We have found 19,369 posts across 4 actor forums:
Thoughts on a surname change? by Evan13tz • last post Jul 23rd
I have been looking at articles lately saying Hispanic actors are less likely to get cast or get roles which really discouraged me. However I saw a case in which a girl Anglicized her last name and got more roles. Which made me think whether or not I should too because I am Hispanic but I look more Spanish and can pass possibly as white (example: Javier Bardem). To the point where if I had an Anglo last name I’d pass as white. Do you think it would be a good idea to change my Hispanic last name, keep it, or just figure that out later down the road as I’m farther into the industry.
Is being vulnerable in your daily life important for an actor? by Tell_The_Truth_Today • last post Jul 23rd
Quick question about projecting emotions while acting by Averagebiker21 • last post Jul 23rd
Is it more important to try and control your face expressions to match what you're looking for, or just "feel it" and let it flow out? I'm starting to practice that, so I'm kinda confused, specially having heard that actors use "motivations"
HELP! Should i start younger or attend a drama school first? by atanassova • last post Jul 23rd
I've been working in my country as an actress ever since i was 13. Last year i applied for a green card (I'm 17 now) and my application just got accepted. Next year i graduate from high school and I'm wondering whether i should attend a drama school in the US first or start searching for US agents immediately after high school since my resume is good enough to find a decent one. The problem is that I've been (and still am) living in a very abusive household and acting was the only thing i was allowed to do. No going out with friends (only on my birthday for 2-3 hours before 6 pm), no boyfriends, no talking with anyone on the phone and blah, blah, blah. I basically have 0 real life experience. The roles I've landed so far didn't require a lot of emotional depth (i usually play the stupid, hot teenage girl) so I'm afraid that I'll not be able to go after "serious" roles anytime soon and if i manage to get a great agent and start auditioning for those amazing projects but always make a bad impression in front of the CDs (because i probably won't be able to successfully audition for any "serious" roles, i lack the depth and the experience to play those) I'll be written off as green and i won't be considered for any other projects by them if i happen to meet them at another audition again, which is more than likely. I can potentially sabotage my career. During so many different acting classes I've attended whenever a teacher says something like "imagine that your friend said.../imagine that you've just broken up with your boyfriend" i just CANNOT imagine it. It makes it all harder to act, i genuinely feel like a newborn. How would i react to this? God, i don't know. I've never had the chance to find myself in a similar situation. I'm very good at crying, screaming and the overly emotional scenes but i cannot imitate basic emotions/reactions to basic situations because I've never experienced them and i was never truly able to actually socialize. I have plenty of money too (inherited a lot after my dad died) so it's not like I'll be a struggling actress with no money at college, i won't have to worry about finances and so on if i decide to go to university in the US on my own. I've started considering going to a drama school not only because i can get even better at acting, but because I'll also have the time and the physical ability to hang out with friends, get a boyfriend, fall in love and get my heart broken and blah, blah, blah. I'll basically get a lot of life experience that can actually help me out later in the business. If i need to be honest, i kind of need to get some anyways. I cannot imagine myself starting to audition immediately after i move out, then potentially starting to get booked and working all the time (excluding the brief breaks between the projects that I'll hopefully in best case scenario keep getting booked for) and then ending up in my let's say 30s without having had normal social interactions outside of work/any serious relationships and so on. I just feel like i need to be a kid for a little while since I've never had the chance to actually be one. I am also a straight A student so getting into a great university won't be as hard, however i fear that starting out at 22 in the US, even with a good agent will be too hard for me. We all know that the industry is very ageist too so they're usually looking for younger girls (late teens/early 20s) for A LOT of roles if we're excluding the "older woman" roles like the mother, the widow and so on and i don't expect to immediately start landing roles. I have very good looks too thankfully but we (white women) don't age very gracefully regardless. The green card is valid for 10 years, not forever either. I believe that I'll be more confident in myself if i start earlier because of my looks, but i also fear that I'll sabotage my career if i do that due to everything else i listed. In my situation what would you choose? I know that I'm being very silly right now but I'm seriously hopeless. I want to work more than anything and I'm super grateful for all of the opportunities I've had so far but I've been working for 4 years straight now and there hasn't ever been anything in my life outside of acting (I'm homeschooled too). I just can't see myself continuing without getting a brief break and some life experience that you cannot learn on set/in an acting class.
Tips for a better performance by KahPark • last post Jul 23rd
I may not be an actor (yet) but here's a bit of advice for all you aspiring actors like myself. Don't pretend to feel the emotion. Feel the emotion. That advice can take you a long way and can be connected to many areas of acting. But in case you didn't get what I meant, here's an example. Don't pretend to feel angry for a scene. Get angry for that scene. Do something that makes YOU angry and bring that anger into the scene.
AA - Do submissions disappear from your list? by S_Gertie • last post Jul 23rd
This is a weird question and I could just be mis-remembering. But, if a casting notice is originally posted in the area where actors can see and you submit for a role, would that role still show in the list of your submissions if the casting notice was pulled or made visible only in the agent area? I got an audition request that came through my agent in AA. But I have a weird memory of submitting myself for the role. I just can't find anything in my AA submissions or on other casting sites or in my sent email. My memory seems to be applying thru AA, but I could be mistaken and thinking of other roles. I don't usually track them much before the audition phase. I am not trying to cut my agent out. I would loop them in either way. It is just that it is kind of a big deal sort of project. So I want to be certain on the submission method so I can do that again! Anyone have a role you submitted for in Actors Access that disappeared from your submission list? (No word yet on callback or booking. They seem to be still casting the main characters and the part I am going for is smaller so they will do that after the primary roles.)
Great role that would require weight gain by detsen386 • last post Jul 23rd
There's a potential TV role I'm hoping to get, where the character is a "jolly fat" woman. I love the character - she's very funny, uplifting, and a good friend to the lead character. However because she's written as a happy big girl if I were to play her I'd need to look the part. And while I'm not skinny I'd need to put on a fair bit of weight to play her. Has anyone done anything like this, or know an actor/actress who has? What would your advice be? The character's awesome and would be a great deal of fun to play. But I'm worried about the health risks and whether I could lose it after. The TV exposure should be great for my career, but could it potentially harm opportunities after?
Calming nerves for a class by cairnsey • last post Jul 23rd
I’ve taken a small step and booked myself into a weekend acting class for September. It’s a beginner class for people with little to no experience, but they’ve asked for a headshot and an acting CV. I don’t currently have a headshot (but I’ve found a photographer friend who is happy to take one for me) and my acting CV is near blank, aside from a Drama GCSE, some school plays, and filling in for missing actors during rehearsals for a pantomime. All of this was a few years ago - lost the time to do anything for a while and I’m hoping this class will help me get back into it. Though it’s a beginner class, I have this awful fear that I’ll show up and everyone is going to be far more experienced than me, and that I’ll be that one person who has done nothing and knows absolutely nothing, and freezes up all the time and is super wooden ect. I know its probably my dumb lizard brain being irrational, but I think i just need some reassurance or advice. Has anyone been in a similar situation? Did it turn out alright for you?
Can you do Voice Over without a home studio? by fulcanmal • last post Jul 23rd
Hey, When you're getting started, and don't have the financial ability to build a home studio, how does one do Voice Overs? Is it even possible, or am I just out of luck. There are no cheap options for me, as I live in a very hot climate and the building uses window ac units, which are very loud. I can't afford to completely restructure the AC situation. Pretty sure I already know the answer. It's just not something I can do without waiting a very long time do find some other way to make money, then change my living situation. But I'd love to hear creative options that have worked for others, if such things exist. Thanks. Edit: Okay, I guess my post wasn't clear? A home studio is simply NOT an option for me. We're talking about a TON of noise where I live, and where there isn't noise, there is sweat drenching heat. I'm specifically asking about other options. A) Do Voice Actors still go to existing studios to record, or is everyone expected to have a home studio now? B) Has anyone out there found some kind of quiet public space, or made a deal with someone to use their house or building for recording?
Is there another subreddit like r/acting that isn’t spammed out with “I want to get into acting” threads? by actorchan • last post Jul 23rd
No shade - but I am honestly so over having to open the thread and scroll through hoards of “I want to get into acting” posts. For those of us who are “in” acting and want to network and discuss with other actors / performers it feels like there’s a big clump of text we have to dissect before even figuring out if we can get there.
Poor People: seriously, how the fuck do you pursue this? by fuckingdiscrete • last post Jul 23rd
especially in the early days, everybody wants you to work for free, everybody wants you to supply your own wardrobe, drive to remote locations, rearrange your schedule for nights, weekends, for auditions, for call backs, self tape for unpaid projects, theater doesn't pay, or YOU have to pay them, agents sign you and then do nothing for you not even talking strategy with you or things you could be doing, acting classes are $250+ a month bare minimum actual reputable conservatories are $thousands and $thousands... i justt feel like this entire fucking game is stacked against us in literally every way possible, and I love acting, it's just such a shame. i can't even participate in any of this anymore, no matter what i do. to work a job that pays enough to even afford rent in these cities, i don't have the flexbility to do any of this stuff, if I have a job that offers flexibility, i don't have the $$ for any of this stuff. maybe they shouldn't even let poor people be actors. maybe they also shouldn't let shitty low level agents even legally be able to be agents. it all just seems so beyond fucked to me and it's really depressing.
My Story - My Problem by Engineer086 • last post Jul 23rd
My Story Two years ago, I graduated with an engineering degree and started a job two weeks later. Two or three months after that, I realized I'd really like to get into acting. Probably just in my free time, but if it became more than that, then great! I researched, researched, planned, researched, etc. Fortunately for me, I’m also a huge fan of writing and storytelling. For most of my life, I thought that would only relate to books, but as my interests developed and I payed closer attention to movies and TV shows, I became interested in that too. It didn't take long to realize that my chances of auditioning for any role and actually getting it would be slim to none, at best. That's the nature of the industry. Even experienced actors often face frequent rejections. I didn't like that. But we live in the age of technology! I started thinking about how I could do this myself, on a smaller scale. Lots of people create their own web series and put them on YouTube or elsewhere. Finally, something under my control that I can do, without having to wait for someone to choose me! Found footage seemed like a very good way to start, as the nature of the genre fits nicely with someone who doesn't have the support of Paramount Studios or millions of dollars. I was and still am very inspired by Brit Marling, who co-wrote and starred in her own material several times. Watch "The East" and "OA" if you haven't already. All I really needed was something entertaining. I'm a natural writer, so I got to work. Several times, actually. Kept coming up with things I could do and developing each story. At the moment, I have multiple (One FF, others not) things that, with the completion of their development, I could bring to fruition without having to get permission or funding - each slightly more ambitious than the last, but all of them doable for an individual without a real studio. As someone with no experience, I decided I'd want to do something by myself before asking other people to work with me, so I have a one person Sci-Fi found footage (least ambitious idea first) that I'm constantly developing, revising, etc. before I finally start filming. Somewhere along the way, I decided it would fit better as a feature length film - My first! I'd need to edit this somehow, so I looked around for whatever real studios and filmmakers use - and found something really cool. Davinci Resolve is a program actually used to process real movies, and the company is aiming it more towards people like you and me, while designing it to be able to handle every step of the process: Editing, sound, color grading, VFX, etc. It used to be $1000+, but now it's down to $300 (still a bit pricey for me). Fortunately, they offer a free version with what seems like 90% of the program's functionality still available. I'm currently learning this - just finished learning how to color grade, now I'm on the editing lessons and VFX after that. I think I'll probably buy this when I'm ready to film. So now it feels like I have what I need. The right story(s), post production software, and the knowledge of how to use it. It seems like my only limitation should be the effort I put into these things. My Problem I have the tools, the stories, and the drive. But I'm always having strong doubts about its future. Even if I succeed, I feel like I won't have accomplished much. At times, the pursuit of what I want feels impossible and worthless, even though I really want it. So here's my question: What do you do when everything you want feels unattainable - when the effort feels worthless. How do you get through that? Have you ever given up, and for how long? How do you keep going? Also, is there anything different that you’d do in my position?
Help!! Classes and auditioning. by BlackBunny95 • last post Jul 23rd
Hello everyone. I am 23 years old and just Graduated college. I didn’t major in anything in theater however I have taken classes at my school and outside of school. However I keep feeling as I am not training the muscle of acting enough. I have done a short film and some skits with friends but to far in between. I am sort of in a dilemma as I feel as though I am getting older and I see a lot of actors starting off while kids and hitting it big in their 20-30’s. I know not to compare yourself to anyone especially in a business like this. I wanted to know what should I focus on more now learning the craft through classes more then take a leap into auditioning more or While auditioning take these classes. I am just looking for some guidance to start off. I feel as a lot of it has to do with it can be my confidence in myself.
Do you give your agent commission for roles you find yourselves? by monsow • last post Jul 23rd
I've recently talked with various actors who give commissions to their agent even for roles they book all by themselves. I've never done this, and I was wondering if this is standard practice? Would love to hear opinions. I'm based in London btw.
How much work is there for indie film actors? by Flimmm • last post Jul 23rd
Any good film recommendations?
Archetypes for Actors: The Inner Critic by Will-Kelly • last post Jul 22nd
NC actors by citruslad • last post Jul 22nd
Hey all, My name is Michael and I'm an actor based in NC. as other actors from my area may know we used to have tax incentives in place so that people and studios were persuaded to film here (typically they would film in Wilmington) A tax incentive is basically a way in the tax code to say "hey, come here!" to an industry. movies like Dirty Dancing and Iron Man 3 were filmed here in NC, but not anymore. in 2014 the tax code was changed and these incentives were replaced with a grant program which provided much less to the film industry. the deal had changed and most studios decided NC wasn't for them anymore. But I think that we should try and get the film industry back in NC. I may just be some young dumb and hopeful actor but I really do Believe that the film industry can come back, and it needs to. ​ this text is going to be reposted on multiple different platforms. lets #bringbackNCfilm
How Hong Kong actor Jason Tobin channels Bruce Lee for hit show ‘Warrior’ by InternationalForm3 • last post Jul 22nd
Connecting to the material by BoomSamson • last post Jul 22nd
Hey guys, Just wondering if anyone could point me the way to learning how to connect to the material better. I know being an actor requires Empathy, but are their specific techniques to feel the way the character's feel about something their speaking about? Say, another character (not in the scene or film but alluded to) or a project they're passionate about? Thanks!