I had put my acting career on hold for a few years… What are some of the current trends in starting or restarting a career in acting?

There are several major changes… One is that there is now a preference for the color 8 X 10 head shot as opposed to black & white. Another change is that there are more online resources.  Remember the standard newspaper called Backstage West? Well, now they are online at Backstage.com were you can find hundreds of casting notices and have access to career advice and more. Additionally, Breakdown Services now shares breakdowns via the internet to Talent Agents and Actors. Actors can upload a demo reel, head shot and resume on this site for a nominal annual fee. You can find them at breakdownexpress.com and maneuver from there.