We have found 19,369 posts across 4 actor forums:
Why Pursuing Acting is Hard - Let Us Count the Ways by rosencranzand • last post Jul 30th
If you've been pursuing acting for a minute, or even if you've been on this reddit, you've no doubt heard the refrain about how hard acting is. There's a thread about it at least every couple of days, something like "Is it possible for me to make a living as an actor? I don't want to be poor!" cue 43 replies. The reason for this is that even if you're not on reddit,--- as an actor you've probably gotten some kind of speech from a well-meaning uncle at some point, or perhaps you're hounded weekly by your parents about your career choices, or you had that teacher who intimated that you wouldn't make it. But what the hell do they know? Well, they know its hard, however, the ways that acting is hard is not equal, and the cliched reasoning is not always the one that becomes the most challenging for actors. So here are some lesser known reason... Lesser known reason #1. It's hard not because you don't succeed, but sometimes you do, but that success often has almost no long-term effect. A "break" is much less common than you'd think. We wish on every star that when we get to work on a big show, or with a big director etc etc, that EVERYTHING will change, but...often very little changes. It doesn't mean it can't be significant, but that's how hard the industry is. You want to arrive at the safe, gated place where everything is going to get easier, but more often than not, you're still in the same hustle, and...the hard part, the same uncertainty. What to do to combat this? Stop believing in "breaks" and simply live in the present with the knowledge that the life of the actor is filled with uncertainty, and likely always will be. Lesser known reason #2 It's hard because your needs change. When you're 20 years old and a sprained knee takes 2 weeks to heal vs 1 year to never. When you can't imagine needing anything but a studio apartment and a plant. When you no longer can survive on Ramen and wish you could see Tokyo... It creeps up on all of us. You may not want kids, ever. You may not need a luxurious life, BUT the fire that burns like an inferno when you're starting as an actor can and will start to dim. I hope it doesn't, and I believe there are truly extraordinary actors who are extraordinary because they keep that flame alive, but at some point...its not going to keep you as warm as you think. So there you are, with very few skills aside from the service industry and...acting, and you don't have many other job prospects if you were to shift your attention elsewhere. Sorry, I know this one is depressing, but its the truth. What may not bother you before your mid 30s, may really upset you later on. What you can do to combat this? Don't wait to develop other interests, skills, even certifications. If another career avenue interests you, invest in it at least a little bit. And, be very smart about saving. Start that spreadsheet early. Lesser known reason # 3 It's hard because the grass isn't... You have to make a lot of sacrifices to be an actor. Those sacrifices may mean that you are among the 1% and a working actor. That's great. However, you can look back on the sacrifices you made and are still making and...it can be hard. It can mean missed weddings. Missed births of nephews or nieces. Missed vacations. You can also become so focused on your career that you stop being relatable to a lot of people. It can mean the loss of relationships. What you can do to combat this? Try to have fellow actor friends who can check you before you wreck yourself. There are some career decisions that have to be made. Some weddings have to be missed, but probably not all of them. Try to find objective parties who can advise you from running away and becoming a career monster, especially if you don't have to. Easier said than done. Lesser known reason # 4 The comparisons get worse. Hopefully you build a resume. Hopefully you have many satisfying experiences. Remember when I said there weren't "breaks?" Well, I lied. For a very small percentage there are. They become stars. I 100% believe you shouldn't believe in that if you can, but those people, if you're around long enough, will be your peers. You'll not only see them land their first big role, with enough time, they will be up for an emmy. Buy a huge house. Marry a famous person you always crushed on etc etc. At best...they're your friends and invite you to shit. At middle- its weird. At worst, its a symptom of your poor mental health. How to combat this? Accept that its part of the business. Don't go on social media. Don't read entertainment weekly. Be happy for those that are nice people and friends. Remind yourself that this business is 100% not fair. Anyway, just wanted to share my thoughts on this. Hope it hasn't been too much of a bummer post! Have a good weekend!
I’m an established actor in the U.S. and have close family in Toronto. Can I pursue representation in Canada? and…should I ? by slimshady2525 • last post Jul 30th
I’ve had several supporting/principal speaking roles in films on streaming services, a BFA from a top drama program, and have worked on many commercials/vo projects. Never thought to explore Canada as I was born and raised in the U.S. and have really only ever worked here. However, I have close family in Toronto and am aware that it’s a fairly large film/tv market. Would it be a good idea to pursue/reach out to representation in Canada? How would this entire process even work, legally? Is this a normal thing that actors do? Or should I just focus on work in the states ?
Just any general hacks? by Egggoss • last post Jul 30th
Hi, i’m 14 and would love to make it as an actress (screen) from any experienced actors/actresses what are some little tips and tricks that make big differences? Thank you
The Actors Studio by EnvironmentalLion192 • last post Jul 30th
Ive been making the docuseries "the last movie stars", on HBO about paul newman and joanne woodward. Has anyone auditioned for the actor's studio? If you can tell us, how was your audition like and do you think your membership is worth it? Thanks!
Voice Actors and Editors! Open auditions for a mermaid web show! by IndividualLab6354 • last post Jul 30th
You can audition for any character they have. And you can also audition for editing as well! Submit your audition today! https://youtu.be/993RnjxwrFk I don't know for sure, I'm not anyone behind it, I just wanted to advertise/promote it because it needed more exposure. But I believe this is unpaid work. But I do not know. P.S. You can audition through Discord and YouTube. 10+
sony untitled series casting call by Sufficient_Aside_167 • last post Jul 29th
my friend dm'ed me a capeusa instagram post about an untitled sony series that is holding an open casting call, encouraging me to give it a shot. i know that usually when a studio does it, they're also receiving auditions from actors who have representation (that usually end up getting the role) and as i have none and have never done a self tape before (only in-person auditions) i'm not sure if i should actually do it. has anyone see the call i'm referring to and have any advice for me?
Is acting in a theatre worth it if I wanna work in TV and film by Three_Eyed_Alex • last post Jul 29th
My passion is to become an actor in TV and film but in my local area the only real acting lessons are within a theatre type industry. So Is getting experience and lessons in theatre pointless if I wanna be actor on screen?
[Hiring] Looking for an Anime/Movie Recaps Voice Actor for YouTube by PutatoPutato • last post Jul 29th
We are a company with 4 YouTube channels that combined gather more than 1.4 million subscribers Right now we are creating 2 new channels. Anime recaps and Movie recaps We are in the need of 2 voice actors that are capable of making a solid and interesting interpretation out of the scripts they're gonna be given. We look for good intonation, clear and crispy pronunciation We need people that are dedicated and love what they do and always want to improve and be better. The work consists of 2-3 videos per week $20 Per video. This can totally be increased over time We are looking for people that are fully committed and want to be part of something BIG Don't doubt to drop your portfolios below, we will get in touch
Social Media Paid Placement - contract needed? by ComfortableSecurity1 • last post Jul 29th
Hello! Non-union actor here - I'm just wondering what the industry standard is for shooting footage that will be used in a company's social media, likely paid placement. Is this something that is sometimes shot without a contract? I know that for something larger, like anything broadcast, a contract is absolutely a requirement - but a close friend of mine has just offered me a low-key gig with his company, and I'm wondering if it would be a mistake to allow them to shoot and use footage of me without any kind of written agreement. Really all I want is something that says they don't own this footage in perpetuity to use in whatever way they like. But I also don't want to come off like a jerk asking for a contract for something that isn't that big a deal (only a couple hundred dollars, and again only for social media use, even if it is paid placement). Any thoughts would be appreciated - or also if anyone knows of any place to find example contracts to use for something like this!
Hi! AMA at 6pm EST! by AshlieAtkinson • last post Jul 29th
Hi, r/acting! I'm an actor in NY and I'm in quarantine out of town so I figured, why not see if anyone is interested in asking anything? My IMDB is here: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm1534700/ I most recently played Mamie Fish on The Gilded Age, and before that I played roles such as Janice on Mr. Robot, Amanda on And Just Like That, Connie Kendrickson in Spike Lee's BlackKklansman, and about 85 other things you may or may not have seen. I also have done a few audiodramas (most recently Kitty Pryde in Marvel's Wastelanders: Wolverine) and broke into the industry by originating the role of Helen in Neil LaBute's "Fat Pig". At 6pm EST time, ask me anything for the next 24 hours and I will try to get to you! Hope this isn't a total flop and people ask questions!
I just had one of the worst experiences with a celebrity and not sure how to move forward? by SwimGood22 • last post Jul 29th
Hi all -- I'm working on a film and reached out to a celebrity actress earlier this summer to see if she'd be interested in joining the cast. Her manager responded immediately and shared the offer materials and script with her - about a week later returned and shared that she wanted to play the role for my short film. We scheduled a time that I could connect with her on ZOOM and I had that conversation today to talk character and story. ​ Straight up - it was one of the worst, if not worst experience I've had as a director connecting with an actress. ​ We talked for an hour and the entire time she had an entitled and airy tone in her voice and responses. She was on a private yacht in Europe during the call. Her character in the story has a fractured relationship with her sister and this actress literally could not understand sibling rivalry or tensions in families because it's not what she experienced growing up and she shared that her "parents treated she and her siblings good". She also didn't fully understand the concept of families drifting apart because is inter-family brokenness and even asked if that was something I knew or heard of before. At first I thought she just was wanting more clarity but then the call got worse. ​ I asked her what in the story she most connected with the character because I wanted to find an element from the story she was emotionally connecting with we could discuss. She literally got defensive and said "Well...I didn't prepare for this role because I didn't even know this film was happening and didn't know I was supposed to do character research and biography for this call." That wasn't what I was asking at all, and tried to explain this but she didn't understand and just said she thought the subject matter was important. Her character performs into a camera for a very important scene. I need an actress that has strong command with their eyes and was complimenting her that was something she had I knew would be perfect for the character and this scene, shared how I loved Tom Hardy's ability to communicate with his eyes in Christopher Nolan's past projects and before I could even finish the compliment she interrupted and told asked me "Have you ever acted before?" ​ As a director I told her no and then she literally told me "The eyes aren't really what acting is. Actors don't use their eyes for performance." I tried to explain how I believed the eyes were a powerful connection between performer and the audience, creating a linked physicality and she just said "..Okay." really weird. I asked her what she was confused over and if I could help with what she was getting stuck over and she again told me that wasn't what performance was about. It was so uncomfortable and awkward. ​ I then shifted to one of the themes of the story being shame, and how I wanted to express that through subtext of these other characters. Before I could finish she interrupted and said "What do you mean?" really sharp. I started to explain and she interrupted AGAIN and when on a how spiel about how "shame ISN'T something that's hidden, and that it's other people's problem for not recognizing it and helping those who carry it." - I told her that some people's experiences they conceal their emotions. She kept arguing back with this idea and added that "It's not that they're hiding it, they just haven't unlocked the ability to find closure and other people don't have compassion to see it." ​ I asked her four times across the call if she had ANY questions related to the project or story and she said "No." She said she "understood the story and what I was doing." ​ On dates for principal, I asked her what her Fall schedule was looking like, if she had any upcoming projects because we were trying to work around her schedule to make the film work. She just said really cold "Yeah.. I'll have to talk to my agent to see." No other information regarding if she actually has conflicting material or projects. ​ Overall, it was just a super awkward conversation with a celebrity. What I'm stuck on is that an offer was already given and she accepted, but I want NOTHING to do with her or bringing her on our film. No contracts have been signed yet. I just know that she'll be a nightmare to work with. Do we share a follow-up email with her agent sharing that we're shifting directions after the call? She had no enthusiasm at all and I don't want to pull teeth on a film where collaborators should be excited about the material, not challenging the director by saying "Have you ever acted before?"
What do I call this role on my resume? by RightAct • last post Jul 29th
I just got a call that I booked a role in a major movie. It’s just a one day role and it pays the SAG rate of $1082 for the day. The casting director specified this is not background and she used the term “principal.” I know it’s not background because I auditioned for it and also because of the pay scale. But I do not have any lines in the scene. They are going to be playing music over the part that I am in but I will be interacting with one of the main actors. Is this considered co-star? How should I put this on my resume? Also this will be on a streaming platform so would I put this under “film” on my resume or under “television”?
When Method acting goes too far? by taboo82 • last post Jul 29th
First off, I've never been certain, despite trying to research it, what Method acting is defined as but it sure seems like some are a bit excessive about it. Isn't it a bit much to force everyone to carry you around because you're trying to play a handicapped person or gluing your eyes shut for a month to play a blind person? It just seems like some actors get a bit too extreme about it...?
NEED VOICE COACH FOR ACTING by MaximumTruthWriter • last post Jul 29th
Hi! I've been an actor now for years but have always struggled with my voice. Male. But I feel it's thin, unreliable, slightly nasal. I have a hard time listening to it and I finally have some extra money to invest in a coach. Does anyone have any recommendations? Seems like a lot of it is geared around singing but I prefer Shakespeare and straight plays (although I understand it's the same vocal mechanism). Any recommendations would be amazing.
Can we stop posting on SM every time we self tape? by abaggs802606 • last post Jul 29th
I think we all know that actor who feels a compulsion to post a video or picture on social media every single time they send in an audition for anything. It's like the moment that ring light hits them the think "the world must know that I spent an hour reading commercial copy in front of my cellphone today!" To me an actor bragging about auditions is like a salesman bragging about emailing a potential client who filled out a request form. It's not projecting the image you think it is.
How to meet actor friends in NYC? by Silvertinge • last post Jul 29th
Other than films or shows, where can I go to meet actor friends? I don’t have many and I’d like more!
Meisner question - "fully doing" vs "as if" by ActingGabriel • last post Jul 28th
I've been doing some Meisner exercises with a couple of fellow actors, following Larry Silverberg's book (thanks u/eogc9 for the fantastic recommendation!). We've gotten to the point of doing an activity, and we can't figure out something about "fully doing" vs "as if". Imagine you need to play a character that is juggling balls. There's two cases that confused us: (1) you're an expert juggler playing a novice, (2) you're a novice juggler playing an expert. Case (2) seems relatively simple to deal with - become an expert juggler before filming (simple, not necessarily easy!). But for case (1) it seems that juggling wouldn't require your full concentration; in fact you'd probably focus on making mistakes. But would the mistakes look like the kind of mistakes a novice would make? How do you "fully do" something that is so easy for you, you don't require full focus? How do you juggle "as if" you weren't an expert? We came up with similar scenarios, like doing math on a piece of paper. You can choose a level of math that is as challenging for you as the fictional math is challenging for the character - if you're playing a math genius but you're not, maybe just adding numbers would create the right level of challenge for you - you stay truthful, and externally it looks like the character is being challenged at their appropriate level. But how do you stay truthful in the juggling situation, where the activity is visible, and you can't substitute it with something that looks identical but has the appropriate difficulty level? Or are we taking "fully do" too literally? Is it just *"if you're playing someone writing a letter, actually write a letter"*?
Headshot-Age Range-Character Type Feedback by AutoModerator • last post Jul 28th
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.
Rode NT1-A Open Box by erikalg_vo • last post Jul 28th
appears to be available on Woot. [https://sellout.woot.com/offers/rode-nt1-a-vocal-recording-microphone-package-open-box?ref=w\_cnt\_wp\_8\_18](https://sellout.woot.com/offers/rode-nt1-a-vocal-recording-microphone-package-open-box?ref=w_cnt_wp_8_18) Only posting this because I know this is a commonly used mic for voice actors. Good luck snagging it!
Actor Interview by NeliKz • last post Jul 28th
If you had a chance to have a chat with one of the actors you most admire, what are the questions you would ask them? Not neccesarily about their roles and films, though that works as well, but also questions about being an actor in general, filmmaking, theatre, acting, anything at all that you would really like to know, and that they may find very interesting to talk about. Cheers :)