We have found 19,248 posts across 4 actor forums:
Guerilla warfare style of an industry breakthrough in LA. Need some help/opinions. by dragonburger • last post Feb 4th
Hi folks! Theres a TL;DR at the bottom...I recently moved to LA in October, I'm non-union, but have worked on a major Netflix film set when I lived in Pittsburgh as a stand-in (out of SAG jurisdiction so I didnt get union status from it...grrrr). I'm a 25 year old white brunette female from the Rust Belt. Blue collar/rustic/Irish+freckled/classical/historical look/type. I am an actor first and foremost, and I had about 3 agencies interested in my off the bat when I moved due to this experience. I wasn't signed because I have no real "professional union acting** work" outside of some non-union indies which have gone into some smaller festivals. I am not interested in commercial work which is what they all seemed to want me to do as it is "low risk". Don't get me wrong... I'm not above commercial work, but I don't think I'm the right type for it. I desperately want to do theatrical film work, but getting into an agency's theatrical division is like infiltrating a fortress. I did get a compliment from a notable director from my stand-in work ( it was through a PA, but still it was from him...so indirectly?). I've been trying to use that as my selling point as much as possible, but no one cares since it's not acting. I have a reel I need to update, and I probably need new headshots. I have all the casting profiles and bells and whistles you need to be "taken seriously". However, recently I've been thinking of a "guerilla warfare " type strategy that I need some more help on... From what I've observed, Everyone who claims to be an actor in LA is doing this: A: Spending $$$$ on classes or workshops with casting directors that may or may not guarentee you work. B: Desperately trying to get noticed via social media or via viral videos/marketing. C: Selling their soul to the Church of Scientology. D: Trying to work their way up in an agency as an assistant or personal assistant to someone "important" who may or may not get them work. E: Spending $$$$ in Beverly Hills/Weho trying to get invited to parties where these big people may be hiding to trying and slip them their business card in hopes of skipping the pack. I'm proposing something like "E" on this list, but in more of a cost effective way. I know I'm talented (so is everyone), but I know that casting directors and agents aren't creatives (they're glorified recruiters... no offense). I want to get to the source of where these directors and producers are so that I can use my hard earned skills I've acquired through professional set work and the countless acting classes I've taken to actually get them to take a chance on ME directly. I've heard numerous stories of people just using networking to get jobs as actual day player or reoccurring roles on TV or Film....but how is it done? Where do I go? I've heard on taking chances on budding directors but it's similar to bidding on a horse that may or may not win the race. I know this may all seem horribly calculating and scheming, but I just want to work and be taken seriously as an actor. I want desperately to be treated with dignity, and the only place to do that is up top in this industry (or at least on sets with union standards). Feel free to disagree with me, I know this brutalist style isn't for everyone. I have seen talented people who "work hard" literally never work....and then I've seen talentless schmucks book major TV roles. And we're all losing against the Brits anyway. This is just a brutal reality I'm trying to navigate... TL;DR: Sneaky actor in search of becoming a Hollywood sneak-lord, and sneaking around the masses to gain access to roles.
Am I crazy? by talaxia • last post Feb 4th
I'm a 38 year old woman who has had a difficult life, and am only now reaching a place where I can focus on thriving instead of merely surviving. I've always wanted to be an actor and I have acted in a few plays and films, mostly regional / student (though I did land a Volvo commercial once!). I've never pursued acting full time or what I would consider seriously, but as I hurtle towards the second half of my life I'm trying to figure out how I want to spend it. And I think I might want to be a professional actor. thing is my age. Is it reasonable to expect that I could get into any good acting schools at 38? I know there are roles for middle aged women, and now more than ever. I'm also lucky enough to look about ten years younger than I am due to genetics. Also, I know the acting industry can be cliquish and who-you-know based, is there room for new older actors in those communities? my ideal scenario would be to move to Vancouver (no desire to live in LA), get into a good acting program, and eventually be cast as an evil villain space general / evil fantasy queen in one of the syfy productions out of there (not a requirement, I'll play anything to the best of my ability, I just always seem to be cast as a villain due to my intense look and I love playing the bad guy. and I live for anything scifi / fantasy). I'm not expecting all consuming stardom or oscars or millions of dollars. Just a life focusing on what I enjoy and what I'm passionate about. But I also don't want to be delusional or waste time or get my heart broken if the entire venture is misguided. Maybe it's silly to assume it's misguided? When I was growing up my family, my mother in particular, pretty much forbid me to pursue acting seriously - she was in that industry in the 60's and 70's and suffered a lot of Weinstienery. it's taken me this long to deprogram myself from her horror stories and due to this my perception is likely skewed. so I figured I'd ask. so what do you think? worth a shot?
Why so many annoying voices?? by Jay423 • last post Feb 4th
99.9% of voices in voice overs make my skin crawl. In real life I don’t find people’s voices annoying but on the radio or on TV the voice overs are like nails on a chalkboard to me. Almost all are women. But women in real life don’t sound like this. Women newscasters don’t sound like this. Women actors in commercials don’t sound like this. But women voice overs? The worst! What are they doing to the voice in post production? They must be deliberately altering it to make it more “memorable” (read: torturous to hear). In the 70s and 80s voice overs were trained, smooth, and mellifluous. Then “real people” casting started in commercials. Then it extended to voice overs having a “real person” sound, which actually developed into the style today, annoying, head turning, grating. If a smooth pleasant voice is visualized by a straight line, today’s voice overs would be seen as an electro cardiogram or a seismic wave reader. Just grossly discordant, harsh, gravelly, hoarse, nasal, vocal fry, etc. I try to avoid commercials but it seems like the biz knows the audience is dividing their attention so they want to force your attention by these heinous voices. Can we PLEASE return to smooth, pleasant voices?
Acting by Icelydone-in • last post Feb 4th
Can you become an actor as young and no experience, even not being living in US/UK?
Market myself as a young bald actor? by sudrawkid • last post Feb 3rd
Hey everyone! So to cut to the chase, I lost my hair at a pretty young age (18) due to illness. Ever since I initially shaved my head I was never able to get my hair to grow in and had to resort to wearing a hair system. It looks ok but is a lot of hassle and can look pretty fake at times (I’ve been clocked for wearing it twice in the last couple years, I’m sure others have noticed just haven’t said anything) Im 23 now and wanna just shave my head and save myself the hassle and embarrassment of wearing a hair piece so young. The problem is, I don’t know if I’d get like any auditions without it. I get a decent amount of 18tpy auditions currently and that’s like 95% of the roles I go out for. I’m 5,3, skinny and baby faced, not some buff action guy. Any advice? Is there a market for young bald guys?
Not a Actor but I have a question, Can boxing get you a role in a movie if so what type beside CREED, ROCKY, or even GLADIATOR or is XMA more likely to get a role like Star Wars by Demon-Ace • last post Feb 3rd
I was truly wondering when watching STAR WARS how did they young people get roles and I know Ray Park( Darth Maul) took a variety of MMA classes but not I don’t believe he did boxing mostly acrobatics. And other Cal Kestis from the game of Star Wars. Can boxing get you these roles
Questions about residuals by maverickRD • last post Feb 3rd
Hi all, am not an actor but a big supporter and have a few friends in the business that sometimes ask me for more financial-related advice. A couple questions about residuals as I have dug in a bit: 1) It looks like the documentation I can find (e.g. SAG - Television agreement) says that residuals are based on the SAG minimum - is that how it works in practice? So an actor who might be a series regular and get $20k/episode doesn't necessarily get more in terms of residuals than someone being paid the weekly minimum for a guest spot? 2) Do managers and or agent contracts typically entitle them to the same percentage (10%) of residuals?
NON-Union Actor/Actress For Feature Film by Indiefilmsllc • last post Feb 3rd
Award winning Producer/Director looking for both Actor/Actress ages 25-35 for a feature film shot in North Jersey. 2 day shoot. Minimum locations. Will pay, let's discuss. NON\_UNION
Do I.... not want to be an actor anymore?!? by glorwen • last post Feb 3rd
Hi internet! I need your input because I'm not sure I want to be an actor anymore and that scares me... I moved to LA 5 years ago, as so many of us do, and I've slowly realized I don't need to make money from acting to be happy doing it. Which is great! But now I'm faced with the quandary- should I move home and have a more financially stable life or should I stay here and keep trying? HELP
What’s an appropriate amount of pay for yourself? by RayCarlsJr • last post Feb 3rd
I myself do not act, but am at the point where I want to be hiring actors for shorts and commercials. Most of these people would be acquaintances I’ve met in the business (digital realm included) or also friends of friends. My question is, what would be considered the average day rate for actors at different levels of the career? Or maybe you don’t go based on day rate? I do not have a good starting point and was wanting to hear your guys’ opinions. I enjoy reading discussions here about all things that film and entertainment.
Actors in Puerto Rico! by Reptilebear • last post Feb 3rd
Looking for actors on the island to I guess hook me up with all of the tips and information needed to continue acting while being in Puerto Rico. I will be staying here for a little while and have done a bit of research here and there but I’m not finding anything very helpful asides from move back to NYC! I would like to speak to those who avidly pursue the carrier over here. It doesn’t seem like there is a lot going on acting wise based off searches alone but maybe I’m just approaching and looking at this all wrong. I use a few acting websites to find jobs but none of them seem to branch over to this side of the world. So if you know a proper website or agency to look in to... any helpful information please do talk to me... any information would be helpful. I just would really hate to have to retire the craft until I’m able to move back.
I never realized how awful I sound by supportplayersmatter • last post Feb 2nd
Just a heads up: This is just a gripe post I've always been a big fan of English Dub anime and the voice actors, and I never got the hate for Dubs. While the name pronounciation was always bad, I thought English Dubs were often very good. The hate for English Dubs was what inspired me months ago into voice acting. And while I have no interest in doing voice acting in an official capacity, I have a dream of one day bringing to life my personal fiction books and voicing my animated main character. I often practice voice acting him in my car, shower, in my room, wherever. And I always thought I sounded good. Some days are way better than others but I generally thought I sounded well as him: A teenager who had the ability to express emotions other than self-hate sucked out of him by his own delusions and life experience. Just today, I thought "You know what? I should try recording myself to see how I really sound." You can tell where its going from here. Obviously, when the words are coming out of your mouth, the weight of your skull sends vibrations that makes your voice sound differently to yourself than it does to the outside world. So while I thought I sounded fantastic and was hitting great strides, my smartphone was telling me otherwise. I listened back to it and I don't think I've ever been more disappointed about something before. I'm pretty sure it entirely killed my desire to improve my voice acting. I'm not entirely sure if it's the low quality of a smartphone microphone that could be contributing to the poor quality but I believe the acting itself is also unignorably bad. Things I didn't hear, like the drawing out of words sounding unbelievably facking stupid, I'm at a loss for words. Just wanted to complain in someone else's company. If you actually read this, thank you and have a nice day.
To all the actors... by Saucy_Sloth • last post Feb 2nd
As a film Director, I was wondering, what is something you hate hearing from a director? And what's something that you really wish you heard more of in a direcotr?
Accents: which one should I get? by Eragon7795 • last post Feb 2nd
I've been living in the UK for the past 6 years and recently, I decided to finally start chasing my dream of becoming an actor by (hopefully) enrolling in an acting school. English is not my first language and unfortunately, I'm afraid that this will be a big problem in my career (if I ever get to actually have an acting career that is...)
Adam Driver Hates Watching Himself Onscreen, and He's Not Alone Among Actors by thisisnotarealperson • last post Feb 2nd
LA Actors, what is the average amount of time it takes for you to get to an audition? by penguin_reddit • last post Feb 2nd
I know it might be hard to determine an average length as auditions occur everywhere. But considering traffic, etc./is there an area in LA where most auditions take place?
Approximately how many actors do CDs actually invite to audition via EcoCast? by HABBOwasCOOLbefore • last post Feb 2nd
Career choice by rubidium-314 • last post Feb 2nd
Hi. Some info: I'm a European aspiring actor. I'm not a native english speaker. I do although have a decent pronounciation. I've been taking acting classes, but I have never done theatre, just short-films. I'd like to expand outside of the small market I'm in and work in British/American productions. I've been offered a leading role in a small international production of a play by Shakespeare. Upsides: it is definitely an opportunity; I really like Shakespeare. Downsides: it will require a lot of time (first to study the part, then a month for rehearsal); the pay is very low; just two live performances; it will keep me from working on anything else for 1-2 months. I'm also feeling a bit anxious about it because I've never done live theatre and I don't know if starting out in a foreign language would be wise. In your opinion, how much would my career benefit from doing this?
Jumping Into The Deep End: Auditions by NotBillShakespeare • last post Feb 1st
Prefacing everything by saying I know that there probably is no ideal time (for most people, anyway) where they know that the stars have aligned and they're ready & that it's time to start auditioning. That said, how did you all know you had the confidence and skill to put yourselves out there and actually start auditioning for parts? I'm having lots of success in classes and am really enjoying all the work I'm doing, but the idea of going on an audition still terrifies me. I know the best way to get over it is to *just do*, but does anyone have any other advice for actors looking to really put themselves out there for the first time? One of my goals / aspirations for 2020 is to put myself out there & audition. I'm thinking I'll start small auditioning for roles at my acting studio for any productions they might put on throughout the year, and build from there.