We have found 19,457 posts across 4 actor forums:
Actor's Take 5: Directors - An Actor's Survival Guide by 8-Brapples • last post Apr 14th
Equity UK payments by MistahStussy • last post Apr 14th
Any UK based actors heard anything about this? Spotlight have given us the opportunity to freeze our membership payments for 3 months due to the pandemic, but Equity seem to be just carrying on taking our payments. I checked the site but no announcement. Are they exempt from this kind of thing by virtue of being a union?
Lack of communication with agent - should I leave? by pokeoutmyirises • last post Apr 14th
Hey there. I have posted last week about an audition tape that had contradicting information in the sides. I am not gonna summarize the sides since this was not a subjective interpretation but rather a direct contradiction that occurred multiple times in the script itself. I left an email on thursday afternoon, then a voicemail friday, then another email saturday. I emailed her again saturday since she emailed us (several of us) about an upcoming audition. I figured she was still reading emails on saturday so I sent her an email to ask clarification about the audition sides and also about a reference letter for an acting class I am going to take. The referral can be anyone in the industry who can say I am commited to learning about acting. This means my agent is acceptable. I think the acting classes will help us both get auditions. I even wrote the letter in advance in case my agent was too busy to write it out. I called my agent today and they did not answer so I left a voicemail. Keep in mind I never harass or ask my agent questions unless necessary. Most instructions are clear on the casting call, so I never ask questions. I am also in the industry for awhile. Not established actor, but I am aware of not harassing agent to get me constructive criticism and not harassing them to ask if I got the part or not. I am simply asking for clarifications on a script that clearly had logical inconsistencies. I just want to ask if my agent could ask for clarification to the cd since it is not clear. I have already done the take with my best understanding of it as a backup. I also want to find a way to help us get better notice during submissions, which is why I am applying to these classes. We have to audition to these classes and right now because of the pandemic, many people are not submitting. It is a great opportunity and I am doing this for both our benefits. My question though is not about the audition tape nor the reference letter, but rather about lack of communication with agents. The audition tape is for both our benefit, so I am not sure why my agent would not get back to me about that. Even a simple, try your best etc... would be nice. How is communication with your agents and also should this be a sign to leave? I signed to stay for a year. I can leave in a few months. I have had many bad agents in the past so I am just being cautious. I have had many agents try crazy things on me, so I am not quite sure about this siutation. I just feel at a time I need my agent the most (audition tape for both our benefit) they are not available. The acting classes would benefit both of us as well and as I mentioned, they accept agent references. It is a very good class and known for being good.
[Paid Request] Readers and Characters needed for Horror Fiction Podcast/Audio Drama by ThisIsTheSignal • last post Apr 14th
Hey, everyone! Leslie Rice, creator and host of The Signal: A Horror Fiction Podcast here. After a year-long hiatus due to some personal issues, we’re back! And that means we’re looking for talented voice actors, male and female, to fill several roles, both ongoing and incidental. Due to the format of our show, there are two kinds of voice actors we are looking for, ‘Readers’ and ‘Characters.’ Readers are the most commonly used assets for the show, and they will be reading various horror stories submitted to the show via email, and through our subreddit, r/SignalHorrorFiction. The ideal reader is able to enhance the tale with appropriate emotion and character as the story progresses. We’re looking for a ‘dramatic reading’ style, rather than what is commonly used in audiobooks. While readers don’t need to do ‘voices’ for individual characters, they are encouraged to adopt their tone to convey the emotion of the scenes being presented. Characters, on the other hand, are less frequently used assets. Voice Actors chosen for these roles will be performing an ongoing audio drama that will play out over the course of every other episode. Due to the long hiatus, we are looking not only to add new cast members, but to replace certain older cast members who are no longer able to continue due to other professional obligations. Payment is on a different scale for each of these types of VA work for the following reasons. Characters have a slightly higher pay scale due to the increased level of commitment the show asks of them, the fact that their appearances will be less frequent, and because they will be representing the public face of the show in many ways. Readers, although they will receive a lower pay scale per episode, will receive much more frequent assignments, potentially twice as many. For these reasons, Characters will receive $40 per episode that they appear in, and Readers will get $20 per story they narrate. Keep in mind that these figures come from a show that is just starting out, and which is recovering from a period of inactivity. As new sources of income for the show arise, the pay scale will likely increase proportionately. Responses can be sent to me here, or at [thisisthesignal@gmail.com](mailto:thisisthesignal@gmail.com).
ANY TIPS FOR LA? by cantsleepsoiscroll • last post Apr 14th
Hi guys. I’m a male actor based in Melbourne Australia. I’m looking to visit LA for two weeks sometime soon (August but because of corona they may reschedule) for a one week intensive acting course. I opted for an extra week for travelling around and networking. 1. I’m interested in good places to accomodation? 2. Anyone wanna connect before this happens (IT WILL WHEN COVID IS ALL SORTED HOPEFULLY) 3. I’m mixed Aussie Filipino so would love to meet some of the Asian community there too! 4. Would like to make friends even virtually from LA (don’t be a fake ass about either haha I’m Aussie, I’ll catch it if I see it). Just curious about the place where Actors dream of visiting and would love any advice or tips on it, the scene both normally and the Asian community as well as networks! TLDR: IM JUST CURIOUS ABOUT ACTING IN LA
Best way to practice as a newbie? by Belfalor • last post Apr 14th
Hey r/acting ! Hope you're all good and not going too crazy with the quarantine. I'm a Belgian/British high school student currently in my last year (which is currently on a hiatus ofc) and I only very recently decided I wanted to try acting as a career. I'm a huge lover of movies, and have become increasingly interested in what makes a good movie, which has helped me enjoy them even more, and especially the work actors do, making me even more hyped to give it a shot. I realise it's not an easy environment and it can be very unforgiving, but I'm pretty much certain it's what I want. I've never really acted in a professional way, never been in a play, or in an online video, nothing. I have tried recreating scenes at home, repeating some of my favourite lines from favourite characters but I'm looking for something more concrete (I think that's the correct word). So I was just wondering what you would suggest me to do to practice a bit, what do you do when you practice? Maybe particular scenes to practice facial expressions, or your voice, anything you can suggest really. Thank you!
Worth it to pay for Backstage? by SailNW • last post Apr 14th
Does anyone have experience using Backstage as a paid casting search site? Is it worth it for voice actors? I'm on the fence if I want to give them a payment for the entire year. Might try the monthly first just to see.
Best book or technique on acting for a complete beginner that is shy and overly self conscious? by jamesjimmybyrondean • last post Apr 14th
I know that most actors are shy and self conscious but I don't want to feel that way when I'm acting. What fascinated me about acting is how actors just become the character even if they are shy in real life. I know practice really helps but what book or technique did you read that really helped in making you less self conscious and shy on camera and made you get more into the character. There aren't any acting classes where I live and I can't go to an acting school so a book would be a useful guide
No acting Acting classes in my city by GoldPrism391 • last post Apr 14th
So I live in a very small city that has 2 theaters but no classes any where in the city, and there's is no way i could possibly get my parents to even consider moving to LA. I'm a teenager and i really want to become an actor but the place i live is really the only thing holding me back. I'm very social and don't have a problem standing in front of hundreds of people, but I want to get started now to have a head over most people who become actors. I just need to find out how i can the experience to become an actor even though there are no acting classes near me.
Meeting my favorite actor by RAWhitmire • last post Apr 13th
Hi so I will probably get to meet my favorite actor from a very popular television show. I was wondering how everyone deals with being starstruck and also what acting questions you guys think I should ask. Thanks in advance for your responses!
Is there any actor based in india here? by kaustubh_shahi • last post Apr 13th
I'm an 18 year old guy with a massive interest in films and acting, i haven't done anything formally or professionally but i wanna learn the craft, i plan on doing college in Mumbai, so is there any advice anyone can offer here on how to begin, what places to look for and how to learn better? thanks!
Is there any actor here based in india? by kaustubh_shahi • last post Apr 13th
I'm an 18 year old guy with a massive interest in films and acting, i haven't done anything formally or professionally but i wanna learn the craft, i plan on doing college in Mumbai, so is there any advice anyone can offer here on how to begin, what places to look for and how to learn better? thanks!
Demo Reel Lockdown Motivation from ActorPlaybook by ActorPlaybook • last post Apr 13th
**Guest Blog Post by** Ian Lyons Hi all, with this unforeseen downtime we’re having, along with appreciating our health and our loved ones, it’s a fine time to get our promotional materials prepped for when things start to pick up again. **As I’m a fellow actor and demo reel editor, I thought a few pointers about reels might be helpful to get you motivated.** I’ve edited demo reels for actors at all levels of their careers, from those just starting up in indie/student films to those well established in studio film and TV projects. While the quality and quantity of the footage may vary, how the reel is constructed remains generally the same. I’ve heard conflicting opinions regarding how long the reel should be, should better known projects be at the front and so on… There is no real definitive way. Some of the longest, most painfully boring reels are the ones by the most successful actors who are maybe too precious with their work (I’ve been guilty of this); while other actors want their reels under a minute.. I generally **aim for around two minutes**, but that can vary depending on the actor’s desires. It’s always a good idea to check with your reps, so you can best shape the reel to their needs. When I first receive an actor’s footage, I look for what scenes **best demonstrate the actor’s abilities and range**. If you’re editing your own reel, definitely share it with friends or industry professionals for their opinions and advice. What I’m really looking for is what rings most true to me. It may not be the scene with the most shouting or crying, but it’s the work that looks most effortless and natural. Of course the quality of the footage can often dictate which pieces I choose. Poor image and/or sound can be a huge distraction and can adversely affect how one views your reel. The last thing you want is someone to turn it off. So you’ve chosen the scenes you want to include, now you have to trim it into a cohesive whole. The main thing to consider when editing is to keep the focus on the actor whose reel you’re editing. Sure that actor opposite you is a great guy and really delivers those lines with pizzazz, but you’re not trying to get him the job. He’s got his own reel. Trim as much out of the other actor as possible so the scene still works. Maybe even cut out some of their image and underlay their dialogue below your reaction shot, but always keep the focus on you. If you want to show you’ve worked with a well-known performer, that’s fine, but don’t spend too much time on them. You don’t want the casting director wondering which actor’s reel they’re watching. Now this next part is about being too precious. Remember casting isn’t watching your reel to be entertained or told a story. They are crazy busy and just want to know how well you can act and if you’re right for their project. So when you edit that scene, don’t be too concerned if they’re going to fully understand what’s going on. That doesn’t matter. Just show them you can act, don’t worry about the story. Lastly, to include contact info or not? Again, if you have representation that’s a good question for them. If you’re reaching out to the NYC market then you’ll need your materials on Actors Access, which prefers no contact info on your reel and/or clips. The way I see it is, if someone is looking at your reel then they already have your contact info, cause you’ve either emailed it to them, your agent shared it with them or they found it on a website which includes a way to contact you. It’s absolutely your choice though. It doesn’t look bad if you’ve included your contact information, but it will lengthen your reel by a few seconds. I generally have a quick title card with only the actor’s name at the beginning and end and that’s it. **Thank you for spending these few minutes with me. I wish you the best in your endeavors and most importantly wishing you and yours much health and love in this trying time.**
Which voice actor does the most voices on popular animated shows? by PSGyourNext • last post Apr 13th
What are the people in the industry actually like? From an outsider looking in. by NotAnotherDingBat • last post Apr 13th
I've been watching this guy on Youtube named "ProducerMichael", in one of his videos he shows a clip of people coming in and out of a room for what I could only assume to be auditions. Now all industries have different type of people, I understand that this could be summed up as "They're just normal people", but what is the industry sentiment really like? I am not an actor, have never auditioned - but it's just so interesting to me. We've all heard the Hollywood nightmares of actors freaking out if someone looks them in the eye or other trivial things like that yet I am more or less speaking of the other people. The ones that cast you. The ones that give you call backs, agents. Is it as cut throat as it is made to be? Some of the threads on here indicate that producers and higher ups sort of stick their nose up at smaller places on the map which make sense if you live in LA and are worth millions upon millions of dollars. Are you nervous entering a room for an audition? Careful of what you say because word gets around fast? Is it old hat or is each audition always something new? Things like that. I look forward to hearing your answers. Hollywood and the acting industry has always fascinated me just because of how, uh... esoteric it is to the normal person.
Hiring voice actors by AinzOalGown-Overlord • last post Apr 13th
Voice Actor Request: Hello all, we are looking for a voice actor who can do a voice that replicates that of a narrator. In addition to this, we are also looking for voices that to be used in our webcomic dubbed audio. We are searching for the following characters below: A young feminine voice (16-18 years of age) Motherly Voice Youngs mans voice, Sauve, and persuasive Of course, there will be more characters in the future however, these are the immediate roles that need to be filled and that they will be consistent throughout the entire story. The pay for this will be around $5 for 200 words. Of course, the payment will be via Paypal and the pay for the commission is also negotiable upon being selected from the audition. Please DM me with your portfolio that has some audio clips. This will make the vetting procedure, even more, easier for us.
Looking for acting friends and tips (Australia based) by SolarianWarrior • last post Apr 13th
Hi all. I'm looking for acting friends to just overall hype each other up and help each other out. I'm a 23 year old female. I'm also incredibly shy and insecure and constantly question myself because I think how can I be an actor when I can't even go to workshops because of my anxiety? RUNDOWN OF WHAT I'VE DONE SO FAR: I started properly trying to get into it last year and signed up with an agent and have been put forward for some extra roles, and got a casting call to be an extra in something two months ago (but obviously filming has halted on most things due to the virus so that's not going to be moving for a while) I did a workshop a few months ago and it was amazing! But the fear leading up to it almost made me not go and I feel like is there something wrong with me? I know there's a lot of introverted and shy and anxiety filled actors out there and I wonder how you do it? I did drama in high school and it was easier and I felt comfortable because it was around people I knew. I'm trying to push through it but I spent the past few years accustomed to being isolated and trying to do this is much harder than it used to be. I wanted to do a performing arts course during high school but my mum refused because it was too far away and I missed an opportunity to do it after graduation because I had to work full time, and haven't done anything acting related since because of life getting in the way. So now five years later I'm trying to get into it all and I've gotten started, but now I don't know where to go from here. I read articles a lot, I visit websites for sources. I frequently use StageMilk to find resources. I've got a start, I just need pointers on where to continue. I'm planning on doing another workshop as soon as this virus is under control but that will be awhile probably. I also wanted to do an online one that they are offering. I also feel embarrassed putting myself out there. Are there any actors out there like me that can share how they manage to push forward despite the anxiety/fear? I just don't have anyone there for me that cares about this and I only admitted to people two years ago for the first time that I wanted to be an actor because I was scared I wouldn't make it because of how I am. But I feel like I can actually do it now, just struggling to really push through it sometimes. Also doesn't help that my family doesn't care and have an idgaf attitude when I talk about my struggles with anxiety. It was easier going to tafe for something unrelated (fashion design), but the thought of going to workshops with less people is more daunting because I know I'm going to suck and it feels like I'm gonna be made fun of lmao When I practice a scene by myself it's really good imo, but then having to do it in front of others I forget how I intend to do it and I do it really differently because I'm just going off instinct. I got told yeah that's good but because it comes out differently than planned it feels bad, and kinda lowkey feels like I'm just told it's good to be polite. ​ So feels like that was kinda long, but I'm just looking for friends that I can look at for role models and inspiration, and also being friends with someone who's into acting makes me feel more like it's more possible. Does that all make sense? I also want someone to tell me candidly everything right and wrong with my acting. ​ SO if you've read all this thanks lol it's probably a lot. Give me some tips and pointers. If you suffer with anxiety and manage to do acting/workshops/courses through that then tell me your secrets. If you're Australians based then personal reviews of workshops you've done would be great (I'm QLD based). Have you done private one on one acting lessons? How were they? Do you prefer those or group workshops? I'd love to hear your personal stories of how you started and got to where you are, and how to plan to keep improving and learning, I also love following actors on instagram and youtube so link those I'm here to support you! :)
Hello! An acting related question. What is the name of this effect/phenomenon where an audience reads into the emotions of an actor even though the actor has a very neutral expression on his face. by spiritofmen • last post Apr 13th
I remember reading some interview where some actor said that in a closeup shot (that was really famous) he really wasn't thinking of anything. But rather the circumstances of the scene caused the audience to automatically 'understand' the emotions of the actor. But I think there is a name for this psychological effect. Help. Please!
Feeling jealous/bitter regarding other actors who are more successful? by Yaars23 • last post Apr 12th
I know you should aim not to feel this way but I do! I feel jealous of more succesful actors, of better actors, of famous folk. How do you deal with this?
Once this quarantine is over, I want to get serious about finding a LEGIT agent. What resources are available for that? by balboafire • last post Apr 12th
I know that’s everyone’s goal here, so I don’t mean to come across as self-entitled. But as I’m sitting here binge-watching gifted and talented actors here in the quarantine, I’ve never felt more inspired to “go for it” when this is over. So that’s what I’m gonna do, come hell or high water. And if I make an ass of myself in the process, then who cares. I’ve become pretty nihilistic about that after repeatedly making an ass of myself over the years anyway. So what’s one more time of making an ass of myself gonna hurt, right? What advice, recommendations, or resources are there available to get hooked up with the right agent? Do I sign up for one of those scammy classes in Hollywood in hopes that they call there scammy producer friend and recommend me? Do I cold call agents? Do I do extra work? I’ve done quite a bit of student films over the past year from USC, UCLA, LA Film School, etc. Is there any value in continuing that beyond for demo reels and resume building? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. And if it doesn’t work for me, hopefully someone else can get something out of this thread! Thanks!