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Advice about the Canadian Film Centre's Actor Conservatory from an alumni

I graduated from the Canadian Film Centre’s CBC Actor’s Conservatory in 2017. I’ve been asked about it at least a few dozen times just this month so Ive gathered the most popular questions in this blog.

Should I apply?

I loved it. I look back on it very fondly and feel super lucky to have had that experience. I never attended theatre school so the thing about the CFC that appealed to me the most was getting that daily training and getting to live and breathe the work day in and day out. I loved working and getting to know the amazing group of actors from my year, and learning from the mentors. I was there to be a sponge. If you graduated from Juilliard and are now killing it on stage and in film then maybe you won’t get as much from the experience. I don’t know. I met some wonderful people and grew a lot as an actor.

How do I apply?

http://cfccreates.com/programs/23-cbc-actors-conservatory?child_id=74#tabs

Click on the above link and follow the steps.

What if I dont have a demo reel?

They’re accepting audition tapes. Shameless plug but… I run a SELF TAPE STUDIO with fellow CFC alumni Matthew Gouveia, and a HEADSHOTS STUDIO so, uh, reach out.

Do I need to be an established actor?

The CFC is all about nurturing the next round of talent. Ideally someone with “previous training or experience”. Personally I had some experience as an actor and filmmaker prior to applying to the CFC, and while I didn’t have a theatre school background, I did take many classes. My year was all over the map in terms of experience and age but all of them were fantastic actors and people.

Will it launch my career?

Please don’t go into an acting conservatory with the goal of leaving a celebrity. Go for the experience.

Do they pay you to be there?

There’s bursaries. Read more on their page.

What’s the Close Up?

“The CBC Actors Conservatory CLOSE-UPS are 3- to 5-minute cinematic works based on original characters created by the actors. These productions are intended for the big screen, and are designed to promote the actors and their talents in an entertaining and meaningful way.”

Mine’s here.

They’re awesome showpieces. Its a collaborative process, can be a somewhat tricky road to navigate, but at the end of the day the CFC PRODUCES A SHORT FILM ALL ABOUT YOU AND PAY FOR EVERYTHING.

That’s pretty much it. Good luck with the application.

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FreshBooks Interview with Dan Abramovici - Tips for the Photography DIY-ers

The following is an excerpt from an article by FreshBooks in interview with Dan Abramovici. You can read the full article HERE.

4 Tips for the Photography DIY-ers

If you don’t have the budget for a professional photo shoot, all is not lost. There are lots of ways you can make your amateur photos pop.

PHOTOGRAPHY RULE #1: AVOID THE LOW-RES IPHONE SHOT

We’re all tempted to use that flattering photo of ourselves at a party—you know, the one where you look really good but you have to get creative to crop out your friend/partner/sister. Abramovici tells it to us straight: “It’s a common mistake… and it looks really cheap.” Ouch. Not exactly what we’re trying to convey as a professional entrepreneur.

A quick phone photo of a work-in-progress is okay to post on social media, but if you’re looking to take photos regularly to share with followers or your blog, invest in a DSLR (digital single-lens reflex, FYI) and take a basic photography class or online tutorial. You want the quality of your photographs to reflect the quality of your work.

PHOTOGRAPHY RULE #2: USE THE RULE OF THIRDS

A basic photography composition tip is the rule of thirds. Here’s how it works:

Most DSLR cameras will have an option to show you their grid. That’s nine even squares—three horizontal and three vertical. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t want to position your subject in the middle pane.

According to Digital Photo Secrets, “If your subject is in the middle of the image, it’s considered static. Your eye is drawn to it then has nowhere to go from there because the object is equal distance from all sides… when your subject is positioned closer to one of the edges, it forces your eye to follow it… This allows the viewer to linger on your image longer. It makes for a more captivating photo because it’s almost interactive. Like a conversation going on between the photo and you.”

They use this before-and-after example (via) of a to illustrate the rule.

“It’s good to have an eye for composition—or at least train yourself to have one,” said Abramovici.

PHOTOGRAPHY RULE #3: THINK SLICE OF LIFE

Want to give your clients a taste of what it’s like to use your services? Say it in photos.

“If you have a social media strategy, you’ll want to be constantly posting photos of you doing business. Casual, slice-of-life photos are great to show off your personality and approach to your work,” said Abramovici. “You can brand the photos by putting graphics or fonts over the images to take them to the next level.”

PHOTOGRAPHY RULE #4: MAKE USE OF NATURAL LIGHTING

Another popular misconception is that sunny days are the time to head outside for a photo shoot. “On a sunny day, when you point a camera in front of someone’s face, nine times out of 10 it will look bad,” said Abramovici. “Their nose will cast a shadow on their lips and their forehead will be bright and overexposed.”

Overcast days are better for photographing because the light is softer and more diffused. “You want to be in a place where the light is coming from the front and not all around you. There should be some contrast where the light is framing your face correctly to see bone structure and shape where there should be shape.”

Tunnels, alleyways and under bridges are popular locations for professional photographers because they act as natural light filters. Look for ways to reproduce those conditions.

In our increasingly visual world, a DSLR quick intro-to-photography class could be considered wise expenses for your business. Posting regular photographs of you, your service and your work demonstrate that you’re an engaged entrepreneur who’s proud of your business. We can think of worse reasons to take a selfie!

Like what you’ve read? You can find the full article HERE.

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FreshBooks Interview with Dan Abramovici - Tailor Your Photography to Your Brand

The following is an excerpt from the FreshBooks article you can read HERE.

Tailor Your Photography to Your Brand

It’s critical to show the right side of yourself for the clients you’re hoping to attract. Two of Abramovici’s recent clients highlight the importance of tailoring photography to your brand.

YOUNG, HIP REAL ESTATE AGENT VS. VETERAN REAL ESTATE AGENT

“A 20-something agent will want to show all the young potential homeowners in the urban area she’s catering to that she’s on their level. I might shoot her against exposed brick or a funky pattern, maybe even in a James Bond kind of pose. Someone older or in a suburban area would choose something different—probably a more corporate shot that conveys that they bring a steady hand to the job.”

PERSONAL FITNESS UPGRADE

“A personal trainer is rebranding to target a high-achieving corporate crowd. These are the folks who wake up at 4am, get their workout in, then wake up the kids and get them to school before attacking their day. The video and photography needs to look like it would belong in a high-end magazine. It should have more of a fashion shoot type of feel to it, with high-contrast chrome, shiny, black and white. We’re selling the idea of a premium product.

“This is very different than what we did for him when he was casting a wider net in the past. That was more of a smiley, friendly, casual and approachable feel to it.”

If you’re not sure how you want to frame yourself, Abramovici suggests scoping out your competition. How are they presenting themselves to the kind of clients you want? “See what you can do to tweak the look so you can better define yourself in a crowded market.”

You can read the rest of this article HERE

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FreshBooks Interview with Dan Abramovici - Using Photography to Market Your Business

The following is an excerpt from an article published on FreshBooks based on an interview conducted with Dan Abramovici.

According to a 2016 Social Media Marketing Industry Report, 37 percent of marketers said visual marketing was the most important form of content for their business.

It’s a growing trend and it’s easy to see why: studies suggest that 65 per cent of us are visual learners. That means we grasp information faster and better—and retain it longer—when it’s accompanied by (or in the form of) a visual. (Hello, PowerPoint!)

But in our super digital world, we can do better than a tired slide deck to drum up sales and show off our business’s best assets. We picked the brain of professional photographer Dan Abramovici to get his expert advice on how to use photography to your marketing advantage.

In an Ideal World: Hire a Professional Photographer

In addition to providing you with high-quality images, a professional photographer will offer smart advice about how to present yourself to your ideal clients. They’ll also be able to work some post-production magic on any flaws.

“Photography is a visual representation of your brand. Oftentimes the first impression that a potential client will have about who you are, what you represent and what you do is from your photo,” said Abramovici.

TIPS ON HIRING A PRO:

He suggests looking for a photographer that specializes in corporate or advertising photography. Before you set up a shoot, be sure they understand:

What is your business?
What is your brand identity?
Who are your ideal clients and what do they value?

“Photography is a visual representation of your brand. Oftentimes the first impression that a potential client will have about who you are, what you represent and what you do is from your photo.”

A great grasp of who you are and what you’re communicating to will inform your wardrobe, lighting, location and even the way you look at the camera, says Abramovici. A good professional photographer will ask the right questions to make sure they understand your goals. They’ll also provide ideas about what to wear, how to hold your body and where to take photos that show you off in the best possible way for your brand. Finally, they’ll have all the right equipment (including lighting, studio backdrops and post-production software and expertise) to be sure you get a polished look.

Before settling on a professional, check out their website and portfolio to see if they have the look you’re going for. Ask questions about their experience and what they would recommend for what you’re trying to achieve. Find out if they have a studio, how many clothing changes they suggest, how long the photo session will be and the cost of touched-up photos.

You can find the rest of the article HERE.

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Maximize Your Reach with these Marketing Tools

Maximize Your Business Reach With These Marketing Tools

As an entrepreneur, do you try to save money as often as you can? Are you looking for ways to effectively market your company and capitalize on the market for the lowest price?

This list will give you some of the most important tools to effectively market your company.

  1. HootSuite

Hootsuite is a full service online brand management and social media tool used for outlets such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. This tool will allow users to schedule, curate and send social media posts all from one location.

If you own a business but don’t have a dedicated social media team, this tool will allow you to create a constant stream of information during specific times each day so you won’t have to be hooked to your accounts.

  1. CRM (Customer Relationship Management)

Customer Relationship Management is a model for managing interactions with customers, clients, and sales prospects. The best CRM solutions are more than just basic information like your customer’s name and email address; more robust CRMs serve as a roadmap leading to business success through tracking psychographic information, scheduling follow-ups, setting reminders, and converting leads into deals.

  1. Use MailChimp for email marketing

Email marketing is crucial to the success of businesses. Although social media does have the benefit of reaching a wide variety of people, you can’t deliver a targeted message to an individual like email does. MailChimp allows you to create professional looking emails and automate your marketing. MailChimp provides a more intimate connection between the brand and consumer by offering the tools you need to send marketing emails, automated messages, and targeted campaigns.

  1. WordPress

A vast majority of businesses need a web presence to stay competitive in their market. However, those who don’t know much about web development/ design may be intimidated. If you’re one of those people, then don’t worry; WordPress exists. This time-tested content management system offers a great and easy solution to website creation, design, and improvement.

  1. Evernote

Have you had that “A-hah!” moment when you think of a great idea for your business and need to write it down right away? Evernote makes that possible. It will help you capture ideas, inspiration, and trends, all while storing it in one easily accessible location.

You can access it on your phone, tablet, or laptop, making it the perfect tool for finding and storing content ideas, market research, brainstorming notes, and competitive analyses.

And, of course, having great portraits that represent you well are always key to have on your home page or social media account. If you’re looking for the best business portraits in Toronto you can visit us at Abramovici Studios.

Toronto actors can get professional headshots and also great demo reels at Callback Headshots

And for our Los Angeles clients we offer professional portraits for actors and business headshots at LA Headshots and Reels

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Corporate Headshots Do's and Dont's

Good Corporate photography doesn’t take much gear, but it does take planning, patience, and practice.  The first impression sets the tone, and you want to make sure it’s a good one. It is proven that consumers react positively to engaging imagery so why jeopardize yourself with an unpleasant photo.

These Do’s and Don’ts of Business Headshots will help you speak to your market. These are things we watch for if you book with us, but you can also use these tips with the photographer of your choice

Do focus on the eyes

The eyes of your subject no matter what should be the main focus to lock in your viewers interest. If you hadn’t heard before, the eyes are the windows into the soul. Use fill cards, flash with a diffuser, and choose poses and backdrops that bring out a person’s natural eye twinkle.

Dress for the job you want

Choose clothing pieces that are clean, professional and represent your career. Use small touches that will showcase your personality. Don’t have a big clothes budget? Stores like The Bay have a generous return policy… You can make like a wardrobe stylist and buy and return.

Don’t wear excessive patterns and accessories

Avoid picking out styles with bold patterns. Try to stick to solid colors. You want to make sure that the stuff you’re being photographed in now will still be in your rotation a few months from now.

Work in a comfortable space and be yourself

Now isn’t the time to put on a show. We want to see you in those pictures and to do that you need to be made comfortable. Be sure that you are in a place where you can bring out your personality naturally and comfortably. Smile to your comfort level. Dress the way you like to dress.

Don’t be in a busy environment

When looking for a location definitely choose a place where you will not be competing for  attention. Locations of where you work or items in the background that signify who you are.

Do trust your photographer

Hire a photographer you can trust for the job. Once you have… Trust them. The shoot will go easier and smoother for you if you listen to the professional and follow along, rather than trying to micromanage every step of the shoot. That said, communicate with your photographer prior to the shoot so that you are on the same page in terms of the look you want to achieve.

Don’t keep outdated images

Yes, that shot of you from five years ago does need refreshing. You want the images to reflect who you are right now. Larger companies tend to ask photographers to visit them several times per year, and developing a good relationship with a trusted experience professional photographer will add stability and consistency to your images.  

We hope you found the above tips helpful. With LinkedIn and other social media platform, having up to date photos is a huge asset in your professional development. If you have any questions about corporate portraits feel free to comment below or CONTACT US.

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Air Farce New Year Special 2017 - Photography by Callback Headshots

In what has become a bit of a tradition, we were invited to once again shoot CBC’s talented Air Farce cast ahead of their 2017 New Year Special!!!

From the CBC website:

Viewers will see what Ferguson describes as the “best cast ever” in the troupe’s 43-year history.

“The cast was like a love-in this year. Everybody was so happy with everyone else. It’s the kind of thing you dream of when you’re working on a show.”

Watch it here: http://www.cbc.ca/holidayguide/schedule/air-farce-new-years-eve

Hope you enjoy. Click to enlarge.

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Actor Advice - How to Find The Right Agent For You!

One of the things I get asked the most is if I have some advice on getting an agent. Not just any agent, but a “good” agent.

Having a good agent, that is an agent that is right for you, is absolutely critical in finding success as a television and film actor. You can certainly rep yourself, but without a registered agent who believes in you and pushes you for projects, you are unlikely to get into many casting sessions. But how do you know if you are a fit with the agent? How do you know if an agency is too big or too small? How can you know if they are working for you?

Here are some tips:

How do you know if your agent is working for you? Ask questions. Do Research. You can ask what breakdowns your agent has submitted you on. You can also look on IMDB and other resources to see what is shooting in your city.

Find an agent you actually like. Who you feel comfortable talking to. You and your agent are going to have a very close relationship and are partners in this thing. Don’t waste your time with someone you have to chase down or who treats you like an employee. Remember: It’s a partnership, and if we want to get technical, your agent works for you.

Be realistic about the agency you need. Look at your resume. Are you ready for a big agency? Sometimes moving to the big agencies too quickly means you can get lost in the shuffle. They might push you for a month then get back to their all star clients. A boutique agent might be the better move until you’ve gotten some credits. However, too small and you might not get seen. This is a conversation to have with the agency at the interview.

Take meetings with different agents. I met a few actors who just went with the first agent they met. Take a few meetings and see who you click with.

Create your own work. I found that if I wanted more opportunities, it was very useful to create my own work. It was hugely rewarding, changed my life in many wonderful ways, and opened many doors. More on that in another blog 🙂

How to approach agencies? I’m going to write another blog about just thing but it starts with a resume, cover letter, great headshots, and a reel if you have it. You’re in the right place for headshots and reels!! The cover letter can be short and sweet and tell them a bit about who you are. Who to contact? Go down the list of agents at ACTRA or SAG and approach the one that are right for your level of experience and offer what you’re looking for. Looking to do film and tv? Don’t approach background agencies. Theatre? Look for ones that specifically list theatre.

I bounced around between different huge agencies over the last few years and only in the last year or so did I find my perfect fit. For too many years I was afraid to ask those questions and just took whatever my agent said as gospel. The agent I have now feels like a real teammate and I can talk to her openly about any questions or concerns I might have.

Good luck! Feel free to reach out with any questions.

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Real Estate Advice - How to get Great Realtor Portraits for your business card, LinkedIn, Web, etc

A great portrait is one that represents you, on your best day, to your clients. You want to come off as professional but also approachable and friendly. Easier said than done? Not so much. There’s a few simple rules to follow to get you great portraits that’ll get you great results and open doors.

Shoot with great equipment and in front a flattering backdrop. It sounds so obvious but I can’t tell you how many portraits I’ve seen where the person is shot in their kitchen, with unflattering lighting, and by a phone camera. It’s the cheapest way to get the job done but it hurts more than it helps. Light evenly and, if possible, shoot in front of a relatively spare background that brings out your eyes. Or, hire a professional. You’re in the right place! 🙂

Only shoot outside or in an office environment if you can control the lighting. Flourescent tube lighting is flattering. If you can get lighting from a big window or from LED or flash then great. If you are shooting in an office then be sure to get rid of the mess and find an area that photographs well.

Clothing options – Business, business casual, and maybe casual. You don’t need all of the shots to be a full suit. Think about your brand and the audience you are catering to. Would some prefer to work with a realtor who seems casual and friendly? Even if you are targeting a more upscale crowd it might benefit you to do some with a full suit and a few with the jacket off and sleeves rolled up.

You don’t have to smile, but it helps. Not everyone is comfortable with a full-toothed smile. At Abramovici Studios we help you out with that but some tricks include doing a half smile, closed mouthed smile, etc. If that fails a kind face and a motivation of being interested will help get that friendliness across.

Crop tight for web, LinkedIn, and business cards. If the image is going to show up small on a phone screen or business card then the viewer will want to be able to see your eyes. A full body will make you look distant and standoffish. Save those for the billboards. For small screens and cards it works well to crop the image just above the waist.

Hope this helps you out. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out and of course we would be happy to work with you on your portraits or video bios.

Here are a few examples of working real estate agents we have worked with:

Click on a photo to enlarge. And to book a session CLICK HERE

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photography for CBC Air Farce New Year's Special!!!

Tonight on CBC Television – Click HERE for showtimes

If you grew up in Canada there is a good chance you watched Don Ferguson, Luba Goy, and the rest of this classic comedy team do their thing on CBC. In recent years they’ve been joined by Emma Hunter, Little Mosque on The Prairie’s Darryl Hinds, standup comedian great Aisha Alfa,and returning (verry funny) cast member Craig Lauzon, for a yearly special that skewers contemporary Canadian and pop culture.

This year once again, Air Farce asked us, through Callback Headshots, to do all the promo shots for the special. You can catch the shots on their site, in various media, and on the show opening credit sequence.

Hope you enjoy. Click to enlarge.

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