Spotlight Intro

What is Spotlight Intro?

Spotlight Intro is your opportunity to introduce yourself to industry professionals, with a 1-2 minute video, as part of your Spotlight CV. Your Spotlight Intro gives a casting director a quick introduction to you, your character and your voice, in a matter of minutes. Think of it as your video 'calling card', or a video version of a covering letter you might enclose with a paper CV. It's a tool which has proved incredibly popular in the US, where thousands of actors introduce themselves to industry professionals via a brief video.

Please click one of the images below to see a demo:

Why should I have one?

Whereas your showreel shows you in a range of characters, your Spotlight Intro shows you 'the person'. Your Spotlight Intro is not a montage of work, just an informal chat to camera. Ideally you should have both your Spotlight Intro and a showreel on your web CV. Spotlight Intro is a quick, simple but invaluable promotional tool, and particularly handy if you are just starting out in the profession and don't have footage for a full showreel just yet. We recommend that performers update their Spotlight Intro every year, as they change and their careers develop.

"Spotlight Intros are a fantastic way for us to consider actors whom we haven't met before. Intros are available day or night at a moment's notice, and will certainly help us make a decision on whether to call someone in for an audition."
Manuel Puro, Jeremy Zimmerman Casting

"Much better than just a photo. Every performer should have one."
Tracy Saban, Crocodile Casting

How does it work?

We film Spotlight Intros at our studio in Leicester Square. It takes less than an hour. Our cameraman will work with you to film the best possible footage, and then edit this into the finished product. Your Spotlight Intro will appear on your Spotlight web CV within one week, underneath your photo, for casting directors to watch. You can also take a copy away on DVD if you wish.

How much does it cost?

It costs £72 (inc VAT) to record your Spotlight Intro and add this to your web CV. DVD copies cost £12 each.

How do I book?

To book a session to record your Spotlight Intro, please email sara.sehdev@spotlight.com or call 020 7440 5041.

Preparing for a Spotlight Intro

It's really important to prepare for a Spotlight Intro. Although we'll aim to give the edited, finished product the feel of an unscripted chat to camera, preparation pays dividends. Talking about yourself can be a lot harder than you think!

Decide beforehand exactly what you want to achieve from your Intro. What do you want it to say about you ? Think about areas that you would like to cover and key points that you would like to get across. Note them down and bring them with you as a prompt, and to discuss with your Camera Operator/ Editor.

Your finished Intro will be between two and five minutes in length. Practice your Intro and decide what you want to say within the time period. Also bear in mind that the Intro will be displayed on your Spotlight webpage, so avoid repeating any information already covered there. You may of course want to highlight, or expand upon particular skills or credits.

Intro recording sessions take between twenty minutes and an hour. You'll have time to review footage and get a feel for how the finished product will look. We then take up to five working days to edit the Intro and upload it to your Spotlight webpage. We'll post you a DVD copy too.

Have a think about the information you want to get across. Good topics to cover include: where you trained, your recent performances, who your agent is, why you decided to become a performer, directors or performers you admire, and roles you would love to play. Keep it informal and relaxed - just imagine you are having a chat with the casting director or agent you want to meet!

If you have an agent, we recommend that you discuss your Spotlight Intro with them beforehand as they may have some valuable input on how you should present yourself.

Topics you may like to cover in your Spotlight Intro

• Training
• What inspired you to become an actor?
• What are your likely Key Qualities / what do you bring to a role?
• Recent Work / Experience
• A Challenging role you may have faced - why was it challenging?
• Your ideal role
• What would you like to achieve in your acting career?
• What makes you a good Actor?

Terms and Conditions

Please be aware that the final edit will be at the discretion of our experienced, professional editors. We regret that we are unable to offer a re-edit or refund.