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How to List Industrials and Commercials on Your Actor's Resume

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An actor's resume is his calling card. Typically, the resume is one page in length and lists all applicable credentials, including experience, education and skills, such as horseback riding or singing. Although commercials and industrial films don't generate large box-office income, they do show experience and the ability to be cast in a part. Experts in the entertainment industry advise actors to list commercials and industrials in general terms, with an offer to name each work upon request.

Design your resume with the most important credits at the top. Movies with well-known actors are a priority. Place large theater productions next. Name the movie and the well-known actor, as well as the director, in these areas.

Include commercials and industrial films under the theater listings. Use the wording "Commercials and Industrials." Listing individual commercials or industrials by name is frowned upon.

Write in parentheses "(conflicts available upon request)." This offers to list all commercials and industrials if the producer or director wishes to see them in case there's a conflict of interest. For example, perhaps you were cast in a nationally released commercial about a particular brand of cranberry juice, and now you're being considered for a juice commercial for a competitor. Because you don't always know the company funding the commercial for which you audition, you may not be aware of a conflict. The offer to produce your list of works upon request resolves any question of a conflict.

Offer the same list of conflicts for industrials. Although the one sentence in parentheses covers both commercials and industrials, create one list of commercials and one list of industrial films to keep on hand in case they're requested.

Tip

Choose a 12-point, easy-to-read font.

Warning

Never lie on your resume about commercials, industrials or anything else. Credentials are easily checked — you don't want to develop a reputation as a liar in the industry.

References
Writer

Candace Webb has been writing professionally since 1989. She has worked as a full-time journalist as well as contributed to metropolitan newspapers including the "Tennessean." She has also worked on staff as an associate editor at the "Nashville Parent" magazine. Webb holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism with a minor in business from San Jose State University.

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