Act Acting » Acting Audition » Resume lies?

Resume lies?

Question:

I was just advised by a well-repected, experienced acting coach (turning writer/director) to lie on my resume because I have some TV and commercial work and that’s it. What do you say, you of years of experience?

I recently audited a class where the instructor recommend that to me, too.  I’m 40 and though new to the biz, I moved on.  I’m old enough to know that we create our own heaven and hell right here on earth and I do enough creating of my own hell inadvertently without trying to do it deliberately. — Daniel www.DanielNorton.net

Response:

I was just advised by a well-repected, experienced acting coach (turning writer/director) to lie on my resume because I have some TV and commercial work and that’s it.

 Don’t lie because then you will find yourself in over your head and having to deal things beyond your experience. Perhaps what he meant was to "plump up the truth". This is something almost everybody tries to do to a greater or lesser degree with their c.v.’s. Take the experience you do have and word it up a bit, that’s all. regards, ‘ness –x–

Response:

A theater manager recommended I lie on my resume also. I don’t. For all the reasons mentioned before. Also because, acting is ultimately about honesty. Honestly protraying events in life. I didn’t want to walk into auditions feeling like I had "FRAUD" stamped on my forhead, even if it was in invisible ink (I also didn’t lie because I’m not a liar.) Scott

Response:

Some things are worth more to some people than others.  My self respect and the earned respect of others is more important to me than a couple extra auditions the lies might get me. It’s a very personal business and full of personal choices and dilemmas. But I really believe that what goes around comes around.  If you play straight up with everybody, you’ll get the same breaks in return. You already know the answer or you wouldn’t have posted the question.  Good for you. Paul

I was just advised by a well-repected, experienced acting coach (turning writer/director) to lie on my resume because I have some TV and commercial work and that’s it. In the audition, when the auditioner asks about a lie, he said to say, "I had to lie or else how could I get to see you?" Okay, I admit I have to work more on student films, etc. to flesh out my resume, but I do have some experience and after all, I am relatively new anyway. But lie? In my business experience, the second a lie is exposed, a candidate is finished and will be talked about negatively at any given opportunity. Is it really that different in tinseltown? A producer friend told me absolutely not to lie – wow. Confusion abounds. What do you say, you of years of experience?

Response:

I agree with you 100% about telling fibs, nawt to be gained. regards, ‘ness –x–

Response:

I was just advised by a well-repected, experienced acting coach (turning writer/director) to lie on my resume because I have some TV and commercial work and that’s it. In the audition, when the auditioner asks about a lie, he said to say, "I had to lie or else how could I get to see you?"   Okay, I admit I have to work more on student films, etc. to flesh out my resume, but I do have some experience and after all, I am relatively new anyway. But lie? In my business experience, the second a lie is exposed, a candidate is finished and will be talked about negatively at any given opportunity. Is it really that different in tinseltown? A producer friend told me absolutely not to lie – wow. Confusion abounds. What do you say, you of years of experience?

Response:

I was just advised by a well-repected, experienced acting coach (turning writer/director) to lie on my resume because I have some TV and commercial work and that’s it. What do you say, you of years of experience?

There is karma, even in this business.  If you lie on a resume, you will be caught, and the consequences can be severe. I had a small role in a film years ago in which another actor and I were supposed to mount our horses and charge up a hill.  The other actor had listed on his resume that he was experienced.  I knew we were in trouble when he mounted the horse from the wrong side. On the first action cue, I took off and the other actor’s horse stood still.  Take 2, he fell off the horse midway up the hill, and take 3, his horse bucked him.  Angry confrontation between director and actor, and what I heard later was that the actor confessed that his total experience in horseback riding was a "ride-the-pony" in a carnival when he was five.  This "lie" cost the production company $5,000 in lost production time.  The actor never worked in this market again…. word does get around. I was casting a show some years ago, shook hands with the actor and read his impressive resume with interest until I came across a certain credit.  "Hmmm, what year did you appear in Richard II?"  "Sometime in the late 60s I think."  "That’s odd, I played Richard at the Champlain Shakespeare Festival…."  I stared at him and smiled, seconds ticked away.  Finally he left the audition and I continued casting…. with actors who don’t lie.   Sooner or later if you lie, you will get caught. Break a leg, Bill — THE ACTING STUDIO http://gvtg.com/theactingstudio

Response:

- In the audition, when the auditioner asks about a lie, he said to – say, "I had to lie or else how could I get to see you?" If you said that to me I would NEVER trust you for anything. I would not even know if you would show up if I hired you, so I would hire you. Ray Normandeau, Rita Frazier (Normandeau); NYC actors. http://www.buzznyc.com/actors/res.frazier.rita.html http://www.buzznyc.com/actors/res.normandeau.raymond.html BOTH now in Adidas/Yankee Stadium commercials on cable TV

Response:

This may have gone out already missing the "NOT" work. – In the audition, when the auditioner asks about a lie, he said to – say, "I had to lie or else how could I get to see you?" If you said that to me I would NEVER trust you for anything. I would not even know if you would show up if I hired you, so I would NOT hire you. Ray Normandeau, Rita Frazier (Normandeau); NYC actors. http://www.buzznyc.com/actors/res.frazier.rita.html http://www.buzznyc.com/actors/res.normandeau.raymond.html BOTH now in Adidas/Yankee Stadium commercials on cable TV

Response:

I was just advised by a well-repected, experienced acting coach (turning writer/director) to lie on my resume because I have some TV and commercial

work and that’s it. In the audition, when the auditioner asks about a lie, he said to say, "I had

to lie or else how could I get to see you?" In my business experience, the second a lie is exposed, a candidate is

finished and will be talked about negatively at any given opportunity. Is it really that different in tinseltown? It’s not different at all.  Do not lie.  You will see the auditions you are supposed to see and if you lie you may be at auditions you are not ready for (yet) and that could set you back further.  Could set your agent back. Do not lie. Anything you lie about will be an important enough job that someone will know of it.  LA is all about serendipity, synchronicity, and karma.   Do not lie.  There are more effective ways of getting in to an office.  Try walking in (for one).  But do not lie.  Not only will producers not want to work with you, but if the see you again, they’ll warn their player friends in the vicinity.  Do not lie. Lollar

Response:

Related Posts

Leave a Reply