When you're crystal clear on your Brand...
EVERYTHING becomes easier.
You'll book higher-paying jobs, get an agent/manager faster, start building a following and even get called in (out of the blue) by casting directors who want YOU... over all other actors.
Martin Bentsen has been featured in:
"I don't enjoy acting as much as I used to..."
​​It's something few actors will say out loud, but many are thinking deep down, especially if they've been in the industry a few years.
Once you complete acting school and you're out in the real world, it's not just about performance and living a character anymore.
To get anywhere in this industry, you have to market yourself. And to do that, you're told you can only play character "Types" that match how the industry sees you – even if you don't enjoy playing those Types.
And if you try to play something different? Casting directors, agents, and managers rarely take you seriously.​
Many actors spend YEARS trying to get clear on their Brand and Types:
They ask friends, agents/managers, and even random people on the street how they're seen. But it's awkward and time-consuming, and how do you even know if they're being honest? What if – just to be nice – they decide not to tell you they could see you playing an ax-murderer?
They look online for shortcuts to find their Type, but finding a complete list of "Types" can feel almost impossible! Plus, what does "Queen B" or "Girl Next Door" even mean – what do they look like in real life and how do you know for sure they'd work for you?
​The pay for countless Branding & Type workshops – but at the end of them, often wind up with so many descriptive words and "essences" that they feel just and confused as before they went. OR worse... they dislike the Brand they're given, but are told to play it anyway.​
But with all those challenges, the evidence is still clear:
​For actors who do find a Brand & Type they love...
EVERYTHING gets easier.
Imagine what it would feel like if an agent or casting director asked, "How do you see yourself?" and you had a well-rehearsed (and SHORT) answer?
"I most enjoy playing nurses and doctors – the confident, direct, and well-organized types."​
"I'm the strong, loving, and funny father... who can be brash at times."
"I have a soft spot for playing the best friend who tells it like it is – no sugar-coating."
Imagine what it would feel like if you then reached into your bag and pulled out a set of perfectly tailored marketing materials that captured your Brand and Types – from fonts & colors all the way down to the expressions in your headshots?
​What would that casting director or agent think of you?
The simple fact is, actors who are clear on their Types and Brand command respect from industry gatekeepers and are often remembered for how specific they were.
These actors are the small minority... but they book the vast majority of all high-level acting work.
Actors who are clear on their Types and Brand:
Have a realistic sense of how they're perceived in the industry, which means they're given far more opportunities by casting directors, agents, and managers.
Save time by applying to fewer auditions – just the ones they know they'll have the highest shot of booking.
Typically have a callback rate of 30-50%, and book a much higher percentage of auditions they attend because they're applying for roles they're a PERFECT fit for.
Feel confident and secure in their abilities, and know exactly what training to spend time and money on... and what to ignore.
Save money on headshots, reels, and other marketing materials because they're crystal clear on exactly what they need.​
In other words, these actors have a MUCH easier time in almost everything they do to grow their career.
"But will I get pigeonholed?"
Whether you know your Types & Brand or not, people are already classifying you the moment they meet you (or look at your headshot/reel).
Wouldn't it make sense to find out how you're being perceived by others... so you can take conscious control of it (and even bend it to your will)?
Almost every day, actors email me notes like:
"I think I've missed the window to play lead characters in films and television shows..."
"I don't like the kinds of acting jobs I'm getting offered but they're the only jobs that pay..."
"I'm too [skinny/tall/short/overweight/etc.] to be considered for roles I really want..."
"If I find my Types I'll be boxing myself into a limited set of characters, but I want to expand my range as much as possible..."
The simple fact is, each of the above is just a story we tell ourselves... a story that might not be true.
In fact, there are ways to break out of any mold you've been placed into, but the first step is to understand what that mold currently is.
I remember a client of mine who'd been working as a professional actor for almost 20 years. He felt stuck because he was always being offered the same, small one-liner roles in film, TV, and theater.
He told me he had a clear grasp on his brand because he was always being called in for police officer and detective roles. He said his brand was: the strong, burly detective.​
But there was a problem: he wasn't passionate about that brand.
Even though he looked like a detective and was being called in for those auditions frequently, he just wasn't enjoying the work he was doing, and he felt stuck.
I took him through a series of very specific questions, and after about thirty minutes we came up with the following brand:
The strong, compassionate, and proud leader of people.
And that's when everything changed.
His face lit up. I could sense the complete change in his voice as he said his brand aloud. He literally became his brand.
In less than a month, he was offered his first role on Broadway (something he'd been trying to get for over seven years). He was also offered a multi-day guest-star role in an HBO show two weeks later. And one week after that, he signed with a well-known film & television agency in New York (a goal he'd been working towards without success for almost three years).
​​Tyrone L. Robinson - Getting clear on his Brand landed him on Broadway.
​"​I've been working as an actor for almost 2 decades and had been wanting to perform on Broadway for almost seven years. I did a branding and career consultation with a well-known business of acting coach a few years ago but it didn't help, so I was skeptical.
How would Martin's material be any different? ​Well, his branding process combined with my training and experience in the industry unlocked something that helped me book several jobs back-to-back... including my Broadway debut!
Martin has something special to offer actors, and I can't recommend him highly enough."
– Tyrone L. Robinson, professional actor
Hi, I'm Martin Bentsen and I believe EVERY actor deserves a shot.
​You might have seen me speak at NYU, Actor's Connection, or The Actor's Green Room. Or you might have taken headshots at my #1 Yelp and Google rated photography company called City Headshots.
I've had the opportunity to work with tens of thousands of actors since 2009 when I started, and almost every day, someone asks if I know what they should do to book more acting work.
How should I know? I used to think. I'm just a headshot photographer!
But soon, I started paying attention. I realized that most actors were so busy earning a living, paying their bills, training, and performing, that they had ZERO time to figure out how to position themselves properly so they could start booking more jobs.
Well, after YEARS of working with so many different actors (at all different levels in their careers), I've come to a simple conclusion:
​Booking consistent acting work all starts with finding a Brand you're proud of.
​When you take conscious control of your career and create a Brand you're passionate about, you'll start to find yourself auditioning for roles you're perfect for, which VASTLY improves your shot at booking them.
Eventually, one day when you're booking so much work that you have a major following, you can even completely break out of your Type & Brand (if you want) because people will simply want to work with you for your name.
But it all starts by finding:
A Brand You're Proud Of is my digital course that outlines the step-by-step process I take my private clients through to find their Types and build a Brand they love.
It's designed specifically for actors who feel stuck getting auditions for roles they're not inspired or excited by – or for actors who struggle to get auditions in general.
A Brand You're Proud Of includes:
3 info-packed modules that dive deep on the exact steps to take to get hyper clear on your Type(s), how to personalize them as a Brand, and even how to use that Brand to start booking more work.
Strategies to easily customize your marketing materials to your Brand & Types so they impress the right casting directors (hint: the key word is "right")
And how to do it on your own without needing to take tons of branding classes or ask random people on the street for feedback – so you can actually enjoy this process.
Access A Brand You're Proud Of online instantly, from anywhere in the world.
​I've designed this as an easy-to-access video course you can go through from the comfort of your own home, at whatever time is most convenient.
Each of the videos is accessible 24/7 so you can watch at 3pm... or 3AM.
​Plus, you get lifetime access so you can come back whenever you need to review the material – either this year, next year, or two decades from now.
​​Milly Figuereo - Getting clear on her Brand made networking WAY easier.
​"I have worked as a full-time actor for the past 8+ years. I have had a good amount of success - national SAG commercials, supporting roles in independent films, long time representation... However, I did not have a clear picture of my Brand, my Type or even my Why, I didn't have an idea of what was working and what wasn't.
I am now completely clear on my Brand and Types and I understand how to use this knowledge to get to where I want to be.
I have created new and more appropriate marketing materials and even a website. I produced new footage for my reel. I have even used my Brand to strengthen my relationship with my agent and am finding it much easier to connect with Casting Directors. I am so grateful to have found Martin. I pass his information along to any and all of my actor friends who want to succeed.​"
– Milly Figuereo, professional actress
​​Ashley Davis - Getting clear on her Brand helped her land her dream job.
"A few months after you helped me get clear on my Brand, I landed my dream job. I decided to focus my Brand on comedy and ran with it for my new headshots.
I now work at Shadowbox Live in Columbus, Ohio. It's steady work where I sing rock n' roll and act in sketch comedies. It's an open-ended contract, so ironically your Branding process and the headshots I took based on that Brand were so good that I never had to use them to find more auditions because I found my professional home.
Thanks, Martin!"
– Ashley Davis, professional actress
​​A Layout of the Course:
A Brand You're Proud Of is broken into three core modules, each with videos and a series of accompanying exercises.
Check out the breakdown below to learn what the program includes:
Module 1: Mind Reading
Learn EXACTLY How You're Perceived
The first and most important step in building a brand you love is discovering EXACTLY what people think when they first see and meet you. Without knowing what's going through their minds, how can you ever hope to take control of it?
Module #1 Covers:​
The Three Distinct Levels of Branding, and how mastering each can open up HUGE opportunities
Why Most Actors' Idea of Brand and Type is Backwards and how to have a MUCH better idea of what casting directors want when they meet you
The Most Commonly Looked-For Types and How to Use Them to Book More Work – most "branding" experts in the industry use "non-reality-based" Types and deeply complex brands, which counterintuitively cause actors to get even more stuck (here's what to do instead)
X-Ray Vision: The Step-by-Step Process to Discover Your 4 Perfect Type(s) – this simple, 10-minute process you can do from home right now will get you crystal clear on your 4 primary Types
Screenshot from "The 3 Levels of Branding"
Module 2: Take Control
Consciously Create a Brand You Love
The second module is all about how to take control of what people think when they meet you, so you can build a Brand you're proud of. Believe it or not, there are specific actions you can take that will change the way people perceive you so you start getting opportunities for roles that inspire and energize you.
What to Do if You Don't Like Your Types – there are 3 distinct things you can do if you don't like the Types you uncover in Module #1
A Step-by-Step Process to Expand Your Range – learn how to get the industry to see you almost ANY way you want (potentially as soon as this week)
The 9-Step Process to Upgrade Your Types to a Brand – one that will inspire and excite you, and differentiate you from ALL other actors out there so you become memorable
How to Truly Stand Out with a "Passion Brand" – ​uncover the final (and deepest) level of Branding – what I call your "Passion Brand" – and learn how this advanced concept can completely change the trajectory of your acting career (it was one of the key factors that helped my client Tyrone get booked on Broadway)
Screenshot from "The 3 Strategies to Expand Your Range"
Module 3: Make it Real
Use Your Brand to Boost Your Career
Once you've come up with a Brand you're proud of – something the industry will respect and be excited by – it's time to make it real. Module 3 dives deep the exact steps to take to capture your newfound Brand in all your marketing materials, plus how to use it to connect with casting directors and other industry gatekeepers in a natural, authentic way.
How to Work Your Brand into Your Marketing Materials, Step by Step - this simple technique (I call it the G.I.S.T. Method) will help you get clear on the exact colors, fonts, and styles for all your marketing materials so they capture your brand perfectly
How to Audition Better with Your Brand – this quick, easy-to-use psychological hack can be used before ANY audition to ease nerves and help you instantly feel more grounded – just close your eyes and imagine three key words
How to Talk About Your Brand with Industry Gatekeepers - it can feel awkward to talk about your Brand & Types when someone asks... but I'll show you exactly what to say with word-for-word scripts
How to Open Amazing Opportunities With Your "Passion Brand" - learn 10 creative ways to access hidden auditions (and get agents/managers interested in you) by using your "Passion Brand"
Screenshot from "The 9 Key Strategies to Getting Better Auditions"
Where will you be next year... and in another five years?
​So many actors I know got into this industry because they wanted to do something they loved.
Acting always had a special "magic" for them – something that made them feel truly alive as they performed.
​But when they look back, they feel like they've been stuck in the same place for far too long... boxed into playing roles they're uninspired (or even bored) by.
It can sometimes feel like an "either/or" situation:
Either you only act in simple, uninspiring co-star roles that pay well but don't challenge you...
Or you act for extremely low (or no) pay roles that are fun, enjoyable, and push you to become a better actor.
But it can feel almost impossible to do both at once.
The sad truth is that too many actors give up because acting has lost its magic for them.
​I don't want this to happen to you.
It's not easy, but if you're truly committed to your acting career, you owe it to yourself to take control of how the industry sees you and build a brand you're passionate about.
Because once you do, all that magic comes back. And that's when everything changes.
Are you willing to do what's necessary to make it happen?
A Brand You're Proud Of
The complete A Brand You're Proud Of digital course: everything you need to know to discover how the industry sees you, mold it into a brand you absolutely LOVE playing, and work that brand into your marketing materials so industry gatekeepers start offering you opportunities that inspire and excite you.
3 info-packed modules filled with exact, step by step processes to discover your Types, upgrade those Types to a Brand, and use that Brand to start booking more work.
A structured, easy-to-follow approach: I've spent a lot of time making this program streamlined and easy to work through. The program is built in such a way that you can take action immediately and start seeing changes in your career as soon as this week.
My Personal 60-Day Money Back Guarantee: join A Brand You're Proud Of and go through the program. If you don't absolutely LOVE this program and find immense value, just email me and I'll refund you in full. I actually welcome and encourage people to reach out if they're dissatisfied because it shows me how to improve my material for everyone else.
Q: Why is the price just $17?
Most of my programs range from $197-397, but I priced this course at just $17 because I believe EVERY actor deserves to know how to put the magic back into acting. Your financial situation shouldn't be a determining factor for something as important as this.
​For questions or concerns, please email [email protected] or call (212) 706-1902.
​"This is by far THE BEST program I've come across on branding. MIND BLOWN. Thank you."
Naina M.
​​"I just got a manager AND booked my first paid acting gig. Thank you!! Figuring out my brand made it easier for me to make a website, and by clarifying what I bring and how unique I am, I am now getting new opportunities."
​Manu P.
​"You make it so simple to 'step-by-step' tackle in a logical way something I find overwhelming.
I have just rebranded myself, or at least tweaked my brand. I sincerely appreciate this."
Carolyn G.
"LOVED this!!! THANK YOU! Types I came up with – #1-Edgy, Business Pro, #2-Punky Mom Sexy Rockstar, #3-Love Interest, Leading Lady, #4-Sexy Powerhouse Boss, CEO. Fun and SO HELPFUL! Honestly, THANK YOU – this tool has been invaluable for me to figure this out!!"
"Hello Martin, just wanted to let you know that I have gotten a supporting role in a short film and wanted to thank you for all of your help with branding. I feel more confident when I submit to NYC Agents and managers because now my resume isn't just training. Thanks again!"
​Tristan D.
"This program has helped me to understand a lot about the necessity and requirement for branding and selling my type. I am learning how to present myself as a serious and more professional artist so as to be viewed more favourably and given consideration in a very competitive industry."
Zariah C.
"This was a really great program. It was so comprehensive and the idea that you're not necessarily limited by your Brand (or that you should limit yourself) is important to self-actualization and motivation."
​Elizabeth B.
"This program on how to determine your Brand and your advice on how to have your headshot, demo reel, and website all in alignment with your brand was immensely helpful to me. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Martin!!!"
"Martin's strategy on branding and pitching to casting were SO helpful and insightful! His strategy opened many doors even during the pandemic – I've gotten more auditions than usual and also booked a pilot! I highly recommend taking his program."
Lisa M.