Claire Halliburton / From Arizona to Booked

The first 30 days are about building, not auditioning.

Commercial acting is your entry point. You already have the assets — horsemanship, news experience, modeling, vocals — we just need to package them so casting can see what you actually are. You have 50 free credits on HowToSelfTape.com to use across the toolbox. Will checks in weekly. Move at your own pace, but stay on the calls.

• Coach

  Schedule Week 1 coaching call with Will

  Lock in a 30-minute call. This sets the direction for everything that follows.
• Tool

  Sign up for HowToSelfTape.com and activate 50 free credits

  Will provides the access code. This is your coaching toolbox for the next 30 days.
• Tool

  Complete HowToSelfTape.com actor profile

  Every field filled out. Generates a shareable link that becomes your digital business card.
• Photo Prep

  Study your commercial type — watch 30 minutes of TV commercials

  Identify 5 types of commercials you could already walk into today.
• Photo

  Research and book a Phoenix-area commercial headshot photographer

  Budget $200–400. Someone who shoots actors regularly, not just portraits.
• Photo Prep

  Plan commercial headshot wardrobe look

  Solid colors, no patterns or logos. Warm and approachable. 2–3 options.
• Photo Prep

  Plan Western / Outdoors / Skills headshot look

  Authentic to your life. Fitted Western shirt or clean outdoor wear. Should say 'I actually live this.'
• Photo Prep

  Plan natural / theatrical headshot look

  Clean, direct, no big smile. The 'I can play anything' shot.

• Résumé

  Complete professional actor résumé

  Will sends the template. Specific actor format — not a job résumé. Name, union status (Non-Union), physical stats, Theatre / Performance / Training / Special Skills sections.
• Résumé

  Build out Special Skills section

  List with specificity: Advanced Horsemanship (English & Western), Firearms Proficient (Handgun & Rifle), Rifle Spinning (JROTC Exhibition), Ice Skating, Roller Skating, Self Defense Trained, Emergency Vehicle Operations, News Reporting / On-Camera Host, Vocals – Soprano, Guitar, Piano, Photography.
• Résumé

  Write 4-sentence actor bio for HowToSelfTape profile

  Lead with most interesting facts: former police officer, horsewoman, cover model, trained vocalist.
• Reel

  Gather all existing video footage into one folder

  Wickenburg Sun news videos, podcast segments, riding footage, wedding performances, singing clips. Phone videos count. Don't judge it yet.
• Reel

  Shoot a dedicated horsemanship skills clip — 60–90 seconds

  Approach horse, mount cleanly, ride walk and lope. Horizontal/landscape, clean background, natural light, no narration needed.
• Reel

  Shoot a short on-camera introduction clip — 30 seconds

  Look directly at camera. Name, where you're from, 2–3 interesting things (ex-cop, horsewoman, singer, cover model). Natural — not scripted.
• Photo

  Pull best magazine cover and modeling images into a folder

  Renegade Rose, Cowboy Christmas, Serape Bleu. High-res files. Supplements the actor profile.
• Coach

  Week 2 coaching call — résumé review and footage assessment

  Share drafted résumé before the call. Will reviews and assesses what footage is usable for the reel.

• Photo

  Complete professional headshot session

  Rested, natural makeup. Get commercial smile, commercial neutral, Western/outdoors, and theatrical shots. All retouched digital files in print and web sizes.
• Tool

  Run top 2–3 headshot selects through HowToSelfTape Headshot Evaluator

  Reads photos the way casting would. Identify primary and backup shots.
• Tool

  Upload final headshots to HowToSelfTape.com profile

  Commercial as primary. Western and theatrical as additional images.
• Reel

  Edit demo reel — 60–90 seconds from collected footage

  Strongest clip first (horse or news). No intro title needed. Under 90 seconds. CapCut or iMovie. Order: intro → horse → news/podcast → singing/performing.
• Reel

  Upload demo reel to YouTube or Vimeo (unlisted) and add link to profile

  Unlisted only. Copy the link into your HowToSelfTape profile.
• Setup

  Set up home self-tape space

  Plain wall or clean background. Phone on tripod. Ring light ($25–40). No window behind you. Frameable in 5 minutes.
• Setup

  Test self-tape setup — record a 30-second test clip and watch it back

  Check light, background, audio. Fix anything now — not under pressure later.
• Coach

  Week 3 coaching call — headshot review and reel feedback

  Send profile link and reel before the call. Will gives notes. Monologue assignment for Week 4 given on this call.

• Tool

  Use HowToSelfTape Monologue Maker to generate commercial monologue

  30-second commercial monologue for a confident Western-background woman. Get two options. Pick the most natural — not the most impressive.
• Tool

  Use HowToSelfTape Scene Analysis on chosen monologue

  Understand what the character wants, the obstacle, the emotional beats. Acting is pursuing something — not reciting words.
• Tool

  Memorize the monologue — use HowToSelfTape Teleprompter to rehearse

  Run it out loud 10 times daily. Say it in the car, in the shower. Off-book means ready to act it.
• Setup

  Film monologue in self-tape space — 3 takes, pick the best

  Slate first (name and piece title). Eyes just above the lens, not into it. Pick the most alive take — not the most perfect.
• Platform

  Set up free profile on Rob Rutledge's Arizona Casting site

  Will provides the direct link. Free non-union Arizona platform. Upload headshot, résumé, reel link, and HowToSelfTape profile link.
• Platform

  Search Facebook and Instagram for Arizona casting groups — join 3

  Search 'Arizona Film Casting,' 'Phoenix Casting Calls,' 'Arizona Actors Network.' Lurk before posting.
• Platform

  Research Arizona Film Commission and bookmark casting resources

  azcommerce.com/film. Lists productions filming in AZ. Check monthly.
• Coach

  Send Will the monologue tape for review

  Upload file or share Google Drive / iCloud link. Will gives notes and next steps.
• Coach

  Final 30-Day coaching session with Will — debrief and next steps

  What got done, what was hard. Leave with a clear next 30-day plan.