We have found 19,242 posts across 4 actor forums:
For the peeps wanting to get into BG as a career | The World’s #1 Extra. The most famous actor you’ve never heard of. by Food_Pre-Chewer • last post Mar 19th
Learn to use your natural voice. by controltheweb • last post Mar 19th
*Reposting with most links removed:* We asked pros how many demos they listened to, how many they rejected, and how fast they rejected them. That group told us 95% of demos are rejected in 4 seconds or less due to not attempting natural speech. Pros included owners of agencies and studios, top talent, two Emmy-award winning producers, etc. We found them and got their opinion by producing 78 training events, recording as many as 350 sessions in a single day at a large conference hotel, renting up to 15 rooms. Each recording session included two pros, a producer and engineer (plus several roving admins) in a room set up as a partially-baffled studio space. In 2018, we started adding 1-2 students per event apprenticing with the engineers. Another group of mostly full-time working pros with far less career experience told us they usually listened past the first clip, but identified the same problem. (Apparently the more experience teaches you that if a demo starts poorly, it doesn't get better, the faster you give up when it starts poorly.) We also surveyed over 1,000 event attendees and asked about their previous training experience. We learned a lot about how the industry trains new folks—and very few of them teach natural speech well. Of course, many not-yet-informed voice actors often pushback on *actually* using acting and natural speech skills. They think it's something you are taught that you can forget later, rather than something you utilize throughout your career. This is normal, as learners of many topics get stuck between stages two and three—failing to reach the final stage—when going through the "[stages of learning and competency](https://taskcompetency.com/)". ​ *We began winding down the events pre-pandemic and ended them in 2020.*
Seeking input (youth, basics, education) by Fit-Protection5399 • last post Mar 19th
I run a youth arts coalition at this community center and a local actor/independent filmmaker is going to do a presentation for the group in a few weeks. If it goes well I may ask him to make it a series. I am a music teacher, and my wife also a singer and visual artist. Point is, I want to broaden the scope of this group beyond my/our capabilities of doing so; these kids have next to no knowledge of the art (and nor do I really, other than just being a lover of cinema). So anyway, this gentleman has asked for a list of topics he should cover. Thoughts? It’ll be a 2-3 hr. presentation.
I need ideas!! by idkwhatnametopick5 • last post Mar 19th
Okay so I’m creating this website by scratch and it’s going to be one for beginning and up coming actors. I want to include monologues to get started but don’t know what else to add. Also I’m open to adding monologues that you create just follow the format and pm me: Character name Age Range Genre Background Info “monologue”
What technique seems like it would be best for me based on this list? by Abstract_Corduroy74 • last post Mar 19th
I need a technique. I NEED to BE TRAINED IN A TECHNIQUE. But I don’t know which technique. I NEED technique, but one that can not only help me become a better actor, but one that can address and help me fix my many problems and shortcomings as an actor. What technique(s) will help me based on my list of problems as an actor? •Struggle to really REALLY listen to scene partners •Being too in my head and overthinking everything •Struggle to be able to trust and just let go •Near impossibility being emotionally open and vulnerable •Fear that my imagination isn’t strong or stimulating enough •That I have a blocked instrument and don’t have the proper resources and guidance to help unblock and help me tune my instrument •Fear that I’m not doing it right. I mean technique work, that I’m not trying the right way or not trying enough to know what works and what doesn’t. •Fear of failure and criticism/making mistakes because I’m afraid it means I’m not as good an actor as I should be or I don’t have it together. •Wanting outcomes of a particular scene instead of just letting what happens happen and having faith it will work out. •Lack of faith and trust in myself, the work I’ve done, and my journey ahead. I don’t trust I am where I’m supposed to be right now, I don’t trust that I’ve got what I need right now, and I don’t trust that I’ve done enough work to allow the process and in-the-moment work to play out how I envision it should go. I don’t trust or have faith that I’ll be able to let go and believe that it will be okay. •Feeling like I don’t have time. Time to try, fail, learn, and try again. Time to really delve into the work and take the time to practice technique and work and see what works and how I respond to it. Time to get my foot in the door. ——Because so many other actors (Timothee Chalamet, Sydney Sweeney, Tom Holland, are all doing amazing work and have their shit together at their young ages, and here I am at 22 almost about to graduate college asking stupid questions on a subreddit). •Fear that I can’t really, truly act because I’m so in my head so much and overthink everything about the work and what I should be and what I can’t do and can do and if certain results don’t happen for a scene then I’m a failure and can’t do it right. •Fear that an intellectual/cerebral has no business acting. That I cannot be trained to get out of my intellectual and over-analytical head and do the work with no interference. •Obsession with results of the work (the performance) rather than process, exploring, and doing the work necessary •Anger that I haven’t had the training I feel like I need, nor the resources necessary to get the training I need. •Slowly dwindling love of the process and work itself and instead a growing hunger for the results of the work rather than the work itself. •Not wanting to take the time to find the right place to train, the right teacher to train me, the right classroom to be trained in, etc because I feel like I need to start training NOW •Fear that I don’t have the discipline or the grit to really do the work necessary. •Fear that I’m not enough as an actor, and never will be. That I won’t be able to be the actor I want to be because of all the things I listed above. All of this stuff really frightens me and I need to solve these things through technique. And please don’t say therapy, I’ve already heard that enough. And I’m seeing a therapist, but have yet to really bring this stuff up.
Overthinking actor here in need of advice by Abstract_Corduroy74 • last post Mar 19th
How can I stop overthinking in my acting and my process? How can I trust that the work I’ve done is enough? How can I stop myself from feeling pressure to and putting pressure on myself to nail a scene or performance down? How can I just fucking jump into the unknown? How can I just fucking surrender to the work and be open and live in the fucking moment?
Things actors should know after joining their first agency by Basic_Cucumber3440 • last post Mar 19th
What are some things that actors with their first agency should know like auditions and general knowledge? Thx!
How to get me out of my contract? by Minimum-Bee-5680 • last post Mar 19th
Hello, I’m signed with a good agency here in LA for model & talent 5-6months ago. I have been self submitting on casting networks and actors access. I get to audition/self-tape 3-5 times a week. Only booked one music video in these months being signed with my own submissions. Now, every photographers I meet they say that the agent is not good (there’s a lot of hearsay about my current agent) I feel the same way as well, when I text him he only response to me one word and with mean attitude. He really only handles men based on what I see on his IG. I’m trans and I feel like he doesn’t know what to do with me being the only trans on the roster right now. All the call backs I’ve gotten is all from my submissions. And people that I know in the industry finds it weird that my agent hasn’t sent me somewhere for castings. I have a 2 year exclusive contract with my current agency. I was transferred to my current agent because my old agent (same agency) moved to New York division so I was passed along with this new one 4 months ago. I’m not sure if he’s even submitting me for breakdowns I don’t see. How did you get out of your agency? How would you go about my situation? Thank you!
Can I get some help budgeting actors for a podcast? by Springflowers6969 • last post Mar 19th
So, I’m putting together a podcast. I think I have good rates on pretty much everything apart from actors. The recording studio is very upfront with their pricing, I’ve found an editor and we’ve talked through an a hourly rate, etc. But I can’t for the live of me figure out actors. I’m in NYC so I know we have a good talent pool. It seems like there are Union rates for film and theater, but not so much for VO? When I look it up, I mainly get VO for audio books and I don’t think it’s the same? I’m not looking for anyone super famous. (Obviously!) Just 4 or 5 talented people that I pay fairly. What do you think would be a fair day rate? Is there a standard?
I’m unbelievably fed up with trying to get anywhere with this. by bustergaming777 • last post Mar 18th
31 male actor here from UK. I’ve tried so many different approaches over the last year to maybe get more of a response to anything but I’m getting nothing at all. My agent is basically useless so I’ve applied to new ones and not had one meeting, got new headshots, added new material to showreel, tweaked profiles etc but it just seems like no matter what I do I can not get through, not even called in. I don’t have many credits but if that’s what is holding me back then how the hell do I get past this if no one is willing to even see me. Acting is my passion but right now I’m at a loss.
Anyone here studied computer science and are now working as an actor? by snowpiercer24 • last post Mar 18th
I'll be graduating from college next year and I'm planning to take acting classes as a start. I was wondering if anyone here has done that or something similar. Do you have any tips?
Hi everyone! My name is Ceasar by Puzzleheaded-Swan511 • last post Mar 18th
I always find myself dissecting movies or shows to find the deeper meaning of things. This I know comes from my love of literature. Not so much the writing part but how certain literary devices shape scenes that are used to create a complex web of a characters persona. Today I watched SCREAM VI with Jenna Ortega playing one of the lead characters, she is 20yo and 5’1. I am 19yo and 5’5(male). I don’t know… I guess watching her act in Wednesday and now this (along with growing up watching her on Disney), I’ve been feeling like I might like acting? I’ve always like film, especially people’s reactions to film and their interpretations of it. I’m actually starting a YouTube channel right now and looking at it from a distance I guess I like performing for people too. I love the editing process and planning everything in my head. Again though, as a libra I like the attention and eyes on me. Front and center. I am very much all over the place… I’m in college for engineering (though I’m realizing I hate math), and at the same time I’m planning on taking this YouTube thing very very far… I am lost to say the least. Either I have too many aspirations or the film industry is where I want to be. Idk but the old me would say I’m into STEM or something. When I think about it.. these actors I look up to took yearsssss to get to where they are, so why would I expect any less? I guess that’s doubt talking but it’s true. I don’t know if it would be right for me. I know less of where to start. And I’m scared to leave whatever path I’m on right now if it might lead to a dead end. How did you guys start? Is it too late for me? Am I too short? (Lmao)
Is Actors Access Down? by Blueeyesindisguise • last post Mar 18th
I can't load Actors Access on any device. Is it out?
WGA Writers Strike 2023 - What Will Happen for Actors? by Blueeyesindisguise • last post Mar 18th
My friend who works in unscripted said they unexpectedly stopped production because the writers will strike. He also said that he knows other productions that plan or have stopped. How long do you think this will last? How do you feel about it?
Is It Possible to Become a Successful Actor without Social Media? by 0558am • last post Mar 18th
I was thinking about this and figured it could be an interesting discussion topic. Do you think, in this day and age, is it possible for an aspiring or up-and-coming actor to achieve mainstream success without a social media presence? Social media has slowly but surely become a very strong presence in our lives. Most actors nowadays will have all their social media accounts set up before they’ve had their “big break” and will only stop using it, delete their accounts entirely or hand the management off it to a team once they’ve established their presence in the industry. Obviously this is a very broad stroke and doesn’t describe everyone but I think it’s true enough for a majority of people. So based on all this, given the trajectory social media has had on our society and lives, do you think it’s possible for actors to achieve success without social media?
I booked a feature! Now, how do I get paid? by letme_think_aboutit • last post Mar 18th
I'm a brand new actor and booked a small speaking role in a feature film! I'm very excited, although a little nervous because I actually have never acted before, only directed and written an unpaid short. It's a non-union gig and the payment is 300/12 + 15%. What does that mean? My role is very small I will probably be speaking for a total of like 3 minutes in the film . So do I get paid 25/hr? I also don't have an agent so do I get the 10%? Also, if anybody has any advice for a newcomer who booked this opportunity please let me know!! I love acting and filmmaking and might want to capitalize on this. Thank you!
Inside the Actors Studio - CBS Morning News by FiremanTodd • last post Mar 18th
There's a great video that CBS broadcast last Sunday about the Actors Studio. You can watch it by clicking this link: [https://www.cbsnews.com/video/inside-the-actors-studio/](https://www.cbsnews.com/video/inside-the-actors-studio/) Sitting in the front row, on the far right, is acting teacher David Gideon. Next to him is Carole Kane, and next to her is Ellen Burstyn. Both ladies are interviewed in the piece. Burstyn gives a great description of what the Strasberg Method is.
How can you make sure you like acting? by Orcus_ • last post Mar 18th
This might sound like a stupid question, but how can you be sure you like it before spending a lot of money or time? I've recently acquired an interest in acting, mostly from a tv show (community) I'm particularly fond of, in which The characters and the actors are really inspiring and amazing at what they do. That got me wondering how I could do that too. I tried to look for classes but I'm from Belgium so it's not as big of a thing as in America for example. Plus they're ludicrously expensive (for a uni student). Are there any free things I can do to learn and do more? Are there places with more Euro centric information on acting?
WeAudition Reader/User Experience by Blueeyesindisguise • last post Mar 18th
My roommate became a reader on WeAudition to primarily learn and practice and I also had a stint on the platform but couldn't stand not being paid for my time. I understand actors are some of the poorest people so tips aren't expected but if someone is meeting with you and going over multiple scenes for at least 30 min and they don't charge a fee, please tip or at the very least leave a good review. I have worked with people for at least 30 minutes and they did not even have the decency to leave a review. smh. Also, we can find you online, if you're doing relatively well and you don't leave a tip that is messed up. Do not give unsolicited advice if you are a reader. Only give advice if asked. Some people rant on and on and give a 10-minute speech about their training background and I will never use them again. If I'm paying you for time, I want to spend them on my scene. Some free readers are better than readers who charge a lot. Cost doesn't necessarily mean a great reader. If reviews give specific details instead of simple feedback that person is probably a good choice for your tape. WeAudition also provided a telescopic look into the inequality of this business. The three big ones: 1. Some of these actors are not good at all and they have great representation. It completely baffles my mind. I know performance quality is based on scenes but some of these people were repeat customers and this business is absolutely not about talent. 2. Depending on the quality of representation you have, sides for the same character look different. The actors who are actually taken seriously by casting with top representation have different sides and the sides are even formatted differently than lines from say, actors access or low-tier reps. I know casting can tell who is repped by who from their sides. Also, submissions seem to be a rolling situation where serious contenders go first and then they will open casting for other people. This is unfair because I also know people who worked in casting and they absolutely do not watch all tapes, that is a lie. 3. People of color still overwhelmingly get roles that require accents and are stereotypes. The business has not changed as much as people believe.