We have found 19,298 posts across 4 actor forums:
I love acting, but I think I'm done being an actor. How do I quit? by limeofcrime92738 • last post Nov 24th
I know this might be kind of a funny post for this sub, but its members have been so supportive over the years (thank you!) and I thought one or two of you might be able to help me out. If anyone thinks there might be a better place to put this question, let me know! I love acting, but I found something else I love more in an IT/tech-adjacent field. Now that I've made the decision, how do I let my agents (that I LOVE) and my manager know that I won't be pursuing acting any longer? I'm wondering if there's a correct procedure... like, don't break up with someone over text, haha. Does anyone have friends that have quit, and if so, have experiences they could share? I love my reps and I want to be considerate and respectful without being overly dramatic and making a huge deal out of it. Thank you all so much for the support over the last few years. Wishing you truly the best: long, fulfilling careers!
Tip: You've already memorized your lines by apologytour1 • last post Nov 24th
Reposting from a new account, deleted my last one: A lot of new actors get anxious about memorizing lines. It's not that scary. In fact, you subconsciously memorize those lines as you go. I started teaching and coaching students in L.A. one on one a few months ago and you'd be surprised at how fast even untrained actors can memorize those suckers within an hour or less. The key is rote memorization. You can channel Meisner exercises to tap into your emotional rolodex or you can speak in a monotone. Whatever you gotta do. The more you practice without committing to a performance, (This is important so you can have freedom and don't "lock in" your choices too early.) the easier the words come naturally. It's much easier to focus on the performance itself once your lines and actions become second nature. And it happens much, much faster than you'd think After running the scene 4 or 5 times, either with a partner or with one of those apps, start trusting yourself. For your next read, hold your sides... Well, to your side. You'll be surprised at how naturally most of the dialogue will pour out. And when you pull a blank and need to check your sides, pull 'em out and look. There's no shame in doing that, especially during cold reads. As long as you don't break character and remember to maintain a connection to the reader. After that, see if you can drop the sides entirely. You'll be surprised at how much you can do. Once you get to the point where you no longer have to focus on the dialogue itself, the fun really begins. I've been acting for 10 years and coach and teach out of L.A. Always happy to answer any questions.
Do acting agencies hire in house photographers for headshots? by strawbs13 • last post Nov 24th
Hello! I'm a photographer in Germany and I've been trying to get started photographing actor headshots/portraits. I'm having trouble getting started and knowing where to market my services. Acting agencies seemed like a good place to start. I was wondering if anyone knew if acting agencies hired photographers and if it'd be a good idea to reach out to them to ask if they needed a photographer? Or if anyone had any other insight on how to get clients?
Experience with Actor's Launchpad? by Yaars23 • last post Nov 24th
Does anyone have experience with Actor's Launchpad? How does it compare to One on One, Actor's Connection, Actor's Greenrom?
Any thoughts on Shakespeare & Company's month-long intensive? by JaydeenKeey • last post Nov 24th
Hey all! I was just curious if anyone knew anything about this program? [https://www.shakespeare.org/actor-training/month-long-intensive](https://www.shakespeare.org/actor-training/month-long-intensive) ​ Also, feel free to recommend courses similar let me know!!
much needed career and future advice by juliaachim • last post Nov 24th
hey there, i have been in a tough decision-making situation, and i utterly don’t know what to do. my parents are the type of parents that say “you can be whatever you want! as long as its a doctor” which is obviously limiting and forcing me into only one career choice. i love theater and acting, and i just get that feeling of happiness when i do theater etc. i am considered v smart: all honors classes, straight A’s, so on. i know that no 14 year old has their future set in stone, but i am the type of person who likes an outline for their life, and would hate to live “day by day”. i want to be an actress, and i think i would do well(i am very pretty, can remember things easily, can act, etc). the first issue, are my parents. they would definitely basically disown me, and never talk to me again. my dad especially looks down onto Hollywood etc, and says that all actors and actresses are full of themselves and airheads. my mom is way more open-minded, and says she would support me in any career i want, but i’m not sure she would be completely on board with a full time career choice of an actress. second problem, this may be a bit controversial saying this onto this subreddit, but being successful in the acting industry is quite a slim chance. i believe its about like 3%? i don’t want to spend my whole life working in the fast food industry, waiting for a break, as big name actors get billions. please drop some advice, it would be much appreciated! happy to answer questions, and so on :)
Help me find an acting school by zackeir • last post Nov 24th
Dear All I hope you all are in good health. So since class 8th, I have made my mind of becoming an actor, although this burning desire in my head is not about money or fame yet it is for standing on stage and do my act. To make my dream true I need a push from teachers and here I am lost to make a decision. I am writing this email in very desperate times of my life as I am looking for acting school in the USA and there are many like Juilliard and Yale but it required an audition in person and the problem is I am from Pakistan which unable me to appear in auditions also their fees are not for middle-class family. I am requesting you all to suggest me any acting school for my standers. I have done my Bachelor degree, currently planing for MFA or MA acting. Thank You
Good acting schools in Southern California ? (Preferably in Orange County) by jaysola68 • last post Nov 24th
I have no experience as an actor. I’ve never done theatre, drama, etc. Thank you!
Planning to transform a personal comic into voice acted motion comic, need general guideline and basic answers by ColorsDiary • last post Nov 24th
Hi I'm not here to hire, yet. I'm here to inquire. I have never worked on anything audio. I did record audio before, and professionally too (audios of a language speaking tests), but I suppose that means next to nothing. ​ I'm thinking of experimenting with different voice actors within my community, but I really know nothing and I need at least some basic questions answered: * How to make the integrity and unity of the scene proper? We are recording online, and I suppose voice actors will work from different locations remotely. How to make their sounds integrity passable? unify the mic make and model? * How to avoid background noise? The constant hisssssssss sound that usually comes during recording? or is this remedied with good mics? * How to fill in silence between the speech of the actors? intentionally include background noise? * How do I mix and work on the audio? Software wise, is there a specific app that makes things much easier and yield professional results? * How do I go about the screening process? Demos and choosing the right actor? How do I know that they sounded what I wanted them to sound and it didn't just happen by accident? I know it sounds stupid, but I really know nothing about audio ... lol * What is the average pay, and how should I pay (per scene, per entire role, per word, etc) ? I'm hiring complete amateurs, not even interested in voice acting or working into it, but I'd like to have proper idea. I worked with professional artists and professional writers, and have good idea on how much I should rate their work, but I have never tried hiring a voice actor and would like to have a basic idea to build on. Thanks, and I apologize for the inconvenience
I’m an actor first, a singer second, and a dancer third. What style of dance should I start training in? by jadedjournalism • last post Nov 24th
I know this is an acting sub, but I’m posting here because I feel like you all could help me—like the title says, I’m much more of an actor than a dancer but it’s time for me to hone some other skills. I have some background in hip hop but am pretty terrible at more “traditional” forms of dance. Specifically in the context of musical theatre, which would be better to start off with: ballet or jazz lessons?
How to get into acting when you have absolutely no experience? by BlueSorrows • last post Nov 23rd
I’ve had this burning question for the longest time but was always to afraid to ask. I live in Vancouver and I’m a 20 yr old F (sorry, too much pointless TMI?) I’ve been in love with film all my life, I can talk about it all for hours, whether it’s directing, scriptwriting and geeking out over actors performances. Turning 20 and watching my favourite films again made me realized I needed to stop wasting time, and hopefully *at least attempt* to pursue and one day, perfect the craft. The only thing that leaves me blogged is, how? I’ve never took theatre in High School besides for a semester that every student must take. The only experience I have would be that semester, and my drama teacher telling me to pursue it because he said I was good, but as an ignorant teacher and following my peers, I discarded what he said and since then regret it. I hope one day to actually get into films one day (yes it’ll never happen, I’m dreaming, not in a million years.) But don’t understand how to start. So my question is? (I have two). How do you start as an actor? And second question, does looks really matter that much? I got a large funky nose... Big bump, and not a great jawline. My self-esteem always holds me back.... Thank you... Any advice, book recommendations would be a blessing.
How beneficial as an actor is it to work other jobs in the industry? by justsomethrowawayacc • last post Nov 23rd
For example, if I were to work as a production assistant at a large studio, is it a good way to get my foot in the door? Do people in the industry look favorably to someone working there with aspirations of making it as an actor/VO artist?
Actor/real estate agent by VLRlaughs • last post Nov 23rd
Curious how many LA actors out there also doing real estate? Can I ask you a couple questions? Thanks
Help looking for a scene! by BlackBunny95 • last post Nov 23rd
Hello everyone, I was looking to see if anyone has any recommendations to scenes that have 3 people (2 men, 1 woman) I am having the hardest time finding one I like that I have to perform with 2 other actors in my class in a few days. Preferably a scene from a movie or tv show thank you. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I checked Beverly Hills playhouse already nothing that I really liked so far.
Improv/Scenario Audition for Theater by JakeThaGreat001 • last post Nov 23rd
To become apart of my cities local theater team, I have to audition in this sort of scenario. It’s a murder mystery scenario. Basically the veteran actors will greet me in character and I have to play along. Does anyone have any advice on how to ace this?
Basic Scene Analysis and Character Development Fundamentals by J2TheDay • last post Nov 23rd
For anyone just starting out acting, I hope this can help. I've been a film and TV actor for 20 years and from all the classes I have taken and over 100 film and TV shows I have been on, I have boiled down some of the basic fundamentals I employ when approaching any new film and television scene. There are a series of basic questions that I use to better inform me as to how to approach the scene and it allows me to get my bearings. After doing this, I am able to work the scene with confidence which allows for interpretation from the director when on set. These are somewhat analytic but once I do this work I am then free to discover and explore my character's emotional life. My character: * When talking about my character in a scene I refer to the character as "I" or "Me" because I am the character. I develop the character by getting as much information from the writing as I can, or if it is a historical figure with background I do as much research as possible. * What is my upbringing, age, physical condition, history, living location, past traumas etc. Relationship: * In the scene if other people are present, I find out what the relationship is. If no one is present then what is my relationship to this situation or circumstance or what is my relationship to myself in that moment? * When looking at others in the scene I ask: You are the one who <blank> me. You are my <blank>. You are to my character like <blank> was to me in my real life. * I have to <blank> you (This is your Action) in order to <blank> (This is your objective) and the consequence of failing is <blank> (These are the stakes). The underlying truth is <blank> (This is the subtext of the scene) * I want this person to <blank> (My character's want) but I need to <blank> (My character's need). \*The want and the need will almost always be the source of the conflict in the scene. Tactics and Choices: How are you going to get your want while satisfying your need? There are many different ways to achieve this. Ie: Fight and force, seduce and charm, seek empathy, manipulate, be honest etc… These are referred to as your "choices". Make choices on how the character views things, opinions on things and how this character thinks. This will affect behavior if you are reacting truthfully in each moment. Moment Before: * What just happened before the scene started? * What is the emotional state I am in before the scene starts? (Emotional Prep) * What are my intentions going into the scene? These should ALWAYS be positive or the scene will fall flat. Ie: “I want to leave” or “I don’t care about you” are negative. “I want you to love me” “I want you to respect me” are POSITIVE and ACTIVE and will produce a stronger scene. * Your moment before is the spring board that launches you into the scene and creates that "wave" actors describe that you can ride to take you to unexpected and exciting places during the scene. Emotional prep before starting a scene is so very important! Conflict: Understanding all of the above will flesh out where the conflict in the scene lies. Conflict occurs when two characters have opposing needs, or internal conflict can happen within one's self. All well written scenes contain conflict. Arc: Identify each transition in the scene by a tactic changing. This is indicated by a new thought, new direction the conversation takes, or a beat. (Most well written scenes have 3 transitions) A well written scene starts with your character in a positive or negative and you will end at the opposite at the transition, then again flip to the opposite at the next transition. For example; I am in control of the situation, first transition the person in the scene undermines me and I end up at a negative, so I retaliate, next transition I’m back on top etc. * These shifts in the position of the character in the scene is the scene arch. EVERY scene has an arch, usually an emotional one for the character. If you don’t see one your scene is “Flat” and a weak scene. * Characters go through a journey (Hero's Journey) or an arch through the entire story. They evolve or it is not worth watching and boring. * The entire story as a whole as well goes through an arch as well. * It's often more effective to start a scene in a different emotional place than your character begins in. Sometimes you can work backwards; if you end the scene hostile, maybe try starting the scene in a positive or hopeful headspace and see what the scene then plays out like when prepping. Of course this is the starting point to understanding the scene, you do this for all scenes in the script, and then are informed about why your character makes the decisions and uses the tactics they do. Take that and get to know your character to find out what isn't on the page, make choices about why that character is the way it is. For example, find out what music they like, what quirks they have, what secret fears they have etc.
How to properly contact casting directors? by Pimenta • last post Nov 22nd
Hello everybody! I am very very new on backstage and trying to figure out how some things work. I am seeing all sorts of announcements about various projects that are casting for talent, in which the names and information of their casting directors are listed. Some mention that are to…
When did you know you were ready to seriously start auditioning? by StrobeRogers • last post Nov 22nd
Hello, I keep thinking there's a wall before I 'try' to seriously start auditioning.. I never book anything so beyond that.. I think I want to become a great double threat (singer/actor). I'm pretty sure I still won't book anything, but just to be ready is nice. What is standing in your way?
“Counting Stars” on BackStage by j-sOnTheRoad • last post Nov 22nd
Hello! I was wondering if anyone knows if the casting call for the Nickelodeon show“Counting Stars” is real. I researched, and found the same casting call on Actor’s Access(New York), but it was posted months ago. So, I am questioning if the casting call is legit, since the first notice for it was posted about 3 months ago on a different website(AA) and it is not listed as a nationwide casting, as it is on Backstage. Hopefully my question makes sense. Also, if it is real, do you think I could still apply on AA? Because I really do not want to get a membership for Backstage just for this ONE casting call.
Actors Access question: why are many castings open even though they have an expired deadline? Can you still submit to those? by urrkaaa • last post Nov 22nd
Sorry if I used the wrong vocab I’m still learning the terms and all thanks