We have found 19,295 posts across 4 actor forums:
Help! I hate my course at college (UK), how do I leave? by malebale18 • last post Oct 21st
So my situation is this: I worked as a child actor from 8–13 in big shows like RSC’s Macbeth, School of rock etc. Now I’m 16 years old and I’ve decided I want to continue as a working actor though I’ve developed so many other interests e.g singer-songwriting, fashion, writing, film etc. I’m a term (UK equivalent of a semester for the USA kids) into my screen acting and writing course at my production arts college and surprisingly it sucks! The facilities and equipment are great; high-tech cameras, freedom to use the other course’s facilities e.g sewing machines in the costume department to make own clothes, but the teaching is a drag. It feels so introductory for me, not only that but I don’t think I have very good teachers either. They’re teaching us how to ‘play pretend with different characters’ rather than BECOME different people from different worlds and it’s so draining. The bottom line is, I don’t go home feeling like a better actor, I go home with regret for going to the college. It’s so oversubscribed too (25 kids per teacher.) I had an acting coach (Jeffery Meek - LA) for a month before joining and he changed my life when it comes to acting, only around 5 sessions before I temporarily quit to ‘settle into college’ and I already feel like I have a greater understanding on what it means to be a strong actor. Not only this but I had a routine in that 10 week summer before I joined. I was doing vocal training, dance classes, piano lessons and dialect coaching with stars in my eyes and purpose in my heart, it felt great! Knowing why I was waking up each morning, doing a little bit of work each day, it felt peaceful and productive. I thought if I quit it all to settle into school, I’d be able to get a feel for the workload then see how I can work my routine around it but I can’t! It feels like too much but i also underestimated how exhausting it is to go to college for a few hours to be in an environment I hate. My options are (According to the UK government): 1. Find a new course at a new college… Maybe something not very creative so I can separate my interests from ‘obligatory work.’ Business studies sounds like my best bet as I understand being an actor means my body is my business but I’d also love to run my own big company one day. 2. Work / volunteer 20 hours a week + part-time education… 3. Get an apprenticeship… I wondered if my Dad could start his own company to give me an apprenticeship so I can actually do whatever I want working under him .I was thinking of taking a year break from education so I can organise my life like it was in the summer. Money isn’t a huge issue for me thanks to the amount I’d piled on from my work as a child actor. I wondered if I should have a year off to try to develop my career as much as I can through lots of training and work under an apprenticeship of with a family member with a company. Then at the end of that year I can readdress whether I want to find a course or continue as i am. Maybe an acting coach in the UK would be better too. P.S I have a big musical theatre background, but I hate theatre now. I only want to do screen! I’ve given my ‘spotlight’ link so you can see my actor credits / training. I hope I’ve given enough information on my circumstances and dilemma. Let me know if you have any questions and looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Actors are faking vaccination status. How is that even possible? by luckystar332 • last post Oct 21st
While working on set, a fellow actor told me one of the actors is not really vaccinated and has a fake card. There is no way that is true, right? Doesn’t production verify everyone’s medical records to make sure no one is lying?
How do I get into the acting industry as a Hispanic? by Advanced_Picture_930 • last post Oct 21st
As you guys can tell by todays and future movies, Latinos are slowly but surely making it into the main stream entertainment industry. I feel motivated and inspired seeing my own people make an example to be an actor. My girlfriend who is part of the industry, books regular BG principles but nothing too crazy. She told me I can break into it giving my background and looks. I appreciate her kind words but which girlfriend wouldn’t motivate their boyfriend to get into their hobbies? Anyway, she told me to get into BG work to see how it feels on set and to see how everything works. She helped me sign up with a random agency and got into work. The first month of working was so fantastic. The first bookings were fun mainly because I was with 5 or less BG and when that happens, everyone gets used to work, talk to camera crew, directors and basically gets to meet everyone. If it’s something I noticed, I would get pulled out of BG and get bumped up to photo doubles and stand-ins. It happened so fast I got my sag same month of working for the first time. In addition to that, I would regularly get photographed for stock photos for the movie/tv-show I would work for. I would ask my other BG co-workers how great it’s been-everyone would say I’m lucky to be getting my opportunities which is true. But I also got the conclusion I look different than everyone which is why I would get asked to do these bumps. What my point is, my luck isn’t getting me anywhere, it’s the fact that I’m brown and have a unique look to myself that appeals the production crew. I don’t mean to brag. I just need to take advantage of this. So far my agency signed me up for their stand-in department but I don’t want to used as an accessory anymore and would like to go further. Any pointers?
Saw a project I was cast in on Backstage reposted on Actors Access by scarlet-spider815 • last post Oct 21st
So I applied, auditioned for, and got cast in this student film about a month or so ago. Filming doesn't happen until Nov. 11th, but as far as I thought, I got the role in it. Got a message from the director I auditioned with, gave her my number, the works. Well, this morning I saw the same project on Actors Access, with the role I booked available to submit for (And no, this isn't an old listing, it was posted yesterday) I can't imagine this is a good thing, but I would think (or at least hope) that if they changed their mind on me, they would tell me? Does anyone know what this is about? (And I'm sure this probably wasn't a good idea in hindsight, but I was just so annoyed that I submitted myself again lol)
What do you do as a voice actor? by Responsible-Cat7883 • last post Oct 21st
Hello! I'm a student from Thailand and I'm researching about voice acting/voice over hobbies and jobs for my university assignment. I got assigned to making a tutorial video about getting started as a voice actor. This video purpose was assigned as a guide way to make good use of free time. And I find voice acting to be one of the most interesting leisure activities, and it can also lead to career development in the future. For those of you who see this poll, I would like to ask you to press the option that matches yours. And I would really appreciate it if you could share your voiceover experience of what you're doing or how you started your voiceover. Whether you work in this line or just try it for fun, I would love to hear from you. Thank you in advance. **(Some comments may be included in the video, if you disagree please let me know.)** [View Poll](https://www.reddit.com/poll/y9wlry)
What’s a good side job actors can do that still involves acting? by linsysegarra2 • last post Oct 21st
Hi! I’m currently living in NYC and have done basically all of the service industry jobs as a side hustle. HOWEVER, I want a job that involves acting and I’m not sure where to start. It doesn’t have to pay the rent, just anything that might pay a little so I can afford acting classes. Thanks!
Some Basic Stuff by introperv4u • last post Oct 21st
For those wanting some basics in Voice My voice teacher was brutal and picked every nit he could find. Students (including me) stood in front while interrupted about every third word to give a "line reading" We had to parrot his intonations back to him perfectly. It was borderline abusive but it paid off, as I've had people come up to me and tell me that I have a pleasing voice and I am not the least intimidated by public speaking. This preamble so you won't think I'm being mean. How to avoid "mush mouth" and the lack of articulation. Every day practice alone where no one can hear you and say, "the lips, the teeth, the tip of the tongue" and over-articulate every single solitary consonant. Hit them like a hammer so that you think you sound ridiculous, and then push it even farther. Everyone who does this exercise faithfully and gets into the spirit of it never ends up being told they are over doing it. I promise. Don’t believe me? How about Butler Daws, the voice of Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound and about a gazillion other voices. He has some audio books at [audible.com](https://audible.com) I recommend them highly. He says you should “make love” to every single solitary syllable. And he is right. As to the above exercise, I’ve watched actors feeling very uncomfortable about over articulation. That was until the teacher yelled at them to make fun of the exercise and dared them to go over the top if they thought it was silly. Each time they tried to over do it, the teacher said, good, you’re getting the hang of it. Manipulate the mask. Make faces when warming up Yes it will feel silly, do it any way. Push your cheeks, roll your eyes, push your mouth out into a puck as far as it will go. Make a kissing noise with your lips stick your tongue out as far as it will go. Make bbbbbbbubbbbba noises making your lips vibrate, like a baby. Only MORE so. Stick tongue out and roll eyes back into head. Make noises in every way you can think of. Gutta Butta over and over. La la la la like you don’t want to hear what someone says. And you are about three years old. Then take all the consonants in the alphabet in order Bah, Bay, Bee, Bo, Boo. Cha Chay Chee cho Choo. Etc push it, push it, push it. Over and over again. Not in volume but in moving your whole face (A.K.A. your “Mask”) as much as possible. At first it will.feel like you are cracking a wall nut open. GOOD! It means you are limbering up the muscles in your face. Push it, push it, push it! More, more, more. You can not over do it. Work this for 1/2 hour a day not great volume just normal voice. Then Hum and let the sound move from deep in your chest and all the way up to the top of your head. I am not kidding with any of this. I had to do all of it in front of 20 other students and in a theater that sat 5,000 people and someone was in the top balcony in the back to make sure I was heard up there. Don’t go for volume until later. For now, articulate, articulate, articulate. Then move on to the humming and don’t move the hum out of your chest until you feel it there and you are thoroughly convinced that the humming is literally rumbling in your chest. Once you establish that, move the sound slowly slowly slowly up to below your throat. And hold it there until you feel it settling in place as if you could hold it there comfortably for as long as you want. Then move on up into your throat. It might feel the most familiar. Everything here is going to feel strange embarrassing, humiliating weird and childish. Just be glad you can do it alone in a secluded space with no one watching and not in a drafty theater with all the stage hands actively ignoring you and shaking their heads making fun of those weird drama-mama people who are always being bizarre just to get attention. You are not doing this for others, you do it for yourself, in private like playing scales on a musical instrument, which is exactly what you are doing. All music aspires to the sound of the human voice. Wars have been started, love has been made words have shaken the world, rights have been engendered all starting with a well trained human voice. You are striving to be a virtuoso on your given instrument. Second critique of your piece, SLOW DOWN. I know as you read every fiber of your being is telling you to not lose the attention of the audience. But by not going slower you do exactly that. If you read fast, you will bore people. Instead imagine (and I swear all the best advice on voice training, sounds exactly like something stupid and ridiculous) so be it. Imagine (I kid you not) that each word is a sausage, and you must give each link the worth attention that it deserves. At first, treat each word as if it were of equal value. And each sausage is coming out of the machine at exactly one word per link. Slow down, go slower than you think is possible. Because if you hurry the words you will eventually slam them alltogetheranditwillbeimppossibletounderstandanything. You can’t later give particular words emphasis until you know how to treat all words equally. If you don’t respect each word and give it equal emphasis at first you have no where to go. It’s like someone who starts out shouting and then has to sound excited. They have no ability to draw a contrast. Everything they say is up to 11, so no one can tell when something is really important. You need to start at a base, and then build on the variety of sounds. As to variety, yes Vocal variety is necessary, and you will get there. But first you have to address the words individually. As to vocal variety that’s another ridiculous exercise where you take an unsuspecting sentence from your deepest voice all the way up to your highest comfortable pitch. But that takes warm up and mastering the basics first. Happy monkey faces and spitting out sausages.
I love being an actor but I’m so sick of trying to be one. by bustergaming777 • last post Oct 21st
Does that make sense to anyone else ?? My passion is acting, it’s all I’ve ever really seen myself doing fully. However dry spells honestly make me question if it is worth it in the long run. It’s almost like it’s never meant to be and sometimes I wonder if it might be time to throw in towel and get a “normal” job and actual have a solid income lol. I do have a part time job in between but it sucks lol
Nose Breathing for Voice Over by AmericanVoiceover • last post Oct 21st
Sometimes it's hard to breathe through one's nose when voice acting. But there are many advantages to doing so whenever possible. It encourages deeper, more relaxed breathing, and it aspirates your nose and throat which lessens mouth noise. [Nose Breathing for Voiceover - American Voice Over Actor Lance Blair (lanceblairvo.com)](https://lanceblairvo.com/2022/06/06/nose-breathing-voiceover/)
It's time for me to get serious. Where to start? by rabbithands • last post Oct 20th
It's my dream to be a voice actor, but I know there's things I gotta do before I accomplish that. Wondering if y'all can point me in the right direction. - Voice Acting lessons - I have a bit of experience acting, but I know that lessons could go a long way in helping me get that first gig! I'm in boynton beach, fl, and my search efforts for in person coaching in the area have so far been fruitless. Can anyone recommend someone in that area, or perhaps online coaching that is worth the time/money? - I also need to make a demo reel. I am near clueless when it comes to technical aspects/ mastering a recording, so what services for demo reel production do you guys recommend? I plan to focus on animation, so the demo reel would also need decent sound fx /music where necessary. I also will link my impressions video [here](https://youtu.be/Oo0KPsWMahs). It's no demo reel, but I thought it would be a good start to what I hope will be a career, and hopefully it shows my range. Please let me know what y'all think of my voice! Thank you for any advice!
Feeling lost... again. (Question for other multidisciplinary artists/actors) by zendi_lyon • last post Oct 20th
Is it normal that only a quarter of my auditions are for Film/tv etc? (I've kept track and see that that number is growing over the years. also with certain CD's which i've heard is a good sign.) I want to explore characters and explore the story of a film project.. yet the majority of my auditions are commercials and industrials. I've done a handful but honestly I'm just not interested in that kind of work at all...Don't get me wrong. I enjoy my time on set, but overall its very unfulfilling. I spoke to my agent when I first signed with them and explained my primary interest and the told me to build my resume with self submissions... but still haven't even been able to break through with that. I know other multi disciplinary creatives that don't audition as often and seem to focus more on film and then their other projects... but I keep second guessing myself with if thats ok for me to do as well... or if that will lead my agent to fire me. But I'm so burned out with projects I don't enjoy that thats turning into burn out in itself. I'm not excited about anything and cringe at the auditions that come through. I've always wanted to balance acting with my other artwork (traditional art, writing, film/photography)... I truly crave being a storyteller and an actor. In the past when I stepped away from it I always want to come back. but after so many years of nothing... I feel lost and wonder what I'm doing wrong or if I need a reality check or something. Should I lean into my other art and let go of acting or is it ok for me to be selective and only focus on the auditions I truly find interesting even if it may mean I only audition 20 times year? - I've seen quite a few actors take their work into their own hands by writing and creating their own work... but always kind of wondered what the situation was with their representation. one girl i followed.. I noticed she was represented by a writing agency.. not an actors agency. yet she was an actor. I know some youtubers and comedians that occasionally audition for films but they have agents primarily for their other work but offers still come through..I remember hearing an interview with nick offerman, when he said he wasn't interested in commercials because he was, and still is, a woodworker and just wanted to focus on film, but he was warned that that might come off as bad form with his reps but managed to prove them wrong.. etc.. I SEE other creatives make it work... but I don't exactly have the best self esteem so part of me is afraid they made it work because they were just better and had more support. ​ I don't know... I don't know who to talk to about this stuff to get a proper perspective on the matter... feel pretty lost and alone.
Commercial acting: W-9 or W-2 by jinkxlaska • last post Oct 20th
Hi all - I tried searching the sub but didn’t find this exact answer. I was hired for a job as the lead in a commercial. It was a 2 day shoot, out of town. Afterwards, I was told to submit a W9 form as an independent contractor. I’ve done several shoots in the past, and have always been given a W2. Technically I don’t think actors can be independent contractors based on the qualifications of what that entails. I should have clarified before the shoot, but here we are. I do have a commercial agent, but this was booked via a friend, so it didn’t go directly through them (I did let them know about it though). TLDR; are actors ever classified as independent contractors?
Calling in sick standards? Equity standards? by Kitkatkatie302 • last post Oct 20th
TLDR: what standards are there for calling in sick in professional theatre? For equity productions? Do you need a doctors note? Hello! I'm an actor in a pre professional college theatre program and we've been having a lot of issue with our faculty having weird demands and standards that are extremely taxing on us as not just actors but also students and workers (for those of us putting ourselves through college). Now she is saying that if we are sick we need to provide some sort of doctors note and a negative covid test. The covid test I understand but a doctors note just seems like another economic barrier to theatre. Either you're going in sick to rehearsal because you can't afford to see a doctor or you run the risk of being dropped from the cast or even getting your scholarship pulled because you're missing rehearsal. I know the university health center might seem like an option but it's still expensive to me and from the times I've had to go there they've just referred my to the nearby hospital which I definitely can't afford.
Is it important to consider race specific casting when filming a self tape? by memesus • last post Oct 20th
Hey guys, some elaboration. Sorry if this is an embarrassing question but bear with me. I'm a white man, auditioning for a white role in an original play that acts alongside a gay, black character. It is deeply specific that the character (and of course actor) is gay and black. Is it important to consider demographics such as race when choosing a reader for my self tape? They will not be on camera of course, but I am familiar with this creative team and organization I'm auditioning for and know that they place great emphasis and importance on issues of representation. My only concern is in that I am not familiar with the norms and expectations of this particular area as far as self taping is concerned, and don't want to come off wrong or create something distracting in my tape. I have a small group of people I'd feel comfortable asking to read for me, and none of them fit the bill of the character. For added context, the sides being read specifically deal with his characters race and reference other black characters in a contextually harmless way that I fear could come off very poorly, or at the very least, be very distracting, if not read by a black actor. Is this a valid concern? How should I go about filming this audition?
Should I try to get an agent? by Hefty_Shock1483 • last post Oct 20th
Hi, I’m a 17F based in Miami and I’m really struggling to find open casting calls in my area. I know that getting an agent can make finding auditions easier, but I’ve heard that many agents want for actors to have some experience acting on camera. I have no experience in acting besides acting in my school’s productions before Covid and participating in a local theatre festival. Should I still try and submit to an agency by making a reel using monologues or should I wait until I book a few roles which may take a while?
is it a waste of time for an actor to study drama & theatre at uni? by alleglorys7 • last post Oct 20th
(f19) i have been at uni in london for 4 weeks and have been wondering whether i am wasting my time doing this degree as my main goal is to be an actress/performer. it seems like what we are being taught won’t really help me do what i want to do. it is all based around theatre and practitioners like stanislavsky and i can’t help but think that would help someone who wanted to be a drama teacher or wanted to open their own theatre company but not someone who wants to be an actor. i was going to go to a drama school, had a place at 2 (1 being in new york but moving there would be too complicated) but didn’t go for unfortunate reasons. i just don’t know whether i am wasting my time and money, i mostly am doing this so i didn’t anger my family by doing ANOTHER gap year and to also get away from home. i would just be out in the open so i decided to just go to uni and do the closest thing to acting which is drama & theatre. i am looking to sign with an agency in london and am building my showreel by doing student films. i would really appreciate any advice on what my best options are.
I've been thinking about becoming an actor. I'm posting in hopes that I will get my final answer. by Fast-Association-376 • last post Oct 20th
Hello, I'm an 18-year-old male, finishing high school soon. I'm moving from northern Cali to L.A. in a few months. I'm interested in business and film. I've always wanted to be in theater or be on-screen. In recent years, I've been obsessed with fantasy film. I'm at the age where I can pick a vast number of career paths. Unfortunately, there are many drawbacks to acting, and its demotivating to say the least. Not being sure that you are going to get a role, or get a callback, or even get paid is scary. I love the idea of having a job that I love, but I enjoy making money also, and it's impossible to know when you are actually going to get a big role. I don't really want to bet my early years in life only to achieve minimal acting success, when I could have been spending that time doing something else. I genuinely look up to people who are acting, especially in my age range. They are a true inspiration in my life. I own real costumes from Netflix series, I own real props and other stuff from films. The idea of being cast in a movie is an ultimate dream. Self-doubt is the parasite in my life but the mathematical probability that it can turn into a good career is low. I'm shy and anxious and to be honest with you, I've never been the best pick for anything. I know that not everyone can be the best, or be great at something, but I can't think of myself in the future having a boring life. I want to be just like the people that I look up to. I'm in a strange spot of difficult decision making and hopefully someone will understand. Thanks
Headshot-Age Range-Character Type Feedback by AutoModerator • last post Oct 20th
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.
Voice Actor Needed! by paxtonia • last post Oct 20th
Hello I’m an indie developer looking for a talented voice actress to voice one of the characters in my upcoming game, Witchslayer: Genesis! If you’re interested in the role, follow the link in the post!