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Important New Self Tape Rules SAG-AFTRA Negotiated by Aaron Marcus  •  last post Nov 21st

Important New Self Tape Rules SAG-AFTRA Negotiated that affects

both Union and non-union actors.

https://youtu.be/fdVdYQBaAqM

If you know about some new rules, share them here.

Work on set or leave production by Joseph Quiles  •  last post Nov 20th

Hello everyone have a question how do you know as an Actor that your working with an amateur  Director?   

Actor/Writer/Producer thoughts on the GAI clause by Suzanne Bronson  •  last post Nov 17th

https://deadline.com/2023/11/justine-bateman-sag-aftra-deal-ai-1235616848/

Atlanta!! by E Peña  •  last post Nov 16th

Where’s all my Atlanta actors at?!? Who’s ready to get back to work!!

Talent manager looking for acting coaches by Aishah Taylor  •  last post Nov 16th

hi all located in los angeles

looking for seasoned acting coaches

The strike is over!!!! by Omari Washington  •  last post Nov 16th

Hi Superstars! How's everyone feeling now that the strike is over? To be quite honest, I feel so inspired by SAG-AFTRA's negotiating committees effort and the support of the W.G.A. to defend all union actors around the world. They helped us get more funds with a fresh business model that can sustain our careers for way longer than before. What an amazing victory for actors everywhere! May the auditions start rolling in for all of us!! Let's go!!!

Inspiring Actor Audition by Pidge Jobst  •  last post Nov 15th

No doubt in the TOP 10 of actor auditions is this emotional delivery by Henry Thomas for a film that needs no introduction. You can hear Steven Spielberg at the end give the boy the role on the spot. The flushed redness face, water-filled eyes, uncontrollable cascading tears, hurried-huffing breath and the swallowing bolus are all in play. It is said Thomas tapped into the memory of when his dog died for inspiration.Watch the audition, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=tA5giyG8E7g

Looking for actors and comics by Rick Karslruher  •  last post Nov 15th

Please take a look here. Our new company will be live in early December .Please take a look at this link. Let's have some fun and maybe make some money.  https://www.stage32.com/jobs/811262/Actors-or-Comics

Today's AMA in the Authoring & Playwriting Lounge by Sam Sokolow  •  last post Nov 15th

Hey everyone - excited to share this...


Suzanne Corso, NYT Bestselling Author, Journalist, TV/Film Correspondent to THE TODAY SHOW, Stage 32 Thought Leader & Educator, is hosting a 24-Hour Ask Me Anything ("AMA") in the Authoring Lounge today, focused on "How to Write and Publish Your True Story". I've known Suzanne for a while and she is brilliant and generous so hop in and ask her your questions. 

Here is the link to Suzanne's AMA: https://www.stage32.com/lounge/playwriting/Ask-Me-Anything-AMA-11-15-to-11-16-How-do-you-write-and-publish-your-true-story

Suzanne is also teaching an upcoming 4-part Stage 32 class on this exact subject that will help you get your own story's book written and published. Here's a link so you can check out her class: https://www.stage32.com/classes/Write-Your-Autobiographical-Novel

Took A Bad Acting Class - Next Time Ask This Question by Aaron Marcus  •  last post Nov 15th

Took A Bad Acting Class - Next Time Ask This Question

https://youtu.be/43xwDZvaNVQ

If this happened to you, share what happened.

And, if you did something that helped get you into a better class next time.

PSA: Don't take shortcuts! by Ryu Reeves  •  last post Nov 14th

Just this week, I can't begin to tell you how many people I see asking for handouts without wanting to learn acting or screenwriting. They just wanna wake up and get a job like they're looking for a free prize with their happy meal.

This topic has been boiling up inside of me for quite some time, but my last straw is people asking which AI software they can use to do all the work for them. Especially we just had TWO strikes to fight against the damage AI can do to the industry.

To me, this just screams in a thousand different ways that you don't respect the industry. You just wanna wake up and be famous. Nobody wants to put in the work. I can't tell you how many times I've given bullet points for an actor on exactly how they can start getting real work. Only 1% of the actually follow through with putting in the work. Most of them (99%) just wanna go to an audition and wing it. Not willing to take acting classes. Not willing to get a professional headshot. Not willing to put together a portfolio. Nothing. They just wanna ask "How can I get a job on a TV show". To me, this is a huge slap in the face for me and everyone else that loves this business and is willing to put in the work to study!

There's a big difference between asking for genuine advice on how to improve and asking someone to just give you a job without wanting to get experience for that job!

Respect goes a long way in this industry and if you can't be bothered to put in the tiniest bit of work then it's probably not for you.

3 Minute Video - Self-taping Tips and Guidance for Actors by Emily Maguire  •  last post Nov 13th

For those who don't have time to read the full article, I've created a 3-minute video highlighting the main takeaways.


https://youtu.be/zYycXKzbvK8?si=i5VQjadaPtkzMC-h  

This video is an excerpt from a longer article. To read the full article, please visit:
https://www.reflectionscareercoaching.co.uk/post/mastering-the-art-of-self-taping 

Commercial Casting by Sean O'Connor  •  last post Nov 12th

A first for me. I recently auditioned for a tv commercial where the brief for hero male was 50-60 and ‘wife’ a similar age. 

Just seen the finished commercial and the roles were filled by mid-30’s actors. 

I know briefs change in this world, but the ‘wife’ was played by the casting director on the commercial. I’ve seen casting directors and assistants on commercials; nothing unusual in that, but never on one where the CD I submitted the self tape to got the casting themselves. is this unusual? 

I thought I did a really good audition too. 

Determining Intent In Acting and Directing by Mario Leone  •  last post Nov 12th

It is good to determine intent as a Director and as an Actor.

How do we determine Intent?

By asking questions to ourselves:

What does the character want, or what goal are they trying to achieve in the scene?

Define each scene by what the character wants:

Is it physical or tangible?

is it information?

Is it emotional?

The Secondary Gain intent - When a person is trying to make others "think" that their own motives are different from what they say they are.

Could be expressing ulterior motives for example.

What does the character want other people to think they want?

The AGENT EPISODE: Anthony Boyer Breaks It All The Way Down - Think Bigger Actors Podcast by Florin Şumălan  •  last post Nov 11th

https://thinkbiggerpodcast.libsyn.com/episode-411-anthony-boyer-the-agent-episode

Round Two of Auditions by Mario Leone  •  last post Nov 11th

In round two of auditions, we've got THE superstar contenders who check all the boxes – they look the part, act like the pros they are, and could totally rock our their characters. 


Now, instead of a quick script run, we're give them more time to flex their acting muscles. Three performances of each scene, with different emotional vibes each time – it's like watching a mini movie marathon!

As the director, I'm not just looking for talent; I'm watching for that magic chemistry. We chat about why they're hyped for the movie, their schedules, and what makes them tick. It's all about finding the right match, like playing cupid in the casting world. The key is to serve the script and the story, not mind read what is in the Directors head... 

Round three? Picture this: all the actors in one room, paired up, and acting out scenes together. It's like a Hollywood speed-dating session! By the end, I've got the dream team, and we're ready to roll. After thanking our awesome actors, we let them in on the casting decisions within a week.

Post-audition, it's time for heart-to-hearts with each chosen actor. We spill the beans on all the behind-the-scenes deets – the production needs, crazy schedules, and even the possibility of post-editing pick-up shots. For the newbies, it's a crash course on what's ahead. 

Negotiations with the seasoned actors' reps cover everything from pay to travel perks and dietary quirks. And yes, some actors have specific needs, like a trailer the size of a small country!

Once deals are sealed, we've got a week of suspense before we spill the beans to the world. But hey, we've got our backup plans in case things get a bit Hollywood-crazy. 

After the big reveal, our winning actors get a fancy packet with all the deets – from schedules to character breakdowns. First rehearsals kick off like a blockbuster – it's showtime!

Actor Needs by Nick Waters  •  last post Nov 10th

What would you all say you need the most help with as an actor? From craft to navigating the business...what do you feel like would help your career the most right now?

Auditions for Actors by Mario Leone  •  last post Nov 10th

The First Audition

Auditioning is a nerve-wracking experience for the actor, and it's your job to make them feel as comfortable as possible. The more comfortable the actor or actress, the better the performance, and the better the performance, the more of their skill level you will see.

  • Beginning the audition - When you're ready for the first audition, have one of the production assistants from the waiting area bring the first actor to the audition room. When the actor enters, greet them, take his audition form and headshot, and thank him for coming. Always be polite and courteous; these actors are taking time out of their schedules to come to your audition with the hopes of helping you getting a role. Be appreciative and respectful of that.
  • The monologue - After the introductions, if you require a monologue of the actors, ask the actor to begin and watch for body language and believability. In major cities like Los Angeles and New York, experienced actors rarely, if ever, use monologues for auditions and are accustomed to performing a dry read of the script. Monologues are valuable for seeing an actor perform a piece with which he is comfortable.
  • The first read - After about thirty 30 seconds, stop the actor, even if he's not finished with the monologue, and give him a two-page scene from a script other than from the movie you're casting for. Some directors don't like to use the script from the movie, as this may give the actor they're auditioning a premature idea of the character. Character development should happen between the director and the actor in a rehearsal setting, not the audition. Instead, use a script from another movie with a similar tone, characters, and dialogue similar to those of the film you're casting for. Briefly introduce the scene and explain what is happening:, "You are playing the role of the factory worker, Joe who just left work and just found out he's been laid off. This scene takes place in the diner across the street from the factory between Joe and his old friend, Jean, the waitress." After the actor briefly reads over the script, have them perform the scene. Watch for realism and spontaneity in the performance.
  • Give direction - After the scene is finished, ask the actor to perform the scene again, this time changing the approach to how he accepts direction: "Try it again, but this time, instead of being laid off, you just received a $5,000.00 bonus." Watch carefully to see how well the actor takes last-minute direction, how he changes his approach, and if he successfully incorporates your new direction into the scene. This is an important skill for the actor to have because there are often directorial changes on set to which the actor must quickly adjust.
  • Wrap up - After the second read, thank the actor and, if you feel he may be right for the part, give him a flyer for the call back, or second audition, the following week. Be sure to have the second auditions already scheduled so you can invite actors to it during the first audition. If you don't like his or her performance, thank the actor for coming in and politely let them know that you will be notifying them of the audition results. Have a production assistant draft a friendly e-mail and send it to the actors you did not choose. Be sure to thank them for their time, as you may work with them in the future and don't want to burn any bridges. In Los Angeles and New York, producers hardly ever notify actors who are not called back.

  • The next actor - Once the actor leaves, the production assistant from the waiting area should bring in the next person. Each audition should last about five minutes and is designed for you to quickly determine if you could see each actor as one of the characters.

Ed Hooks with Master Tips on ‘Acting for Animators’ by Amanda Toney  •  last post Nov 10th

I found this really interesting. The NY actor turned teacher discusses how DreamWorks’ 1996 request shifted his life path and kicked off his 30+ year career training animators.  https://www.awn.com/news/podcast-ep-231-ed-hooks-master-tips-acting-animators

Why any work is better than no work by Ryu Reeves  •  last post Nov 10th

It wasn't too long ago I was making low budget Tik Tok shorts using my phone and I would put my best one on my IMDB. People would laugh because "it's not a real film and IMDB is no place for homemade tik tok videos!" But I always knew that my goal was to show people what I was capable of.


Sure, I wouldn't exactly recommend this same approach now that I've been in this industry awhile because videos like that heavily weight down your overall IMDB score, but as you can tell by the picture I've attached it's not the final nail in the coffin.

I did it to show whatever companies/people came across my work that I didn't need a big budget to show people what I could do creatively. That TikTok video that was so blacklisted by everyone for coming across as unprofessional is the reason people still reach out to me TODAY to work on new projects. It's the same reason I became a part of actual movies with real actors and a real budget. Most actors/writers I knew in real life never made it below 100,000 on IMDB. So when I made it 94,000 that was the ultimate showing that everything I did worked.

Once again, I would not recommend filling up your IMDB with stuff like I had because it really affects your score since it has no visible engagement online anywhere. Pick one very good video you're proud of. Try to upload it other places of the internet first to gain SOME traction. Just use one. Take that over to IMDB and show people what you can do. Because when you want people to hire you and you have nothing to show...they probably won't hire you. It gives you something to use as a catapult!