We have found 19,373 posts across 4 actor forums:
Has anyone worked with EMS Payroll/advice on who to reach out to with a payment issue as a small fish on a large scale project? by devy_stated • last post Feb 21st
I worked on a project back in November as a Body Double for a feature film. The payment for this project was done through EMS payroll, which I've never worked with before. Everything is done online through an online portal where you upload all of your info and documents. I was supposed to get paid for the actual project (twice because I was asked to stay overtime), and also get paid to get a covid test prior to the shoot. About two weeks after the shoot I received the check for the Covid Test. I have not received payment for the actual shoot. I figured it was just taking a long time, because literally every professional shoot I've ever done it has taken 3-4 months for me to get paid. However, about 3 weeks ago I got a W2 in the mail for the check that I was never sent. (I got one w2 for the covid test check that I did receive, and one for the actual payment from the job that I never received.) I took this to mean that they sent me the check but I just never got it. I figured that something must be amiss here, either the check was lost in the mail or something else happened. I decided to reach out to EMS payroll directly. First of all, their customer service contact info is extremely hard to find. It's nowhere on their website (they have a "contact" button that just lists their physical address in each major city). Finally I was able to find a number to contact them on my pay voucher which is located in my portal on their website. When I called I got an automated message saying that everyone is working from home due to covid and to email them, with specific instructions on what to put in the subject and what to attach. There's no option to talk to a person and their mailbox is full so you can't leave a message. I sent them the email with all of the things they asked for, and immediately (like seconds after pressing send) received an automated email back with the same instructions as the phone call (what to put in the subject line of my email and what to attach, even though I already did that). A week went by and I heard nothing else. I sent them another email and got the same automated response. It's now been three weeks since I received the w2 and nothing is resolved. I don't want to have to pay taxes on a check I never even got. Also, I have an agent but this job was not booked through my agent. The casting director reached out to me directly because I had worked with them previously when I was with another agency. The only thing I can think to do is reach out to the CD who cast me, but they are quite literally my only connection (if you could even call it a connection- they just remembered me and have called me in multiple times). They're super great to work with, but I'm very early on in my career and I don't want to be a bother or lose face with basically my only connection in the acting world. I also just want to say that this was all very legit- it's a very established production company with established actors in the production and a very legit and established CD. Everything regarding the shoot was extremely professional and legit and it was a SAG production. So I don't think anything sketchy or scammy is going on. I just think it was some kind of error and it's probably an easy fix if I can get in touch with somebody to fix it. I am not in the union yet but I am SAG-Eligible. So I don't think I can reach out to SAG for help either. I just don't really know what to do at this point. Besides the fact that I could really use the money (hello struggling actor/substitute teacher), I'm actually going to LOSE money if I have to pay tax on a check I never received. But I don't want to risk effecting my career by bothering the only CD who knows my name about a payment issue. But I deserve to be paid for my work. Has anyone worked with EMS before and do you have any advice about getting in contact with them? Edit: One more thing worth mentioning- On the online Portal for EMS Payroll, there's a page that lists your "future", "ongoing", and "history" payments. When you click on those categories, there's the option to either open up your voucher or your pay stub. Both of my payments are listed under the "history" tab. However, they both say "in progress" next to the payment (even though I was already paid for the Covid Test). When I click on my Voucher it opens up a PDF and I can view it (the customer service number and email were located on this form). However, when I try to click on my actual Pay Stub, an error message pops up for both payments that says "pay stub not found or not updated. please try again later". Not sure what that means.
Recommendations for online classes with evening times? - Older beginner actor by CodyBye • last post Feb 21st
I'm in a more remote area (outside of Portland) where in-person classes are a bit of a challenge to get to, so online classes are ideal, but a few that I found had very long class schedules (9:30-1 pm sort of thing) multiple days per week. Does anyone know of anything that's either in the evening or a more limited time schedule during the week? I can easily do an hour every day, but multiple hours is tough. Thanks!
Unplugging as a working actor? by sailor_melody • last post Feb 21st
Hello acting pals! ​ I recently got to go on vacation and while I had an auto-responder on and while my agent was aware I wouldn't be too tied to my phone, I still found myself having to field questions and figure out and shoot auditions/etcetc while on vacation. It was a bit stressful as everyone else on the trip was able to fully unplug whereas I wasn't able to. ​ I'm fully aware that's the nature of the industry, but how do you cope? Do you ever properly book a vacation off and just deal with the FOMO or are you always still available for selftapes/etc? I've always struggled with this aspect of being an emerging actor ever since I was younger that it feels like we can never fully have a vacation because we always have to be "on" one way or another and I'm not sure if that's sustainable to my mental health moving forward. ​ No comments about being ungrateful about getting auditions pls :) I feel like I've been seeing that more and more often on the sub and it feels dehumanizing to have someone stomp on your feelings.
How long does a famous actor spend on a single role? by JesterOfTheSwamp • last post Feb 21st
I’ve been wondering about this a lot lately. How long does an actor typically spend on a role for preproductions, filming, interviews and promotions after, etc.? I know it differs from person to person but generally speaking, how much preparation does an a list - c list actor spend on a role, and then how much time is spent filming and in postproduction as well?
Best Hypnosis/Hypnotherapy for Actors by TangoPinto • last post Feb 21st
What is the best hypnosis program for actors? Any self-hypnosis recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Advice needed by Ok_Explanation_2317 • last post Feb 21st
How do agents, directors, casting directors reach out to actors after seeing their movie at festivals or screenings? I mean actors who are just starting out. I don't have social media, if they were interested in reaching out to me would they bother to ask a director of the movie they've just seen or something? Does this happen? I don't want my lack of social media presence to limit my acting opportunities.
Actors rates by JaekLee27 • last post Feb 21st
Hey, have any of you been cast for promotional advertising product videos that you film from home? It's with a company that sells a variety of products and they are wanting to know my rate per video (and probably be 1-2minutes video) so hard to charge per hour or per day. I have asked how long they'll use the vids and my image for but don't know how to factor that in either. Based in Australia Thanks for your help
Who hear went to and would recommend AMDA? by AlexanderBlaide • last post Feb 21st
I’m a junior in high school and I’m at that point where I get email after email telling me to go to their college and today, I got one from AMDA. I did some research and found out that some of my favorite actors and performers went there including Christopher Jackson, Anthony Ramos, Asia Kate Dillon, they all went there. After doing more research, it seems like a good school for me to look into. I think if I were to go, it’d be the LA campus, but I wanted to get people’s opinions. Did anyone here go and would you recommend it to up and coming actors and performers?
Moving to la at 18 to be an actor by wasgooddog • last post Feb 21st
Hey Reddit, I have been on for a bit and have been lurking for a while but am now deciding to make a post. That’s it I have decided that im going to move to La and be an actor, how did this come to be we’ll let me explain. Essentially I’ve always been called good looking, even like extraordinary good looking, I have very light green eyes and just a good look in general and my friends and random people started telling me to check out modeling when I was about 16. I did and I didn’t like it I felt very weird posing in my underwear, doing weird poses, and I knew it wasn’t for me. I went to military school and rehab ages 13-17 with some small breaks in between and this really impacted my social life a lot. Being originally from newyork and going to military school in Georgia and then later to rehab in utah, I didn’t really have a social life that I liked. I also didn’t really have that many girls. Which is probably what has messed with my ego so much. Being told I’m good looking and all and not being able to get girls for some reason. So after rehab I decided I want to finally have a social life, so I went at asu, the ultimate party school, and wow it has just turned out so terrible. I couldn’t get into a fraternity for so long man, I couldn’t understand why it’s like some people found me as the ultimate frat guy and were like how could you not get in??? I also have been working out for about 3 years so I have a pretty good body and I’m 6,0. I never really got into one in the end, for most of my time in college I’ve been pretty lonely I’ve had some girls but not much and not many friends at all, I had many binge episodes my relationship with food is just terrible. I definitely gained some face fat which also messed with my ego. I just really want to be successful and yeah I do want to be famous, I just feel like I have the look and ever since I was a kid throughout elementary school and middle school I was an absolute clown, I made everyone laugh always acting stupid to get a laugh out of other people. I’ve taken acid many times I’ve really learned a lot from all my trips and it’s giving me a lot of perspective on this world and life in general I really do think that robots and AI will take over in 20 or 30 years and there will be problems that we never saw coming. I just want to live a life that I want to live. Which is doing everything that I want to do.I wanna go everywhere in the world all the cool spots I want to try all the different types of food ranging from croissants to some type of Guatemalan guacamole I don’t know I want to find true love and do you know take Molly and party with my friends and just never worry about anything financially at all I wanna have a good time and I know I have to grind hard now to get there. I’m running a marathon April 2nd in Las Vegas I’m going David goggins mode, I’m gonna make it as a fucking actor, I’m reading the best books on acting that I could find online and I’m going to take acting classes in la over summer and hopefully move their next semester and work some shitty restaurant job 40-50 hours a week while taking acting classes and auditions everywhere I can! I know this is probably confusing to read but that’s okay I’ll respond to Questions if anyone actually reads this.
Laban for Actors- Video Course On Demand ? Anyone? by DasherDiva • last post Feb 21st
Hi has anyone bought this or any course from here: https://www.momentumstage.org/arts-education/laban-for-actors Looking for a review on the video. Do you have other recommendations for Laban Movement Videos? Thanks!
New actor here looking on what to do next by Treevor191 • last post Feb 21st
Hi for some background I have recently taken some acting classes and one of my acting coaches is someone who has worked on tv shows and movies before and he thinks I’m ready. We have filmed some scenes to put together on a reel/resume for me and basically I’m asking what I should do next.
What to do if you don’t live in prime area? by Easy-Ad-8310 • last post Feb 21st
I live in a little town with basically no market for actors. I’m also on the older side/have responsibilities. Acting is something I’m very passionate about, have been for a long time. I want to pursue it, but I feel like I physically can’t. Is it possible to without moving? How should I go about it? Thanks in advance!
Actors in Italy by tkea • last post Feb 21st
Hi! I am an actor who fairly recently moved to Italy, and would love to keep acting even if it doesn't pay anything. So, does anyone here know of any clubs, groups, etc. based in Italy who do films, shorts, theater, or anything to that matter in English. And if no such groups exist, but you are also wanting to join one, would people be down with setting one up? I would love to just create purely for my own enjoyment. As acting is a skill like anything else, if you don't do it regularly you can't really improve.
Job or a small buisness for an actor? by Euphoric-Mixture9501 • last post Feb 20th
I'm moving to london professionally pursue acting/writing and joined agency to work as a teaching assistant. I'm concerned that there will be no suitable work as I've had bad experiences with agencies tbf and unsure what jobs to do to support me and that is flexible. I'm considering a small buisness.
Fellow Poors: How is it going? :/ by Actress_in_Training • last post Feb 20th
Any other struggling, poor blue collar actors? How long have you been in the business?? Is classism still a thing or is the industry better about it these days and more accepting? I last acted many yrs ago but am trained to a degree and read a lot about the business and acting back in the day. The craft came easy. However the talking, socializing and fitting in felt harder than it needed to be. I naturally don’t relate to the relaxed, sometimes more chipper nature of middle class actors that I notice so often. There is an easy gentler manner about them and a lightness in their step and energy. I observe how they seem to recognize their own and mingle amongst themselves . For me, I THINK (and I don’t know for sure) they saw me as “other” and not nearly as real or in the room. I think I’m also more serious and untrusting due to my life being extremely hard and still is. When I do open up I’m a fun goofball. But I’m just not charismatic and witty to begin with. I’m simple in some ways. A complete dunce at times too. Middle class kids are educated and often rather witty IMO. I’m not into high brow humor. It seems so boring. But all in all, I’m so happy for them because their dreams matter too… but I also want to be accepted and not have to try to be like someone I’m not to fit in. And I worry they won’t be as accepting. My experiences were so long ago though. Catch me up plz Most of all, I don’t have money. So I don’t know how casting directors or actors or anyone are going to relate to me. Will this matter? I hear people need to feel like they also LIKE you too. But I don’t relate to conversations about travel and adventure. I don’t have great teeth and most of them do. I don’t run into poor people often in school back then either. I was one of 3 poor people in an entire acting school. Perhaps my blue collar background adds to what middle class and up are not used to seeing on the daily in such close proximity for extended amounts of time and they just don’t know what to conversate to me about. After all I don’t know half of what they do. They maybe don’t know what to say. I can’t relate to them and they can’t relate to me. How do I make it work? I just want to act. I’m also an introvert too as I’m a bit of dunce when it comes to understanding how to be fun and charming. So I don’t try anymore. I’m jus me. I just like to journal and do monologues and read☺️. I stay home when not needing to be somewhere. I’m a weirdo. Lol. But I love acting.
What’s the deal with Soap Opera acting ? by penguin_reddit • last post Feb 20th
Always been curious about this as I don’t watch it and it’s always been foreign to me. I see some actors who are credited on Imdb being in THOUSANDS of episodes. They can’t pay that well, can they? Is it SAG day rate? Is the work looked down upon? I never get auditions for them here in NYC, is it more of an LA thing? How often do people typically audition for them? And who even watches this stuff?
I am a friend of an actor. How can I support him? by AceAttornie • last post Feb 20th
He's one of my best friends and he's a very very good theatre actor and voice actor. He did it all in college and now that he's out it's been difficult for him to get somewhere. What are things I can do to help him find roles and support his success?
Does SlateShot Make a Difference on AA ; by ShamrockShakeYum • last post Feb 20th
Does it work as an advantage vs profiles without one? My agent has never asked me to finish this (she’s a beast at getting me quality auditions), but was curious if it’s something that other actors have used and gained even more of an edge. **Update: I added one because it can’t hurt. FYI The first one is free so you’re not losing money.
Ready to start by chailatte75 • last post Feb 20th
Hi everyone! Ive read the FAQ many times but I am still confused on a few things, ill keep it short. Im a (23F) and Ive done theatre my entire life. I just graduated from college (with an unrelated degree to have in my backpocket) and now I want to pursue my acting career. Am I supposed to have a manager or agent right away? Or do i just audition for things on my own and once i accumulate enough i seek a manager or agent? Im just confused on the proper steps towards representation. I know about finding auditions on backstage, actors access etc. but is this something I do on my own until I have a valid resume to send agencies/managers? Thanks Also for headshots does hair color matter? Or should I stick with natural hair color?
Need Help finding acting school in Canada / other countries by besttrueblood • last post Feb 20th
I've been spending couple of days and many hours trying to find the right school in Canada but I am also considering USA, UK and Australia as countries to study in so feel free give advice on that too. All help is deeply appreciated. Little bit about me. M/29 from Sweden. My experience is that i have made a 20m short film with my brother where i was the DOP, and actor in a scene, I have also been an extra in a police show. What would be a fitting and good acting school in Canada that can teach me the essential things needed to be in films/shows? My budget is somewhere in the middle, I don't want too expensive but also not too cheap. Would studying acting for a couple of months for a diploma be enough or 3yrs be the better option? I was thinking about about ''VADA'' in Vancouver and Ryerson & ''Toronto academy of acting for film & television'' in Toronto. But the problem here is that both of these cities are really expensive and I don't know if it is possible for me, but I'm open for advice. I was also thinking about ''National theatre school of Canada '' in Montreal But my issue here is that the city prefers mostly the French language. I used google maps and noticed that most of the signs are in French and I cannot speak it.