We have found 19,407 posts across 4 actor forums:
How HBO supports actors doing sex scenes by hiring intimacy directors by faitswulff • last post Oct 28th
What's your favorite acting podcast? by Chris_Knowles • last post Oct 27th
I have a real long commute, so listening to podcasts really help me survive the grind. I've heard of a few different acting podcasts, such as Inside Acting and Hollywood Close-Up but I'm curious to see what else is out there, and what listeners find helpful. What are your favorites...
Kicking A Bad Vocal Habit by ironiclesbianclown • last post Oct 27th
I am a college student and we are doing A Streetcar Named Desire. I was called back for Blanche but ultimately was cast as Eunice. I asked the director for notes on my audition and callback (a common practice in my school) and she basically said that what held me back from the role was my vocal skills. I have a tendency to go into a higher less grounded place when my emotions really kick in. It is hard for me to notice when it is happening because of said emotions. I also have a slight lisp. The combination of these things made my director believe I could not carry the show vocally. I am incredibly frustrated and I want to fix this about myself as an actor ASAP. I am reaching out to the schools voice for the actor teacher (a class I have already taken but am thinking about taking again for no credit) and have not heard back yet. I want to prove myself during this rehearsal process. TLDR: Do you have any recommendations on exercises/other things to work on to help me get this vocal grounding? Is this something you have experienced?
Nyc : Bringing your baby into a professional audition room by CuspChaser111 • last post Oct 27th
Actress I know here in nyc brings her baby into a professional sag-AFTRA audition- another girl and myself have to audition with baby in stroller uh what do you think happened as soon as CD calls action? Baby starts freaking asking for attention- wtf - girl’s husband a big wig and has connections and is known in industry so I couldn’t say anything - basically all of our auditions were ruined wtf how is this allowed? So much of audition was improv and I could barely hear her wtf how is this allowed!?!!
(Stage) actor fired a real gun loaded with blanks at me. This is a scene change that the director told me nothing about. I'm pissed. by Kazorov • last post Oct 27th
The scene we've been rehearsing for months involves my character getting hit with a breakaway glass bottle then beat up by thugs. Tonight when we rehearsed it I performed my part as usual only to see my fellow actor 5 feet away pointing a revolver at me and pulled the trigger. Everyone knew about this scene change but me. It was loud as shit but I didnt want to over react because I thought it must have been a cap gun and the actor is kinda my friend and hes been known to mess around and take scenes a little too far. I've been pissed ever since I found out it was a real gun with blanks. He showed me. It's his personal gun and he said "it's fine its blanks" It's a close quarters cramped scene with 8 people involved and no one seems to think it was a big deal. And it's in a smallish building so my ears still hurt. Should I be pissed? I'm kinda venting on here I guess but I would really like to know what you think.
Advice for acting in South America? by UnlikelyMoment • last post Oct 27th
I want to become an actor, but all the advice that I find is US or UK centric. Most of them advice not to move right away, but where I come from, Perú, there isn't so much of a film industry or anything of the sort. I would like to apply for an acting school abroad but right now, I don't have much of a resumé. Any advice?
Film Actors and Directors Collective by sagemichaelstone • last post Oct 27th
So I'm taking a gap in my studies and moving to LA in January to start auditioning for film and get experience in the industry. I went to school for acting for a year, but the program wasnt quite what I was looking for. I wanted something more collaborative, film based, and filled with constant creation. I've been following the rise of music collectives (musicians and producers banding together to put out constant work) over the last few years and think the model could work for young actors and directors looking to gain experience and create some cool collaborations. I want to find a big group of creators to move into a house in LA together, split rent, and make some films to gain experience while we apply for professional work. Does this exist? How can I find something like this? Does anyone have interest?
Is it that important to be a lot emotional as an actor? by skiasonar • last post Oct 27th
Hi everyone, this is my first post here in r/acting. I'm a high school student and very passionate about acting, and even if I'm thinking about pursuing a career I haven't made a decision yet. One of the things which make me doubt the most about whether I have the talent to become an actor or not is that I'm not able to express strong emotions. This is also, paradoxically, the reason that made me know the world of acting at first - I began to take classes because, apart from loving theatre, I had trouble in connecting with the emotional part of myself. Right now I feel like I've made progress, but I still can't cry or laugh ostensibly when acting, and I'm worried that having a limited emotional range could be a great obstacle for me. However, I've also read many times that being natural is more important than being emotional, and that sometimes getting too much into that side could feel forced and overacted. I was wondering, how much is important to learn to express raw, strong emotions? Is that a necessary part of being an actor, and should I put the most of my efforts in overcoming this limit? And if it's really that essential, do you have any tips in developing this ability? Thank you very much :)
It's opening night for what has been the greatest play I've ever been a part of. by TheBraveBadger • last post Oct 26th
I'm experiencing so many different emotions right now. I've done quite a few plays over the past couple years (currently a senior in college), but this has easily been the best experience I've ever had. There was no off the stage drama whatsoever, everyone was equally dedicated to creating a genuine piece of art. Which I've found is rare. I mean, this is a college production. We have a small cast, but normally there is at least some problem that arises. But no, we grew so much as actors, people, and friends. Hell, we stayed a good forty-five minutes after our final dress last night talking about how proud of each other we all are. I've NEVER had that before, even in high school! I really care about these people a lot, which makes me feel all the more sad because from past experiences, I know that it's common to just lose touch and talk less frequently until you stop talking altogether. It sucks. But those are my thoughts. I just wanted to share with all of you that when you have the good fortune of getting to work with a group of people you genuinely love and care about, don't take it for granted. It's rare. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Casting Sites for London by solaogun • last post Oct 26th
Just a question to any London/UK based actors in here. Does anyone have any preferences of casting websites they’d use. Just finished my degree and looking for work, just wanting to know some experiences that people have had with them, good or bad. P.s.Bearing in mind I don’t think i’ve got the work to jump on Spotlight yet.
How often do background actors get bumped up to principal roles? by caalittlemiss • last post Oct 26th
Lately, both on here as well as on the TMFA facebook group, I see actors sharing stories about how they started as a background actor when they were then bumped up to a speaking role. It seems like a lot of them mention it happening, although they never go into detail of exactly how. Does this happen often? If it does, does the director or someone on production just pick a random background actor and tell them to say a line? Do they audition all of the background actors for it right then and there? P.S. this is just a curiosity question. I've never done background work and don't have much of an interest in doing so right now (I know, the experience of being on real set and all) seeing that background actors tend to be treated poorly and aren't paid very much. But if this is one means of getting a speaking role in a larger movie, it might be something to consider. Curious as to how often this happens.
How do actors get housing when having production overseas? by karalayne • last post Oct 26th
For example, if a production of a movie or a series (with both equity and non-equity actors) were to take place in a different country, how are they provided housing? Are actors allowed to bring one person (partner, family member, etc) as a guest to stay with them overseas?
A teen who needs serious advice!Thanks in advance if you read this because this was probably unnecessarily long. by moonorince12 • last post Oct 26th
Hi everyone, so I’m a senior in High school and I’m going to be graduating soon next year and acting is something I’ve wanted to since I was a kid. I’ve also loved singing and writing but I feel acting would allow me the chance to venture into those opportunities in the future. So a few years ago in middle school I even went to a casting call for a local talent agency and was accepted. This is one of the first moments where I ever got a real taste of the “business” I suppose and it was such a happy moment in my life but it fell through because my family wasn’t very supportive of it and since I was a kid I wasn’t confident in the whole thing or my abilities . Not that I’m stuck on the agency thing and getting one, I’ve read post where it says actors should hold off on trying to do that, it was just something that made me feel confident in my dream, something that I like to look back on. But now I’m getting to the point where I feel I have to start working towards my goal. So if anyone has any advice about what steps I should start taking? Like if I should go to college for acting, although don’t you have to audition for things like that? I don’t think I’m at any level where I could be accepted when I have zero real experience? Move out to Atlanta or L.A, cities that I have seen have a lot of casting opportunities? <—- That seems daunting. I don’t have a clue, so if anyone has any advice, words of wisdom, ANYTHING. I’m ready to listen.
Finding student films and shorts likely to go to festivals? by danycolt • last post Oct 26th
Hey guys, LA Actor here! So thus far I've found a few student film and short film projects on Actors Access where the filmmakers express their intention to submit to film festivals. I'd like to hone in on these specific projects and was wondering if anyone had any experience or ideas to help me find more of them? Thanks in advance!!
My experience with theatre and acting in general. by Diego077 • last post Oct 26th
As I was roaming around the streets, my shoulders brushing up against the horde in a dark and gloomy day, I decided to take the plunge and take up an activity that was far beyond my reasoning, far beyond my wildest dreams. The idea of taking on something that will make me go to great lengths to step outside my comfort zone started creeping up on me. I was determined to take the leap in some area of my life and I have never looked back since. I was determined to keep on waging war on every single irrationality running through my mind. My irrational fears, my irrational questioning and my irrational way of functioning in life. For the longest part of my existence I have always refused and turned down opportunities to take part in activities that involve a certain degree of exposure and expression, be it social or any other sort. My past and my social background has always been pretty dark, plagued by moments and snippets of uncertainty, moments where my hope-driven efforts were to no avail. For the purpose of this post, I will not go into detail. But to put it into perspective, my past left me drenched in nothing but overwhelming insecurities, runaway anxiety, shyness and a degree of social awkwardness and what's more, a massive sense and need of social approval. I just wanted to rid myself of everything altogether, to not give a f@#$ anymore. So I embarked on this adventure. From the very first moment I set foot in the place, something clicked within me. I knew I was making the right choice. I knew the gist of the whole acting thing, but I still feel numbness most of the time when I walk in, I feel overcome with nervousness and uncertainty about the next thing that will eventually happen. They say that is a trigger for panic but I felt like it was anything but. That is just a sign of imminent growth. I was willing to make every single effort to put a halt to my nonsense by facing it and moving onto the next challenge. As the saying goes, expression is the opposite of depression. From the very first moment I set foot in the place I got nothing but ambivalent feelings. A gift I had to make the most out of, overlapped by those instant rushes, automatic reactions, defense mechanisms , fight or flight response, you name it, that crop up as I try to set my mind to get in the 'actor mood'. Luckily enough, I was not alone, not only do you need support and someone that will make you hold up your end when committing to something of this nature but you also need someone that will hold you accountable and share the same feelings in some way. The energy these people give off is indescribable, it is not just a pat on the back, I refer to it as a transmutation of energy, where we feed off each other, transmuting harmful energies to positive vibes. They are not just classmates, they are family, my family. I will cherish the moments we are sharing for my entire life. As the classes went on, everything was moving along, so was my nerve to act. Although I felt and still feel a bit behind throughout the whole process given my whole weirdness added to the inability to cope with my clumsiness when under pressure and also the flair of some of my classmates who have to put on acts. This group of people are not only terrific actors who share the 'acting bug', I am amazed to be friends with such talented, intelligent, dedicated people who make me so happy, and from whom I can learn a lot. It feels like this whole process is getting somewhere. They say that to put on an act, or just act, you have to be well-acquainted with the given circumstances of your role, play around, and most importantly, get to know yourself. So that you can immerse yourself in the given role as who you are and how you would react to those circumstances. That´s when the muse kicks in. In a nutshell, you are supposed to internalize this in a snap of the fingers and then let yourself go, taking your emotions as they come and sometimes using them to your advantage. Easier said than done of course. For me, I use this as a means to battle my struggles and to escape from my reality. Despite the rush of racing thoughts, nervousness, when I am in the mood for acting, it comes out smoothly and naturally. More often than not, I wonder and try to wrap my head around the causes of why this naturalness exists and where is it coming from. To this day, it is still nothing but a mystery to me. Up to this point, there are many things that have gone a long way for me to improve and polish my skills. Now the time has come to expel these giant bursts of energy and finally make a play. I know for a fact that just taking on this challenge will not suffice. There is a whole host of things you need to do and apply to get the job done. Mustering up courage is one but you also need to get really technical with it. To cut to the chase, you need to handle your emotions so you can also be aware of the technical aspects that come into play during, paradoxically enough, a play. To sum up, I advocate that acting opens up new ways and perspectives. It affects everyone differently and everyone reacts differently to different stimulus. But as long as we are all in it together, there is one common goal. That is what makes the whole process exciting and heady. There's a long way to go and lot of room for improvement. It feels like once and for all, I'm paving the way to achievement of something long-lasting that will enrich my life forever.
Headshot-Age Range-Character Type Post - Oct 25 by AutoModerator • last post Oct 25th
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. 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.
Morality vs Money by lzbumblebee • last post Oct 25th
I originally just thought about posting this in the weekly ask thread, but I feel like it’s a question that would probably be worth discussing on it’s own. There’s a casting for a political party PAC advertisement. Needless to say, it’s for an opposing political party. But it also obviously pays. My demographic, I’m sure whoever is selecting for the commercial, would immediately select me...but is the money worth “selling my soul” as a background actor? I know it’s not a question anyone can answer for me. The money will obviously be nice and is the biggest factor. It’s not a ton of money, but it would be helpful, and I wouldn’t have to worry about sharing an agency percentage either. And it leads to a bigger question. Where’s your line drawn at? What won’t you do for money at any price (although I feel like as creatives, living in absolutes is taboo).
Are there any actors who watch porn for the acting? by sumant28 • last post Oct 25th
What about the craft can be learned about from these performances.
What are some books / essays on exaggerated acting? by Locogooner • last post Oct 24th
I'm a director but I want my actors to adopt an exaggerated style of acting. Something akin to Japanese Kabuki theatre or general stylised acting something like Jack Nicholson in The Shining or The Joker in The Dark Knight. Are there any books on the art of overacting?
Dramatic Acting Jams in LA? by misstheground12 • last post Oct 24th
I know there are a number of improv jams in LA, which are super cheap, anyone can show up, and improv a comedic scene. Does the same thing exist for dramatic scenes? And not necessarily improv - just a cheap place where actors come together and work on scenes?