I think this is probably the best place to ask for help so here it goes. I am an actor from the UK and (as the title of the post says) I am looking for a change. I would love to move to the US and become something I can be proud of. I’ll get to the point now and ask my question. Are there any agents that I can contact in and around the Texas area? Like Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and the like. Thank you for any help in advance.
So in a nutshell I have a decent boutique/mid-level agent but I'm not getting self tape requests/auditions for scripted TV/film. Each day it gets to 6pm when the offices close, I check my emails and there's nothing. It makes me feel so low and like I have no future in this job if I can't even get auditions, and makes me ashamed of the stuff I've done that's out there eg) showreel as it probably puts people off. On the rare occasion I DO get a tape-request which isn't for a commercial or more than just a 2-liner, A) the writing is pretty much always lousy so it's harder to do good work, and most importantly B) I get so anxious that I cannot focus on preparing properly, like my energy is just all over the place and I get overwhelmed and cannot delve deep into the scene prep - just skimming the surface or procrastinating, and then when it gets round to filming I completely tense up to the extent that my whole body is actually in pain and I cannot breathe and all my mouth and throat muscles clench up so I can't talk properly, or I'll over-act because I'm trying to make the most of the opportunity and myself stand out, or I'll just be emotionally numb and skim the surface of the scenes which usually happens in person. I also often film countless takes and editing takes hours so on a few occasions my tapes have been an hour or so after deadline. So the very few tapes I do get are always crap, and probably put the casting director off ever having me tape for them again. I also don't really have many friends and I live alone, quite far from the few actors I know, so for tapes I usually record the other person's lines and leave gaps for my lines.. so I'm doing these tapes just alone with myself which is never enjoyable that's crap too. I'm getting so paranoid that casting directors or casting assistants are sort of gossiping about actors and telling eachother not to see certain people because they are crap. So I'm just stuck in this horrible limbo where I can't get opportunities but when they come, they are so rare that I freak out and do a crap job. I have severe ADHD, depression and anxiety, also undiagnosed body-dysmorphia but cannot afford to have therapy. I don't really have anyone I can talk to. I just don't feel like I'm a good actor anymore... I've become so self aware, tense and wooden. Will give you some info about myself as an actor to put this into context: I'm a represented actor in London, UK. I'm female, white, straight and in my late 20s but my casting is more 20-25 (genuinely-I look unusually young for my age and have young skin). I did not go to an accredited drama school but have done a lot of classes. I started in the industry in 2015 and went on a career break in late 2018 before starting again in March/April this year. I intended to take just a year out but covid happened so the break was more like 2.5 years. Before I went on my break, I had reached a point where I was auditioning and taping well and I had confidence, felt comfortable in my skin and was emotionally available. I won't delve too deeply into why I took a break but it was due to the agent I was with being incredibly bitchy and a bully, not being able to secure new rep afterwards, having additional personal problems... I was mentally unwell and completely lost my ability to trust myself. From 2015-2018 I gained professional experience (legit, with casting director) playing small speaking roles & some larger guest roles on TV/film. None of the roles were that great though, and my performances are pretty shit... and I look awful in everything... so I kind of feel that those jobs have done me more harm than good in the long run. I have never done nudity/sex scenes and do not audition for those roles. I have never really had opportunities to work professionally in theatre or radio due to my lack of formal training. So I guess this limits the amount of auditions I can get. I'm kind of pretty but not pretty enough to play the pretty roles; kind of quirky/edgy looking but not unusual looking enough to play the weird/misfit roles. But then I also don't really look "average-looking" either... like I don't have a "corporate" vibe. I'm not sexy or don't really have sex appeal but then I'm also not like innocent-looking or sex-less. I often get seen for gay roles but I'm not actually gay or even bi, although I guess I have that vibe? I'm not athletic/like an action hero, I'm not plus size but I'm also not like underweight so that also makes me hard to place. And in terms of "class" I'm also kind of inbetween. I'm sort of lower-middle-class from suburban London and have a pretty basic accent... so I'm not really posh enough to play posh roles but I'm not working class enough to play working class. In the UK they also like to cast true to the setting so unless you're famous they don't really consider - for example - non-Scottish/Irish actors for a Scottish/Irish character etc. They sometimes scrape the bottom of the barrel and cast people who have eg) a Jewish grandparent or an Irish mum for respective projects but I have no interesting sort of family history... I'm just very standard/boring lower-middle-class-suburban/homecounties......where nothing ever seems to be made (in the UK). But maybe there aren't many roles for people with playing age in their 20s? I have spoken to my agent a few times raising my concerns but I'm always told not to worry and there's never any transparency as to why I'm not getting seen. They say they are pushing me and I guess I have to trust them, but I guess casting directors just think I'm shit or not good enough for decent roles. Or maybe my agency is pushing me but like in a half-hearted way / or they think I'm ok but not worth investing loads of time/attention on, like they don't think I'm amazing or a future star. I don't necessarily aspire to be a huge leading star actor, but sometimes I feel like your agent has to believe that you have that in you so that they can get you frequently seen for good roles. And by "good" role i don't just mean leads or even series regular etc, I just mean something that is more than 3 lines without any nudity/sex. I don't know if I'm just being spoilt or entitled about this? Maybe this is how it is for everyone after covid, or maybe I should expect less after taking so much time out of the industry. It's been seven months since i got my agent and there's only been about 5 decent opportunities...none of which were even really that great tbh.
I already live in LA so I don’t see any reason to leave. What benefits are there to being based in LA as an actor? Most actors I know are from New York so I know a lot more about that world. Are there any specific things in LA to take advantage of that other areas can’t offer?
I saw a quote on Twitter in regards to BDSM erotica that I agree with (being in that lifestyle). Not verbatim but they said something along the lines of “that this is a form a theatre, a different style of actors, and a more layered form of sex”. I’ve come “out” as kinky this year and notice a lot of actors are in that boat (or was or what have you). Now that there is a push for normalizing kinks and legitimizing sex work, should entertainment be more lax with sex content? Would it be so bad if a guest star level actor made fetish material on OF? Would it be a tactical move for a movie to hire a famous cam girl for, say, an indie horror movie? And if not, what does shows like “*Bonding*” “*Fifty Shades of Gray*” “*Kinky*”,or Fuse’s “Sex Sells” intention, if the industry only writes them in as a joke? *”Marcy learns something new”*is about a middle aged woman who forges a new passion out of being a dominatrix. Many people have personal breakthroughs with sexual discovery. What day you thespians?
I am used to self-represent myself and work full time as a host and actor thanks to that. However, I got no roles from confidential breakdowns (which I have access to) for the past year, even though I booked a good amount of union and paid non union work on social media (my agent allows me to do that). A great agent wanted to sign with me but I was afraid I would lose my freedom if they were dealing all my contracts. I already work full time in my industry and didn’t want to lose the jobs I already have and lose 15% on that. I often get the job because I am the first one to answer and I would have missed those opportunities with them. I was also uncomfortable telling them I was often already booked 5-6-7 days a week on other contracts and wasn’t always available for them. So I decided to go back with my ex-agent who is more simple but absolutely doesn’t mind that I get tons of contracts on my own without giving him any money, that I do « public personality » jobs as I call them (testimonies, documentaries, reality shows, etc), totally understands that I am not always available and loves the idea of sharing a google calendar updated with all my availabilities. He only deals with the confidential breakdowns that I won’t pay to have access to anymore (which is $500 a year). Some people might say « why did you go back with him when you could have signed with such a great agent » and I sincerely think that was the best decision for me. I am keeping my self-represented career that I already love, I am saving $500 a year, and it would just be the cherry on top if they could get me even more roles here and there. The best agent is not always the greatest one. It’s the one that suits your needs. Note: You can get access to all the confidential breakdowns as a self-represented actor in Quebec only. Stop asking me about that
Hey guys I was just recently diagnosed with OCD (something I’ve suspected for a while) and though I just started therapy the idea of meds is already on my mind. I have a lot of friends who are on meds and it helped them a lot, but the thing is none of them are actors. I was talking to my psychologist about this and he mentioned that normal SSRIS tend to inhibit emotion which he’s seen with clients in the past who were actors as well. He told me that since I have OCD, the anti-depressant Clomipramine would be my best bet. He also told me that this drug tends to not be as emotionally inhibitive as SSRIS. To be honest, when my intrusive thoughts get bad, it’s really hard to focus and act well. With all this mind, I wanted to ask if any of you fellow actors (or if you know any successful ones) take anti-depressants. How does it affect your acting? Thanks.
I'm currently on set shooting a series which will remain nameless, and it's set up weirdly where multiple cameras are recording and getting multiple pieces of coverage simultaneously to save time. This makes it tricky to know which camera to play to and how big to go because they could be doing an ultra close at the same time as the medium at the same time as an OTS on the guy behind you. It's confusing and we're never told what the coverage is unless we ask, which is frustrating. Despite this, I still gave it my all and had a ton of fun. Lots of cool shots, practical FX happening all around, rad makeup, and I'm always asking questions trying to stay on top of things and experiment around. The energy all around was just great. I literally thought at one point during the day, "this is one of my favorite days on set I've ever had." Towards the end of the day, I suppose the director got frustrated with me because I kept going too big. He did the whole "you're too theatrical, stop, it doesn't read, watch me, do it like this" speech. I said copy thank you, and adjusted to go smaller because I didn't realize we were in that tight. Then, on the last shot of the day, another actor is supposed to come in and tap me on the shoulder. Then, I exit frame and he looks out a window. We cut, 1st AD says, wow that was a really nice look (referring to the other actor). And the director, in front of the entire crew, rolls his eyes and says, "yeah, maybe he should play u/tigerbiscuit's character." And then we fucking wrapped and a whole day of filming was absolutely ruined for me. It was one of the most humiliating moments of my entire career, to have a director loudly and in front of the entire crew put down a performance of mine that we had spent the entire day shooting. Like we literally hardly shot anything other than me today and to just throw in a comment like that moments before we wrap is tantamount to saying, well, that was a waste of time. I'm sorry you don't know how to give effective notes my guy, but I'm not allowed to see any of the 3 monitors you have running right now so I don't always know wtf I look like, and you're certainly not going to get a decent performance out of me for the remaining 2 shoot days now that you've completely and utterly shattered the trust I had in you as a director. The worst part was, like I said, I honestly thought I was doing great the whole day long, and any time I checked in or asked for notes, he would say yeah it's great. There was no indication this was going to be a bad day until literally 30 seconds before we wrapped. I'm not sure what else to say except it was a wildly rude, unprofessional and hurtful thing to say to someone on a film set. Directors who in 2021 are still giving stupid ass notes like "say it like this", "look more sad", "give me 10%", or (my favorite) "you're pushing" need to realize that understanding the exposure triangle maketh not a filmmaker and you need to go take some acting classes at a community college and realize how to talk to actors in a way that doesn't make them feel like a fucking idiot for trying their best. Rant over.
Since the rules for unionizing have changed recently, I am curious… Say, for example, the entire pool of local talent in a Regional community all start to unionize (all who are able, given the changes.) Would this be a good thing long term? ~~~~~~ I’ve had some conversations with other actors in the theater I am currently working on a project with, but they seem to think it would be a bad thing. (None of the members of the cast are Union, though the theater has cast many union actors in the past.)
I'm a non-union actor in LA, and I'm looking to reduce my insurance costs. Unfortunately, I'll need to purchase my health insurance plan. Has anyone worked with a broker or other organization to help me out? Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this...
I’m really interested in voice acting atm and am really inspired by Robin William’s genie performance in Aladdin. Am I able to learn to improve my voice or do I already need a good and nice sounding voice? I’m 17 and sound like an ordinary British teenager, is my voice able to improve?
im gonna email my agent again on what i can do to help her im with kmr talent my friend suggested it to me she said they have a good diversity department
24 y/o female auditioning for drama school here! I’ve had my heart set on East 15 for a while as I kind of always believed it was one of the best low-tier drama schools if that makes sense? Objectively and factually, I am a rada and lamda quality actor, but the “ease” of somewhere like East-15 sounds very attractive. But recently, I’ve been hearing some awful things about the school in terms of student/teacher hierarchy, poor course quality and a too-high acceptance rate. Could anyone recommend any drama schools/universities that aren’t as big-boy scary as RADA etc, but still offer legitimately good and inspiring vocational training? I’ve heard similarly bad things about Fourth Monkey, which sucks, because that sounded like an undiscovered gem. I’m not concerned so much with the status of a school, but more concerned with a good-quality training!
This post will mostly be an industry rant so I apologize. It just seems like there is nothing for me to submit to on backstage or even actors access. Most of the stuff now is just useless for reel experimental silent student films, dating shows, background roles, paid to play showcases, and other stuff in that realm that won't actually do anything for my career or reel. Then the few parts that are left almost never fit my type, and I'm not anything unique. Actors access isn't much better and its a catch 22 on there without having a good reel. I'm in NYC and most of the stuff is theater, which I used to do, but I want to ultimately do film/tv. It just seems like everything is behind a pay wall or has a huge barrier of entry. I know there are better auditions out there that are not being posted and you have no access to them unless you have a good agent. You know how you're supposed to work hard and put in two hundred percent? How am I supposed to consistently do that waiting around for a role to drop down on my lap. I can read all the books, scripts, take all the classes in my spare time, but it seems like that's all you can do unless you want to make your own roles, but that's a whole separate entity where you have to be a director, writer, and other things when all I want is to focus on acting. Don't get me started on classes, and how you're expected to spend well into the hundreds when you don't have that kinda money to consistently always throw down as an actor while living in borderline poverty unless you have rich parents. I don't mean to come across as entitled or anything, I just love the craft immensely and just want to do roles that challenge me to grow as an actor or move but the industry is a mess. Anyways am I just going to either make my own work or have to pay for a reel to submit for agencies or something?
Hey guys! This is my first audition after literal years away from acting/theater (since HS, though I took an online acting class during COVID ‘20). It’s for a local theater doing P&P and they’ve asked us to select a comedic monologue. I was wondering if it would be incredibly tacky to select a funny monologue from another work of Jane Austen’s? Or should I look for other material, and if so, should it be classical or would contemporary be acceptable? The only info I have about this show is that it’s supposedly a new take on the play, and actors will be doubling as other characters (women as female and male charas, for example). Any advice would be appreciated! I just want to go into this prepared with the right material. Thanks!
I don’t understand why someone would want to join SAG/gain eligibility through collecting background vouchers? Out of the few ways to join the union this seems to be the most amateur/“disingenuous” to me. It’s not nearly as impressive as actually booking a principle/speaking role on a SAG production, there’s no comparison. So why do I come across so many amateur wanna-be “actors” who are so hellbent on joining the union this way ? Shouldn’t you join when you’re genuinely ready to join and able to compete/audition for projects at a higher level? Is it so that they could get paid more (SAG wages) for doing background work for future projects? Am I missing something?
I've been at it here in LA for over 10 years. Now, I'm getting ready to move. Honestly, so relieved. I thought it'd be a fun post to offer three things I wish I could have told myself when I was getting my start in lala-land. (Maybe you can comment with yours?) Here we go: 1) Subscribe to Backstage or as many casting sites as you can afford (before you get the reps you need) Everyone is confused when they get to a major market about what casting sites to use, and these things change a considerable amount. For the first time I unsubscribed to LA Casting because it got so weird, and there weren't any projects. It isn't so much Backstage, as much as I wish I'd known that it *really* is worth having as many casting resources as you can when you're starting out. There are some that I don't regret not having, but if I could do it again I'd spend the cash and spend the time perusing all the postings. It may just be that one booking every so often, but I'm sorry to think of that one cool opportunity I missed out on to save the few bucks a month. I'm sure many don't agree, but that's the advice I'd give to myself. I like doing thesis films, I like the random VO jobs I've gotten since joining. I like knowing about random theatre opportunities. It's not going to make a career but its worth it to me. 2) You don't have to be a networker, but you gotta build that community. It's okay not to be good at all that bullshit. Social media etc. You don't have to reach out to people you don't really like, just because you feel you're supposed to, BUT having a network of people you can talk to, ask advice to, maybe have coffee with and ask questions is really important. I wish I'd been more "business" oriented with that (Aka a spreadsheet or something). What I did right was stay in touch with the people I liked and respected, but there are so many good people I lost touch with because of my own laziness. It doesn't have to be the slimey thing that it feels like, it can just be staying in touch, supporting others, asking questions, offering help if others need it. 3) Take care of yourself. Take breaks. Take vacations if you can. I got back from one after 3 years of no vacation and I could tell my first audition when I got back was ***so*** much better. Your instrument is you, and it needs rest to operate at full capacity. We underestimate how burnt out we get in this biz. Even when you don't have any auditions that's STILL A KIND OF BURNOUT. Aight, that's what I got. What would you tell your earlier actor self?
I’m still a new actor so when a boutique agency wanted to sign me, and they seemed nice and had good referrals from one of my coaches, so I agreed. However, one of the bigger agencies I submitted to decided to contact me out of nowhere a week ago, and said they would love to have me. Does having a bigger agent really give you more opportunities? Even if it’s not in LA?
Hi all! Fellow actress here (wearing multiple hats like many of us do in this industry). I have been focused on making my own content and wanted to share a short that I co-wrote and produced as well as starred in (I’m wearing the orange striped shirt). Would greatly appreciate any feedback, like/comment on the video, or subscribe! [Multiverse of Radness](https://youtu.be/-Vr5dlcunLI)
I’m only asking cause it’d be my third SAG voucher
I applied to a good agency that seemed perfect for me. They responded one month later and the discussion went great with them so I said I wanted to sign with them and they seemed pretty happy about it. They told me they would send me a calendar so I can share my availabilities and never did. I sent them a message a few days after the date they were supposed to send it and they didn’t even read my message. I sent them a message again today and still no answer even though they are online. I just asked wether we will still be working together or not and it’s okay if they say no, I just want to move on to something else. It’s been eight days with no news from them and no message read. I finally said I wasn’t interested in working with them. I book a lot of job opportunities on my own so I feel like I don’t even need them. I sent them some job opportunities I would like to be submitted for once we sign and got no message from them and just booked it on my own. I feel like I book a lot of jobs because I answer quickly to casting breakdowns and I would miss a lot of work with someone who can’t even read or answer my messages. I even book more work on my own than they can for many actors in their agency. I finally told them I would stay self-represented because I already book a lot of work on my own so I can’t give them the space they want in my career. Did I make the right choice?
This is my (21f) Throw away account for presumable reasons. Ever since I was young, i dreamt of being an actress but i never acted upon that desire becuase i also wanted to be a marine biologist. Yes, I feel like every child goes through this because the idea of it sounds fun. But now that im going on 22 , I feel so lost. Something in me allways gravitates me to acting. The idea of someone transforming to a whole new character is fascinating. I allways did sports in high school and regretted not doing a school play. I changed my major from a science major to film my sophmore year. Acting is the only thing that I have ever day dream about. But to be honest .. im terrified. Not of acting its self, but the uncertainty of it. And no i dont mean the ruch and famous part, but uncertainty that I will be able to fincially survive. Being rich and famous is not my goal, i want to emphasize that. I come from a family where fincances has allways been a struggle and im terrified that going into this industry, i will fail them because of the high possiblity. I know 21 is still so incredibly young but I still feel like im old for the industry. I guess I want clarity because this has been heavy on my mind. I have not told my parents about this becuase im scared of what they may think. So i have a few questions that I feel may help me stop being scared and to just try it. Because part of me is like “how dare i imagine a future in something ive never tried before?” But also when my gut tells me something its usually right 1) why do you all love acting? 2) did you allways know you wanted to act? 3) whats your advice for me?
Hello, I know that actors access and casting workbook allow my agent to view my self-tape submissions and let me know if I should do a retake before final submission to casting directors. Does casting networks do the same? I'd ask my agent, but it is quite late where I am and this is the first time submitting to CN. Thanks!
Hello! Thanks for looking, I am a minor and am interested in acting. My dream life is to be an actress in Hollywood, big movies, red carpets etc. obviously this is a HUGE dream and if I wanted to try to get there, there’s baby steps. I’m in HS btw. My parents would support me but I don’t know how to even start. My role models in acting are Zendaya, Scarlett Johansson, Millie Bobby Brown and more.. 1. What do you guys recommend I start doing to help me get there? Acting classes? I’m not a huge fan of drama clubs (like school musicals and stuff) I want to be an actor behind a screen like TV or movies. 2. Any free online websites or classes that would work? 3. Should I wait till I graduate HS to pursue this professionally? Like should I start building up skills and classes now and then apply then? Thanks for any tips, ideas, motivation, or answers!! Hope you all become successful and happy!
Hi guys, I’ve been studying acting for 3 years (2 in person, and then taking a few online classes throughout the pandemic). I haven’t sought commercial or theatrical representation because I didn’t think I was ready in my training, but also because I have a 9-5 day job and I didn’t want to waste an agent’s time by having them submit for me and not be able to go out. Currently I’m just submitting on Actor’s Access. Should I rethink trying to get an agent, even though I’m not ready to walk away from my day job yet?
Had a random thought earlier. With so much media in production now it seems so many actors can’t all be making a sustainable living off acting alone unless they’re A list celebrities or around that mark. I’m new, very new, to even considering doing what I actually want to do to make a living whether acting, directing or writing. I’m kind of curious how this works when one is just starting out. What jobs might be compatible with a shooting schedule that may require full time attention? Are there any known actors who aren’t shy about having a second income steam & if known what is it?
I’m a fairly new actor, and I have no clue how to find auditions. I see adds on Facebook for auditions here and there but they seem a bit sketchy. And I really dislike backstage because it seems like you can only use it to your advantage if you are experienced in the acting world to begin with. Where should I look to find real, attainable auditions?
Hi! I was wondering if anyone had good recommendations for websites/studios that offer good showcases/workshops for meeting agents and managers. I know and have used One on One, Actors Connection, and A Class Act, and was wondering if anyone knew of any others (in NYC or that offer workshops on Zoom). Mainly looking to meet representation, not acting classes. Thanks!
My (11 year old) brother has always been a naturally talented actor, but the other day he was acting out a scene in front of me for fun, and I was beyond shocked at how talented he is. He was scouted by an agency a few years ago and got accepted after auditioning in front of them, but my mother declined the offer because the agency was asking for an up-front payment. I want to get him signed to a legitimate agency, but I don't know how to go about it. Any advice?
Hi everybody, I recently started University in which I study mainly subjects related to show history. This led me to know about some opportunities. One of these is a small production studio who is searching for actors, even unexperienced people. To start with them they're asking to record a monologue of your choice but I never acted so I don't know how to do. Any tips?
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. Non-professional shots are fine for age/typecasting; please keep in mind that one picture is a difficult way to go about this. Video of you moving and speaking would be ideal, but understandably more difficult to post. 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.
Technically, this is a hosting gig, but it is still on camera and I still have a script. I was cast on Sunday, they changed the topic three times, couldn’t find the time to call me and didn’t show up to their zoom meeting, had a hard time providing information, etc. The evening before, I just said fuck that, I’ll just have some plan and improvise based on that (which is actually the way hosting is supposed to be done anyway) and told them I didn’t need their help anymore because I would just do it this way… And they send me the script to learn by heart today at ONE IN THE MORNING even though we are filming today. To translate this in actor words, let’s say they changed the story three times and never sent me the script and I offered to improvise based on the storyline and they sent me the script at one in the morning the same day. Am I right to tell them that I’ll just do it based on my plan since I can’t learn a script so last minute (mostly considering this is not the way hosting is supposed to be done and it is way easier to improvise than to learn a script)?
First time on Reddit so forgive me if I'm doing this wrong. Essentially, I was recently asked by a friend of mine to act in a skit she wrote. She says its a 25-30 min comedy sketch centered around a family vacation. I don't know all the plot details but I believe that' s what it is mostly about. She asked me to play the role of the baby daughter of the family. I was a little confused on why she didn't just want to use a doll and she said that she wanted to up the comedy aspect of the character by casting a real actress to show facial expressions and whatnot which I understand. I acted in high school and have done some small things with friends like this in the few years since my last play, but haven't done much in a pretty long time. I agreed to help her out and I think its going to be fun and certainly a unique role. I just have no idea how to play it. Has anyone done something similar before? Or does anyone have any tips or ideas to help me out?
I love the idea of having my own channel with me being a (bad) actor. I read a lot about acting but I ask you if you have any ideas of what to put there: monologues? Unfortunately I can't attend any classes so it is mostly to improve, nothing serious. Thank you.
Hi, I wanted to know if anyone knows an agency for actors with a "special" look. Tattoos, Piercings, Long Hair(Guy) etc. I wrote the "Ugly Agency" in London and they were willing to take me after an auditioning but since I live to far away (Austria) and they are offer mostly UK-based jobs it didn't work out. I'm starting to get desperate, I left my old agency because it was horrendous (never writing back, unprofessional website etc.) and kinda expected to quickly find a new one but it is a struggle so far. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Acting has been something I've enjoyed ever since introduced to it in high school. Although theater was my intro, I bought a camera and even earned a 2 year degree in video production so that I could create performances and stories that would last on screen (also I live in a state where there's basically no other filmmakers/films being made, except the occasional short horror film shot on a potato that isn't worth the gas expense). Where that backfired is now I find myself doing gigs behind the camera more often than finding and landing roles that I would enjoy in films. I plan on moving out of state soon and closer to a city where I know films are being made and filmmaker networks actually exist. My main question is when is the right time to reach out to an acting agency? I'd like more opportunities to audition for roles but basically all are out of state (the ones I can find and interested in). I already have a decent demo reel, headshots, resume, etc, but will an agency even be interested in representing me until I'm more conveniently located or am I better off surfing actor's access for the "right" gig that I could plan and afford to travel to until I actually relocate? Any advice (especially from actors coming from "non-entertainment" states) would be appreciated! TL;DR Actor/Filmmaker located where minimal opportunities exist. Would rather act than produce/direct. Wants to move to area with bigger filmmaking networks. Has experience, demo reel, headshots. When to seek out an acting agent, before or after relocating?
I don't why people around here assume the attitude that if you work hard in the acting industry, you will be successful. Nearly everyone under 40 who is big was born into Hollywood. Is it because famous actors gain a benefit from the rags to riches story, or just complete ignorance
Hello, I’m an actor located in Western Mass. my first show since the pandemic was a musical this summer. It was my first musical in 12 years, and I loved it. Absolutely loved it. I’m going through a break-up, and I’m just focusing on things I love and want to do more of, and one of those things is Musical Theatre. I think I have a good handle on practicing singing; I play the piano and want to pivk a song I love, that’s in my range, and work on technique and see it evolve. Dancing is another story, this is probably the area of musical theatre that I need to work on the most. In college, my undergrad department didn’t require dance classes, and we rarely did musicals, so I have very little professional experience. How do you slowly get into dancing, especially as an adult beginner? I tend to get frustrated if something like choreo or instruction is too complicated or hard, so I’ve been starting off simple with dance-cardio workouts, like EmK fit’s dance routines on Youtube. Any other links/ tips would be great! Money is tight right now, and adult classes are not happening in person yet
I am a young actor who has just moved to NYC after graduating with a BA in Theatre. I have had a lot of theatre education but still feel like I have huge ways I'd like to grow/generally believe it's important to constantly be training. Also, I want to find a creatively inspiring and challenging theatre community! (Constant isolating self-tapes aren't cutting it). Most classes I have found are prestigious two year conservatories, which I don't want since I can't currently afford it and am not sure yet if I want to invest in this or grad school down the line. Because of this, I am looking for shorter-term classes. However, I'm shocked at how much trouble I'm having. I audited a number of upper level classes at HB Studios, but felt the students had very little actor vocabulary/knowledge, not much class preparation, and generally it wasn't at the level of challenge I'm looking for. The same happened at The Barrow Group. Granted, both were on Zoom (the only way to currently audit) so maybe it's different in person, but it seems theres no way to know before shelling out hundreds of dollars. Other studios don't allow audits. What classes have experienced, working actors had success in? I am desperate and am dreading spending money I can barely afford on a class that doesn't inspire/challenge/teach me. Thanks!
Hello, I am a fourth-year Computer Science Student working with two other students at the University of Toronto who are looking to build a solution that would benefit both talent/actors and talent seekers such as casting directors and companies. We have found multiple casting websites and even groups on social media to post casting calls, but wonder if there is space for improvement. We would like to validate some of the problems that we have seen in this space. If you're an actor, we would highly appreciate you filling out our survey: [https://forms.gle/Hmf3b7x63ae17Ekq5](https://forms.gle/Hmf3b7x63ae17Ekq5) If you have casting/hiring experience, we also have a survey that we would really appreciate your input on: [https://forms.gle/tAjjUVGtktfiqkwq8](https://forms.gle/tAjjUVGtktfiqkwq8) Thank you all so much!
The prop should be fake? right? So did the prop master mess up? The director directed the actor to do the behavior. The script writer wrote the action.. Somehow the actor who has been hired to do things dictated by others. SHOULD that person be responsible?
I'm an American, but I have a knack for accents, particularly AUS/NZ. I get far more paid work doing Australian voice overs than I do US. Since there are excellent Australian actors - and I'm not so full of my own bs to think I'm THAT good - is it just luck, timing, or am I up against a smaller talent pool?
A lot people say if you want to become an actor to be rich & famous then you shouldn’t become an actor but realistically speaking is there actually anything wrong with having that mindset?
Outside of assumed costs (e.g., training, subscriptions, dues, etc), I'm finding that with my net is getting smaller and smaller as I'm gaining traction. Grateful to have this problem, certainly, but I'm looking for advice from those that have been in the game for a while. No PR or Legal yet, but after commissions, coaching, and WeAudition (believe it or not), I'm worried I'm hemorrhaging income that could possibly be avoided. They don't teach you this in actor training haha! Any insight would be appreciated, thanks.
Hey all, finally plucked up the courage to search for this forum and looked through the basic FAQS and links before posting this. I think Im just looking for some general insight and advice from other actors about my current situation, Id appreciate any thoughts on how I should move forward or encouragement. Ive been acting since I was 7 years old, im 23 right now and acting has always been a huge part of my life. Its been about the only thing Ive ever felt confident that I was "good" at doing. However when I was 18 I got a scholarship to go to a university as a theater major, the scholarship was given to me based off tapes the theater chair saw that I had recorded and was basically the only reason I could afford to go to college at all. Long story short, I was already dealing with a history of mental illness and abuse in my life, and for some reason all but one the professors in the theater department decided that they were going to single me out and harrass me. It got to the point where I nearly killed myself and had to drop out of college entirely. They did various things like marching me up to the front of the classroom to make fun of how I was tearing up, encouraged my classmates to join in on the harrassment, and told me during my audition for the departments musical that I was too ugly to ever get any roles. Needless to say this experience left me traumatized and I only acted in two productions back at the theater I grew up in my area around home before taking a break for about three years, leading up to now. During the pandemic Ive been overcome with a feeling of missing acting and have been wanting to get back into acting. But not only that, Ive been inspired by different actors in shows Ive been watching and have been wanting to see if I can try to do any kind of TV or film acting, even with minor roles. But I keep feeling held back by this past experience, remembering how the teachers told me I was too ugly to act despite my scholarships and different awards from my theater for the roles ive played in the past. Does anyone have any advice for not letting comments about being too ugly get me down or just becoming more confident in my appearance, since I already have some confidence in my skills? I really would like to move past feeling insecure about being "too ugly" but it feels very difficult when so called professionals of the industry were the ones telling me I was too ugly to succeed. Also, I am a member of the LGBT community and am worried about bigotry and how that might complicate anything with wanting to pursue acting. I do not want to go by my birth name if I were to get roles, does anyone have advice reguarding that as well? Thanks so much if youve read this far and if you have any thoughts. Really appreciate all the advice and posts this forum has to offer.
I’ve gone back to waiting tables “post”-pandemic and I just don’t think I can do it anymore. The money’s decent, but the amount of physical/mental exhaustion, being treated like shit, etc., the usual. My current gig, I get to pick my schedule every week, which is tough to find. I also had a nanny gig (exhausting in different ways) just finish - will still pick up occasional work, but nothing consistent. I’m thinking about investing time/money into finding a less draining way to support myself. Any tips? I have a friend getting a CELTA certificate (redundant) to teach English as a foreign language. She’s hoping to do one on one tutoring (probably online) and seems to think she’ll be able to make decent money hourly. Anyone have any experience with this? Any advice on things to look into? Have thought about coding but I just had another actor-friend spend lots of money on a course and then had trouble finding a job. He did eventually get hired, but it’s full time. Anyway, any input is helpful. I’m NYC based. Would really like to know what areas are actually worth investing in. I would like to make at least 30/hr ideally, but want flexibility/work that doesn’t make me feel like shit. And if it’s really worth it, I feel ready to invest several months/several thousand dollars. Was thinking about doing dog walking (I have a lot of experience pet sitting), but I can’t figure out how to break into it. Something like that, id be willing to make a lot less per hour because the work can be often enjoyable. My current job is so exhausting now that I don’t have the energy to be working on acting “stuff” on my days off. Sorry for the rambles. Thanks to all help!
Then you need to try out a new hobby this industry is full of it and it's not always nice, all to much I see actors post something there proud of in a Safe environment and then when it gets criticized they go into defense mode and don't better themselves through the criticism
(For The Serious Young Actor) "Tommy Boy" (Teen Monologue, Male)\*Humorous\* Tommy is in high school. He's a nice looking teen, who loves to be around his friends. He is outgoing, except when it comes to standing in front of everyone in class to do a presentation. Tommy's talking to his friend Ivan after school while waiting for the bus. Type: Teen coming of age drama Gender: Male Age Range: Late Teens Tommy: Dude, you'll never believe what happened to me today. It all started when I woke up this morning. You know usually I press the snooze button about four or five times...but today was different, when I heard the alarm, I just sprang out of bed and said to myself, "Today is going to be a great day!" I don't know why I said it, but I was feeling great! I got in the shower and found myself humming a cool song I heard the day before. While I was combing my hair in the mirror, I noticed that not only was it a great hair day, but my skin seemed different too....alive and glowing, and no it wasn't that new acne cream I'd been using...it was LIFE! So instead of dragging around, I threw on my clothes and headed out. When I got on the bus, the girls seemed to look at me differently. I thought maybe it was my confidence, or the hair, but then I thought who the heck cares, they were looking at me! So I looked back at them and they giggled. I was on top of the world! I went and got a seat in the back of the bus...then it came to me, I had a presentation due in first period... I wasn't about to let that ruin my day. I knew the material and I was on a roll. A few moments later, walking down the hallway, it was like a movie, almost every group of girls turned to look at me, it started to become really spooky actually. My next thought was, with my luck, I should be playing lottery. I got to my first period class and sat down. It's almost like I could feel Jamie, that hottie that sits behind me in class, staring at the back of my head...It felt great! And of course, I was called first to read my presentation to the class, so I strolled up to the front of the room with a gleaming smile...I actually winked at this girl who snickered at me in the front row...man was I getting bold! I couldn't help myself though, this never happened to me before, it was like a dream, and right when I was getting ready to start my presentation, I got so nervous I felt like I was gonna puke. Then I asked myself ‘’Oh, why did I even sign up for this class?’’ and suddenly all my confidence was gone. It’s not fair. Sometimes I get so afraid that everybody will be looking at me, judging me. If I do one thing wrong everybody is going to notice, and laugh at me, and I’m going to be so embarrassed. The lights will be beaming in my eyes and my hands will start shaking like crazy. My throat will get really dry and I’ll stutter like there’s no tomorrow. I’ll fidget and play with my hair. I’m so nervous, what if I suck? What if I’m horrible? What if people start throwing things; or worse, tell everybody about my presentation, and how much I sucked. I’ll be embarrassed everywhere I go. I’ll have no escape. People are always going to remember me as the person who couldn’t do a stupid presentation because he was too afraid of people, the person who can’t ever talk in front of a crowd. I don’t want to do this. But I wanted to get it over and done with so I told myself “You know what; actually maybe I can do this. I’ve practiced for hours. I know all my words. All I’ve got to do is go up there and do it the way I know I can, the way I’ve rehearsed it dozens of times in the mirror, and if I do that I’ll be fine. In fact, I’d be better than fine, I’ll be amazing. I just have to stay calm and relaxed. I can do this. I’m ready” And you’ll never believe what happened next, it just hit me and I vomited in front of the whole class. Looking back on how my day started when I felt good about myself, I didn’t think this would be me now
I used to dedicate my life to acting. All my time and money was dedicated to it. I thought that I could only be a professional actor if that was my only job. And it turns out that I am much more successful as an actor now that I am focusing on something else. Here’s why: 1. It gives you life experience. It would be hard to play different types of roles if all you have ever done is being an actor without going through meaningful experiences and experiencing different things. Life will teach you about emotions way more than an acting class will. At the beginning of my career, I had been told that I couldn’t act because I haven’t lived anything and they were right. 2. You learn special skills. I have been cast several times as a waitress because I have worked as a waitress for a year and so many times as a stripper because I learned how to pole dance, strip, and lap dance. Now that I work as a host, I also get many acting opportunities that have to do with that. 3. You earn money to invest in your acting career. Having a steady job is sometimes much more important than taking classes or doing volunteer films because you want to get more training/experience because you want to do acting full time. Your steady job is what allows you to pay for classes, headshots, stuff for your self-tapes, etc. 4. You have a better network. I am getting more and more normal jobs that require an actor at some point so they end up hiring me because they already know me and don’t know how a normal casting process works. I have also met several casting directors because they liked the articles I wrote about acting. 5. It makes you more interesting. Casting directors don’t want you to only talk about acting when they ask you to talk about yourself. Every actor has something to tell about acting, but you’ll stand out much more when you talk about unique stuff that others don’t do. “I have been studying acting for ten years and have had amazing teachers (…)” is boring. I get much more reaction from casting directors when I tell them about stuff that make me stand out and they are genuinely interested in knowing more. 6. It can make you happier. And people want to spend time with happy people. Instead of starving and being upset every time you don’t get cast, find something else that makes you as much happy as acting because that energy will attract people and give you the chance to appreciate life even more. Be more than just an actor. Focusing on something else is sometimes the best way to get work.
I have been taking acting pretty seriously for the past few years and although I am still a teenager, despite taking classes, getting headshots etc I cannot seem to get any representation. I’ve reached out to around 20 managers in LA and many agents in Chicago (where I am located) and not one has gotten back to me. If I could pm my actors access account could anyone give me advice? Thank you
Don’t want to waste funds on adding if not. Also, give editing suggestions since it’s tricky trying to fit it all in but still keep it cohesive and watchable lol YouTube link: https://youtu.be/mgAsnrD4PXs Thanks! :)
Weeee, you found me!
I'm your buddy Bottie, I was hiding behind the scenes, but now that you've found me I'd be happy to tell you what I'm doing.
I just wrote a few fun facts about Web For Actors
Would you like to take a look?
Click here to check them out. I hope it will cause involuntary audible response.
