We have found 19,322 posts across 4 actor forums:
For anyone who likes acting – my new YouTube series about the best film performances! by manilazic • last post Feb 9th
Hey all, hope it's ok for me to do a bit of self-promotion on here! I'm a film critic, actress and podcaster and I just started a new YT series where I break down the best/weirdest/most interesting performances in cinema – and to start things off, I talk about Matt Damon in The Talented Mr. Ripley! Have a look, hope fellow actors and acting fans will enjoy!! [https://youtu.be/oD1eNP4LRVA](https://youtu.be/oD1eNP4LRVA)
My college experience made me hate acting and I don’t know how to love it again by letheatredude • last post Feb 8th
I thought that college was going to be such a great learning experience for me. That was a lie Those two years I was a musical theatre major were some of the worst years of my life. I quickly learned that our program director (we’ll call this person Arnold) was a narcissist, picked favorites, and had a huge ego. I had a meeting with Arnold after auditions for spring shows in my junior year, and he told me that my face sucked when I was singing, no director would ever want to work with me, and that I needed to go to therapy. Mind you, I had spent the entire semester in a performance class with this man and this was the first time he'd ever mentioned something like that. The next semester, Arnold made me audition for a show I was uncomfortable with (it was a drag heavy show, and I’m uncomfortable with it for personal reasons). Initially, he understood and said that I would just do the audition for a grade for our auditions class. Then he tried to get me to change my mind. When I told him no, he told me that I shouldn't have turned it down and threw me under the bus to a professional director and said it was my fault I auditioned. During the show we were doing that spring, he spent an hour one night screaming and swearing at us about how we all sucked and how awful our rehearsal was and how we would never work professionally and "why aren't you answering, blink blink? You all look like cows in a field, blink blink. Someone give me a REAL answer, blink blink." I got a bad midterm grade because my face apparently looked miserable all the time and I was told I needed to “keep my eyebrows up” to make everyone think I was happy. And in my senior year, I was the only senior (there were 6 of us) to not get a lead in any of the shows. My classmates weren't much better. All of my closest friends graduated after my sophomore year, so I spent junior and senior years basically alone. I came into the major late, so the people in my year didn't want to hang out with me. I took classes with the year below me, and they wouldn't give me the time of day. We went to NYC in the spring of my junior year for a senior showcase, and everyone was paired up with someone to share a room with, and I slept on the couch. A lot of them would never talk to me. I tried to be friends with them, it's not like I'm a total hermit. But I knew I was screwed when I came back early for a show and four of us made a group chat, then the other guys made a new group chat without me and were hanging out without me. I remember parties where I would say hi to them, and they'd roll their eyes at me without saying anything. We were supposed to go to NYC in March, and they all planned their transportation down there without me. The real kicker is everyone that I graduated with moved down to NYC and they never asked me if I wanted to live with them even though I asked them if they wanted to look for places together. My whole time at school, I never felt like I was actually there. Out of all of the professors I had, only 2 really wanted to see me succeed. If I asked Arnold for help on something, he wouldn't. He'd tell me to figure it out myself because he said if he gave me an answer, it wouldn't work for me and then I'd have a meltdown about not knowing what to do. During shows, I never got feedback on my acting, it would always be "be more social" or "don't get a concussion." It wasn't until fall of my senior year when I finally took a class with a professor who understood the way I function as an actor and worked with me to find things that made sense in my brain. Since graduating, I've held a lot of resentment towards my experience. It's killed my love for theatre and acting, and I've since decided that maybe I don't want to pursue it professionally. I don’t know how to love it again. I want to, but anything related to theatre makes me think of all of the bad things I’ve experienced instead of the joy that it used to bring me. TLDR: Had a terrible experience in a performance program in college and now I’m jaded that I don’t love performing the way I used to.
Dying Hair As An Actor? by pixi127 • last post Feb 8th
Hey I’ve been doing on screen/film acting for around 3 years now and i have never really changed my hair color. Recently I have been wanting to dye my hair an unnatural color, and i’m wondering if that’s even okay as a film actor. Obviously I’m going to need to talk to my agents about this but before I do I just wanted to know if it’s okay to have an unnatural hair color in the film industry and if that would affect my chances in an audition, if it’s seen as unprofessional or something then i don’t want to bother my agents asking about it... please let me know what knowledge you have about this! thank you!!
PSA: We’re all from small towns. by CaliforniaStoked • last post Feb 8th
Partly a vent post but mostly a post of encouragement. I see a lot of posts on here from people who ask how they can get into acting if they are from a small town, or if they don’t know anyone in the business, or if they’re a teenager, or still in school, or can’t move to a big city, etc. Just a friendly reminder, that we all have been there. That’s everyone’s story. If you want something bad enough, you make it work. And the ones who want it bad enough and make it work, are the ones who are going to succeed. You have to make sacrifices. For those of you who are from small towns, you might not be aware that mostly everyone who lives in the big cities, like LA or NYC, are also from small towns. They made the jump and moved out to LA/NYC in order to give themselves the best possible chance of making it in this industry. We were all teenagers in high school who once dreamed of becoming entertainers. We didn’t know anybody famous either. The actors you see on your favorite TV shows, watch on the big screen at movie theaters, or are winning Oscars, were also mostly actors from a small town with a dream. The secret is- you turn 18, and then that’s when your dreams can really take shape. So for now, watch lots of movies, read lots of scripts, audition for school plays, or just memorize monologues. You’re not too old and it’s not too late.
Demo Reel for Agencies? Hit me with the truth (Any Responses appreciated) by padgettjwr • last post Feb 8th
Hi, so I am basically a typical 21 year old aspiring actor moving to LA soon, and I have had years of training and experience with background work and short films, but I have no solid footage for a demo reel, as all the footage were from when I was 17-19 and I look a tad bit different. I hear from some people that it is okay to film solid self tapes and put them together for a reel and send them to agencies, but I am worried and I wonder if I should just try getting people together to make our own scene or just paying for a scene to be shot for me for my reel. Do I need to do all of that for a better shot at agencies, or do you guys think that I can get by with self tapes of aired scenes? Thank you in advance
Examples of professional business cards? by Clairoscopic • last post Feb 8th
Does anybody have any examples of actors business cards, like professional actor cards?
VOICE ACTORS by EDSON12_ • last post Feb 8th
Hi! I'm Edson Nolasco, international manager from a full-service audio company. At the moment we're looking for german, korean, russian or french voice actors for a kid show that is broadcasted on a website. We need the voice of a mom, dad or some kids. Maybe you match with a character. Also, an important requirement is that you must be able to sing. Please, let me know if you are interested and if you meet the requirements. All the best
Where is the best place to find gigs for beginner teenage voice actors by Starshotstream • last post Feb 8th
I've seen so many websites for gigs and jobs but I cant seem to find one that would actually get me anywhere. Any tips on what site I should use?
What's the scoop on being a handsome, Asian male actor these days? Pro-tips? by ZaraZote • last post Feb 8th
My partner is a really attractive East Asian man and we live in an area where film is a huge industry. He loves acting but never has time outside of his job to do it, except for classes. We see that there is a bit of a trend for more hot Asian men to be in movies and TV shows these days. What do you think about his chances at making good money if he were to shift his focus to pursue more acting gigs? Any pro-tips or advice for someone in his position? Thanks for any insight!
A Whole Handful of Acting Questions (Long Post) by PiratesAndPotatoes • last post Feb 8th
What's up r/acting? I'm back with a whole handful of questions for you. I was unsure if I should do this as one post or multiple, so if this type of post goes against the sub's rules, by all means, remove it. I don't intend to infringe; merely I wanted to get my questions out there. ***Firstly, I have a few questions regarding making a reel with no experience:*** * In general, I've heard that for those of us with no industry experience, we should make a reel by memorizing a handful of monologues, filming them, and editing them together to use as a reel. Is this how I should go about it? * Would I be able to use dialogue, especially monologues, from a novel in a reel? * For example, there is a trilogy I read recently that I absolutely loved some of the dialogue in, and at one point, the character speaking spoke in a way that was essentially a monologue. Would I be able to use this? * I'm not quite sure how best to word this, but could I use a spoken-word work or "song"? * Specifically, the thing I'm thinking about for this is Starset's "A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FUTURE". I absolutely love the monologue, but would there be any sort of legalities surrounding it, as it is technically a "song" released by the band, that would prevent me from using it as a monologue in an acting reel? * When it comes to student films, would those need to be published or publicized in any way in order to be able to list them on my resume or use clips in a reel? ***Next, I've got some questions about acting in general—a few different topics:*** * I'm currently still under quarantine due to familial health concerns. Is there a way to take my own headshots at home so as to not have to wait until summer at the SOONEST to get them done professionally? Of course I will as soon as I am able, but would there be a way to take headshots that could pass as professional-looking enough so I do not have to wait longer than necessary to begin to put myself out there and submit for auditions online? If so, what would be the best way to go about it? * Speaking of online submission sites, I've seen that Actors' Access, Backstage, and Casting Networks are extremely highly recommended and in most cases required by agencies. * What of these, or other similar, sites should I sign up for first? * Which are *most* important when just starting out in the industry? * Should I sign up as soon as I possibly can or wait any amount of time? * I've seen that Actors' Access does not necessarily require a monthly fee, but what about Backstage and Casting Networks? * If they do require monthly fees, how much per month do they generally tend to be? * When the time comes to begin submitting to agencies, are Atlanta and Miami typically considered the same region or would they both cover different areas? * This is sort of important to me as I'll be moving to a city in FL about half an hour outside of MIA in a little over a year, and I'm just unsure as to what areas agencies in each city would cover. * How would agencies in the Southeast compare to agencies in an area such as Los Angeles as far as project submissions? * Should you mass submit to agencies? * If so, what would be the best way to go about it? * I'm currently 17, but when my family moves I will have turned 18. Currently, my family is supportive of my wanting to act, but isn't fully able/willing to travel long distances, such as to LA or even ATL (I currently live appx. 2 hours away), or to travel very frequently. I'm more than willing to travel, love traveling actually, and will try to do so on my own if or when that's necessary, but I'm not sure how my family would respond to that idea. I am fully aware that traveling tends to be quite a huge part of the job. How might I be able to make this work? * I absolutely love the craft of acting, and I realize I'm likely overthinking this and it won't even come up for months to years, but I'm terrified out of my mind that if/when I get a part with any number of lines, I won't be able to memorize them in time, or that I will but my performance will be unrealistic. Any tips on how to calm my overactive mind and ensure that I can memorize to the best of my ability and also remain realistic in my acting? * What are some tips or resources for writing cover letters for both agency and audition submissions? * Finally, one of the likely often-asked questions: what are some tips on how to get the best lighting in self tapes? Thank you so, so much to anyone who took the time to read through that. Any and all tips, resources, answers, and advice are very much appreciated! *(Edits: grammar, clarification)*
Hey NY actors. How did you get into Bob Krakower's class? by Illustrious_Minimum1 • last post Feb 7th
Hey NY actors, I was wondering if anybody have any luck getting into Bob Krakower's classes before or during the pandemic? Any luck especially during the pandemic? It would be a real privilege to study under him even if just for a very short period of time. ​ Thank you!
16 year old. Peer pressure, family judging. High aspirations. by mrchris20040072004 • last post Feb 7th
I am inspired by the likes of Tom hanks, Tom hardy, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Johnny Depp. I would like to start acting; or at least to start learning to act. I have never mentioned this to my family before, it would seem so weird from their point of view that I, a introverted 16 year old kid would want to start a career in which you have to perform in front of hundreds of people. I have no prior experience. Nothing. But honestly, when I watch an emotional scene, I want to be the person on the screen, screaming/crying/shouting my heart out. What can i do to get started? I’m from the Uk. Family are middle class and don’t really live near a city. Maybe tmi but yeah just looking for tips really. Do i HAVE to go to acting school to become an actor? Cheers guys
Basics of acoustic treatment...demystifying by aka_trouble • last post Feb 7th
I'm the kind of person that needs to understand the fundamentals before I can even think about taking action on something - namely my voice "booth". There's a lot of highly technical information out there and it's difficult to weed through what's good advice and what's bad advice. So I put together this list of videos that broke down acoustic treatment clearly and for non-engineers like myself. I also asked a local voice over audio engineer for more tips. I hope this helps some of you wrap your heads around how you need to treat your space for voice acting. How sound works in a room - very Bill Nye with fun visuals and analogies: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPYt10zrclQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPYt10zrclQ) When to use diffusion vs absorption - these two methods are really the essence of acoustic treatment, but I was very confused as to when and how to do it: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m\_LUighoO4U](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_LUighoO4U) Vocals in particular. This guy advocates for expensive diffusion, but my takeaway is to prioritize bigger space and sound absorption: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSwDpm-7dec](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSwDpm-7dec) ​ Key takeaways & advice from engineer: 1. Use absorption on surfaces that your voice will bounce off of. 2. Only use diffusion if you can afford the expensive stuff. Those foam squares do practically nothing. Put diffusion panels behind the mic and behind you the actor/singer so that they form a semi-circle or V. 3. A bigger space is better. 4x4x8 rooms are too small and sound boxy (so does a literal box). 4. Don't build spaces that can be divided into themselves ex 10x10x10. Use odd/prime number lengths to be safe (15 x 5 x 11). 5. Put as much space between you and the walls as possible. 6. Better yet, stand in the middle of a room facing a corner so you and the mic are lined up diagonally in the space. This is really just the basics, you can go even further but if you're like me and just starting out, treating a room with these in mind will get you really far without spending too much. And hopefully it gives you a clearer GOAL to aim for instead of getting cross-eyed at sine waves and geometric equations. Feel free to offer more advice and critique.
Tips for finding a VO Agency? by polyglotconundrum • last post Feb 7th
Hi friends, I'm an established VO actor (mostly commercial) and am now looking for representation-- Any of you veterans have any advice on finding one? I recently came across DirectSubmit (from NYCastings), is that worth using? Thanks!
I’m trying to get started and have no idea what’s going on by Jmantheboss04 • last post Feb 7th
So I’m trying to be an actor but I realized I don’t fully understand how any of this works. Like how do I go about trying to get an audition, do I have to pay to be in a role cause I read something that confused me about 100 different ways about that, and honestly just any advice would be welcomed here please
My plans after high school. by Fuzzy-Food-4737 • last post Feb 7th
Hello. I’m a 15 year old sophomore that live in Pennsylvania. I hate school. I’ve always hated school and i’m barley surviving high school. The thought of me doing 2 or 4 more years at college makes me sick to my stomach. I’ve been interested in acting at a young age and no i’m trying to persue a career in acting because i don’t want to work for a more professional legitimate job like real estate. I want to be an Actor because i feel like i was born to do it. I really do think that i can get my name out there one day. Even being in a commercial would really make my life lol. So i’ve decided to get a job and save up my money. For anything. i’m just gonna save everything up. It sounds movie like i know but i’m going to move to LA and do it. Is it realistic ?? i know i can do this.
Do I even need a Twitter? by TheGentlemanWolf • last post Feb 7th
Normally don't post here but I need some advice, I've been a voice actor for a couple years now and have found good success and feel I'm on the right path to becoming a professional one day. But recently I've been feeling like I should get rid of my business Twitter because of a number of factors: 1) VA community on there is toxic and hypocritical as hell 2) Found that Twitter can be a serious liability to people who use it for business and professional endeavors because of the people who make Twitter what it is. And 3) Fear of slipping up and say the wrong thing resulting in me being affected. I mean Twitter does offer some potential good jobs (I've gotten some) but I've been thinking of just deleting it and making a secret private one that I use for jobs only. But what are you guys thoughts on Twitter? Do you have or feel it's necessary to be a successful VA?
Acting reel NYC by KickBlue22 • last post Feb 7th
I have been hired by an actor here in New York City to do a shoot, showcasing her abilities. My thoughts are that showing an actor delivering monologues is one way to demonstrate what an actor is capable of. On the other hand, since I normally do corporate video production in NYC, I believe that featuring her in the starring role of a mock commercial could look a LOT more compelling! From a marketing perspective (in terms of helping her 'sell' herself), presenting her in a spec commercial like this should be even more effective in grabbing the arrention of casting directors / talent agencies. The actor herself is open to going in either direction and I want to do the right thing by her to help her out. Any thoughts on pros / cons of one approach versus the other? We already have a location booked at Time Square a week from now, so timing is tight...
Ideas in the future by Pentaholic-23 • last post Feb 7th
Fairly new to the sub, and I know you guys probably get questions like these often but I would like some advice. I’m a high school sophomore and I have a real passion for acting and theater. When I watch movies and tv I look at it through this different lens of how amazing it must be to do that job. To get to work with all these amazing people who I’ve idolized for years and dreamed of meeting let alone working with. I also love the dancing that comes with the more musical movies, but haven’t done any real dancing. I’ve always been told that I’d be a great actor, I’ve tried the drama clubs at my schools but can’t get into them. They aren’t what I’m looking for. I have fairly recently thought about majoring in real estate with a minor in theater/acting, just so I’d have something stronger to fall back on since it’s such a competitive career. I’m also worried about what people will think, my dad has always has always thought about me going into healthcare or communications, and his response to this path would be “it’s very competitive” “it’s expensive” “how do you know you’ll achieve what you’re looking for”. My mom may be supportive but I know she’d think it wasn’t the best idea. There are so many places to begin, so many things to do. This is something that I feel is calling me, something I see myself doing and enjoying doing everyday in the future. So after all of this talk, is there something that stands out in the industry that is something you feel I should know? I also want to know, when did you decide to become and actor, and what were your first steps to getting there?
How far can you live from your primary market? by aandAction • last post Feb 7th
So while lots of people live right in Atlanta/NYC/LA, I understand some live in smaller cities that are within reasonable driving distance. What do you think is a reasonable distance from your primary market to live, if you are not doing theatre or live performance at all? Obviously it's more convenient to live virtually on the doorstep of the various casting offices and training opportunities, but particularly with the shift to self-tapes, how far could one reasonably live? 1 hour drive? 3 hours drive? Even 5 hours drive? This question is with actors in mind who are still only really auditioning in one place for the most part--not being represented by people in LA, NY and London all at the same time.