I have recorded a voicereel and got a 2 minute showreel edited together, but I'm looking for advice on how to actually present them and where to get reasonably priced duplicates of them.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Obviously, I'd prefer not to spend too much money on copies/labels etc. but I don't know how much significance agents and casting directors place on the packaging. Do I need ultra-glam labels and cover art? Would a basic label with my name and contact info hurt my chances or would casting directors prefer less bells and whistles?

Unusually, we can give a fairly quick answer to your question! In my experience, as long as your publicity material is clearly labeled – preferably typed - with name and contact details (both on the cover, and the disc itself), that is perfectly acceptable presentation. You don’t need any fancy artwork or pictures, and in my experience, the slicker a package is on the outside, the more I worry about what the standard of the talent is going to be like on the inside. As some famous acting coach once said – ‘Less is more!’

As to cheap duplications, this depends on the numbers you are intending. If you are doing less than 50, I’d suggest doing it yourself, as most duplication companies won’t touch anything under this anyway. If you want to have a serious quantity done, then it might be worthwhile in terms of costs and time saved to look at this. Nobody at Artists-Inc has ever used a duplication company (we’re all too cheap), but a quick Google Search on ‘CD duplication’ revealed plenty to go at. A quick look by us, and www.duplidisk.co.uk seemed fairly competitive, but if you’ve got time, have a hunt around.

Why must my publicity shot be taken by a professional photographer. Surely a casual shot is a better likeness. I've seen some actors photo's, and they don't bear any resemblance to what they're like in real life!

I understand your frustrations at yet another expense for actors having to shell out for professional photos, and the sometimes disparity between photograph and performer. However, as actors we are expected to make some investment in our business, and a professionally presented CV and headshot are really the most basic requirements that a Casting Director expects to see when accessing our website. Anything less smacks of amateurism, both on our and your part.

If you’re on a budget and you’ve got a half-decent camera (preferably SLR), or an enthusiastic photographer friend, there is no reason why you can’t replicate this in your own back garden – my latest professional publicity shots were in fact taken in the photographer’s back garden, but in previous times I have also done exactly that with a friend taking the pictures.

As for the problem of not bearing any likeness to the actual person – that’s for the individual actor to decide what’s in his best interests. I’ve known actors who have used publicity shots that were ten years old, age and gravity having since kicked in. The problem is in perception. I’ve occasionally been told in auditions that I look different to my headshot which was only taken a couple of months previously, and which I (and my agent) thought was a good likeness. Maybe that was just one of my off days……

Anyway, the bottom line is that a certain professionalism of shot is required, but it is possible to do this on a budget if required, so long as you have an obliging partner/friend. Now, where did I put that camera…….