We have found 20,083 posts across 4 actor forums:
I Really Want to Perform (and i just need to rant about it a bit) by underestimatedbutton • last post Jan 3rd
So for anyone who knows me, this is the *no shit, button* newsflash of the century. But, like. It's also a really big deal for me? I (23f) graduated in 2019 with dual BAs in acting and linguistics from the honors college of a major university. That's all well and good, but around 2016-2017, I had a mental break/ prolonged dissociative episode exacerbated by my coursework from which I spent the better part of a year trying to recover. (Spoiler: apparently I didn't quite manage.) Anyway, I seriously considered quitting acting, since it seemed like my degree was pretty directly responsible for my head breaking a little bit. Why I didn't is a rant for a different day, but I know now that if I had, I would have regretted it. So I kept going, and I excelled in my training, because I am good at what I do and will keep pressing until things start working. (I know this sounds conceited, I know training is not the industry, but credit me as halfway decent.) I happened to fall into training without which I would not be the same person, let alone the same actor - but I had another degree and a thesis to worry about, and I *could not stop* long enough to figure out where I was going. I just kept going. So I graduated. I took a year off to gather a nest egg and come up with a game plan (two years now, thanks to COVID :/) or so I said, but let's call a spade a spade: I was burntout. I come from a family who really expects grad school to be an eventuality, but I had nothing - no drive, no momentum, no idea. I didn't even *want* anything. (I think it's hard to understand this if you've never dissociated; I know I have a hard time explaining it. When I say I *didn't want* anything, I dont mean that I had options that I disliked or rejected - I mean that I was so passive and so far removed from myself that I *could not* want or desire anything, let alone devise a career plan.) Side note: during my "recovery" period, when I was clawing my way back to myself, there was an acting teacher from LA who visited my cohort. He had us introduce ourselves and say what our dreams in life were - then berated us because *none of us were dreaming big enough*. On the off chance you're reading this - and you'll know who you are - from the bottom of my heart, fuck you so very, *very* much. At a period of time when I openly and honestly shared that my only dream was to be happy and make nice things, you decided that wasn't enough? *Fuck* yourself. You can tell me all you want that you have to really *want it* to succeed in this industry - and maybe that's true, what do I know? But I *do* know that a romanticized as acting is, it is a job, one for which I am trained. I know that I joke about *running off to be an actor* but for the past year and a half, I knew I eventually would, because otherwise I would have wasted all the work I'd already done, back when I wasn't sure what I was working towards. Back when I was only working so I didnt quit. I haven't given a live performance since March 2019. Since then, I've done a few short films, a web series, some live character performance work, and a few virtual productions - I even turned down a role and a callback because I knew they would tax my mental health - but I have not stood on a stage and performed for an audience, and that hurts. I am empty, and I am rusting. I've been questioning if it's even worth it to try if I don't have the heart for competition (I don't, but that's a different rant for a different day). Then a few things happened: firstly, I started dreamhouse hunting. I just got my first place, and while I adore it, it's not my forever home - so I started thinking about what *would* make a perfect home for me: a sewing room/studio, plenty of closet space, and enough land to put up an outbuilding with a small stage. In my head, this stage is barely a platform, without even a proscenium. There are maybe 50 seats, 10x5, on benches like church pews. I have been to too many sunday matinees not to view theatre as a form of worship, and I want my altar. I want a stage to practice and to try and to create. (The animator Don Bluth - *Anastasia, Land Before Time*, etc. - lives in my area. He is one of the kindest people I've met; right in that 2017 timeframe, he told me if I kept working hard at acting, I'd go far, and I still smile thinking of it. Anyway, he now has an actual, teeny-tiny theater space, but when he retired - "retired" - he decided he wanted to start staging community theatre - so he did! In his living room. *That's* what I want - just in another building for the sake of my nervous cat.) I would perform on it, too - for my family and my friends, for my tiny theatre's ghosts, for myself. I *would*. This led to the epiphany that no, I don't need to be rich or famous for my version of success. I would be happy playing characters with whom I connect and telling stories that are soft and true. I'm probably going to have to pursue acting professionally to really do that - no tea or shade, I just doubt the kind and calibre of work I want to do will ever be available at a community or local indie level in my market - but there are types of roles I like, and performing them wouldn't just be because I'm afraid of wasting my talent or my potential of my effort. This should have been obvious. But my head likes to break. And we are in the middle of a global pandemic. Then, yesterday, I binged *Julie and the Phantoms* on Netflix (a phenomenal show). I've been listening to the soundtrack all morning. I was watching a clip of *Stand Tall* and it hit me: I want to perform. I *want* to perform. I know, *no shit, button, you're posting this on r/acting* - but this is a really big deal for me? I want to stand on a stage with the energies of an audience and a text and translate them into something magical and breathtaking and true. I want to *be* that conduit. I know it sounds so dumb, but this is such a big deal for me. For the first time since 2016, I've *wanted* this. I *want* this, and I've been alternating between crying and laughing from the relief of it all as I've typed this. I still do not have a game plan. I still do not know how I'm going to build a career. But I know I'm on the right track. That's something. That's a big enough dream for now. For anyone questioning if this is the right place for you, ask yourself: would you perform if you could? If you had the space and the resources, would you? If there was no money, if there was no glory - if there were no audience, would you still act? Cool. Break a leg. (and thank you♡)
Waste of Time or Solid Plan? by Rainingsun15 • last post Jan 3rd
I’ll try to make this as quick of a read as possible! So I have a fairly solid reel of work that I’ve done in the past. What I don’t have are clips of me 1. using my strong suit accents (British and Russian) 2. Performing in ASL and 3. A good super specific type-a teenager scene. My plan is to contact my filmmaker friend who always produces good footage that looks professional and ask him to help me out. If he says yes (he totally will) then I’ll get together a few one page scenes of the above categories and find actors to help out. I know that the footage would be nice but I guess my question is; will this open me up to new opportunities and make me more competitive, or will it be a waste of time?
Does It matter in acting that I am not photogenic? by Hamiko4 • last post Jan 2nd
Would It matter If It were about acting on tv? I do not find myself attractive nor photogenic. I was even told by everyone that I am not photogenic. They also say I look better in real life. I talked seriously with one of my friends who I know I can trust her words, and she said that I am not ugly, I am just veeery average. Cute veeeery average. She lacks a bit of empathy for people (me too) and I lack being "average emotional". So it doesn't hurt me that much. I have big ears, very thin lips. I mean very. Not many people see a real thin lipped person, I know. I have a little little bump at my nose bridge. my lips are assymmetrical, I mean one side goes a bit down. I have a "dead" look in my eyes. Actually.. there are pictures of me at my reddit posts. I asked in /amiugly.. I am just like.. I have been drawing for most of my life. I am 18. I only like to draw humans. And I rarely get myself to draw if i am not in school (i am at an art highschool). I feel fine not drawing. I think it is starting to clear up that it is more like a hobby. Maybe. When I see someone drawing, I dont feel that "jealousy and fire and almost irritation" that I feel when I see people acting. I feel those feelings towards acting because I am jealous that they can act at that moment, right there and I cannot join. When asked the question: "Would you spend 1000 years to become an artist?" I would say," I dont know.. probably.. I have much patience. But I dont care though. I think i would get bored." and would probably also say: "what else can I do? Theres a perfect human I just drew.. and then? What now..?" Now, if someone asked me: "Would you spend 1000 years to become an actress?" I would immediately say, "yEs! :)" and then I would think about how happy would I be to have that many years to master my craft. I would not get bored. I also thought about writing stories.. But then I realized I am not fit for it because I just like to read stories. I just generally..actually think that I would like a job which has something to do with movies. Acting catched my eyes so far. It catched it since I was maybe 10. It went like this: "ohh look, what if I I do this instead of acting and drawing? Ahh.. nah.. I want to be an actress instead.. OH wAIT waht about this onE? :O Nahh... lets just be an artist.. like everyone wants me to be.. BUT Wait.. DO I really want to be an artist?? I want to be an actress afterall.. Lets tell parents.. They dont believe in me at all.. Lets just continue with drawing.. But I dont feel any connection to drawing.. I get bored.. Acting acting.. Why does it keep popping up?? I want to do it.. But I am not fit (they say).. Its a childish dream, they say.. They say I want fame. Do I? I dont know. Not many make it.. But I want to be an actress....Want to try. Also, the only people who I have been looking up to are all actors and actresses. I cannot look up to artists the same way I look up to actors. I just love to see perfect/realistic acting.
How often do you actually get told you "have a great voice"? by iggykidd • last post Jan 2nd
We always see the stories of "heard I have a great voice, everyone says I should be on the radio!" How many of you that are working voice actors have actually gotten that compliment, unprompted, without the person knowing you do work with your voice? I never once heard it prior to doing voice over work, but now when I'm talking to someone about what I do, they will hit me with the "great voice" bit. I've definitely put a lot of work into improving my voice, so I'm glad it shows, but I also never hear it any time someone doesn't know I'm a voice actor.
What makes a script appeal you as an actor? by TimPrice2 • last post Jan 2nd
I've been producing for years, but I'm finally working on a project which has the budget and scope to *possibly* be of interest to some smaller known actors. We're still working on our script. It's well beyond first draft stage but we still have a lot of work to do. Do you have any advice on how to make the script appealing to actors? More importantly, do you have any advice on what we should *avoid* so as not to turn off any potentially interested actors?
Which role would you rather accept [serious]? by TimPrice2 • last post Jan 2nd
If you're an actor, please consider answering this poll. We're having an internal debate about what type of roles actors prefer. Your answer will help us settle it. There are two choices for females and two for males. COMMENTS WELCOME. ​ [View Poll](https://www.reddit.com/poll/kp1380)
Vancouver or Mtl? by ActingActor92 • last post Jan 2nd
What’s a better city for actors? Vancouver or Montreal? I’m a fully unionized actor with an agent and seeking more opportunities. I hear a lot about Vancouver. Please help. Thank you
Should I go through with my grad school auditions? by StrobeRogers • last post Jan 2nd
Hey everyone, I have URTA coming up. I've been looking forward for five years. Something always came up and never been ready to apply. Last year, applied, but Something came up again..couldn't afford flight. They let me reapply for this year and now its on zoom. However, Something came up again. I don't know if it's how rusty i am, or the what if of it all. I just want to also take a break from it all..not think about "i have the time now, lets take classes!" But then..I haven't even had the audition or the offer.. I know if I do the prep, I can get an offer..but Again..this is the big time..not small pool of actors.. I'm just stuck. Any thoughts?
American/Canadian Actor studying in the UK? by musicalbell • last post Jan 2nd
Hi! I am starting to apply to schools and I have found programs I love in the UK. Is it a smart idea for me, being a Canadian American to go to a school over there? I’m really not sure so any help would be useful. :) thanks
What ever happened to headshot photographers Susan Shacter and Peter Hurley? by Alternative-Date-220 • last post Jan 1st
I'm quite confused why it seems from about 2008 to like 2016, they were at the top of their games and were the go-to photographers in NYC. But why is it so extremely rare nowadays to even hear about both of these photographers at all? I've been keeping track of actors booking their first jobs on Deadline, newcomers who have become popular on IMDb, and actors graduating from Juilliard, NYU, Yale, U of NC of the Arts, Pace, and Carnegie Mellon. No actors use these photographers anymore, seemingly. But why? And if it's because headshot trends change, why is that?
Two key things that turn me off about a career in acting.. by reditwithmb • last post Jan 1st
Hello all I’ve been someone who has a passion for acting and I’ve grown a lot in my craft. Booked some gigs it’s all good , I understand the nature of being an artist with the ups and downs financially but also the cutthroat nature of the business is such a turn off. Cant make real friends it feels like if you’re actually trying to get the ball rolling. Any tips I guess to secure more financial stability as an actor And also how to navigate the catty environment
Dream Roles? by Sonny_Crockett_1984 • last post Jan 1st
I am a writer and director looking to create some lower budget projects. My question to the actors around here is: What are your dream roles? What kind of characters would you most want to play right now or sometime in your career? Also, why do you want to play a role like this? I would love to hear from you guys on this and get an idea of what appeals to actors.
Who is this actress? by 8888shan • last post Jan 1st
Is the O1 visa no longer of any value? Are studios unwilling to look at actors under temporary work visa? by SabReale12 • last post Jan 1st
So I’ve been reading about the O1 visa in the industry and how there are restrictions on O1 artists which are imposed, not by the USCIS, but within the studio system. I’ve read articles about it from like 2008, so I’d be very surprised if production companies are still doing this whole “only permanent resident status or a green card” thing. I’d like to know from foreign actors in LA or anyone in the industry how accurate this still is. Was this something that was going on just for a period or still very much happening? I mean the whole point of the O1 visa is to be able to work in the US, yet foreign O1 actors can’t book any roles because the producers won’t hire them for being O1 holders? Oh, c’mon. I get that some people were lying about having this visa and the production companies could be uncertain about hiring anyone under an O1 for awhile, but can’t they just ask for the actor’s manager to send in their petition and the proof that they’re there legally before the audition? Is the only way to work in the US as foreign actor now if you already have a job offer waiting for and sponsoring you? Also, would you say because of this refusal it’s become even more complicated to get a manager and representation? Or do they just skip the productions that are all “no O1 holders” for you?
How can a regular writer advertise auditions for anyone interested to audition? by YewandeNessa5 • last post Jan 1st
Alongside enjoying acting, i am first and foremost a writer of content, so when i wish to get anyone interested in a role how do i legally and professionally go of it? Say for a short youtube movie? I'm a 1 man team currently, for my own content id like to get actors (again nothing tv related) but how, and how would i present my written work to interested people without them showing/reproducing my ideas in the event of it happening? Do i write a formal contract and issue it to anyone interested in auditioning...i sound stupid so id defo appreciate clarity
acting degree means 100% sure job? by mosenco • last post Jan 1st
if someone get a degree in a drama school or in an acting school, i dunno, for example the drama centre london, they will already become an actor after that, or happens that many people can't find any job and stopped to pursue this career?
Monologues by ross_sexton • last post Jan 1st
Hello, I am an actor who is struggling to find good monologues to audition with, could anyone suggest any good plays/monologues for me to read. I am looking for plays that are located in east London/ Essex. The character I am looking for is any powerful male role. Many thanks, Ross
What kinds of credits can an actor on OPT get? by SabReale12 • last post Jan 1st
Optional practical training is one type of work permission available for eligible F-1 students. So when you graduate from a eligible acting school or conservatory, if you're an international student, you get an OPT. You have to apply for it like three months before you graduate. After you graduate, you get one year to work. But it’s hard to find information on how limited the employment opportunities are and what’s next after the OPT period is over... what kind of projects are legally accepted in this case? Only non union, short films and students films? And if that’s the case, then how the heck are you gonna apply for the O1 Visa next? If that’s the next step at all to build your career after you’re done with the OPT period.
Foreign actors going to study in the US: a waste of time? What’s next after the OPT? by SabReale12 • last post Jan 1st
Optional practical training is one type of work permission available for eligible F-1 students. So when you graduate from a eligible acting school or conservatory, if you're an international student, you get an OPT. You have to apply for it like three months before you graduate. After you graduate, you get one year to work. But it’s hard to find information on how limited the employment opportunities are and what’s next after the OPT period is over... what kinds of credits can you get when you’re opt? Only non union, short films and students films? And if that’s the case, then how the heck are you gonna apply for the O1 Visa next? If that’s the next step at all to stay and build your career.
For future: Looking for male actors aged 18-30 by Truthsirum • last post Jan 1st
I'm working on a short film project of my own and will be needing around 5 male actors and perhaps 2 female, this project cause of money, covid, finding a setting will take ages to put together, i have no idea how i am gonna find a space as i want it to be shot in an outdoors forest/garden/wonderland scenario ... no idea how that could be done, and id wanna hire and pay people interested in acting if they fit the role, its contains a gay character and lots of love scenes (not naked) between the characters, where could i post for anyone open to these roles? Also anyone here that is interested or open to at least being a maybe, can contact me if you want , but again, the process to put together will take a long time, writing is the easy part for me ahah