My Scene With The Coen Brothers Taught Me This About Getting UpgradedThought I was getting upgraded after direction from the Coen brothers on Burn After Reading — here's what actually happened:https://youtu.be/SMO-JWfnXJ4Have you ever gotten upgraded while doing extra work or saw it happen? If so, share it here so we can learn from you.
Hi everyone, I'm a 20-year-old male living in Ireland, and I'm interested in pursuing work as a horror actor, especially as a creature or monster performer. I am 1.98 m (6'6") tall, physically fit, and comfortable using unusual body movements to create creepy and realistic monster performances. Because of my height and build, I think I could be a good fit for creature roles in films, TV productions, haunted attractions, or live events. I don't have professional acting experience yet, but I'm very motivated, eager to learn, and willing to train. I have a strong passion for horror and would love the opportunity to bring unique characters to life. If anyone knows of auditions, casting calls, agencies, or has advice on getting started in this field, I would really appreciate your help. Thank you!
I started submitting to agencies some time last year, and finally got an in-person meeting with an agent who wants to sign me! I have never had an agent before, so I’m really excited, but I’m unsure if this is normal for a contract. The agency is a SAG-franchised agency and all the research I did seemed legit, no red flags that stood out to me. When I went to the in-person meeting, the agent said that I had to accept an invitation through Actors Access that would link the agency to my profile. Then they said that the contract itself was coming directly from SAG-AFTRA and would take about 1-2 weeks to be sent to me. They said that every SAG agency uses the same contract and that I wouldn’t really need a lawyer to look it over. Is this normal? I know I’ve never seen an agency contract before but I was under the impression that every agency had their own written contract and agreements, not that everything for every agency came from SAG. They also told me it was valid for a whole year, then I could renew it after that year was up. The other problem is, I haven’t even seen the contract yet and it’s been over a month since the meeting. I waited a bit and didn’t hear anything for almost 2 weeks. I reached out about it and I was sent an email to fill out a questionnaire to show what type of representation I was seeking specifically, as well as the Actors Access invitation. Another 2 weeks went by and I followed up again with an update on the contract, and I was told that it was being sent to me that week through the SAG Portal. It’s been a whole extra week and I’ve received nothing so far. I’m not even a SAG-AFTRA union member so I don’t have any access to a “SAG Portal”. Is that also normal? It feels like I have to initiate every interaction with this agent and I’m starting to lose hope.
As actors one of our jobs is to try different tactics to book roles. Which one in the title works best for you or is there another one you have used that works?
Hi everyone!I'm an actor based in Texas and have been spending the last year investing in my craft—from acting classes and creating new scene work to refining my professional materials and continuing to learn the business side of the industry.One thing I've realized is that acting is only part of the journey. Building relationships, understanding the business, and continually improving your work are just as important.I'd love to hear from actors at every stage of their careers:**What's one piece of advice that genuinely changed the trajectory of your career or the way you approach acting?**Whether it was something a coach said, a lesson you learned on set, or a realization that helped you grow professionally, I'd love to hear your experience.Looking forward to learning from everyone!
Hello all. I have been trying to propose my script for projects on Stage32 and I haven't heard from anyone so long. The thing is there is no feedback whether it is a good one but doesn't fit their choice or if it needs development. I'd really use your talented minds in developing my script. I'd appreciate your contact so I can share it with you for my script to get noticed next time. Thankfully.
Do you submit your headshots with newly refreshed hair (no roots showing, at its brightness) or when your hair has been more lived in (roots showing, more faded)? I’m getting new headshots and not sure which would feel more truthful for CDs to see. I could see a fix being getting headshots of both depending on what my hair looks like in that moment when submitting for an audition, but that can get pricey. Curious what your experience has been like and if it actually matters?
I first stepped on stage when I was 8. The way my mom tells it she burst into tears when I did because she knew I was home. From then on it has been a life with a singular purpose - to become a working actor. Summer camps, school plays, attending a performance arts high school, pre college summer courses at NYU, BFA from a top program, more summer programs in Grotowski methodology, devising my own work, founding a physical theatre company in college, the list goes on. After college I do some theatre, get my commercial and theatrical agent that way, book my first commercial, book a supporting role in a film, join SAG, then book a play with a Tony winning company with a month run in LA and a week run in Tokyo. Opening night for the show: March 13th 2020. By March 15th the city had shuttered. The next five years were spent banging my head against a brick wall. All momentum had vanished, I couldn’t make anything work. I LOATHED self tapes. Every audition that came in was accompanied by a pang of anxiety and an endless stream of me grumbling about how bad, or stupid, or pointless the material was. So. I quit. Last August. No more reps, no more submitting myself, no more workshops, or classes, no more fucking self tapes. Started a LinkedIn to get myself a job in tech sales. Followed that path till the thought of hocking tech set my soul on fire, so I switched to throwing myself whole heartedly into hospitality. I’ve always been a good server but I dedicated myself to become a great one. I got into therapy. At the beginning of this year I looked around and realized I was miserable in every aspect of my life. And in every aspect I was miserable I had a list a mile long of why I was so unhappy in it and why it was all due to forces beyond my control. If only I was taking a run at things in the 90’s. Id be a very comfortable working actor then. So I decided to take full control over the one aspect of my life that was totally, 100% under my control. I decided to get fit. Like really fit. Since January 12th of this year till today I have weight trained in the gym 6 days a week without missing a single day. Sometimes I’d to cardio on the 7th day. I dropped 30 lbs, gained a lot of muscle, got *lean* and most importantly I taught myself that I can achieve difficult goals, and that I am in more control over my own destiny than I thought. As the physical transformation was happening a mental one took shape as well. I found a slow, easy entry point back into the world of acting. One that was heavily research and spreadsheet based. Rode that out until my creativity was banging on the back of my eyeballs begging to be released. So I started submitting myself again. And I fell head over heels in love with self tapes. I realized that my entire background was in devised theatre work, taking existing text and finding interesting new ways of telling the story. And that self tapes were just a continuation of that work. I took full creative control over them. My actor friends who were working cautioned my at first but all I could say is “you don’t see the vision”. The first tape I’d done with this mentality went to a 4th round chemistry read for the lead of a feature, the next led to 3rd round callbacks for another feature, I booked a recurring role on the third season of a sag web series, and most recently I booked a play at a large regional house being directed by a Tony winning director. I’m getting new headshots in a week, have a strong library of self tapes, and once the show opens I’ll be strongly positioned to hustle my way into finding representation again. I have fallen in love with acting again, but more importantly, I’ve fallen in love with life. I don’t know what the future holds, but I no longer believe my happiness or security rests in my ability to “make it” as an actor. I had to change how I interacted with the world for the world to change how it operated with me. If you’ve taken the time to read all of this - thank you. I’ll leave you with the quote that’s been seared into my head for months “we don’t attract what we want. We attract what we are”.
This has always been in my mind ever since I was a little girl and reslized I have tuberous breasts. Knowing how brutal the acting industry is do they simply choose actresses that for them have all the package? Because all the nude scenes in movies and theater are done by women with beautiful fit bodies and conventionally pretty perky round breasts. I've never seen a nude scene with a woman with tuberous, assymetric, droopy breasts. Could that be a reason an actress isn't hired for a particular role? What if she gets surgery? Scars will still be visible...
Do I have any aspiring actresses/actors that want to make an actor’s/actress discord to practice and run lines with each other just to better your acting skills
I spent a few weeks working on this monologue to perform and it quickly got to a point where my director would stop giving me any critiques and just say that it looks great, and while that feels great to hear, as an actor I’m aware that a performance is never perfect and there is always something to work on that can be utilized in future performances, so I’ve decided to come to this amazing subreddit to ask for some feedback! Feel free to give as much or as little critiques as you’d like, and I hope you enjoy it as well!
Hi everyone! I’m a British Actor who is currently travelling in Australia, currently in Perth. I’m in a very fortunate position where I can be without a job for a year and still have some money left over after that. I’ve been doing acting for just over a year and have managed to get a professionally recorded showreel in that time. I then left my job of 5 years to come and see Australia as I’ve always wanted to go, and thought I could also pursue acting over here too. At this moment in time, I’m not 100% sure if pursuing acting in Australia is a great choice, however they do have some great training options here. With the job I had, I managed to save really well and I am comfortable and can be for a year. If you were in my position, what would you do with the time you have to help with your acting career? Would you find as many workshops as you can in Australia and learn as much as you can or return to the UK, live with parents and save money while also doing workshops there. There is also a year long course at WAAPA which I’d be happy to do. Essentially, I want to know what options I may not know about but also know what your opinion would be on this? Happy to listen too all suggestions, even try a different country if there is a market for it
I'm 17 and a professional actor based in Toronto. I'm represented by an agent and have booked a TV co-star before, along with a few commercials. This fall I'm starting the Core Foundation program at Armstrong Acting Studios, then I'll be doing Intermediate, Advanced, and eventually I'd love to train at Berg Studios in LA. My dream is to build a career in film and television. I love grounded, character-driven projects, and one day I'd love to work on an A24 film or a major streaming series. My question is for working actors or people who have been in the industry for a while: Based on this path, does it seem realistic that over the next few years I could continue building toward more TV co-stars, then eventually start auditioning for guest stars and supporting film roles? I'm not asking if anyone can predict my career—I know nobody can. I'm more wondering if this training progression, combined with continuing to audition and gain experience, is a solid path for someone at my stage. I'd really appreciate honest advice from people who've gone through something similar. What helped you make the jump from your first professional credit to consistently booking TV and film?
Just wanted to vent my irritation for the night on this subreddit I guess. I told myself this year that I would try to build my acting resume. So I’ve been able to snag a few roles for student films. I’m 23 so I recently graduated and maybe it’s not my place but I find the directors of these projects just not…. professional. Granted we’re all young adults but I guess I’m pissed that I traveled from Philly to Brooklyn to make it to call time on time, just for it to be made aware to me by AD that I was the only background that showed 5 hours into this night shoot so they cut me. I turned around to tell her that she should tell her director she should’ve communicated that with the actors she casted because now I’m trying to catch the last Nj transit train out Penn station before they close into the next morning. I don’t have time or the funds to be stranded.. Then I still have no reel footage because some just don’t send at all (I know they take forever). I just want to come off as taking my craft serious. Needless to say, I’m just going to get into acting classes in hopes that beefs me up professionally so that I can be comfortable to apply for bigger roles. I’ve been trying, but it just gets frustrating always being in situations where things get cut. But I won’t give up though. Just thought I’d place my irritation somewhere and hope I relate.
Hello lads! I am a 24 year old aspiring actor from Greece. Having logically chosen Ireland , as an EU student, am thinking of applying to Gaiety and Bow academy . (Lir as well , but the chances are not in my favor.) What are your opinions on those two ? Bow offers a 9 month programme. You think it is enough? Which school increases one's chance to get into the industry? Thank you for your time!
My girlfriend listens to Criminal and for her birthday I’ve written an episode for her that I’d love to get voiced up by someone with as close to a Chicago / Phoebe Judge accent as possible. It will be about 10-15 minutes of a script and was thinking £50, but happy to negotiate for the right actor. Thank you!
Hi! I’m reaching out to see if there are any Canadians with American representation, whether that’s an agent and/or manager and what your experience getting them & working with them has been like. The Canadian actors I know that do have American representation have mixed opinions; some love their reps and the opportunities they get to audition for, but others say they receive 2-3 auditions a year and that it feel like the American reps are trying to make money off their Canadian bookings. I’ve been going back and forth on whether this is the next step for me, I have a few bookings but nothing that would make an American rep leap at the opportunity to sign me. Thanks!
i’ve just gotten some new headshots done, and i am going onto all of the various websites to update my materials, and i’m starting to get upset. i remember when actor’s access felt like the worst offender, because they charge $10 per photo. but somehow they are now better than the others. casting networks got on a lot of people’s nerves. so casting.com was created to compete with it. but now my commercial auditions are split between the two and i have to pay for both. casting.com charges $25 to upload a single photo. and you can only change your free photo once per year. the issue is that the site hasn’t even been out for a year, so because my account was grandfathered in February, i can’t swap my “free” photo. scummy. first swap on the account should be free and then set the timer for the year change. and on casting networks, you don’t even have the option to swap your “free” photo unless you pay for at least one month of premium at $30. how does this make sense? i haven’t updated my primary photo in nearly 2 years. so basically, in order to have an updated headshot on both of these sites, i have to drop $60. i’ve gotten 5 auditions from my agent on casting.com this year and 6 on casting networks. they are both scummy and pretty much the exact same thing imo. i guess this is a rant more than anything. wondering if anybody else feels similarly disillusioned.
Hi all, I have what might be a unique scenario and wanted to see if anyone had personal insight. I am a non union commercial model and dabble in commercial acting with no desire to do any theatrical. For fun, I will occasionally do TV/Film background work for experience on a big set. I was offered a background role for next week but was told I would get a Union voucher for it... I stay pretty booked and busy being non-union and I hear horror stories of commercial actors getting into Union and no longer being able to book consistent work. My agency has suggested I stay non union as long as possible. This opp sounds like a fun set and a great project but I don't know if I want to risk getting myself to a "must join" situation in the future and wasting it on a background role. For reference, I am F, Caucasian, 30s Edit: I don't want to ask my agent this question because they don't like when I apply to things without them and I certainly am not giving them 20% of a background rate.
I was trying to send some photos to myself but recently got to be a background actor on something. It’s my first time doing this and I accidentally sent some photos from one of my photo shoots to the AD who texted me about the information of the project. I tried to I send but couldn’t. I quickly send back sorry I ment to send that to my friend and deleted the tread so I couldn’t send anymore stupid stuff. I feel so bad because like people who try to be extras do stupid stuff. I didn’t wanna bother her anymore or anything like that and I don’t wanna be blacklisted or seen as difficult. I feel so bad. Is it over for me? Did I totally screw?
Calling all creatures of the night! We are seeking high-energy scare actors to bring our LA Haunted Hayride 2026 to life (or undead). Join us at our open casting call August 14 or 15! **AUDITIONS**: **Audition Details:** * **Dates & Times:** * Saturday, August 1, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM ; Friday, August 14, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM ; and Saturday, August 15., 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM • • **Location:** Griffith Park Visitor Center at the picnic tables 4730 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027 Griffith Park Visitor Center. 4730 Crystal Springs Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90027 **Details**: Pay: $20/hour. Event dates: September 18 to November 1. Availability: Evenings required. Experience: None needed - just a love for Halloween, stamina, and a wicked sense of fun. Join us in creating unforgettable frights for thousands of guests this spooky season! Applications are available here, but it is not mandatory to complete before auditions! [https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/portal/50E32972FA09A8145238140BF772E73C/jobs/210444](https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/portal/50E32972FA09A8145238140BF772E73C/jobs/210444) Learn more at https://losangeleshauntedhayride.com/. We can't wait to meet you!
Hello. I’m a 20 y/o uni student (studies aren’t acting but related to that world) in Italy who gets acting lessons (theatre mainly) on the side and does shows with that school once or twice a year. Our acting teacher sometimes sends us interesting casting calls that he suggests we could send self-tapes to. Every single time I try to do that to actually get some work, I absolutely hate it. It can be an acting self-tape or even just sending some personal info and a video presentation. I hate how my face looks all crooked and weird when I speak, how I sound so fake and dumb both in voice and the general manner I say things… I spend a literal entire day or more trying to make a self-tape and just send the 250th tape I’m still not satisfied with out of pure exhaustion, already knowing I probably won’t hear from them again. Just today I filmed a super simple clip of not even a minute introducing myself and it took me the whole afternoon. I still don’t like it at all. I looked ugly, said everything in an annoyingly sing-songy voice, was visibly tense and I shared my personal info more like a minimal list to cross out than a flowing piece of text. I’m sure I’m overcomplicating it, but the issue is I really think I just suck, despite all my years of studying acting. Those who have seen me act on stage say I’m good, though. Some say I should invest into this. Yet I feel like an idiot and like no matter how much I try and tweak my look and my way of acting I will never be any good. I used to think I was good at least in theatre, but if that’s what I‘m like on video then how different could I truly be in person??? Plus nowadays it’s all self-tapes, even for some theatre stuff. Most of my job would be doing self-tapes, if I tried pursuing this professionally. It’s all pretty difficult to understand in general, I’m AuDHD and I naturally have such weird expressions and facial movements, partly also because of my face genuinely being kinda crooked and weird, that make me look like a caricature even when I’m trying so hard to be normal. In general I just often feel uncomfortable looking at myself in video and professionally taken pictures. I cried one time seeing myself in a film we did and though it was partly because I was moved by the experience, the main reason was just how grotesque and dumb I thought I looked. Also one time I filmed a video talking about a friend for their birthday, which also took a century or two to get a “good take” for, and they said it looked like I was being held at gunpoint! Ouch ow ow! I’ve thought about just trying voice acting, but it wouldn’t seem good to go for something “just because” I hate looking at myself. There’s other parts of acting I love doing as long as I’m just living them in my body and not through a reflection of me. I also tried to just brute force it and set a random self-tape quota for a certain period of time to try and practice it, which just got me disheartened and tired. I‘ve talked with a therapist years ago, they just said I might have body dysmorphia but it didn’t go that far otherwise and they gave me no way to work around that. I’ve tried losing weight, working out, taking better care of myself, fixing my hair and putting on makeup to record and so far I still feel the same about my look when I’m seeing it through a camera… I used to think my only wish was to become an actress. I spent what little energy I had left after studying into acting since middle school and made my identity so intertwined with it that I didn’t let myself explore almost anything else until recently. Now I’m trying to look for something else I could do but I’m so lost and confused, because I didn’t really plan for a future where I‘d have to stop focusing on it… I’m studying, but it was in hopes I could use what I learned in acting, maybe do some odd show biz related jobs here and there along with it… I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s dealt with self-tape issues, insecurity and all that when it comes to acting, especially among amateurs and aspiring actors. So please, if you can give me some advice I’ll take it!!
My daughter is turning 18 in 6 months. She is in Toronto and full ACTRA. Has a network principal role and Netflix actor role on resume. Will be taking a gap year when she graduates in June. For those that transitioned from child actor to adult, how did it go? Did you see a dramatic increase in auditions at 18? She can realistically play as young as 14. For the last few years she’s gotten maybe 1-4 auditions per month. She wants to continue to work in the industry and probably apply to film schools.
I landed my first gig as a background actor for a small tv show in my local area! I’ve mostly done theatre both in college and in a regional theatre, but never working on a tv set. I’ve looked at many posts for advice and what to expect (which has helped so much!) but my issue is that I will most likely be called from 3pm-3am and I’m really worried about getting groggy or falling asleep as I rarely stay up that late and I’ve heard that napping in the hold room is not allowed. This might be a completely dumb question but does anyone have any advice how to make sure you can stay up that late? I’m not sure if I should get an energy drink or do some exercises or something? I’ve already get 8 hours of sleep on average but I’m worried that won’t be enough to keep me awake and ready to give this my all.
Hello! I am an actress who works as a nurse full time. I havent been in a production in over a year because I work 5/8hr night shifts a week and can't sleep. I am looking to switch specialties and jobs but am unsure which schedule would be best. I truly want to do part time nursing work but I have to do that after working at a new job for at least 6 months. So these are the scheduling options. -3/12hr shifts day/night 7a-7p/7p-7a -4/10hr shifts usually 8a-6p -5/8hr shifts but Id only do day shift 8a-4:30p I really need advice so I hope that someone can help. Thank you guys for even reading this post.
I was cast as an actor in an independent film project. During the process, I told the producer that I was “a little bit in love with her.” I understand that this may have crossed a professional boundary. Afterwards, she removed me from the group chat. I sent her a message apologising and said I was sorry if I made her uncomfortable, that I would drop it, and that I wanted to remain professional. Before this, she had actually asked me to continue being involved in the project as the sound recordist after my acting scenes were completed. I agreed and was helping with sound duties. After my apology, she replied saying that my involvement with the project was officially ended effective immediately. She said my acting scenes were complete, that remaining sound recording and behind-the-scenes duties would be handled internally, and that our working relationship was concluded. She also said I would still receive credit for my acting role and sound recordist work. I feel conflicted because I apologised and my intention was not to make her uncomfortable. At the same time, I understand she may have felt the need to create professional distance as the producer. I’m looking for outside perspectives: was this a reasonable professional boundary, or was ending my involvement an overreaction after an apology?
this has happened to me often acting on sets, when i get script i memorise lines and be prepared and dont talk with any one or even start a conversation with anyone. But my co-star starts to talk in friendly manner conversations about outside topic of my life and his/her life which distracts me and even showing a bit attitude(to make him cut of and focus on scene)to co-star for disturbing me so that my performance can be ruined. 1.this also means that he knows that if he distracts me purposely off topic on sets which ruins my performance (yes i had this bad experience before) 2. or just his/her natural personality is like that. I am an ambivert only starts talking being friendly with others(without disturbing)when my scenes are completely finished. Also in past they complained about me for not talking or being friendly and considered arrogant which was a misunderstanding and also i have experienced some actors on set being upset at me for not recognizing them through their acting career they talk to me slightly rudely in way that they are asking for attention and respect indirectly which seems weird.
Context: I am an Audio Engineer and I primarily work on Audiobooks (in the LitRPG space). I love my job and the fact that I get to listen to fantastical stories (some better than others but they can't all be DCC). When I first started I was focused on the wrong things - like eliminating or reducing breaths, but also pacing. The raw files I would get would vary wildly, sometimes the narrator is going at a snails pace in the story, somtimes there are no pauses to distinguish between a paragraph , page break or sentence (as expressed in the manuscript). I used to make it a point to adjust the pacing when it was egregious to me in the context of "If I was listening to this on my commute, would I enjoy this performance or would it distract me from the content?" (Software Engineering is my day job so I would listen to audiobooks recreationally for 2.5 hrs a day in traffic, come home and work on audiobooks I was assigned). I was admonished (in retrospect, rightfully so) for doing too much - I was told the actors/actresses we commissioned would be pissed that the integrity of their work wasn't upheld. I was always curious about that, because in music there's a mutual understanding that the mix engineer will impart at least some color on the final product by way of process (at the very least). SO - to all the lovely VAs out there, is pacing something that you're doing intentionally and would like to see preserved 1 to 1? are you open to adjustments? etc. I'm only curious as a student of the arts.
So I’m a voice actor and am mainly getting jobs that have to do with voice overs for minecraft server promotions! Basically they send a script with payment and then I send it back so they can post the video on their server accounts! I usually keep a tight leash on my clients to make sure they aren’t violating any of our agreements but one slipped under the rug…. Turns out that made a fake account that has an ai pfp of a girl while they don’t exactly say “this is me in the videos” they are borderline pretending to be me (against my terms) I messaged the person multiple times on different platforms and reported the account and videos but still nothing. Any ideas on what to do? Both yt and TikTok
I’ve heard long ago that when making a demo you record yourself reading a line at least 5 times. I’m starting thing that not it I’ve also thought about reading off famous movie quotes in different ranges and tones of what I could do with my only working vocal cord. But one project I’ve wanted to try is reading a classic fairy tale while doing some funny voices to each character to show off what I can a can do. I don’t know. I’m probably think of ways for audiences to get use to what a person with vocal paralysis could do while trying to voice act. Is vocal paralysis considered a disability? Can some one with that be able to be a voice actor?
Hey! It’s basically what’s in the images. I don’t know yet how much the rate will be, but it will be at least $8/line taking in consideration my current possibilities. It will be for a short indie snippet episode. I want to eventually produce a full pilot, but that’s not certain yet! Hope I’m doing everything right here! Cheers! Edit: I’m completely against AI in creative industries, so the contract will explicitly project voice actors from it.
Hello, Stage 32!My name is Alec Kantrell, and I'm a film and television actor based in Texas. I'm passionate about emotionally honest, character-driven storytelling and especially enjoy exploring roles with psychological depth, quiet intensity, and layered emotions.Over the past year, I've been focused on strengthening every part of my career—from training and creating new scenes to refining my headshots, demo materials, and professional portfolio. I'm committed to continually growing as both an artist and a collaborator.I'm here to connect with actors, writers, directors, producers, casting professionals, and other creatives who are passionate about telling meaningful stories. I'm always open to learning, collaborating, and supporting fellow filmmakers.Thank you for welcoming me to the community. I'm looking forward to meeting you all and seeing where these connections lead!— Alec Kantrell
The most memorable performances are rarely built on the dialogue itself. They live in what the character wants, hides, and feels while the words are being said. As legendary director Elia Kazan put it, "The real life is not in the words; it is in what the character is feeling and wanting while the words are being said." Finding that hidden life starts with three questions every actor should ask before playing any scene. What do I want? Identify the core objective — love, control, safety, forgiveness — driving your character in that exact moment. What am I hiding? Determine the secrets, fears, or painful truths your character is actively avoiding saying aloud. What are the given circumstances? Review the history, the relationship, and the stakes between the characters before the scene begins. Viola Davis describes it best: "I don't play the words. I play what my character is trying to fix, break, or hide. The dialogue is just the surface."Once you have found the subtext, the craft becomes integrating it into performance without announcing it. Embrace contradictions by playing the opposite of the spoken word — acting overly cheerful to hide deep grief, or showing coldness out of a fear of rejection. Let your non-verbal cues carry the truth: body language, posture, eye contact, and strategic pauses reveal the internal state your character refuses to speak. And practice active listening — react honestly to what your scene partner is doing and feeling rather than waiting for your next line, because as Mike Leigh reminds us, "Words are just a very small part of how we communicate. The subtext is the real battle going on underneath." Stella Adler distilled the whole technique into one instruction: "Don't just say the lines. Know what you want from the other person. Your action — what you do to get what you want — is your true subtext."Anthony Hopkins offers the perfect summary for any actor building a role: "The words are just the map. The subtext is the territory. You have to figure out the secret agenda the character is hiding." The next time you break down a scene, spend as much time on what is not said as on what is — that is where casting directors, directors, and audiences see the difference between reciting dialogue and living a character. What is a role or scene where discovering the subtext completely changed your performance? Share it in the comments — we would love to hear how you found the scene underneath the scene.
Does Stage 32 offer one-on-one pitch sessions with literary managers or management companies? I currently have six projects in my portfolio, including a finished TV pilot, a feature trilogy, a psychological drama, and the first draft of a comedy pilot. The pilot and feature trilogy are inspired by actual events.THE KEEPER / THE GREAT SAVE — Inspired by actual events, a gifted young goalkeeper growing up in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood finds himself caught between a legitimate shot at professional soccer and the Irish organized crime family offering him belonging, protection—and a very different future.I’m interested in connecting with a manager who works with writers developing a body of material rather than pitching only a single project. Any recommendations or experiences with Stage 32 manager pitch sessions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your help!
Does Stage 32 offer one-on-one pitch sessions with literary managers or management companies? I currently have six projects in my portfolio, including a finished TV pilot, a feature trilogy, a psychological drama, and the first draft of a comedy pilot. The pilot and feature trilogy are inspired by actual events.THE KEEPER / THE GREAT SAVE — Inspired by actual events, a gifted young goalkeeper growing up in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood finds himself caught between a legitimate shot at professional soccer and the Irish organized crime family offering him belonging, protection—and a very different future.I’m interested in connecting with a manager who works with writers developing a body of material rather than pitching only a single project. Any recommendations or experiences with Stage 32 manager pitch sessions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your help!
I’ve been taking acting lessons for a while now and ready to put myself out there and audition. Besides Actors Access and Backstage, I’ve been told to check out different Facebook groups when searching for non-union roles. BUT WHY, and no exaggeration, is every flyer obviously made with AI?? And they all look the SAME! It really deters me from even wanting to submit but really want to get experience. I just wanna get people’s thoughts on this. Because I would think as an artist, the use of AI is ironic and just lazy. I would 100% rather see a simple Canva poster than AI. Has anyone else seen this as well?
Hi! Nice to meet you, and thank you for taking the time to check out this project. My name is Valentin, and I'm an indie game developer currently looking for talented actors and voice actors to bring the characters of my game to life. The game is a narrative-driven, third-person detective adventure set in a realistic 3D recreation of Providence, Rhode Island, during the 1950s. Players step into the shoes of a detective investigating a series of mysterious murders. By gathering clues, solving puzzles, examining crime scenes, and interrogating suspects, they'll slowly uncover a truth that is far more unsettling than it first appears. The story is heavily inspired by film noir and the psychological and cosmic horror themes of H. P. Lovecraft, blending grounded detective work with subtle supernatural elements. The focus is on atmosphere, storytelling, memorable characters, and cinematic dialogue rather than action. # What I'm Looking For I'm looking for performers who can deliver both voice acting and facial performances for the game's dialogue scenes. My goal is to make every conversation feel as natural and cinematic as possible. For each scene, you'll be asked to: Record your dialogue with clean audio. Record yourself on camera while performing the scene so your facial expressions, eye movements, and timing can be captured. (No special equipment required, any 1080p camera will do, if you record at 60fps that's even better) Important: Facial video is used solely to extract facial performance and timing. Your appearance, identity, and likeness will not be reproduced or used in the final game. No photorealistic digital copy of your face will be created. Only the facial motion data will be used to animate the game's original characters. # Compensation This is a paid project. Actors are compensated at $0.20 USD per spoken word or 3,5$ per line. The estimated payment for each role is listed in its casting description, so you'll know approximately what to expect before auditioning. The job is fully remote, you can submit your files by mail, Discord.. What You Can Expect A respectful and organized production. Clear scripts and character direction. Prompt communication throughout the project. Credit in the game's final release. A story-driven experience with a strong emphasis on character performances. # The roles Please check the casting call club page for the full details of each role (background story, character traits, voice profile..) [Casting call page ](https://www.castingcall.club/projects/the-reason-behind-a-lovecraftian-video-game) # Application Please send me your audio and video file either via Discord or through the casting call application process. The auditions are open until August 15th. Then I expect the work to be done between end of August to end of September at the latest. If you enjoy detective stories, character-driven narratives, film noir, and atmospheric mysteries with subtle supernatural elements, I'd love to hear your audition. Thank you for your interest, and I hope you'll become part of this journey! Feel free to reach out here if you have any questions. More about me: I have been developing this game for two years now. This is my first game but I have been working with IT projects for 17 years. I really love cinema and video games so I'm trying to get my two passion together into this project. My personal favorites are LA Noire, Resident Evil, Alan Wake.. I also really love Lovecraft and I would love to create something that really relates to his work. Cheers! If you want to know more about the project and see more visuals of the characters you will be playing, you are welcome to join the discord channel here: [Discord link](https://discord.gg/meR2HjfGmw) Or follow on X: [X Link](https://x.com/FishFoxGames) Short summary of the story: A detective is hired to locate the heirs of the wealthy and enigmatic Harold Blackwood after his death. What begins as a seemingly straightforward inheritance case gradually unravels into a series of murders, long-buried family secrets, and a conspiracy tied to an ancient, otherworldly force. The game will have three murders to investigate, this casting is about the first one, the murder of William Kane.
Hi! I keep seeing 4 specific posters on casting networks. 1. Photographer looking specifically for 18-23 years old C-DD cup models for shoot. No guests etc. "Seeking a model for a photo shoot, club fashion to lingerie. Date TBA-decided with model. Mainly considering females 18-25, that are a natural 32C/D or 34C/D. Pays $220 Total. Experienced Only. Outfits will be in a dress, crops, shorts, bikini and lingerie." 2. ROSS - sexual situations actress. He's always posting these ONE page movies about incest, cheating, infidelity. 3. Church of Scientology - they changed their name to like SMP productions 4. Photographer looking for 13-18 models. 5. Shawn Valentino looking for BEAUTIFUL MODELS FOR IMDB CREDIT Anyways... I've applied to all these castings to see if they're legit or creeps (out of curiosity not authentically) and they repeatedly message you for creepy audition requests. Like one audition dialogue was about how the main lead has this huge desire to be wanted and NEEDS dick lmao. The other ones will persistently keep asking about bra info. I CAN TELL THESE ARE SCAMS/CREEPS. I wish I could report them or castings would stop allowing these to be posted. This is like bait for new actors and models. I personally know friends and new actors who have really applied for these castings without noticing the GLARING red flags. I'm worried someone might find themselves alone with these "creatives" Thoughts, advice? I'm gna be so embarassed if there is a report button and I never found it. I'm thinking of emailing casting networks about these specific roles published. These men could just be rapists posing as photographers and now these girls are locked in a room with them.
Hi everybody, I just moved back to Germany after living in New York City and studying acting there for 5 years and was wondering if anyone knows what the best online websites/portals are for casting calls or finding agencies similar to actors access, backstage, etc. Appreciate any help and tips!
Hi! Begginer actor here. I only did a few small projects and only auditioned for a fewer roles. Not too long ago, I've submitted my material to a massive casting call and to my surprise, they want me to audition. I signed an NDA and received my sides before I went on social media and researched a bit about the casting director and some tips for the auditions. Now, I've stumbled upon multiple videos, but each saying different things. One group of videos said how It's totally alright and not a big deal if I have to look down at my sides, and the other ones said how I should fully memorize my sides, even if the casting doesn't require it. I have around 4 days deadline to submit, which I have time for, but I'm still considering on what's a better option. If anyone could, I would love to hear some recommendations and tips.
Halfway through shooting a low-budget feature film, which had not foreseen using AI effects. I explicitly discussed this with the writer, producer, and director. Now, on day 14 of 34, a logistical issue (filming onsite) has forced a rewrite of the script that involves a post-prod VFX that will “require” AI. I don’t know what program they will use or who is engaged for the task, yet the whole team is onboard. I don’t want to delay the entire production - but I am skeptical of this. I requested the prod team draft a document to prevent the program’s usage of our image for other projects - I know this won’t prevent the program, but maybe it can be used for some future recourse if it does. TLDR; What can I do to protect my image and those of my co-actors? Any resources for this?
I lurk here. And I don’t comment much. But I wished to post here after recording this a couple hours prior to now. So here we are. Putting myself back together. Because I need this. I need monologues. As it gets me better. Very much in the mental health angle of things. I am coming out of another dip in depression. This was a rough one. And I am not alone in that while at the same time living as an actor. Bipolar 2 which has been a shadow since acting as a kid. So it’s not a new dance. But this dip drained me this time around. But we’re working our way back. And I auditioned with this piece less than a week ago. My focuses are on the stage and live theatre. Philadelphia theatre auditions and what not. I haven’t landed anything in quite some time. And my last show was for Philly Fringe, a show called Dirty Priest - a two person show. As well as Scrooge in something called A Christmas Carol Comedy (another 2 person show where I played Scrooge and my partner played everyone else in about 60 minutes). It was a blast. But dry since then. And the ego takes a beating from the number of rejections. But we continue. I continue. Because I need it. I may drive myself to madness with memorization. And beat structure. And voice work. But it keeps me safe. As does the stage. As does acting. I’m just happy to be moving again. And smiling without trying again. And I hope acting still does the same for you. Pulls you out of yourself when you need it. Or pulls you deeper into yourself when you need it. But I thank you for letting me share. Thanks for viewing the monologue. Stay well. And I’ll keep doing the same. \*MONOLOGUE: “Of The Fields, Lately” (Ben): by David French \*Not something I’m submitting. I just felt like randomly recording it.
I've been keeping up with casting directors from casting about for certain projects id love to be on. What would you include in an email to introduce yourself as an actor?
At first I was pretty blown away. However after living alone in a new city I’m realizing he comes off a bit pretentious. Most of his “technique” requires the other actor to run lines with and a moderator but that just seems pretty impractical. Most people in this economy are busy working and you’re left to memorize by yourself until you film your tape with a reader. His writing comes off as if you don’t do it my way, your acting won’t be real. Anyone else have opinions?
Hey everyone, I’m looking for advice from actors who have had to leave a really good agent they’re close with, when they know it’s time to move on. I’ve already voiced my concerns and stayed longer than I wanted out of respect for my agent and our relationship, but I’m certain it’s time for me to move on. The difficult part is that there’s no bad personal relationship here. I genuinely like and respect my agent, and I would really like to preserve the friendship. At the same time, I’m tired of watching opportunities pass by and feeling pressure to stay when I know I need to make a change in order to grow my career. I've also done some deep dive research into this, including consulting with a number of industry people who know me and the scene where I live as well as nationally, and the concensus is that it's time for me to change. For those who have been in this position, how did you actually handle the separation conversation? If you had already communicated your concerns and given things more time, how did you make it clear that the decision was now final without making it hurtful? Were you able to maintain a good personal relationship afterward? I’m confident about the decision itself. I’m just looking for advice on how to handle the actual separation with as much grace as possible.
I hope you all don’t mind this shot in the dark. Mods: I didn’t see where this was not allowed (which of course doesn’t necessarily mean it’s welcome) but if not acceptable please delete. I’m not a voice actor but a signer trying to make a vocal booth on a budget. (Im actually out of well right now so trying to do some work for local folks looking for vocals, as well as my own stuff.) I’m looking at some acoustic blankets and boy are they expensive. Anybody got a discount coupon for them they’d care to pass on? Thanks!
Hi, I have created a casting call page for 10 roles and if that's ok, I would like to share it here: Hi! Nice to meet you, and thank you for taking the time to check out this project. My name is Valentin, and I'm an indie game developer currently looking for talented actors and voice actors to bring the characters of my game to life. The game is a narrative-driven, third-person detective adventure set in a realistic 3D recreation of Providence, Rhode Island, during the 1950s. Players step into the shoes of a detective investigating a series of mysterious murders. By gathering clues, solving puzzles, examining crime scenes, and interrogating suspects, they'll slowly uncover a truth that is far more unsettling than it first appears. The story is heavily inspired by film noir and the psychological and cosmic horror themes of H. P. Lovecraft, blending grounded detective work with subtle supernatural elements. The focus is on atmosphere, storytelling, memorable characters, and cinematic dialogue rather than action. What I'm Looking For I'm looking for performers who can deliver both voice acting and facial performances for the game's dialogue scenes. My goal is to make every conversation feel as natural and cinematic as possible. For each scene, you'll be asked to: Record your dialogue with clean audio. Record yourself on camera while performing the scene so your facial expressions, eye movements, and timing can be captured. (No special equipment required, any 1080p camera will do, if you record at 60fps that's even better) Important: Facial video is used solely to extract facial performance and timing. Your appearance, identity, and likeness will not be reproduced or used in the final game. No photorealistic digital copy of your face will be created. Only the facial motion data will be used to animate the game's original characters. Compensation This is a paid project. Actors are compensated at $0.20 USD per spoken word or 3,5$ per line. The estimated payment for each role is listed in its casting description, so you'll know approximately what to expect before auditioning. What You Can Expect A respectful and organized production. Clear scripts and character direction. Prompt communication throughout the project. Credit in the game's final release. A story-driven experience with a strong emphasis on character performances. If you enjoy detective stories, character-driven narratives, film noir, and atmospheric mysteries with subtle supernatural elements, I'd love to hear your audition. Thank you for your interest, and I hope you'll become part of this journey! More about me: I have been developing this game for two years now. This is my first game but I have been working with IT projects for 17 years. I really love cinema and video games so I'm trying to get my two passion together into this project. My personal favorites are LA Noire, Resident Evil, Alan Wake.. I also really love Lovecraft and I would love to create something that really relates to his work. Cheers! If you want to know more about the project and see more visuals of the characters you will be playing, you are welcome to join the discord channel here: https://discord.gg/meR2HjfGmw Or follow on X: https://x.com/FishFoxGames Short summary of the story: A detective is hired to locate the heirs of the wealthy and enigmatic Harold Blackwood after his death. What begins as a seemingly straightforward inheritance case gradually unravels into a series of murders, long-buried family secrets, and a conspiracy tied to an ancient, otherworldly force. The game will have three murders to investigate, this casting is about the first one, the murder of William Kane. [Casting Call page](https://www.castingcall.club/projects/the-reason-behind-a-lovecraftian-video-game) I would appreciate if you could apply through the casting call website or through Discord. If you have any questions about the project, feel free to reach out here or anywhere. Thank you! UPDATE: The NAVA AI rider will be attached to the contracts. The audio and video files will be solely used in the videogame. If additional voice over is needed, additional work will be contracted.
There's still a chance to be a part of this month's filmmaker's challenge! But hurry, the week is almost over! https://www.stage32.com/blog/july-filmmakers-club-week-5-the-new-proof-of-concept-why-filmmakers-should-build-audience-before-pitching-4540
I’m a recent drama school graduate and have received offers from both **ARA Talent Group** and **Melanie Gayle Talent**. Does anyone have experience with either agency or advice on which may be the better choice for a graduate actor interested in theatre, screen and musical theatre? Private messages are welcome too. Thanks!
Actors and actresses, what do you want from a indie film director/filmmaker?
Weeee, you found me!
I'm your buddy Bottie, I was hiding behind the scenes, but now that you've found me I'd be happy to tell you what I'm doing.
I just wrote a few fun facts about Web For Actors
Would you like to take a look?
Click here to check them out. I hope it will cause involuntary audible response.
