We have found 21,065 posts across 4 actor forums:
Headshot-Age Range-Character Type Feedback by AutoModerator • last post Sep 1st
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.
The Risk of Auditioning for Local Hire When Not Local by CanineAnaconda • last post Aug 31st
I've been seeing an ongoing uptick on this sub that in a business that now relies mostly on remote auditions, actors can live wherever they want and still present themselves as local hires. My opinion is actors can *audition* wherever they want, but unless they're very well established, it's best that they're local. I live in New York City, and last year, I had my first recurring role. It was originally a one-day costar like all of the other previous network roles I'd booked, but was asked back to play the same character in another scene several episodes later. I had been booked for this second shoot date two weeks in advance, but the with a week left to go, I got a call from an AD after 7pm, who apologized about the late notice, but was I available tomorrow? I said yes, and they explained that I was actually in a second scene that had been overlooked because I had no lines. But for continuity, it was important for me to be there. An hour later, a Teamster had picked me up at my apartment, and drove me to set in another borough to get a covid test, and the next night, I was on set, shooting my new scene. I could have said no, I wasn't available to be picked up in an hour or to work the next day, and it wouldn't have been my fault. But as a result, that would have endangered my appearance in my first recurring role and instead, another actor may have gotten the part as it was originally written as a different character. Instead, I was available, and with a recurring role under my belt, I'm now auditioning for guest stars and more recurring characters. Shooting schedules are unpredictable. They change at the last minute, new scenes are written, switched around, a series regular may test positive and they have to rework what scenes to shoot next with little advance notice. Meanwhile, airline flights are cancelling at high rates because of [staff shortages](https://www.axios.com/2022/06/19/airlines-flights-staff-shortages-delays-summer-vacation). So if you have to travel a long distance to be a local hire, there are risks. I have found that when I've leveled up in my career, it was often due to a congruence of timing and luck. Whenever I slate now, where I live, or where I'm based, is one of the questions I answer, and it's likely because so many actors are submitting for local hire roles when they aren't technically local. Sure, actors may be able to *get away with* not being local for local hires. But I don't think that's the same as actors being able to live wherever they want, at least when they're vying for roles that don't pay above the base + 10%.
Accidentally got SAG eligible as a non-actor, is that worth anything? by oatmeal__enthusiast • last post Aug 31st
A year ago, I got cast in a lead speaking role in a series of commercial. I am not an actor in any way shape or form. I was asked to audition by the basically the luck of god and got the part. Got paid entirely too much money. A year down the road and I'm curious if this at all qualifies me to get another acting job. It was a lot of fun to do the shooting and it'd be cool to do something similar. That being said, my intuition is that since there are thousands of actors with actual training and background, my resume would be basically worthless. Is that the right read of the situation?
Acting/auditioning advice? by PlasticConcept593 • last post Aug 31st
Hey, So long story short I’ve been an actor for around seven years. I’ve been in a few things successful the first two years with a lot of callbacks and a few bookings. The last five years I’ve booked two things and virtually next to no callbacks. I’m honestly not sure what changed i don’t feel like I’m acting any differently. I still get auditions but no bookings usually. I need advice on that but also i don’t know if I’ll explain this right and this might be a part of the problem. I have really low energy. Like obviously i want to act natural and like me in real life. My normal essence is very low energy a matter of fact type of vibe. I feel like some people are really outgoing and have this little ball of energy inside of them bursting at the seams. I don’t have that. I’m very much almost too relaxed. I try to fake it but it’s not authentic and the camera picks up on that. I’m worried I’m not booking because my “normal” is very boring on screen. Any advice on how to fix it or if i need to or how to harness it.
I’m an 17 year old male that wants to have voice acting career by Koasbite360 • last post Aug 31st
So if anyone needs a male voice actor like me comment on this post.
looking for mutuals by AWK2545 • last post Aug 31st
Any aspiring actors who wanna talk about movies, tv shows, theatre, and acting in general.
Are anyone else's clients getting more cautious? by BeijingVO2 • last post Aug 31st
I just got a gig to play a Jamaican gangster for a video game and the client was worried it'd be considered racist to hire me to do it. Even though I passed the audition and I'm a character actor, I can do it no problem, even though I'm British/Spanish. Since when did it become insensitive to act another accent? Also there are NO Jamaican actors in this city so they really don't have a choice. But, it's acting. We are 100% of the time pretending to be something we're not. Why is this even a thing.
Adding a credit on IMDB by meinai88 • last post Aug 30th
Hello fellow actors, I was recently in an unpaid short film where I was the lead. The film is coming out sometime in September. I was wondering if I can add the credit on my IMDB page when the short film comes out or if the director has to do it. The reason why I am asking is because I talked with the director about the credit and he told me he doesn't know if we will be getting a credit on IMDB through him. The film doesn't have a page on IMDB yet and don't think it will. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Is Tom from Fat Pig an overused monologue? by zoobify112 • last post Aug 30th
Hey yall. I need a monologue that I'll be performing in two weeks, and I have spent the summer (intermittently) reading plays looking for one but haven't been able to find one that I really connected with. Last night I just started looking online out of desperation and found Tom's monologue from Neil Labute's Fat Pig and really liked it, but I'm worried that since I was able to find it online, it might be an overused one like Actor's Nightmare or I Hate Hamlet. Is that the case...?
Tips for a *Green* Actor going on TV Set by Tricky_Machine575 • last post Aug 30th
My first time ever on a TV set I went to the bathroom with my mic on and I was HORRIFIED! Filming again soon and it has been a while, what are some basic things I need to know. I am mostly a theater actor so cameras do, at times, give me the heebie jeebies. Also I am working on a pretty fast paced TV show and don't know quite what to expect. I am guessing no rehearsal time, but would love to hear other people's lessons from set and some need to knows. Best, lil amateur green actor scared of the big screen
How much do voice actors make? by HYDRAlives • last post Aug 29th
I mean people who work steadily but aren't like industry titans like Mark Hamill
Thoughts/experience with a UK and US agent? by xchix • last post Aug 29th
Hi all! I have seen actors in my time who have two agents listed on their website/profile - one UK and one US. I have a UK agent and I’m not really in a position to fly over to the US frequently for auditions so I hadn’t thought much about this but I am hugely interested in booking roles in the US. Does anyone have two agents, know at what point this becomes a reasonable thing to do and any advice on how you’d secure a US agent if you’re based in the UK? Thanks!!
ACtor chasing Hope by Joey Ortega • last post Aug 29th
Hi Karma! Here is NEW MOVIE : CHASING HOPE https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5800711/ check for CHASING HOPE From the world premiere of “Chasing Hope” this weekend. It's been a great experience in a beautiful environment!
Random discussion: why do you think there hasn't been a reality competition show for acting? by thisisnotarealperson • last post Aug 29th
There are multiple singing and dancing shows but as far as I know, and I could be wrong, there's never really been one for acting. Which I find a bit strange, since singing, dancing, music, and acting are the main things under the performing arts umbrella. There was a reality show called *It Factor* that just followed a few struggling actors, including Jeremy Renner, but it wasn't a competition, more of a documentary. I dunno, shower thoughts I guess, but given the wide range of reality garbage that we've seen over the last couple decades it's odd to me that none of it was an acting competition. Or am I totally forgetting something?
Anyone done the Book from Tape Classes and Coaching? by Euphoric-Wash-5659 • last post Aug 29th
Seems decently priced and known but would like to hear from actors that may have actually worked with him. The program https://www.bookfromtape.com/ The Master of Self Tape (the one I’m looking at) https://www.self-taping.com/
How do I keep the “as if” in mind but at the same time let go of my script and act in the moment?? by Timetravel_isreal • last post Aug 29th
Iam 17,and I got rejected from my dream drama school 2 days ago.They basically told me that they saw I had talent and that I wanted it,but that they rejected me bc I played my pieces in the same “tensed up and defensive” way and that I need to learn how to let go of my script and just act what I feel in the moment. I actually get their feedback,but now it feels like my whole idea of what acting was is gone.Whenever I prepare a piece I always make up this whole story around it to keep in mind when iam acting,but it doesn’t work as well with pieces where something happens that I haven’t experienced before…So I get what they are trying to say,but at the same time I don’t know what to do with it.I tried performing my pieces in the moment today,giving into all of my natural impulses. That actually went well,but without some background story in mind I feel like iam directing my words at nothing and like its less realistic as a result.I think I need to connect the “as if” to the “act what you feel in the moment” but I don’t know how to??When I act in the moment without a backstory and when I try to keep a backstory in mind that I don’t relate to I just get this heavy feeling in my chest and my acting feels forced.I don’t know what to do anymore.It feels like someone bombarded my house and all the structure of it is gone.Shitty metaphor ik but that’s basically what it feels like. Iam also starting to get worried that I don’t have enough “life experience” to be an actor…One of the judges told me I was “too young” and that I needed to get to know myself and live life or something like that…Iam starting to think that he might’ve meant that I haven’t experienced enough yet and that therefore my acting in certain scenes lacks realism bc I haven’t experienced the thing iam acting yet?? Idk what to do the other candidates that got admitted where literally my age and I doubt they have experienced stuff like the hamlet/Phaedra pieces we had to perform??I’m just really scared that if I don’t gain more life experience I’ll be rejected again and that it will stop me from being a good actor… Does anyone have advice for me?Is this a common problem??
Young Actor Just Moved To New York. Any Advice? by why15808 • last post Aug 29th
I just moved from a southern state to New York to pursue my goal of being a professional actor. I graduated last year and I’m ready to work! I’ve mostly done theatre work but I want to break into film + television work. Ive only been here for about a month now and I feel so overwhelmed because there’s just so much going on all the time and I don’t know where to look/start. I did my senior showcase and we sent our submissions out to agencies across the US and four or five agents told me to reach out to them when I moved to New York and when I did, no one responded to me. I knew that would be a possibility, so I’m not too upset about that because that’s just the business. I have an actor’s access account and a Backstage account. Could anyone give me some advice about to how to start getting auditions/work in the city and some advice about how to navigate this new city? i’d appreciate anything at all. Thank you!
money by BRACK3N • last post Aug 29th
so im wondering how much i should charge as a brand new voice actor
What does an avail check really mean? (+ other random questions) by brooklyn3215 • last post Aug 29th
1. What does an avail check really mean? I read a wide variety of numbers from 5-20 actors being pinned for a co-star on a network tv show, for example, to only 3 actors being pinned. What is the truth? 2. If you've been pinned / avail checked by a CD, what does that mean for the future? They must be aware of who you are at that point, yes? Do they just basically keep you in the rolodex of their mind when the right role pops up? Or, in the case with my reps, they are still submiting me repeatedly, so getting repeat audutions that are not callbacks are not so much casting seeking me out so much as casting say "yes, ok" audition when my reps submit me 3. If you're getting repeat auditions from CDS, like you have gotten 3/4/5/6/7/8/13 auditions from them for over a period of months or years, that has to be a good sign that your acting is on point yes? Or maybe you're acting is not on point, which is why you haven't booked yet? Or, again, casting is just so lazer specific that you just haven't gotten the right role yet. But 13 times? What gives?! 4. Why can't casting show producers other tapes they have of you from other auditions? Wouldn't that simplify the casting process so much and cut away so much unnecessary auduitioning and save everybody so much time? Like it's kind of crazy to audition for like more than 5 different co-stars, in my opinion, like you know what you're going to get from an actor. You can imagine them saying a different 2 sentences based on all their previous work! Or am i crazy? 5. I was pinned for a small suppporting role in a high profile directors feature last summer. I thought i would start getting more auditions from that CD all the time, or something like that. Nothing really happened. FInally got another tape from that same CD almost a year later, for a 3 episode recurring guest on a killer show, so that was cool, but there has to be some sense behind this, some reasoning, why this role as opposed to others, why not anything in the past 12 months? or is it really just random? 6. If some offices give me auditions for primarily co-stars, and a few other offices give me tapes for larger roles, is there any way to capitalize off of that? target certain materials or cater materials towards the CDs differently to be appealing for both co-star+ above at the same time since all kinds of eyeballs are on my materials? 7. For those of you who auditioning for a lot of CD's for a long time, before booking your first co-star... when you finally did book that first co-star... did the rest of things sort of "catch up", since you had already auditioned for so many CDs for so long prior to finally booking? Like a snowball effect? I can't imagine things not increasing in pace once I finally start booking, like more auditions, more bookings, etc. if it doesn't i really just don't understand lol. 7. More to come as I think of them! thanks guys. i thought it would get easier as i "go" but i'm just getting crazier instead.