We have found 19,304 posts across 4 actor forums:
i need help by ijustwanttobeloved0 • last post Sep 25th
hi everyone, this is my first post here. im 17, i have awfully strict parents, growing up i was told i had to be a doctor. i really really dont want to be. yes financial security is great and all but i just don't have interest in being a doctor. up until i graduated (where i live everyone graduates at 16-17), that was the plan. to become a doctor. until one day i broke down and told my mom i dont want to do it. she already knew that but i guess maybe she didn't realise how much i didn't want to do it. when she asked me what i wanted to be i immediately thought of something in the arts. i dont want to become a painter, but i had an interest in the performing arts and singing and such. i told her about it and she lost her mind. basically if i want to be an actor i wont have my parents' support on it. hell i'll probably even be disowned. i can't get a job right now so i can't save up to move out. but god, i really want to act. i only started talking about movies this year, barely even paid attention to the entertainment industry. so why do i want to act? because for the first time in 17 years i feel alive. i feel like i will be happy, i feel like i \*want\* to be here. i carry around so many emotions all of the time and my mind is an endless plethora of stories and ideas. i want to bring characters to life, give them as real of a backstory as possible, make people \*feel\* things, make people keep those characters with them through their lifetime. but i don't know where to start. i already know that i have no experience and that i will have to go to classes or join a local theatre or something but how? how do i do this without becoming basically homeless :( please help, any advice would be great, i just need to do this. i want it so bad. i can't spend my life being miserable anymore. i feel like i've wasted so much time.
Do you need to go Drama School to succeed as an actor?! by testing35 • last post Sep 25th
[View Poll](https://www.reddit.com/poll/izq7ep)
Does it seriously make someone homophobic if you don’t want to play a gay character? by irepMiami • last post Sep 24th
This is obviously a controversial topic but I just wanted some better understanding and clarity on this. I recently had someone call me homophobic and a bigot for almost backing out of a role. I didn’t realize the character’s sexual orientation had changed and it was 100% my oversight. There’s not a hateful bone in my body and I fully support the LGBTQ community. So I decided to do the role. Since then, I’ve read up on this to try to find a better understanding on it because it was never my intention to offend anyone. Some people make the argument that the very nature of acting is to play characters that are not you, but when is it ever considered that the actor’s morals could be compromised? Do they not matter? I was also told that this would limit the amount of roles and auditions I would receive but to be honest, out of the many I’ve graciously gotten, this is only my 3rd role I’ve received like this. I would just like some clarity and advice on this without being crucified please, I just want to understand it better. Thanks.
Still no response from acting classes by moonismyonlyfriend • last post Sep 24th
I left my acting classes in the last few days of February 2020 because of the pandemic, my grandfather took me to the classes so at the time we didn’t want to risk his health. I spoke with my teacher about it and he agreed that it was fine and that I was free to attend when I felt more comfortable. At that time I owed a payment of £100 so I sent emails about it so I could have the correct bank info but my teacher would ignore that part of my email and I never got to send the money that I owed. I found it a little odd. Its a very great class, my teacher is a casting director as well and a lot of previous actors from these classes have had successful careers. It’s pretty much the best workshop in the country. The plan was for me to start attending classes once my family and I were all double vaxed since my immediate family members are high risk. The classes have started back already, the workshops schedule lines up with colleges and school so it closes for the summer and reopens in September. Since June I’ve tried getting into contact with my teacher but I’ve had no response. I’ve sent emails, tried phoning. But absolutely no response. I’d love to start attending again but it just doesn’t appear to be happening. They usually send out letters every month as well to fill everybody in on what’s been happening but I haven’t received any of those either. I feel discouraged I can’t lie, because it’s the only workshop near me. I have no where else to go for classes. What can I do?
Vent / Asking for advice for getting out of your own head in auditions? by IrisLeex • last post Sep 24th
As a kid, I loved being feminine, and I loved in theater, ballet, singing, and art. But, my family really disliked how involved I was in the arts. Anyways, long story short, it's a familiar immigrant story - I dropped the arts for academics and athletics - and now, I am a lawyer, which, don't get me wrong, I'm so thankful for my education and for my job. However, I still try to act whenever I can as a hobby, and Covid, as horrible as it is, lets me do Zoom theater and films again! Whenever I audition, I get asked to read for younger female parts (which is exactly what I want at the moment, so it's exciting for me), and when I practice for these parts, I'm so excited - this is great, this is the part of me that my younger self wanted to be, I get to live it, even for just this audition! But then the audition starts, there's this voice in my head that tells me that it's bad to act pretty or feminine, that whatever attention I get from putting on make-up and clothes is attention I don't deserve, and before I know it, I'm lowering my voice and putting on my "don't-fuck-with-my-family-I'm-a-lawyer" voice - even though the role I'm reading for, and I *so* want, is for a sixteen-year-old ballerina. It honestly makes me so sad. I rarely cry, but I cry after auditions because it feels HUMILIATING. Yes, part of it is because I can see the casting director become disappointed and I can feel that role slipping away, but also, this is the *one* space where it's an asset to play out that part of myself where I can be feminine and young and not be at a disadvantage, and I don't let myself do it. On the more objective side, too, I feel this is highly unprofessional. I'm trying to be an *actor*, for fuck's sake - what's the point if I can't *act*? **Does anyone have any similar stories and/or any advice for playing characters without judging yourself? It would be very appreciated to hear them.**
I updated my project estimating tool to help narrators find their REAL hourly rate! by halfinthebang • last post Sep 24th
Hello everyone- Last week I [posted](https://www.reddit.com/r/VoiceActing/comments/pp84u5/i_built_a_site_to_help_narrators_accurately_quote/) about [AudiobookCalculator.com](https://AudiobookCalculator.com), a simple site I built to help narrators and voice actors find their WPM (words per minute) rate for different projects, and then help estimate how much we'll make from projects at specific PFH (per finished hour) rates. However, based on personal experience and reading experiences of others, I've realized that a great-sounding $80/PFH can quickly turn into a miserable $10/hour experience. This is especially true for newer narrators, or those working on difficult projects. That's why I just added a second calculator to the site ([AudiobookCalculator.com/hourly](https://AudiobookCalculator.com/hourly)) that uses the same information as the basic calculator, but also your total production time, to establish a **Production Time Factor (real hours : finished hours)** to help you determine how much you'll *really* be making in traditional 'hourly rate' terms. Again, thanks for checking it out- and I hope you all find it helpful. Thanks!
Moving to LA? by amtaru • last post Sep 24th
Hi fellow actors! I was hoping to get some advice/insight on moving to LA. Is there ever a "right" time to move? I'm trying my best to limit my risks in making a very expensive move and failing at it. Im currently repped in Austin and NM, and I haven't even landed a co-star/guest star/ etc in the roles I've been submitted for (granted I've only sent in about 5 auditions) is it unrealistic of me to move to LA at this point? I've heard people say you'll only do well in LA if your resume is already overflowing with experience.
Feeling limited by my acting class... by EFC94 • last post Sep 24th
I'm taking a local Film & TV acting class in the UK. The issue I have is that it's sole focus is on regional programming and soap acting, which often covers uninteresting and restrictive colloquial based dialogue. The tutors are nice people, but I'm constantly getting positive reinforcement instead of constructive criticism. I've watched others getting guided on where they can improve and then getting a "honestly really good", "great take", "not much I can say to improve that", etc. Of course there' areas I can improve. I'm definitely not Denzel or Leo yet. But bar moving to LA for a period, I have no way of working with other actors on different regions, backgrounds, accents and meatier dialogue at the moment. Does anyone have any suggestions for quality online training that encapsulates top-level film dialogue and encourages accent work, how to get agents, auditions etc.?
Help! by Common_Philosophy_20 • last post Sep 24th
I know this will sound stupid, but I’ve been thinking of applying for a MCU audition and have been thinking about contacting Sarah Finn, any tips of getting noticed? I’ve been told I’m a good actor and give a convincing performance but I also feel if I get an audition literally anywhere I’ll crumble under pressure. Any advice?
im attending a convention in a few months im hoping to meet some actors by nicholasbloom • last post Sep 23rd
im also hoping to meet some people that would be interesting in collabing
Headshot-Age Range-Character Type Feedback by AutoModerator • last post Sep 23rd
Use this thread to post your headshots for feedback, get info on your age range/type, find good headshot photographers, ask any questions you may have about headshots. If you are posting a DIY headshot for feedback, and not just a snapshot in order to get feedback on your age range/type/etc, it is advised that you do at least some basic research on what actor headshots look like--composition, framing, lighting. You will find a Google Image search for "actor headshots" to be very helpful for this. Non-professional shots are fine for age/typecasting; please keep in mind that one picture is a difficult way to go about this. Video of you moving and speaking would be ideal, but understandably more difficult to post. For what it's worth, the branding workshop at SAG-AFTRA recommends a five-year age range. That's inclusive, so for example 19-23, 25-29, 34-38, etc.
A Sobering Stat by louisasnotes • last post Sep 23rd
From an online acting community I'm a member of: " My production company is early in the casting process for a 2021-scheduled independent New Media Series. We posted a casting notice on a single service on 09 December 2020. For the 11 roles that we listed, we have received, in a little over a month's time, *11,454 actor expressions of interest* in one or more roles (and we had already cast the male lead, so we did not post it in the notice — we can't fathom the number if that role had been in the listing as well). "
An open letter from a Past President of ACTRA by louisasnotes • last post Sep 23rd
Re: Self Tapes - Every actor I know finds the current self-tape process frustrating and wearying. I get that it’s easier to tape at home, alone, or with a reader, and you get to do it over and over until you’re happy, but, then what happens. You send it off and chances are you never hear another word. From anyone. Did they even watch it? Was it already cast and they were just doing a compulsory fishing expedition to satisfy union requirements that they were being inclusive? Were they seeing every Cdn actor/actress within the age range so they could hire the American with impunity? When a casting agent puts out a break down asking for submissions…it used to be that agents would submit clients and they might make it to a casting session with the casting director, or if the CD was familiar with someone's work, they might propose them to the director/producer and ask that actor to come in to a producer session. It seems to me that the SELF TAPE should be the equivalent of a producer session. Someone suggested that actors should be paid to self tape…a nominal fee… but something so as to discourage casting from just agreeing to hundreds of self tapes, most of which are an utter waste of time. Even ZOOM would be a better alternative. That way, you can at least get feedback from the director/producer if they want you to go in a different direction. It seems to me, it is really easy to get actors to self tape, then sit around and watch the first 15 seconds to decide the actor isn’t quite right, but each of those actors has gone through an annoying, time consuming, sometimes costly process to get that tape out there. For what? Yes, times have changed, and the world is a different place, but, in order for actors to feel that they are more than camera fodder, I think the union should look at this current method of ’casting’, and consider some limitations to protect actors. Maybe there should be a requisite ZOOM conversation with the producer/director before the actor is asked to tape, so that if the people hiring don’t respond, or know that they are definitely NOT going in your direction, they can politely thank you for you time, let you know it’s not going to go any further, and spare you the hours of wasted time working on a self tape. Or, they can give you some direction and ask you to tape. Sorry for the rant, but I really do think some limitations would be beneficial for everyone. ​ I would love to hear from Agents and Castin Directors,, because I feel at present they are just 'doing what the Director wants', rather than standing up for their talent.
For me to submit for student films, short films, etc. with no reel, I’ve been told I need clips. Does anyone know of a private coache(s) in LA who will work w/ actors AND film their clips? by Pearlet2 • last post Sep 23rd
I need to make these acting clips, so I can really start submitting myself to jobs. All I have now is headshots. I just moved and don’t have friends here to make clips with… I also really would like to work with someone who is going to push me, understand my type, and be very thoughtful as they help me make my clips. I did a session with a coach who I didn’t totally jive with. She told me coaches won’t usually help you with this sort of thing, I’m not sure if that’s true or not. Is she right? Or can I find someone who can be hands on like this? Any recs in the LA area would be great, too!
I directed my first queer play through my theater company! Please check it out! by Tonton646 • last post Sep 23rd
Hello, everyone! Just wanted to share some very exciting work that I've done over the last few months. I wrote and directed my first full-length play, titled "Oliver & Isaac," through my queer-friendly theater company, Queer Colors Theater. It was all made remotely, with each actor in their own space, but I think it turned out quite well. Basically, the play is about two men navigating their complicated relationship, told specifically through the POV of Isaac. If you have time, I'd love for you to check it out and support queer theater. My theater company, which I created with a few friends of mine, is always looking for more support! Here's the link to our YouTube channel, where you can find additional links to our website, as well. Thank you all for the support, and I hope you find some time to check it out. :) [https://youtu.be/-I7LYSGJjok](https://youtu.be/-I7LYSGJjok)
Acting class behavior by wraithwraven • last post Sep 23rd
Sorry for the long post. A month ago I started this class that has 10 others. I connected with a classmate because we love movies and the reason why we started acting. But when we told the others they looked at us like trash. They said they don't watch movies especially if you are doing a scene. The teacher corrected them saying of course you can. They really didn't like that. Apparently a lot of teachers say not to watch movies. Then we did a scene from grosse pointe blank. Love that movie. Only the teacher my classmate and I saw it. My classmate was paired with another guy and I thought she nailed minnie driver part while the other looked like a robot trying to act like a human if they were nervous. Afterwards the teacher said try not to be theatrical. And so forth. But the others they praised him and literally say wow you really know how to act nervous. I pick up sarcasm but there was none. They were dead serious. And then ignored my classmate completely. Is that typical behavior for actors. You praise people who aren't good and look down on people who are? Like we're both cliche and love Brando and believe you must put life experiences into your character to make it look real and authentic. And since we don't have a bunch of life experiences we watch movies to understand characters better. So are we wrong? It really through me off. Thanks in advance
L.A. Actors - Anyone studied at the American Arts Film & Television Academy? Specifically their "Ugly Truth" class? by TheRadHatter9 • last post Sep 23rd
I got an invite to audition for this class with the reward being able to take the class for free if they accept you. As a skeptic I just assume they're reaching out to hundreds on Backstage/AA with the same invitation and just hoping to somehow get money from us using this class as a "free sample." But I wanted to hear if anyone had studied there, or taken this class specifically, and what you thought of it/them. I could use a class to revitalize my skills since I haven't taken one in over 1.5yrs.
Getting into film and tv acting without formal education as an adult in the UK by fiireopals • last post Sep 23rd
Hi, I've kind of had a bit of a life crisis after working as a support artiste for a little bit. I'm 27 and I've realised more than anything I want to work as an actor for film and tv. I used to act a bit about a decade ago but I lost my confidence and I didn't enjoy doing theatre. I used to get involved with amateur films for youtube and things like that and I was actually good at it. I love working on a project with a community of friends and making something together. I love the process of filmmaking and being on set and being transported to another world for half a day for a week or so. I can get into a character and it just seems like the most normal thing in the world to me to do. And I can act, and it feels like the only thing I can do and am supposed to. But I really don't like being on stage and doing theatre. I hate having an audience of strangers and having one shot to not screw it up. I also prefer to act more realistic styles that are more in film than theatre. The two are completely different environments to me. I'm trying to figure out how I can start a career in screen acting. I live in the UK and pretty much all actors that have had success have gone to drama school or at least done some theatre. It seems that casting agencies only take people who have done so, especially those who have done 3 years bachelors. I much prefer the practical side and getting work. I'm not good at studying and I'm better at doing things. I have 2/3 years of a bachelor's complete in Spanish and International studies which I'm doing part time. I'd also probably not be able to have 3 years without working for financial reasons, and also because I wouldnt want to turn down any experience or opportunities. I'd be 28 the earliest I could go and I am nowhere near ready for an audition. I'm not trained enough for it and have very little experience. I'm just wondering what people would suggest I could do to get the training to start a career acting? Thanks ☺
stupid question but by Few_Breath8063 • last post Sep 23rd
Do big anime dubbing studios like Viz media and crunchy roll do auditions online? or do you have to be in the same general area in order to audition for a role? this question is coming from a 15 yea old who wants to be a a vice actor for anime’s but live in a state with like no big studios. sorry if this is written poorly as i’m in a rush
Advice on recording apps to combine actors recording separately? by CarlGantonJohnson • last post Sep 23rd
Hi, if this question doesn't fit here, please send me to where someone may know, thanks! Need an app that can blend recordings two people have recorded separately. My buddy and I have some radio theater skits we're trying to record, but she's in Tennessee and I'm in Michigan. No apps I've tried seem to be capable of this. I've been searching for over a year, and I know there must be something that can do this simple act of combining lines read by two actors. Thanks again