We have found 19,242 posts across 4 actor forums:
Guys, is improv a cult? by kid_crad • last post Mar 16th
Firstly, I like improv a lot. I just feel like I might have Stockholm Syndrome... For background-- I graduated from film school about 1 1/2 years ago w/a screenwriting BA and just wrapped up a studio gig where I realized working behind a desk is not the part of film I want in on. I always secretly knew this, but assumed I would either stop having the urge to be an actor or strike gold as a writer and somehow never ever think about it again. I *want* to get into acting. Strongly, obsessively. The school I went to was highly specialized and writers weren't allowed to act in our school plays, only acting majors were. So I stuck to what was accessible... comedy. In college I auditioned for improv and sketch and did that a whole lot, because I was already a writer and I got to act out whatever I wrote. I performed a lot around town after college and was on a few teams/troupes. I finished UCB's curriculum and understand the Harold, but I don't feel like it's anything other than a cult. It doesn't seem like a real acting school. All they do is charge you a ton to take classes and then tell you to pay them to perform if you are "lucky" enough to be on a team. I feel like it's not accredited even though it technically is for this reason, and people get stuck there or don't get the gold at the end of the rainbow. It's also a cult vibe. Everyone is very competitive and mean. I was in their Sanctum once or twice and it just seemed like a bunch of bitchy hipster kids shooting daggers at me for even being in the same room as them. They don't even feel like actors, they feel like mean, fashionable college students pretending to be actors. The house teams are GREAT, but that's 0.05% of the community. I am sure those people are nice, but the entire school itself is not. It seems like a dead end. But I am not trying to be an actor because I think one gig/school is worth more than another, I am trying to do it because it is all I think about 24/7. It's all I thought about when I was directing my student film, all I think about while writing, all I think about at night when I'm trying to sleep. That is not the vibe I get from UCB. At 23, I feel like it's too late for me to make more mistakes and I want to leave improv if it is just a cult where they promise you opportunities that simply never come. I was comfortable playing this game when I was 21, but I'm aging and I'm getting nervous I will never be able to be a real comedy actor unless I do something over than improv and sketch 3x a week, blowing through all my money and embarrassing my friends when I tell them how much I spent on classes. I'm sorry if this seems bitter, I promise it is not, I am just frightened I'm wasting my youth with improv when maybe I should just be doing sketch elsewhere or applying/auditioning to be in videos for companies like Funny or Die.
Harvard and riches, or acting? by MattyCRapsX • last post Mar 15th
As a child, I dreamed of being an actor. It died out going into middle school, and I assumed it was just another childish whim. I am now a senior in high school, and as it is second semester I’ve had a lot of free time. I’ve spent it watching so many movies these past few months. Maybe it was the emotion I felt watching them, or maybe it was watching the Oscars or Call Me by Your Name, but last week I decided that I wanted act in films—that I want to make people feel emotion just like I had. I thought it was a fleeting aspiration, but it’s been a week and I can not stop thinking about it. Every night, I perform monologues, movie scenes, or anything I can get my hands on. I constantly imagine myself as an actor, doing the arduous auditions, casting calls, and hard work it takes. The scary thing is that I can imagine myself doing it. That’s scary because throughout my high school career, I’ve always believed I wanted to be a neurosurgeon/neuro-researcher. That’s scary because no matter how many times I said that I loved the brain, I could never actually envision myself researching or being a surgeon—it was always theoretical. That’s scary because something I just decided on last week feels more natural to me than something I’ve been decided on for years. Next year, I will be attending Harvard as a freshman. I could research in the most distinguished neuroscience facility in the world, change lives with my research, and become more rich and successful that I ever thought I could be. But now that I think about it, I’m sure that I’ve been allured by the facade of practical applications in my intended research to see that I don’t think I ever truly wanted to do the research. I just wanted to see if I could change lives. But I could also pursue acting, taking small roles here and there throughout my four years in college and begin to take larger roles after I graduate. I am not entirely sure if I even enjoy acting because I have zero experience in the field. I am just dumbfounded that I can see myself acting in the future and not anything else. Is this just a phase? What is going on? Any and all advice will be treasured. This could change my life
I thought this was pretty important when I read it, so I’m posting it. It’s from an article/interview with Larry Moss from backstage. What are your thoughts by mockmejay • last post Mar 15th
BSW: Do you believe anybody can be taught to act? Moss: The basics, sure. But I find that most people who go to acting class don't love acting. They love attention. There comes a point in your development as an actor when you find out whether you have the imagination, the love of the literature, the love to create a character, and the desire to be a conduit of the human experience. When you're excited, not about you, but about ideas and writing and other lives, you're an actor. If you just want someone to tell you you're wonderful, you're not an actor, you're a show-off and will probably give up acting. Furthermore, you're probably self-destructive, because you're not interested in acting but in satisfying some emotional aspect from the past. If you don't have a good relationship with yourself, no matter how talented you are, you're going to screw up your career. Your motive can't be to try to heal your past by acting. You've got to have a relationship with yourself in which you believe that you're valuable and have something to give. Acting is about what you get to give, not what you try to get. https://www.backstage.com/news/the-actors-way-ask-not-what-acting-can-do-for-you-veteran-acting-teacher-larry-moss-explains-that-actors-who-love-their-craft-will-concentrate-on-what-they-give-to-their-profession-not-what-they-get-back/
Acting with Tourettes by cool_prius • last post Mar 15th
I'm a stage actor, and I've been told lots of times that I have a very honest, expressive face. But my big hurdle is that I have Tourettes Syndrome. I've gotten pretty good at repressing my tics while I'm onstage or figuring out a way to work them into my movements to mask them. But I feel like, because of that, I can come across as a little stiff in an attempt to compensate. Does anyone else by any chance have this problem? And any suggestions on how to deal? The one positive about it is that whenever I play a character that makes sense to have some kind of a tic, it looks incredibly realistic :)
Action by Jerome Walters • last post Mar 14th
I’m trying to find some action roles to audition for, any good suggestions on where to start looking? I’m new to this.
Contemplating the move to L.A. within 1-2 years by Actor4Life1 • last post Mar 14th
Hi all. Having done 9 co-star roles in episodic TV in the last few years, and a few principal roles in features, I'm seriously thinking about moving out to L.A. (I'm familiar with the driving grid have visited and spent lots of time out there in the past). But I...
NYC actors: what are the best Meisner studios? I’m thinking about taking an intensive this summer by mockmejay • last post Mar 14th
Ive heard of William Esper, Terry Knickerbocker, The Neighborhood Playhouse. Any reviews would be awesome thanks guys. Also I do film more than theatre
Feature project payment by AllHailHeisenberg • last post Mar 14th
I’m in the process of almost finishing rewriting my feature long script. I will be starring myself, and I’ll soon start looking for a director (someone who’s trying to build a portfolio) since I never directed anything myself. I will be starring in this one and will be getting 4-5 other actors. My question is, since I’m doing this to build my resume instead of going out spending years to sell my script or get hired for a role — how would I go about finding actors and how much would you guys expect in pay. Again, I’m a fellow struggling artist, so this would be resume building for all of us. I wouldn’t expect anyone to do anything for free though, however I’m not sure how much the payment should be. I’m in LA.
The cost of living & pursuing acting in NYC & LA simply does NOT equate. It’s all fucking stacked agains you and I’m drowning no matter what I do. by asdgkjbaslkgjb • last post Mar 14th
I’ve been trying this for going on 4 years now, having tried both cities. Each year I make less and less waiting tables and bartending. Now it seems like every job is 25,000 a year MAX. Please, tell me how you survive in NYC or LA on 25,000 a year. Show me the room that’s actually affordable not 2 hours away, let alone one that can be adequate to film a professional self tape. Show me where to grocery shop. Show me which acting classes are affordable. Show me what workshops are affordable. What headshots or ANYTHING acting related I would be able to afford. Not only that but now, restaurant managers seem to want complete open availability or they won’t hire you, so how do you even hold ANY kind of commitment outside of that job? Then, they refuse to give you full time, and refuse to be flexible with scheduling so you can work a 2nd job. So it’s juat a trap. But then, no other survival jobs pay enough to as restaurants do! But then full time jobs, as if they are so easy to get in the first place (these days they are not, becuase plenty of people are competing for them that ARENT actors), don’t give you flexibility for classes, or auditions, or shoots. I mean, I’m at my wits end here. I’ve already lost reps I worked so so hard to get becuae I didn’t have enough money saved to make it work. I want to cry. I want to beat my head against a wall. I truly, truly don’t know how to do this anymore. Literally, the math does not compute, and it’s only getting more expensive and I make less money. How in gods name do any of you do this? I’m just going backwards further and further with no escape or chance to rebuild, I’m drowning. It’s just insane and not doable. How does anybody do this? Please, help me here with advice or suggestions. I can’t move “home” as I don’t have a “home”. Something has to give here, it really does.
East Coast Auditions by Blueberry • last post Mar 13th
Hi everyone I just recently moved back to the east coast from L.A. and I‘m trying to find the best casting sites out here to submit for Auditions. What’s the equivalent to Actors Access, Backstage, and LA Casting but on the east coast? I know each of those sites have...
Are film actors required to do press junkets? by cousindiego • last post Mar 13th
Is it a required part of the job to go on TV shows, interviews, magazines, etc to promote their show?
Actors needed by ashalam14 • last post Mar 13th
We are casting for our short film ‘From the Ashes’ which is about the loss of romantic love and overcoming the triggered mental health issues. Filming will take place in East London and surrounding areas from 26th of March for two weeks, which will include about 2 whole days of filming and possible reshoots. The main character is Ryley (female, 20s) who is troubled, heartbroken and numb. The role will include some scenes of intoxication (alcohol, cigarettes, no drugs) and very short sexual scenes with both males and females (no nudity). We are also looking for the main character’s love interest Rene (female, 20s). This role involves limited dialogue and scenes of intimacy (cuddling, kissing) with the main character, Ryley. Casting call PUT THIS EVERYWHERE EV E R V <eliise.valja@outlook.com> Wed 07/03/2018 12:48 Show all 4 recipients To: Zak Osbon <Zak_osbon@live.com>; Emma Whittaker <emmawhittaker98@gmail.com>;... We are casting for our short film ‘From the Ashes’ which is about the loss of romantic love and overcoming the triggered mental health issues. Filming will take place in East London and surrounding areas from 26th of March for two weeks, which will include about 2 whole days of filming and possible reshoots. The main character is Ryley (female, 20s) who is troubled, heartbroken and numb. The role will include some scenes of intoxication (alcohol, cigarettes, no drugs) and very short sexual scenes with both males and females (no nudity). We are also looking for the main character’s love interest Rene (female, 20s). This role involves limited dialogue and scenes of intimacy (cuddling, kissing) with the main character, Ryley. Other roles include: Brian – voiceover (short phone call) and appearance at a party scene. Male and female extras for a party scene - having fun at a house party, some scenes of intoxication. Tyler – very short sexual scene with a female character, one line of dialogue. Male extras for a bedroom scene - to be involved in very short sexual scenes with a female character. None of the scenes require nudity and extra’s faces in the bedroom scenes will not be shown. This is a student film, so the roles are not paid, however transport cost and food on set will be provided. If you are interested in any of the roles, or have any questions please contact Zak Osbon at zak_osbon@live.com or Emma Whittaker at emmawhittaker98@gmail.com
New theater podcast... Community Theater Heroes! by PodcastTheater • last post Mar 13th
Hey Reddit Actors and Theater Artists, I just started a new podcast called Community Theater Heroes. On this podcast we are interviewing theater artists around the nation to offer our listeners advice on auditioning, running their own theater companies, marketing themselves and their shows, and so many other useful tips and tricks of the trade. We are based in Portland, OR and have started by interviewing companies in the Portland area, but, we are starting to book theater companies in other states. We want this podcast to be a platform for theater artists worldwide to share their stories, triumphs, and failures to help build one another up. Currently you can listen to our show on iTunes, Buzzsprout, and YouTube. We have never done a podcast before, so we are learning as we go. Our production value will get better and better as we grow. (In case you are wondering we are currently recording with a Blue Yeti Microphone and editing on GarageBand.) Please support our podcast by listening, subscribing, sharing with your friends, and giving us a positive rating/review if you do like the content we are providing. http://communitytheaterheroes.buzzsprout.com/ https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/community-theater-heroes/id1355917790 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOcDeMiAedHhnFAx5ei9AAA/featured Thank you so much! Community Theater Heroes https://www.communitytheaterheroes.com/home
Start or end of open auditions by Rochelle P • last post Mar 12th
Do you think it makes a difference if you show up at the start or end of an open audition (assuming you have a great audition and could be a great fit for the part)?
How do I limit getting type-cast as a child actor who's 6 feet tall? by TheMrGeeky • last post Mar 12th
I'm 16 and beginning my trek into the world of acting. My biggest worry, that has already partially been confirmed, is that I'll be type-cast. I'm fairly thin and just over 6 feet tall, and my worry is that I'll get cast based purely on my height. Many child actors at my age are almost a foot shorter than me, letting them play more versatile roles (younger or older characters, act in the same film with actors of different ages and heights). For me, I'm worried I'll only get cast as either a lanky nerd or stoner who's either older or as old as me. On a few casting sites, the main things that have been suggested for me are stoner college kids. My worries were almost confirmed when I went to my first proper audition, and one of the directors approached me and said "I didn't want to use a kid for this role, but you've got the right physicality." So, to smash this problem before it becomes a real issue, are there any tips for breaking type-casting?
How important is script memorizing in this day and age?? by wbissell • last post Mar 12th
I’m not a actor by any means and have never been on this sub before(hi) and I’m sure this has been asked before on here so please yell at me if obliged. Obviously an actor/actress needs to know the lines of a film/show, plus implement the feeling and emotion of the words that are the paper. But cmon, there had to be actors back in the day(or now) who couldnt memorize for shit, and had to have cue cards or some other approach. How important is memorizing the script, or is not(is it hard?) specific examples would be wonderful
I love to act, rehearsing lines, and research. by iownadonkey • last post Mar 12th
My career as an actor started about ten years ago - for my mother's business. She was a great director and we brought in around 500-2500 people, depending in the theatre. As an eight year old boy, you'd expect me to be nervous in front of these people. Actually, it was just the opposite. About six years ago, the acting ceased. We moved to a new place, got a farm, and I stopped acting. It was okay at first, but I really miss the city and especially the theatre and studio. I live in a city that has the population of 7000, and as a 17 year old, I like hobbies, just as any would. There isn't a theatre in 50 miles from my location, or a class. Nothing! What can I do to get started again?
Actor Anxiety? Is that a thing? by SpiderTurtleBat4 • last post Mar 12th
So right now I’m starting to feel....anxious. I want to cry almost. I go on set and I feel out of place. Like people are looking at me and not in the good way. I feel like I’m being judged. I know I’m making it all up.... but god I feel so inadequate and I don’t know why. It’s like I’m afraid and shy and embarrassed and guilty all at once and all I did was take a few pictures. I can’t wait to get home because I know I’m going to cry. That’s not the issue. I just wish I knew why? I feel like once filming actually begins people are going to judge me. Maybe I’m not a talented actor like I thought. I know, I know, I got the part. I’ve come this far. No way I should be feeling this but I do.
HB studios or The Barrow group, Which is better for training as a beginner? by throwaway11125487 • last post Mar 12th
I'm planning to go to either HB studios or The barrow group. Which one is better for training as an actor? I want to take an acting 1 at either places. I have no technique at all. I'm brand new to this.