We have found 19,457 posts across 4 actor forums:
General Advice Wanted by acorncharm • last post Oct 20th
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.
Advice on better survival jobs by bknybambam • last post Oct 20th
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!
If you can't take constructive criticism... by Bobasmoba • last post Oct 20th
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
A MONOLOGUE FOR TEENS by Crafty-Revolution-94 • last post Oct 20th
(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
Be More Than Just an Actor by FurmidableCat • last post Oct 20th
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.
Cannot get representation by LeastExamination1594 • last post Oct 20th
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
Are these 2 scenes good enough to add to Actors Access? by Euphoric-Wash-5659 • last post Oct 20th
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! :)
Getting into voice acting as an animator? by newdart1997 • last post Oct 20th
So I'm an animator and video game designer and for a while, I've been either making my own short films or small games but I've been suggested by my friend to voice some of my characters and when I did it, I received pretty good reception. I know some high profile voice actors started as an animator such as Seth Macfarlane, Justin Roiland, Mike Judge, Olan Rogers, Alex Hirsch etc. so I was wondering is this a good way to get into voice acting?
Actor’s Confidence by Fine-Feature-4328 • last post Oct 19th
I’ve been pursuing acting for no long period of time I would say about 4 months and I’m aiming to give my 1000% percent. My teacher says I’m holding back when it comes to creativity and confidence and I feel this is due to the fact that I am quite the timid person when it comes on to unknown factors. Any suggestions on dealing with this. Hopefully I explained this to an understandable degree.
I've heard people say "this actor made it because they put in the work!" - or related things. To you personally, what's "the work?" I'll elaborate below. by greatgreengoblins • last post Oct 19th
What work do you do, consistently, daily, weekly, monthly, that makes you a better actor even when you aren't on set? How about when you haven't booked anything for months? Acting classes are the obvious answer, but I'm looking deeper. What's the work you do, all the time?
Beta blockers for performance anxiety? by chairlifting • last post Oct 19th
I'm an actor that suffers from depression and anxiety. I have tremors on top of that so even when I'm not nervous it appears as if I am with my shaky hands. Has anyone taken a beta blocker such as Propranolol before an audition or a shoot to help them calm their nerves and appear less anxious? I'm acting in a commercial coming up would like to ease my physical symptoms without using something as bad as a benzo.
Actors working in industry office by Mind-Individual • last post Oct 19th
Has anyone worked in the industry for agencies, production companies, awards shows, networks, and successfully audition and "make it" as an actor? I want to apply for office work for one of these, but feel like it's frowned upon, but I know Chrissy Metz worked at an agency before making it on This is Us. Thoughts on doing so?
Do actors need to be good at "dissociating," in order to play so many different types of people and yet not get overwhelmed emotionally? by normanbathes • last post Oct 19th
Hi, I tried acting but unsuccessfully and I have wondered if part of it was I could not dissociate. Of course, dissociation, in the clinical sense, is a mental illness. I mean when you cannot control it and is caused by trauma (the so called multiple personality disorder) But if you can intentionally "dissociate," I imagine it can be beneficial when you need to get in touch with different emotions and ways of being. I mean unless you're a sadist or violent person deep inside, how else can you really play a very violent person and express the emotions and really embody it without driving yourself mad? Or, to be less dramatic, how can you, for a particular role, really become this carefree type of person for hours when in real life you are a very serious person? I sometimes watch actors like Philip Seymour Hoffman, Meryl Streep, and Daniel Day-Lewis, and wonder how they do it. I mean Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood (I know some people claim he was overacting, but even so) but I look at him during interviews and then some scenes in the movie and I think he is possessed, he's not the same person.
Actor follow train CHOO CHOO! by prizzthetheatrekid • last post Oct 19th
Hey! I'm an ATL actor/thespian. I feel like i have such good interations on this subreddit. Does anyone want to follow each others socials? @thepeytonrowe Leave yours and I'll follow.
Aarons monologue from Titus andronicus as a white actor? by Like_a_Dragon • last post Oct 18th
I posted this on r/theatre, but I thought this would be a good place as well. Sorry if this seems like a dumb question, but I’d thought I’d ask now than later. I’m preparing for MFA auditions, and I’ve been really struggling to find dramatic Shakespeare monologues (I’m mainly a comedic actor). I stumbled on Aaron’s “even now I curse the day” monologue at the end of Titus and I fell in love with it. I loved how villainous he is and I thought of how much fun I could have with it. I did more research and I just realized he is a villainous moor. First off I feel embarrassed that I didn’t even realize that at first. But another part of me is still wondering, as a white actor who’s just performing a monologue and not being casted in a show, would the people running the audition find that offensive or off putting? Would it just be safer to pick something else, and if so, what are other good, similar monologues like Aaron’s?
Agencies UK by Strict_Carpenter_661 • last post Oct 18th
What are the best acting agencies for actors that have limited acting experience under their belt within the UK - North West England
What are the best movies to watch as an actor? by Fattywithoutafry • last post Oct 18th
I’m generally curious as to what you think are some of the best movies an actor can watch/analyze.
Do actors choose what genre they want auditions for? by Liyandri • last post Oct 18th
Hopefully this isn't a stupid question but who makes the decisions on what kind of genres you get booked for in terms of Film & TV? I love Drama but I don't see myself being a good comedy actor, is this something I should tell my agent if I ever get one?
Self Taping Scenes to Get Started on Actors Access/Backstage by Kaviness • last post Oct 18th
I don't have much quality footage of the student film projects I have worked on so I am looking to do a few self tape style scene clips to upload to AA and Backstage. I was told to not use anything that is recognizable so I am on the search. I did a scene from Malcom and Marie for class that I was thinking of using but I am worried the piece might be too recognizable. Does anyone have any advice/methods on finding scenes that are good to self tape? Any insight would be appreciated!
Why do CDs have you read for major roles if you're unknown, when you know they're just going to cast a major name actor in the role? by wealthtimesinfinity • last post Oct 18th
I've read for a handful of series regulars and supporting leads in feature films over the past couple years, meanwhile i only have a shit ton of short film credits and no tv/major film credits yet (but i do read for co-stars a lot too, the occasional guest / recurring). a month ago i read for the lead in the john wick prequal event series The Continental. like, i'm not going to book that role. they jsut cast mel gibson as the villain. they're going to cast a name actor that has been a series regular previously, if not a major film actor in that lead role. Why do they give these types of tapes to unknown actors? i mean, listen i'm beyond grateful for the chance to read for that office, atomic honey, but i just dont understand it. earlier in this year i read for a supporting lead in a gerald butler movie. they cast the lead from Luke Cage as that role. like, why am i reading for things that i have no chance in hell of being cast in? it just feels like a big joke. i hope that means casting either thinks i'm capable of doing a role that meaty or they like something about me, but i just can't wrap my head around this. out of all the auditions I've read for in the few yeras i've been auditioning, literally 99/100 the person cast has at least a page full of co-stars / guest stars already. so like, somebody's gotta give me a chance eventually for my first major credit... even if it's just a co-star... right? i think i gotta stop looking at imdb and who get's cast, becuaes all it does is drive me crazy. Also, do we anticipate the major acting studios / teachers in LA to be holding classes physically in person again in January? or do you think it's just going to be zoom classes forever at this point? some of this people (leslie kahn) are still charging $800 for zoom intensives, doesn't seem like much of a discount from in person classes. I can't imagine spending $800 for a zoom class, ridiculous in my book. I wanted to wait for in-person classes to resume, but what motivation do they have for doing in person again when they can charge the same for zoom...