NEVER put years/dates or anything else that might age you like age, etc. It can limit you because casting directors can see you playing much younger or even older than you actually are.
You ONLY need 3 columns.
To get evenly spaced columns, use Microsoft Word and create tables within the document.
Here's how you set up an Acting resume:
http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww80/ELDORADO59/scan0002.jpg
RESUME-ALWAYS use the 3 column format!
Here's the standard LA format. In NY, it's usually the same but with Theatre being higher up than Film/TV (/ denotes column breaks):
At the top and centered:
Name (Centered and is largest in font size)
Union affiliation (if any)
CELL Phone Number
Email
Far Left side below the top and centered stuff:
Height
Weight
Hair color
Eye color
Right side opposite of statistics:
Agent logo with contact info (sometimes if you have an agent, you can remove your own cell phone and email address. Then weirdos that find your stuff in the dumpster can contact them instead of you)
Film
Title/(Lead, supporting)/Director
Television
Title/(Lead, guest star, co-star, regular, Under 5, recurring)/Network
Theatre
Title/Specific character played/Production company or director depending on who is more prestigious.
Commericials
ALWAYS put "List available upon request!" Do keep a separate list of the commercials with the Casting directors involved in case an agent asks.
Training
Skill learned/School or teacher/Location (LA, NY?)
OR
Skill learned/Teacher/School, Location
ie. Cold Reading/Margie Haber/Margie Haber Studios, LA,CA
Special Skills/Abilities
Be creative with this. When I was starting out and interviewing with agencies, they would usually go straight there and talk about my special talents and even had me demonstrate some of them
DON'T:
-Put extra work
-Put Modeling/Print gigs. You make a separate resume for that.
-Lie
-Put age. If an agent asks you when you meet with him or her, then tell the truth. It's for legal reasons. ie. Under 18 can't work normal hours and need parent/guardian to sign stuff or you have to be at least 25 to do a beer commercial.
-Put your home phone number or address unless you want weirdos coming to your house.
-Put dates. It ages you!
-Have it separate from your headshot. It should be cut to fit and stapled to the back of your headshot.
If you don't have many credits, show that you're serious by having training from the best and a lot of unique special skills/abilities that you can actually do.