We have found 19,293 posts across 4 actor forums:
It's one of those days I'm feeling blessed... by fieryroad • last post Aug 2nd
Usually we don't express happiness or gratitude... So here it goes. I feel so happy and thrilled whenever I realize I was meant to be an actor. Thank you, universe. Cheers :)
Headshot-Age Range-Character Type Post - Aug 2 by AutoModerator • last post Aug 2nd
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.
Directors, please don't do this by GandalfTheGhay • last post Aug 2nd
[u/idontthink\_so](https://www.reddit.com/user/idontthink_so) Created a post where he reaches out to a girl he thinks is a good fit for the role he/she needs to fill for a short film they are making. The girl cut her hair, and this fellow felt it unprofessional on her part that she did this. Don't blame actors for changing the way they look when you don't explicitly express that they should keep their current look, they may need to change it for another upcoming role and despite what you may think your short film isn't the center of their world. Also, if an actor goes to the trouble of filming an audition **WHICH YOU REACHED OUT TO HER AND REQUESTED**, don't be this person - " I did not open the video because the whole situation made me cringe so hard I closed the mail." People put time into producing the best audition they can, so at least let them know before hand if you are generally an incompetent and unprofessional person. :) Post I'm reffering to: [https://www.reddit.com/r/acting/comments/93qezu/actors\_please\_dont\_do\_this/](https://www.reddit.com/r/acting/comments/93qezu/actors_please_dont_do_this/) Edit: Also, wigs are a thing.
FINDING PURPOSE AND RELATIONSHIP IN A MONOLOGUE by Winniehiller • last post Aug 2nd
Hi...some more acting advice from me, acting coach Winnie Hiller. Yesterday I posted about how to hone in on your objective in a scene and how to figure out what it is really about. This morning I watched a young actress’s video of a monologue she posted on this subreddit. She did a lovely job, but it was missing exactly what yesterday’s post was explaining. You see, even in a monologue, the scene is never about you. It’s about what you want from the other person. Every word should be directed to that person for the purpose of doing something specific to them to change them in certain way. The monologue is from the movie, [Monster](https://youtu.be/-MBtsGn8dOk). Here are my comments: You should be saying every word of your monologue for a particular purpose with the person you are speaking with. Imagine they are asking you questions that you are responding to. How could you have killed all those people? Were you ever normal? Right now, the whole piece has a very dreamy quality, but is rather one note. You are remembering a different time in your life for a reason. Revisit it fully in your mind as you use these memories as examples of why the other person is wrong. Because it is an opening narration in the film, it doesn’t feel like a personal exchange even in the original. I’d probably give Charlize the same direction if it was a stand alone piece. In the movie, this opening has none of her later brilliant characterization and pain in it. But as a monologue, you need to create relationship and purpose with the person you are speaking to. Imagine the conversation leading to the first line. Perhaps the person you are speaking to is Charlize Theron. She came in to talk to you about playing you in the movie. She’s asking you about your history...how you got where you are (in prison)...what led you to be a murderer. She’s a beautiful movie star, just like you always wanted to be. You know they are going to call the movie “Monster”. You don’t want her to think you are a monster. You want her to know you had dreams and goals. You want her to believe your life began innocently and with an ambition. You had hope, purpose, a plan. It is not just a hazy memory. It is proof that there was once a piece of your history in which what you did make sense. And it wasn’t your fault your life ended up like it did. Maybe the line immediately preceding your first in the monologue would be, “Wow...Charlize Theron! You sure are beautiful...you know...I always wanted to be in the movies...”. Now every line is to convince her that you started out just like her. The opposition is that you feel Charlize is looking down on you...judging you...thinking you are a monster. Your job is to convince her she is wrong. Even if you want to do this monologue completely out of context with a different scenario, you would need to fully create that scenario with someone to speak to for a specific purpose. You are responding to their opposite opinion in order to change them. The scene is not about you. It’s about them.
Paid Demo Reels??? Do they actually work? by estelee0mat • last post Aug 2nd
I've got a lack of real footage from short/student films that and I'm now in the typical actors dilemma of deciding whether it's time to pay a service to shoot some demo reel scenes for me. Does this actually help get auditions/agent attention? Will CDs see right through it? Are there any other (better) alternatives besides obviously getting cast & getting footage in amazing indie films/having a friend with a super nice camera?? I'm willing to spend the 500-1000 if a demo reel service will actually benefit my career, BUT I also want to make that it's not looked down upon & will still be a valuable asset/worth it for me 6-12 months down the line. Thanks in advance for the help!!!
5 yr old daughter was cast in a large theater production. What's next? by coolhands1 • last post Aug 2nd
My 5 year old daughter was cast in a traveling production of a Broadway play. She will be paid well for her work and has been told she has the option to apply for the local actors union. At her age are there benefits for drawbacks to being in a union? Should we hire her an agent? She has been in a performing art preschool for 3 years and LOVES being in stage, I see this as something she will choose to pursue in her future. As a proud/nervous parent I want to be as bet prepared as we can. What do I do now?
A little confused on the whole you can only work on union films. by Khoula • last post Aug 2nd
For example, can a SAG-AFTRA actor work on other union films, or does it have to be completely under SAG? Also, what union is in charge of movies such as disney? This really confuses me. Keep in mind I am very new to all of this show business stuff which further leads to my confusion. Any answers would help. Thank you so much!
Agent submission question by actor2018canada • last post Aug 2nd
A few months ago, I sent my stuff to a few agencies, and my number one said that they're not taking any people on right now. I already submitted to them once before that like a year ago, and they said they already had someone in my look and age range. If I submit a third time, will it look desperate? Needy? Will they just delete my submission? Will they even remember me?
Finally gonna look for an agency by rosereese • last post Aug 1st
Been wanting to be an actor my whole life, didn’t actually put my dreams into action til I was about 10. I’m now 17, and a senior in high school. I’ve been in multiple school plays, church plays, one student film for school, and a few skits for the broadcast club at school. I’ve been to one casting call, my first real audition. My age was sort of why I never really looked out into an agency before. but now I’m old enough for my own decisions about my career. I want to do this for life. I know acting is a job, trust me I do. But that’s not all I want out of it. I love the lifelong friendships and one of a kind experiences you make on set. Even me just being in plays for the city, got me a few friends I wouldn’t trade anything for. Acting is a passion, being able to step into a much bigger world. Living in these various characters worlds and their lives is always a blast. I do have a few connections in the industry, some close friends that are actors. One of my uncles is also a cameraman for a studio in California. I know I may be too old to pursue a career, but I’m gonna try anyway. I won’t be able to be the kid actor I always wanted to be, but nonetheless the same mindset applies. Anybody got any advice for me as I start to reach into the much bigger world? I have my resume typed out, cover letter, and headshots available. Do I need anything else ? Thanks in advance .
Biography Advice? by worldtraveler9700 • last post Aug 1st
I was asked to teach a class through a local theater in my community and they asked for me to provide a bio. Specifically, they asked that I mention how I worked on a major feature film even though I only worked as extra and the film itself will not be released until next year (the production company is still using the working title and everything). Now I am a working actor so I would never put it on my resume but would it be okay to put it in my bio? I'm assuming it's because they want me to sound as qualified as possible but I'm also concerned that because the film is still using its working title and I signed an NDA that it could be a conflict in the future. I'm totally fine with telling them no but I was wondering what everyone's thoughts were? Thanks.
Rote Memorization vs Verb Focus by dtonationify • last post Aug 1st
I'm reading Dee Canon's "In-Depth Acting", and in one of the chapters she keeps stating blatantly her opinion that rote memorization is bad for the actor, and does not allow for changing inflections if and when the director calls for so. She says, that once you have chosen an active/transitive verb for your beat, you should read the text and try to focus on affecting/saying the text in a way that you execute your verb (i.e "To entice"), and this will get your text into your head. I know that opinions on this matter differ... What is your opinion? How do you memorize your text, rote or this way?
Anyone here also work in corporate America but has booked a few roles on Tv shows etc? by CuspChaser111 • last post Aug 1st
How do you balance it? Did acting finally take off and you didn’t have to keep the day job? Luckily I’ve worked to a level where I have some flex...most of my friends are servers / bartenders ...
what’s “natural talent”? by hllal • last post Aug 1st
I’m a long time lurker here but in the last few days I’ve seen a few people talking about how you either ‘have the gift’ or don’t. I always thought it sounded kinda pretentious, no one comes out of the womb reciting Shakespearian monologues. and most actors will improve with practice. But I’ve been seeing this more and more so am I the one missing something? Can someone explain the thinking behind those kinda statements? Thanks in advance for any responses!
Actors, please don't do this by idontthink_so • last post Aug 1st
Long story short: I'm currently in the casting process for a short film which I intend to shoot soon. While browsing casting sites, I found a girl that really fit the image I had in mind for one of the characters. She had long blonde hair. I contacted her, gave her details about the whole thing, told her the pay, and she seemed thrilled with the idea, replied back with her resume and everything. And her resume was not light, at all. It also had scattered headshots in it here and there, I liked them, it just validated my thoughts that she looked right for the character. I ended up sending her a draft of the script, and she was supposed to send me a tape with a monologue that was in it. Yesterday she sent it. Well, surprise! She got a haircut. No, she didn't trim her hair a bit, she didn't get it shoulder length, she cut her sides to the scalp, and left it a bit long on the top. She now looks completely different from her headshots. She did not even mention her total look change in the e-mail, like it was nothing. I did not open the video because the whole situation made me cringe so hard I closed the mail. So please, don't do that. Or if you do, at least tell the person who is casting you, so they don't have the "what the hell?" reaction I had.
Kickstarting An Acting Career by Actorlifetor • last post Aug 1st
Hey everyone, I'm a filmmaking student looking to gain a little bit of insight from the newcomer actors in this thread to help me with a little assignment I've need to finish. Essentially, I have to write a short essay on the roadblocks facing the beginner screen actor in 2018. I would love if you took a few minutes to fill out this short survey to help me out! Thanks so much! r/[https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q2HD6WF](https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q2HD6WF) EDIT: For the anti-survey ppl here: 1. What's been the hardest thing about kickstarting your acting career? 2. With one example, highlight what was difficult about it 3. Have you tried anything in order to solve that problem? 4. What wasn't so great about that solution(s)
Story Time! I want to hear your stories about the worst cast members you've had to work with! by peanutbuttermuffs • last post Aug 1st
I just came back from out of state working on this feature, and holy butts guys. This guy was such a douche, and what made it worse was the fact it was a Romance drama requiring my character to fall in love with his. I could hardly be in the same room with him! He was constantly belittling me, and condescending to me. And honestly, just a fucking dick. Some snippets of said douchery: After our first **dry** table read, he asked me if I've ever taken acting classes, then he proceeded to tell me all about the acting method he does and he wants me to do for this script. Rehearsals are basically him just telling me how he thinks I should play it, every single day, for a month before shooting. When I pick him up from the airport to drive to location, he asked if I've ever worked on a feature before and demanded I list him my credits like he didn't believe me. Total Dick move. He asks that my characters dialog pause in unnatural places so he can cut in yelling improve lines to see if he can get a reaction and "make it bigger". But it is out of place in the scene entirely. To make it all way worse, he was directing the crew, he was directing me, and he was directing the director! Yelling at the crew, telling the director he had the wrong angle, or frame, or camera lens. He jumped in at some point during the shoot and asked the director/writer to **re-write and reshoot the ending** because he felt he was upstaged and wanted his character to have a bigger "crescendo ending." *(The hilarious twist on our stupid reshoot was that he totally Tommy Wiseau'd it. He dropped to his knees and started oddly grunting and pounding his fists on the pavement. All I could think was "STEEEEEELLLLAAAAAAA!!!!" hah. )* And I was stuck on location in an airbnb with this dude for the last 5 days. With no cell service. TLDR; Fuck my co-star, because he is a dick. **Now, your turn please! I'd love to hear all the douchery you have experienced on set.**
Differences between actor and principal role by Psynergy • last post Aug 1st
I just landed my first ever principal role in a TV show, but I'm not quite sure what the differences in experience will be. I've done some one line actor roles, but this will be my first full scene. Are there any differences?
nyc actor new to LA, looking to meet up with some actors in the LA area. by intothevortex87 • last post Aug 1st
30, chill, been doing this for a few years. couple agents, sag. would love to meet up with some actors on my level, or a rung above. network, learn more about the scene in LA, shoot some scenes together, etc. i write little shorts and have shot a few, trying to take it to the next level with better equipment. hit me up if you're interested and wanna grab a beer or something
?Seasoned Actors: How do you deal with fake people? by CuspChaser111 • last post Aug 1st
For those seasoned cats out there - how do you deal with the fakeness? I’ve met some really shallow folks as I’ve pursued this Ex. One girl completely ignores me in class when she sees me in a commercial she’s like omgggg!!!!! I saw you!!!! And her eyes get all glazed and she’s like who’s your agent?!!!!!!! Ex. Guy I know from auditions tries to grill me with 20 questions about my accomplishments and Fb posts/bookings/shows Ex. Hearing another guy say to a girl she should get more parts Bc she’s the hottest making sure on purpose I could overhear Ex. CD being really hot/cold and then emailing me asking me for a connection with a friend that’s now aa household name I’m not anyone of consequence yet but how do you deal with so many fake people? Do you just go off and meditate or find a quiet place on set to zone out? Thanks!!!