We have found 19,247 posts across 4 actor forums:
Can a Famous Actor Ruin a Video Game? by Play-It-Games • last post Mar 26th
Question about Central Casting by Wydogg • last post Mar 26th
I registered for Central Casting in LA to be a background actor a couple days ago and I've just been waiting to get job offers. It's only been like 2 days but I haven't gotten any emails or texts from casting directors yet. How long does it usually take to start getting offers with Central Casting or is it just random? Is there anything I can do to better my chances? Thank you
UK: Can you get with a top agency without someone recommending you? by lovetempests • last post Mar 26th
I'm a recent drama school grad, and I have an agent (pretty decent - initially things were slow, but for the last few months I've been getting roughly one audition a week). I was with my actor friends, and someone said that getting signed with Curtis Brown is impossible unless you know people to recommend you. And that led me to think that actually I don't know anyone who's (young and new) signed with one of the "top" agents... without having close friends already in the agency, or some kind of connection. That's not to say they are untalented - they're amazing actors. My actor friends were basically saying that the top 5-10 agencies are monopolising the industry. I don't know how much I believe it as I am getting auditions and my agent isn't big by any means, but it led me to think... Is there any validity in this? How much are other actors auditioning? I'd love to hear people's thoughts. The UK industry is very unique and honestly as a recent grad it's hard to understand how it works.
Tips and Advice for Voice Over Acting by Antwuan89 • last post Mar 26th
On my last Sub Reddit Voice Acting post, I took everyone's advice about taking Voice Over classes and I have found a Voice Over Class/Studio in my City. My question is what are some Advice & Tips you would give to an aspiring Voice Over Actor? And once I'm able to get done with the Demo, how would you say is the best way I should go about landing a Voice Over role?
What voice acting-adjacent or behind the scenes roles are there in the game industry? by backtoril • last post Mar 25th
I’ve been looking for the best place to ask this question, so if anyone knows where I could get the perfect answer please let me know :) sorry if this is the wrong place to put this. I should probably just find a careers counsellor! I am super passionate about voice acting - though I have no desire to actually do any voice acting myself. I’d love to work with and around voice actors, in an adjacent field or just behind the scenes. I’m currently studying Game and Narrative Design at university, and have a degree in Communications as well. I don’t really have a ‘dream job’ right now, but I really want something I can work towards by combining my love of games/writing/communications and voice acting! If anyone has any advice or can point me towards some roles that exist in the industry that I can research, even if it’s the most niche job imaginable, I’d love to hear it!
[Need advice] I (14F) want to get started in acting but difficult to find casting calls that wouldn't interfere with school by Lost-Mitochondria • last post Mar 25th
Hi Reddit! I am 14F, about to be 15, and I think I really want to get into acting but it's difficult to find casting calls around my area that wouldn't interfere with school/education. They're not in my location, and to be honest my parents would probably not be willing to travel to those places for it. After watching the *Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts*, it re-ignited my admiration for actors/actresses, and for a while, I've been wanting to become an actor. In middle school, I was part of a play we did, *Singing in the Rain*. I played a supporting character, and to be honest I was not a very good actor. I don't know how to act, and I've tried to fit acting classes into my schedule since my school offers them but due to graduation requirements sadly I can't fit it in. My hope is one day to be in a big movie like Harry Potter but right now that just seems super far away. I know this post might come across as kind of negative, but it's something I've been wanting to do for such a long time now. Any advice? Thanks in advance. EDIT: Also, if it helps, I'm Asian and I'm pretty average height and build. I'm in high school currently.
How do you get into acting with no experience or agents? by emmanuel_eo11 • last post Mar 25th
I think I’m a very good actor naturally. Since I was young I’ve always played games with my mates and like acted out scenarios and I always thought I was sick Just a few months ago I had some guy who runs some theatre come to my school to help us with public speaking and i was messing about, taking the mic (not of him), just being a class clown kinda thing. And he was loving it, he was saying how he thinks I have a future in acting and how he genuinely sees Hollywood in me. I know he might just be making me feel good, but my whole life people have said comments like that to me. And I just saw a TikTok explaining how there are social media pages who are willing to take up young actors and find them shows and movies to be in (even if it’s a very extra small role). Like I’m not interested in proper theatre though, just show appearances and stuff . My main question is how do I get into that actor kinda thing, like a lot of the people in top boy(show) have never had any experience, how do I get into something like that
Gay Nudity Scenes - Dive In or Steer Clear? by kidpassion • last post Mar 25th
I’m a young actor starting fresh at 27. I say my commitment has been great this month to the craft. I’m reading books on acting techniques, acting classes next month. I work out every day! I’m pursuing martial arts, some singing too. In my first ten auditions, I got two callbacks and one gig! (Currently filming) \[I’m still Non-Union and not ready for representation. I need more work under my belt.\] I submitted my headshots and mini slate for the role of a gay teacher, and the emphasis in the character description was a person of colour. (I’m straight) A day later, I got an email from the casting director requesting an audition. It seems like a solid production! It’s SAG-AFTRA, a web series, and the producer worked on ABC for many kids' series. Here’s where it gets tricky: I need to know from any of you seasoned acting veterans on r/acting of how to approach this audition. First: Is it wrong that I applied for this role? Second: There is a scene where my character strips (not full nude). Should I strip or not strip? Now to the hypothetical: I got the part! Oh wait, there’s a gay sex scene. The coordinator is present to guide us through the intimacy, and it feels safe. I’m a try anything once type of person. The questions I have are: 1. Is this a role too big to be played by a new actor? 2. Will this help display my versatility as an actor? 3. Will it draw me back in being typecasted in future productions? Thank you.
I have a couple of questions about the Acting Industry by Fruitcakespy • last post Mar 25th
1) What should I do in order to start my acting career? I think I should take acting classes but I don’t know of any acting classes in England, the only thing is Stagecoach 2) For anyone who does Stagecoach, is it film and tv acting or theatre acting? I’ve watched a couple of videos about Stagecoach and to me it looks a lot like theatre instead of film and tv 3) How does one get an agent? I read online that you need acting experience, what does this mean? Like taking acting classes or already having had a role? 4) I’ve nearly finished school so this shouldn’t be a problem however if I get a role during school what do I do? Can you simply leave school like that? 5) Is there a major difference between film and tv acting and theatre acting? From what I can tell film and tv acting is more realistic where as theatre acting is sometimes exaggerated. 6) I have a book about acting and it mentions union and non union, could anyone explain what that means? 7) In order to become an actor do I need to take drama as a college degree or A level? Is that necessary? 8) Can one live off being an actor? I understand that you don’t always get the roles you audition for therefore for some time you may not have a ‘Job’ but when you do get a role, does it pay well? 9) American accents. Most casting calls require an American accent and I have a British accent seeing as I grew up in England, is it hard to learn the American accent? Where can I learn an American accent? 10) I don’t usually hear about actors with mental illnesses, could I still become an actor even though I have anxiety? (It’s not anxiety about performing)
Second City in Toronto - are the acting classes for comedic actors only? by FinzujiCane • last post Mar 25th
I see Second City mentioned a lot for aspiring Toronto actors. However, their description for acting classes seems to revolve around comedic acting. Is it even worth it over places like Armstrong if it’s just catering to comedy? Thanks.
NYC actor looking to change schools by AssEaterKeanu • last post Mar 25th
I attend Kimball Studios near Union. Not liking the program, there isn't much sense of community and the teacher-student relationships are abysmal. I don't feel that my art can really grow. Plus...they don't do monologues... wtf.. how do u teach students to audition w.o monologues... How's HB Studio, the Barrows group, or Stella Adler? I'm looking to learn Shakespeare or perform Greek classics. I take acting very seriously, it's an incredible craft. Please if you have any knowledge for an actor in NYC look for Shakespeare/The Classics lmk!
Need help with my first steps as an actor. Please read the description :) by lxurin_hei • last post Mar 25th
I am going to write my finals in the german equivalent of highschool and I really don't know what I want to do afterwards. Movies have always been an interest of mine and I also often fantasized about acting / being an actor. I never took an acting class or anything and I don't even know if I am a decent actor or not. I am also rather introverted and I assume that will make it more difficult for me. Now to my question: Where do I start acting? How can I find out if I am a good actor or not? Is it a full-time thing or can I study something else at a university and practice acting on the side? Any answers / tips are greatly appreciated.
Headshot-Age Range-Character Type Feedback by AutoModerator • last post Mar 24th
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.
Dealing with frustration by torontogal1986 • last post Mar 24th
Hey everyone! I’ve been feeling a bit frustrated lately. I was on a nice consistent level of work before the pandemic and that has just completely gone away. I’m not trying to be ungrateful, I work a fair amount for a Canadian actor but lately I’ve been kinda pissed. I’ve been on hold like 6 times with the same casting director and I’m waiting to hear about a supporting role and I know I won’t get it because it’s been about a week and a half. Im trying to focus on my auditions but I’m stuck in this funk. Like I know I’m doing good work because otherwise I wouldn’t be on hold but it’s just so aggravating to not break through. Ughhh just venting. Hugs to everyone.
When a tv actor is sick by agbellamae • last post Mar 24th
I don’t mean anything serious like cancer, in which you would have to take a long break. But I also don’t mean like just the sniffles where you can down some DayQuil and keep plugging away. I’m talking about when you get something where you’re coughing up gunk out of your throat every other minute, the glassy bleary eyes, the hugely congested hacking away etc. basically, where it’s bad enough that you COULD come in, but if you come in everyone is going to be like “ew stay away from me” and you’re literally disruptive on the set because you can’t keep your fluids together Lol I know that with theater there are understudies, and with film it could be possible to push back production a day or two. But if you were a series regular in like a sitcom where you’re making an episode a week, or even less, how do they manage that? You can’t really push back production. They’ve got to get the episode done. If you had a guest spot they could replace you, but if you’re a series regular you can’t miss, and you’d be missing the entire episode. I’m not in this position now, but im curious as to what would happen. It’s my spring break right now and I’ve literally been sick the entire week retching and it hit me that how could I do anything like this in a tv show episode that must be finished on a deadline! Thanks
Tips for a beginner by VisforVoldemort • last post Mar 24th
Hey y'all! I'm a musical theatre actor who decided to get a VO setup to do some remote work in between gigs. I've worked consistently on stage since I graduated college but am having a hard time finding a foothold in the VO industry. Where is the best place to find auditions, what demos/materials should I have recorded to showcase myself, and are there any tips or tricks you wish you knew when you first started? As of right now, I've just been recording spots and sending them out. I have a membership to [voices.com](https://voices.com), a pop filter, sound proofing, a scarlet 2i2, a Shure SM7B Dynamic Cardioid Mic, and Adobe Audition so I think I have at least a decent set up to start out
The ultimate resources for ACTORS’ career. Martin is known for being personal…he answers every email by Resident_Objective_4 • last post Mar 24th
Some thoughts on the business of being an actor and why a lot of people walk away from it by RothkoRathbone • last post Mar 24th
Hello, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on this and if it relates to your experience or not? (Hopefully the formatting is not a problem, for some reason it added extra spaces when I copy and pasted it from the doc I wrote it in). I feel compelled to share some stuff about some actor insights I've picked up along the way, and hopefully you get something out of it. I am currently based in Los Angeles and before that I was in NYC. I consider myself a good actor who could have representation but that hasn't happened so far and why will be some of what I talk about. The industry is hell. It just really is. I think there are a lot of good actors around who give up because they get fed up with the grind. There are two sides to being an actor one is the craft of being an actor, the other is being a good business person and a hustler. I believe most good actors are interested in the former, the craft, but the reality is that to get work it is somewhere around 70 - 90% the latter, you just have to hustle, and that stuff can be really gross. All good actors want to be Gary Oldman or Carey Mulligan, or working on a movie with a great director, like Christopher Nolan or Guillermo del Toro etc. but that is such a rare position to be in. And I don't mean in that specific place in the business i.e. an A list actor in a A list directors movie, but to be working on a quality film where you feel satisfied with your work and the project you are in. That work absolutely exists but it is difficult to come across. This concept of the dividing line between the gross business and "authentic craft" is everywhere! Top drama schools do a really good job of walking the line between seeming authentic but actually just being a bit of a machine, and that is what so much of the business is about. There are a lot of independent places to take classes, some of those are authentic with awesome teachers, but a lot of them are hustlers who name drop, sell you their book, and pack their class with as many actors as they can. The reality is a lot of people just see actors as this desperate commodity to exhort money out of, the endless actor targeted spam is a testament to that. Many of the "experts" or gate keepers i.e. acting gurus, or casting directors, get a big power trip out of their interactions with actors. So often for them to like you you have to be really good at kissing ass and being a charmer. In my opinion there is a lot of narcissism in the business and so there is this love hate duality between a lot of people. A lot of casting directors faun over A list actors while looking down at actors who are nobodies. There is something toxic about that to me. I think it's the same reason why some acting teachers and people in the business are verbally abusive. We don't often hear about that but it definitely happens. It is not about being good. You think it would be right? At least I did. I cared about being good, and I still do, because what matters to me is the craft of acting. This is not what matters in the industry. What matters in the industry is being marketable. If a CD of agent thinks an actor is marketable and the actor isn't especially good, they will just hire an acting coach to get the actor up to speed. Then if the audience likes them they will get more work, if not, they will be cast aside. Being good is a bonus that might help your career and longevity but it is not essential. The good and marketable actors are who we see at the awards shows every year, those are the actors we think of, that very small percentage of all the actors in the world. Most others who are working might be good, a lot aren't, many just fit a type. Bryan Cranston is a good example of a working actor who people realized was awesome and so he got better roles and recognition. The majority of the work you come across is not super fulfilling. If you don't have access to well paid work that isn't going to have a large audience, all that is left is that the work itself is fulfilling. That is the most important element in my opinion but that can be hard to find. Let me describe finding work as an actor. If you don't have representation you don't have access to projects with a decent budget, those films are usually good projects or they are at least professional because the filmmakers are taking it seriously or they wouldn't have been able to raise the money, and they have hired professionals who are good at their job. While it does happen, it is rare that the casting department of those films are going to look on job boards. If they do it is usually because they have a particular niche they are casting for. So if an actor doesn't have access to those jobs all they have are the job boards, and those gigs can be tiring to trawl through. The quality of work on offer runs the gamut. There are people who don't know what they are doing and are unprofessional. There are unpaid gigs, which I have gone back and forth on being willing to do. There are jobs that aren't very inspiring or don't sound very interesting to me personally. There are bad scripts. There are jobs that make you feel like a commodity. Those kinds of things can make up the majority in all honesty. Now, you do find awesome projects on there and that is rewarding and satisfying to be a part of. To work on an awesome project that is being made on a shoe string is appealing if you believe in it, but those things are hard to come across. Jobs boards just start to have a natural negative association in your mind, a thing that takes more of you than it gives. Sometimes you look through a job board with optimism and a fresh mind, other times you sigh and scroll. You start to crave better options, but you know you need representation for that so you give up on wasting your time on Backstage and decide you are going to try and get an agent. You decide that concentrating on the craft is not getting you anywhere. You realize you need to work on the hustle. As I mentioned, the hustle is a bit gross. There are arbitrary rules about what you should and shouldn't be doing. It is a Catch-22. You need to already be doing the work to get work, you can't expect an agent to make your career for you. A CD is unlikely to cast you if they have just met you, even if they like you, so you have to be familiar to them. This means sending out postcards, which I've never done, being on Twitter and liking their posts maybe, going to their workshops etc. Hustling. Then maybe you will get a line on a show. It always amazes me to think that those one liner parts are coveted roles. They are hard to get! And yet they mean nothing. That actor has put years into trying to make this work and that might be as far as it goes for them. Or maybe they get another bit part, a slightly larger part etc. Maybe they are lucky enough to get a recurring role. Again though, that might very well be as far as their career goes. It doesn't even come down to whether they are good or not, it's just luck, if someone likes them and they have a part they think they might be good for. Around LA I've met a lot of hustler actors, they are about advancing their careers, they don't have a lot of time for people unless they can advance their career in some way. They can be a bit abrasive in my experience. The best people are the people who are in it for the craft. There are less of those though, especially in LA. The nature of the industry creates hustler actors. Because those are the people that survive or just who you need to be to get work, meanwhile good actors who aren't interested in the hustle eventually walk away. Lastly, there is the lifestyle outside of the hustle. Actors need to be available at all times, your general 9 - 5 doesn't mesh well. So you need a flexible job or a part time job. That means not having health insurance and being paid garbage. Being an actor is a constant expense, you need to be in classes to stay fresh, you need to pay for casting websites, and you need headshot updates. This is on top of your website costs, and maybe if you need to pay someone to edit your materials. I feel like most actors who stop acting do it gradually. They don't want to be broke, and they don't enjoy the hustle, so they work full-time to earn better money and they eventually stop going to auditions because it's too difficult to go to them. They still want to act, and in their mind they haven't given up on it, until one day they have. It's hard to justify when the pay is so low, or the gigs are so infrequent. Bartending and serving is frequently seen as good work for an actor, but that is a job with diminishing returns because eventually it will pay less as you get older. The better paying jobs are going to young attractive people. The experience is also not an investment. Unlike other jobs where the years doing it can add up to better pay. Lastly, I said lastly before but I actually mean it this time. Actors are not respected. That's not strictly true. A list actors are respected, that very small percentage. B and C list actors too. And a bit part might elicit a response from someone not in the industry. But otherwise no. You could say it's even the inverse of respect. It doesn't matter what an actor personally gains from acting, it doesn't matter that acting is an art that is a form of self-expression, that it is a creative act that most people can't do. Most people have even fantasized about being an actor. Most actors have chosen a hard road, and they are doing it because they love it, and/or they are very ambitious and are willing to take a huge risk. No, none of that matters. People only judge a persons choice to act against A list talent. For the most part those people are the only actors that matter, and if you aren't one of them you are seen as a bit of a fool. This is true of no other art form, if you paint, play an instrument, or dance, people will respect it even if you are not doing it at a national level. But acting seems to equal how famous are you. As I kind of mentioned above, respect for an actor even wavers by people in the industry, CDs, agents, teachers, all have variable opinion of actors. As an actor you have to accept that most people will look down on you for choosing to do it. I've mentioned a lot. If it sounds like a mess, it's because being an actor is messy, and that all why most people only do it for so long. There is another way I believe and that is working outside of the system. Personally I no longer care about the industry machine and I just want to work on good projects. I heard it said somewhere that you shouldn't network upward you should network laterally and I really believe that is the best approach. So I am looking to build community with actors and filmmakers who want to make good work. Even if that isn't work with me, I am interested in knowing about what you are doing and supporting your work. I believe that the future is going to be outside of the industry. I think with streaming and how much more accessible film making has become, which is still relatively recent, the future will change. I think there will be more quality work and the industry bureaucracy will one day be a thing of the past. If you interested in connecting feel free to reach out and DM me. See even that sounds gross to me! But I mean that sincerely, this is why I hate the hustle! Either way, would love to hear your thoughts in the comments. TLDR: If you read all of that I'm astounded, if not the tldr is: Being an actor is an industry hustle that a lot of good actors walk away from. I believe the future is in building community and working outside of the industry system.
I lost a role in a film before I could even audition for it. I feel so bad. by No_Direction_800 • last post Mar 24th
I (15) might be over reacting, but I can't help but feel upset over this. I'm not in need of advice. It's just a vent I want to make. I'm a leading actor in my school's drama club. My teacher is envolved with some directors. They are making a movie that envolve scenes in my town. She asked me if I'd like to audition for it. I immediately said eyes because it's a small town that is no where near any big filming centers. It's not every day a chance like this pops up. 30 minutes later, she enformes me they found another person for the role. I felt so bad. I couldn't even show them what I'm capable of. It's highly unlikely a chance like that will appear here and I can't move to a place with more opportunities because of obvious factors. I know I should just get over it and wait for other chances, but I hate to lose.
Got an audition today that's due tomorrow... and it's 14 pages... [Short Rant] by wwhmochi • last post Mar 24th
And yes this is for a ***union*** film- and no it is not an indie or a low-budget film. Can *someone*, *somewhere*, *somehow*, PLEASE set some standards/regulations on this stuff in the US! It's absolutely ridiculous that actors can get 14 pages of sides and we're expected to submit the audition tape within 24 hours. If they want us to do a lot of scenes/pages, then fine, but I want at least a week (preferably longer) to memorize it and film it. If they want a quick turnaround (within 24 hours), then fine, but it should be limited to two full pages. I mean, *come on*, the UK has had these sort of rules in place since the pandemic! Okay, rant over. Time to study- and, yes, I will be using a teleprompter.