This is mainly for adult actors, though I think there are things to consider for child actors too:
If you are going to offer your acting/modelling services for nothing, make sure you do it for the right reasons and think carefully about what you are going to get out of it - especially if you aspire to work professionally.
If you are an adult actor, I would say the answer is you are going to get very little out of it as a general rule - quite apart from the fact that I think unpaid work is very bad for industry (it's a whole new debate which I won't start here
). Genuine artistic collaborations are one thing, genuine profit-share has a place - most other stuff? Either it's done by enthusiastic, well-meaning, decent people where you might have quite a nice time but nobody notices the work and it doesn't lead anywhere (very common and isn't really very different from amateur work) OR you are being exploited and the people exploiting you may engage you again for nothing, or move on to someone else who will work for nothing or (this is the important bit) move on to pay someone else in the future who will be more useful to them when they get some money. Paid work isn't always brilliant, doesn't always lead somewhere else - though in my experience it is FAR more likely to lead to more paid work than any unpaid work you do - but paid work is PAID. It therefore improves your bank balance and is a professional credit which CDs recognise and know that you are capable of being employed for money. This kind of credit generally matters a lot more than the unpaid kind. CDs aren't daft and can tell the difference. There isn't normally much of a downside - except for commercial work that's paid way under industry rates (this is where you need a decent agent).
If you are working for nothing to get showreel material you may need to accept that the material won't be that great or that you will never get it.
However - you will probably not believe me and will have to find this out for yourself! I have done unpaid work at the start of my career - I'm only saying this with the benefit of hindsight.
If you are still a child, then I accept that the experiences,needs, demands are different but I would still urge some caution so that no-one takes advantage of you.
If you do decide to take unpaid work -- make sure you are in the driving seat of terms and conditions.
I think the most worthwhile unpaid jobs are likely to be those where you are not promised the earth. Where the hype is minimal. Where the company is honest and enthusiastic and appreciates you putting in your time to help them create their vision. Where you have excellent communication with the company, agreements in writing, a timescale for seeing the finished product/footage (if it's screen work) and where the emphasis is on the organisation of the shoot not on the lure of the red carpet. Where the agreement about expenses is clear from the beginning. Where they are enthusiastic but realistic about their project and are able to display their industry knowledge about the likelihood of further success and exposure.
A lot of the time actors say that they do paid work in the hope that they will be remembered by the director in the future when paid work comes along. This happens a lot less than one might hope or expect. This is because a) if the director hasn't got the money together for this they may have problems getting the money together for anything and b)if the director does get money in the future they are not necessarily going to be spending it on you - even if they want to.
When money is available then suddenly the pool of actors becomes much, much larger. People take fewer risks and in any case will want the very best talent they can afford. Even if the director wants to be loyal and remember you/repay the favour, he/she may not be in a position to do so.
Here endeth another granny lecture
