We have found 19,414 posts across 4 actor forums:
Question about Self-tape reels by izbenn • last post Dec 28th
Hi everyone! I’m a soon-to-be graduated-from-college actor and I’m working on getting ready to break out into the professional acting world. I learned recently about “Self-tape reels” from my friend in the industry, which is just instead of film reels you combine self-taped monologues and short scenes to submit as a reel in lieu of a film reel. I’m definitely considering making this, as I only have a few student film credits, but I wanted to ask: How common is this within the industry? and would it be a bad idea to combine self-taped monologues and scenes together with the small amount of student film clips that I have? Thank you!
Can an actor do an LLC instead of an S Corp as a loan out company? by peter_peter_pete • last post Dec 28th
Curious if any actor is working as an LLC and if that works similarly to an S corp for tax reasons? ​ Thanks for your help!
An Interview with Voice Actor Rob Paulsen by dylanatthedisco • last post Dec 28th
Do series regulars usually make scale in the first season of a TV show? by SPELDWR0NG • last post Dec 28th
Suppose you're not an already known actor. If you book a series regular role on a TV show, are you pretty much guaranteed to make only scale in season 1? I know paychecks can get pretty big on TV shows that run long enough for the cast to renew their contracts, but how about early on? I'm guessing that even the actors playing major characters make scale during their initial season unless they're already known for something else. Am I way off on that or does that sound pretty accurate. I haven't booked anything like that but I'd be really interested in knowing.
Letting a childhood dream go? Feeling like I’m going through an identity crisis by lostMillennial1996 • last post Dec 28th
This is the usual beginning of “I’ve always wanted to be an actor since I was xyz” yes, since I was 6, Disney channel did it for me. But I’m 26 and I’ve been battling with wondering if I’ve been in love with the idea of acting and the industry rather than acting itself.. when I look at my old diary entires or things I posted from 10 years ago, all I talked about was being an actor. I did drama class in high school for two years but I had horrible stage fright and I regret not getting involved in plays and really being a theater kid.. as an adult I took some acting classes, and still it felt nerve-recking.. still exciting to be around other creatives but I always stopped and start and would I guess put acting on hold “until I lost weight” It’s like im wanting stability and a creative path still but if I admit that I really liked the idea of acting, I feel like idk what to do with my life.. this is literally all I’ve said I was going to do, my mom even told ppl this for years & when I moved to a diff city, ppl always told me they couldn’t wait to see me on screen etc bc if my personality & how I am on my blog.. I love films, behind the scene footage,the interviews, the set up, and the making of the movies/shows … I tied this childhood dream to my whole identity and I feel like I can’t let it go but deep down think I wanted to be known/impactful- a star,… this interview Oprah did, resonated with me, She said “I wanted to an actor and my manager goes Honey if you wanted to be an actor, you’d be bussing tables in nyc acting- what you want to be is a star. And she was right” And I though wow Oprah is me? yes I would still love to star in a movie, so I guess it’s been fame? Impact?… im ok with letting it go until I watch an award show or Netflix show then im like “ugh I need to get back to this” but is it the lifestyle im idolizing? I feel torn… TLDR: I thought I wanted to act, realized I may have liked the idea of acting but now struggling to let dream go because tied it to my identity and I don’t know what else to say about myself or do if I let it go bc it feels like apart of my identity
Have a manager...looking to add an agent. by Christina Kasper Babinsack • last post Dec 28th
Hello all. I have a wonderful manager, but I'm looking to add a Literary Agent to my team as well. Any suggestions? I specialize in drama and comedy.
Advice to Get into Acting? by notforbread • last post Dec 28th
I’ve been trying to get into acting since i was 13. Now 19. I always push it off due to social anxiety and income for travel. Now that’s mostly sorted, where do i begin? I have no professional training or lessons but take advice from other actors , books, etc. Could i start anywhere right now? are classes required ? Help!!
How to tell family & friends that you are an Actor. Podcast by Lewis Baumander. Have a listen! by synthmylife • last post Dec 28th
Do I have to pay Agent if I never signed a contract with them? by TheSemiSeasonedActor • last post Dec 28th
I know this sounds extremely shitty. But this Agent in Florida tried to screw me over big time. It was for a non union gig. I was referred to this agent by a friend in Florida, and Unfortunately I didn't do my own Due Diligence. They are known for not paying their actors (citing "you should know this is a business" and fear mongering. And I'd love to give these guys a taste of their own medicine. My question is do I have to pay these guys a commission if I never signed a contract with them?
Hi my non-American actor friends, how do you move to the US without a sponsorship for your visa? by chloekeh • last post Dec 28th
Hi friends, I’m currently in toronto and with the winter coming and the whole city getting shut down again, I’m thinking moving to US for awhile. Just wondering how will we be able to move there without a work sponsored visa? From time to time I read people move to NYC or LA to further their acting career, but how can we do this if we are not famous yet and just want to move there to hustle?
Newbie looking for a smidge of advice! (UK) by Lord_Scrumptious239 • last post Dec 27th
You have probably heard this story a thousand times but hear me out. So long story short, i've been doing engineering the past 5 years of my life on and off (23 now) burnt out from it all and i no longer enjoy it but i've always been fascinated by the idea of acting, My old man is an Extra Actor and from what he tells us it is really enjoyable, obviously they are different leagues but i'd love to be able to try something like that. From what i have gathered would it be best if i take some acting classes in the UK, try and audition for some small films and then move from there? Have not got a clue where i can get acting classes as i live in Birmingham and it all seems to be Theatre stuff mainly and i'm not quite sure if these "Casting websites" are legit as a large portion of them require payment of membership fees and i've heard that they just take your money and rarely post auditions. My friend also makes short movies but i'm not sure if being in those short movies would count as he does not put them on iMDb Any help would be great!
What to do next year?!?! by Relevant_Fix716 • last post Dec 27th
Basically I have just finished high school in Australia, and have always wanted to take a year off before going to uni. My plan was to stay here in Melbourne for the year and try to persue my dream of being an actor by going to as many auditions as possible, and trying to find an agent to represent me. However q lot of my friends are going away next year on an 8 month program in Israel. For the last 2 months now, I have been planning on joining them, and ditching my original plan of just staying put. I'm sure if I do end up going with them I will have a great time, and won't regret it. But at the same time I worry that I will be wasting a year that I could be using to help my dream of being an actor. I'll never get another full year off to just persue acting, as my parents want me to go to uni after my year off. Also, another con, is if I do go I'll have to use all my money that I earned the last 3 years working at a supermarket. I'm really not sure what to do. Do I go and enjoy a year off with friends? Or do I stay here and get a head start on my career?
Booking a Role Outside of Agency by Glittering_Compote92 • last post Dec 27th
If you book a project without the aid of your agency, do you still owe them their % fee? I recently filmed scenes for a day player role in a short film and the director notified me that they have decided to add extra scenes added to make it a feature. It’s still a low to no budget project, but they are writing up a contract that will guarantee that if the film makes any money, the actors will be paid. I’ve worked with this director and crew before I signed with an agency, so I know they are good on their word. Has anybody else ever been in this situation? How would you recommend handling the situation?
Networking Ideas? (Since it's all about relationships in the industry) by rainbowsprinkles14 • last post Dec 27th
I'm asking this with being responsible about Covid in mind, of course, but what are some of your favorite methods of networking (whether in-person or online) for relationship-building in the industry? ​ Some of mine have been: (I know these are pretty obvious, but that's why I'm seeking more ideas, lol) \-Routinely engaging on IG with casting directors, reps, or directors who do IG Live videos, or just their regular posts \-Going to film festival screenings and after-parties, whether I was in one of the films or not \-Through acting classes and workshops, where the classmates can often be good connections in addition to the instructors (and usually studying with working directors and casting directors as the instructors) \-When working on set, whether it's a paid gig or not (or when doing background work) \-Occasionally doing showcases, when seeking representation (there's usually some food spread and mingling going on after the showcase) ​ Then there's the marketing habits that I try to do regularly: \-Mailing out postcards monthly to CDs, reps, directors \-Posting on IG, and tagging when appropriate-- and promoting recent projects/work I've done whenever possible (like with the physical postcards) \-Submitting daily for auditions on the main online casting sites (not really marketing, but in a sense as they keep seeing your image that way) ​ So, what has been your favorite resource(s) or methods for networking or marketing yourself as an actor, and then keeping in touch, without it seeming... "forced?" Anything like mixers, or casting directors who you know offer doing generals (not common, but not unheard of!), etc? Thanks!
I Quit Acting After 10 Years in LA but I Wanna Start Again... I need advice by DaddyDivide5 • last post Dec 27th
I have lived in LA for 12 years and moved here to specifically pursue acting after high school. For about 3 years I was in every class LA has to offer, meeting casting directors & agents all the time, headshots, postcard mailings etc. I went all out & devoted my life to acting. I got married and had some mental health stuff go on for a few years and didn’t really pursue acting, I just worked as a SAG-AFTRA stand-in and background actor for years. When the pandemic began I started to gain some traction with auditions before things shut down. But I realized I was rusty as an actor and I also never booked TV or film, so I felt like who am I kidding? I never made a dime as a working actor so why am I wasting my time. So I went into the medical field and I just feel dead inside. I enjoyed having a normal job for awhile for the stability, but I need to perform and I was acting for 15+ years of my life. I miss the drive I had and I don’t know how to get it back. I miss the dream, I miss auditioning and working on scenes. It felt so challenging and even though I never got anywhere in my career, I just feel like maybe I can try again. I’m supposed to start a new job on Monday & it’s killing me inside to just give up on acting. I just feel rusty like I said so maybe I should start slow and get in a class around my work schedule? Is anyone working a 9-5 job in LA and pursing acting at the same time... is it possible with self tapes being more prevalent? Maybe I’m crazy...
[Paid Work] Japanese voice actress for a short commercial by fleemmey • last post Dec 27th
Hello. I am looking for a Japanese voice talent who could do approximately 1 minute of audio. It is about 7-10 sentences in of course Japanese. I am looking for a specific voice of a character. the character is a young adult female between 20-27. a voice with higher tone but still mature sounding like an adult. The budget is around $100 so more or less $10 per sentence or more if the script is less it is very short probably under 1 minute. The script is written in English and in Japanese I transcribed from my friend who is Japanese. I appreciate the time for anyone who might be interested this job would preferably be done with the next 2 weeks the end of the first week of January but there is no strict deadline for the project if I find the right person. Thank you. Payment will be sent through Paypal or Cashapp,
Acquantaince want to meet and discuss "ideas" regarding sketch comedy. How to tactfully proceed without giving away my ideas? by jostler57 • last post Dec 27th
I met a guy at a TV shoot, and he wants to discuss collaboration on sketch ideas, of which I have dozens. I'm not good at being tactful with responses, and want to be prepared regarding discussion of any specific ideas. What's a good method to organizing a group so that ideas aren't stolen, and people get credit for them? I'm an actor and would plan on being in any sketches we make. Thanks for any help & advice you can give!
Can I work a 9-5 job if I'm getting my foot in the door in the acting industry? by Euphoric-Mixture9501 • last post Dec 27th
I be moving down south to continue to pursue acting an career. I have been training for years and ready to make it professionally. I have an interview at a normal day job and its low pay but it will support me. I am also planning on creating my own work I've written. Unsure if it's worth directing myself or getting a film maker to shoot it. I do want to direct though once acting goes ok. Unsure if working a full day job is good for actor who is very determined and ambitious to progress. I really do not know what else I should do to support my acting. Once I earn enough I would weite/ direct in between. Any advice?
Is it safe to put my card information into Actors Access? by SparyonSnow • last post Dec 27th
I noticed there is no other way to pay for things