\n<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the most wonderful time of the year! That is, of course, unless you\u2019re an actor staring down 2025 with little thought to what you\u2019re going to do\u2026 December and January can be tough for actors: the industry is quiet, the uncertainty kicks in and your family won\u2019t stop asking you questions about when you\u2019ll get that Real Job. So it\u2019s actually the perfect time to start setting goals as an actor in 2025: hit the ground running and enjoy the confidence that comes from a plan well reckoned.<\/p>\n
When setting goals as an actor in 2025, be clear and reasonable with what you can achieve. Learn from the year just passed, and separate your craft and career goals. Develop your skillset and review your actor\u2019s toolkit so that your headshots, CV and showreel all display you at your best (and most current.) Finally, make 2025 a year of new experiences and immersing yourself in the arts. Watch films, read books and plays, see theatre and seek out new avenues for your career\u2014such as working on stage.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n If you are feeling overwhelmed at the thought of another year to fill with the hustle of the actor\u2019s life, don\u2019t let that alarm you. Such feelings are valid, and arguably display a sense of rationality that is vital to a career in the arts. It\u2019s a good time of year to remind yourself that most of us feel the same way, and that we\u2019re all in this together. Strangely comforting, no?<\/p>\n This time last year, I was writing our article on\u00a0Being an Actor in 2024<\/a>; a lot of the advice has carried over, and a lot of the concerns explored are still very much with us. AI is still a threat, unions<\/a> are paramount to the continued success of the acting profession, and your creative community<\/a> of friends and peers are still your best weapon against the negativity and uncertainty of the business.<\/p>\n It pays to look back before you plan ahead. What did you achieve in 2024? What did you learn? Are there any things that surprised you\u2014for better or worse? Always look for ways to learn from what you\u2019ve done previously, whether it\u2019s a deep-dive into your career choices in a twelve-month period, or a simple review of your last self-tape.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t dwell on the past: this is not a call for you to scrutinise and punish yourself for missed opportunities or simple mistakes. But take time to do some honest reflection.<\/p>\n Not so much goals to set, but how best to set them. Think about what you want to achieve in 2025, and ask yourself whether your goal falls under the category of craft or career. Craft and career both require your attention. But keep the pursuit of each separate, and attack the given task with the right tool for the job.<\/p>\n Craft relates to your process and ability as an actor.<\/strong> It\u2019s how well your act, how you go about your practice and everything you need to do your job\u2014from vocal work to characterisation to script analysis<\/a>. Career is how you progress in the industry.<\/strong> It covers auditioning, finding an agent, working with a particular producer or director, the kinds of jobs you shoot for.<\/p>\n Simply put: don\u2019t attack a craft problem with career solutions, and vice versa. Sending ten self-tapes out a month isn\u2019t going to help you improve your ability to break down a screenplay<\/a>, any more than practicing monologues will help you land a good agent.<\/p>\n Make 2025 the year you\u00a0really\u00a0<\/em>focus on the aspects of your acting that need attention. Are you aware of skills you could do better? Are there recurring issues that hold you back in auditions or self-tapes? It\u2019s time to double down: turn these liabilities into core strengths of your practice.<\/p>\n While musicians play scales, dancers stretch and athletes train, actors tend to need a push when it comes to honing and practicing their craft. Far too many actors graduate from a theatre school degree, for instance, and never take another class again. You don\u2019t even have to take a professional class: ten minutes of vocal warm-ups<\/a> every day will put you so far ahead of the pack your head will spin. As will learning how to interrogate a playtext\u2014a practice you can do on the bus ride home from work!<\/p>\n Be honest with yourself\u00a0 about what needs improvement in your process, and put that front and centre when setting goals as an actor in 2025.<\/p>\n Here at StageMilk, we refer to the holy trinity of career materials actors require as the \u2018actor\u2019s toolkit\u2019. These are your headshots<\/strong>, your CV<\/strong> and your showreel<\/strong>. When setting goals in 2025, ensure that a review and update of these things as needed happens nice and early. You want them ready to go when the industry starts up again.<\/p>\n Your CV is simple enough: ensure it is up to date and streamlined. Put your credits at the top and your training at the end, and ensure that it\u2019s no longer than a single A4 page. Headshots can be expensive (especially after the holiday season) but are a delightful confidence boost, as well as a conversation starter with potential agents\/representation.<\/p>\n The big one to tackle is your showreel. These days, the industry favours self-tape showreels over clips of existing work<\/strong>. It\u2019s not about the work you\u2019ve previously done\u2014that\u2019s what your CV is for. It\u2019s about displaying where you\u2019re at as an actor, right here and now in the new year: \u201cIf you hire me, here\u2019s what I\u2019m capable of.\u201d<\/em> Plan, shoot, don\u2019t hesitate. You should be updating it again in another six months anyway.<\/p>\n Ensure your goals in 2025 include watching lots of movies and television. See live theatre, read plays and books and play video games. Immerse yourself in art, and draw inspiration from it as an artist. Elsewhere on this site, we\u2019ve outlined how to watch a film as an actor<\/a>, because your consuming of art should never be passive. You\u2019re in the biz: learn from what your peers are doing. Can you use that? Can you do something differently, or even better?<\/p>\n The other reason it\u2019s important to keep experiencing art is that it puts you one a more level playing field with the creatives looking to hire you. Directors, producers, designers and even casting directors think in the language of the art that\u2019s come before them. They\u2019ll reference films, books, famous characters or performances. Know what they\u2019re talking about: meet them half way!<\/p>\n One final thing: diversify the things you watch. Comfort-watch faves are extremely important, beautiful things. But they won\u2019t make you a better actor. Watch things that challenge you, surprise you. And try to put down your phone when you do.<\/p>\n When Denzel Washington<\/a> hit the press junkets to promote\u00a0Gladiator II,\u00a0<\/em>he was asked a myriad of questions by journalists looking for advice on the art of acting. What did he tell them time and time again? To do theatre. To learn from theatre, and treat it as an acting school of its own.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re new to the idea of live performance, make 2025 the year you engage with theatre. Learn to audition in a live capacity, fill a space with your voice. It\u2019s worth examining the plans of independent theatre companies<\/a> in your area\u2014follow them on their socials, as they\u2019ll often announce auditions for projects you\u2019ll otherwise miss on platforms like Spotlight or Backstage.<\/p>\n A lot of screen actors I coach are hesitant to commit to theatre, as it asks a lot of time and effort. I remind them (as I\u2019ll assure you now) that at a smaller, indie level, the work-life balance and schedule of actors is always taken into consideration. The money isn\u2019t great \u2026 but if that\u2019s the deal-breaker I have some rough news for you about our calling.<\/p>\n When setting goals as an actor in 2025, ensure that one of them includes the creation of your own work. Write a short script, write a play, develop a starring vehicle for yourself<\/a>. You might even be bold enough to produce for or direct other actors you know!<\/p>\n Actors with lasting success in our industry are often those who can make their own opportunities. If you aren\u2019t finding yourself cast in the work of others, take matters into your own hands. This also elevates your status in the industry to that of other makers\/producers\/creatives. In the past, they were your potential employers. Now, they\u2019re your peers.<\/p>\n Creating your own work is also a terrific way to develop as an actor. There\u2019s no better way to improve your understanding and respect for a script than becoming a writer yourself. You\u2019ll understand just how much work goes into making a scene comprehensible, engaging, filled with individual characters driven by unique objectives<\/a>. When you return to your practice as an actor, you\u2019ll bring that understanding and perspective with you.<\/p>\n One final piece of advice, all-too-often forgotten at this time of year by creatives. Take some time to rest and relax over the holiday period. By all means, look back on 2024 and all it gave you\u2014and start setting goals as an actor in 2025. But somewhere in this holiday period, do some well-deserved relaxing and recharging<\/a>. Not only do you deserve it, you\u00a0need\u00a0<\/em>it if you want to take the new year by storm.<\/p>\n Speaking of: it\u2019s Christmas Eve. I\u2019m at the airport, on my way to visit family in a place with plenty of beaches. I think it\u2019s time to take my own advice and seek out some kind of festive cocktail. Thank you all for a wonderful year, and see you all too soon in 2025.<\/p>\n Happy holidays!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nLooking Back at 2024<\/h2>\n
Separate \u201cCraft\u201d and \u201cCareer\u201d Goals<\/h2>\n
Develop your Skills<\/h2>\n
Tune your Actor\u2019s Toolkit<\/h2>\n
Watching, Reading, Seeing, Playing<\/h2>\n
A Theatre Year<\/h2>\n
Create Your Own Work<\/h2>\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n