We have found 19,293 posts across 4 actor forums:
Getting my feet wet... by Jeff C. Zarinelli • last post Jul 8th
Why is acting as a couple in student films always feel so awkward? by MissDramaQueen • last post Jul 8th
As above. Idk why. There's just not enough couple interaction like touching or kissing. It's not like I want to kiss all my handsome actors. But why do student films always feel like there's a lack of chemistry between the actors who are playing as a couple and what can be done to improve things?
Can a shy person act by BeamBM • last post Jul 8th
I am hella shy and really have never done well socially but I have always wanted to be an actor, is this possible for someone who is super shy and has mild social anxiety? And if so got any tips? Would be much appreciated BTW I’m 18 and have no experience
actor moving to LA August 1st, figured I'd see if anybody on here was looking for a roommate by whatislife12123 • last post Jul 8th
nyc based actor here finally making the move to LA, pretty psyched. i'm 30 and very chill, i'll be bartending at a place in hollywood, checking out the class / workshop scene, etc. would love to live with some other actors to get a lay of the land, figured I'd check here in addition to facebook gypsy housing, and craigslist as a last resort lol. budget is 500-800. not opposed to sharing a room while I get situated in the city if it's cheap enough ;) if you have anything available i'll send you a link to my website and stuff so you can check me out. thanks guys
DON’T WASTE YOUR WORDS! by Winniehiller • last post Jul 8th
As actors, we start the journey of playing a role by being given a script or perhaps just a piece of one. What is it? Just little bunches of alphabet letters, all lined up in rows. Some of them you will need to speak. Some you will need to hear and respond to. They are all important. So what do you do first? You read through every line, carefully, making sure you understand all of them and their purpose in the scene, as well as the plot as a whole. Then you begin asking yourself questions: “Who am I?”, “Where am I?”, “Who am I talking to?”, “What do I want?”. Getting to know your character is crucial...discovering what propels him or her through the story and understanding their desires. This is what makes you talk. You, as your character, always wants something. And he or she is often using words to get it. You need to understand how your character sees the world and what she/he thinks about it. This is what makes you speak your lines. Every line...every word has its unique purpose in your pursuit of a goal. You are trying to change the other character(s) with your words. Words are your ammunition for getting what you want. So you will need to shoot them into the eyeballs of each character you speak to so they will enter them and hit the bullseye of their hearts. One word can have a multitude of meanings, according to their context. For instance, the word “soft”. You can say “Oh, this bunny is so soft!”, meaning it is pleasing to the touch. Or you could say, “Ew, this apple is soft!”, meaning it is gushy and rotten. You might say, “That guy is a little soft.”, meaning he is a bit weak and ineffectual...or say “Turn up the music, it’s too soft!”, meaning the person who lowered the volume annoyed you by doing so. Ultimately it is what you think as you say the word that makes it truly effective. If you said every “soft” the same way, you wouldn’t be using the word for all it is worth and you wouldn’t be doing your best at achieving your goals. You’d be missing your target all together. Suppose your character is describing himself to a girl he is trying to get to go out with him. He says, “I think you will find that I’m quite intelligent, fun and very sexy.”. Each one of those adjectives means something very different. If you say them all the same, you are wasting your ammunition. Thinking of what he specifically means by each word and sending them straight into her heart will most likely get him the date. But your character may not be that confident. Perhaps he thinks he is stupid, dull and a terrible lover. Then he will think these things as he is saying the others. It is far more important what you are thinking as you say the words than what they actually mean. You can say “I love you” and think “I hate you” and visa versa. It’s what you think that counts. We call this subtext, and your performance should be rich with it. In real life, every time we speak we must choose a limited number of words to say something that means so much more. The same holds true for your character. What does he really mean? That is what you must think as you say the words written in the script. Otherwise you are just reading. There will be times when you have nothing to say in the script, but that doesn’t mean the words stop. They continue as thoughts in your mind. The other character’s words trigger you to think actual sentences in your mind as you listen. These thoughts propel you into speaking. It’s a constant flow of words and you don’t want to waste a single one. They are the bullets of your intention. “Ready, aim, FIRE!”
Opinions needed regarding college. by TroiasAchilles • last post Jul 8th
Hey all, I'm a 24 year old actor from dublin Ireland. I've been Acting since I was 18 and have previously done features, shorts, theatre etc. I have a strong reel and have been signed to a big agency in london previously. However the last 1-2 years have been so difficult. The irish industry is very clique-y and London is difficult to breach unless you have a footing there. I'm also currently studying in New york for the summer. The reason I'm posting this is because I was offered a chance to study at a top 100 law school in the world. This college in Ireland also has an amazing drama society. I only say this because not only is the degree pretty good, I would be able to go on a grant and actually get paid to go back. The contact lecture hours would only be 12-15 hrs a week with about 10 extra hours for assignments etc. My reason for thinking of accepting this would literally be that this would help me to support acting down the road. Every job I've worked has literally paid fuck all and is barely even survivable. I also want to eventually get to the states and pursue acting in Los Angeles or New york but getting a visa here without a degree is incredibly difficult. My question is does this sound like I'm somehow ''betraying'' my dream and goals of being an actor. or does it simply enhance them? Acting always comes first and getting paid to study and then eventually be able to better support myself whilst continuing to act seems to make sense.. Would appreciate any thoughts.
Looking for Auditions! by Molly Hansen • last post Jul 7th
Hey guys! Are there any casting directors or basically anybody, looking to cast people in a production? I’m really hoping to keep looking for auditions! It would really be helpful. I’m looking for Auditions in the NYC area! Thank You
Headshots, Video Reels Help by Molly Hansen • last post Jul 7th
I need new professional headshot, I’ve gained a substantial amount of weight since the last time my headshots were taken! I also need help with a video reel, never had one but I heard that it helps when finding an agent and furthering my career! Photographers in NYC please comment or message me on price and hopefully we can schedule an appointment to get new headshots taken! Thank you!
Looking for an agent! by Molly Hansen • last post Jul 7th
I am having such a tough time trying to find an agent in New York! It’s unbelievably challenging. You know when your an actor/actress and you know your ready for the big time roles?! But you can’t get started because you can’t even find an agent? Well that’s what I’m going through now! Any advice?
Is it normal for having a lot of rehearsal before actual shooting for non union gig? by alienuri • last post Jul 7th
Director told me the shooting is one day, but they gonna have rehearsal at Park as much as possible before shoot, so actor can know the line and script. But I think it’s actor job to memorize and knowing line before the rehearsal. It’s not something go to rehearsal and start to memorizing. Cuz it’s just time consuming. Am I right? Or it’s normal for non union short film or student film to ask actor to come many rehearsal for one day shoot?
I think I hate art and I want to do acting. by thulite • last post Jul 7th
I just graduated highschool and I’m on my way to an art school in California. I have depression and anxiety and I often overthink and it’s hard for me to figure out what I want to do in the first place. At 4 I wanted to be an actor or I wanted to model (of course I didn’t know what modeling was, I just thought I wanted to be involved in the fashion industry). I did acting/modeling classes but they were crap. I started art because I just wanted to do be able to do something. I went to a Christian school 4th-10th grade and I tried to act but it really didn’t do anything for me since it was either required Christmas plays in elementary/a production of footloose when the teacher was never there in highschool. I transferred to an amazing school junior year and I regret that it took so long every day of my life. If I went earlier, I could’ve started acting then and been able to do what I thought I wanted to in the first place so I wouldn’t have to wonder this now. I’m a pretty okay artist I guess and sometimes I’m super passionate about it but at this point I don’t even know anymore. I feel like it’s too late for me and I know I’ll be too busy in college and I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to take classes during the summer in California, and in my home state there are none. I now realize I want to act because I want to get into comedy. I love it. I would love to be an actor, but I would love to be a comedian even more. I feel like I’m wasting my life. My dad has been guilt tripping me for wanting to go so far away and I can’t tell him I’ve changed my mind now. What the hell do I do? Should I just go to school and while in California try to go to some casting calls after trying to brush up on my skills? What if it is/isn’t my passion and I’m just confused right now? I know it’s ‘never too late’ but I can’t just decide to go into a theater program in college because my school doesn’t have one, I might not have the chance to do one while there, I’m seriously lost. I really feel like I’m running out of options. It’s too late to transfer to another school this school year. I don’t even know for sure what I’m doing at this point. Should I try to do acting while in school? Or should I just wait? Or should I just scrap art school all together and do general studies and take a theater class? Are college theater classes even helpful for freshmen/sophomores? Is it really never too late? Honestly, I’m at a loss.
Demo Reel Help For A Union Actor? by TheAskRedditDude • last post Jul 7th
Hey there, I was wondering if I could get some advice here. I've been trying to make sure that my acting materials are all up to date, and I've noticed my reel is less than satisfactory. I want a better showcase of my acting ability, but here's the problem I face: I'm SAG-AFTRA, so I can't do non-union short films to boost up my footage, and the footage I do have from jobs I've booked are quick one-liners. So, is there a place where I can just make a scene and tape myself to more accurately showcase what I'm like on camera, without breaking union rules? I'm in Chicago by the way. Thanks for the advice!
There Are No Stupid Questions - Jul 7 by AutoModerator • last post Jul 7th
Please feel free to ask any question at all related to acting, no matter how simple. There will be no judgements on questions posted here. Everyone starts somewhere. So ask away!
THE REASON WE STUDY ACTING by Winniehiller • last post Jul 6th
One of the first questions people who are new to acting ask me (especially parents with aspiring child actors) is “How many lessons do I (or my child) need to take before I will be ready?” A similar question I am asked by people who learn that I am on set with LL Cool J everyday is “Why does he need an acting coach? Doesn’t he know how to act by now?” Both of these questions suggest that the asker does not understand the process of acting... or any skill, for that matter. OK...there is a certain amount of study one must do before even beginning your pursuit of an acting career. Acting is a craft. Auditioning is a skill. And an actor only gets one chance to make a first impression on the person they are auditioning for. Directors and casting directors are looking for an actor who knows how to give a believable, memorable, unique and interesting performance. They want someone who knows how to be professional on set. Actors are expected to be creative, responsive, flexible, easy going, prepared and talented. If they are not able to show these qualities in their first audition, the likelihood of them having another chance diminishes. I prefer teaching private lessons to my students, because then I can give them a full hour of my attention to address their weaknesses and build their strengths. The number of lessons a student must take before auditioning depends on the individual...their desire, intelligence, imagination and willingness to practice and prepare. But because I am recommended by managers, agents and casting directors, I often see an actor for only an hour before their first audition. I do my best to prepare them for the upcoming performance they must do, but ideally I prefer to be able to work with them on a regular basis before their first audition. I want my students to come in as true professional actors...not nervous hopefuls. Don’t wait until you have been given a great opportunity. Be ready. Imagine if you were interviewing for a job as a fine furniture maker and you stop by Home Depot to buy your first hammer and saw on the way there. Chances are you won’t get the job. When you arrive at an audition, you want to be ready for anything with the skill to respond to any request. This gives an actor the confidence to know, “I am the one you are looking for” and the auditioner picks up on that right away. Knowing you have what it takes is key in landing a role. It has happened that I have coached actors only once before their first audition and they have booked it. Some have even been cast as series regulars in roles that lasted for years. But once they had the job, they needed to keep studying so they could be ready for what they had to face on the job each day. TV work is difficult. Schedules are grueling. New scenes must be learned each day. There are last minute script changes. And the constant pressure and repetition on set can make staying fresh and believable, challenging. Some actors seem to think once they book the job they don’t need any more help. Smart actors know better. They want their work to always be the best it can be. You are only as good as your last performance, and it is up to you to make sure every moment you are on stage or screen is a shining example of your abilities. That is why for the last 9 years, LL Cool J has hired me to be on set with him everyday, for any project he has with a script...NCIS LA, Lip Sync Battle, as host of The Grammy Awards and a number of films and hosting jobs. He wants me there, not because he is not a skilled actor, but because he wants to become more and more skilled. We are now in Season 10 of our show, and if you watch them all, I think you will see consistent improvement through the years. He is dedicated to being the best he can be and is always in pursuit of being even better. He also depends and trusts my extra set of eyes and the feedback I give him. Two heads are better than one. Every scene has hidden challenges and opportunities to bring multileveled character portrayal with focused purpose and specific relationship interaction. And when actors are fully immersed in their performances, they cannot “watch” themselves. Directors are often too busy to give every actor individual attention and feedback on each scene. An acting coach is there to be that set of eyes, that extra creative mind to offer suggestions and make sure all that is being done is working. How long should you study? You should always be learning...getting better...improving your skills. If you find an acting coach you trust, let them help you make sure you are prepared for every audition. Allow them to help you grow as an artist, hone your skills and make sure you are consistently giving your best, every time. As an artist this should be your greatest desire...to be able to bring your unique abilities and creativity to every character you play and bring the very best to every opportunity you are given. For that you need a team. You need a teacher. You need to study!
[Toronto/Union] Do you submit yourself through any sites on your own? by legendary_sponge • last post Jul 6th
I know my agency uses Casting Workbook and Actors Access, but do you use any sites and submit yourself? I used to use Mandy when I was non-union, but it's pay-to-play now. Also, do any of you submit yourself to projects through CW and AA? Are there any sites I'm unaware of? I'm basically looking to start auditioning for student/theatre/low-budget stuff and I'm wondering if there are any sites I should/could look into.
KEEP IT REAL! by Winniehiller • last post Jul 6th
Though 9-10 months out of the year I am coaching an actor on a network tv series, during hiatus I’ve had quite a few new, young actors come to me for private lessons. It’s becoming evident to me that many of them are being taught techniques which are actually harmful to their film and TV careers. This is one of the biggest problems for young actors...especially those coming out of theater programs in colleges and universities and those who attend classes that prey on Hollywood newcomers. But what I’m about to say also applies even to theatrical performances and TV commercials. Bottom line, whenever you are acting...you gotta keep it real! Acting is one of the few human activities in which you must not look like you are doing it while you are doing it. If you are playing baseball you don’t need to hide the fact that you are swinging a bat. Most employees want their bosses to see them working. Even singers get to open wide and wail. But you can never, ever let them catch you acting. The thing is, if you are doing it correctly, you are not really acting...you are BEING. As an actor, you must become extremely aware of pushing your performance beyond the realm of believability. Certainly there are real people in this world who might be described as “bigger than life”, but the fact of the matter is, they really do exist. They have real emotions and an inner thought life. They have a life history that has led them to react in specific ways. They are REAL PEOPLE. So must every one of the characters you play. And you must embody that person, consistently and believably from the moment they say “Action!” to the moment they say “Cut!”. Even William Shakespeare wanted his actors to get real. When Hamlet hires a troupe of actors to reenact his father’s murder, he is horrified at their performances because “they imitated humanity so abominably”. They “strutted and bellowed” and would “saw the air too much with their hands”. I am seeing these same mistakes in actors today. Check out the monologue, below. I often ask my students to learn it, because of the valuable lessons it contains in the text. And let’s face it. If you can believably perform Shakespeare...you ARE an actor. Sure the old English may be difficult to understand at first, but once you get the hang of it, you will agree that no one uses words better. So pay heed to the bard. You are an actor in order to portray humanity as realistically as possible. Anything more or less is a departure from the very purpose of the art...to “hold a mirror up to nature”. To show people who they are and what they are like. “Suit the action to the word, the word to the action”. As an actor, if you can truly “become” your characters rather than “acting” them...filling you own mind with their thoughts, reacting to the other characters in truthful relationship...feeling their feelings, pursuing their goals...it becomes a magical experience for both you and the audience. You are transported to another place in time. And everyone gains a little more insight into what this life is all about. If you have any questions (or want to understand the Shakespeare more thoroughly), leave a comment or message me on Facebook. Winnie Hiller ————— HAMLET - Act III Scene 2 SCENE II. A hall in the castle. Enter HAMLET and Players HAMLET Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to You, trippingly on the tongue: but if you mouth it, As many of your players do, I had as lief the Town-crier spoke my lines. Nor do not saw the air Too much with your hand, thus, but use all gently; For in the very torrent, tempest, and, as I may say, The whirlwind of passion, you must acquire and beget A temperance that may give it smoothness. O, it Offends me to the soul to hear a robustious Periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to tatters, to Very rags, to split the ears of the groundlings, who For the most part are capable of nothing but Inexplicable dumbshows and noise: I would have such A fellow whipped for o'erdoing Termagant; it Out-herods Herod: pray you, avoid it. Be not too tame neither, but let your own discretion be your tutor: suit the action to the word, the word to the action; with this special observance, that you o'erstep not the modesty of nature: for any thing so overdone is from the purpose of playing, whose end, both at the first and now, was and is, to hold, as 'twere, the mirror up to nature; to show virtue her own feature, scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure. Now this overdone, or come tardy off, though it make the unskilful laugh, cannot but make the judicious grieve; the censure of the which one must in your allowance o'erweigh a whole theatre of others. O, there be players that I have seen play, and heard others praise, and that highly, not to speak it profanely, that, neither having the accent of Christians nor the gait of Christian, pagan, nor man, have so strutted and bellowed that I have thought some of nature's journeymen had made men and not made them well, they imitated humanity so abominably. O, reform it altogether. And let those that play Your clowns speak no more than is set down for them; For there be of them that will themselves laugh, to Set on some quantity of barren spectators to laugh too; though, in the mean time, some necessary Question of the play be then to be considered: That's villanous, and shows a most pitiful ambition In the fool that uses it. Go, make you ready. ——-
DO YOU NEED A DEGREE IN THEATER ARTS? by Winniehiller • last post Jul 6th
Do you really want to have a career in acting? You need to take every opportunity to learn from the best and perform with the best. I must tell you, as much as your parents will object, college is not always the best place to learn to be an actor. If you want to be in the film and tv industry, you need to start getting professional credits for your resume. Same with theater. No one will ever require you to have a college degree to be an actor. And if you wait to pursue a career in acting until you graduate, you are at a disadvantage age wise. Hollywood, NYC...and you can get started in some other major cities...but you need to be somewhere where you can be getting credits for your resume. And to do that you need to be studying with the very best teachers. Try to think about why you are in college. How does it project you onto your life path? If you are just going to get a piece of paper or something to fall back on, then I hope you are majoring in something that you can truly make a living at, and you will enjoy...because that’s what you will be doing...not acting. It’s an old cliche, but “If you fail to plan, plan to fail”. There are a couple of Universities and conservatories that can actually propel an acting career, like Juilliard, Yale, NYU, Cincinnati Conservatory...and there are a few others with outstanding faculty, in which agents will seek out students as clients. Otherwise, it’s not going to do you much good. But if you must go to a school that no one cares about, then be as creative as you possibly can while there. Learn to be a film maker, a screenwriter...anything you can so you can create your own opportunities. If you are going to arrive in Hollywood or NYC hoping to start an acting career in your mid-twenties without any credits, you are going to need to create your own. Agents are going to want to see excellent, professional level performances on a film reel. They want to see you do what you do. Come prepared. Bottom line, you need to have the correct skills. I have taught child actors in Hollywood who became quite skilled and worked professionally...then went away to college and came back pushing...overacting...so much worse than when they left and thinking they knew it all. If you want a film career you need to act for film. If you want to have a stage career you still need to have authentic, thoughtful and emotionally driven performances. From my experience, many theater departments do not produce these kinds of actors. And students come out older, no credits and with such a debt that they can’t even afford to launch an acting career. Cold hard facts. On your time off, come to Hollywood or New York. Take some classes with highly regarded teachers. Meet some agents and casting directors who can give you feedback. And above all, your acting must be believable, fueled by subtext and thought. Don’t try to show what you character is feeling. Feel it, working from the inside and allowing your outside to follow. Every scene is about using your lines to change the other characters. It’s not about you. It’s about changing them. Oh...and if you are just dabbling and trying to figure out if you want to be an actor...then yes...act in anything you can. Take classes, join clubs. No need to minor in acting. You don’t need a degree. Just experience. Read books on acting. Watch and analyzing other actors’ performances. And whatever opportunities you have....keep your performances real and organic...spontaneous. Feel free to ask me questions. Hope this helps...and all the best to you.
Better All Around Actor by 489326843 • last post Jul 6th
Tobey McGuire Or Topher Grace. One Could Say Tobey Because He Takes It More Simply.
Just got cast in a show with local director, really want to audition for his next upcoming show. How to proceed? by CommanderDJ • last post Jul 6th
Hi everyone! Long time lurker here, posted a few things in the weekly/daily discussions but never a full post. I have a bit of a unique situation that I’d love some insight on. So I just got cast in a theatre production at an equity theater in my region. Super excited, first time at this theater and it’ll be my first Shakespeare show so even more excited for that. The director of that production, let’s just call him Jim for the sake of this, is directing a show at arguably the biggest theater in my region a few months after the show I’m in with him goes up. That second show happens to be the show with my number one dream role in it. I very badly want to at least throw my name in the ring and see if I can audition for it. Not expecting a handout, just wanna audition and show him what I got. I went to the EPA for that theater’s season, and have not heard anything since. And frankly, my audition at that EPA was subpar and I wish it was a little better. At the auditions for the Shakespeare show I’m in with him he was blown away by my monologue. He was very very impressed and him and I talked for like five minutes after I did the monologue about that specific monologue. It was great. I got a callback shortly after and at callbacks we read in groups and he had everyone in my group leave as he said he wanted to speak with me alone. He offered me a part right on the spot, telling me he had wanted me in that part the second after I did my monologue. So in short, Jim seems to like me. I so badly want to audition for his upcoming show. Is it in bad taste to shoot him an email and be like “Hey Jim! Super excited for [Shakespeare Show]. Can’t wait to start working with you. I saw you’re directing [Show Title] at [Theater]. Was wondering if I could throw my name in the running for [Character Name]. If you’re holding auditions anytime soon, I would love to be a part of that. Thanks!” Is this a good idea? I know the whole point of this industry is to network so is this the best way to go about this? I hear stories about how actors tell directors they know they’re interested in a project and then they at least get to audition. Any advice would be great here. Thanks so much r/acting! TLDR: Got cast in a show by a director who’s directing a show with my dream role in it a few months after. Can I send him an email letting him know I’m interested?