You may be new to the industry and have heard this word used around the room, or you may be a veteran but have never really consider what ‘Type’ really means. Type is the summary of characteristics (objective & subjective) you, the actor, portray naturally. There is no one definition, and I definitely don’t claim to be the final word, but I have found the people who do understand type usually narrow it down to these 4 characteristics.
Age Range
This is usually within a five-year window. The range can be larger 10-15 years depending on what you’re wearing and how the light hits your face but your demeanor, physique and vocal resonance will tune it back down to a 5-year window real quick.
Physique
When it comes to Physique it’s pretty cut and dry. Either you have a six pack or you don’t, you either have an asymmetrical face or you don’t. You’re either average height or your not. No conservatory, acting chops, or bankroll in the world will make someone magically see you as something different, so embrace your physique. As long as you’re healthy, own it!
Demeanor
This is a fun one because it’s not as easy to pin point off hand about yourself. Your demeanor is basically your behavioral tendencies. Do people say you have a ‘resting bitch face’ well that’s apart of your demeanor and it’s definitely a character trait. When you accidentally bump into a complete stranger is your natural reaction to smile? To apologize? To be offended (respond & ask questions later)? To wait for the other person to respond before having a response? Questions like these can tell you what your natural demeanor could be. If you’re not sure, ask your friends and family for honest feedback. I’m sure they would love to give you honest feedback about yourself. What family doesn’t?
Vocal Resonance
If the eyes are a gateway into the soul, then the voice is the gateway into the heart. Your voice says a lot about what you’re thinking/feeling in the moment you are speaking. That’s why casting directors, directors, or producers will close their eyes when you are auditioning because they want to know if they can hear the truth of what your saying in your voice. Voice is also an important type dictator to nuances of your character type. You could have a mid-30s, 6’2 Caucasian man, average physique, with naturally furrowed eyebrows and think “mobster” but if he has a softer, lighter pitched voice the guy jumps more towards the odd/unsettling type. Jack Nicholson is this type. His career is filled with roles that teeter back and forth between violent vigilante and unsettling odd ball because of his natural look and resonance.
ScriptClips Tip:
With ScriptClips you can search for acting scenes using as vague or specific as you like. You can search by just Gender or Pairing (for two character sides), by Age Range, by Role (co-star, guest star, etc), even by Type (characteristics/traits). Click here to login and filter through the libraries using these dynamic search features.
Author: Christian Telesmar is a professional actor living in Los Angeles, CA. He received his Bachelors (BA) from the University of Washington as well as his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from the University of Washington School of Drama’s Professional Acting Training Program (PATP). He also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Kaplan University School of Business. He is known for his work in Stomp the Yard 2 (2010), Sense and Sensibility (2014), and BONES on FOX (2015). He is also a freelance Creative Director and Writer, having won awards for his promotional work with Microsoft Windows 7, Wal Mart, and Pepsi Co. He enjoys hiking and is an avid Seahawks fan.
