Image courtesy of IMDb
By: A. Murphy
IMDb: the #1 database for movie lovers and filmmakers alike! It’s the most used site for all things movies, whether you love watching them or love making them, but for many starting (or struggling actors) it can be rather confusing. To clear things up, IMDbPro is the same version of the site that differs from the free IMDb membership. Pro offers you a way to claim your page (if you have one), view insights and stats on movies and people in the industry, as well as find gig listings. For a filmmaker, this can be helpful to have, yet so many actors have unclaimed pages.
Let’s face it, you’re considering getting one, right? Why else would you be reading this? To put things in perspective, not everyone considers claiming an IMDb page because not everyone has one, to begin with. So if you’re considering it, it's most likely because you know that you will need it eventually. The thing that’s stopping you is most likely the price.
IMDbPro costs a whopping $19.99/month or $149.99/year, depending on whether you decide to pay monthly or annually. That’s pretty steep for an actor who is struggling to make ends meet as it is, and for those who are dabbing their feet in the water, not worth the price. There is a nice gift to this, though: IMDb offers a free 30-day trial so at the very least you can test it to see if it's worth the money or get a free month out of it. If Pro were free or perhaps cheaper like $10/month, you probably wouldn’t be taking so long to consider investing, would you? So now the next question: is it worth the money?
Actors use IMDbPro for one of two reasons. Due to that, you may notice some differences. Below are the ways actors are using theirs in hopes that maybe it may help you decide whether it's worth the money right now, or something you can invest in later.
Image courtesy of IMDb
Category A
Actors in this category are using IMDbPro to get gigs, whether it’d be on the site itself or others. As I mentioned, IMDbPro offers gig listings like many other audition sites, but like those other sites, it doesn’t guarantee you’ll get to audition. This doesn’t mean you have access to audition for major roles in upcoming big movies. I’ve never seen a listing for such a thing. You’ll need a great agent for that!
This next part isn’t exactly a ‘one size fits all’ situation but I did notice that actor’s in this category also have a series of headshots in their images (very little screencaps), demo reels in their videos, direct contact information, and about 30% of them are represented. These are all good indications that these actors are personally seeking the majority of gigs they are currently getting.
The good thing about having Pro is that if you’re applying to audition for gigs on the site, you can see the stats for the filmmakers and production companies posting them. This is very helpful because you can see how successful their work has been in the ratings section. Yes, I know that the ratings section on sites like IMDb shouldn’t be taken 100% to heart as the ratings are based on IMDb users; all IMDb members (pro or not) can rate movies and TV shows which will then be filtered in the overall score of the film/series. Seems fair but it’s not. Here’s why: If all ratings are given by IMDb users and the majority of IMDb users are male then you’re getting feedback based on the majority male perspective. But in IMDb’s defense, you can’t force more women to sign up and rate movies, and you can’t delete male members to help balance the ratings. It is what is, as they say, but the rating should be able to help you decide if applying is worth it.
Another perk is that through Pro you have access to the links to view their work. I know that the most given advice for starting actors is to grab any role they can get to help build experience but in a post-2020 world, things have changed. You may have certain standards now that differ from pre-Covid. For example, things like, does the company and/or filmmaker use BIPOC actors, matter to you now? Or how are BIPOC represented in their work? How are women depicted in the project? Do they sexualize their actors (male or female) mostly? Are they glorifying things like rape, sex trafficking, or prostitution rather than spreading awareness? Do they seem like filmmakers that are concerned with sanitization? All these things may matter to you, and some of these things are excellent questions to ask as a way to protect yourself (especially if you aren’t paid or paid very little). If you’re not represented then you have fewer people looking out for you, which means you have to look out for yourself. So having these links make for good research that can help determine whether applying is worth it. Yes, you want to get as many roles as you can get but not at the expense where you may be sexualized or worse, and although you may not know what the production has in store for your character, doing extra research may help keep a distance from filmmakers who have a record of doing things that you are not comfortable with.
If you’re applying on other sites, you can still use your Pro account to research the filmmakers and/or production companies to see their past works, if they have any. This may also help you determine what you’re getting into if they’re not on IMDb, better preparing you for the project and those you may be working with.
Pros:
Inside industry information
Gig postings/applications
24/7 showcase including demo reels, headshots, performer profile, and resume
Look more professional/serious
Expand reach
Cons:
Costly
May not get what you hope for from it
Category B
Actors in this category don’t use IMDb to get more gigs due to several reasons that usually come with their SAG card. I’ve found that these actors have a gallery of screencaps, promotional art, and behind-the-scenes images. They also don’t have any demo reels attached to their page but rather a gallery of interviews, clips, and trailers they’ve been tagged in. 100% of them are represented and have multiple talent agents, and/or managers, publicists, and perhaps even lawyers on their team. About 99% of them do not have resumes attached while 99.6% of them do not have a direct contact option. All this indicates that seeking gigs on the site (or any other) is not a priority for them, not to say they don’t have trouble getting gigs or that seeking gigs overall isn’t important to them. So why do they have an IMDb page?
Just because these actors aren’t seeking gigs via the website, doesn’t mean that IMDb isn’t an important asset to them. IMDb is the #1 internet movie database in the world which just expands their reach. When a curious movie lover researches a movie or TV show they just watched, they’ll also stumble upon the names and faces of those who were in it. One thing leads to another, your profile is clicked and bam! Another person in the world knows your name, what you do and what you’ve been in. Weirdly, it’s a type of marketing. It also helps search engines like Google gather accurate information about you.
In 2020, it can’t go unnoticed that many trolls out there love claiming to be someone they aren’t. When actors claim their profiles, they erase the risk of someone pretending to be them and can accurately correct or add information on their profiles. Like Wikipedia, members of the site, pro or not, can add and correct information on any actor’s profile. The actor or their team, with the pro account, can keep up to date, and delete or correct any misinformation to keep it accurate. This includes the films they’ve been in. With as many rumors and fan cast theories, it's more important than ever to have control over who’s in what. Of course, not every actor has this problem, which is a good problem to have.
The industry is also a very narcissistic one. If your profile has been searched and looked at a certain amount of times, not claiming your IMDb page can be a real eyesore. I’m unsure if it lowers your reach or affects the gigs you get, but I do believe that people are most likely talking about how you don’t have one while, let's say, you’re in the top 500 most searched names in the database. Not a good look. This aside, those who aren’t on the top 500 still have claimed IMDb pages.
Pros:
Look professional/represented
Star meter stats
Movie popularity stats
Control your information
Inside industry information
Expand reach
Cons:
You don’t use it
When Should I Get A Pro Account?
So you know you’re going to need it. When should you get one? Depending on what you’re using the platform for, it may not be worth the investment for everyone right away. There is a great takeaway from claiming your page by investing in Pro but I also know that not everyone can afford those takeaways right away. All in all, it will depend on what you can afford, along with how serious you are about your acting career but here are some tips on when to invest:
Category A
If you’re serious about a career within the industry.
Once you can save the $149.99 fee, invest that into Pro. You won’t have to worry about it for a year and you’ll have enough time to save for your next payment.
Once you sign to an agency/management, you may be pushed to claim one.
You’re attending acting classes for showcases. Keep in mind, IMDb is a place to showcase your talent as well 24/7.
Option B
You’re auditioning for parts in major films/tv series.
You’ve been on the top 1,000 names searched.
You own a company within the industry.
You’ve earned your SAG card.
It is also worth mentioning, that actors who do not have a claimed IMDb page, may not be taken seriously due to the narcissistic nature of the industry. Depending on which productions you apply for, not having a Pro account may result in you not even being looked at, which for an actor is everything.
If you’re seeking advice from a professional regarding this matter, there are plenty of websites with free advice from professionals, as well as Facebook groups and other apps.
So as you can see, IMDbPro is not something needed immediately for a starting actor. I guarantee you that the majority of the actors who have claimed their pages did not immediately go out and buy a Pro account the second they decided to become an actor. There's no shame in waiting until you have the funds available but keep in mind, the more serious you get about your craft, the closer you’ll be to getting one. Think of it as your official real estate on the #1 movie site in the world.
Comments