Bijoy A K

Mumbai based Vinod Singh wanted to be an actor. His struggle began in the classic way with nickel-and-dime ad offers and insignificant roles in music videos.

Then he stumbled upon the power of the Internet.

It was during the shooting of Raageshwari's [Images] music video Oye Shaava that Vinod met model Arvin Tucker.  Vinod learnt that Arvin was the man behind filmcastings.com. The site is a platform for aspiring talents to post their portfolios on the Internet so that talent seekers all over the industry can browse it easily.

Vinod jumped at the idea of going online and now stands on the verge of stardom. He's currently shooting for Stumped, a film that is being produced by Raveena Tandon [Images]. Also, tucked under his belt are about 83 ad films including prestigious ones like those of Coke, Asian Paints [Get Quote] and Cadbury's Dairy Milk.

Looking back, Vinod concedes that posting his portfolio on the Internet was a very significant decision.

No. The Net cannot completely exclude the ritual of making desperate phone calls and queuing up for hours in front of studios and agencies. But what the Net can do is give an artist's portfolio that extra edge, to cut through the noise, to get noticed! And that could make all the difference.

Going online involves more than simply making eye-catching portfolio and posting it online. Some sites require the payment of a registration fee. The good news is that production houses and directors are increasingly using the Net to shop for talent.

Sapna of filmcastings.com explains that once a portfolio is with them, they sort them into categories like 'college going', 'executive looking', 'young husband/wife', 'hair care', 'skincare', 'oral care' and 'fashion'. "The basic guidelines are a presentable face with some character. For the experienced, the evaluation is done based on their previous work, marketability and looks."

Arvin points out that eventually promoting an aspirant's portfolio is crucial. A "combination of virtual and live promotion" is essential, he explains. Hence casting auditions are held regularly for various brands.

Another online trend is the use of portfolio building technology that can be used by aspirants and modelling sites. Buildefolio.com provides technology to modeling sites, models, actors, photographers and fashion designing students for building complete multimedia sites.

Models Riya Sen  and Gauhar Khan are among those who display their work online.

Yet there are those who have met grief online. Anupam Roy, an upcoming model, ran into trouble when most sites asked for previous experience while preparing his portfolio. Others have had trouble with the sites either shutting down or dramatically changing their strategies to cope with the downturn in the dot com business.

Anupam believes that the "game plan" of these sites involves tie-ups with production houses and casting agencies that prefer aspirants with popularity and marketability. This gives aspirants without experience a raw deal and they fail to make a mark.

Model Sangita Oberoi points out an online portfolio might not be enough to judge talent. But unlike Anupam, she agrees that the Net can help you get noticed by model coordinators and production houses, as "there is always place for fresh faces in the industry".

Consultant and journalist Dolly Thakore says the registration and hosting charges involved in posting a resume online can be a big handicap for many. "Most of these sites are charging youngsters. And those who don't have sufficient money go unnoticed," she complains.

For Thakore, who personally likes to watch and judge an aspirant's performance, the Net is not always the best option. But she expects the medium to grow further and learn from success overseas. "It would not be practical to expect producers and directors to spend valuable time online," she adds.

Arvin remains more optimistic. According to him, using the technology in the right manner is important. "Preparing a directory of talents on a CD and making it available to casting agencies and production houses can simplify the task and save a lot of time."

According to UK based entertainment analyst Ajit Bharali, the Internet is useful in exposing hidden gems. Bharali says it is important that these new vehicles for showcasing talent succeed. He believes that only the success of such sites can break the Bollywood cycle of casting star kids in lead roles!

He believes the biggest advantage of the Net is communication: "Lots of outstation and overseas talent can reach out to the Mumbai market. And these sites allow international clients to look for Indian casting as well."

Minal of buildfolio.com believes that the Internet is fast becoming an integral part of talent marketing. She lists out the advantages of an online portfolio.

• Access to the portfolio at any time from any place in the world.
• Password protection for portfolios to ensure access only to chosen people.
• Email allows reduction of nuisance that comes with listing of phone numbers and the subsequent crank calls!
• Immediate response is possible. The person who is searching for talent can get accurate updated data. Interest can also be shown on an immediate basis.
• And, of course, more exposure.