We have found 19,295 posts across 4 actor forums:
Resources & organizations for actors / filmmakers in NYC? by Peace-and-Love-5000 • last post Dec 10th
I've been in the city for a few years now and I'm trying to take my game to the next level both craft wise & networking wise. I'm wondering what other good resources you guys use in the city that I might not be aware of? I'm aware of and a member of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation to take advantage of their workshops, The Actor's Fund, the quiet library on the 3rd floor by Lincoln Center, etc. but what else exists that I might be able to take advantage of that I'm not currently? Actors Connection apparently doesn't do their "Free at 3pm" workshops anymore, Actors Launch Pad used to be $40 a month and is no longer around, are there anymore good deals like that to be found? (i'm not really a workshop person, but I will do them on occasion if they are free or super low cost) Are there any good organizations for filmmakers as well? Theatre groups that are some-what easy to join? From my research, all of them seem to be really convoluted on how to actually join, or you just have to hope to be cast a bunch of times before thats even an option. Reputable writers groups? My friend in LA does Deadline Junkies, which is just such a phenomenal resources for writers & actors, I've done a few zoom ones but it's west coast hours, I WISH they had a chapter in NYC! (maybe I could start one actually...)
Starting acting at 16 by Frosty_Prompt8632 • last post Dec 10th
Do you guys starting out acting at 16 is too late? I just turned 16 and I don’t really know how to start off and when you look at successful actors majority of them started at a very young age in theatre and musicals to get experience young. It feels hard to start off. What should my first step be as a 16 year old? I took acting classes 2 years ago and I’ve been in quior and a couple of school musicals.
As a new actor who is now SAG eligible because of Background work is it worth joining now or should I wait for a job that I would be a must join? by GoldenActress777 • last post Dec 10th
Hi hopefully the title made sense lol, let me tell you a little bit about my journey bc I’m lost again. So I started my actor journey professionally last year ish with doing background work on major film sets and my goal before was to rush through and collect the 3 waviers so I can join sag because everyone on set was telling me the pay is better & id be in the union with better benefits but as a I slow down and think about the goals I have I want to be a professional working actor. I would love to work on commercials and films. My fear now is that I know when your sag you can’t work on nonunion student films ( I don’t have a full reel yet) so I’m wondering is that even necessary. Because I don’t want to be professional SAG background actor, I want to try to audition for roles and commercial work. & I know it could get more limiting because some sets only hire like 20 SAG workers a set, But it’s being sag with no agent or manager beneficial? I’m so confused
Juilliard Extension by poehlerandparks19 • last post Dec 9th
Hey! Just wanted to see if anyone had experience with Juilliard’s extension courses, particularly scene study? Was there a particular methodology they taught? And, they say it is open to brand new beginners to professional actors, so, I was curious if they split the class up in any way? They only offer one section of scene study, so I was curious how that worked, and if anyone had experience with the class. Thank you!
What are my chances of becoming successful? by DemeXaa • last post Dec 9th
How to start acting in my situation? So I live in Europe, I am from a country in which English isn’t the native language. So we naturally have a strange accent, but unlike others I think I know English quite well. I am a 10th grader (sophomore year). Soon I will play a minor role, or so my director told me (don’t have the role yet) and then I might even play a role of younger version of our great respectable king (not to much screen time, probably 10/15 minutes), if everything goes according to plan. This movie will only get national fame, but I guess it does add up to something, so I guess it’s a great place to begin. I have absolutely 0 experience with acting, not even an accidental background shot, but my country has no movie industry, so theaters and art/drama schools are very rare. Plus my parents HATE the idea of me becoming an actor, so even if I found a great school, I wouldn’t get any aid, because I am currently dependent on them. Trust me on this, I want to become an actor, I would do anything for it, but my country won’t allow me that and it will be near impossible to start it directly from L.A. I do generally plan to move to the US. How can I reach success and how can I become a successful actor, do I need talent (I think I lack it) do I need to be able to dance (if it will be necessary I will learn it) do I need to go to some special school/hella lot of money to be auditioned (I can’t right away since I won’t have support, but maybe in later when I have some money) Not trying to brag but I am a hardworking dude, so I know it won’t be easy and I will do literally anything to reach my goals, but how likely is it for me to reach success (I know it will be hard from the start, but how hard are we talking about?)
How does one get a UK agent when based in Europe, but not the UK? by hristomatique • last post Dec 9th
Have any of you Europe-based actors had success getting UK agents? I’ve heard some actors from other European countries have managed to get agents in the UK, and since it’s the center of film and TV in Europe it’s quite beneficial to have one. I was wondering does anyone know is it okay to just approach agencies with a showreel and CV or are they looking for actors particularly based in the UK?
Need your advice actors — should I take the 2 year opportunity to work in UK as an actor or go straight to LA post graduation? by ZTheLittleAlien • last post Dec 9th
I am a postgraduate student in London currently completing a 1 year course in film production. I wanted to study the business of film for future projects and make UK connections. When the programme ends, I am entitled to a 2 year graduate visa in which I can work in the UK without sponsorship. Once this 2 year period ends, I either need to obtain a work visa, a creative temporary visa (if I happen to land a role it’s a 6 month visa for that particular film), or leave the country (yes I could marry someone but not relying on that / in a rush). Therefore I’m looking at 2 options -take the grad visa opportunity, sign with an agency and see what work I can get in London as an actor before returning to LA. Pros: London has a lot of film work going on here and I could land some good gigs. Cons: I’ll be 24 by then, not getting any younger and don’t want to wait an eternity to start my career in LA. If I took the 2 years I’d get to LA at 26/27 yrs old. Or: -go straight back to LA and start working right after graduation. What would you do? Thanks! X
Is it easy to become an actor and is it worth to move to USA from an eastern European country by PIDI1745 • last post Dec 9th
Im 17 and I am from an eastern european country where movies nowdays are not taken very serious,I like acting a lot and i don t wanna sound narcisistic but people told me I d make a good actor,altough I have never in my life played in a theatre.I just can t think of another thing that would earn me money and like it for myself so i said that i will be going to an acting university in my own country and after I finish it I will move to the U.S or Australia because there are more movie oportunities.But i do not know if this is a good idea like what state should I go in,what do I do until i get picked for a movie altough my parents will send me money i still wana make my own Now i don t necessarily want to be the main actor in a movie or tv series(even though i d like to) but I d like to know if i could make a well paid career by being even a background or side character or simply if I can win nice money from this acting stuff so I would really appreaciate your advice.
How to move the needle as an actor and artist by jonesyboy20 • last post Dec 9th
One thing I have been thinking about a lot recently is: how can we as actors spend our time when we are not acting, prepping for auditions, etc really feeling like we are moving forward? I feel jealous of musicians because they can spend so much down time writing music, but as an actor, there’s only so much monologue memorizing, job searching and what not one can do. So how do folks spend their down time not only feeling artistically engaged but feeling like you are benefitting your career? What can be beneficial? Anyone else have this experience?
How to get over the fear of criticism? by glutamat3 • last post Dec 9th
Hi Reddit VAs, I've been voice acting for around 2 months, and I've had my brother criticize my voice acting right when I started. I was really sensitive to that because he was criticizing something I am the most hard with myself, and while I know it's not going to happen now (I've told him about it, and he stopped saying stuff about it) I still know he whispers negative words behind my back. I know this because he's whispering words *on the same day* we have an argument/disagreement, and I know what it implies. This post will feel like a diary of some sort, and it will seem like this post doesn't belong in this subreddit. I'm trying to find if anyone has the wisdom to help me. Continuing... It bothers me that I'm needing to express strong emotion for the script that he will hear, (unless we switch rooms, where he can use the kitchen exhaust to drown my voice, and since the smaller room won't carry sound as far), not because I can't, but because I can't open up to the script without being extremely uncomfortable and being judged severely, by him. Not my peers though, I'm the life of the party when it comes to class presentations and stage acting, even though I am an introvert with social anxiety (self reflected). In the past and current, my brother is blunt and invalidates how I feel. For example, when I ask him a question, he may say 'you're trying to get my attention, and I won't give you this attention, because you're *looking* for it. but in that situation, *I have a damn question.* And you, reader, imagine what's worse when I'm having to express strong emotions while acting a script. I can't. Not while he can hear me. There's no way he can *not* hear me, *unless* we switch rooms. Now here's the tangent. I haven't met anymore more invalidating, and it hurts since I've been emotional to him in the past, and he hasn't accepted me. He still doesn't accept me until I'm perfect until his standards, which is, *straight As in all classes*, a *cleaner freak than him*, a *1/2 chore maid*, the *perfect sidekick, but not over pushy,* **and** *cold and brooding. Seems like those are his goals too, because why else would he demand do much from his twin?* And if I try to ignore him, those problems will eventually affect other parts of our lives. We're twins and I personally feel like it's not necessary to say 'please' and 'thank you' every time when we've lived nearly 24/7 for all our lives, and when we can basically read each others' minds when we know we're grateful, etc. He still wants me to be that *anime girl* who's super expressive and kind, to a degree. Anyways, I want to take voice acting very seriously (I've invested over $1000 in gear and have a [voices.com](https://voices.com) membership from the black friday deal). I'm still young, 18, fast learner, in uni doing engineering, and I know there's a long way to go for both of my careers. I know my weaknesses, which are needing to enunciate better and become less nervous in front of the mic (*not* acting, though, since I was told I was really good by many actors in theatre when I was 17). There's a lot for me to improve on, but I really want suggestions on how I should become more comfortable expressing myself even though brother will use it against me. This fear feels like a chain, and the more I move freely, the harder the chain grasps. My goal is to learn to get comfortable acting with or without him hearing me, but a solution may just be to switch rooms and he won't be able to hear me. What would you do? TLDR: don't want to let brother hear voice acting, because he will use my openness and pure emotion against me. We live basically 24/7, and he can always hear me across the room. He demands lots of silence, and for me to be a certain way, similar to the stereotypical unaccepting dad to his daughter. I am still passionate and want to succeed, despite this, but I'm asking for how I should make sure I'm comfortable acting, with or without him hearing me. Edit; Rewrote basically everything, because my previous version seemed like I was just a person who doesn't like to be criticized. It is more than that. I added much more details to show my situations and fears.
What is your favorite actor?? by Strikewr • last post Dec 9th
is not a with the best performance, but the one with a memorable and has a unique performance(there is a performance that you like) and who succeed play different roles without being generic. In my opinion, the best is christian bale: I like his acting style and I think it's amazing how he bring an acting show in any role: like Vice, the fighter, Nolan’s trilogy (he achieves interpret bruce wayne as well as his alter ego batman),the promise,American psycho. Quoting others like james franco(11.22.63,127 hours, The Disaster Artist,OZ,Annapolis) oscar isaac and benedict cumberbatch are spectacular in their expressions, faces serious and ironic they give prominence to their characters even though they are supporting characters: (moon knight,the imitation game,the power of dog,the courier,ex machina(Oscar Isaac is awesome in this movie),Dune,Star Wars) sorry for something i wrote wrong
Grad school vs no grad school + Help and Advice by Abstract_Corduroy74 • last post Dec 9th
I am in desperate need of some serious help. For about a year now, I've been wanting to go to grad school for acting to train and get more skills and sharpen the ones I have before I go out into the world and jump into the "pool of sharks" that the business of acting is. I've been looking at URTA and planned on going in January in Chicago. But recently I was nominated for an Irene Ryan Award (that's a whole other topic) and now I can go to the KCACTF festival this year. The problem is, that conflicts with the dates of URTA this year. Keep in mind, I am a senior in college, and this is the first time I'll ever get to go to a KCACTF in person festival, if I decide to go. I tried to tell my director about this, and she had a couple things to say. She said: A) If I go to grad school, then by the time I get out, I won't have much experience in the real world of acting, and I will have spent 25-26 years of my life in school and no time away from school to gain life experience that could help my acting. She said "You need to get out and live your life a little more instead of being in school all the time. You're 22 and a senior in college, you practically have no life experience in the grand scheme of your lifetime. You haven't had many relationships, struggles, defeats, successes, wins, you haven't had many opportunities to show yourself that you're capable of what you can do. You won't have much of that when you're still in school." I'm paraphrasing what she said by the way. B) I might appreciate grad school and it's training more if I were to take a break from schooling for a couple years, and try to get experience in the real world. By the time I did get into grad school, which would ideally be a couple years from now, I will have had some forms of experience or others, I would have gotten a better idea and understanding of what my strengths are as an actor, what I need to work on, and I would appreciate what the program has to offer and teach me. C) Grad schools don't often take people with hardly any experience in the field. But I also feel like I need training before I jump out into the world, so that when I do, I'll be better equipped and more skilled and have more tools to tackle what may come my way. I told her this, and my teacher also said that even if I were to get into grad school and come out in three years or so, life would still be waiting for me. I don't know whether to not apply to grad school or to apply to grad school and see what happens, or if I should just jump right into the world after I graduate from college. The thing is, I don't know what I'm going to do if I don't go to grad school for acting. I don't have any contacts in any other cities where theatre/film/tv is. I don't know what opportunities I can do! I don't know / haven't really considered any other ways to get started in the industry. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO! I don't know where to go. I don't know where to look. I don't know who to talk to. I don't know what resources to look for. I. DON'T. KNOW. Please, I need help and advice.
Is it too early to submit to a new agency? by CompetitiveWolf5 • last post Dec 9th
I’ve been acting since I was 9. I did commercials until around 12 and then did theatre throughout high school. Along with student films. My resume has a ton of training, and I have a good amount of useful skills. I’m currently with a boutique agency that I don’t feel is really prioritizing me. I booked 1 commercial through them this year. My dream agency is CESD and I was curious if my credits/resume make me a good applicant or is it too early to submit to them? Not to toot my own horn, but I’m a very talented actress and am fortunate in the looks department. I know this industry takes years, but I just don’t feel like like my current agents really care about me right now. I haven’t gotten a single audition since October from them. I am getting new (theatrical) headshots next month & am now fully vaccinated, so I presume these will help me in the co-star and guest-star booking area. Advice is appreciated!
Joseph Anthony…? by bmittel12 • last post Dec 8th
Hey acting friends! Has anyone spoken to, met, or filmed anything for a Joseph Anthony? I’ve auditioned for him a few times and every time has a shirtless character audition saying, “hey the character is shirtless but you don’t have to.” I’ve received a reply or two on the auditions of a solid job but nothing else. I had a young actor reach out and ask me for a different one because he felt an odd energy around it to. Thanks!
Learning lines with ADHD by Sadie26 • last post Dec 8th
Hi all! I searched for this topic, and while the FAQ's have some great resources for learning lines in general, I'm wondering if anyone has any more pointed tips/tricks/methods, etc. I appreciate any input!! I was cast in a decent sized role in a murder mystery theatre troupe, and while there is a fair amount of room for improv, there are obviously many scripted parts as well. I am NOT a professional actor (my fiance is, and while he has renewed my love for theatre, he isn't involved in this particular production), and I've never had so much to learn!! It's overwhelming, but I know I can do it. I just need to figure out the how!! Thanks in advance for any input!
Does my agent represent me in two markets? by RightAct • last post Dec 8th
I live in a smaller hub outside of a main acting hub and this smaller hub is known for a lot of non union jobs and commercials. Lots of agents here represent talent JUST in this city and then actors will have separate reps for going into the larger hub for bigger film and tv stuff. My agent told me that she wants me to work with her exclusively for both markets commercially and theatrically and that she would submit me to both markets. She had me sign a SAG contract but only wrote down the location of the smaller hub on that contract (which is where she is located). She has been submitting me to the larger city but I started thinking that I actually don’t want her to and would rather have separate representation there since those agents are more likely to have better relationships with the casting directors there and I might get better luck with auditions. I spoke with some other actors who she represents and they told me that she had never verbalized that with them before and does not submit them to the larger hub and they were shocked to hear they she wanted exclusive representation over me for both of these markets when she never asked that of them. I looked over my contract again (I am non union but she wanted to use a SAG agency Contract - she is SAG Franchised- to keep everything clean and secure) and it doesn’t say anything about the other location at all. The other actors told me it’s not cool of her to try to take control of the big hub like that for me and that my contract should have a “50 mile rule” and that I should be allowed to get an agent in the bigger city and then just tell her that I have an agent for that area and would like for her to only rep me in the smaller area now. Does anyone know what sag agent contracts say location wise about how far out an agent has jurisdiction over their actor? The only city listed physically on the contract that she filled in is the smaller city that her company is located in. Should I just try to get an agent in the bigger city and then tell her I only want her to rep me in the smaller city? When I was first looking into signing with her I asked her about getting representation in the bigger city and she told me that she wants control over that and it’s fine if I want representation there but then she would drop me and the other actors that she represents were very shocked that she said that to me.
I’m not an actor but every time I run through lines or a monologue, it calms me down by throsumhands • last post Dec 8th
I have so much anxiety built up inside of me but I start to feel more relaxed when I run through a script (at least a few times) in some app called scenebot. I also like to experiment by using accents to see how it would be like if the character had like a Southern or British accent.
Do Taft Harley's ever get rejected? by Massive_Apricot_5177 • last post Dec 8th
Just wondering, if a SAG production decides to hire a non-union actor (me), & they submit a form, is it possible for it to get rejected by SAG? As in, they say "no, it was possible to find a union actor to fill this role, cast someone else"?
Headshot-Age Range-Character Type Feedback by AutoModerator • last post Dec 8th
Use this thread to post your headshots for feedback, get info on your age range/type, find good headshot photographers, ask any questions you may have about headshots. If you are posting a DIY headshot for feedback, and not just a snapshot in order to get feedback on your age range/type/etc, it is advised that you do at least some basic research on what actor headshots look like--composition, framing, lighting. You will find a Google Image search for "actor headshots" to be very helpful for this. Non-professional shots are fine for age/typecasting; please keep in mind that one picture is a difficult way to go about this. Video of you moving and speaking would be ideal, but understandably more difficult to post. ​ For what it's worth, the branding workshop at SAG-AFTRA recommends a five-year age range. That's inclusive, so for example 19-23, 25-29, 34-38, etc.
Why is the casting of actors so ‘last-minute’ in this industry? by wc6g10 • last post Dec 8th
Hey everyone, I’ve been super fortunate to be up for some interesting jobs lately, but I can’t help but wonder why it seems to be the industry norm to wait until the 11th hour to cast secondary actors. Some of the jobs I have gone for have warned me that I may need to travel to the other side of the world in 1-2 days time. I am fortunate to be in a position in life where I don’t have huge responsibilities that tie me down so I can, for now, jump on a plane at short notice. I can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like if I had kids, full time employment etc. Have others experienced this and why is it so normalised? Surely the sensible thing to do is lock in actors weeks in advance to avoid this mad, panicked rush? It is a shame that actors are expected to be so expendable due to lack of organisation.