Some stories don't begin with a scream...They begin with a whisper you failed to hear.Before watching Chapter III – "The Lust of the Flesh," revisit the darkness that started it all:Chapter I – The Gift of Agonyhttps://youtu.be/0GKgQqjNuzE?si=JoeDhhUPCSSRi2sQChapter II – The Lost Lullabyhttps://youtu.be/jl8UsPLGdXc?si=1m_cqXeCb4wZXURsBecause the truth has been waiting for you since the very first frame.
I’m a 28-year-old aspiring actress/screenwriter and I’m a quadriplegic who’s been in a wheelchair since I was two years old. Anyway I’m writing a story about two Latina sisters living in the rough parts of San Antonio, TX (my hometown) during the mid ‘90s struggling to get by after the tragic death of their father. I will be playing the younger sister Alex, who aside from being a quadriplegic like me, also suffers from extreme anxiety and PTSD stemming from the day her father died as she was the one who found his body. I don’t have any mental illness in my own life but I want to portray this character as real as possible and I don’t want to offend anyone who lives with this type of illness in real life. The only inspiration I can think of is Sally Field’s performance in the 1976 television film *Sybil* and that one scene in *Steel Magnolias* where Julia Roberts is having a diabetic attack in the salon and Sally Field is trying to get her to drink the orange juice but she refuses. Can y’all please recommend some good acting tips and tricks to authentically portray this specific type of character?
How cool is this? I was featured by PeakWire as one of the go-to voiceover providers. Thanks for the recognition—and to everyone who's supported my journey! ? https://peekwire.com/article/5-voiceover-services-transform-projectHonored to be featured by PeakWire as a recommended voiceover provider \#VoiceOver #VoiceActor #BeltranSoundz
Idk of this is the right sub. But How does a normal person find these casting calls from big companies like marvel or Warner bros or sumthin. I don’t have an aunt sending me WhatsApp links like Imán Vellani or help from the punisher to record my self-tapes like Tom Holland. Do I think I can be the next Marvel star? No. But it won’t be from lack of trying ?. When I dream, I dream big, impossible, unrealistic dreams. Who says I can’t be the next avenger casted? Or next Jedi or sumthin. No bus seriously. All I know is Actors Access or getting an agent (idek how to get an agent)
should I mark my designation on websites and auditions as actress and go for fem roles?
Please feel free to ask any question at all related to acting, no matter how simple. There will be no judgements on questions posted here. Everyone starts somewhere. We have a FAQ which attempts to answer basic questions about acting. \[Have a look\]( https://www.reddit.com/r/acting/wiki/index), but don't worry if you ask something here that we've covered. Also, 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. 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, but 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.
​ Hey everyone. I'm a 17yo guy from a small town in Europe (Poland) and I'm feeling completely lost. I really want to be a film actor, but I have absolutely no idea what to do next. Here is my situation: No local options: The only acting group in my town is a local community theater filled with 11-13 year old kids doing basic plays. I want to work with adults or people my age who take this seriously, not do kids' shows. Zero acting community: I have absolutely no actors around me, and honestly, nobody in my personal life really understands this passion or what I'm trying to achieve. It feels incredibly isolating. What I'm doing right now: I started an Instagram where I post English self-tapes. My accent isn't perfect yet, but I'm trying my best. The Problem: I’ve stopped posting recently because I have zero inspiration for monologues. Trying to find good scenes, direct myself, and act to a blank wall all alone is starting to exhaust me. I feel like I'm hitting a wall. Has anyone else started in a complete vacuum like this? Where do you find good, modern scripts for self-tapes? And how do you keep the motivation alive when nobody around you gets it? Any advice would be hugely appreciated. Thanks!
Hello actors! I’m an actor based in the UK and I’m having issues with my self taping. I’ve got an agent and everything but I’ve got a limited space in my house to film. So I often film in my bedroom. It’s fine when I stand up as you can see my chest up but it’s sitting down when I have to tape is an issue. You only see my shoulders up and I know the filming recommendation is chest up for filming but I have a big chair in my room but I tried to do it on my bed for the last tape which removes the chair in the back. But if I move the camera any lower. You see my bed. However I still have an issue with the framing shot. Any ideas. I can’t film anywhere else in my house due to the space.
Hi! Beginner actor, if you can call me that, here. I am working on a script for a class on Friday and I am in need of a reader. Would anyone be willing to jump on discord or something and help me out?
I've never acted. I don't see myself getting into it. But I often wonder random stuff while I'm watching you do your thing. This is one of those random thoughts. Bonus, do y'all intentionally pull your pants forward when your hands are in your pockets to make your butt look better?
Was venturing down a number of rabbit holes this past week (thank you, writing research mixed with ADHD brain...) and came across a number of sites that included Uta Hagen's 9 questions (also saw it with five questions and one with eight questions). This was a list of questions that goes into the formation of a character by the actor. They are:1. Who am I? Who is your character?2. What time is it?3. Where am I? Identify the country, the city/town, the neighborhood, the building, the room, the specific area of the room.4. What surrounds me?5. What are the given circumstances?6. What are my relationships?7. What do I want?8. What is in my way?9. What do I do to get what I want?These questions are really good at helping to flesh out a character to help the performer create a more realistic character. Very helpful when performing in a stage play (I'd say almost essential in helping to understand Shakespeare), as well as performing as a lead in a movie or TV show. Some of this would be done with active work and breaking down the role by the performer, whereas other answers can easily be gleaned by the script.But, do you do this with every role?In October 2024, I filmed a scene in the movie THE HEIRESS (finally released this year, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37926881/?ref_=nm_flmg_job_1_accord_1_cdt_t_2). I played the Department of the Interior Man. One scene, seven lines. Get in, deliver a pivotal bit of information, and get out. Most of my preparation involved learning my lines and not shaving my head (he had too many bald characters already, true story!). Some "acting purists" would say I still needed to have answers for the aforementioned nine questions for my role. Was it necessary? I mean, I saw the finished movie, and I definitely didn't suck!I've also been in improv workshops where the person leading the workshop said we need to do this kind of character breakdown for every improv scene as well. Really? I definitely know I haven't done that most of the time of my thirty-plus years of improv performing.So, what say you? What is your process? Do you answer these questions for every character you play? Or, sometimes, do you just go in and fly a bit by the scene of your pants? Or is there some hybrid? Would love to know!
Hello, Stage 32!I’m excited to be hosting an AMA here in the Acting Lounge from Wednesday, August 5 through Thursday, August 6. You can start leaving your questions below now, and I’ll begin answering them Wednesday morning.I’ve spent much of my career moving between different sides of the industry as an actor, acting coach, writer, director, editor, and producer. As an actor, my credits include SURREALESTATE, UNWRAPPING CHRISTMAS, DIGGSTOWN, and the CBS movie BLUEMOON, along with commercial and voice work for brands such as McDonald’s and Molson.When I worked full-time as an acting coach, I trained up to 200 actors a year, from beginners to award-winning performers. My focus was teaching actors how to connect to their instincts, make stronger choices, build incredible performances, and let go of outdated ideas about line memorization.Outside of acting, I’ve directed television and award-winning films, edited more than 300 broadcast episodes for networks and platforms including Netflix, PBS, Nickelodeon, CBC, and Prime Video, and earned more than 40 awards for my screenwriting. I’m also a Stage 32 Thought Leader and an AI Specialist focused on the ethical integration of AI into creative work. My slogan is Tools NOT Terminators.You can ask me about acting techniques, auditions, self-tapes, character choices, building a sustainable career, working across multiple areas of the industry, dealing with rejection, staying creative during slower periods, or adapting to changes in the business. I’m also happy to answer questions about writing, directing, editing, voice acting, coaching, or how AI can be integrated into creative work ethically and practically.Bring me your questions, whether you’re just beginning or have been doing this for years. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and having a great conversation!
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.
Hey! My question is how competitive should I expect it to be when it comes to background acting? I've been using the "castingnetworks" website and applied to five different things (All in crowds..) So you'd think for at least one I'd be accepted but nope. Please let me know also if it's something with my profile. I took a white background pic of myself in front of a white wall in my house. The roles I apply to are mainly looking for ages 18-25 and often want people to play highschoolers. (I'm 18 but I've asked friends, and they say based on my appearance i could probably play between 16 years old and 20 as a maximum.) No responses so far. Is background acting genuinely difficult to find work in? Please let me know! I also live in San Diego.
A couple weeks ago I spoke with a UK agent and she suggested forming a group where actors could practice monologues/duologues/improv/cold readings, etc. So far, I have 2 other people interested. I'd like to make this an international thing to try and get as much diversity as possible. Anyone else interested? There are no plans to charge for this.
We are looking for high quality, natural sounding (not anime) voices for this animated pilot! The pilot is aimed to be rated **TV-14**, for young adults with slightly **mature subject matter** and **slightly mature language.** This pilot is about a boy named Stan, a boy who lives in a world of hellish creatures who want him and the people he loves to cease to exist. And he'll do anything he has to do to keep his loved ones safe. **PAYMENT RATES -** $60/per hour of recording **AUDITION:** [https://forms.gle/vaMd3MfswTy2nbsZ7](https://forms.gle/vaMd3MfswTy2nbsZ7)
Can anyone recommend a voice actor for a short video for a gov funded research institution meeting the above reqs? Around 90 seconds. Or recommend where we might find someone. We need an authentic regional accent and do not want anything corporate sounding or RP. Thank you
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.
I'm trying to improve some aspects of my acting and I have found that Isobel's final monologue in "Bull" by Mike Bartlett really hits that for me. I think that the first half of that monologue can be genderless and that's the bit I want to work on for auditions. As I'm quite new to auditioning, is it frowned upon when a male actor does a traditionally female monologue? And vice versa? Thank you everyone! ?
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.
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.
