We have found 19,474 posts across 4 actor forums:
"Working" actors get frustruated, too, you guys. by sauronthegr8 • last post Mar 5th
I have a flexible job that allows me to pay my bills (if ONLY to make enough to pay my bills), and I've even had a bit of success with a supporting part in a film, voice acting in a commercial that showed on Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network, and having small parts on a couple tv shows. I've got professional head shots and reels and representation and I'm on all the right websites... but I don't feel like my career is going anywhere. It's hard to pay off debt with part time work, I don't have a lot of intimate relationships, I can barely afford to leave the house most of the time, and forget about savings or health insurance! I can't even afford to regularly do classes -- that's an extra $150 to $500 expense every month. I have a low tier agent who has gotten me work, but I almost never get anything from the major productions. Mostly crime re-enactment shows and commercials, and half of those are non-speaking roles. The most I've ever made from acting is $1500, and that doesn't last forever. A lot of the stuff I audition for only pays about $500... or less. I book a role once a year, and only get auditions once a month (and I've had stretches up to six months without any auditions). But the more I hear about people in other markets that's actually considered great! It hardly feels like a career. I'm in my 30s now. At some point I need to start thinking about how I'm going to take care of myself in the future. I've been pursuing acting for about 8 years and been with my agent for four. I actually do get the call backs pretty often. But it seems like I can never close the deal. At this point I just want to work! I create my own content, but no one ever sees it. I do theater, but it usually doesn't pay and nobody ever comes. I'm friends with actors and content creators, and we collaborate on stuff, but it's always the same thing. I know all the stuff we tell ourselves to keep going. "It'll all add up" "Your job is to audition" But how do you do your job if you don't really get any auditions? How can you progress if you don't book? I'd love to quit working a day job and dedicate my life to a career in acting, but nothing pays! I recently auditioned for a major brand's commercial that offered a session fee and buy out of $500 flat. And that was my one audition for the month! Every day passes and I hear nothing! Then when I FINALLY get an audition they say "We don't want you to talk." BUT TALKING IS ALL I DO, CAROL!!!! I TOOK SIX YEARS OF DICTION CLASSES IN COLLEGE TO TALK!!! WHAT WERE ALL THOSE EXPENSIVE IMPROV WORKSHOPS FOR, CAROL??? I EAT THE LEFT OVERS FROM MY RESTAURANT JOB TO SUSTAIN MYSELF, CAROL!!! It's quite disheartening at times.
Wanna be an actor really badly by LittleRedRidingShit • last post Mar 5th
So I realized that I really want to be an actor. The problem is that I'm really ugly, have multiple mental disorders and fucking hate myself. Also, I don't know how find auditions and stuff. But I WANT IT SOOO BADLY it makes me really sad and angry and keeps me up at night. I'm really ready to do anything. Can someone give me an advice on where to start?
Headshot-Age Range-Character Type Post - Mar 5 by AutoModerator • last post Mar 5th
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.
Any advice for an actor moving to Chicago? by PTWheatStraw • last post Mar 4th
I'll be graduating with a BFA in performance and plan to move to Chicago to start looking for acting work. Besides saving money what other advice could someone give me, be it agencies, things to watch out for, ect.
How to Take Your Performance to the Next Level by 10001spoons • last post Mar 4th
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG1\_Fcaq280](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG1_Fcaq280) A (brief) discussion of competence, skill learning, freezing up, and flow state. This video by music theory youtuber Sideways explores competence as it applies to the musical performance world, but it has a lot of practical applications for acting, **especially for beginners**. It is not definitive or comprehensive, just an introduction. Some take-aways: * Competence can be broken down into four levels: unconscious incompetence (I want to act, but I don't know how), conscious incompetence (I'm in my school play/class, and I suck), conscious competence (I'm in rehearsal, and I'm working on a traffic scheme for my character that is organic but won't upstage anyone), and unconscious competence (I just closed my first professional show, AMA). * One of the fastest, most common ways to develop competence is with a teacher, especially for beginners * The more people develop competence (skill), the less they actively think about each mechanical motion. A guitarist doesn't think about each muscle pulling an individual string to play a note on a guitar, they just think they're playing a song. An actor doesn't necessarily consciously think of every line with every motivation and action they developed in rehearsal, they just play out a scene as the character. * Professionals freeze up, too, in every field. When they fall out of focus from an unconscious level of performance, it is helpful to have a strong a scaffolding as possible on their conscious techniques (breathing, memorization of the script, etc.)
Can it be too early to seek a voice acting coach when wanting to become a voice actor? by Donutwrekka • last post Mar 4th
Like many people, I would love to become a professional voice actor. Just as much and maybe more, I would love to do it as a hobby and entertain people. My actual experience though with things such as community theatre is limited due to things like the hours I work. It just can't work out for me sadly with the scheduling of rehearsals and show times. The things I could say I have is a good natural voice, experience as a Dungeons & Dragons gamemaster, and most of my lifetime spent practicing voice over exercises since I was a kid. Like the title though, can it be too soon or the wrong first move to look for a voice acting coach when getting into it? Entertaining people is my goal first, getting paid is something I know comes with time. *Quick Edit: Apologies if this thing comes up a lot and I didn't search that well. I just couldn't find something that answered my question well from the results I got.*
Harrison Ford: Would love your ideas by louisasnotes • last post Mar 4th
A few words from my perspective: I have grown up with him. I was a teenager when the original Star Wars came out and have watched him go from cool to Superstar, Mr. Summer, and a good character actor. I always thought he was miscast as the tough, cop/private eye character (witness, Blade Runner), bu watching this retrospective, realized that my favorite roles of his were the 'acting' ones: Mosquito Coast, What Lies Beneath, Something abut Henry. Would love to read some different perspectives when you have checked [this](https://youtu.be/XNN1Hbg9oNU) out.
I’ve been dying to try acting by rileybutnotgrill • last post Mar 3rd
I’ve been invited to audition for the role of Jeff in “Kimberly Akimbo”. Thanks to the drama teacher at school. (He was asking around for male actors in HS and since I help as an SM he knows me well so I asked if I could take a look. If you are familiar to Kimberly Akimbo then you will know that there is a scene when the two leads kiss. One being a 16 year old boy, the other being a 70 year old girl. I really want to act but I also really don’t want to kiss a 70 year old (understandably) so yeah. This is probably a once in a life time opportunity that can really get my career somewhere but also... yeah.
Actors Access sucks dog dick by Zbot_ • last post Mar 3rd
Ive recently gotten into acting and have been using backstage but was told to respond to an open call on AA by some listing. Went on there for 5 minutes and uploaded 2 photos and I thought I signed my life away or something. When I was using Ecocast® it said I would have to pay 3.50 to audition but then I pressed upload and it didn't charge me?? Also I think I have like 6 different profiles on their as well, not sure, very confused. It looks really bad, I mean come on dude, its 2020. I hope to never have to go on that godawful site again and wonder why anybody would willingly use that page.
How To Get Into Character - GUIDE by HumbleActor • last post Mar 3rd
First off, we have to dispel the illusion of character. When people say *“I’m trying to get into character”* usually it’s them trying to reach for some magical thing so far outside of themselves. As if somehow they are going to lose all consciousness and wake up with a brand new brain, body, and identity. As cool as that sounds, it’s obviously impossible. We have to start looking at each character being much closer to ourselves. When you first approach a character you must look at the similarities between you and the character. A huge mistake most actors make is looking for the differences which only creates separation. You want unity. At the end of the day, it is YOU that is playing the character. And there are so many facets of your personality that the more you analyze your character the more you’ll find you have a lot more in common. Now, this doesn’t mean you can’t be TRANSFORMATIONAL. But transformations usually deal with externals such as a limp, a physical affectation, vocal affectations, a hunchback, etc. If you don’t believe me just look at all the Hollywood actors that you thought were transformational or in this case “In character”. Christian Bale in The Machinist lost a lot of weight which was an external he used in order to transform. It’s still Christian Bale, but it’s Christian Bale much skinnier and within a given set of circumstances. [Christian Bale in The Machinist](https://preview.redd.it/w9esr00fiik41.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9ad825ba3343f2c6df0eb777652e4d646c6dca02) Which brings me to my next point about the definition of character. The 1640s English definition of Character is the meaning "sum of qualities that define a person or thing and distinguish it from another”. A series of actions that a person does is essentially what gives the illusion of character. So say you’re playing a role in which over the course of the story you lie, manipulate, deceive in order to achieve your objective. The audience creates the image of that character in their head. On the flip side if you use the same story but use different tactics such as begging, pleading, accommodating, the audience will create a different image of the character in their head. You see, the audience fills in a lot of the gaps with their imagination. You don’t have to do all the work for them. You don’t have to worry about trying to be every aspect of the character that you think you should be. There’s no need to “think the character’s thoughts”. The audience can’t read your mind. Getting into character consists of knowing the script and story, understanding the events, understanding the given circumstances (facts), and analyzing the scenes you’re in. Costumes, makeup, lighting, editing, etc all help in the illusion of the character so take the pressure off of yourself. You are the character. Trust that you are enough. I hope this helps and I’m happy to answer any questions!
Any short male actors here? by Chase1267 • last post Mar 3rd
I am 5’6 and 28 years old. Anyone else in this range? How has thrust impacted your career? What kind of roles do you usually get called in for? What do you book?
Best Summer Intensives? by littlefoot0001 • last post Mar 3rd
I'm new to r/acting so thanks in advance for answering my question. I'm looking for the best summer intensive programs for adult actors. I'm not too focused on cost at the moment but I really just want to learn what's out there. It can be in NY or LA. I just want to make sure it's a program that I can find a lot of value in as an actress. There's a lot of conflicting information on the internet lol.
Thoughts on the website, "Casting Networks" by sbtrey23 • last post Mar 3rd
I currently use Backstage and Actor's Access to apply for roles. However, I saw an article online saying that after Backstage, Casting Network is the second best site to be a part of. Am I missing out on a lot by not being on Casting Networks? Or do people who post on Casting Networks also post on Backstage and Actor's Access?
Any actors based in Ireland? by Hyper_Intake123 • last post Mar 3rd
Any actors here that are in Ireland? I'm not in Dublin and dont have an agent yet. Finding it hard to get some work cos I'm an ethnic person. Most auditions call for white males here. Any Irish based actors here that might be willing to help?
Getting Called in a lot, but never getting called back. by CaliforniaStoked • last post Mar 3rd
Hi! I get called in by the same big LA casting director pretty frequently. Probably once every other month. In the last 12 months, I've auditioned around 6 times for him. I always feel like my auditions are really solid, but I never even get a callback. I've heard of CDs calling actors in frequently, because they do a great job, but they just aren't fit for that specific part. That the CD is holding out for a role for them where they are 100% perfect for it. Does this logic apply with CDs who call you in frequently, but never give you a callback? I'm always getting called in for the same exact type, but can't seem to secure a callback audition, and I'm a bit frustrated and confused. Why consistently call me in, but never call me back? Not complaining, just confused and not sure where to go from here.
Actors Connection - NY Connection showcase by AccomplishedPhone6 • last post Mar 2nd
Anyone ever do the NY Connection showcase through Actor's Connection? Is it worth it?
Voice Actor Training - Itachi - Vocals Removed by s0schris • last post Mar 2nd
Aspiring voice actor, need advice by benase • last post Mar 2nd
Hey guys! I’ve been practicing a career in voice acting since I was younger, and I’ve been improving and improving as the years go on, but I really think I can stand to be better. For instance, some of my voices sound wayyy too much like myself/how I usually talk, rather something unique and something of brilliant vocal execution. My accents have been improving, and I’m grateful, but I feel like they just sound like me talking rather than the character I’m making an impression on or the character I’m trying to make. I guess I kinda want advice on how to perfect my range, so that I can shy away from sounding too much like myself and having no variety. Any advice would be appreciated!
Aspiring screenwriter here! Thank you all so much for the input. Now, hear me out! by frankingrime • last post Mar 2nd
Hello to everyone that responded to my last post about crafting characters and writing actor bait. All of you were wonderfully honest and some of you were awesomely pedantic (I loved it. Really, don't change). So, r/screenwriting has this thing that we do. Every few days, a screenwriter will post something like this: "**Write a Scene Using 5 Prompts #82 \[CHALLENGE\].** This is a 24-hour challenge to write a 5-page scene using 5 prompts. At the end of the 24-hours, a winning screenplay is chosen and the writer becomes the prompt master for the next week. It might be too much work. If so, I will fuck right off. Alright here is the pitch: Would any of your community members be open to creating a companion challenge where users create ear-movies out of the winning script? I am not naive about the amount of work that would go into that... but... there are clear benefits to this. 1. Struggling screenwriters are able to have a live test environment where they can see what does and doesn't work once the work is relinquished to other humans. 2. You all get a gym membership for voice acting... you're welcome? (I understand that this can come off as condescending... I love you... muah... don't be mad) 3. You would have a steady supply of actor bait-y dialogue for your demo reels... (is there a different name for a voice actor's demo reel?) Again... I really appreciated the advice you all provided in my previous post.
Discord Severs? by Wolfiye11 • last post Mar 2nd
Does anyone know of any discord servers for aspiring voice actors? Thanks if you do.