How I Got A Film In 30 Days With APS

My name is Daniel B. Levin, and I am excited to share with you how I landed a co-starring role in a SAG feature film in my first 30 days with APS.

APS provides an exceptional promotion service to actors.  They host weekly seminars, promote exclusive industry networking events, send out individualized casting notices to APS actors, and are spearheaded by APS's President, the incredible Rock Riddle. There is an entire other side to APS for Directors and Producers. I focus on the actors' side of APS, but most importantly, what I do with the information learned and opportunities I am given is entirely up to me.

I first met Rock at an APS Seminar, I was the first person to sign his guest book and met personally with him in his office after the seminar. We talked about the best way to print my head shot and what format was best for multiple looks. When I brought my stack of head shots back to APS I signed up for six months of service and the ball started rolling. Rock and I constantly update and improve my resume and APS hand delivers my packet to at least 55 Directors and Producers with projects in Pre-Production. When I get the report each week detailing who my head shot was delivered to, I am inspired to send a follow up note to the Directors and Producers that I am especially interested in working with.

Also on a weekly basis APS hosts a Sunday Seminar that features successful Producers, Directors, Writers, and Actors who share their industry stories in lecture and question and answer format. These events are the best way to personally hand my head shot and resume to Producers and hear speakers such as Tony Tarantino, Don Glut, Joel Colman, Bill Hooey, Bryan Michael Stollar, Jim Goddard, and Tom Marshall who have provided me with priceless ideas to put into practice. Meeting these talented professionals in one place is like walking into a gold mine.

The amount of networking I have done through APS does not stop at these weekly Producer Events. I have attended APS-promoted networking events all over Los Angeles. My personal highlight was meeting Eugene Mandelcorn, President of Film Artists Network at their monthly Producers' event at Schatzi's on Main, that exclusively invites APS actors to attend. Eugene and I discussed his upcoming projects and the possibility of me starring as the host of a interview based talk show which happens to be my dream job. I look forward to meeting even more Producers at my first APS private estate special networking event and expect nothing less than continued serendipity.

Rock works closely with the 100 actors that he promotes through APS, and constantly sends us the casting notices that he gets through his Production-side contacts. After two weeks as a member with APS, I received an emergency casting notice for a role that my profile fit perfectly and immediately called the number repeatedly until I reached the director. I sold myself over the phone as perfect for the part and talked my way onto the set for their first day of screen tests. I went home that night with the co-starring role of a SAG feature film.

Through this entire time I have had the support of the incredible Rock Riddle. When I have any questions about the Industry, I pick up the phone, ask Rock, tell him what I think the answer is, and then listen and take notes. Rock is completely honest, shoots from the hip, has over 28 years of applicable experience, does what he says and says what he does, and is a role model for anyone who wants to make a strong impression with their character and personality in the entertainment industry.

One of the best parts about being a member of APS is that I run into fellow members all over town, be it on set, at Rocket Video, at the monthly FAN meeting, at industry parties, or at the Sunday Seminar, and I get to a hear about all of their successes. Keep taking all those great steps and I'll see you at next event!   -- Daniel B. Levin