All your actor related feeds in one place  •  Actor's Forum

"Table Read" by Raymond J. Negron  •  last post Apr 16th

Hello, hope everybody is phenomenal. I'm a screenwriter looking to put together a group for "Table Reads." 

Need Advice! by cvx2148  •  last post Apr 16th

I (M24) have to shoot a love scene with my co-actor (F25) in this coming week. The scene is something where I first propose her. She accepts it. We have to kiss on-screen. This is followed by a love-making scene where I am shirtless and we are kissing each other. To be honest, I am a little nervous as I have never done anything like this before. How do I overcome my nervousness? Would that be okay if I ask my actress to have a practice session before the actual shoot? Is that against the ethics? Also, any tips on how to make these scenes look good and appealing?

Screening etiquette by cmrizzle  •  last post Apr 16th

Hi all. I was invited to an early premiere for a network show at a the studio with a q&a to follow after with some of the actors and the show runner. Just wondering a good question to ask and proper etiquette (besides obvious manners and what not) for being at these kinds of things. Thank you. Also any idea on what to wear? Are these things usually casual or formal?

Please read to help a young aspiring actress out:) by jennasCT  •  last post Apr 16th

Hello friends! I am a 15 year old student in the U.S with a special interest and growing passion for acting. Ever since I was younger I remember creating stories, improvising, mirroring actors I look up to, and overall being intrigued in this craft. What hurts me is that I grew up (and still very much am) a painfully shy person with a low tolerance of harsh criticism due to poor self esteem to a point where I tend to have extreme doubt, and I opt not to do something out of fear. I am hoping to improve on this however. I absolutely love acting/film and all of its aspects and I want to challenge myself no matter how much I may regret it later. From years of watching the magic unfold on screens, I want to be a part of it. I'm just wondering, where the heck do I start? I know that this process is different for everyone but I need some tips just to get on my feet. Again, some of my questions might be very arbitrary/simple, I'm sorry beforehand. But: - I'm currently looking for some acting classes, but most are in cities I can't often commute to. Is there an alternative. - And what comes after those classes (I'm assuming they're the first step). Is it possible that with time and work, teachers of such classes will refer students to agents? - Is Backstage a credible resource? Is it worth paying money to use it to its full extent? Likewise is it the best source to find workshops? Thank you to all those wonderful humans who read this post or even clicked on it. There's no words for how much I appreciate this even though I just discovered this community minutes ago. I wish all of you the best of luck in your daily life and your careers. :)

I'm a filmmaker looking for feedback on my custom reel scene creation service by ajlodge  •  last post Apr 16th

My name is AJ Lodge and I'm a filmmaker based in LA. I'm in the process of soft-launching my custom reel scene creation service called ReelRolesLA. I was hoping I could get some feedback from actors who've either used similar services or are interested in using a reel scene service on the website and the first demo scene we have on the page. I'd also love to hear what you've liked and disliked about other services and their process. www.ReelRolesLA.com And here's a direct link to the scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuHacM1e8OA Thanks a lot!

moving to LA this Sunday, looking for a private room / room share / other actors to split a studio with by whatever0971  •  last post Apr 16th

i'm checking all the regular resources, craigslist, facebook gypsy housing groups in LA, I figured i'd put a feeler on here in case anybody has a room for rent for $800 or less, or wants to share a cheap room, or any other actor new to LA wants to split our own studio / 1 bed for cheaper rent and have our own space. 30 year old actor / bartender from NYC here, pretty chill, focused on getting ahead with acting and saving money.

James Dean made acting feel like a Super Power by bob-build4  •  last post Apr 16th

I started acting a little over a year ago. It turns out a kid in my CC English class is an actor too. He told me to watch Giant. This old actor named James Dean is in it. I went home to watch it and I was hooked. I’ve seen a bunch of documentaries and read the mutant king book. Just reading about how Dean was and what he did in the short amount of time he was on the earth made acting seem like superpowers. Side note: that kid from my English class reminded me if dean but he’s Spanish. I called him in my head the Spanish James Dean Side side note: acting rules!

Actors who give constructive critcism? by mirrorsarereflective  •  last post Apr 15th

I was at a class today and wanted to ask what is your take on giving and receiving constructivr criticism from fellow actors? I felt they were directing me too much. I was happy to take it but I felt it came off as a little patronizing. I personally dpnt like to give constructive critcism since I think its the coach's job and also I don't always practice what I preach. I just felt the actor who gave me some critcism didnt practicr what they preached. Thoughts?

Advice? by payyourfvckingtaxes  •  last post Apr 15th

Hi, I’m a 15 year old aspiring actress. I have been acting since I was 4 and I did local productions and camps. The problem is that now I live somewhere that there aren’t any local theatres or workshops nearby that I can do. I really want to do acting as a career because it’s my passion and what makes me happy. I also love singing. I just wish I could have more experience because I’m terrified I won’t be able to get into a good musical theatre school. Is there anything I can do? Sorry if I didn’t provide enough information.. Oh, also, we do have school productions but I haven’t been able to be in them yet, as they don’t start until next year. Please anyone give me advice, I appreciate any help I can get :))x

Do most actors that get famous have family connections in the biz? If so, why try the acting dream of being famous? by EmilieHiberd  •  last post Apr 15th

It's hard when people just say go and meet other actors, in the end, does networking lead to fame? How I do establish these relationships - parties, Meetups?? Why would a actor who has the door to fame, let me in, when I am nothing? Guidance would be great! Thanks for all help.

Can you find success as an actor when you’re bad at/hate auditioning? by galaxikk  •  last post Apr 15th

I love acting, but I don’t do well auditioning. I don’t come across how I want to, and I get overwhelming anxiety not before an audition, but during it. I don’t think I do myself justice not only as an actor but as a person in the timeframe you get in an audition. I understand there’s really no other method for early actors to obtain roles but I still find myself dreading the rigamarole auditioning requires, and it being a necessary evil in the business doesn’t really enthuse me to pursue an acting career. I don’t think I’m a bad actor, because this anxiety and sort of disingenuous persona that overtakes me (psychologically that’s another can of worms) doesn’t affect me when I’m performing. It’s only when the stakes are at their highest and I have to make a first impression at the same time. In the acting world, first impressions are vital, but I fundamentally disagree with their importance, but know *why* they’re obviously crucial in this industry. I like auditions that provide input and feedback, but from my limited experiences I haven’t had many of these. Not knowing at all how you’re being perceived is something that really gets under my skin and affects my psyche to the point of not being sure if it’s healthy for me to audition. I guess I’m asking on a deeper level that if you don’t have a personality that can easily bounce back from bad auditions, and you find yourself having more bad ones than good ones, can you ever really pursue acting as a career? Ideally if I were to become an actor I’d eventually reach a level where I no longer needed to audition, but that level is far above what most can reach and not reached without countless auditions before it’s obtained. Would auditioning more alleviate this dissatisfaction or only worsen it? Has anyone had this mindset as an actor and has been able to get over it? I understand this is probably a fairly common viewpoint, but without much connection or advice so far in the industry I’m looking for guidance before I really delve into this thing as a younger aspiring actor.

“Your job as actors, with the help of your teachers and directors, is to rid yourself of the brick walls, bad habits and inhibitions which prevent you from communicating that imagination. Actually, we are employed because of our imaginations.” - Alan Rick by swarleyderWunderhund  •  last post Apr 15th

What else can I be doing? by db_333  •  last post Apr 15th

I’m a 22 year old British actor who moved to NYC just under 6 months ago. My experience in the UK was mostly short film and stage work (with a decent amount of open-air Shakespeare), and I’m looking for screen work primarily although very open to stage too. I have professional headshots, a demo reel, a good manager who gets me in for network TV roles and film (about once ever few weeks), I’ve been self-submitting (through Backstage, but have so far only had one unpaid short film audition in several weeks) mostly for paid (both low and high paid) roles, but have browsed and submitted for a couple good looking unpaid roles too. I am currently in class at a highly respected NYC studio having previously had one on one training with a very well regarded coach (didn’t go to drama school). I take the opportunities I can to network (although recently have been feeling I could do more, so have just signed up for an actor/writer/director networking event in the city), I have recently started screenwriting and want to sign up for a workshop to do more frequent, better work (wanting to write something that is easy to shoot myself), and am thinking of signing up for dance and guitar/singing lessons. But things are not happening. Now, I know I’ve only been here a little under 6 months, but it was the same deal in England as well. Student films were easy enough to get, but anything above that was zero. At least here I’m getting called in to some higher level auditions every now and then, but even the self-submission stuff isn’t working as well as I’d hoped. So many actors my age who have gone on to success have at least had a small one scene speaking role in a police procedural on a network to their name (CSI, Law and Order) or a commercial, but I’ve not even got that. I know I’m good enough, but I just don’t know what else to do. I’ve been trying this for a while now even though I’m still quite new to this particular scene, and I’m so sick of barely anything happening and still feeling like an outsider. I know this is far from a quick process and I’m not expecting fame tomorrow, not my big break, just those couple lines on NBC or CBS that get you that ‘in’ to be called in for a couple more scenes on another show. So many big actors had their break late in life, but most of them had that minuscule start about now… ugh, just having one of those days. Any advice is appreciated!

ACTOR TAX QUESTION: ONLY W-2 income no 1099 income in 2017. What deductions can I claim, and how do I do it? by throwtac  •  last post Apr 14th

In 2017 I only made income as a commercial actor(W-2) but none as an Independent Contractor(1099). Can I still report itemized deductions for things that I would normally report on a Schedule-C as an independent? If so, do I still file a Schedule-C, or do I apply my deductions on the W-2's deduction form? I'm talking about stuff like Commissions, Production Meetings, Web hosting, Headshots, Production equipment etc... Mostly stuff not directly related to a specific acting job, but to the overall expense of the business. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

TIPS by ChrystleAnjelee  •  last post Apr 13th

Hi Brett! My names Chrystle and i’m an aspiring actress from NY. I wanted to know if you had any tips on how to get an agent and how to really boost my acting career? How do you deal with the negativity that people may throw at you? Also, since...

Advice on Winter/Spring Intensives in LA or NY by torschlussspanik  •  last post Apr 13th

Hi everyone, I finish university this year in australia and I'm looking at staying in the USA for a while to do an intensive type course at a well-known school/conservatory in either LA or NY around winter and spring (Dec-Mayish). I'm looking at intensives that will make me a more open, mindful, present actor as at the moment I seem to be too self aware and cannot stop focusing on exteriors such as where the camera is etc. Would an intensive be enough time to learn this skill? I'd be interested in Larry Moss's workshop as well but he doesn't give much notice for those. Thanks!

How long should an Actor do Student Films? by DTJ1313  •  last post Apr 13th

Hello Everyone, How long Should an Actor do student films when starting out? Whats the next tier after student films? Whats the goal? Im currently taking acting classes and i'm going to start submitting to a few. I just want to be educated on when I should stop doing them.

Staged reading / table reads in NYC? by NimbusCloud1  •  last post Apr 13th

I posted this here before but I guess it was removed. I'd like to know where in NYC there are theaters where scriptwriters and actors can meet to share work- actors do a read of the work on stage or at a table?

Need your reel edited and polished? by KittJ  •  last post Apr 13th

I'm a student working in film editing, and I've noticed a lot of actors reels are pretty awful in terms of pacing, introduction, audio quality, and flow. A lot tend to be very long, and good work becomes tedious. I can fix all audio issues, make sure the audio is all the same volume and try to get it as uniform as possible. I can edit in a nice clean intro, and make sure your reel flows from beginning to end. If you're interested feel free to message me kittstjoans@gmail.com Hope to hear from you and I hope it's okay that I post it here.

Why do I know my lines by hearth but always mess up? by Master-Wong  •  last post Apr 13th

I memorize my lines so that I can say them without thinking, and without any emotion. The thing is I always mess up the words if I try to act, (I mean if I try to do an emotion, cause I'm not an actor) while saying them.