We have found 19,304 posts across 4 actor forums:
Can you make it as an actress if you're ugly? by lostbittermiserable • last post Jul 25th
One of my biggest passions is acting. I love it so much that I find myself accidentally practicing it all the time. In front of my mirror, sitting on my bed or walking down the street. It has always been kinda there in my life and had special place in my heart. I am definitely not into acting or getting the main rules in high budget movies because of money and just fame. I am into it because I love it. Yeah, it would be really nice to achieve that but... The problem is that mostly actresses and actors who get cast as main characters and are successful are really beautiful, hot, handsome, pretty, good looking...you get the point However, I am not pretty and I am wondering if I have any chance at becoming successful actress considering my looks...? I know that acting is the most important part but I feel like without having a nice looking face and body chances might be ruined even if your acting is good.
How do you work with a crappy co star? by Hussain_Lali • last post Jul 25th
My acting partner in my acting class dosen't take his job seriously at all, always on his phone or goofing around and overly confident. I try to work with him and give him tips but nothings working with him. I feel like he brings down my performance as well, he is so unbelievable as an actor. Any tips on how I can deal with this?
Questions from a young, Canadian, (want to be) actor! by Armfoot • last post Jul 25th
Hello everyone, first of all I have been doing a major amount of research and planning over the last few weeks, and I must say this subreddit is lovely and so helpful! Second of all, I am wondering if any Toronto-area actors (or just people in general) could shed a little light on a few of my questions. Do you think that going into post-secondary for drama straight after High School is a bad idea? I have been on a few discussion posts here (mainly ones from around 6 years ago, hence why I figure it can't hurt to ask again), many of them suggest just going straight into the industry with an agent and learning/training through experience or acting classes. I am leaning towards that option, but I would love to hear some of your thoughts. Is background/extra acting still a steady enough work stream that I can consider that as a potential source of gigs 3 or so years into the future? I know that with the nightmare garbage fire that is happening in the world right now there are probably no opportunities and that we have no way of predicting what the world will look like after this mess,, but besides that. Do you have any agency suggestions? I am a young, fairly new-to-this actor looking to get into film acting- I have been lucky enough to take part in in numerous theatre productions, including one professional show and another with a fairly well-known and revered program. I unfortunately have not had any chance to train for on-screen acting, but I am looking for educational opportunities wherever I can. The crappy thing is that I was in a really good place that I felt I would grow from right when COVID hit, so it feels like I was cheated out of a lot of cool experiences. Aside from my bitching and teen angst, I would love to hear some of your suggestions for starter agencies in the Toronto area. Thank you in advance, you guys are life-savers! :)
How does bad acting get on TV? by xcottoncandyqueenx • last post Jul 25th
Actress myself, yet to book network TV and I’ve never understood this. With how rigorous the casting process is, how does this go wrong?
Meisner- Mother Goose Nursery Exercise by Consistent-Cycle5153 • last post Jul 24th
Hi all, I'm currently taking Meisner and we are suppose to pick one mother goose nursery and give it two different circumstances. Without changing the words, and/or the order of them nor the meaning. (5-10 lines) Now, I know myself and I over complicate things to say the least. From my research so far this is a regular exercise done in Meisner to get actors to use their imagination. Do you have any advice? I'm still confused.
How many photos should you add to actor's access and other casting websites? by bruceleexdarwin • last post Jul 24th
Is there a limit to how many photos you should add to casting websites? Can adding too many photos become a hindrance?
SAG-AFTRA Short Contract Too Limiting? by sagaftrashorts • last post Jul 24th
While I have many things to say about the 2020 Theatrical Contract that just passed (ugh), I'll bite my tongue and focus on something that is impacting me in our current COVID-19 production slowdown — the short film contract. It's needlessly limiting. In my opinion, the union should view short films as acting exercises, not finished projects with the potential to be sold to studios since that so rarely happens. For no- to low-budget shorts, there are too many restrictions in the agreement, too many hoops for producers to jump through to justify hiring union actors. Hence, we union actors suffer and lose out on opportunities. Yes, union actors' compensation can be deferred, and yes, the short agreement paperwork—though annoying—is fairly straightforward, but it's *still* too much effort for most productions to go through when many are worried about scraping together $100 to feed everyone on set. For actors trying to build a reel, shorts are often the only option. Why are we being kept out of the running by our own union? One could use the oft-cited argument, "write and produce your own work!" but even the tiniest of projects starring only you is *still* supposed to be cleared by SAG-AFTRA if it's to be shared with the public/posted online (something that I don't think a lot of union members realize). So what can be done? Would my fellow union members be willing to lose the benefits of meal penalties and care mileage reimbursement in order to act in shorts? Are these losses worth the gain of reel footage for those of us who are in SAG-AFTRA but early in our careers? Moreover, if enough of us got together to petition the union, do you think they'd lighten up on short requirements? I'm genuinely curious what others think. To be clear, I am and always will be pro-union. I don't think we should sacrifice *anything* in our contracts with large companies/studios who are producing big budget features, TV, and commercials. But some guy in Sherman Oaks who wants to film a short this weekend? Surely we can make an exception for him and get ourselves some nice footage to boot?
Could Someone Explain How We Pay Taxes as Actors? by Accidental_Edge • last post Jul 24th
I was reading about it [here](https://www.blog.priortax.com/how-to-file-taxes-as-an-actor-or-performer/#:~:text=As%20an%20actor%2C%20the%20last%20thing%20on%20your%20mind%20is%20taxes.&text=Even%20if%20taxes%20fall%20last,on%20a%20business%20tax%20return.) It says there that I can deduct expenses that pertain to my career, and it then lists a subway fare, plane flight, etc as an example. How would I report a subway ride or a taxi fare, or a plane flight even? I've only ever done taxes through my employer (I'm 19), so this is all very unknown territory for me.
How do you continue school and act? by Ashmem26 • last post Jul 24th
For reference, I'm a teenager and still in high school. I live in an area with little to no opportunities available. I'm wanting to audition for jobs though, and I was wondering how school would maybe work with that. Say I were to book something that's set to go in March 2021. I'd be in school during that time. When you have to travel for acting while in high school, how do you still stay *in* school? I've heard most companies bring tutors on set, but does anyone know how the whole thing works? Would a school perhaps be understanding about it? Would I be able to stay in my classes and just work online and remotely with a tutor on set? How does it work for child actors at all? Curious but also trying to plan.
Backstage / StarNow by actoruk99 • last post Jul 24th
UK actors... what have you found more successful? Backstage or StarNow? I know a lot of people find Mandy great but I was wondering about these two specifically? I have always felt backstage to be more American focused but I may be wrong? Could you leave below any advice for online sites like these and or specifically related to starnow / backstage!
acting with anxiety? by sweetaquarius • last post Jul 24th
I have really bad anxiety and social anxiety and I’ve found it impossible to even do a presentation in schools (I would have an anxiety attack if I had to), but I’ve always dreamed of being an actor and I don’t want my anxiety to stop me from following my dreams. Do any of you guys experience this as well or have any advice on how to manage it while acting?
How can I nicely tell my coach I want to explore other techniques? by anon559497 • last post Jul 24th
I started taking an online class with a very seasoned coach that teaches Meisner. While learning the technique, she sometimes has us pick our own scenes and it seems like I always pick characters that are very complex or too difficult, which I enjoy because I love to challenge myself and telling the stories that are hardest to tell. I find myself feeling very limited with Meisner, though. She always tells me to pick easier characters. Maybe I’m moving too fast, who knows. The class I’m in is one of those on-going, stay in for years type. I think that’s amazing for those who swear by Meisner, but as a new actor, I don’t know what I like and don’t like. I’ve been reading Stanislavski, though, and I’m very interested in his Method and I want to explore it + any other tools I may need. Like I said, I don’t know what I like and don’t like, but I know for sure Meisner isn’t the only technique in the world and that bothers me knowing I could have so much more training under my belt. I don’t want to limit myself to one style of teaching. A couple of weeks ago I did a scene using some of the things I learned from “An Actor Prepares” and she thought I did great, until I tried telling my coach I was reading about him (Stanislavski) and she seemed pretty irritated with me like Meisner was the only good technique. I’m not really sure, I could just tell it definitely bothered her. I know she isn’t going to be okay with me using techniques that aren’t Meisner, so I’m thinking our styles are pretty different. I want to be polite about it, but I’m just not sure how to word that I want to move on. She’s an awesome coach, I just don’t agree with some of her principles and I want to explore other options. What should I say?
Becoming an actor by zacmartinez • last post Jul 24th
Since I was a kid I always dreamed of becoming an actor, I am now a 21 year old man with no future basically at ground 0. I always talked about becoming one and always felt like I could do it and had many friends and strangers told me that I seemed like one ( sorry for sounding narcissistic). Since I’ve always talked it and dreamed it I’m finally tired of blowing smoke up people’s ass with this dream and fantasy and want to pursue this head first. -any tips or pointers for starting this journey and do’s and donts or am I too late to start?
Actors Talking About Corona Virus... by daveabed • last post Jul 23rd
Having any kind of reel gives you an advantage. by scsm • last post Jul 23rd
I'm not an actor but I've produced and directed a decent amount of ultra low budget films/web series/etc. Likely the kind of stuff people on here are auditioning for as they start their acting career. It really hit me again tonight trying to cast two small roles how many actors still don't have some kind of reel. I reached out to an acting teacher friend of mine looking for recommendations. Of the list of \~20 names they sent over only 3 had any kind of video of their performances or work. I'd also like to point out only one had a professional reel and they were the one I didn't cast. I can look past a shakey iPhone 4 video of someone performing in their living room to see the performer. Obviously. you'll want to get rid of that shakeycam footage ASAP, but starting out you can give yourself a HUGE leg up by just having SOMETHING on film. I know you have time, especially now. Prop up your phone and record yourself doing some kind of scene and throw it up online.
A question about Juilliard or any other esteemed acting colleges. by EmotionalChris • last post Jul 23rd
Hi there, I am a 17 year old and I will most likely be graduating early in order to start working towards becoming an actor. In the time that COVID-19 has given me I've had a lot of time to think about whether or not I should go to a purely acting related school or go to a regular college and enroll in the drama or acting programs and do some other degree as a backup plan since acting can be extremely unpredictable from what I've seen and heard. Luckily I have a very supportive mother who after being asked by me where I should go to hone my acting skills, immediately suggested Juilliard and I was shocked given the extremely low acceptance rate and simply because its fucking Juilliard, they have a 5.9% acceptance rate, holy shit. Now even though the idea of even auditioning scares me, anyone can audition so I started thinking about how I should go about auditioning and trying to find the required 4, 2 min monologues that are needed in order to audition. And while taking a short break I stumbled upon a video interview of an actress named Gillian Jacobs, and in her interview, she talked about how Julliard in a very unappealing way, and talked about how there was a cut program (at the time that she was enrolled) and if you weren't good enough the teachers would bring you into an office and tell you everything you were doing wrong and then send you off to Christmas break, without even trying to tell you how you could succeed (or at least that's what it seems like since she didn't say anything about getting any positive feedback before she went on break). Anyways, my point is that it seems like that's the norm for every branch of Julliard, the instrumental branch, theatrical branch, etc, and it scared me and I feel like I don't want to audition and possibly be enrolled in a school that doesn't attempt to help you do the thing (Acting) that you've spent what could be up to months preparing to get enrolled for, and I want to know if this feeling of me wanting to not audition is me being lazy or if it is because of the seemingly negative experience of being enrolled at Julliard, and it's not like I have a surefire way of getting into Julliard because duh (5.9% acceptance rate) so I'm just wondering as well if I should put my time into looking into other programs or schools elsewhere preferably more close to film acting areas like Los Angeles, Atlanta, etc. btw I am preferably interested in film acting, so if possible could I also get some advice on if places like Julliard are a good place to learn film acting? or should I see acting purely as acting? sorry for the huge paragraph.
What was it like to move to London as an actor from another country? by stephrenaelau • last post Jul 23rd
Hi everyone, I'm trying to do some research on what it's like to live and work in London as an actor if you do not hold British citizenship. Would really appreciate your input! I am a 26F from Asia and I speak fluent English with a neutral North American accent, so language is not going to be an issue for me. I hope to secure a place in drama school but that's not guaranteed. When Covid is over, I'd like to leave my hometown to work in London regardless because there are lots of shows and workshops to help me hone my craft. However, I'm most concerned about the healthcare aspect because I don't think I get any access to NHS services except the ones that are free (which are..??) I also worry about not being able to even get a day job as a barista or server in this economy, and who would sponsor my visa if it's not like a typical desk job? If you can please share about your experience and anything you wish someone had told you before moving to London, please leave me a comment below! Thanks :)
Headshot-Age Range-Character Type Post - Jul 23 by AutoModerator • last post Jul 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.
Who do I contact for copy to add to my reel? by devy_stated • last post Jul 23rd
Hello all! I was wondering how I get copy of a commercial I shot to add to my reel. I’ve shot 3 commercials professionally, and the 2 that came out so far just came out on TV. I had people text me and tell me they saw it. I didn’t get information about when it would air or any copy. Is this normal? One of them was online so I was able to get it on my reel, but the other one I can’t find online anywhere yet, just on TV. They were all legit and booked through my agent. Who on the production team would I contact to get that copy so I can put it on my reel? I don’t want to seem unprofessional and contact the wrong person, but I know there must be a professional way that actors get copy of the work they’ve done. Still very new at all of this. Thank you! :)