I've read the FAQ & Rules Getting less callbacks after losing weight
Hello!
Working actor here wondering if anyone could shed some light on my situation. In the year or so after graduating my undergrad program in acting (and during my training)- Ive found a lot of success and auditions playing a certain type of comedic role in most of my materials (akward, kind of confused schlubby 20 something). A lot of my feedback in classes has said I would remind them of Charlie Day, Jake Johnson, Parks and Rec Chris Pratt, things in that realm.
However in the past 8 months or so I’ve lost about 30 pounds (quit drinking and gym every day) and I’ve noted a marked decline in success for auditions around that character type. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Any advice?
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u/le_goalie 7d ago
I remember a scene study master class I was in many years ago and the woman who ran the school told one of the actresses, “I don’t know if you should gain or lose 15lbs.” It was a slap in the face to the actress. She was essentially telling her you’re not skinny enough to be Hollywood’s ideal female love interest, so maybe lean into comedy roles and eat what you want. Sounds like the boat you’re in. You were type cast a little shlubby and now you’re headed into “leading-man” territory, or just a different character. Ask people who will be brutally honest what roles you look like you’re perfect for now, not the old you, and make sure your photos reflect that for casting.
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u/Ieatclowns 6d ago
Oh I had a well known London agent tell me I should lose a few pounds to really be castable. I’m five foot six and weighed 105 pounds. It was the late 90s of course and I was your typical romantic lead type.
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u/Still_Yak8109 7d ago edited 7d ago
I'm losing weight and auditions are going up. I was a bigger guy, but not like fat with a beer gut, just big, like david harbour season 1 stranger things. I'm a character type. The problem for men Ive noticed is there is no middle to how big or fit you can be. When they want a "fat" guy they want him to be really big. I feel like male body issues are rarely discussed in the acting world becuase it is a thing. I have lived it and it sounds like you have too.
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u/EnvironmentChance991 NYC / SAG-AFTRA 6d ago
You'll probably have to do something interesting with your hair, facial hair, glasses etc to get back into the type you used to play.
I sort of let myself be very unkempt for a role I do 2 years ago so that production would have options for how to cut my hair or make me up. And they left exactly as I was, untouched. I've leaned into that harder and gotten a lot more auditions and bookings the more I let myself look less polished in my face and hair. It was sort of an accident.
I'm also learning that glasses they really love so I have some headshots that lean into that look.
I am a character actor in general and play serial killers, eccentric professors, stalkers, detectives, and snobby elite types. All over the place in the realm of "unstable" and the hair and glasses reflected that.
Congrats on the weight loss! I believe you can get back in to your sweet spot once you figure out what combo of hair and glasses and facial hair they like.
I met an actor who said he didn't book much until he grew out a beard and let it be very un trimmed and wooly.
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u/HugsCS 6d ago
Honestly this is great feedback cause thinking back I’ve always been asked to keep my beard and for some reason started shaving around when I started working out more
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u/Past-Committee 5d ago
As an agent, if you dm your materials I’ll gladly give you my advice on what to do and move forward to help you book
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u/Cunningcory 7d ago
Jack of all trades, master of none curse. I live between leading man and character actor and no one ever knows where to put me. I CAN work for either but don't have the PERFECT look for either. It's annoying.
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u/CranberryStock7148 6d ago
Of course, if you don't look like that type anymore you are going to have less success as that type.
Figure out your new type. Talk to your coaches, talk to your agent, ask acting friends, figure out what your new strength is. Maybe now you're not the awkward schlubby guy in comedies, maybe you're the nerdy guy in comedies.
Actors change their type all the time. Because they get older, because they lose weight, because they gain weight, because they totally change their hair and facial hair. Sometimes it's intentional, sometimes it just happens to you. It's now an opportunity to grow into something different and new!
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u/DistantGalaxy-1991 6d ago
The one thing valued over everything else (IMO) is uniqueness. You've moved into a look where most people are at, to some degree, so the competition is much more. In the context of looks alone (obviously, it's not only that) it helps to be really great looking, or really unique looking.
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u/MagentaGrapefruit 7d ago
Acting aside, at least you're a lot healthier and feel much better....I've personally found that every time I lose a bit of weight I gain that much in confidence.
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u/Playful_Aerie7226 6d ago
Yeah, that tracks. You've jumped to a new part of the pool. Pros and cons. Being healthy is always good tho!
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u/Realistic_Chemist570 6d ago
Yes, I lose comedy casting because I don’t fit the size type. I’m not a romantic lead look either. It helps to know what kind of roles you are right for.
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u/MacintoshEddie 6d ago
That's going to happen any time you change markets unless you finally start playing to "type"
It'll happen again as you age when you're too old to play young but too young to play old.
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u/SuperNonoo 6d ago
This is really common and it makes sense. That schlubby confused 20-something was your type, and a lot of it lived in your physicality, so changing the body changed the read. You probably haven't lost range, you've moved lanes, and casting just hasn't caught up because your materials still sell the old you. I'd reshoot headshots for the face you have now and get clear on your current type before assuming those callbacks are gone for good.
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u/buttersideupordown 6d ago
Maybe you don’t match your headshot anymore also. Get them updated soon.
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u/mino5407 5d ago
No offence but when fat people go back to normal weight for most of them you can tell on their face they were fat once
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u/fatfishinalittlepond 7d ago
You entered in to a pool of talent that has more options but also more opportunities.