We have found 19,373 posts across 4 actor forums:
Be More Than Just an Actor by FurmidableCat • last post Oct 20th
I used to dedicate my life to acting. All my time and money was dedicated to it. I thought that I could only be a professional actor if that was my only job. And it turns out that I am much more successful as an actor now that I am focusing on something else. Here’s why: 1. It gives you life experience. It would be hard to play different types of roles if all you have ever done is being an actor without going through meaningful experiences and experiencing different things. Life will teach you about emotions way more than an acting class will. At the beginning of my career, I had been told that I couldn’t act because I haven’t lived anything and they were right. 2. You learn special skills. I have been cast several times as a waitress because I have worked as a waitress for a year and so many times as a stripper because I learned how to pole dance, strip, and lap dance. Now that I work as a host, I also get many acting opportunities that have to do with that. 3. You earn money to invest in your acting career. Having a steady job is sometimes much more important than taking classes or doing volunteer films because you want to get more training/experience because you want to do acting full time. Your steady job is what allows you to pay for classes, headshots, stuff for your self-tapes, etc. 4. You have a better network. I am getting more and more normal jobs that require an actor at some point so they end up hiring me because they already know me and don’t know how a normal casting process works. I have also met several casting directors because they liked the articles I wrote about acting. 5. It makes you more interesting. Casting directors don’t want you to only talk about acting when they ask you to talk about yourself. Every actor has something to tell about acting, but you’ll stand out much more when you talk about unique stuff that others don’t do. “I have been studying acting for ten years and have had amazing teachers (…)” is boring. I get much more reaction from casting directors when I tell them about stuff that make me stand out and they are genuinely interested in knowing more. 6. It can make you happier. And people want to spend time with happy people. Instead of starving and being upset every time you don’t get cast, find something else that makes you as much happy as acting because that energy will attract people and give you the chance to appreciate life even more. Be more than just an actor. Focusing on something else is sometimes the best way to get work.
Cannot get representation by LeastExamination1594 • last post Oct 20th
I have been taking acting pretty seriously for the past few years and although I am still a teenager, despite taking classes, getting headshots etc I cannot seem to get any representation. I’ve reached out to around 20 managers in LA and many agents in Chicago (where I am located) and not one has gotten back to me. If I could pm my actors access account could anyone give me advice? Thank you
Are these 2 scenes good enough to add to Actors Access? by Euphoric-Wash-5659 • last post Oct 20th
Don’t want to waste funds on adding if not. Also, give editing suggestions since it’s tricky trying to fit it all in but still keep it cohesive and watchable lol YouTube link: https://youtu.be/mgAsnrD4PXs Thanks! :)
Getting into voice acting as an animator? by newdart1997 • last post Oct 20th
So I'm an animator and video game designer and for a while, I've been either making my own short films or small games but I've been suggested by my friend to voice some of my characters and when I did it, I received pretty good reception. I know some high profile voice actors started as an animator such as Seth Macfarlane, Justin Roiland, Mike Judge, Olan Rogers, Alex Hirsch etc. so I was wondering is this a good way to get into voice acting?
Actor’s Confidence by Fine-Feature-4328 • last post Oct 19th
I’ve been pursuing acting for no long period of time I would say about 4 months and I’m aiming to give my 1000% percent. My teacher says I’m holding back when it comes to creativity and confidence and I feel this is due to the fact that I am quite the timid person when it comes on to unknown factors. Any suggestions on dealing with this. Hopefully I explained this to an understandable degree.
I've heard people say "this actor made it because they put in the work!" - or related things. To you personally, what's "the work?" I'll elaborate below. by greatgreengoblins • last post Oct 19th
What work do you do, consistently, daily, weekly, monthly, that makes you a better actor even when you aren't on set? How about when you haven't booked anything for months? Acting classes are the obvious answer, but I'm looking deeper. What's the work you do, all the time?
Beta blockers for performance anxiety? by chairlifting • last post Oct 19th
I'm an actor that suffers from depression and anxiety. I have tremors on top of that so even when I'm not nervous it appears as if I am with my shaky hands. Has anyone taken a beta blocker such as Propranolol before an audition or a shoot to help them calm their nerves and appear less anxious? I'm acting in a commercial coming up would like to ease my physical symptoms without using something as bad as a benzo.
Actors working in industry office by Mind-Individual • last post Oct 19th
Has anyone worked in the industry for agencies, production companies, awards shows, networks, and successfully audition and "make it" as an actor? I want to apply for office work for one of these, but feel like it's frowned upon, but I know Chrissy Metz worked at an agency before making it on This is Us. Thoughts on doing so?
Do actors need to be good at "dissociating," in order to play so many different types of people and yet not get overwhelmed emotionally? by normanbathes • last post Oct 19th
Hi, I tried acting but unsuccessfully and I have wondered if part of it was I could not dissociate. Of course, dissociation, in the clinical sense, is a mental illness. I mean when you cannot control it and is caused by trauma (the so called multiple personality disorder) But if you can intentionally "dissociate," I imagine it can be beneficial when you need to get in touch with different emotions and ways of being. I mean unless you're a sadist or violent person deep inside, how else can you really play a very violent person and express the emotions and really embody it without driving yourself mad? Or, to be less dramatic, how can you, for a particular role, really become this carefree type of person for hours when in real life you are a very serious person? I sometimes watch actors like Philip Seymour Hoffman, Meryl Streep, and Daniel Day-Lewis, and wonder how they do it. I mean Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood (I know some people claim he was overacting, but even so) but I look at him during interviews and then some scenes in the movie and I think he is possessed, he's not the same person.
Actor follow train CHOO CHOO! by prizzthetheatrekid • last post Oct 19th
Hey! I'm an ATL actor/thespian. I feel like i have such good interations on this subreddit. Does anyone want to follow each others socials? @thepeytonrowe Leave yours and I'll follow.
Aarons monologue from Titus andronicus as a white actor? by Like_a_Dragon • last post Oct 18th
I posted this on r/theatre, but I thought this would be a good place as well. Sorry if this seems like a dumb question, but I’d thought I’d ask now than later. I’m preparing for MFA auditions, and I’ve been really struggling to find dramatic Shakespeare monologues (I’m mainly a comedic actor). I stumbled on Aaron’s “even now I curse the day” monologue at the end of Titus and I fell in love with it. I loved how villainous he is and I thought of how much fun I could have with it. I did more research and I just realized he is a villainous moor. First off I feel embarrassed that I didn’t even realize that at first. But another part of me is still wondering, as a white actor who’s just performing a monologue and not being casted in a show, would the people running the audition find that offensive or off putting? Would it just be safer to pick something else, and if so, what are other good, similar monologues like Aaron’s?
Agencies UK by Strict_Carpenter_661 • last post Oct 18th
What are the best acting agencies for actors that have limited acting experience under their belt within the UK - North West England
What are the best movies to watch as an actor? by Fattywithoutafry • last post Oct 18th
I’m generally curious as to what you think are some of the best movies an actor can watch/analyze.
Do actors choose what genre they want auditions for? by Liyandri • last post Oct 18th
Hopefully this isn't a stupid question but who makes the decisions on what kind of genres you get booked for in terms of Film & TV? I love Drama but I don't see myself being a good comedy actor, is this something I should tell my agent if I ever get one?
Self Taping Scenes to Get Started on Actors Access/Backstage by Kaviness • last post Oct 18th
I don't have much quality footage of the student film projects I have worked on so I am looking to do a few self tape style scene clips to upload to AA and Backstage. I was told to not use anything that is recognizable so I am on the search. I did a scene from Malcom and Marie for class that I was thinking of using but I am worried the piece might be too recognizable. Does anyone have any advice/methods on finding scenes that are good to self tape? Any insight would be appreciated!
Why do CDs have you read for major roles if you're unknown, when you know they're just going to cast a major name actor in the role? by wealthtimesinfinity • last post Oct 18th
I've read for a handful of series regulars and supporting leads in feature films over the past couple years, meanwhile i only have a shit ton of short film credits and no tv/major film credits yet (but i do read for co-stars a lot too, the occasional guest / recurring). a month ago i read for the lead in the john wick prequal event series The Continental. like, i'm not going to book that role. they jsut cast mel gibson as the villain. they're going to cast a name actor that has been a series regular previously, if not a major film actor in that lead role. Why do they give these types of tapes to unknown actors? i mean, listen i'm beyond grateful for the chance to read for that office, atomic honey, but i just dont understand it. earlier in this year i read for a supporting lead in a gerald butler movie. they cast the lead from Luke Cage as that role. like, why am i reading for things that i have no chance in hell of being cast in? it just feels like a big joke. i hope that means casting either thinks i'm capable of doing a role that meaty or they like something about me, but i just can't wrap my head around this. out of all the auditions I've read for in the few yeras i've been auditioning, literally 99/100 the person cast has at least a page full of co-stars / guest stars already. so like, somebody's gotta give me a chance eventually for my first major credit... even if it's just a co-star... right? i think i gotta stop looking at imdb and who get's cast, becuaes all it does is drive me crazy. Also, do we anticipate the major acting studios / teachers in LA to be holding classes physically in person again in January? or do you think it's just going to be zoom classes forever at this point? some of this people (leslie kahn) are still charging $800 for zoom intensives, doesn't seem like much of a discount from in person classes. I can't imagine spending $800 for a zoom class, ridiculous in my book. I wanted to wait for in-person classes to resume, but what motivation do they have for doing in person again when they can charge the same for zoom...
Van life and acting by whatevercuck • last post Oct 18th
Wondering if anyone knows the logistics of being transient and an actor? Or if anyone has any experience doing so? I’ve always wanted to live in a van and travel, and while on one hand I think there are pros to that lifestyle for acting, there’s likely a lot of cons as well. For example I know that extras/background work is usually cast locally, and I doubt living in a van in that city counts as local. I also imagine not having a home address or being located in one place could be limiting for a number of reasons. Any thoughts on how it could work (if it could work at all)?
Online acting class for kids - Masterclass? by indieshack2 • last post Oct 18th
I'm trying to locate a decent online acting class for my ten year old daughter - she's done some local shoots, small roles, is still green but I think talented - of course I would say she's talented because I'm her dad :) . I'm looking for a course rather than sporadic videos on Youtube . I was thinking of investing in Masterclass but the few acting "classes" on there seem to be older actors and nothing aimed at very young actors. I googled but couldn't see if this question had been recently answered - thanks
NYLA Talent Agency question by GlitteringRiver8734 • last post Oct 17th
Hi, Our daughter has been offered registration into iPop by NYLA after auditions and NYLA is asking USD4995 for that. This money does not include airfare, stay or meals. They call it ‘Performer Package’ with details below- PERFORMER PACKAGE INCLUDES: -Daily iPOP! Guide meetings during the event -Performance Registration and Badge -Participation fees to perform as a Model or Actor, Choose One -Preparation Meetings and monthly coaching prior to iPOP! -Guidance in selection of commercial, monologue or other performance material. -Your photo in the official iPOP! Online Performer Directory -Opportunity to be seen by top agents, managers and casting directors in the industry. -Opportunity to audition for the Celebration of Success Talent and Runway Showcase -Management and marketing services during and after iPOP! -Wardrobe selection for performance. -Admittance/Dinner at Awards Gala In addition, if performer is under 18, a parent needs to accompany which is an additional USD 1995 per parent. Has anyone participated in NYLA and can help us with reviews? We are trying to find information before committing. Thanks in advance
My talent manager died... by Theurbanalchemist • last post Oct 17th
Out of respect, I will keep locations and names excluded. If you may know, then you may know. My talent manager of six years recently passed away. I have been crying almost non-stop for days since the news and its a loss that my non-industry support system can't fathom. We not only shared career highs and lows, but they delivered mentoring advice about life, which in part helped profession as profession was my life. Now? I feel a part of my identity has been lost. No longer will I get excited to see Cmail or their name in my inbox and any bookings in the future won't be shared by someone who wasn't there from the beginning. From late teens to late twenties. From non-union to pinned series. And they touched and advocated for many actors in their life. An absolute light has been lost and I need help clearing my brain. Has anyone experienced this? Would you have words of wisdom in such a time? What is respectful protocol and any anecdotes would be appreciated.