We have found 19,302 posts across 4 actor forums:
I made a controversial decisions but I think it’s the best choice: said no to great agent and signed with more simple agent by FurmidableCat • last post Oct 25th
I am used to self-represent myself and work full time as a host and actor thanks to that. However, I got no roles from confidential breakdowns (which I have access to) for the past year, even though I booked a good amount of union and paid non union work on social media (my agent allows me to do that). A great agent wanted to sign with me but I was afraid I would lose my freedom if they were dealing all my contracts. I already work full time in my industry and didn’t want to lose the jobs I already have and lose 15% on that. I often get the job because I am the first one to answer and I would have missed those opportunities with them. I was also uncomfortable telling them I was often already booked 5-6-7 days a week on other contracts and wasn’t always available for them. So I decided to go back with my ex-agent who is more simple but absolutely doesn’t mind that I get tons of contracts on my own without giving him any money, that I do « public personality » jobs as I call them (testimonies, documentaries, reality shows, etc), totally understands that I am not always available and loves the idea of sharing a google calendar updated with all my availabilities. He only deals with the confidential breakdowns that I won’t pay to have access to anymore (which is $500 a year). Some people might say « why did you go back with him when you could have signed with such a great agent » and I sincerely think that was the best decision for me. I am keeping my self-represented career that I already love, I am saving $500 a year, and it would just be the cherry on top if they could get me even more roles here and there. The best agent is not always the greatest one. It’s the one that suits your needs. Note: You can get access to all the confidential breakdowns as a self-represented actor in Quebec only. Stop asking me about that
Actors on Anti-depressants? by RiceKingWhore • last post Oct 25th
Hey guys I was just recently diagnosed with OCD (something I’ve suspected for a while) and though I just started therapy the idea of meds is already on my mind. I have a lot of friends who are on meds and it helped them a lot, but the thing is none of them are actors. I was talking to my psychologist about this and he mentioned that normal SSRIS tend to inhibit emotion which he’s seen with clients in the past who were actors as well. He told me that since I have OCD, the anti-depressant Clomipramine would be my best bet. He also told me that this drug tends to not be as emotionally inhibitive as SSRIS. To be honest, when my intrusive thoughts get bad, it’s really hard to focus and act well. With all this mind, I wanted to ask if any of you fellow actors (or if you know any successful ones) take anti-depressants. How does it affect your acting? Thanks.
A director made the most wildly unprofessional comment about my performance in front of the entire crew by tigerbiscuit • last post Oct 25th
I'm currently on set shooting a series which will remain nameless, and it's set up weirdly where multiple cameras are recording and getting multiple pieces of coverage simultaneously to save time. This makes it tricky to know which camera to play to and how big to go because they could be doing an ultra close at the same time as the medium at the same time as an OTS on the guy behind you. It's confusing and we're never told what the coverage is unless we ask, which is frustrating. Despite this, I still gave it my all and had a ton of fun. Lots of cool shots, practical FX happening all around, rad makeup, and I'm always asking questions trying to stay on top of things and experiment around. The energy all around was just great. I literally thought at one point during the day, "this is one of my favorite days on set I've ever had." Towards the end of the day, I suppose the director got frustrated with me because I kept going too big. He did the whole "you're too theatrical, stop, it doesn't read, watch me, do it like this" speech. I said copy thank you, and adjusted to go smaller because I didn't realize we were in that tight. Then, on the last shot of the day, another actor is supposed to come in and tap me on the shoulder. Then, I exit frame and he looks out a window. We cut, 1st AD says, wow that was a really nice look (referring to the other actor). And the director, in front of the entire crew, rolls his eyes and says, "yeah, maybe he should play u/tigerbiscuit's character." And then we fucking wrapped and a whole day of filming was absolutely ruined for me. It was one of the most humiliating moments of my entire career, to have a director loudly and in front of the entire crew put down a performance of mine that we had spent the entire day shooting. Like we literally hardly shot anything other than me today and to just throw in a comment like that moments before we wrap is tantamount to saying, well, that was a waste of time. I'm sorry you don't know how to give effective notes my guy, but I'm not allowed to see any of the 3 monitors you have running right now so I don't always know wtf I look like, and you're certainly not going to get a decent performance out of me for the remaining 2 shoot days now that you've completely and utterly shattered the trust I had in you as a director. The worst part was, like I said, I honestly thought I was doing great the whole day long, and any time I checked in or asked for notes, he would say yeah it's great. There was no indication this was going to be a bad day until literally 30 seconds before we wrapped. I'm not sure what else to say except it was a wildly rude, unprofessional and hurtful thing to say to someone on a film set. Directors who in 2021 are still giving stupid ass notes like "say it like this", "look more sad", "give me 10%", or (my favorite) "you're pushing" need to realize that understanding the exposure triangle maketh not a filmmaker and you need to go take some acting classes at a community college and realize how to talk to actors in a way that doesn't make them feel like a fucking idiot for trying their best. Rant over.
Unionizing at the Regional level? by SharpTuskofTruth • last post Oct 25th
Since the rules for unionizing have changed recently, I am curious… Say, for example, the entire pool of local talent in a Regional community all start to unionize (all who are able, given the changes.) Would this be a good thing long term? ~~~~~~ I’ve had some conversations with other actors in the theater I am currently working on a project with, but they seem to think it would be a bad thing. (None of the members of the cast are Union, though the theater has cast many union actors in the past.)
How to get insurance as a actor? by JollyRoger418 • last post Oct 25th
I'm a non-union actor in LA, and I'm looking to reduce my insurance costs. Unfortunately, I'll need to purchase my health insurance plan. Has anyone worked with a broker or other organization to help me out? Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this...
Are social media accounts used by actors affecting how an audience views their acting range? by Fire-New • last post Oct 25th
I remember trying to see a film with Toby Maguire in it after the Spider-Man trilogy and it felt like I couldn’t let go of the fact that that’s Spider-Man and not the character Maguire was playing. For some reason I feel like the same phenomenon is happening through social media accounts with actors. You don’t truly know them but you’re still able to get to know this “character” all too well. Almost like they’ve been Spider-Man for a few years and now every movie I see them in reminds me of the person they project as through social media. Certain actors understand the importance of staying out of the lime-light in order to have a greater acting range, such as Daniel Day-Lewis and Joaquin Phoenix. However, new actors seem to have to rely on social media in order to sustain a longer lasting career in film. Almost like becoming heartthrobs with the younger audiences, but on a much more intrusive scale than actors such as Leonardo DiCaprio ever experienced. Is this the future of acting? Or am I looking too deep into this?
Acting Resources & Tips in England for American Actors by Rybiza • last post Oct 25th
Hey guys, I hope everyone is doing well so far! I’m looking for some advice regarding acting in the UK. I shall be staying in Newcastle Upon Tyne in Northumberland from January until May. I’m very excited about my trip and my goal is to get into acting for British film and tv during my stay. I was wondering does anyone have experience and particular advice breaking into the British entertainment industry, specifically in the Newcastle region. What are the main differences between their work and the work in NYC? Are there any particular communities/networks/ online groups for actors I can join? P.S. I already found a local talent management and acting school I can apply to and I am wondering is there anything in particular I should be aware of before applying?
Do I need a good sounding voice to become a voice actor? by bigblonde04 • last post Oct 25th
I’m really interested in voice acting atm and am really inspired by Robin William’s genie performance in Aladdin. Am I able to learn to improve my voice or do I already need a good and nice sounding voice? I’m 17 and sound like an ordinary British teenager, is my voice able to improve?
How long should I remain on first refusal before reaching out? by Eschkolit • last post Oct 25th
I'm new to all this, and I received the following message from casting after a small audition for a really small, 1-5 line role, in an Indie film (non-union, with established indie actors confirmed). This was sent to me after my audition, on 10/19 (6 days ago). Filming is for late November. "At this moment our Director is making final decisions. The Director really liked your look and is asking to place you on 1st refusal/ strong hold for shoot dates. Once final decisions are made we will notify you." I'm wondering what the normal amount of time to wait to hear back might be, and how long I should wait before checking in. There's no easy contact info for the production, but a quick google pointed me to contact info for casting. I'm hesitant to get in touch incase this is a normal amount of time (given the weekend and all). Or is it wishful thinking to believe that they'll bother getting in touch? Was that a canned message I received? Looking forward to any thoughts! Thanks!
Publicity recs for mid-level actors ? by CuspChaser111 • last post Oct 25th
One of my regrets after booking a marvel series was I had no publicity when it came out. (I was a no name) / I just got my first major part in a film (you’d know the company) and I’m hoping to get some kind of publicity when it comes out - I know I can’t go to the big dogs when it does come out Bc I ain’t no A lister but it certainly is another strong credit and I’d like to make the most of this opportunity. Any advice for a non CAA/WME person?
Uk actor wanting a change by SillyStringChad • last post Oct 25th
I think this is probably the best place to ask for help so here it goes. I am an actor from the UK and (as the title of the post says) I am looking for a change. I would love to move to the US and become something I can be proud of. I’ll get to the point now and ask my question. Are there any agents that I can contact in and around the Texas area? Like Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and the like. Thank you for any help in advance.
how much more auditions do agents see then the actor? by nicholasbloom • last post Oct 24th
im gonna email my agent again on what i can do to help her im with kmr talent my friend suggested it to me she said they have a good diversity department
East 15 in the UK Alternatives by PaleontologistNo142 • last post Oct 24th
24 y/o female auditioning for drama school here! I’ve had my heart set on East 15 for a while as I kind of always believed it was one of the best low-tier drama schools if that makes sense? Objectively and factually, I am a rada and lamda quality actor, but the “ease” of somewhere like East-15 sounds very attractive. But recently, I’ve been hearing some awful things about the school in terms of student/teacher hierarchy, poor course quality and a too-high acceptance rate. Could anyone recommend any drama schools/universities that aren’t as big-boy scary as RADA etc, but still offer legitimately good and inspiring vocational training? I’ve heard similarly bad things about Fourth Monkey, which sucks, because that sounded like an undiscovered gem. I’m not concerned so much with the status of a school, but more concerned with a good-quality training!
Can't find any roles to submit for, is my only option to make my own work? (27M) by filmbroleggo • last post Oct 24th
This post will mostly be an industry rant so I apologize. It just seems like there is nothing for me to submit to on backstage or even actors access. Most of the stuff now is just useless for reel experimental silent student films, dating shows, background roles, paid to play showcases, and other stuff in that realm that won't actually do anything for my career or reel. Then the few parts that are left almost never fit my type, and I'm not anything unique. Actors access isn't much better and its a catch 22 on there without having a good reel. I'm in NYC and most of the stuff is theater, which I used to do, but I want to ultimately do film/tv. It just seems like everything is behind a pay wall or has a huge barrier of entry. I know there are better auditions out there that are not being posted and you have no access to them unless you have a good agent. You know how you're supposed to work hard and put in two hundred percent? How am I supposed to consistently do that waiting around for a role to drop down on my lap. I can read all the books, scripts, take all the classes in my spare time, but it seems like that's all you can do unless you want to make your own roles, but that's a whole separate entity where you have to be a director, writer, and other things when all I want is to focus on acting. Don't get me started on classes, and how you're expected to spend well into the hundreds when you don't have that kinda money to consistently always throw down as an actor while living in borderline poverty unless you have rich parents. I don't mean to come across as entitled or anything, I just love the craft immensely and just want to do roles that challenge me to grow as an actor or move but the industry is a mess. Anyways am I just going to either make my own work or have to pay for a reel to submit for agencies or something?
Monologue advice for Pride and Prejudice audition? by calloutpost • last post Oct 24th
Hey guys! This is my first audition after literal years away from acting/theater (since HS, though I took an online acting class during COVID ‘20). It’s for a local theater doing P&P and they’ve asked us to select a comedic monologue. I was wondering if it would be incredibly tacky to select a funny monologue from another work of Jane Austen’s? Or should I look for other material, and if so, should it be classical or would contemporary be acceptable? The only info I have about this show is that it’s supposedly a new take on the play, and actors will be doubling as other characters (women as female and male charas, for example). Any advice would be appreciated! I just want to go into this prepared with the right material. Thanks!
Why would someone want to join SAG by doing Background Extra work? by penguin_reddit • last post Oct 24th
I don’t understand why someone would want to join SAG/gain eligibility through collecting background vouchers? Out of the few ways to join the union this seems to be the most amateur/“disingenuous” to me. It’s not nearly as impressive as actually booking a principle/speaking role on a SAG production, there’s no comparison. So why do I come across so many amateur wanna-be “actors” who are so hellbent on joining the union this way ? Shouldn’t you join when you’re genuinely ready to join and able to compete/audition for projects at a higher level? Is it so that they could get paid more (SAG wages) for doing background work for future projects? Am I missing something?
3 Pieces of advice I wish I could have given myself 10 years ago by rosencranzand • last post Oct 24th
I've been at it here in LA for over 10 years. Now, I'm getting ready to move. Honestly, so relieved. I thought it'd be a fun post to offer three things I wish I could have told myself when I was getting my start in lala-land. (Maybe you can comment with yours?) Here we go: 1) Subscribe to Backstage or as many casting sites as you can afford (before you get the reps you need) Everyone is confused when they get to a major market about what casting sites to use, and these things change a considerable amount. For the first time I unsubscribed to LA Casting because it got so weird, and there weren't any projects. It isn't so much Backstage, as much as I wish I'd known that it *really* is worth having as many casting resources as you can when you're starting out. There are some that I don't regret not having, but if I could do it again I'd spend the cash and spend the time perusing all the postings. It may just be that one booking every so often, but I'm sorry to think of that one cool opportunity I missed out on to save the few bucks a month. I'm sure many don't agree, but that's the advice I'd give to myself. I like doing thesis films, I like the random VO jobs I've gotten since joining. I like knowing about random theatre opportunities. It's not going to make a career but its worth it to me. 2) You don't have to be a networker, but you gotta build that community. It's okay not to be good at all that bullshit. Social media etc. You don't have to reach out to people you don't really like, just because you feel you're supposed to, BUT having a network of people you can talk to, ask advice to, maybe have coffee with and ask questions is really important. I wish I'd been more "business" oriented with that (Aka a spreadsheet or something). What I did right was stay in touch with the people I liked and respected, but there are so many good people I lost touch with because of my own laziness. It doesn't have to be the slimey thing that it feels like, it can just be staying in touch, supporting others, asking questions, offering help if others need it. 3) Take care of yourself. Take breaks. Take vacations if you can. I got back from one after 3 years of no vacation and I could tell my first audition when I got back was ***so*** much better. Your instrument is you, and it needs rest to operate at full capacity. We underestimate how burnt out we get in this biz. Even when you don't have any auditions that's STILL A KIND OF BURNOUT. Aight, that's what I got. What would you tell your earlier actor self?
OG Short by taylorjoystevens • last post Oct 23rd
Hi all! Fellow actress here (wearing multiple hats like many of us do in this industry). I have been focused on making my own content and wanted to share a short that I co-wrote and produced as well as starred in (I’m wearing the orange striped shirt). Would greatly appreciate any feedback, like/comment on the video, or subscribe! [Multiverse of Radness](https://youtu.be/-Vr5dlcunLI)
If there are a handful of background actors on set for a show and I’m one of them am I getting a SAG Voucher for it? by xyzd95 • last post Oct 23rd
I’m only asking cause it’d be my third SAG voucher
I turned down an agency and want to know what you think by FurmidableCat • last post Oct 23rd
I applied to a good agency that seemed perfect for me. They responded one month later and the discussion went great with them so I said I wanted to sign with them and they seemed pretty happy about it. They told me they would send me a calendar so I can share my availabilities and never did. I sent them a message a few days after the date they were supposed to send it and they didn’t even read my message. I sent them a message again today and still no answer even though they are online. I just asked wether we will still be working together or not and it’s okay if they say no, I just want to move on to something else. It’s been eight days with no news from them and no message read. I finally said I wasn’t interested in working with them. I book a lot of job opportunities on my own so I feel like I don’t even need them. I sent them some job opportunities I would like to be submitted for once we sign and got no message from them and just booked it on my own. I feel like I book a lot of jobs because I answer quickly to casting breakdowns and I would miss a lot of work with someone who can’t even read or answer my messages. I even book more work on my own than they can for many actors in their agency. I finally told them I would stay self-represented because I already book a lot of work on my own so I can’t give them the space they want in my career. Did I make the right choice?