We have found 19,373 posts across 4 actor forums:
Looking Back - The Best and Worst Things about being an Actor in LA by rosencranzand • last post Jul 2nd
Hey! I respond to a lot of posts, but thought to do something different! I moved from LA, but spent a good amount of time there, 11 years, Half of it as a union actor. Here's what I think are some of the best and worst things about being an actor in LA! Best #1 - The Film Schools. Whether Union or Non-Union there are just SO many film schools. There's also a ton of variance in quality but that's also a good thing. You start with a class-room exercise at USC and years in you do an AFI thesis. Its a great way to become accustomed to the work on set, from skeleton crews to full sets, while still being low-pressure. I still keep in touch with a handful of talented folks, and who knows? Along with my acting studio I consider my on-screen training indebted LARGELY to student films, due to the 50+ I did over the years. It made me that much more ready when I did my first Co-star with a big intimidating star on a huge show. Worst #1 - The Loneliness I experienced it, and I would run into this all the time. Newbies to LA who can't seem to make friends. Nobody has time it seems. Everybody is on the other side of town. People are all friendly and super extraverted (actors of course) and want to hang and then ghost you. I don't think its as widespread as people say, and largely I think people just don't have time/are very networky by a kind of cultural forced habit. Still...I always felt bad for the person when they tell me something like this. Best #2 - Antidote to Loneliness - The Studios, The Improv! The Training I honestly don't know how much bad or scammy training there is in LA. I think a lot. But if you're careful there's quite a bit of good too. It's imperative to find a "home" even if its temporary because the best "networking" you do is not networking, its building meaningful creative relationships by doing good work in class, or doing improv etc. The other overlooked fact is that there are small theatre communities that are legit and can be good places to find refuge, or at least it seemed to me by colleagues experiences. Worst # 2 - The Life Balance You've developed a way to block it off and normalize it, but its going to bite you in the ass when you see that billboard with that girl/guy you don't like, who you know that just landed a pilot on that show. LA is like a constant reminder that you should be grinding harder, which is not the best thing in the long run. The fabric of the city is very difficult to find a life balance too, especially if you're broke. It's hard to find a cozy neighborhood, there are not a lot of easily accessible hikes...ugh, I won't go on. IF I could do it all over again (especially in this time of self-tapes) I would prioritize finding somewhere that I really really loved living (even if its pretty far from LA) for walkability, nature etc (doesn't really exist, but there's always a little bit better) and plan for vacations almost like clockwork. Best # 3 - The industry When I worked, it was great. I've of course heard of people having bad times with bad people, but my experience was that people in the industry are pretty good at being professional and pleasant. I mostly worked in the VO sphere, but I really enjoyed the big gumbo of people from all over the USA who meet up in Hollywood to pursue a familiar thing. There are a few macho jocks, sure, but mostly its creative, smart, geeky types who are good to be around. Worst # 3 - Being Outside The Industry It sucks. I didn't get to feel the ultimate feeling of suckage. I worked in VO, did Indie and Student Films (as mentioned) to express myself on-screen, and despite my efforts, almost never had good reps and auditioned so so so so little for legit projects. I would hear people complain about not booking, and be like...well, at least you get (on-screen) auditions! I was somewhere in the upper middle as far as industry experience, whereas most people I knew would be 1, 2, 3 years since their last booking. It's a very very common thing as some of you know. It makes for some intensely sad feelings, which would not be there quite so much if you weren't around people constantly reminding you of it. Wishing you all a happy holiday weekend!
Colby Minifie is one of the best actors to ever exist by coclover12345 • last post Jul 2nd
Does anyone else think so? She’s on par with Leonardo imo , just consistent greatness
(Paid) The Auric Cell is looking for actors, audio engineers, and video editors by kathaar_ • last post Jul 2nd
Hiring $100 maybe idk never hired for this by ahauss • last post Jul 2nd
Looking to fire a voice actor in about 2 mouths. I’m making a cells at work comic thing. But inside a 3d web page I’m making. Going to hire a artist to draw the comic. Going to be 4 pages. You can see what the webpage looks like here. I think there will be 3-4 voices probably 500-1000 words. https://youtu.be/-10LhXnLWug
Finding Reps Question + Agency Recon by Connect-Industry-702 • last post Jul 2nd
Anyone have any experience with Tangerine Talent? General question: How much do you pay attention to an agency’s star meter on IMDb? I have a few actor friends who are with various agencies who have a great ranking, but they rarely go on auditions/have a relationship with their agent. Any insight/opinion on this is greatly appreciated!
I want to become an actor. Maybe. by Cold-Handle-827 • last post Jul 2nd
So I’m watching all these tv shows and it seems to really inspire me to want to give acting a shot. Now I understand that the chances of me even becoming a person standing in the background of a show can be extremely hard to get. I am currently 16 and have no experience with acting. Yea I’ve don’t little skits with my friends, but nothing official with tv or YouTube, etc. Another thing to take note is that I’m more on the shy side. When I get to know people I am probably to most confident and outgoing person in the room, but in a room of new people, I do not really show my true self. Another thing is just voice acting. How hard is that? What are some things I can do to get started with acting?
Tense while performing monologues by Abstract_Corduroy74 • last post Jul 2nd
I just rehearsed a monologue twice, but I feel like my body isn’t relaxed enough for me to let go and just truly immerse myself in the monologue and enjoy it. I tried to do a short relaxation exercise beforehand, so I need some pointers as to what could help me get more relaxed before doing my monologues. Also, what is the ideal amount of times an actor should practice their monologues in a practice session? Thanks!
I am an actress, but I don’t want to have social media and the idea of fame makes me uncomfortable. by throwawayforprivacyi • last post Jul 2nd
I’m the least fame driven. I’m a very private person. I have been acting for years now and just got signed to a pretty legit agency. My issue is that I don’t want to have social media and the thought of being in the public eye makes me SO uncomfortable!! Am I wasting my time here? I don’t want to give this up. I’m getting great auditions and I’m finally on the right track… but now I’m getting cold feet. I’m terrified by the idea of fame… when most of my friends want to be famous. I’m wondering if I should start thinking realistically and consider doing something else, because I want to be a successful actress and I know fame/notoriety could be a biproduct of that.
I'm 35 am I too old? by anAverageJoe5 • last post Jul 2nd
I have been watching anime as far back as I rememeber. I am 35 years old and I know its a long shot but I've always wanted to be a voice actor, unfortunately life has put other things in my path a wife a couple kids almost 15 years in the military. I dont even know where to start. I have started visiting all the sites listed in the about section of this reddit it is just a bit overwhelming. Any tips for this old man, or should I just quit before I let myself.
Having social media as a major actor by ZookeepergameNo3630 • last post Jul 2nd
This has just been on my mind recently So we're speaking hypothetically I have social media now, but if I were to become a successful actor at some point, would I be allowed to keep using the same accounts I've been using or would I have to make a whole new business account? Follow up question. Are actors allowed to comment on YouTube videos, Reddit threads, social media posts (that aren't posted by major accounts), etc?
where? by PersonalityBig6551 • last post Jul 2nd
okay ik this isnt the right sub to post this but the people here respond quickly l. so my question was, i wanna be an actor but I don't know anything about acting, in short my skills are super duper bad and i can't join acting classes until I move out. so I just wanted to ask that how can I improve my skills? does books help? can somebody recommend any books? classes? free ones? and yeah YouTube isn't helping haha. thanks if you read it upto here<3
What makes a good actor better than others? How do I know if I am a good actor? by Cold-Handle-827 • last post Jul 2nd
I’ve done skits before with a few friends, and sometimes people tell me that I am a decent actor, and others don’t take note of anything going on, just watching. But how can I tell if I am good? What can I do?
How some people can Rock and become superstar overnight? by SpiritualFighter • last post Jul 2nd
How there are actors who just discovered in a restaurant with zero acting experince or a few experince and get rock and famous for just a show or in a short period of time??? Is Acting mostly about appearance, Right moment (right place+right time+right person) and connections rather than acting ability?
An introduction to majoring in acting or theatre by ShiningAway • last post Jul 2nd
I'm seeing a sudden influx of school-related questions regarding what to major in, whether it's worth it or not, and what exactly you're signing up for. As a BA Theatre Studies (aka Theatre Arts in some places) major who has taken conservatory classes and been accepted into drama schools, I aim to demystify the different variations of theatre majors and what you will actually be doing in each one, so that high school students and mature candidates alike can make an informed decision. DISCLAIMER: Because different schools name their courses differently, the course name that you are interested in may not always match the descriptions I write here. You should still research on the individual classes of each degree course to figure out if you really want to study that. ## Types of degrees **Full-time conservatory training** * BFA in Acting * BFA in Musical Theatre * BM in Musical Theatre * BFA in Theatre * BFA in Performance * BA (Hons) in Acting (UK) * BA (Hons) in Musical Theatre (UK) Generally, a course which advertises itself as a BFA should have acting, voice and speech, movement and audition technique classes. Musical theatre majors should expect to spend their time on singing, acting and dancing. It has also expected these days that BFA programs have at least one semester of on-camera training to prepare its students for screen and new media projects. Note that in the UK, courses in drama school are denoted as bachelor of arts (BA) courses. That said, their training is often just as intense as US courses and top UK drama schools have been known to surpass US colleges in terms of intensity. This is because while US colleges have general education requirements and electives, UK schools focus on deep specialization which means that every class taken is subject-related. Usually, an audition is part of admission requirements for such programs. **Performance-based liberal arts degrees** * BA in Acting * BA in Musical Theatre * BA in Theatre Performance * BA in Theatre Arts * BA in Theatre * BA in Theatre Studies * BA (Hons) in Theatre (UK) Once we arrive in the liberal arts degree category, it is a lot harder to determine if a course will give you the training you need just from the name of the course alone. You will need to cross-check between this category and the next one (Academic-based liberal arts degrees) to figure out if the degree you are interested in focuses more on performance or academics. Some degree programs even give their students the opportunity to choose their own specializations, so a program is not limited to one category. A performance-based BA is not as intensive as a typical BFA due to the number of hours allocated to general education classes and electives. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Pace University offers a BA in Acting, while the American University offers a BA in Musical Theatre. In both schools, auditions are necessary to enter and a considerable amount of time is dedicated to practical conservatory-style training. However, the vast majority of liberal arts degrees do not require an audition. **Academic-based liberal arts degrees** * BA in Theatre * BA in Theatre Studies * BA in Theatre Arts * BA in Performance Studies * BA (Hons) in Theatre (UK) * BA (Hons) in Theatre Studies (UK) Most prospective actors would not find those courses very appealing as they tend to spend a lot of time on contextual issues such as culture, history, politics and performance theory rather than what we came to college for - which is acting. However, there are academic-based courses which allow students to take performance-based electives. The less rigorous structure of the BA also frees up time for projects and training outside school. This category of courses usually do not require an audition. **Alternative pathways** * Community college * Performing arts high school * Full time conservatory in a studio * Private coaching * Audition-only youth theatre Those are just some of the various options you can consider if you prefer a non-traditional route. ## So what should I choose? Here are some things you should consider as a student: **Cost:** * How much are you willing to spend on university? * Does your dream school require you to pay out-of-state or international tuition? * How much financial aid or scholarship money do you have? * Can you work part time? **Location:** * How far do you intend to travel? * Do you need a passport or visa? * Are you able to stay for work after graduating? **Prospects:** * Do you want a second major or minor as a parallel career track? * Are you able to fit that into your course requirements and graduate on time? * Is the (in)ability to participate in external auditions and projects a dealbreaker to you? **Interests:** * Do you feel ready for conservatory life? * If you're coming from a highly academic background, would an academic/hybrid liberal arts degree be more suitable for your needs? * Do you believe that understanding performance theory and dramaturgy can help you as a performing artist? ## Questions **Is a BFA better than a BA?** If better means "being able to book work", no. Neither degree guarantees that you will book work, and it all comes down to your own audition or selftape. If "better" refers to how intense/demanding the actor training will be, then the BFA is better than the BA on average, ceteris paribus. This assumes that two students of equal intelligence, ability and resourcefulness are put in each program with no external guidance or networking opportunities. However, from personal (anecdotal) experience, having an academic BA in Theatre can become a solid talking point with the director or casting director. That point alone has netted me a few bookings. Of course, ymmv depending on how well you handle casual conversations. **Do I really need training?** See Young Adult Pilot Bookings for 2022, 2020, 2019 and 2018. **How do I start?** Go to an acting class, in-person if you can. Trust me. That's your first step as an actor and if you want to be considered for any of the audition-based programs, you must first understand what acting is about. **I have more questions.** Ask them in the comments! I'll try to respond as fast as I can.
Should you really pay $$$ for acting “demo reels”? by Representative_Sir_5 • last post Jul 2nd
I live in LA I’m SAG from years ago, but have no demo reel to begin acting again & have no agent. After researching supposedly legit companies that make acting reels, why do all the reels look terrible with shadows/bad lighting, shaky camera, edits that aren’t right and the actors are all terrible? They ask anywhere from $1 -5K for these reels that are not fooling anyone that it’s a real production. Would reps & casting directors rather look at a well-acted self tape with a scene partner off camera? Perhaps 90 seconds with clips from 3 different scenes? Seems very scammy & $$ for a SAG voiceover/singer older actor getting started in the business again to do on-camera work. Don’t they just have you submit a self-tape of audition material and upload online?
How to prepare for a small role? by ActingGabriel • last post Jul 1st
I've been cast in a small role in a low-budget feature. It's an action movie, and my character is basically the bad guy's lead henchman. It's a fun role, it has a few interesting fight scenes, but the characterization isn't particularly deep. The guy is goon that says "yes boss", enjoys punching the hero a bit (until he gets his own ass kicked), and his last line somewhat redeems him. Nonetheless, I want to play this role to the best of my ability. The problem is that most of the techniques I've practiced in class are for "meatier" characters, where it's reasonably clear what their scene objective is, or what their overall life goal is. But what do I do with a guy that punches people when his boss tells him to? I guess I could make up a backstory as elaborate as I want, as long as it makes the few lines and actions of the role plausible. Is this how experienced actors prepare for small roles? Is there anything else I should be doing? Or for a role like this, just focus on the physicality and aim to make it look believable and exciting, but not a particularly three-dimensional human being?
How to study actors on television? by sg1256 • last post Jul 1st
To improve your acting skills or get inspired by.
Changing Name by jlm792 • last post Jul 1st
I've been thinking of changing my last name to a stage name. Currently there is already an actress with my name, she isn't well-known or famous but when you search my name she is the first hit. I've been acting for about six years and using my middle name. Nothing I've done has been super professional, just a lot of short films and student films and mainly classes and workshops. I took a break from acting the last two years and jumping head first back in this year and wondering if it would be worth it to differentiate myself now before it's too late. I'm not a member of the union yet or booked anything "professional". However, I would have to change my websites, profiles, social media handles, etc. Is it too late to do this? Should I just keep going by my name with my middle name added (which I don't love)? I would just rather do it now if I'm going to do it than wait any longer. I'm afraid with all the classes/workshops, etc I've taken that it's not a good idea at this point. But would love to get thoughts/opinions!
Any college majors, besides "Theatre" that will help for future film actors? by LillyVelvet • last post Jul 1st
The college I’m planning on apply to has only a Theater Arts major (although, I’m wanting to be a film actress rather than a theatrical actress). Idk if I should put this but [F20]. I was wondering if there’s any other college degree majors that’ll help me in the future. I was thinking maybe Communication or English major. Some actress I look up to and their degrees: Gabrielle Union - Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology Regina Hall - Master’s Degree in Journalism Sanaa Lathan - Master’s Degree in Drama Some actress I like started very age in acting, once they got out of high school they were set and ready. Some actress I like dropped out of high school/college to pursue their acting careers, sometimes I do feel like I waited to late, but Taraji P. Henson didn’t start acting until she was 26, which makes me feel like I have time (and I do look younger for my age as well, which helps out a lot). If you have attended college, what did you major in and do you think it’ll help out in the future? Or should I not attend college (something tells me it’s a waste of time, even though some great actress attend college) and I should just practice and study acting?
Am I cut out to be an actor? by Lilac_Vibes • last post Jul 1st
I love acting... But I'm not sure if it's the career for me. I have extreme anxiety when it comes to uncertainty. I just can't seem to handle it; I plan my life out to the most minute detail, even though I know everything can, and probably will change in some form. I'm also someone who gets jealous easily, as much as I hate that about myself. The idea that I might struggle in some way gives me a painful amount of anxiety daily, and I constantly seek reassurance from those around me. Yet somehow, I can't stop loving it; the thrill of stepping out on a stage in front of hundreds of people, the joy I get when I make them laugh or cry, and the pride I get knowing that I'm good at what I do. I hate myself for loving it because it tortures me every single day, and I'm not even old enough for a professional career yet. I don't dream of broadway - being in a small company that performs in a park would be enough for me. (I think) All I seem to hear is "You'll never get work, it's a brutal industry" or "you'll be a waitress your whole life", and it scares the absolute shit out of me. I'm just so exhausted from worrying when I've barely even started.