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Embracing Growth: My Acting Journey, Lessons Learned, and the Importance of Persistence by Glenn Axelrod  •  last post Oct 17th

I've been reflecting a lot on my journey as an actor lately. Some of you may have seen my earlier reels, and I’ve submitted for roles that pushed me out of my comfort zone. I’ve received some constructive criticism, which I openly welcome. It takes courage to be transparent, but that's the only way to grow in this industry—through honest feedback.

Acting is about stepping out of your comfort zone. It has to be believable and authentic. If you go to the theater and pay $20 for a ticket, you expect to be moved by what you see. The same goes for us as actors in front of casting directors, network producers, or anyone in the industry. Our performances need to be flawless, and that level of mastery doesn’t happen overnight.

Just like becoming a certified cybersecurity professional (from my experience), it takes time. For example, when you want to earn a certification like Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), you have to pass a tough exam. I remember when I took it, the pass rate was about 30% the first time around. But I passed the first time because I put in the work—studying, practicing scenario-based questions, and getting good at my craft. Acting is no different. You have to study, learn from others, and constantly refine your skills.

Whether it’s watching YouTube videos, monologues, or scenes, and observing how others bring their characters to life, you’ve got to do the work. But at the end of the day, it has to come from you. One thing I’ve learned in this industry is not to try to be somebody else. You have to bring your own experiences and authenticity into every role.

For those who don’t know, I had my first production back in August, where I got to dive into an 1880s businessman role in Tombstone, Arizona. It was an improv-based project, and I’ll share more about that experience later. For now, I just want to say, I’m a part-time actor—balancing this with a full-time job, family, and my background as a retired US Army veteran. So, for those who are feeling stuck or like they’re not progressing, remember that everything worth doing takes time.

If you want to be on TV or the big screen, it’s not something that happens overnight or by luck for most of us. You have to work for it. Nothing in my life has come on a silver platter. At 60 years old, retired from the US Army after 33 years of service, I’ve had to work hard for everything. Even in the military, I had to adjust my personality and leadership style to fit the role I was in and the unique dynamics of each unit I commanded.

That’s why I see a lot of parallels between acting and my time in the Army. In both, you have to understand your character—or in the military, your role—and balance that with the reality of the situation you're in. Whether it’s on set or in command, you need to adapt, know your audience, and bring your own truth to the table. For me, acting feels like an extension of the role-playing I did throughout my military career. It’s about adjusting based on your experiences while staying true to the character or leadership role you’re taking on.

Now, if you're an actor and you're really good at your craft, you need to share your knowledge. I understand that some people are making money from this, and I get that—we all need to make a living. But for a lot of us actors, we don’t have the funds to pay for constant coaching or advice. I know for me, I’m fortunate to have my Army retirement, but I’ve still got other expenses and a full-time job to manage. That’s why when I make it big in this, I’m going to give back and not charge a thing for helping others.

As a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, I already do that in my own way by helping transitioning veterans with their resumes and job interview skills—for free. It’s my way of giving back. And honestly, interviews are a lot like acting. You’re stepping into a role, presenting yourself, and trying to convey why you’re right for the part. It’s the same skillset in both. I think that experience translates really well into the acting world.

I’m still new at this, but I’m gaining a lot of wisdom as I go along and learning from others. I wanted to share what I’ve learned so far, in the hopes that it resonates with you. If you’re feeling discouraged, welcome to the club—but don’t let that discouragement make you quit. Actor Morgan Freeman once said, "You only fail in this industry if you quit." And I believe that.    All the Best, Glenn in Arizona

Method Acting: trying different voices and comedic tones by Austin Oneal Jones  •  last post Oct 16th

Feedback? opportunities?

I would love some feedback for feedback on this monologue I wrote, produced and performed! by Austin Oneal Jones  •  last post Oct 16th

I put together an original sci-fi monologue, I'm seeking feedback or opportunities! Thanks!

Haunt Season Now Available on Streaming by Jeremy Warner  •  last post Oct 16th

Haunt Season Now Available on Streaming - https://linktr.ee/HauntSeason A masked maniac targets cast members at a suburban Halloween haunt attraction, turning their staged injuries into gruesome real-life horrors. As the terror escalates, the lines between performance and reality blur. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKXCNo3OgNw

Can’t find info on pitch talk by Phoenix Black  •  last post Oct 15th

Find this site difficult to navigate. Writers room news: Tune In TOMORROW for The Pitch Tank with Alexia Melocchi (International Producer)

We're back in the Writers' Room for The Pitch Tank with Alexia Melocchi. Writers will have a precisely timed 5-minute window to present their pitches, while our seasoned experts meticulously dissect each presentation, providing constructive feedback.
Get your pitches ready writers!  But when, what time zone, how do you register? 

Free class! by Stephanie Barton-farcas  •  last post Oct 15th

 Hi, I have been a director and acting teacher for about 25 years, 15 online and would love to work with you. I have taught Emmy winners, Drama Desk winners and worked with Golden Globe and Tony nominees!

I will teach you the nuts and bolts of it all and then help you book bigger and better jobs as we work. You will have some homework as you must work hard to join this industry! Making a reel, auditioning and getting an agent are all steps I can help you with.
I can be found on imdb at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2467623/
and my site is https://sbartonfarcas.weebly.com/ and i can be contacted directly through that. You can also read many of my student reviews there too.
I offer a free 30 minute class to get to know each other too if you want!

Hi I’m Meghann by Meghann Matthews  •  last post Oct 15th

Hi All. I am new here and trying to get my foot in door for Acting. I have never done this before so a friend me here. I am looking for any advice, and suggestions on how to get started. I am interested in classes - preferably free right now but possibly could pay if it’s the right class, theater, commercials, TV, and Movies. I live in Elk Grove, CA and know they are doing lots more in Sacramento. I’m also willing to go to Bay Area - San Francisco on weekends. I’d like to explore Voice Acting as well. Thank you.

Great Acting Job Led To An Unexpected Secret Clearance by Aaron Marcus  •  last post Oct 15th

Great Acting Job Led To An Unexpected Secret Clearance

https://youtu.be/OQS3CB2KV2M

I had a great acting job for the DIA. At the time, I had no idea that DIA stands for the Defense Intelligence Agency. After getting booked, I learned that I would need a Secret Clearance. What an interesting experience. I hope you watch the video and learn about the Secret Clearance process.

Watch the video and learn what happened, and about industrial/educational and corporate films. These can be wonderful jobs for actors, writers and crew.

If you ever got a Secret Clearance or had an interesting experience doing a corporate film, share it with us.

Don't forget to subscribe to the channel and click the notification bell so you always know when a new video has been uploaded.

Can't wait to talk again soon.
Aaron



Blog – How To Stay on Top of Casting Directors, Agents & Producers with Google Alerts by Maurice Vaughan  •  last post Oct 15th

“*Trying to monitor multiple things at once is challenging in your acting career: Casting directors, agents, casting calls, release dates, project greenlights, series renewals & cancellations, the list goes on and on... A solution to this issue is to make a google alert.*” — Kevin Marshall Pinkney


www.stage32.com/blog/how-to-stay-on-top-of-casting-directors-agents-producers-with-google-alerts-3886

Putting it All Together Last Night by Glenn Axelrod  •  last post Oct 14th

I’ve noticed that a lot of acting teachers have different ways of teaching, but something clicked for me last night. It became clear that when you receive a script, it’s not just about reading it a few times and memorizing the lines. You have to go through it numerous times, and then you really need to dive into the backstory of each character — especially the one you're auditioning for or playing in a film. You need to know the character inside and out. That means understanding their emotions, figuring out the right voice inflection, and even knowing the gestures they might use. It’s all connected, and you’ve got to bring that to your performance to make it feel authentic. A lot of teachers might not always break it down this way, but for me, it’s about pulling all these elements together. This deep dive into script analysis is what I’m focusing on now — knowing the character so well that everything comes out naturally, from the emotions to the physicality. It’s definitely a process, but I’m excited to see where this takes me. Has anyone else had similar experiences or breakthroughs with how they approach character work?

Coffee & Content: Dealing With The Misery Of Rejection by Maurice Vaughan  •  last post Oct 13th

Stage 32’s founder and CEO, Richard “RB” Botto, shares two videos in today’s blog.


In the first video, Just an Observation analyzes one of the best antagonist characters in cinema, Kathy Bates’ Oscar-winning performance as Annie Wilkes in Misery. It’s an incredible performance and character study whether you’re an actor, director, or writer.

In the second video, RB gives advice on how to deal with rejection.

Grab your coffee/tea/pumpkin spice latte/etc. and jump in!

www.stage32.com/blog/coffee-content-dealing-with-the-misery-of-rejection-3884

Seeking Constructive Feedback on Two Monologues – Dynamic Performance and Stationary Scene Insights" by Glenn Axelrod  •  last post Oct 12th

Hi everyone,


I’m looking for some feedback on two monologues I recently performed. One is from Chicago PD, where I portrayed Detective Sergeant Hank Voight. This was assigned to me by a talent agency. One of the monologues is more dynamic, with some movement, while the other is more stationary.

I’m a newer actor, having started in February, and I’ve got thick skin from my time in the military. So, I welcome all feedback—the good, the bad, and the ugly—but I’m really looking for constructive critiques that also highlight what I’m doing right. Whether it’s my lighting, delivery, confidence, or something else, I’d appreciate knowing what’s working as well. I’m used to talking in front of people, having presented to high-level audiences in the DoD when I was in the military, so being on stage isn’t an issue for me.

I’m continuing to take acting courses wherever I can find them, constantly working on my craft. One thing I’ve noticed about these talent agencies is they often push classes just to get money from you, and that’s a red flag for me. That said, I still want to stress that I’m looking for objective feedback here. I want to know what’s going well and what isn’t, kind of like an after-action review (AAR). In the military, after every mission, we’d always conduct an AAR to go over what went right, what could be improved, and how to do better next time—and that’s the kind of feedback I’m hoping to get from you all.

A quick note on one of the monologues (the dynamic one): In this scene, I’m standing in a room talking to a group of officers as their mentor. I’m at a podium giving them a motivational speech as they’re about to come off probation, and I’m getting ready to retire from the Chicago PD. So you’ll see a lot of movement in this monologue because it’s meant to be a dynamic, motivational speech. I’m moving around because of the energy and context of the scene. I didn’t have much to work with in terms of background at my home studio, so keep that in mind as you watch. The scene is set in a room with Chicago PD officers, and I’m giving them the “down and dirty” about what it’s like to be a cop.

For context, I’m doing this part-time. I’m retired from the U.S. Army after 33 years and have a full-time career outside of acting. Since starting, I’ve taken several acting courses. I was recently in a movie called The Paranormal Lockdown, where I played an 1880s saloon business tycoon, and I’ve done a few UGC commercials for social media. I’ve also been booked for a local commercial here in Arizona.

I’m a member of the Veterans Media and Entertainment Network and really like using this venue to get feedback. I’m located in Arizona, by the way.

I’m getting ready to submit an audition for more of a comedy-type production, and I’ll be sending that along for your feedback as well. I’ll make sure to provide the criteria for that one when I do, but in the meantime, if you could take a look at the YouTube links below and give me your thoughts, it would really help me out. As a veteran, I’d greatly appreciate the support.

Thanks so much!

Here are the You tube links

https://youtu.be/usNKl6hA878

https://youtu.be/yPFANmDxby8?si=i8EjowOpOSZydid0

Auditioning for Commercials by Tammy Hunt  •  last post Oct 10th

Commercial Audition Advice for Actors


Looking to break in? Casting directors Ellen Jacoby of Miami and Los Angeles–based Stuart Stone, author of the book “The Keys to Commercial Acting,” can help. They know a thing or two about what works—and what doesn’t—in the commercial casting room.  

- Put the product first. “When you’re casting a commercial, you become a part of the product, so you’re not just selling yourself,” says Jacoby. “The product is No. 1, we have to believe you like the product.” 
- Get comfortable with the fourth wall. “A lot of times, you’re talking right to the camera. You have to be able to create that space.” 
- Practice on products you love. “To be believable in a commercial, actors should take a product they use every day that they know and love and do a commercial for their product. That’s when you’re being real, because you use it! Then transpose that into the product that you’re doing.” 
- Dress appropriately. “You should never wear black or white in front of the camera. It’s not great for your face. No geometric prints. Dress according to what you’re going out for. An upscale dinner guest at an upscale restaurant, we don’t expect you to be in jeans. Directors and producers recognize that. We show them a whole lot of people, and they’re looking first at all the stills, and then they click on the video. If you don’t look right, they won’t even click to see your video.” 
- When you get the job, know your place on set. “You don’t want to go and get behind the [directors, writers and producers] that are there and get in their way and try to chum up to them,” Stone warns. “You become an annoyance. They’ve got work to do. If they’re in their own little area with their monitor watching what’s going on and you’re over there trying to schmooze them, it’s a hindrance. The ideal way is to always stay in camera view of the director, just off to the side, because then they can call you at the last minute. Always make sure that you check with a second A.D. before you leave the set, because he’s responsible for you as an actor. First and foremost, your second A.D. needs to be your contact throughout the whole job.” 

#commercial #audition

Next Week's In-Person Stage 32 Meetups! by Ashley Renee Smith  •  last post Oct 10th

Hey, All!


There are 2 FREE Stage 32 in-person networking meetups coming up next Thursday, October 17th! I'm including links to the meetup pages for you all below. If you live in any of these cities or are nearby, be sure to RSVP and seize this opportunity to meet with other creatives in person and help build your local creative community! 

Austin, TX: https://www.stage32.com/meetups/1999/October-Stage-32-Austin-TX-In-Person-Meetup 
Phoenix, AZ: https://www.stage32.com/meetups/1998/Oct-Stage-32-Phoenix-In-Person-Meetup

If you're interested in becoming the host of a free monthly meetup in your area, you can reach out to me to discuss the details at community@stage32.com!

17 Actors Who Underwent Serious Physical Transformations With Makeup And Prosthetics For A Role (And If They Loved Or Hated It) by Amanda Toney  •  last post Oct 9th

A fun read : ) https://www.buzzfeed.com/kristenharris1/actors-extreme-transformation-for-roles

All those who have played The Joker by Sam Sokolow  •  last post Oct 8th

Joker 2 is getting mixed reviews but this article about all of the actors who have played or voiced this iconic character is a super cool read. https://deadline.com/gallery/joker-actors-joaquin-phoenix-heath-ledger/the-dark-knight-heath-ledger-as-the-joker-2008-warner-bros-courtesy-everett-collection-3/

Suggestions for first time in Los Angeles by Caroline Gray  •  last post Oct 8th

Hello! I'm a founder of a sensuality x mindfulness startup, and I'm headed to LA for Tech Week. I'm casting creators and looking for event suggestions where I can meet with fellow creative, uplifting and enthusiastic (and hard-working) people open to new opportunities. I'll be in town Oct 14 - 18. Any ideas? 

It's Shockingly Easy to Misinterpret Your Agent’s Text by Aaron Marcus  •  last post Oct 8th

It's Shockingly Easy to Misinterpret Your Agent’s Text

https://youtu.be/InygBfTMAws

It is so easy to misinterpret an agent’s text. It took me a while to learn that it is impossible to really understand what an agent truly means in a text. They are swamped and sometimes need to send information out very quickly. 

Typically, texts from agents are not personal notes. They are transactional. In this video, you will hear about a real example of where I got a text that I completely misinterpreted. 

And, I break down the mindset agents are in when communicating with you. Watch the video to learn why you shouldn't read too much into the "tone" of their words.

Have you ever misinterpreted a text from an agent? If so, share your experience here so we can learn from you.

A Little guidance and Ideas for a movie. by Delzad Tata  •  last post Oct 8th

Hi everyone, My name is Delzad Tata, I am 18 . I from a very young age fell in love with cinema and decided that I want to be In this Industry and make movies. Even though I love to explore every kind of movie, Recently, I am just fascinated with  movies such as "BULLET TRAIN" and "THE FALL GUY" directed by one of my favourite directors David Leitch.


I don't have much of experience in Filmmaking but I am still learning, and so I am thinking of writing a story consisting of similar themes like the movies I mentioned and directing it. Because what intrigued me that  even though genre of the movies mainly quotes action-comedy, I think there are plenty more elements and emotions that are well balanced which make the movie super entertaining.

And so because I  may not have THAT level of resources for such a theme as of yet, Is it still  a good Idea to go with? or There is a different approach/mindset that I should be having before thinking about making such films?.( I am mostly Interested in Acting, Directing and Writing).


Phoenix Area October Stage 32 In Person Meet Up by Suzanne Bronson  •  last post Oct 6th

RSVP here

https://www.stage32.com/meetups/1998