ACTOR THERAPY’S BRANDING WORKSHEET

This worksheet is there to encourage artists to identify their specificity (also known as the dreaded word, “type”). These questions are going to require you to make a very deep-dive into who you are and ask you to be comfortable owning every part of yourself. Some important caveats:

Remember you’re describing who you are *today.* This WILL change, tomorrow, next year, maybe later. But don’t be afraid to honor who you are today, instead of the person you haven’t met yet or are journeying toward.

Many artists fear being “too specific” and instead rely on a general view of themselves—ya know, just in case they have to be Belle on Monday and Velma Von Tussle on Tuesday! But that’s not how New York City, and professional casting works. People at the highest levels are not looking for someone who, contorting themselves, can do anything; they are looking for someone who is among the best in the world at the thing they need them to do. Embracing your most intimate specificity will inevitably mean you are not going to be “right” for everything; but it will also mean that for plenty of opportunities, you are already at the top of the pile before you even walk into the room.

PART I: ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

Name

First Name

Last Name

Describe your voice. Consider beginning with general voice type (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass). From there, give thought to qualities that are notable about your voice and feel important to mention. In choosing the following modifiers you’re simultaneously acknowledging what you do really well while also mentioning what you might do not-as-well. (Many actors are afraid to not “be everything” but the truth is, it’s better to be the best at a few things than imply you’re pretty darn good at a hundred things). Consider whether your voice sits exceptionally high or low; add words that may articulate placement (belt, head voice, falsetto, mix etc.); and finally, are there any style you particularly excel at? Rock, pop, gospel, legit, opera/operetta? As a rule of thumb, including words about vocal style may give you a leg up when that style is needed but may also imply that the style is ingrained into your voice.

Describe yourself physically—both your looks and your style. This is, of course, an extremely sensitive exercise for many of us, but we encourage you to be brave and focus on describing yourself in a way that makes you feel confident! For a moment describe yourself the way you feel a supportive best friend or parent might describe you. Finally, if there’s anything about your appearance or style that feels of a particularly well-known style that you feel is a part of who you are—goth, nerd, preppie, hipster—include it here.

Describe your energy. Avoid words that make it sound like you’re trying to get into college or land an office job (“astute,” “punctual,” “professional”) or a brand-new friend (“trustworthy,” “loyal”). Think about your natural human energy. You know someone who is flirtatious, bubbly, intimidating, icy, witty, cutting, bright-eyed, loud, silly, ditzy, etc. … qualities that seem to suggest character. Of course you are a human, and you are many things, so don’t be afraid to create opposites here (“an intimidating teddy bear, the giant kind a small child wins at a fair”). Avoid thinking of qualities as negative or positive. Jane Krakowski has been playing sexy ditzes most of her life; Patrick Page is always the dark-hearted villain.

Identify your authenticity in all the ways that make you feel proud. For many actors, creative teams, and casting, authenticity is an important part. Authenticity can be about ethnicity, nationality, or race (“proud Filipina,” “Canadian,” “Black girl magic”); it can be your hometown (“I’m a California girl!”); your gender or sexuality (“a lesbian actress,” “Queer,” “non-binary,” “a trans woman”); it can be your disability or neuro-divergence (“I’m an actor with CP,” “I exist on the autism spectrum”); or any other groups with which you identify (“I’m a gamer,” “I’ve been a band geek my whole life”). None of this is meant to exploit your authenticity; it is meant to put forward anything you WANT to put forward, anything you feel is a part of the story you bring to the table. You may, for example, identify as Catholic and from Connecticut, but neither of those things feel proudly a part of your story. Then don’t include them!

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS What’s your favorite color. Use two words (“hot pink,” “neon green,” “oxblood red”). If you aren’t sure or are having trouble deciding—press yourself to decide! It’s not that deep. In one brief sentence, why do you love this color and why have you given the descriptor you’ve given?

Name three of your favorite films—three movies you’d gladly watch back-to-back tonight. What do these choices say about you? Is there anything they have in common? Are there difference enough that suggest a range of interest for you?

What album would you take with you to a deserted island? Why this one album?

Name some food/drink you just don’t like that everyone else likes. Why do you think they like it, why don’t you like it, and what does this say about you?

If you could spend 6 months in another place, where would it be? No rules apply. Why would you want to go there? Finally, do you think this place would change you? If so, how—and what does that say about who you are TODAY?

Who would/should play you in a TV movie? Why this person? What do you love or hate about this person, and what does it say about you?

They say we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with. Who are they for you, briefly, and what qualities do you think each of them brings out in you?

What’s your cocktail of choice (or relaxing beverage of choice)? Why do you love this? This being something you’d probably be seen drinking, how do you think other people interpret this choice as what it says about you?

Say something strange about yourself. What does this fact say about you—and also, what does your CHOICE of this fact (instead of others) say about you?

What Netflix (etc.) genre would you choose on Friday night alone? Presumably, this genre interests you but also feels like comfort food. What does that say about you?

What’s something most people don’t care for, but you like? A guilty pleasure perhaps. What does this say about “most people”—and what does it say about you?

What’s something you wish you could take back (yes, we all don’t like to have regrets, but give this some thought)? While it probably helped in making you who you are today, maybe something about this past thing doesn’t align with who you are today. Describe that dichotomy, always with an eye to knowing more of your present self in the shadow of your past self.

If you had a super-fun catchphrase what would it be? (Real Housewives Style!) What does this say about you?

If you had a statement, philosophy, or saying to live by, what would it be? What does this say about you?

Final question. Review all the answers you’ve given. Find one to change—because hopefully, if you’ve done this right, you’re a little more in touch with yourself than you were when you started. What do you want to change, and why do you now want to change it? What were you trying to say before and what is clearer to you now?

BRANDING PARAGRAPH It’s time to take everything you’ve just made and form a brilliant masterpiece of a sentence that tells everyone who you are. Every single word should make you feel like the total superhero you are. Start by writing 5-8 sentences into a “branding paragraph.” Use the answers from ALL of the essential questions and then include your favorite and most informative answers from the additional questions list, which will flavor your paragraph with those special things that make you, you, and set you apart.

BRANDING STATEMENT Now, it’s time to rewrite! Take that 5-8 sentences and cut, cut, cut until it’s only 3-4 sentences, featuring only the most useful and important words. Make sure to still include the answers to the essential questions, but you will lose other things in the spirit of letting the “cream rise to the top.” Finally, tighten up phrases to their most compact form; improve nouns and verbs; and polish your statement up until you feel like screaming it from the rooftops: this is who I am today!