We have found 19,445 posts across 4 actor forums:
Question regarding "basic" skills (this is embarrassing) by Best_Tennis8300 • last post Feb 20th
I am a beginner in most aspects of acting, but one thing I'm sure of, is that when it comes to starting their careers, actors can't afford to be picky. In my case, I mostly have opportunities to act in theatre, in a TV commercial, or act as an extra for movies. Being a lead in a short/student film is a less common, but a relatively popular way to go where I live. The point of this post is my concern(s) with what is considered "basic skills", specifically in rehearsals and/or filming. Along with Asperger's Syndrome and clinical anxiety, I have a condition known as "dyspraxia", which I believe may be a problem/obstacle in a future acting career. To explain this condition further, think dyslexia, but INSTEAD of having trouble reading , talking and giving speeches, it's having trouble using your hands, performing simple manual tasks and sometimes following basic physical instructions. I did a physical theatre workshop once, and I remember the person presenting being pretty unhappy with my inability to do line dancing as a warm-up, and I was so embarrassed because for a few seconds I was looking lazy and/or less hard working than the rest, but soon, the trainer's disappointment transformed into pleasant surprise and actual pride. This happened because, throughout the workshop (it was hours long if I remember correctly) I used my knowledge and creativity to express myself in all the right ways. By the end we all performed a piece for her, and apparently I was one of the best in the room. In another case, I was attending rehearsals for a production of "Little Shop of Horrors" that I was recently casted in, when I realized due to to the fact that I can't tie my own hair in a decent ponytail, I needed to ask someone non-judgemental in the cast to tie it for me. I'm at the age where tying your own hair is considered a no brainer, actor or not. Generally, I think I do have some skills. I can read a script and memorize lines, I can stand still and be quiet when I'm expected to, I can write my signature, (although handwriting in general is often a mess from me) move my body in most specific positions that may be asked of me (I'm fairly flexible physically) and I am familiar with the basic criteria for doing auditions. This is really not a question I like to ask, because after all, in the acting world there are critics EVERYWHERE. I'm just afraid of all the factors that could hold me back. Regarding occupational therapy, I have tried it for years, it worked for a while but my body and mind outgrew it in a way. Do any of you have advice or tips on how to set up an acting career WITHOUT worrying too much about hair, makeup and the other stuff mentioned? Thanks for reading.
What is a typical day like for VA? by Jaytrain58721 • last post Feb 20th
I've been looking into voice acting/broadcasting as of late. Right now, I'm working in customer service for a logistics company and it's not uncommon for me to receive compliments on my voice during phone calls. I'm told that I have a very calming and soothing deep voice or that I could be an announcer. I've done some research and from what I could gather, deep male voices are sought-after(correct me if I'm wrong) I have been looking into classes at the local community college, they have a multimedia program. I've also looked into entry level equipment to start with, as well as sound-proofing a room(which would just be a closet that has enough space for me and a small setup. I'm sure it's different from person to person, but what is a typical day like for a voice actor? What are the stressful times like and how to overcome them?
Advice for fixing my voice- sibilance looms large. by DeLambtonWyrm • last post Feb 20th
Disclaimer that I'm not somebody with any ambition of being a professional voice actor. I'm simply a man trying to do some voice overs for my own little personal video projects, where similarly I don't have any pretence to be creating world busting affairs and rather just little things of local interest. I've briefly recorded 30 seconds of myself speaking so you can hear the problem(s). For the first part I'm being silly and then in the second half I drop in a more natural tone as I would use for the bulk of my recording attempts. [https://sndup.net/pmvd/](https://sndup.net/pmvd/) Painful right? I've tried all sorts of tricks but I just can't get this sibilance down. There's always way too much of a slur in my speech. Examples of things I've tried (though further advice in these areas welcome) \- Spitfish. It seems to reduce audio quality without much actual change in the sibilance. \- Pop filter. I'm using one here along with a blue yeti x and audacity. \- Speaking slower and pronouncing more carefully. I try. It reduces it somewhat. But... In what I am wanting to record I'm wanting to keep quite a local conversational character. I don't want to lose too much of my flow. I'm trying to get a bit of a balance between speaking authentically northern whilst being understandable to outsiders. Any advice for how I could try and sound acceptable for an amateur?
Agent told me not to hold my breath..? by SwimGood22 • last post Feb 20th
Reached out about an actor for a role in a short, and the agent said "Sure, but don't hold your breath because we're not really in the shorts market". Should I just pass and not waste energy sending an offer to them?
How to find local auditions by amic21 • last post Feb 19th
I'm just starting out and would love to sharpen my skills by doing some community theater. I know of sites like backstage and actors access but I'm wondering if there is a resource that's more focused on local community theater gigs?
Don’t you find the odds depressing ? by MonCapitan90 • last post Feb 19th
They say you need talent and luck. I’m sure there are some exceptionally talented actors who never get a break. Or maybe you get some work but not enough to make it your full-time job. I always enjoy the acting, but I don’t love it to the point where I’m willing to go all out for it. I know there are some people who fall into it by lucky happenstance, but of course that’s uncommon. Or you could be like Jonah Hill and date Dustin Hoffman’s daughter. One thing I know I’m really good at is voice acting because I do a lot of accents and impressions, but it’s near impossible to get someone to give you a look
Is there a way to unlearn or change your instincts? by Internal_Argument673 • last post Feb 19th
I'm a beginner who is interested in acting, and is currently trying to save up & build the courage to take an acting class. In the meantime, I sometimes like to reenact scenes of my favorite movies and record myself. When watching myself act, even when I was able to visualize my characters' world and was not in my own head, I feel that my acting is not very good. I've realized that I have trouble with my instincts/keep using the wrong instinct & I tend to overthink, and because of this, my delivery ends up being very mechanical and unnatural. To help with this, I watch actors in movies to help me observe human behavior & emotion and be aware of the different ways to react as a human, which I honestly think has helped me. but at times this makes me focus too much on trying to deliver a line the "best way". So I end up saying my lines the same way each time even when I'm trying not to preplan my acting, or I find myself accidentally mimicking the delivery of the actors I watch in the movies. Which is what I'm wanting to avoid. I suppose it would be more helpful to have a scene partner but I don't have anyone I could practice scenes with. Anyway I don't know if I should go about this in a different way to improve my instincts. I clearly am confused with all this and I honestly don't even know if what I'm saying makes sense
I was emotionally abused by my manager and quit acting a few years back… need advice on getting back in it by windtakermatch • last post Feb 19th
The year was 2019. Everything was great. I was a 20 year old fresh faced actor living in LA on my own. I had just signed with a well-known manager who started the careers of several big names and had a very few select actors in her small clientele. When first signing with her, she made me feel incredibly unique and as if I had star potential. She believed in me and had seen my work before so she knew what she was getting in to. I was extremely serious about my craft and practiced it diligently. Any opportunity to act, I’d take it if it meant working at it and sharpening my skills. As time progressed with this manager, she’d send me out to auditions and wanted to “coach” me. Which I found out was her way of basically sabotaging my audition. She eventually grew incredibly cold with me. Started manipulating telling me I have so the auditions *exactly* as she instructed me to act. She wanted me to act like a freaking robot. I was heavily agaisnt her notes and always told her I think it’s best I do the auditions the way I wanted because it was more natural. She constantly gaslit me and began to reduce me to a tiny being. And constantly threatened to take me off her roster. She said some ugly things to me that I honestly don’t even want to repeat. By the end of our relationship, I was broken and lost. I decided not to resign with her. I took every word she said literal and I quit acting. I grew extremely depressed and began to resent the industry. I lost touch with my love for acting and associated the industry with controlling narcissists who wanted nothing but power over their puppets. I can honestly go on and on about my views and how they’ve evolved. It’s been 3.5 years since leaving the industry but now have gone through therapy and have reached other areas of growth and that have reshaped my perception on a lot of things in life. I have since been regrowing my love for acting and trying to reach the level I was once at. But everything in the industry has seemed to have changed drastically. I feel completely new to this again. I don’t know where to begin. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
How did you get started in voice acting? by zimabluer • last post Feb 19th
I was watching this interview about the voice actor of Neon from Valorant and was just curious, how did everyone start their voice acting journey, what are the pain points, and how do things actually work during a commission for work? [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo9nscAUjPY&t=2s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo9nscAUjPY&t=2s)
TABLE READ: MIDDLE EASTERN ACTORS NEEDED by Lurkcage • last post Feb 18th
Hey guys, I’m having a Table Read in Hollywood today, Saturday 18th 5-8 PM and I’m looking for a young Middle Easter Actor for a role as one of my actors just cancelled. If any on here is available and interested, please DM.
Non-actor with a question. Thank you. by cacklingwhisper • last post Feb 18th
My friend is in Los Angeles and hasn't been able to make it beyond small quick things and is thinking of going to Atlanta. I thought LA is the place idk how to get them to stay here or change careers is Atlanta a terrible idea?
How to know when to back out of a volunteer acting gig? by alyeria11 • last post Feb 18th
Hey - staying super vague about this, obviously. I just emailed someone about auditioning from a casting call on FB. I gave him details, my IMDB, my experience, a reel, etc. He replied back without even needing me to audition — he basically just said “cool! happy to work with you!” and gave me the necessary info. He was a tiny bit pushy when I didn’t respond within only two hours, so I responded “ok!” out of feeling bad. It’s only a couple of pages filmed at his friends’ house… no IMDB credit or payment… idk. I just get a weird vibe from it all, even though there’s nothing blatant. He’s very very nice through e-mail, and letting me bring a friend, but it’s very far and the house situation is weirding me out a little bit. Where do I draw the line between getting reel experience as a beginning actor, and rejecting a role because I feel weird about the situation? I confirmed with him two days ago because I felt pressured by him saying I got the role, when I really just emailed about auditioning. It would be next Saturday. Is it too late to cancel on him? He didn’t even cast me as a specific character in the script yet — just told me to send over a video “whenever” of me reading lines I find interesting. Thanks for any advice, I super appreciate it :)
how do japanese voice actors know how long the line goes on for? by iwanttosniffgirlcock • last post Feb 18th
i know japanese va is different from western va in that they voice over completed storyboard animations, but how do they know how long to say the line before the action/scene changes?
I just paid for an acting class this March by Civil-Gift294 • last post Feb 18th
I’m really nervous, but really excited. I’ve been dreaming of being an actor for awhile now and I can’t believe I’m starting. Week is gonna packed cos I’m also doing a different course at uni so hopefully I’ll push through. Any 19 year olds whose doing the same? Both acting classes and another course at the same time?
I need a 3 person scene. by theactorwithnoagent • last post Feb 18th
I’m doing a scene for my acting class and all three of us actors are having a very difficult time finding a scene for us to do. Does anyone know of a good three person scene for 2 girls (18-21) and a guy (25-30)
Is it normal to hate my one voice? by phantomsedge01 • last post Feb 18th
So I’m an aspiring voice actor and I’ve spent around 4 hours over the past couple of days recording things in a small home studio I have and over those 4 hours I’ve not kept a sings voice line because I think all of them are completely worthless and not good enough to be heard by anyone, is it normal to think that?
Can foreigner become a successful actor? by likuna2002 • last post Feb 18th
Hii! I have a dream to become an actor in the US. The thing is that I have a little bit of an accent. I feel like I will never make it big with an accent and I’m having trouble getting rid of it. P.S my accent isn’t like Sofia Vergara’s or smth like that to become my thing. Do u think I should give up?
Is lifting weights bad for actors? by seemslikegoodidea2me • last post Feb 18th
Currently in acting school, and my movement teacher has been quite adamant about not lifting weights, since they say we are working to get rid of tension, and lifting weight adds tension and is a very tense and straining exercise. I’m just wondering if this is true and if you agree with it? I’m wanting to lift weights again to get in and stay in shape.
Asking for a raise? by loversdesire • last post Feb 18th
Hi! I’m a non-eq actor & got the call this morning: I booked a summer gig. YAY! The pay is not great, but not horrible as far as non-eq goes. $400/wk. Unfortunately I still have to pay rent in another city, even though my gig provides housing. So I’m wondering if asking for a small raise to meet my needs is possible. This is my first professional job that isn’t connected the regional theatre where I’m training, so I don’t really know the etiquette of these things. Any advice? Does anyone know the standard weekly pay for a non-eq theatre actor? Should I not bother? In general, I think we should talk about pay WAY more as a field. Not knowing what anyone earns is damn hard. I’ve heard so many horror stories about unfair compensation, whether equity or not. It seems that if theatres can take advantage, they will. Thank you!!!
Got "scouted" at the mall. . . What do you all think of this? by OkArachnid2416 • last post Feb 18th
Hello, all. I know very little about this industry. I am not an actor nor someone who wants to become an actor, but I am very curious about this situation and want to know what you all think. I live in LA, and I was at a mall. An individual came up to me and said I have “the look” for this place that hires for commercials, acting, singing, etc. and that they work for the company. They asked for my contact info and gave me a business card that was “invitation only.” I just said sure, wanted to see what it’s about. The individual said I have to do auditions over there to see if I fit or not. I looked up the place and it appears to be some sort of acting school. You need to audition to get admitted. From there, you are part of a program where you are exposed to Hollywood talent agents during the weekends where they see your auditions. The agency/school/whatever has some individuals that ended up acting in some shows in smaller roles according to their site. Several days later, the owner, I believe, called and told me to come in for an audition as soon as I got an invitation. I asked about the details of the program. The audition or “tryout” is free, however, if you get accepted, you have to pay 1.5k for an 8 week acting program. The program has Hollywood talent agents that come and watch auditions. Most kids over there seem to be getting hired for commericails or some shows from the program. I said I am not really interested, but will think about it. I said I might come in for a tryout to see what it is but not go in the program. The owner said that would be a mistake because if I come in for the tryout “I will love it so much that I will want to participate in the program.” Again, I mostly said I am gonna pass on the opportunity. I have no real desire to act anyway. So what are your guys thoughts on all this? Is this a normal thing? A way they try to make money? A poor talent agency/acting school? Am I missing a good opportunity by saying no if I wanted to become an actor? I likely will not even go to the free “audition", however, I am definitely not enrolling. The place has an acting roster, but, they seem like a business who just wants $$$ to me.