On today's JAN Academy live call, we had an incredible conversation with academy member Tia about moving from background roles to landing featured, speaking, and authority roles! Key takeaways from the call: 1. Every set is a room full of contacts. Crossing paths at catering or the makeup chair is your chance to spark genuine conversations with ADs, DPs, and crew. 2. Ask for character names! If a director gives you an ad-lib or an on-the-spot line, ask the production team if your character has a name. That simple step turns "Extra" into "Named Speaking Role" on your CV. 3. Showcase your unfair advantage. Whether you're a former nurse, a martial artist, or a PT, highlight those authentic skills to target specific genres like crime, medical, and action. 4. Hook them in the first 10 seconds. When editing a showreel, lead with a strong "hook" featuring your best emotive acting or action skills right away. Small moves of 1% each day lead to massive momentum! Keep building. 🔥