We have found 19,462 posts across 4 actor forums:
Relaxation methods and tips by Abstract_Corduroy74 • last post Jun 18th
I read and hear how important relaxation is for actors and their work. I've tried doing Strasberg's relaxation technique (sitting in a chair, trying to focus on breathing, trying to release tension, etc.), but I'm not sure if I'm doing it right. I've only been doing it for about a week or so. Are there any other relaxation exercises/techniques/practices I could do that might help me? If I might be specific on a couple of things, how does one exactly "release tension", and how do I know whether or not I've reached a level of relaxation that could help my acting more? Thank you!
How long do you usually take classes to become good at acting? by YellowDangerousoo • last post Jun 18th
Hello! I'm 15 and very interested in acting but I have no experience whatsoever. From what I've read, taking classes are the first step to becoming an actress/actor. How long do you usually take classes to become good at acting? I heard you should take classes for about three to four years.
Chronic illness in the acting industry by Individual_Ad4531 • last post Jun 18th
Is there literally any way that I could be an actor with chronic illnesses? I want a career in acting because I love it but I’m limited in a lot of areas right now because of my diagnosis. I’m going to improve as I get older but like right now its hard to do too much
20 years old, interested in acting! by MightyOdin01 • last post Jun 18th
I'm 20 turning 21 in September and I'm a pretty newbie actor. I took a drama class in highschool and I was in a tiny play once when I was still in elementary. I don't think I'd be horrible at it and I'd like to get started. My question is am I too late? And how do I begin? I know I should take classes but I don't have the time or money. I could do voice acting aswell but I'm really struggling with how to begin. I live just an hour away from D.C. and am wondering if theres anyplace in the area that would be able to take me in. My motivation to get into acting is the freedom it offers and that I could potentially do something great and inspire others and I want to make enough for the love of my life and I to live comfortably.
How do you feel about this?: Actors on Netflix show die in crash by Otherwise_Jicama_962 • last post Jun 18th
On-Camera-Acting as a minor by VincentHolmesVA • last post Jun 18th
Hi everyone! This may be kind of a silly question, my apologies Does anyone here have a link regarding acting as a minor? More in the sense of legality and permits and such. Can minors use sites such as actors access? Do you need some form of worker permit? Any thing else? Thanks \^\_\^
How do I get over feeling like I’m a bad actor? by Aniawd • last post Jun 18th
Over the past six months i’ve had a serious lack in confidence in myself and now every time I do any kind of acting (whether it’s acting in school or rehearsing to myself) I feel like i’m a bad actor. It’s pretty much my only thought and it’s sort of taking over my head, does anyone who’s experienced something similar know any ways to get over it?
Can a top agent be too big for a relatively green actor? by OgChrisD4 • last post Jun 18th
Hi, I’m represented by a top 25 Agency but my resume isn’t super big. I’ve only appeared on one network show. Lately, I haven’t gotten many quality auditions, mostly smaller stuff and stuff that is kinda a reach from my description. I was just wondering if having an agent with much more established clients than I would be problem because the roles I’m being submitted for are above my experience level. Thanks!
can i still consider myself agreat actress if it's only when the cameras are off? by Krazygirl1234 • last post Jun 18th
Lol I think i do quite well in front of a mirror but i iinda suck when recording. Auditions are soso. Lol Its a silly question. But in curious how you'd see yourself if you were the same. Haha
How do actors do romantic scenes w/out falling for each other? by ilovetodrinkcyanide • last post Jun 18th
Like me and my gf literally had a few short scenes togheter as a couple and look at us now. We didnt even have kissing scenes or anything like that, just a lot of sweet talk, hand holding and hugging. Meanwhile there's ppl having deep intimate make out sessions or sex on camera like it's the easiest thing to do in the world. How do they do it? Especially in romantic movies, where the whole movie is about THEM????
Why do the top management companies have thousands of actors on their roster ? by penguin_reddit • last post Jun 17th
I’m researching the top LA based managers and they all seem to have atleast over a thousand people on their roster. Companies like Luber Roklin, Authentic, 3 Arts, Anonymous content, etc. Isn’t this way too much? I thought management companies were supposed to have smaller client lists/more personalized attention? I scrolled down their lists on IMDb and a lot of their lesser known clients have little to no credits or don’t even seem like they’re seriously pursuing acting. Why take them on then? Am I missing something?
Sephiroth voice actor comparison. old vs new by ZealousZane7 • last post Jun 17th
Questions about technique and timbre (specifically grit and distortion) by DipitousWhelmed9463 • last post Jun 17th
As long as I can remember I’ve been fascinated by voices, pitch, tone, timbre, color etc…(I am also a musician) It amazes me how dramatically some VAs can manipulate their voice, especially those who work on animated programs. For example take someone like Nick Krull (one of the creators and actors of Big Mouth on Netflix) When he uses his normal speaking voice, which I wouldn’t say is especially deep or darkly colored, he sounds, well, normal. To do the Maurice the Hormone Monster voice (look it up on youtube if you’re not familiar) he uses this incredible unique tone which is not only floor-shaking deep but also the craziest guttural effect I have ever heard. I know people ask about raspy voice and the standard response is usually either a) it can totally mess up your voice or b) its just the shape of that persons voice box that allows them to make that effect. But, I’d like to learn more about such techniques. Its usually called vocal fry but, seriously go on youtube and listen to a sample of Nick Krull doing this: This is no normal vocal fry. It literally sounds like he’s grunting/clearing his throat while speaking. But its too clear to be that. Probably similar mechanically to a vocal fry but a much coarser/darker sound. I am fascinated. I’d like to find some more info on how to try out techniques like these (safely of course) or just what the techniques are (vocal fry vs whatever the hell Nick Krull is doing to manipulate his voice like that.) Thanks for the help
Is it ok to email a casting director about a listing of theirs on Actor's Access? by Intrepid-Display-858 • last post Jun 17th
Heres the situation, if I submitted to a role on Actor's Access, would it be a big no-no to ALSO look up the CD and email them directly? Normally I would say no, but I've seen some CD's have open casting calls on their own webiste. Wondering if they would just tell me, "You want to submit? then do it on AA." ​ Thanks guys.
Working as an extra? (UK) by throwawayfitness1997 • last post Jun 17th
I know that being an extra doesn't further one's chance of being an actor, but it's often said here that having another job is essential.. so what if being an extra was that job? The pay seems pretty good at around £90 to £100 daily. I imagine it would provide useful experience on being on a set and the etiquette.
Wanna hear how my first gig in the industry went? by yeah_it_was_personal • last post Jun 17th
Got the job through Backstage, a project in Spanish, and immediately the casting director asks to move the conversation off the platform and over to email; first red flag. Company website and CEO's LinkedIn (LI) profile are kind of barebones, another red flag. Company is based in California, but the contact I'm talking to is in Buenos Aires? I've lost money to internet scammers before and it's starting to look like Berlin 1945 here. First meeting, we shoot the breeze talking Latin American politics for about ten minutes, then the client goes over the project and discusses budget, which I hadn't even realized was listed as 'deferred' on Backstage just because I was so excited to land my first gig. Pay's great though! But now we have to schedule another meeting the following week to actually do the recording with the copywriter in attendance. In this time, I look up more information on the company, and I find it listed on LI with over 400 employees, and find my contact in Argentina, getting his last name off an email. The dude's LI is spotless; university of Buenos Aires majored in production, and several years of TV and audio production experience. Fear's a little more assuaged. That's when it hits me. This dude doesn't even work for the client; he's a contractor. Making me a contractor of a contractor. I know that's just how it is, but it doesn't sit right with me at a systemic level. Come the next meeting, I get there early, say hi to my contact, and introduce myself to the copywriter, a guy actually in California. We go through the recording, and after a couple of retakes and some direction, it goes great! Better than great! They start discussing among themselves bringing me back for other projects planned in Latin America, plus even doing some English work on ongoing projects stateside. The contact asks me to send him an invoice, W9, and the actor release, and we sign off. So I send those in the evening, working through my first invoice (Brad Venable has a GREAT article on voiceover invoicing btw), and sit back to wait for my money. Then I get an email, \>would you mind sending the recording and paperwork ASAP? ...........................what? It's at this point that I realized I hadn't actually recorded the session. I thought the client had been recording over Zoom or something. My head implodes and the panic sets in. After about 10 minutes of almost-crying I have an idea. I re-record all the lines, several takes, variations in intonation and delivery. One file per line for editing. And I send over all the files with the paperwork in an email that reads more or less, \>running some final checks, I there were very noticeable flaws in the audio quality, so I re-recroded everything for you. The issue was on my end, so it's free of charge; I just want to deliver a quality product. And I sit there for about 12 hours with my heart beating in my throat, before the email reply comes in. \>Thank you so much, you are truly super professional! We're setting up budgets for our next quarter, and I'll do everything possible with the copywriter to keep working together. So I've just been spending the day setting up supplier accounts with the client's payroll portal. Kind of annoying how much automation we have to support; like, can't you just mail me a check and log it to accounts? Anyway, it's not dulling my shine. Still SUPER excited to be getting started in the space. Still sitting at my desk, looking at my mic, in awe here that I not only landed a gig, but it paid for all my equipment in one go, and then some. AMA if you like. <3
Can beng an extra hinder my chances at becoming an actor? by throwawayfitness1997 • last post Jun 17th
I know that being an extra doesn't in any way advance my chances of becoming an actor, but could it in any way hinder my chances? For reference, I live in England. I'd rather make money being an extra than waiting tables, and then learn how to act on the side. But I really hope the isn't some bullshit thing where the industry looks down on and penalizes aspiring actors who have a body of extra work. Is it the case that extra work is looked down upon?
Union or not by notshakespear • last post Jun 17th
I am a union eligble actor. Will joining the union help my chances with casting directors and productions and bookings.
Does anyone else struggle with how to interpret praise? by sauronthegr8 • last post Jun 17th
This is a weird thing, I know. If someone says they like you and your work, you should just take the compliment, right? But I tend to doubt it's real. It's kind of a combination of a rough childhood and the nature of the business. I've been doing this long enough to be considered playing the long game, and in that time I've learned to temper expectations. But lately I've been receiving some decent praise from high places. I had a Zoom audition with a major casting company that often calls me in, but I've never booked with. During the course of the audition the CD gave me a re-direct and started coaching me in what he wanted to see from me, but it turned into him telling me I'm one of the best actors in our city, how everyone in town knows me and talks about me. Actually kinda threw me off my game a little, but afterwards he said I gave a better take because of it. However, once the meeting was over I was kinda left wondering "Did he really mean all that?" I booked a show a few weeks ago that will air on a major cable network's streaming platform later this year. It's a multi-scene co-star role, basically the best friend of the episode's lead. On set they were loving it. I got high fives from the director. Everyone was telling me they thought I was hilarious. Another cast member moonlights as a commercial CD and said he wants to call me in. I've just been offered a contract with a new agency, my second. They're a top 10 in my market and have branches in NY and LA, which hopefully will provide opportunities to expand in the future. I thought it was something I was really going to work hard to sell myself to them for when I learned I got a meeting. I stayed up almost all night prepping and creating bullet points for the meeting to highlight the work I've done so far, CDs I have relationships with, close calls on big projects. Turns out I didn't need it. They basically offered to sign me immediately. We had a nice conversation and they said they'd send over the paperwork. The agent ended the meeting with "You're going to work a lot." So, this is weird, but my first instinct with all this is to dismiss it. After years of doing this I'm so used to not getting my hopes up and just carrying on that I can't tell if it's genuine praise or if people are just being nice, or *maybe* they do like me, but telling me I'm the best in town or will work a lot are techniques to get what they want out of me. The truth is I don't book much. While my first agent got me work, it was slow going with weeks and months of no auditions even 5+ years in. I'm a good ten years in now with a couple small co-stars, two commercials, one legit budgeted movie with a supporting part, and a litany of independent shorts and projects by local filmmakers of dubious to decent quality. I come from humble small town theater origins, started acting professionally late in life, and I'm usually too poor to remain in class regularly. I'm just not used to actually feeling like I might be "succeeding". So what is it? Am I right in assuming I shouldn't take such high praise at face value? Or maybe this is some form of imposter syndrome, the years of work and intermittent training might finally be paying off, and I'm on the precipice of some major career breakthrough?
Is it more important to be represented by a top agency or a top management company ? by penguin_reddit • last post Jun 17th
I would assume most actors prioritize signing with a good agent more so than with a manager. In fact, isn't the impetus for most actors signing with managers so that they can get referrals/meetings with agents? Correct me if I'm wrong. Or is it case by case? Which one should an actor really prioritize ?