We have found 19,242 posts across 4 actor forums:
So I'm reading "Fine on Acting" (Howard Fine) and pretty early on he says serious actors need to be 'literate'. by Cheesus_K_Reist • last post Jul 26th
I can make a list of excuses but I just haven't read that much in my life of 44 years.. maybe a dozen books, so I want to commit to that advice. I remember an acting coach once said to me that reading "To Kill A Mockingbird" is one of the most important experiences an actor should have. In the vein of that statement, what do you recommend?
Headshot-Age Range-Character Type Post - Jul 26 by AutoModerator • last post Jul 26th
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.
Exclusive Ticket Deal and Opportunity for Reddit Actors! by whotookmyign • last post Jul 26th
Hey reddit actors! I am a Programming Fellow at HERE, a non-profit off-off Broadway theatre in SoHo. I’d like to offer a couple special deals to our current show Symphonie Fantastique, by the legendary puppeteer Basil Twist, recipient of the MacArthur Award. The show is a super unique performance that is basically underwater puppets with classical music influences (hence the name of the work). The New York Times calls Symphonie “exquisite...majestic” and “a fugue of irrational, unadulterated joy” - and it MUST CLOSE September 2! Video intro to the show: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgkU2Vm3qOE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgkU2Vm3qOE) Ticket prices and other info (Note: you would be seeing the show for free and anyone you bring gets a discount):[ http://here.org/shows/detail/1934/](http://here.org/shows/detail/1934/) Use discount code SFReddit for $20 tickets (. Bring a group of 5+ friends and you’ll score a FREE ticket and UNLIMITED drinks, plus one free drink for everyone in your party! Bring 10 people and you’ll get a swag bag of Symphonie merch, a meet and greet with Basil Twist, and a photo op with the cast at the Symphonie photobooth. Plus, you will have the opportunity to meet with some of our staff to chat about the other side of the theatre industry. You might even end up meeting future collaborators! This is a great opportunity for any up-and-coming actors – our staff has decades of experience working in theatre and are always happy to help new artists (our theatre actually specializes in helping new artistsgrow their careers!). Feel free to message me on reddit or email me at programmingasst@here.org with “REDDIT” in the subject line if you have any questions. Act fast, we only have one month of shows left. Thank you for reading!
Rate of Response for Casting Applications? by btby • last post Jul 25th
hey everyone! i recently joined this website this week - i've been applying to gigs nonstop. i want to be realistic about my qualifications, so its been mostly background work. i'm super eager to work, however of the 27 gigs i've applied to so far, i've only heard back from...
Short males: does your height make it harder for you to get in the door? by IfJerryDiesWeRiot • last post Jul 25th
I’m 5’7. And please don’t bring up Tom Cruise. I’ve been the lead in dozens of films, all non paying low quality and have an agent, and I still find I can only get in the room on student films and lower quality projects. I’ve dropped thousands of dollars on training and produce my own content with a group of like minded people regularly. Still seems like everyone else I know regularly gets called in. But those guys all seem to be taller than me. I don’t know any short guys personally who regularly go in for roles on paying productions. Casting seems to never want a short guy unless it’s very specific or they’re already very well known. Sorry if this is kind of a rant.
Need help on what to do by geeeorge15 • last post Jul 25th
Hi, first of all I’m 18 years old I just graduated from HS and I’m going to start college next month I’m going to study system engineering, but, I have ALWAYS being interested to be an actor, to be honest I don’t want to go to college and study “Film & Arts” (I don’t really know how is the career for acting called in English sorry). I just want to give it a try, maybe take some lessons and trying going to a casting, the thing is I don’t think I’m gonna have time for trying to be an actor and going to college at the same time, maybe I can talk to my parents and convince them to start college the next quarter, my dad have a friend in LA maybe I can stay in her house while trying to get in a casting. I don’t really know what to do, I don’t want to waste time, this shit is stressing me out, I stay awake all nights thinking I can be an actor but also afraid of thinking that I won’t make it. I don’t have any experience with acting I make some monologues in my head and then record myself to see how I do it but that’s all. I’ll like to hear your recommendations, thank you a lot.
can you have multiple theatrical agents submit you nationally? by intothevortex87 • last post Jul 25th
i'm going to be asking a lot of questions, because I'm trying to understand how to move forward in this industry, and industry seems to not give clear answers on these questions, or everybody's answers are different, or their personal egos get in the way of giving honest answers, so I think this place is the best place to ask other actors their experiences. I'm moving to LA soon and I have a couple out of state reps in different smaller markets. Is it ok for me to ask ALL of them to submit me for LA projects and submit nationally? Or is that frowned upon? I'm not even looking for LA agents right now because I've realized word of mouth / referrals / getting approached by a GOOD agent is worth it more than attaching yourself with a low level agent that just sucks. thanks for your help.
KNOW WHAT YOU’VE GOT TO SELL! by Winniehiller • last post Jul 25th
Today I was giving a character actor some advice, and I thought there might be some others here that could benefit from it. As actors you are both the salesman and the product. Many of you are going door to door, asking people to buy, and you don’t even know what you’ve got in your suitcase. If you want to be cast in movies and tv, you need to know who you are...what you look like...how others see you...what type of role might be your entrance into the acting world. Once you have your foot in the door you can broaden your horizons. But first, find your niche. Back before I became an acting coach in NYC and LA, I was an actress. I was doing everything from Shakespeare to Broadway musicals to commercials. I was hoping to get a commercial agent, because back then it was big bucks. But I didn’t start booking those lucrative national network spots until I booked my first spot as a quirky blonde. It was quit by accident that I got that spot. Commercial agents passed on me because they didn’t feel they knew how to cast me. I was an attractive blonde...big blue eyes. But not a cosmetic model with the cheekbones. They said I “fell in the cracks”. One day I was in a NY casting office, waiting while a friend was auditioning. Several casting people asked if I was there to audition. I said no at first, but finally said I would be glad to audition if they would like me to. They gave me sides for the Hershey’s Mr. Goodbar commercial. I was to play a 1950s movie goer. I had one line. “Oooh, like wow, like Mr. Goodbar”. I practiced it several different ways. I had just finished playing the role of Philia in “Funny Thing Happenened...” at The Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera and had used a silly little character voice. I used it. I booked it. Suddenly agents knew exactly what to send me on....always some kind of kooky or ditzy, funny or confused character. From then on I made it my mission to develop a wide variety of funny, ditzy characters. I learned accents (Brooklyn, Bronx, many types of Southern). I knew that was what they always wanted from me, so when I got a call, I tried to find a new take on what I had done before. I was known for it in the casting community as well as with producers and directors, so I booked a lot. I did a series of Miller Beer spots with Rodney Dangerfield. I had a Super Bowl commercial. Did spots with Karl Malden and Aretha Franklin. Close to 100 commercials. I credit this with learning how to market myself and being ready to play and do what they wanted. I tell you this, because if you are a character actor, you are the one who must develop interesting and unique versions of your stereotype. Know what is already in your suitcase. Use your skills to fill it up with who you are and what you do. Get ready. Being mundane won’t do it. Be unique and distinctive. Find your market and take it by storm!!!! Here is my very first commercial from way back in 1982. I’m the 1950s 3D movie goer. https://youtu.be/_af8lfcnw4w
Had my first audition, didn’t go as expected... by iReallyLikePicasso • last post Jul 25th
Small local theatre. Nerves got the best of me. I didn’t do as well as I could’ve. Got some lines mixed up... Afterwards they told me to do over some lines but in a southern accent. I did the best I could. I’m not going to kick myself in the butt for it, it’s all in the past now. I’m just grateful for the learning experience. Anyway, what are some ways to calm down the nerves before the audition? I WANT to blossom into a professional/talented actor and I know that this is just a stepping stone in the long journey of pursuing a career in acting. Any tips would be greatly appreciated
The Decline of the American Actor - The Atlantic. by CuspChaser111 • last post Jul 25th
(x-post from /r/changemyview) In a situation like this, isn't the casting director/director to blame and not the actor? by urkel940 • last post Jul 25th
Can I become an actor by WoofImDoge • last post Jul 25th
I was in plays and a theatre school when I was younger, I attended various auditions in London because I had some agent linked to my theatre school, and I had an acting teacher that help me sit graded exams in Lambda, I reached grade 7, however now I don’t go to college and haven’t done any of that stuff anymore, I was wondering if it was still possible for me to become an actor
AUDITION NERVES by Winniehiller • last post Jul 25th
Hi...it’s Winnie Hiller. I’m an acting coach in LA and though I work with a celebrity actor everyday on set, I like to coach and give advice to young actors who are new in the business, too. Yesterday I read a post here by a girl who had an audition that she felt didn’t go as planned. Nerves got the better of her, and she mixed up some of her lines. She was asking advice on how to overcome the nervousness that sometimes takes over when she needs to do her best. Almost everyone has experienced this so I thought I would share my answer with everyone. Nerves come from thinking about the possibility of failure. “I really need this job...I hope I don’t mess up...I want this part so much...my mouth is dry...I don’t think they are paying attention.”...all while you are supposed to be acting. These thoughts become the subtext of your text. Of course you look nervous. But this not what your character is thinking about. This is what YOU are thinking. If you are truly playing your role you will be completely immersed in the thought life of your character. What does he/she want from the other characters? He/she is thinking about how to get it - responding to what the others are doing and saying. The scripted lines you are saying are your character’s attempt to change the situation he/she is in. Your character is not auditioning. He/she is in a very different environment and feeling very different feelings. The more you allow your character to “take over” the less likely you are to experience your own self-doubt. You need to lose yourself in the fantasy of the scene. You need to push out your own thoughts and replace them with your character’s. When nerves take over, your problem is that YOU were trying to say the lines correctly. You weren’t allowing your character to say the lines for his/her own purpose. If you are immersed in the quest of your character, it won’t even matter if you say the lines exactly right. You are no longer a hopeful actor. You ARE your character. You know what you want. You know how you are going to try to get it. The other characters give you opposition and you respond accordingly. There is no time for your own worry and fear. Next time you feel nervous, allow your character to take over. He or she has completely different concerns. That takes the load off you.
Book recommendation: The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide by Jenna Fischer by Psynergy • last post Jul 25th
This is more a reminder for a lot of long time subscribers to r/acting, but for any newer actors who haven't been here a long time: First of all, read the sidebar. If you did, you'd see Jenna Fischer's book in the recommended reading. I'm almost finished and I cannot recommend it enough. It is the most definitive guide to being an actor I've ever read. It covers many of the questions I see posted here a lot, or people reach out to me to answer Please please please buy or borrow it from your local library. It's well worth it
This is one if the interviews we discused. Actor and Producer Jim Thalman discusses success by Michael_Dinich • last post Jul 24th
did anybody on here move to LA knowing nobody? by intothevortex87 • last post Jul 24th
i'm at a point in my life where I either go full-force into pursuing acting, or do something else entirely, because i'm not really on the same page with any of my friends anymore, as a result of pursuing acting in NYC where most of my friends are in other industries, work opposite schedules, etc. i'd like to be around other actors and filmmakers, people that are making this their lives 24/7, and i haven't been able to find that in NYC. i guess this is a dumb question, but has anybody on here made the LA move to relocate knowing nobody out there? i'm planning on being crazy social when i get out there and making "meet new people / friends" a job, before I even get into acting out there.
TVI actors studio in LA, plus bonus question by BrammStroker • last post Jul 24th
Thinking about doing TVI's 5 day intensive in LA. Has anyone done it or heard anything about it from friends? I don't live there but I can make the drive pretty easily, just wondering if it's worth it. Bonus question: I was in a pretty big commercial but only had one non speaking scene that lasted maybe 5 seconds, but I was the focus of the scene. Should I add that to my reel? Thank you!
Why do some agents rep mediocore actors? by mirrorsarereflective • last post Jul 24th
This isnt meant to be rude but rather a judgment of audition tapes I have seen. I probably have managed to see over a hundred actors from well known agencies (found the agents video channel) . Just wanted to check out the competition. I was a little shocked. Some of these agents or managers are big names and the tapes of their actors (not just demo but actual audition tapes), were disappointing. It kinda is surprising considering there are many unrepped actors who cant get their foot in but have quite decent actinf chops.... Recentl I saw an audition tape for a casting call that is popular lately.I saw an actor who auditioned for it (audition was uploaded by the agent herself) and it basixally looked like the actor was clenching his jaw and yelling his lines rather than speaking. I can cherry pick a few more, but so far this is what is visible to me from these agents' channels. It makes me question a lot of things.... like what the hell do I do now. I get that an agent will rep based on things like type or so, but then why would you put your reputation as an agent on the line when you send in these mediocore acting tapes? I dont think I will ever know. This isnt meant to be a comparison if my abilities, since I am not xomfortable with judging my own abilities, but as a viewer, I am able to gauge the quality of an actors work. An agent when asked will tell you things like training and classes and skill and headshors, but then they contradict themselves and do the opposite by repping questionable talent. These are from five star agents
Stand Out by eeedwa • last post Jul 24th
Hey guys i'm just a kid, who's trying to start an app in a program Im in, If your an amateur actor or someone who wants to act please share this survey! I need a-lot of responses for statistics I only have 10. and I need then ASAP so can you guys do me a solid please!!!! [https://goo.gl/forms/ajcgXci3S7RCHfO72](https://goo.gl/forms/ajcgXci3S7RCHfO72)