All your actor related feeds in one place  •  Actor's Forum

Log in to Actor's Forum to favorite the posts you're interested in and discard the ones you don't want to see again.
Access filtering functionality, search and more... It's FREE!

We have found 19,242 posts across 4 actor forums:

This NOVEMBER by Diakeim Lyles  •  last post Oct 16th

This NOVEMBER

Waiting for the Take - Jean Schiffman - Backstage by Florin Şumălan  •  last post Oct 15th

"It's an existential thing--sort of like waiting for Godot. That's the way TV/film/stage veteran Tony Amendola describes one of the actor's main tasks on a set. The difference is, the scene will eventually be shot, although, after you've waited five, 10, even 20 hours, you may no longer believe it. Learning to use that downtime profitably while sustaining energy and focus can be a challenge. I talked to several pros to find out how they and their colleagues do it..."

https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/waiting-take-27389/

Suspended! by Matthew Gross  •  last post Oct 14th

The AMPTP suspending negotiations with our union yesterday. I think the sticking point is the $800,000,000 fee the streaming services will have to pay out each year. I'm not sure if the issues of AI is also the reason. What we need is for the negotiations to be livestreamed, so the membership and the all of the studio execs can watch, observe. That may be the transparency that's necessary for honest and open dialogue. On the upside, I won a prize on Publishers Clearing House for a second time today; last time was in 2018. Now I just need to win that $15,000,000.00 prize on October 30th,, so if the studios and streaming services force the AI issue, I can slink away into retirement.

I want your opinion! 5-min (or less) branding/castability survey by Jasmine De La Fuente  •  last post Oct 14th

Hi Stage32 community! I'm working on getting clarity on my acting branding/castability. I created a quick 5-min Google Survey for complete strangers to fill out! 


https://forms.gle/GZdyCUxB7SBdDaQQA

When you have a moment, please take a look, be honest, and most importantly GO HAM (it's anonymous)

October Phoenix area Stage 32 In Person Meetup by Suzanne Bronson  •  last post Oct 13th

https://www.stage32.com/meetups/1930

Studios Suspend Talks with SAG-AFTRA; AMPTP Says Gap Between Sides ‘Is Too Great’ by Geoff Hall  •  last post Oct 12th

Our disappointment with the AMPTP continues as they pursue the same strategy that failed with the WGA. How can they be so naive, or perverse. 

Or as the SAG-AFTRA negotiating team put it:

“Instead they use bully tactics. Just tonight, they intentionally misrepresented to the press the cost of the above proposal – overstating it by 60%. They have done the same with A.I., claiming to protect performer consent, but continuing to demand “consent” on the first day of employment for use of a performer’s digital replica for an entire cinematic universe (or any franchise project).

The companies are using the same failed strategy they tried to inflict on the WGA – putting out misleading information in an attempt to fool our members into abandoning our solidarity and putting pressure on our negotiators. But, just like the writers, our members are smarter than that and will not be fooled.”

Why do this? They must realise that it’s a failed strategy?

Thoughts please…

https://www.indiewire.com/news/breaking-news/sag-aftra-amptp-talks-suspended-1234915675/

Flipping the Script: How One Actor Changed the Power Dynamic in the Film Industry by Anne Alexander-Sieder  •  last post Oct 12th

We all have things we believe... One of my beliefs centers around the necessity to change the power dynamic between ourselves and the rest of the film industry because even though actors are above the line, they’re still the lowest element on the totem pole when it comes down to it.


One of the ways you can do this is by working your values and beliefs into your primal brand.

What does that mean in people-speak? Find something that you can get behind in an authentic way that will give you another point to talk about (besides begging someone to view your showreel) when meeting with industry professionals.

The best way for people to see you as an equal is to put yourself on equal footing and you can do that by showing them your “authority” in a certain area. For example, my friend, Angus McGruther, who I interviewed this week on the podcast, is an actor but he’s also the co-director of THE DOWN UNDER FILM FESTIVAL in Berlin.

This makes sense for Angus because he’s an Australian actor, based in Berlin, still with strong ties to his home country and its film industry.

For Angus, this was a game-changer on many levels. Those are just some of the ways that Angus is able to feel like he is an equal to the powers that be. Because, of course, we ARE all equal, even though it doesn’t always feel that way.

Make sure to tune into this week’s episode of Act Bold to listen to his journey. https://youtu.be/-JLeMCjVUe0

Maybe it will spark some ideas in that beautiful, bold head of yours.

Today's AMA with Jonathan Jordan in the Authoring Lounge! by Sam Sokolow  •  last post Oct 11th

Jonathan Jordan, a Screenwriter, Book Coach, Ghostwriter, and Stage 32 Thought Leader, is hosting a 24-Hour Ask Me Anything ("AMA") in the Authoring Lounge today, focused on "The Publishing Process & Industry". This is a great opportunity to learn about how books get published and how you can get your book out there. Here's a link so you can ask Jonathan your questions. 


AMA Link: https://www.stage32.com/lounge/playwriting/Ask-Me-Anything-AMA-10-11-to-10-12-The-Publishing-Process-and-Industry

Managing Expectations by Matthew Gross  •  last post Oct 11th

We're in this business for positive professional outcomes. Sometimes, things outside our control, force us to deal with disappointment even though satisfaction was forecast. A film I had the pleasure of working -- it was shot on 35mm film, Panavision camera rather than digital -- did horribly at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The audience walked out on it, and critics slammed the picture. No one stayed for the Q&A after the screening. I'm afraid to mention the title. Anyhow, I believe the studio will place this film in a vault and it will likely never again see the day of light. One of the leading ladies is about to release a film that, in my opinion, will finally win her an Oscar. Her second film at TIFF was warmly received. So, there is incentive to protect her career as well as the careers of the director/star and co-stars. It is better to hide the film from public and write it off as a tax loss than to allow it to completely damage the reputation of its cast and crew. I'm disappointed because, as fate would have it, working on this film allowed me to put to rest a recurring nighttime dream. Meaning, I finally got to do something I had been dreaming about for years. Sadly, reality ends the same way my dream ends. This experience taught me how to better manage my expectations.


How have you dealt with professional disappointments?

Finally Found Some people that could be interested in voicing my main characters in my new tv project by Kiara P Oxley  •  last post Oct 10th

Hello Everyone Hope you had a great weekend , this is kiara

I am so excited to share that a few voice over actors from the usa were interested in voicing one my characters in a working title  but unfortunately they live far away and i don't know any maryland voice actors near by maybe if i went to montgomery  college it could or may not work  i've always liked theatre since 2003 and that dream never faded away
i look carefully into the programs and see how much it costs, i have no idea what kind of classes montgomery college has for cartoon and tv production but its going to be an adult cartoon before it progresses into a movie, how can i find tv production in my area?

1 Crazy Thing Actually Happened After Auditioning - Glad It Did by Aaron Marcus  •  last post Oct 10th

1 Crazy Thing Actually Happened After Auditioning - Glad It Did

It happened after auditioning for the TV show Gotham
https://youtu.be/3Ij-jzt3e7U

Sometimes, after auditioning, actors receive a callback, booked, asked to hold dates, pinned and still never get a chance to work on the project. 

After I auditioned for the TV show Gotham, something great happened. Watch the video and learn. If you ever had an interesting experience after auditioning, share it with others.

32 Tips For Indie Feature Film Development & Pre-Production by Ashley Renee Smith  •  last post Oct 6th

Hey, Actors!


Director and Screenwriter Martin Gooch has spent more than 1,000 days on set and he's sharing his 32 Tips for Development and Pre-Production in today’s blog! If you've ever thought about making your own indie film, be sure to check it out! 

https://www.stage32.com/blog/32-tips-for-indie-feature-film-development-pre-production-3510

SAG-AFTRA and studios to meet for a second day in talks to resolve actors’ strike by Geoff Hall  •  last post Oct 4th

“The AI terms need to be way more robust” than what the WGA got, Schwartz said. “This is about our bodies, our faces and our voices.”

And of course, some seem to feel that with the WGA strike ending that somehow the SAG-AFTRA will soon capitulate and get back to work.

However, there’s still a lot of bargaining to be done, and certainly past comments by Bob Iger haven’t helped the negotiations.

“Everyone acts like ‘it’s back,’ but we are still on strike,” Morris said. “Nothing is going back until our deal is settled.” “

We all can recall Fran Drescher’s savage attack on Iger and I wonder if going back to the table, whether the dust has settled after the comments she made as a rebuttal of auger’s sad attempt to humiliate the negotiating team.

“Hours after Iger’s appearance on CNBC, Drescher tore into company executives in a fiery speech, in which she accused companies of “disgusting” behaviour and said actors were “being victimised by a very greedy entity.””

Drescher seemed to single out Iger.

“How do you deal with someone like that who’s so tone deaf?” Drescher asked in follow-up interviews. “Are you an ignoramus?”


https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2023-10-02/sag-aftra-amptp-return-to-bargaining-actors-strike-writers-strike-studios-hollywood

October 10 is Mental Health Day. We want to hear from you! by Amanda Toney  •  last post Oct 4th

We at Stage 32 are always striving to make our community a safe space for all creatives and professionals around the world, free from the toxicity of broad based social media platforms. 


In honor of Mental Health Day on October 10, we have created a survey and are trying to understand how your mental health has been impacted as a creative or executive in the entertainment industry and the effect social media platforms have had on your overall well being.
 
Your responses are 100% anonymous and completely voluntary.
 
Our goal is to get a better understanding of what challenges everyone in the entertainment business are facing. We want to continue to serve you well. 
 
As a thank you for your input, you will receive a coupon for $25 off to use towards a Stage 32 webinar at the completion of the survey.
 
Thank you for taking a few minutes out of your day to help us with this worthy endeavor. 

To take the survey click here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L8KKGTD

Thank you community! 

Embracing the Beauty of Imperfect Action by Anne Alexander-Sieder  •  last post Oct 4th

I read a quote by Shawn Coyne who wrote the book, "The War of Art" that really got me thinking...


"Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands resistance. Have you ever brought home a treadmill and let it gather dust in the attic? Ever quit a diet, a course of yoga, a meditation practice? Late at night, have you experienced a vision of the person you might become, the work you could accomplish, the realized being you were meant to be? Are you a writer who doesn't write, a painter who doesn't paint, an entrepreneur who never starts a venture? Then you know what resistance is."

Shawn is a writer, and while his book was originally written to inspire other writers, I think a lot of what he says can just as easily be applied to us actors, or anyone with a (seemingly) impossible dream. 

At this point, I've had hundreds of conversations with other actors and there are several themes that keep coming up, but today I want to get you thinking about the most dangerous one - the one that will leave you on your deathbed with regrets, wondering what if I had only really tried...

Failure to launch.

Sorry to be so morbid, but it's the truth and I don't want it to happen to you.

The why behind this is varied. Some people have a fear of failure itself, while others are perfectionists whose incredibly high standards don't give them the room they need to make mistakes.

Others grapple with imposter syndrome or self-doubt. They don't believe they have what it takes to really succeed.

Another high hurdle to jump is a lack of self-confidence. These people let the tiniest setbacks (rejections, not booking, or even a lack of a response from a casting director) throw them off their track.

Honestly, there are probably as many reasons as there are people but today I want to encourage you to set aside your fears. Accept that they never really go away and take imperfect action. Imperfect action is better than no action at all. Don't listen to that harsh inner critic, listen to the part of you that has a dream, that wants something bigger and more beautiful. 

The very act of taking steps toward what you want will create momentum and give you the confidence you need to know that you're not going to let yourself down. 

Don't let the resistance hold you back. Embrace your imperfections, take bold steps, and keep your dream alive. Your unique talent deserves to shine, and with every imperfect action, you're one step closer to making it a reality.

3 Ways Acting Can Help You Become A Better Writer by Ashley Renee Smith  •  last post Oct 4th

Hey Actors, 


Don't miss out on today's great blog about how performing helped one of our Stage 32 members become a better writer and overall creative!

I'd love for each of you to share in the blog comments how performing has helped you! I can't wait to learn more about your personal journeys.

https://www.stage32.com/blog/3-ways-acting-has-helped-me-become-a-better-writer-3508

Working with Actors... by Dustin Quinteros  •  last post Oct 4th

When I started film school, writing and directing my biggest fear was working with Actors. Turns out, it's not that difficult when both you (the director) and your cast have great chemistry, but who am I? Why take my advice? Don't :) Here's a great video from Studiobinder with an excellent breakdown.

https://youtu.be/SJyTb90neKs?si=_XG-ronXXe96XGD2

Amazing! by Ralph Esparza  •  last post Oct 3rd

I am extremely grateful to say that I am now a producing partner at Mario Kassar Productions and we are in the early stages of creating something incredible! I have had a lifelong dream to be able to work with someone as accomplished as Mr. Kassar. His body of work speaks for itself; Total Recall, Terminator 2, Basic Instinct, Cliffhanger and so many more. I am still learning something new everyday with each conversation we have and it has been an amazing experience so far. I can’t wait to share more about our upcoming project….stay tuned!

2 Awesome Secrets to Looking Into Lens While Using Free Teleprompter Apps by Aaron Marcus  •  last post Oct 3rd

2 Awesome Secrets to Looking Into Lens While Using Free Teleprompter Apps 


https://youtu.be/gPEk8ioKl68

I recently had to shoot a 2-minute video from home and needed to use a teleprompter. Since I don't need a teleprompter for home auditions very often, I only wanted to use a free prompter.

My biggest issue was not being able to look directly into the lens while reading the words. I finally figured out a workaround that I share in this video.

If you have any other suggestions for being able to use a free teleprompter app and be able to look straight into the lens of the camera, please share it in the comments section of my channel.

If you could play Paul Cole would you do it? he's a character from the coles by Kiara P Oxley  •  last post Oct 3rd

Here is a short summary about Paul Henry Cole

He's in his 80s
a white male
very country
and is a laid back kind of character
if i was in theatre and production school that would be awesome
if anyone is from the usa let me know
thanks
and he's the main character
the show as i mentioned earlier is a animated show