We have found 19,413 posts across 4 actor forums:
"Too crazy" for acting hair colors? by throwawaynosejobxoxo • last post Oct 5th
Do you think that a very cool toned, wine-ish red hair color like [this](https://www.styleinterest.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/49150218-red-hair-with-highlights-.jpg) one or [this](https://cdn.westkiss.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/9/9/99j-stw-3pcs_5_.jpg) one is "too much"/"too crazy" for acting? I've been thinking about dying my hair that color since i have a veeery pale skin with cool undertones and the only colors that truly suit my skin are very dark brown (almost black), platinum ash blonde and the red color that i'm talking about. Everything else makes me look sick/off. The very dark brown hair looks too harsh on my facial features sometimes, whereas platinum blonde looks waay too cookie cutter on me. I have an attractive face with distinctive features but the blonde hair really makes me look like 1000s of other female actresses in LA. The red compliments both my skin and facial features a lot and makes me look even more interesting and marketable (very Jessica Rabbit-y) but I'm not sure whether dying it that color would be a bad idea. HONESTLY speaking - is one of said two colors natural enough to book gigs? Because at the end of the day most movies/shows' characters need to have a bit more natural hair colors (with a very few exceptions). Krysten Ritter had no problem getting roles with her extremely pale skin and unnaturally jet black hair but i feel like these red colors are even crazier than her skin color+hair color combo.
Is actor’s access down for anyone else? by asyouwish17 • last post Oct 4th
Acting-life balance by finnegan7 • last post Oct 4th
I recently started studying acting full time at Vancouver Film School and somewhat have struggled with striking a good balance between personal life and actor training. I am very happy being 100% immersed in the craft but I can see how it may be unhealthy in the long run. Any advice?
Audition with no sides given, but needed to improv? by momthinksimpurdy • last post Oct 4th
I’m pretty decent with improv. I had classes and everything, and do improv shows. I was like, “ I can do this” I auditioned for a TV show, but they brought in 4 actors at a time, and they wanted us to improv some scenes. This girl did scenes with the others, while I observed. Then it was my turn to improv with her. I could tell she didn’t know how to improv, because it started with a question first, then started offering a lot of information lightning fast, still in question form (how am I supposed to process all her offers, and add on to it?) I paused, tried to process it, then offered more. I guess she didn’t like the silence, so she started answering all HER questions/offers. She started getting really loud (to the point it’s overacting and yelling), and hogged all the potential lines we could’ve said, because she was not letting us speak. Not to mention, everytime I tried to answer, she would not let me (or any of us) finish.
Had my first play last week, need a bit of help. by StevieSF • last post Oct 4th
Title pretty much. Had my first stage play last week and I loved it! Bit of background: I’m a 20 year old male from Belgium. I’m a Communication student and don’t have an immense amount of time. I got into acting one year ago, when I joined an amateur theatre group. I never acted before and was supposed to play a small role, but the actor for the main role quit. The stage director then asked me to play the main role and I said yes. Back to the play, it was a success and the people enjoyed it a lot, which was the most important thing to me. People congratulated me with my performance and I must say that I felt very proud of myself at that moment. I met a lot of great people during the past year and made a lot of new friends, something I’m very grateful for. The stage director also told me I’m talented and that he will definitely consider me in the future. Now comes the problem: our theatre group consists of a couple of hobbyists mixed with film/theatre school students. A lot of these students don’t have the time for future plays and are gonna leave the group. As it stands now there are only three people staying in the group. That’s not enough for the future so I’m afraid the group just ceases to exist. My question: what the hell do I do now? I loved theatre, but I’m playing with the idea of trying TV/film. I know that for that I would need (a lot) more experience so I’m thinking more theatre first? I’d already love it if I could be an extra in a series, and then maybe I can build from there? I have no clue how the industry works so any info would be greatly appreciated. Just to be clear: I don’t have the ambition to become a Hollywood star, I just want to continue my hobby and see what I’m capable of. And meeting a lot of people along the way would be really nice too. All answers are appreciated! Thanks in advance.
LA acting Class recommendations for a UK trained actor by baylor4 • last post Oct 4th
I've recently graduated from a top drama school in the UK and I'm now moving to LA (I'm an american). I know that there are so many BS classes over there and culty teachers to avoid. I was wondering if anyone knows of any really good on camera or scene study acting classes. I 'm looking for a continuation of training rather than beginner level. (also if anyone has any recs for Voice and Speech teachers out there as well)
My manager's reaction after I left him. by CuspChaser111 • last post Oct 4th
Hello, I had a manager of a year that got me into one room (I know it's not a manager's job to get you into rooms but still.) He found me after I got 9 credits on a Netflix show as a recurring guest star and I feel like I lost a lot of momentum this past year since I booked it unfortunately because I trusted him and I am now kicking myself (20/20 hindsight lesson learned) - he would call me before auditions to make sure I was prepared, if I learned my lines, how I was feeling, but the anxiety and tension in his voice did not help and I let him know I like to chill and meditate before auditions to go in and throw down and yet he kept calling - look I booked the show without him and I am by nature a pretty studious and hardworking person - my local agent is awesome and got me into many rooms and I got to network for a Greenberg pilot last year. When we didn't get pilot my manager called me up freaking out like "WE DIDN'T GET IT THIS FUCKING SUCKS!" I was like aren't you the one that is supposed to be talking me off a ledge? I felt it was the other way around. The fact that I got that far and caught the office's eye off a tape means I am on the right track and they will remember me. Though I may look 'dramatic' and can do it comedy is the calling and that tape proved it. Anyway I made the move to LA recently. I let him know that I wanted to explore LA agents here and he kept saying he'd be reaching out but never seemed to. Last week I let him know that it's probably best for a fresh start as I leave for LA for both parties and thanked him for his help and work but I am thinking it's best to move on. He was usually very responsive and always expected me to respond immediately but after that e-mail I sent I have heard nothing from him. When I called my agent she said he e-mailed her (he didn't cc me or anything) and is really upset. Can I just say when I was a youngin' in this industry and my first mgr dropped me I had the courtesy to get on the phone with them, stay classy, and wish them luck? Of course I was disappointed but I did not ghost like an insecure child. This is your reputation we are talking about. I'm talking to my actor friends and it's like if WE treated our rep. that way WE would be seen as the 'crazy' one. It upsets me greatly and I find it wildly unprofessional and very much man-baby. Anyway the positive for this is that I did learn my lesson and I got a direct ref. from the casting director that booked me on the show for a new mgr that she loves. Anyway thanks for reading. I guess I wanted to vent and if you have ANY advice for me from mistakes you've made or seen others make I'd love to hear it so I can prevent more like this because I feel stupid, stupid, stupid. Thanks.
Crazy "fired/blacklisted for no good reason" stories? by Butfartter420 • last post Oct 4th
Why does it seem so INCREDIBLY easy to get fired for the most minor mistake? It feels like everyone has a story in which they were fired from a set basically because the director was having a bad day. Stories I know of: - A friend from gradschool was doing an animated porn voiceover. They asked to know more about the character's history and was immediately fired and told to leave. He wanted moans and "yes senpai", not some annoying artist trying to feel their character, and replaced him with someone else in minutes. - Half-way into rehearsals of an Off-Broadway show I was in, a fellow actor accidentally exited stage right instead of left. Fired. - I used a shitty printing company to print left minute headshots. They were great quality, but weren't 8x10's like I asked, but maybe an inch too big. I was told I wasn't going to get a call back because of how unprofessional the print looked and that I better get the right 8x10 prints because it makes you look unprofessional. But at least they were honest.
NYC or LA? by CaptainMarvellous_98 • last post Oct 3rd
Hey fellow Backstage peeps! I'll be finishing university soon (May 2020) and would like to buckle down on my acting career after graduation. I enjoy theatre, but really love (and prefer) film and TV. I've heard some people say that you should move to LA if you want to break...
How do you think actors are able to become famous? by wingsith19 • last post Oct 3rd
Now I know there’s a lot of actors who were born into the industry (had famous parents) or started off as child actors, but it seems for the majority of relevant actors today, they were neither born into the industry nor were they child actors. For a lot of them it seemed as if they were born to a family that had no connection to the show business and had to work their way up and get to where they are by themselves. How do you think this is possible? Does it really boil down to just pure luck? Does it boil down to just being a really good actor? Is it a little bit of both?
I have twice the ammount of lines to memorize and I'm lost by Whelsey • last post Oct 3rd
Our director decided to give me a role that was previously assigned to another actor, knowing I'm not prepared and I have a hard time memorizing lines. I'm lost and I don't know if I can memorize everything in time! I'm fairly good at improv. Please, give me tips on how to do it! I won't be able to improv an entire character
Psychologists specializing in helping Actors/Performers? by LockTheUniverse • last post Oct 3rd
I've had this recurring thought over the past few weeks. There are Psychologists that specialize in Athletes/Sports (and even E-Sports) that are employed by teams to help them play better. Is there a place, or a niche, for Psychologists that specialize in Actors/Performers? I've looked high and low and can't find much in the way of material for this area. So many actors, I find, are struggling with mental health, either because of the stresses of the job/industry or because of the effects on their personal lives (financial stress, relationships), so I was wondering what everyone's thoughts were. Thanks!
No idea what to do know, does that mean giving up? by actresssu • last post Oct 3rd
Hey! This is my first post on reddit and I'm really hoping that someone has advice for me. Even if the truth is going to be painful. I am an actress and I started with stage acting, when I was 12. I am 20 now. Growing up in Germany, I was signed up with two agencies, but unfortunately I got almost no casting calls. I don't think, that it has anything to do with my talent. Being mixed-race (African and European) with a bunch of freckles, I'm not a type that is presented in the German media. Now I moved to LA on a student visa, but here I don't have work visa. So I'm kind of at a loss right now. I am thinking about giving up my dream of being an actress, but I am so passionate about it and it's my favorite thing today. I also know that I'm good at it, I've only gotten positive feedback and I always work hard on improving myself. I just don't know what to do anymore, either being in a country without roles or being in a country without a work visa. Does anyone have any recommendations or tips? I just don't know what to do. I can send pictures and my videoreel over pm, if someone wants to see it.. Thank you so much!
Should actors be morally and ethically responsible for the roles they play? by jackmagnetlord • last post Oct 3rd
So, I was wondering what all of you thought of this. Should an actor get any personal heat for playing a character or should they be fully absolved of what that character is and does at a cultural and societal level? Clearly, actors are acting, but at a cultural level, are they responsible for what their performance of a character does? For example, Joaquin Phoenix and the Joker, what if it were to pry negativity from what would otherwise be stuck in the basement? I recognize his job is to act, to play a role, to preform and I think he's wonderful and by all accounts he's done an incredible job as the Joker. Let's see Tropic Thunder and go to RDJ wearing black-face, or further back without any satire when actors wore blackface seriously? At what level are actors responsible for their roles in a cultural and even societal sense?
LA film culture made me a little uncomfortable. by Robert_de_Saint_Loup • last post Oct 3rd
I recently came back from a trip to LA with my friend Melissa who is an actress. She is in SAG so she is professional, but nothing really famous. My experience of LA film culture really opened my eyes to such a bleak and intense world. For example, I had no idea that teen actors in Nickelodeon and Disney Channel drank, smoke, and had a very 'adult' life. I go to this Malibu party with Melissa and I was just very surprised at how the teens there are all pretty damn adult-like. Im 22 by the way. Also, I learned the term 'chore whore' I can't believe how vulgar that term is. And the truth is that many of these 'chore whores' are young people who are likewise interested in entering the trade. Not slaves or robots. Also, the amount of "favors" are immense. I can't believe that casting directors and producers try to use their power to get into people's pants. I have always known about that, but the way it happens nobody really sees. The public doesn't really see the mechanisms, nuances, and exchanges. Another thing was the stress that celebrities deal with when it comes to their contract with a film. I noticed so many actors can be so helpless without their agent or manager. There's also a ton of fake people. So many fake 'congratulations' and 'you're amazing'. God, what a storm it all was
Headshot-Age Range-Character Type Post - Oct 3 by AutoModerator • last post Oct 3rd
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.
Acting course gives me anxiety by BJThrowacc • last post Oct 3rd
Throwaway because this is very personal. I am an 18-year old actor not based in the US although it is my goal to go there in a couple of years. I recently decided to go for the dream I have had for 10 years and try to become an actor. Through contacts I was able to pretty much immediately book a leading role in a short film that we filmed this summer. I had never really worked hard at anything in my life but I worked really hard making the movie. And I absolutely loved every second of it. I got injured, I almost fainted, I almost threw up a few times (due to stunts), but I still absolutely loved it. Which really made me make my mind up. I also heard from the director that I was apparently really good, which he had heard from a person in the business that had no connection to me whatsoever. However I’m currently having a hard time with a course I am taking. It feels weird to open up to a bunch of people on the internet about this but I am very depressed and have a lot of anxiety. This makes it hard for me to do anything. I have a rough time getting up in the morning, cooking, cleaning, answering calls, you name it, I get anxiety from doing it and often I can’t do it at all. I really wish I was just lazy because that would be easier to do something about, but it is as if my whole body stops myself from doing these things. This is currently tough in my course because I just can’t do the homework, and I can’t get out of the door and go to the course. I am supposed to prepare a monologue but I just end up spending hours doing nothing because I just can’t do it. I have missed a few classes now and the entire thought of the course just gives me crippling anxiety. This also makes me feel like shit because I know how incredibly lucky I have been to book the short film this summer and another one that we are filming in a few weeks, and it feels like there are a lot of people who want that as well and who are actually able to get up and do something about it, so it feels like I am kind of taking up their place as well, I suppose I feel guilty. This became a lot longer than I first imagined so I’ll just ask the question now. Should I drop the course? Acting should be fun right? And not fill me with anxiety every time I think about it. Or should I at least try to power through with this one? Or maybe acting isn’t even for me? Whatever answer you have I will respect it and I will be very happy that you read and responded, thank you very much for that and your honesty <3
Getting beyond frustrated with barriers to the industry UK (Spotlight) by Saskiaaaa • last post Oct 3rd
I’m a 26yr old female actor in the UK desperately trying to advance in the industry I didn’t go to drama school, but am currently taking acting classes every week We have agents come in all the time but they won’t sign me because I’m not on Spotlight But I need professional credits to get on Spotlight but need an agent to get roles The agent I wanted to sign me said she needs me on spotlight so she can start getting me walk on roles But walk on roles don’t count towards Spotlight I did student films to build a showreel These also don’t count towards Spotlight The agent I wanted has recommended me an agent to get in touch with as they’re ‘a good place to start’ but they mainly do extras and commercial work these also don’t as Spotlight credits... like it’s starting to seem impossible It just seems crazy that; Commercials, idents, short films, corporate films, student productions and any work as an extra or supporting artist all do not count as Spotlight credits!!!! All these barriers punishing people for having the audacity to be over 25 and/or not going to drama school This was a bit of a rant but any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Would you say Orlando or Tampa is better for new actors? by GussOfReddit • last post Oct 3rd
I plan on attending UF Online for University. I will be 17 at the time as I am graduating early. One of the perks of attending UF Online is that you can live wherever you want in Florida. I want to work on myself as an actor so that I can eventually move to Los Angeles once I finish my degree (I have quite a few college credits and plan on graduating in 3 years). I'll be living with my mom as she is quite ill (the same goes for when we go to LA). She will be my dependent eventually. Anyways, we cannot live in South Florida due to health concerns regarding the climate and hurricanes. Anywhere in Central and Northern Florida is fine? Do you guys happen to know which cities are better for training as an actor and starting a career? (I hope to act in TV Shows eventually). I've heard Orlando is good as a lot of commercials are filmed there that can be used for SAG-AFRA? But I've also heard Tampa has a better market. Do y'all have any recommendations?
Looking to hire male and female English native speakers actors for a voice over by rrzibot • last post Oct 3rd
Hi, We are doing an online platform with tutorials for children. We are looking for a male and female actors to voice over the roles of 9-14 years old boy and girl. We also need a male teacher/parent and a female teacher/parent. The tutorials will be animated. Each tutorial will be about 5-10 minutes. It will be a dialog between the boy and the girl and sometimes the parents/teachers. We want to start with a few tutorials and then build this into a more long-term project with a few hours of recording each month. Tutorials would be available internationally so thick accents is not something that would work for us. Previous experience for us is that partners were trying to charge us by word which is not working for us. It might be suitable for 30 seconds tv/radio/youtube commercials with 100 words in it, but this scheme is not working for us because it is getting very expensive very quickly. A tutorial could contain hundreds (1-2 pages) of words in 10 minutes. We are looking for a pricing of produced 1 hour of recording. Nothing more would be required except to record in a quite environment without external noice and send the raw recording files to us. Sound editing would be done on our side. Script is prepared on our side. Video is prepared on our side. You will not be recording any video. What you could do to help us is prepare a sample reading out the first 10-20 sentences of the following wiki page https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer and direct message me for details. I will provide you with an email address to send the recording to. If you have a portfolio it would be great to send us examples from there, but it is not required. Thanks.