.

John wrote:

“I'm meeting with a few agents next week and I'm very excited about it. During the last few months since I last updated my resume, I have done a couple of acting jobs and I'm wondering if I should update my resume to include these credits. I was in a telephone commercial and I was an extra on a television show.

I looked at the templates in your book and realized that I can't really
put down the commercial because you are supposed to put ‘conflicts upon
request’ instead and I can't put the television show because I wasn't
a lead or supporting role. Should I even try updating my resume or is
it not worth it?”

My response:

Always update your resume and keep it current when you have something resume-worthy to add. Now there’s the really big question: What makes a credit “resume-worthy?”

Did you have speaking part? Were you featured (and I mean really featured, not just an extra part that you pumped up)? The answer to this question lies in the answer to three other questions that only you can answer: What kind of actor are you? What kind of actor do you want to become? What does your resume say about what kind of actor you are now and what your potential is later?

Having said that, as chapter 7 in the book says, never put commercials on your resume (unless you are well known or very recognizable from a commercial you appear or appeared in) and never list extra work on your resume, unless it is your goal to be a professional extra, which many "working" actors happily are.

When it’s time to update and revise your resume, be sure that you do so not just on the version you have on the back of your head shot that you use to submit yourself or the shots you take with you to auditions, but also on the hard copies you give your agent or manager (if you are represented) and on the online versions on your resume for any Web-based submission service you use (like ActorsAccess.com or LACasting.com).

I hope this helps.


I have been receiving many e-mails about the value of self-submissions by actors through the various electronic services available. I’ll address that next time.

In the meantime, if you have a question, comment or response, I would like to hear it through your posting here directly or by e-mail to blemack@TheBusinessOfActing.com

BL