Quit Being Thrown In The Garbage by Brea Tisdale Hollywood Weekly sat down with renowned headshot photographer Kevyn Major Howard. What we got was a candid interview, that I think will leave actors thinking and ultimately finding themselves staring at their current headshot!
are really interested in your look because your headshot does not inspire them. Coal does not sell folks, diamonds do! Advice: Remember your headshot is the evidence of what you do cinematically. It’s “one frame” of the movie the director is about to shoot. That’s how you get jobs with a headshot. Common sense, huh.’
‘Actors, let me introduce myself. I have been blessed as an actor having “If there is a better worked in film ‘You get a friend to photographer than Kevyn classics as Stanley shoot you, or you shoot Kubrick’s Full Metal yourselves with your cell Major Howard in the Jacket, privileged phone and then print entertainment industry I am it at Kinko’s. Wrong! to work with Clint Eastwood in Sudden Nope don’t do it! Stop unaware of him.” Impact, Charles fooling yourself! Bronson’s Death Wish Michael Levine 2, and worked with To sum that up: Do other important film you really believe that Michael Jackson’s Celebrity notables as Frank your headshot impresses Publicist Sinatra, James Caan, these talents? I mean, Lawrence Fishburne, really, ask yourself and Ron Howard. ‘ that question? Kevyn says the best advice he can give an actor is: “be He goes on in a passionate way…. the best you can be. Quit hoping. ‘What I am about to tell you and You say you’re an artist. Academy please don’t take offense, will be the Awards were never given to an actor truth. Some of you will hear it . . . who was mediocre. Take the hint. only . . . if your listening . . . not with Again it’s your career. I know you’re your ears . . . but with your common thinking, “Who is this guy” talking sense. Let’s begin by saying 99% of to us with such arrogance. Well it’s actors walk around with inferior, out of not arrogance . . . it’s really common focus, nasty headshots. Why do you sense. It frustrates me how many do that? You came to Hollywood with actors are led astray with mediocre a dream. In case no one has explained opinions and “let’s” save the actor a
this little detail; headshots are the critical tool and calling card that tells us you’re worth hiring for the cinematic big screen. Kevyn breaks down what the payoff is: ‘The payoff: your careers usually suffer because no agent or casting directors’
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“dime” at the sake of his own career. Trust your instincts actors . . . you really know better. Don’t you? This is not about saving a dime? It’s about going to work, I think. Thirty years ago I reinvented the headshot industry across this country and internationally as well. I realized that
6000 headshots were sitting on every casting desk everyday and haven’t we all seen the mediocrity of those headshots. I decided that being better than “mediocrity” would be noticed and hence my headshots have been seen on Oprah and the Discovery Channel who did a documentary featuring my work as the “King Of The Hollywood Headshot” hosted by John Cleese, Elizabeth Hurley and casting director Mali Finn. Any of you can have anything you want in this industry. But first you will have to sit back and take responsibility for what you are not accomplishing. Is your headshot something you’re absolutely convinced someone would spend a 100k to make a billboard on Sunset Blvd? If your answer is no, then perhaps today is the day, you should change direction and really go after your dream. Get a headshot that is worthy of 5 million people’s attention and be proud to show it. Cinema is cinematic. ‘ ‘Hey listen . . . you can lead a horse to water?’ Kevyn tells me, ‘I hope you understand I am on your side. I get tired of actors being mistreated. Sick of it really. You deserve better and now its up to you. Be the best you
can be and damn well go to work.’ Enough Said! Kevyn Major Howard Studios 323. 664. 9564 to make your appointment. www.KevynMajorHoward.com