We have found 19,375 posts across 4 actor forums:
I want to pursue acting but I’m a bad public speaker. by Space0utlaw • last post Dec 31st
My background: I’m a 27 year old army veteran. I’m currently pursuing a bachelors degree in a non-related field. I’ve always been drawn to acting as a craft. I’ve felt things while watching great performances that nothing else in life can make me feel. Almost like it’s calling me and I want to take a step and begin to learn how to be an actor. I never pursued acting in high-school because I was an athlete, “it’s not something we did”. I was afraid of what people (my friends and family) would think. I let anxiety and fear hold me back. Which is a problem that transcends this scenario and impacts my life in other areas as well. My problem : I get terrible “stage freight” (if that’s what you call it even if you aren’t on stage). Usually when talking to large groups of people or others that I don’t know, I just become nervous. Nervous to the point that I feel my face flush and I begin to lose track of myself because I know other people are listening to me talk. I’ve been in scenarios where I’ve had to address groups of people and I’m comfortable until all eyes are on me. I’ve attempted to sign up for theater/acting classes before but I always withdraw out of fear. I’ve taken a public speaking class with the hidden agenda of trying to make myself more comfortable in hopes that I can gain the confidence to try and pursue this craft. My question: Can someone just give me advice based on the information provided above? Would I be wasting my time? How can I get over this crippling anxiety I feel when addressing groups or individuals I dont know? What would you do if you were me? I feel like if I don’t start now I never will. Edit: fixed a typo.
What do you call yourself when you are voice acting? by junambojp • last post Dec 31st
Hey, so I am a new voice actor. I've landed a few roles, sent in a bunch of lines, and am now waiting for some of these projects to come out. While they are being worked on, I've been brainstorming how to showcase them as part of my work as well as how to get started with branding in general. While I'm brainstorming, there's been one question nagging at me: "What do I call myself?" Do I use my real name? Do I use my internet handle? Or do I create a whole new stage name? While I don't expect one definitive answer here, it did get me curious on how you tackled this problem. Or was it even a problem at all?
Headshot-Age Range-Character Type Feedback by AutoModerator • last post Dec 31st
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.
How much, if it all, does it set me back if I don't have a heavy background in theatre? by theactordude • last post Dec 30th
So its no secret that some of the best film/tv actors grew up doing theater, and that's how they got their acting training. I just read Jenna Fischers book and she talks about how she always did theatre, and any chance she got she would be looking to perform, whatever facet it might be. It seemed she really had no interests outside of theatre and acting. I obviously love acting, but I cant say I love theatre (yet). I say yet because I haven't really had a chance to give my life to a role and commit myself to a play. Once covid is over, I will audition for plays the first chance I get and see what that is really like. Also, I have other interests outside of acting, and it scares me that I don't live and breath theatre, and that I'm not dying to perform any second I get. The fact that there *are* people like that makes me feel guilty and I put myself at a perceived disadvantage. I'm 21, and ive only been in 1 play a few years ago, and have very little training rooting from theatre. Most of my training has been from an on camera acting class I've taken over the past year and a half. So yeah, am I at a pretty big disadvantage when I'm auditioning against people who have been doing theatre their entire life, and probably love it more than me?
Big School vs Small school when it comes to acting? by sadkins2244 • last post Dec 30th
Like many, I want to go to LA to be an actor. Specifically in VO or VO directing, but still, and LA actor. I'm a senoir in highschool and I am pressed for choosing my career. This is so stressing!! Im looking for general advice on how to get to where I wanna go of course, but for brevity, what is the difference bwtween going to a "big" school, or bigger school, say like Point Park in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania or something closer to home like small Bowling Green. Bowling green is not an acting school, nor is it known for acting. But it does have an acting/directing program. Small school is WAY cheaper and I dont know if its a "bad" school but bigger school is more well lnown and I think better experiences might come from it Please help. Haha
Residuals Question by ReodDavis • last post Dec 30th
Hey there, I hope this message finds everybody well. I was fortunate enough to have a small supporting role in a Warner Brothers film that's coming out early next year. However, it's now being simultaneously released on both HBO Max and in theaters. I've talked to my local sag office, or at least tried to. They said that they would get back to me but it's been almost 4 weeks now. My question is this, does anybody have any idea how residuals are going to work for this unprecedented release strategy? Any Mulan or Wonder Woman actors have any experience? I know that this is a quality problem to have, and I'm definitely grateful to be where I'm at. However, if residuals are going to take a major hit, then I need to either put my stuff in storage and live out of my car by the end of March, or move out of California. Thanks for the information and I hope you all have a great night
Is IMDB's Star Meter any useful? by SPELDWR0NG • last post Dec 30th
IMDB Pro has the Star Meter function that ranks actors based on popularity. The problem is that popularity only refers to how often their page it viewed in IMDB. People tend to use IMDB for the scenario of "who is that guy from this show I'm watching, he looks familiar" which generally means that less popular people will get their page viewed more than famous people. Maybe I'm wrong about that, but right now five people from the cast of The Mandalorian are in the top #26. Meanwhile the people I would consider Hollywood's biggest stars are hundreds of places down on the list. Is this list actually useful and I'm wrong? Is there a better way to determine where someone would rank in terms of star power, or is this the best metric currently available?
Audition- zoom live v.s. self-tape for monologues by Jomehah • last post Dec 30th
hi fellow actors- I'm getting drama school auditions and have some schools conducting online 'live' and some self-taped for monologues. What do you think are some key differences in performance with these formats? E.g. would you have your camera set up nipples up even for 'live' auditions, which will definitely limit your action choices?
The Major CDs in LA? by exaltogap • last post Dec 30th
As a New York-based actor for the past three years I've more or less met most of the important NY offices. Of course, I've self-taped for LA offices too, but I'm curious from an LA-based actor perspective which offices are considered the major ones. I'd be happy to provide my own opinion to the NY perspective.
Is Toronto Film School a good school? by Movie-Connoisseur • last post Dec 30th
Hi. I’m an actor in Grade 12 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I’m trying to find an acting school which is good and worth my money/time. Money is not an issue. I have heard mixed reviews on this school and wanted to hear your opinions. And maybe some suggestions. My dream school is Juilliard and ik the chances are low and submissions have closed so u gave up on it. Any suggestions?
does anyone have experience acting as they are a teacher? by lightskin_canadian • last post Dec 30th
I am an actor with an agent and by 2023, I will have all my credential to be a primary school teacher. just wondering if anyone had the same expierence or a similar one?
Best way to get into voice acting by the_greatest_fight • last post Dec 30th
Hey guys, I’m a beginning voice actor with no experience in the industry. I want to know what’s the best way to get into it?
connecting with imaginary people by unicornthoughts • last post Dec 30th
i would love your help, please! i’m taking a VO 101 class and my teacher keeps giving me the same note of “i don’t feel like you’re connecting with the imaginary person you’re speaking to”. I’ve tried doing it differently every time, trying to improve, and well, i’m clearly struggling. something’s just not clicking in my brain. my background is improv and sketch, but i’ve never considered myself a good actor... so that’s why i’m giving VO a chance, but i’m realizing it’s much harder than i thought. (silly padawan) i would appreciate any advice or suggestions you might have to help me improve in this area. thank you!
Is it expected that your agent will ask casting directors for feedback? by theactordude • last post Dec 29th
So my agent is great, and I'm incredibly lucky to be with them. They are arguably the best agent in my region (not la/nyc), super selective, they have great relationships with the casting directors, and they answer all my calls and are super friendly. I've been with them about a year and a half, I've gotten maybe 60 auditions. Most of these auditions are self tape auditions for 3 liners, though i have gotten a couple series regulars auditons. (Self tapes have been the norm even before covid in my region.) Anyway, never gotten a call back, and i haven't booked shit yet. Obviously since I haven't booked anything, i get a little worried.. (what I'm i doing wrong? Surely my acting can't be that bad that I'm messing up 4 line auditions... Is my agent gonna drop me?). Earlier this year, i asked my agent if any casting directors have given any feedback regarding my auditions (I've heard this is sometimes an appropriate question to ask your agent) He responded saying that casting directors don't really give feedback, but it's a good sign that they keep calling me back. I just read Jenna Fischer's book and in that she mentions how agents "should" act: https://imgur.com/a/rObByKN So yeah, is it expected for your agent to asking the casting directors for feedback regarding your audition performance? Edit: oops this post droned on. I received Jenna's book, An Actors Life as gift and i read it cover to cover today. I guess it really caused me to reflect on my journey so far, hence all the unnecessary details about my "career" lol
The first time someone offers you a role you didn't audition for ... by SPELDWR0NG • last post Dec 29th
You know how huge stars are always sought after. Big name actors like Ben Affleck and Anna Kendrick must get offered roles so often they couldn't keep track of how many they've turned down. I was thinking about it, and the first time someone seeks out your agent to offer you a role has to be a big milestone in someone's career (at least for those lucky enough to reach it). I'm very curious about what point in this stars careers they had their first unsolicited offer. Do you think people with small amounts of fame get them? I'm not asking for a practical purpose, I've just been thinking about it and I have no idea so now I'm pretty in the weeds with it. I'm guessing a lot of people jump straight from getting none of these offers to getting a ton, but I would love to know about the people who didn't have a huge role that catapulted them into stardom. I highly doubt any big stars will read this and share their personal story but does anyone feel like speculating? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Script Analysis: How do you do yours? by celestialonearth • last post Dec 29th
We all have different backgrounds in our growth as actors: we differ in methods, different coaches, different phases, etc. I posted this so I can figure out other ways on how to analyze a script/narrative. Do you judge your character? Is it necessary? Do you also judge the other characters? Who do you ask when you got clarifications? co-actor/s? writer/playwright? director? How do you figure out your character’s objective in the narrative? .... and many more haha Share your method. As they say, learning is a never ending adventure!
Feedback on Audition Bio with No Experience by christinechern • last post Dec 29th
Exactly what the title says. This is my first time submitting something. I haven't even figured out headshots yet, so it's probably a long shot, but you never know if you don't try right? This is the post I'm responding to: Looking to cast 20 - 35 yo fit Asian American actress for short film to shoot in January in Cincinnati. One day shoot with pay $300/ day + travel, lodging and per diem. Email headshots, bio and/or reel to blackmariaentertainment@gmail.com for details, rate and script. Includes travel and lodging. Have a video reel or be ready to audition via zoom. This is what I've drafted: Well-traveled and proficient in Mandarin Chinese as well as Taiwanese, Mexican, and American culture, Christine is an educator, writer, engineer and aspiring actress with a strong foundation in public speaking and leadership. She studied film by the International Baccalaureate progam and through her Chinese degree from the University of Florida including coursework in animation and transnational cinema. She is best known for her deep commitment to intersectional sustainability and looks forward to working on projects which critically examine the human experience. She resides in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Guys, helpe me please... my life depends on it. by TheSuppernaut • last post Dec 29th
Ok so, guys i know there are several questions about tattoos and auditions, in here and all over the internet, but i wanna know from now on, from 2020, from you guys. This is serious, your experience with it. I am 28, i already considere myself too old, but... i say take this question serious because i need to know from people that are involved with acting recently and know about it these days, because my dream is to become an actor, i feel old but at the same time i wanna try it, once i finish my college graduation i wanna move to New York (No im not going to l.a) , and i wanna give my best to get into this industry. I know its a harsh industry and i wanna face it, being a working actor and focus on a good craft, but i wanna get some tattoos, i read old threads from like 5 to 10 years ago, and an online course where the teacher said the same thing all this places say, that for someone that is starting may not be a good idea since it takes hours to cover and they wont pay to cover it nor waste time with a new guy who has no experience. I wanna be a drama actor, i would like to not been seen as the ''bad boys with tattos'', i mean, i wanted to get more opportunities and roles i could. I dont wanna get hand, face or full sleeve tattoos, just a few here and there haha. What are your thoughts? Should i wait or should i go for it and face more rejection later? With all the technology these days can't i cover myself with some product in just a few seconds? I mean, i know this questions sounds generic, but its very important to me, my dream depends on it. Thank you for your time. <3
How are people like Samuel L Jackson, Denzel Washington, Joaquin Fenix etc... Considered good actors? by Okmanl • last post Dec 28th
When I watch different movies starring them, it just seems like they're the same personality. Just slightly altered every movie. Whereas when I watch movies starring Daniel Dey Lewis, he completely tansforms himself into whatever character he's playing. He seems like the only real actor that I've watched so far at least...?