Stuck in Co-Star Land? 5 Proven Ways to Break the Curse
Being a Co-Star is Not So Bad
Being typecast or “stuck in co-star land” means consistently booking small supporting roles. For the working actor, that is not necessarily bad. It depends on your career goals and perspective.
This Reddit user shared their feelings:
“(I am) stuck in Co-Star land, but at least I’m enjoying it. I don’t get that many auditions (and almost never a guest star audition), but I’ve still booked 10 costars in the last two years, and one of them hired me on a week contract (actual work 3 days). It paid $6K with excellent network residuals so it felt like it wasn’t that far off from a guest star anyhow. I’m going to go ahead and count that as a huge win!”
Here are some pros and cons of working mainly as a co-star:
Pros of Baking Mostly Co-Star Roles
Steady Work: Co-star roles can provide consistent opportunities to work, build credits, and gain experience in the industry. This keeps you active in the field.
Networking Opportunities: Smaller roles still put you on set with other actors, directors, and industry professionals, which can lead to more opportunities down the line.
Skill Development: Every role, big or small, gives you a chance to hone your craft and become a better actor.
Reputation Building: Co-stars who do good work often build a reputation for being reliable, which can lead to bigger roles or a more stable career over time.
[Read also: The Most Common Misconceptions About Casting]
Cons of Not Moving Up from Co-Star Jobs
On the other hand, constantly working as a co-star might leaving you feeling like you are not good enough for the bigger roles – a defeating energy that an actor can get themselves in at any point in the journey. Some of the cons of always being the co-star are:
Limited Exposure: Co-star roles often don’t have the same visibility or screen time as leads, which can limit your public recognition.
Typecasting: Being repeatedly cast in small roles can lead to typecasting, making it harder to break into larger, more exciting parts.
Career Stagnation: Some actors may feel creatively unfulfilled or stuck if they can’t transition into larger roles or have aspirations beyond co-starring.
Less Control Over Your Career: Co-star roles may not always align with your personal brand or artistic goals, and you may feel like you are not in charge of your career trajectory.
[Read also: My Acting Career Stalled]
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Leveling Up: Guest Star Auditions
Michael Tow, SAG-AFTRA actor and head of the “Actors Breakfast Club” on Clubhouse once shared that “moving up” from co-star roles to guest star roles was a little scary at first.
“You don’t get as many auditions, since there are fewer guest roles than co-star roles, and that can make you question your decision. Turning down co-star auditions also feels odd at first, because you don’t want to seem rude or ungrateful when a Casting Director requests you for another co-star audition after you have built a relationship with them.”
“Leveling up,” as Michael has described, is a natural progression for actors who have gained experience and are ready for more substantial parts. After working consistently in co-star roles, it is normal to want to challenge yourself with characters that have more depth and screen time. It is a milestone many actors aim for, signaling growth and desire for more complex, standout work.
However, shifting your focus to guest star auditions can feel daunting because it often requires turning down the kind of co-star roles that once kept you afloat. But this shift is necessary to advance, and over time, as you audition for guest roles and begin booking them, the decision to stop taking co-star roles becomes a sign that you are ready for the next phase of your career.
[Read also: The Emotional Toll of Being an Undervalued Actor]
Five Proven Ways to Break the “Stuck in Co-Star Land” Curse
Many actors fear looking for a new agent. In doing so, they get themselves stuck in the current stage of their career – and some even get set back. Whether or not it is fair to immediately blame your agent for the lack of career activity, it is certainly important to reassess their work and your professonal relationship.
- Does your agent have good connections?
- Do they believe in you?
- Are they easy to communicate with?
- Have you made an ROI since you started representation with them?
- And finally, do they constantly use excuses like “You need new headshots,” or “Your submissions report is not a reflection of my work” to explain why you have not received audition requests?
This Reddit user describes the difference between working with an agent, and adds the personal effort her puts into his tapes:
“I went about five years before that without a theatrical agent, so now I’m kicking myself I dragged my feet so much on finding representation. Of the 10 I booked, I was edited out of one and one other wrote my part out before shooting, but most made it to air (so far)! Nice to have some new footage for the reel. Some were tiny, some were excellent scenes with heavy dialogue. I think it’s because I genuinely love doing self tapes. I love lighting, shooting and editing them, and I always do multiple takes until I’m 100% happy with my performance. I never submit a bad self tape.”
As you may conclude, taking an active role in your audition process can greatly improve your chances, but it’s just as important to have an agent who supports and encourages that effort. Let’s break down 5 proven ways to break the curse and move up from co-star roles.
[Read also: Is Talent Enough For An Acting Career?]
One: Find a Better Agent…
Finding a better agent is a key step when you are ready to move up from co-star roles to guest star roles. Your current agent may have been great at getting you co-star auditions, but to reach the next level, you need someone with stronger industry connections. A well-connected agent can open doors to higher-profile projects and introduce you to casting directors who handle guest star opportunities.
It is also important to assess whether your agent truly believes in your potential to grow beyond smaller roles and whether they are actively working toward that goal. If they are not pushing for you to get in the room for bigger parts, it may be time to look elsewhere.
A good agent should also be easy to communicate with and invested in your career development. They should provide you with honest feedback on what you need to improve or change, but they should also take responsibility for their role in advancing your career. If your submissions and auditions are not reflecting progress, your agent should be proactive in finding new ways to get you seen.
Beyond just submitting you, your agent should be advocating for you behind the scenes, showing that they are just as committed to your success as you are. Making the leap to guest star roles requires a team effort, and your agent should be an active part of that push.
Look at what other Reddit users says about your relationship with your agent:
“Look at your skills. Have a conversation with your agent. Explain this to THEM. Don’t ask. Stop asking. It’s a collaboration/partnership (where you are the CEO and they are the COO – lotta actors walk in with “CEO energy” forgetting the COO part) Take control of your career by laying out that you’ve considered these things and that while there’s no clear way there, you can ALWAYS mitigate the probability in this career. Have a conversation. Poised, professional, “chill”. But show you have the type of determination of someone who is looking for the agent who understands the above push, whether or not it’s them.”
“I was stuck in costar land most of my life. finally landed better reps (not even bigger, just believed in me more) and they started getting me guest star auditions right away. happened to book my first one and none since but feeling a lot better.”
[Read also: 3 Secrets About How Agents Pitch Actors]
Two: …or Maybe a Manager
While finding a better agent can help, you might also consider working with a manager to guide your career to the next level. Unlike agents, who are primarily focused on securing auditions, managers take a more holistic approach to your career. They can help shape your brand, strategize long-term goals, and give you personalized attention that may be missing from your relationship with your agent.
A manager might also have different industry contacts, opening additional doors for guest star roles and higher-profile opportunities. If you are feeling stuck, bringing a manager onto your team could provide the career guidance and advocacy needed to help you break out of “co-star land.”
Bt keep in mind: if you are happy with your agent, you should talk to them before starting your search for a manager. Adding someone to your team without your agent’s approval may leave them with a bad taste in their mouth.
[Read also: Agents and Managers: 5 Unique Differences]
Three: Headshots, Clips, and Resume: Your Audition Package
When aiming to move up from co-star to guest star roles, your actor package—headshots, resume, and reels or clips—becomes even more critical. Casting directors for guest star roles are looking for actors who can carry more significant storylines and deliver great performances, so your materials need to reflect that potential.
Your headshot should convey a sense of confidence and range, showcasing your versatility while hinting at the types of characters you want to play. It is important to regularly update your headshots, ensuring they accurately reflect your current look and the roles you are targeting. A polished, professional headshot is often the first impression you make, and it can be the difference between getting called in for a guest star audition or being overlooked.
In addition to your headshot, your resume and reel or acting clips must show that you are capable of handling more substantial roles. Your resume should highlight your co-star credits but also emphasize any guest star roles, theater performances, or other significant acting experiences that demonstrate your range.
If you have not booked guest star roles yet, your acting clips should focus on scenes where you play complex characters with depth and emotional range, even if the footage is from an independent project or acting class. Casting directors need to see that you can sustain a character arc over multiple scenes and handle dialogue-heavy material. As you refine your audition package, remember that each element works together to position you as a serious contender for guest star roles.
[Read also: 3 Headshot Mistakes Actors Make and How to Avoid Them]
Four: The Combo: Timing, Hard work, Industry Changes, and Luck
Breaking out of co-star roles and landing guest star opportunities often comes down to a mix of luck, timing, and persistence. One Reddit user shared their experience moving up from co-star roles, saying this:
“It was a combo of timing, hard work, weird industry expansion, my team dropping me at the right time, a film I made years ago finally screening, and a few friends made projects with me that made my reel pop a bit.”
Sometimes, everything aligns in unexpected ways. The right agent, the right project, and the right moment can come together to push your career forward when you least expect it. For this other actor, luck played a huge role in landing their first guest star role:
“I got my first Guest Star because the new guy at the agency had something to prove and picked up the phone. I was still in Co-Star territory.”
Industry changes are a constant nuisance for actors to keep up with, and they also play a part in your career. For that reason, remember to take it easy and not be too hard on yourself.
[Read also: 9 Insanely Common Misconceptions About Agents]
Five: Believe in Yourself and Show it
Finally, from the same Reddit discussion, this valuable input encapsulates how you must believe in yourself as an actor and take your steps accordingly. Show the world, starting with your agent, that you are a pro, you have ambitions, and you deserve their support:
” You can’t afford to wait on your agent. That’s why the above shift in credit definition trickles down to us and not them. Layout what you see to them. Not what you think or feel. Ask them for a submission report. If they get weird, get out. Now. Don’t waste another day, your acting job has just become finding a new agent. If they give it to you, use it to see what offices aren’t calling you in but are being submitted to. Your agent will likely get the hint quickly and if they’re worth their salt (they will) LOVE that you’ve found this new motivated stride.”
To sum ip up, do not hesitate to have hard conversations with your agent. And if communication seems to be hopelessly poor, consider moving on. Time wasting is a huge deterrent in our competitive profession, and you do not want to be stuck behind your full potential.
[Read also: Blacklisted: When Your Life Seems Unquestionably Over]
Conclusion
When you feel stuck behind your full potential as an actor, it is time to reassess what is stopping you from “leveling up.” If you have a great actor package, and you can deliver great performances, you should be getting auditions that match the roles you dream of playing. The first step is to have an honest conversation with your agent. Look at your submissions report together, and make sure you are on the same page.
For the most part, having great representation is the most important tool for getting great auditions and booking awesome roles. But to get that agent (or manager), you need to put in the work and demonstrate clearly the quality of the work you can do. The five steps presented here with direct quotes from real life actors are proof that you can dream big, work hard, and feel proud of our acting journey.
[Read also: 7 Incredible Ways To Get Nominated And Win Awards]
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