We have found 19,298 posts across 4 actor forums:
alternative to going the gig route? by Jedi_Jitsu • last post May 13th
Obviously, a very touchy subject matter. Fiverr has been great to many VAs but has certainly damaged the industry somewhat. As a total beginner in VA (having acting training and stuntman work) progress a career without the gig economy, or more so, the Fiverr / Upwork route. My gut is saying the answer to this is to train under various coaches and try and get signed by an agent / agency but I could be way off there comparing VA to "normal" acting (read: screen actor)
What more can I do within my power to book co-star and guest star roles? by milkydoll • last post May 12th
I have been acting for more than 6 years now. Started from a few local acting courses here and there. Went to a conservatory for 3 years. Been self-studying and hiring an acting coach for all my major auditions for the past 2 years since COVID. Went to therapy and went through a hell of a self discovery and creativity process. Going back to classes again this summer to improve my skills even more. I have a manager and an agent who have been absolutely amazing in sending me out to roles. (Although I am looking for a better agency this summer.) They’re not HUGE with connections but decent enough to get me in the door to audition at least 2-3 times a month even though I’m about 2 hours away from a major market. I’ve invested in headshots, improved my reels, optimized my resumes, won an acting award for an indie film, I’ve made my own short films and have 6 film festival nominations, landed lead supporting roles in 2 feature films in the past 2 years… but I still have not landed a co-star or a guest star role in any TV series. I’m not here to brag or complain. I’m actually extremely grateful that I’ve come as far as I could with the work I’ve done. But when I meet other actors who have been in TV series or a huge film, it makes me wonder if I’m good enough when it’s been this long and I’ve never been in anything considered “big” like television or a streaming service or a films… Am I even considered a “real” actor? Was it because I didn’t go to college for acting and didn’t make the right connections? Is it because I’m an Asian woman but don’t look “Asian” enough to fill in the Asian roles they’re looking for? Is it because I’m deluded and my acting skills aren’t as good as I think they are? Am I not working hard enough? I’m confident my natural drive to continue improving my craft will never stop so I know I’ll get better in acting no matter what. It just comes with time (and money which I’m consistently building). I’m even planning to move up closer to a big market by the end of this year with my partner. But sometimes, I wonder if there’s anything more I can do to improve my chances of really making this a working career for me. Are there other outside factors I’m really not considering with this? Is there anything more in my power I can do? I guess what I’m looking for is to learn more about people’s experiences on here with their journey in this career. I’m here for the long haul. But sometimes sticking with the long haul makes you feel like an imposter. What do you do when you feel like you’re doing everything right but you’re not getting to where you want to be?
Agent asked me to put my actual age down for my profiles. She said CDs won't see it but they run searches behind the scenes. I look 5-7 years younger. Why why would this matter so much to CDs? by sjhalani • last post May 12th
I'm just curious. This is about my Actors Access/ Casting Networks profile. My theatrical agent asked me to list my real age. I thought casting isn't supposed to ask about the real age of actors. Have you guys heard that they run actual searches for age ranges on agent rosters?
Does Alexa Fogel also cast out of LA? by watch1122 • last post May 12th
Would out managers and agents be able to see the breakdowns or would she only reach out to actors that she knows in LA?
Any auditions in LA lately from your reps? by SeverePilot • last post May 12th
Actor here! (24F Black and Asian) and checking in to see if people are getting auditions lately? It feels slow from my agent and manager but I’ve been hearing that’s normal this time of year? It’s my first spring in LA since I graduated last year from acting school so I’m checking in if this pace is normal right now with auditions from reps!
Paying agents for jobs they didn’t get you by MrLeakyToaster • last post May 12th
So I heard that you should pay your agents even for jobs you got yourself. I’m totally in favor of this and understand it’s importance. The question I have is if there was a formal method to doing this or is it just being honorable and paying your agent what they’re owed out of what you’re directly paid as an actor?
First time on set as an extra in a movie with star-studded cast: any advice? by betamau5 • last post May 12th
I got booked as an extra in a movie coming out in the next year or 2. The cast is full of insanely famous and ridiculously good actors. I’m mainly excited to be on set - to see how everything works and get the chance to watch these actors in their element. Couple questions: 1. Is networking on set a thing if I’m there as an extra? Is there something I can do to open up more opportunities for myself through this? 2. Since this would be my first (and paid) film experience, is it resume worthy? Would love to hear anyone’s thoughts
Headshot-Age Range-Character Type Feedback by AutoModerator • last post May 12th
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.
i need Arabic voice actors by DragonWarriorMH • last post May 12th
Hello there, i am not sure if there are Arabs here but I am Arabic looking for Arabs to do voice qcting for BERSERK anime
How to get a more stable body by myself? by June-as-in-july • last post May 11th
Hello everyone, Still French actor in training, I just did a few contests for national schools, and the verdict is firm: I have a body so unstable and unbalanced it is impressive in the bad way. I also tend to hurt myself really easily by playing intensely with no flexibility. I really need and want to work on that. But it’s a bit late to register in a dancing class this year, and my theater teacher say it would be a pretty bad idea to try to dance alone without anyone to tell me what I’m doing wrong. I read Grotowski method and would be glad to learn, but again, it’s just me and a book. What you would recommend to work alone for a more stable / flexible actor body? Yoga? Stretches? Do you have any app or method to recommend? Until I can get decent dancing practice? Thank you.
How does one get out of their head when performing? by Cordath • last post May 11th
I'm primarily a voice actor right now but I find traditional acting translates better to stuff like this, hence why I'm here and not over on the VA subreddit. I have a problem with being in my head, especially if it's a bigger project. It makes me overthink things and become overly critical of a performance which stops it from feeling natural, and everything goes downhill from there. From the training I've had, there are three things that really seem to differentiate a technically perfect read from a read that really stands out and books the job. ​ 1. Not auditioning: As soon as I go to audition, I've lost. I don't audition myself to other people in day-to-day life. They get me, and if they like me, great. If they don't like me, whatever. I don't "try myself on for size" when I'm introducing myself to my inlaws. I'm me. The same applies to auditioning. I shouldn't be auditioning as "the character" because if I do, the subtext is going to be "I'm Joe auditioning for the part of Alex" when the subtext should be "I'm really hurt that you betrayed me". My job isn't to fit the listener's expectations, my job is to make the listener realize that nobody else could play the character because I AM the character. 2. Letting go of the steering wheel: As soon as I try to control any element of my read outside of the broad strokes, I've lost. Real people don't think "I'm going to pause for effect in 3, 2, 1..." They pause because what they're saying means something to them or the listener(s). The script is a map, but the path I take to get from point A to point B is completely redundant. Real people are spontaneous, they're awkward, they start sentences and then go back on themselves and start again. If I'm playing the role of the talking mushroom and I suddenly think the mushroom is going to belch its insides out, that's what the mushroom should do. 3. Detachment: If I'm attached to a particular outcome, I've lost. This ties into "not auditioning". If I really want to get the job, if it's something I think I'm a perfect fit for, if I believe that there's no reason for me to not get it, the subtext of the read changes, I'm no longer the character, and I've lost the job. If I'm not the right person for the job, I'm not going to get the job anyway. I might sound a little too much like the casting director's school bully from grade 3, and that's what loses me the role. It's completely out of my control, and so being attached to any outcome sabotages me. I know these things and I know the amazing impact they have on my performances. Thing is, when I'm in front of the microphone, my inner voice gets in the way and starts making me question myself and in turn pulls me out of the performance, which makes me give poor reads. I'm totally able to apply this stuff when the stakes are low (a personal project, practice, etc.) but when there's a job on the line, when I'm expected to deliver a certain level of quality, the voice comes back and I fall to pieces. Has anyone here overcome this? And if so, how? How do you cope and deliver your best work?
Doing unpaid work to gain experience as a newbie? by Delvakiir • last post May 11th
I'm a new voice actor. I've been at it about two months now. I've seen a little success and would like to keep advancing my skills and career. Is doing unpaid work to build up experience on my resume a good idea? I worry that if the work isn't paid I won't be taken seriously as a professional despite any experience being good experience.
Actors Access Talent Link while not living in LA or NY? by Same-Moose-2115 • last post May 11th
has anybody used talentlink while not living in either LA or NYC? did any agents reach out still?
help with Kronk? by Jeremiahbest4 • last post May 11th
Hello, I am an aspiring voice actor, just for some fun and I've been practicing doing Kronk from Emporors New Groove, using his Poison for Kuzco line as a warmup but I'm still having issues getting his exact tone down, are there any tips or better warmup lines I can do to really nail his tone and pitch?
Professional voice actor for anime, video games, commercials, etc. AMA by brentmukai • last post May 11th
I’m sitting on a plane with nothing to do, if you want advice, I’ll do my best to help!
Do you know any successful actors that worked 9-to-5 while coming up as an actor? by FinzujiCane • last post May 11th
We always hear about bartenders and all that, but are there 9-to-5 success stories? And I mean people who actively worked a 9-to-5 while auditioning.
Getting to an acting college in the US for international (ukrainian) student by Lasanar • last post May 11th
Hi, I’m M19 (not a weapon lol) from Odesa, Ukraine. You all know pretty well what’s going on in our country and I’m not here to talk about it (but I’ll answer all questions ofc). I’ve worked in marketing and business for 4 years, and even created my own SMM agency, which I had to close in 2020 due to some major fuckups. I decided to not go to ukrainian college or university, cause tbh our education sucks and I could make money and do my career without it. And now, when I am constantly confronted with my mortality I’ve realized that I’ve closed my eyes on my dream to become an actor my whole life (the good thing here is that I’m still young). So I want to move to the US and apply to any good acting college by student visa and try to grow roots in the US and stay and play there. I’ve got some questions for which I hope you could shed some light: 1. Is there any colleges where acting is a major faculty? I’ve seen specializations like “theater” or “filmmaking” when I was browsing college options, but not specifically film and tv acting, which I am looking for. 2. Actually how hard is it to be applied? If we’re talking grades, my high school GPA is B-. I could do much better if I knew I would apply to the college, but I already freelanced then and didn’t care much about studying. Do they look only on grades or they also consider your willingness to learn and your real productiveness? 3. Is it actually possible to study for free or for 5-10k$/year? Cause, you know, it’s a lot of money for Ukraine even at the peaceful times, and now it’s like a shit ton of money. And also how do the scholarships work and what influences their decision? 4. Is it real to stay and get a green card or a citizenship in the US after graduation? And what are the options to do it? Thanks a lot in advance, I know that’s a lot of questions. Take care and I hope nobody will go through what we people are.
Turning 22 in June(F) and will be doing finance work full-time but recently felt a calling toward acting by Icy_Mastodon_3903 • last post May 11th
Yep. That's me. Turning 22 this June and still am questioning my path in life. I am going into the finance industry because I recently graduated from university with a business degree. I have NO professional experience whatsoever in acting nor have I ever taken a theatre/acting class (except for one film class I took in high school). I have always been told by my friends who are actors/actresses that I would do an amazing job and seem to enjoy it way more than business. It is true! The only issue is that I care a lot about money, so I am sticking with the finance track for now. A lot of my acting friends are broke rn and are struggling to get called back and even get agents. I would be stupid to quit my job and pursue an acting career at this very moment. I am not one to toot my own horn, but I am talking $90,000 salary coming out of college rn. That is my base at the moment. I can't give it up. Most successful actors that I google started acting or doing entertainment work from a young age (typically 12 years old). Is there any hope for me or am I too old to get into this industry? I was thinking of taking an acting class or two this year while working on my full-time job. The only issue there is that my full-time job will require min 40 hours a week for sure. Realistically I will be working for my company 50 hours a week, so is it even worth it to do classes? I am not stressed, but just getting that imposter syndrome because I see people out there doing way more than me. Doing corporate isn't enough for me. I feel like I should do something in the entertainment industry or put myself out there way more. You're only young once, and this is the time to try everything. I am so conflicted.
Grateful and a question by kplily • last post May 11th
So grateful to this group! As an understudy actor in their first professional production, this group helped me: 1) Learn my lines quickly. Got cast three weeks before show opening. 2) Being able to go from being an understudy for two roles with different dialect 3) Feeling comfortable asking my overcast and dialect coach for help. Question- Being told that I am monotone/flat when delivering lines. How can I fix it?
Asking for advice. by drbbbipster • last post May 11th
So I’m a green actor to say the least. Decided to pursue it later in life, did a low budget, did two student films in community college, and took an acting for camera class in college. The class was after a two year Covid hiatus. I also took one improv comedy class at ucb in 2019 and have done stand stand up since 2018. Ive just been working menial jobs in LA since graduating in December, but recently had a casting director ask me if I acted and give me his email while at work. I’ll definitely reach out, but I don’t know what to say in the email. I don’t have headshots and only have a very short reel. It’s definitely a good contact to have in the network though. Perhaps I’m overthinking. Any advice helps.