How often do we hear about Pilot and Award Seasons? These two are the most glamorous, and the ones we all dream about. Award season ended with the Oscars, as it always does. And, right now, we are still in pilot season, when all the major parts of TV shows are cast and the pilots are shot, but, pilot season is almost over. For most networks, pilot season runs from January to April. So are “out of work” actors “out of luck” too?
Actually, quite the contrary, though pilot season gets all the buzz, Episodic Season is where unknown actors really get a chance to shine. Of course, we all want to be cast in the pilot, but the reality is that unless you are already established and well represented, scoring a series regular role in a network television show is close to impossible. However, during episodic season, when the pilots that were picked up are filming, tons of previously undiscovered actors fill the smaller parts. In fact, more actors are cast during episodic season than pilot, and who hasn’t seen a younger version of a favorite star playing a friend or a love interest during a single episode of a known series? A collection of smaller parts is what tells casting directors that an actor is ready for the starring roles.
Best of all, for a lot of these roles, you don’t even have to have representation. Often the money paid for these gigs is not enough to incite agents to connect their clients to the show and casting directors resort to hiring actors they have previously seen in auditions, acting reels, and even theater.
Hiatus is coming. Hiatus season is the time to strategize and make sure you have the most exposure. For network TV, episodic season runs from August to November. You might think that that is a long time away, but it’s not – especially if you are not in a casting director’s radar yet. How are your headshots? How is your acting reel? If these are not up to date, this is the time to update them; this is the time to send your best material to casting directors - who are not as busy as they are in other times of the year. And who knows, for streaming outlets, such as Netflix and Hulu, the TV seasons are not nearly as cut and dry, and you could be cast in a major role for one of these any time of the year. But it all starts with having the right exposure: a professional reel that showcases your personality, talent, and style at the highest standards.
At Award Winning Reels, we specialize in producing and editing reels for actors who want to present their individuality and talent in the most professional way. In the case that you don’t yet have the quality of footage you wish you had, we also write, produce, and shoot professional level scenes tailor-made to showcase your true potential. Now is the time to act!
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