We have found 19,242 posts across 4 actor forums:
[M20/] I got an extra role in an orgy scene of a big budget movie. What should I expect? by brought2ubycarlssr • last post Jan 27th
I've only done 1 extra role a week ago for another movie. The same casting company called me for an orgy scene for a pretty big movie. I have no idea what to expect. I'd prefer to be paired up with a female for obvious reasons. Do I concentrate on not to get hard? Or do I concentrate on getting hard as to not to insult the actress? Either way, getting hard while a whole production team with a telescope up my ass sounds hard. Anyone with past experiences? Thanks a lot.
My whole life I’ve been told I have a great voice, how do I get into voice acting? by IreaditOnReddit08 • last post Jan 27th
I worked a drive through in college and had people tell me I have a great voice, I honed it through a failed little rap “career”, after working jobs I really hate I want to get into something I enjoy and feel like voice acting could be it. I have a pretty good home studio to record, hoping someone could please point me in the right direction to become a voice actor. Many thanks in advance.
Anxiety is ruining my chances at an acting career. by silkk8 • last post Jan 27th
I've been anxious my whole life, but in my late teens/early twenties (college age) it got clinically bad. That, coupled with horrible chronic digestive problems and nausea, eventually made me quit college for a semester to get medicated and back on track. I took classes over the summer, and graduated on time with honors. I'm proud of that. My improvement motivated me to finally pursue my lifelong dream of being a professional actor. I got headshots, enrolled in (still ongoing) training, and improved a lot. I still had/have issues with anticipatory anxiety, but being out of the evaluation environment of class and actually working on set (and self taping most of my auditions) has helped greatly. Since this summer I've started booking roles in TV/film, nothing super major, but still professional credits. I signed with an agent near where I live and am starting to build a relationship with a new agent in PA/NYC. I made it my goal to get legit (better) representation in 2019. So I decided to attend an agent/CD workshop. I knew going in that this was no guarantee of anything, but I truly believed I had at least a shot of interesting one of the panelists. I picked a scene I loved, and I had it *down.* I tried not to psych myself out but my performance was not great. I wouldn't say I was the worst in my group, but certainly not the best, and my biggest feedback was that I lacked confidence which prevented me from connecting to the material (like I did while practicing). It's just so frustrating, because I know I was capable of impressing them, of connecting, of being confident. But I literally can't control how my body reacts to the prospect of being evaluated in front of a group. I take Xanax and everything, but it still comes through, sabotaging my performance. Two out of the 4 panelists noted on their feedback sheets that I wasn't ready to book, even after a year of training (and booking). Two said I could book at the lowest level. I'm just so mad because they only got to see one anxiety riddled performance from me, and basically wrote me off because of it. Which I totally understand! I'm not mad at them; I'm mad at myself. It makes me feel like I've made no progress at all, and will never get my foot in the door. I'm working on my anxiety but it will always be a part of me. Maybe acting won't be, then. ​ Sorry for the rant. TLDR: Anxiety is killing my confidence in the room, which is killing my chances at getting representation and booking. Meds only do so much.
PSA: Advice from casting (long read) by highrisedrifter • last post Jan 27th
As someone who has worked for a casting director for a couple of years and as a director currently casting a SAG-AFTRA paid feature film (and also i’m mainly a SAG-AFTRA actor with good TV/film credits), I have some advice for actors who use casting sites like Casting Networks, Actors Access and the others that exist. Some of you know me on here as I like to help fellow actors out. I’m first and foremost an actor but I consider we are all colleagues, not competitors. I’m mainly going to talk about Casting Networks as that’s the one we are using today to cast our feature. When you submit, we get a list of actors headshots. The one thing I have noticed is that there are two types of headshot, professional ones that make you look good, and ones that seem to be either cut from a project or badly shot on a phone. And whatever you do, don’t add comedy stickers over your photos. One guy had a Menorah covering something which I can only assume would be a copyright violation otherwise. The headshot looked silly, we laughed, and moved on to someone else. We are casting a number of roles for this feature and with over 100 submissions for some of the roles, we need a way to get rid of people immediately. The feature we are shooting is a drama, so we expect people to submit a headshot accordingly. We had a few ‘wacky and zany’ headshots chosen. Those people got ignored. Anyone with a bad headshot gets ignored too. Yes we may miss some great actors this way but we do need a way of slimming down the numbers. There is no excuse for you to have a bad headshot on a casting site. Next we look for a reel. If you don’t have a reel, we may look at your resume *if* the main headshot is a perfect fit. If you don’t have a reel though, the chances of bringing you in are slim, unless you have perfect credits and a perfect look. This only happens once or twice by role maximum. BUT, these roles are put into the secondary pile. If you don’t have a reel or a resume online, you get trashed. For god’s sake, add both! Now we would look at all the reels from the people we have left. At least the first minute, unless your reel is terrible from the start. One reel had eight seconds of black screen, followed by a superimposed name over more black for another seven seconds. It was 15 seconds into the reel before we even saw the actor for the first time. I‘m not kidding! The first time they opened their mouth was 30 seconds in. 30 seconds. If we have hundreds of reels to look at, you only HAVE 30 seconds to make an impression as we just don’t have time to look at all reels! That actor didn’t make the cut. So once we’ve marked the people as definite to bring in, we look at how many we have and if we have space, we look at the secondary pile again. If we don’t have space, we may have to cut the list down even further and that’s done by looking at the reel and the headshot exclusively. If both are a perfect fit, we bring you in. If one or the other is just a bit off, we may not bring you in, depending on time we have available. Put your best stuff right at the top of your reel. My acting reel for instance launches straight into my best dialogue in a dirty shot over another actors shoulder, with my name superimposed over the bottom of the frame. No black screen. No montage. And for god’s sake, no music with a copyright you don’t own! We want you to be brilliant and by not adding a reel or a resume, you don't look professional. You look like an amateur. But on the flip-side, we are looking for excuses NOT to bring you in, because time is limited and we simply can’t see everyone. Make sure your headshots look good, you have an updated reel, You’ve filled in the skills/training part of the site and your resume is up-to-date. If one of those is missing, you are hurting your chances of getting called in. If a few of those are missing you are wasting your time. And sorry, i’m not going to provide a link to the feature we are casting as we have all the subs we need for this and we’ve passed the cast date. I truly hope this information helps anyone unsure what to put on a casting site. Best of luck, and go out there and slay it!
Help with training by badthrowaway77 • last post Jan 27th
So I just booked my first big credit at the last year. I made the episode and everything. It was literally the culmination of a ten year journey. I felt like I was on top of the world...There is no way the top agents in my city would say no to me now...and they did..4/5 said no, one said submit a tape and we will get back to you soon on our decision and that was weeks ago with no response. Now I'm looking to get back into classes, I completed a full miesner program and honestly, I felt it didn't make me a better actor, I don't know if I even took anything out of it. Other than personlization, but even when I'm "acting" or auditioning, that personalization isn't going through my head. What goes through my head is "be as real as possible" "less is more" and not forgetting my lines. Now I'm debating on what I should do next for 2019..I want to get with a better agent, I'm having trouble if I should continue with Miesner or maybe try a different method, like Shurtleff. I don't want to keep on throwing money at classes if they aren't working...There is a phrase - "I don't want to adult today" sometimes I don't want to be a human...
My first commercial is now airing! by PinkamenaDP • last post Jan 27th
I saw a commercial that has me in it for the first time!! Its been airing this week on the channels NBC and CBS and maybe ABC but I haven't caught it there yet. It's for a large Native American entity that has a massive presence locally and regionally. They have an independent film production company but I worked with the largest marketing company in our city for the filming and photography for this advertising effort. I don't really know much about the process but I do know their commercials are always high quality and very eye catching. It's a montage of many different pieces of footage with music and voice over. My footage was only a second but it's so exciting nonetheless! The family is all excited as well. I wondered what made them select the piece they selected for me. The day we filmed, they got a few different takes in this specific scene and each take was at least 30 seconds long. They were so excited the cameraman and director said "oh you're going to be on TV for sure." But they only picked 1 second of all that and I honestly think as awesome as that second is - it's clearly me, it's a side shot and there was better, more face-on filming done of me and I wonder why they didn't choose that. Not that I'm complaining, but I'm genuinely interested in the process of editing, and the who/what/why that determines what few precious seconds are ultimately chosen and used. Do the photographers or production people have a say in what gets used? Or if not, do they ever think "what the heck I got way better footage than that," or "I worked really hard setting that scene up and getting an exact result from the actor" etc etc when they see the final edit or do they even care at all? Do they get paid for their work being used on top of their wages to initially film or photograph? It was so much fun and I was worried they could choose not to use me in the advertising at all. But they did! It took about 10 weeks for the commercial to air. There's much more that I filmed in many different locations and environments so I'm excited for what might yet be produced! The best thing is that my parents were the first ones to catch an airing on prime time tv so it made them really happy! Eta: if there's better industry terms that I should use, please let me know! I'm not educated, trained or very experienced in this but I'd like to be!
Agent advice/feedback - TKO by Act0r • last post Jan 26th
Hi friends -- I have a meeting with Lynne Jebens at TKO this week. This is the result of a One on One session with her. I liked Lynne a lot in my initial audition with her, but am curious for advice around her/the office itself -- good agent/agency? Are...
You love acting, but how much bullshit are you willing to out up with? by laaity • last post Jan 26th
Hey fellow actors, I need some help. I am a struggling (but professional) actor, my question is about unpaid jobs, and what amount of abuse/disorganization/time wasted y'all are willing to put up with. I have been rehearsing a play with an amateur company, that generally produces high level shows. They do not pay their actors, however, so there is always a wide range or experienced and inexperienced actors. This play I am doing, I have dedicated a huge amount of time already, I've made sacrifices to attend every single rehearsal. Attendance from multiple members of the cast have been ABYSMAL. Literally, less than 50% of scheduled rehearsals. The director is stern and inflexible. It is not a positive or enjoyable rehearsal experience. At what point am I justified in quitting? Is one month before opening enough time? If I explain my reasons in a respectful way, is this considered "burning a bridge"? Is it better to make up an excuse? How would y'all do it? TL;DR: This play is a gong show, but I don't know how to quit.
Went to my first acting class by JetGunAintThatBad • last post Jan 26th
I (15 year old from the UK) went to my first acting class today. I can almost taste the BAFTA /s. I've always been the STEM type (nerd-type) and as such I've never done any acting before that. Therefore, I'm shit. Imagine a 4 year old doing Macbeth and trying to capture all the intricacies of the character, but in reality he's shitting himself in his own mouth. Repeatedly. And to the displeasure of the rest of the people who had been acting since the womb. Distasteful metaphors aside, how can I get better (I want to be a comedy actor)? I realize it will take me most of my life to get to a level where I can stand back and think "Yeah, I'm alright at this now" but, are there any specific goals or targets to reach and how can I reach them measurably?
Best Cities for acting work besides Los Angeles by yungoatmeal23 • last post Jan 26th
I am an aspiring actor willing to move out of my current state due to there not being much work in it and I was wondering what cities I could consider(LA is a no brainer) I’d be fine with stage acting but I’m really looking for some film/TV work. Thank you in advance
BFA at UCSD or USC or move to LA and pursue acting career? by thatguy_sk • last post Jan 26th
A little about me, I’m a 32 year old Korean American residing in San Diego, who can portray ages from 20-29. I’ve had limited experience but am currently enrolled at a city college for an AA in performing visual arts/theatre with transfer to UC schools. I was in my first professionally directed play last semester with San Diego City College, Metamorphoses by Mary Zimmerman, of which I performed as 3 main characters and 1 supporting role, and will be in this semesters play of, 6 Characters in Search of an Author with the University of San Diego. I have had a total of 6 various auditions for plays, print, commercials, and reality shows of which I’ve been cast in 3, the stand in for one, in the second round of casting for another right now, and one nothing came of it. I know my look works and especially now, is sought after. Now my dilemma is this, do I transfer for my BFA in theatre/acting and if so to which school, UCSD or USC? I want to be a major tv/film actor. Or do I move to LA and pursue acting full time after this semester? I would still continue my training as an actor with acting classes, dance and movement classes, as well as vocal classes. I do not have to work or pay for school in either scenario as I receive 100% VA disability for issues related to my time in service as a Untied States Navy Rescue Swimmer and college is paid for as well from my Post 9/11 GI Bill. My concerns are that I still need to complete this spring semester, then would have to complete the fall semester as well before I’m free to transfer, but can apply for transfer this spring semester. My GPA is 3.73. But I am worried that the void that will inevitably be filled by another Asian American, and over saturated by the time I complete my BFA. Edits: Speliing and Grammar
Looking for an Ewan McGregor/Obi-Wan Kenobi sound-alike by skeletalMesh • last post Jan 26th
Hi everyone, I have a very specific request. I'm doing some work in a fan film project and, as the title says, we need a voice actor who can do an impression of Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi for a line on a teaser trailer. We can adapt to your costs and we're not in any particular hurry, so there's no deadline right now. Cheers.
NY Talent Link by hammy • last post Jan 25th
Anyone ever done/had success with the NY Talent Link thing they advertise on Actors’ Access?
Etiquette on upcoming credits? by broadwayDrEaMz • last post Jan 25th
Anyone have any insight on casting directors responses to upcoming projects on a resume? I want to put an upcoming credit on my resume for audition season as it is a show that's being done incredibly often (which I think would help me get in the room for other productions...
Get Cinematic by John Swanbeck • last post Jan 25th
What actors mean by "real" is not what filmmakers and casting directors mean by "real"...
Actors who’ve worked in LA... is it a scary place? by wingsith19 • last post Jan 25th
Actors who’ve worked in LA, is it a scary place? I ask this because there’s constant scandals coming out of Hollywood, with things ranging from sexual harassment, to child sex rings, to sex cults, lots of drugs and... well, you get the idea. People having admitted to doing nasty things just so they can be famous makes acting in LA sound scary as hell to me. For actors who’ve worked in LA, is this a big problem? Or something exaggerated by the media?
Headshot alternatives? by 20nurisk • last post Jan 25th
I am a new actor and recently have gotten an opportunity at an audition, but i have no professional headshots. Could self taken photos be acceptable?
Voice acting by afedavis • last post Jan 25th
Am looking into being a voice actor, can anyone point me the right way!
Any advice for playing Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream? by PM-ME-THICC-GIRLS • last post Jan 24th
Mostly done backstage running crew before, but got my first part in the school play. Smallscale, just hoping it still goes well. Anyways, since it is my first role as an actor, can anyone offer advice? How do I know if I’m overacting or something? Thank you all in advance, I’m hoping I can be with this community for many more years. :-)
Using sides from one project to audition for another by rockysgood18 • last post Jan 24th
I am an actor without a reel. I've made a handful of self tapes the last few years while I was finishing university. I made one self tape almost a year ago that I am really proud of but I was unable to attend the call backs. My questions is this. Would it be wrong to use that tape as a placeholder reel? Would it be infringing on an intellectual property by using sides from another project? Would this be a shitty thing to do or is it a nonissue?