We have found 19,293 posts across 4 actor forums:
Any actors here who aren’t working a living wage on the side? by Civil-Gift294 • last post Apr 12th
What I mean is are there any of u guys that didn’t finish a degree for another subject? And is just working a minimum wage job? Reason I’m asking this is because, I don’t want to go get a certificate or go to college to complete another degree that isn’t acting. Don’t some actors go to university or get a certificate etc. to have a backup job just in case they can’t live off only acting as their jobs? Just curious
Survival Jobs by TypeAffectionate • last post Apr 12th
Hi, I am currently in college and want to go into acting when I finish up; however, I don't want my sole focus in college to be acting when you don't need a degree for it. I thought nursing might be a good choice, because you could work at a hospital, do 3 12's, and be done for the week; however, after doing some reading a little bit ago, maybe I'm not going about it the right way like I thought I was. ​ So actors who went to college, what did you do that helps you pay the bills and still have time to pursue acting (professionally)?
Actors in Chicago by ElGalloClaudi0 • last post Apr 12th
What is the better school to go to for beginners? I have found a few but I also don't have a lot of money
Struggling currently… by Capital_Team_3352 • last post Apr 12th
I just started acting again recently (30F) and am 8 months into classes. I recently started my intermediate level and was pretty confident but after seeing others I just feel like I am not progressing and growing as much as everyone else (or even as good). I’m hoping this class will give me the skills to grow this semester but I keep questioning whether I should continue. I am always so happy to hear other students successes but it does make me feel worse about myself. I get a good amount of auditions but not a lot of callbacks and I don’t book much and I know most of the time it has nothing to do with me and just a part of casting but it’s hard to not think I’m just not a great actor too. How does everyone deal with this? What are some things you do outside of class/work to help you grow your acting?
This is what Kent kasper always comments on actors needing guidance by Proof-Pollution454 • last post Apr 12th
Uk actors. Is it me or has it become ridiculous easy to get on spotlight now ? by bustergaming777 • last post Apr 12th
I’m not saying it to sound elitist or anything but there was a time it was hard to get onto for a reason, now it seems like anyone can just get on it?
Help by Motor-Requirement143 • last post Apr 12th
im 17. im from australia. i live on the island below it and there's literally no acting opportunities. id have to fly to the mainland for qn audition which would cost $500-$800 and I might not even get a role from it. i'm sick of auditioning and not getting anything or almost getting the role but losing it to someone with more experience. directors say they want experienced actors but I have to start somewhere, right? I know that rejection is the main part of the business but I'm sick of it. pouring my hear and soul into every audition and not getting any appreciation in return. I can't afford basic things in this cost of living crisis so I don't know if I can continue to audition and have a partime job anymore. I don't want to give up trying to become an actor. how do I get my big break? I want to be able to afford heat and food. some people spend their whole lives trying to and never do. I don't want to have a failed career and have nothing else to fall back on. I'm not even sure if I should continue studying drama and theatre performance if I won't be able to get a steady job with my future qualifications anyway. someone help me, give me advice or reassure me.
Stagedoor Manor. by Apprehensive_Sea332 • last post Apr 12th
Hi! My names Kyle I was wondering about the "Stagedoor Manor" summer camp in the catskill mountains, NY. I was wondering about how good of a performing arts summer camp it is and if it compares to "French Woods" I'm an aspiring actor and I know "Ansel Elgort, and Natalie Portman" went there. Thanks! I most likely wanna act in film as well, but I just wanna start small and build my way up.
Tax Help? LA Actor hired in NYC as Local Hire by timrasputin4 • last post Apr 12th
Hello, I booked my first real acting job in 2022 on an NBC show and got paid a decent amount, but also had a lot of expenses with it. I'm a bit confused if I can deduct anything though. Maybe some kind and knowledge person here can help: • Paid via W-2 (around $10k for two weeks) • Live in LA but had to travel to and stay in NYC, paying for my own flight, cars and hotel (roughly $6k in expenses) Paid my manager 15% of total (roughly $1500) Paid SAG initiation fees (roughly $1k) Earned: $10k Total expenses: $8.5k As you can tell, I didn't really *net* any money on this job, but needed to take the role for my career. Now it's tax time, and I'm not sure if I need to pay Fed/State taxes on the full amount, since it's a W-2 and I don't have enough for an itemized deduction (filling jointly). I'm assuming writing these off as a "business" expense on a Schedule C would trigger an audit or get flagged, since my income for this job will be reported on a W-2? I also have to file state taxes in both NYC and CA? Any help or advice would be much appreciated, as it doesn't seem fair that after all of these expenses I now need to pay taxes to the government on the full $10k.
Stage name or ride it out? by Current_Confection63 • last post Apr 12th
I’m really new to acting, I’ve been self submitting and just booked my first gig . It’s still a few months until filming. I always planned on using my real name and try not to get ahead of myself but I feel I might have a problem. So my last name isn’t super common…. However, there is an actress who has used the French version (same as mine) and also the American version of my last name. We also have the same first name . Which she’s gone by the name and nickname. Basically she’s credited under different variations of the same name as mine. For how long she’s been in it and how many credits she has, I’m assuming she’s joined the union. From what I understand , if I were to join the union, I’d have to change mine? Is it better to just do it now from the get go? I don’t want to cause confusion with the job I just booked. I also don’t want to worry about it if I don’t need to.
Summer Intensives (Meisner): Where to? by Hi-raeth_ • last post Apr 12th
Hello my fellow creative minds <3 ​ I am in a bit of a pickle. Please, allow me to explain my situation. I would be humbled to receive your advice. ​ I am an actress from The Netherlands, and the acting industry here is really tough to break through. Thanks to God, I met an internationally recognized industry professional who has seen my talent, and who wants to invest in me and help me achieve my goals as an aspiring screenwriter and actress. I am not new to acting, although I do need to train more. I know little about the industry and what the best places are for people of color to practice their craft, which in my case is acting AND screenwriting. I will get back to acting school in August in The Netherlands, but I also want to expand and go abroad in the summer of 2024, and after. My main question is: What is the best place for an actress of color to flourish: The United Kingdom, The United States, Los Angeles, New York City, Atlanta - Georgia, or London (for example) ? Or somewhere else? One of my coaches swears that I should go to London and do theatre until I bleed, but I would like to study the Meisner Technique in the US at the Neighborhood Playhouse or the Meisner Esper Studio. ​ I would really like to follow a summer intensive that focuses on the Meisner Technique. What would you recommend me to do? I am feeling miserable not being able to express myself through acting. All advice is greatly appreciated, my friends. Thank you, if you've read my post thus far. ​ Never give up, keep your hopes high. Nurture your artistic soul.
How many people do CDs ask to self tape on sites like casting workbook and backstage? by Neontetra2323 • last post Apr 12th
I self submitted for a big network tv series as a recurring costar and got a request for an audition today on casting workbook! The casting director is a big name and I am SO excited but I wonder just how excited I should be, haha. What is the ballpark for how many actors they might ask for a self tape audition for these types of casting calls?
5 Successful Strategies I Used to Act Full-Time - For 37 + Years by Aaron Marcus • last post Apr 11th
I have been so fortunate to work as a full-time actor.
Today's AMA on Escrow Accounts in the Financing Lounge! by Ashley Renee Smith • last post Apr 11th
Hey Actors! There's a great AMA happening in the Financing Lounge for the next 24 hours! Producer, Global Consultant, and Stage 32 Thought Leader David Zannoni is answering questions about escrow accounts for financing and talent transactions in independent film & TV productions. If you have any questions about escrow accounts for talent, be sure to go comment!
website for actor by magicmountaineer • last post Apr 11th
agent asked me to make a website, that will have my photos, resume, reel, and other video content. what would be the best way to go about this? wordpress? Should I pay someone to do it? I'm over 40 and computer is not my strong suit. thank you
Acting schools in London that aren’t as hard to get into as RADA? by Successful_Map4660 • last post Apr 11th
So, like the title suggests I’m looking for some acting schools in London that have a much higher acceptance rate than some of these top prestigious ones. I’m 22, and through some regrettable life choices I chose to not go to college after high school. My passion for acting has re-emerged (I did child acting in LA for awhile and my entire high school career I was thespian president and was in all 5 shows a year) and I really wanna study in London. While I’d love to attend RADA, I’m not sure I can wait the 2-3+ years I’ve heard it takes some people to get accepted. I already am so behind everyone else and I’d rather not be 30 by the time I’m graduated and entering the industry professionally. Does anyone have some recommendations for schools in London? I’m strictly an actor, I can hold a tune but I’m definitely not a soloist.
Another Episode of the Voiceover Soapbox Diatribe by vopro2021 • last post Apr 11th
Here we go with another episode of the Voiceover Soapbox Diatribe. I won’t link to his video because I really don’t want to help drive any traffic to his content. This guy. He thinks he has it all figured out, doesn’t he? He spends so much time in this video talking about all the reasons other voice actors aren’t asking for what he defines as “worthy rates”. But he completely skips the REAL reason, which I’ll get to in a minute. “Fair, professional, reasonable rates”. Who’s the judge of that anyway? The GVAA rate guide? Let’s see, how is that rate guide compiled, anyway? Here’s how - it’s based on a poll of voice actors, saying what THEY THINK voiceover jobs should pay. It doesn’t take into consideration actual market budgets offered by voice buyers. So of course, these rates are completely out of touch with reality. It’s a fantasy and a fallacy. How does he have the time to produce these videos? Simple. If he has the time to put these out week after week, it means he’s not booking like he used to. Hell, I’m feeling anxiety about the 10 minutes I’m taking to write this while I have new business piling up in my inbox as we speak. Much less than the several hours it takes him every week to write, produce, edit, transcribe, and post these videos. If he had enough work, he wouldn’t be making them. So why does he do it? He’s not giving advice to new voice actors out of the kindness of his heart or because he wants to help people. You don’t have to watch one of his videos for very long to understand the type of person he is. He certainly doesn’t come off as the most altruistic fellow now, does he? The fact is, he doesn’t care about you. It’s all about him, and having an outlet for his fear and anger towards other voice actors outbidding him for work. I’ll end with this. Don’t let anyone, especially this guy, tell you how to run your business. What you bid for voiceover jobs is entirely up to you. Don’t be bullied into demanding preposterous rates. This is an open market in a free country. Your rate is a valuable tool that you can use to be competitive in this business. If you’re going days, weeks, or even months without booking a job, it’s not necessarily because the thousands you’ve already spent on coaching and demos isn’t enough. It could very well be because you’re being outbid. And soon enough, you’ll find yourself filling your time doing things other than recording voiceovers. Kind of like what Paul is currently doing.
Disabled actors cast in roles for non-disabled people by S_Gertie • last post Apr 11th
I am discussing something with someone and am wondering if there are more examples of this than I can think of. Really, the only one that is coming to mind is the lead in Mac And Me. The lead was originally written for a non-disabled actor. But, the director made the decision both to cast an actor who uses a wheelchair and not to change anything in the script to have the characters refer to the chair in any way. He is just a normal kid. The movie overall is a wacky fever dream, but they did a great job with that. However, I can't think of other films or shows like that, even for side characters. Things where it was originally written for someone without a visible disability and they really had open casting and picked someone who uses a wheelchair or crutches or has a missing or prosthetic limb or other things where it is a visible thing, but that doesn't really affect the character and they are just people.
What are some of the best script memorization techniques for those that are kinesthetic learners? by Agitated_Ad_3418 • last post Apr 11th
I'm curious about those actors that are strict hands-on learners, what methods do you guys use to memorize your scripts?
What’s it like in Canada? by Jujububu22 • last post Apr 11th
Toronto specifically. I’m a UK based actor with a Canadian passport thinking of moving over. My first point of call would be approaching Canadian agents first. I have a good CV, UK drama school trained. Plenty of guest roles, some recurring and regular roles on major channels and streamers. Extensive theatre experience here in London. I’d love information on: Canadian agents- good and bad - whether now is a good time to approach? I know the strike is affecting things - worldwide. Types of castings you guys see there, theatre, good roles on television or film? Job market outside of acting. What kind of day jobs do you do? Is flexible work readily available? In London I can secure an alright paying day job that’s flexible - how possible is that in Canada? Thanks in advance for any and all info you guys can give me. All the best!