Is it acceptable to contact an actor seeking work to hire them as a plus one to a wedding? Would this be considered disrespectful / harassment towards the actor?
I have a manager who I think is really solid and great. They don't want me self submitting on anything anymore. If I see something on Actors Access, Casting Networks, Backstage I need to e-mail them directly the job postings and they will give me the thumbs up or they will submit on my behalf. I think this is great!! Really shows we are working as a team. I'm conflicted because I don't want to bombard their e-mails throughout the day when stuff comes in that I see. Especially, if it's student films. They are very direct when it comes to this and want no self submissions at all. My agent isn't like this and she told me to loop her in only if I get a callback for something. Anyone else have reps similar to this?
Wasn't sure exactly the best place to post this, since while Hadestown is a musical in Broadway, my question stems from auditioning for a virtual production, which is considerably heavier on the voice acting side vs just flat out theatre. A little about myself, I'm a baritone with a bass range - what I mean is, my usable range goes from about C1/B0 up to C6 in some cases. The reason I don't cal myself a bass outright is because from about F2/E2 and below is all vocal fry since I just naturally have really strong fry. I've never done VA before, or anything cast-side of theatre (I'm always the one hiding behind a sound console), but figured I could give this a shot. I provided 4 clips in a Google Drive, they are all WIPs as the deadline for auditions is in a month. 'Hey, Little Songbird" | "Why We Build The Wall" | "How Long?" | and the ending of "Chant (Reprise)". These 4 combined capture the scope of my current abilities and where I am. My competition is not just a few other true basses, but also a VERY well-known VA actor who has over a decade of experience voicing low-timbre characters (he is by far the one I'm worried about, and since he joined in I've been contemplating even continuing). Given my competition and the month deadline, is it worth still continuing? Likewise, is there any way to improve in this timespan to better my chances to the best they can be? There's no reliable way I can find to darken my voice without it sounding either forced or fake, but I need it to be much darker to be able to compete with the competition. If you've made it this far into my post, thank you for your patience and thank you in advance if anyone takes a listen! *^(\*(Slight disclaimer: some of the tracks have other voices since some of these are half-finished collabs)**\*)*
I recently joined an acting class and I'm trying to understand whether the instructor's teaching approach is normal/legitimate, especially for someone with absolutely no prior acting experience. The course seems more theatre-oriented, although they also offer camera acting. I've attended two sessions so far. Session 1: We did introductions, laughter/emotion exercises from level 1–10, including rolling on the floor while laughing, and an exercise where we had to "cry" at different intensities and then switch the emotion off. We also did walking/eye-contact exercises and were given an improvised funeral situation to act out with strangers, without a script or dialogue. Session 2: We did breathing exercises, some spontaneous speaking, a physical exercise where two people had to act out being on a bus using only their legs, and then had about 20 minutes to create a skit set in the Stone Age/among tribal people, using only emotions, sounds and physical acting—no dialogue. I'm a complete beginner and have never acted professionally or taken an acting course before, so I often felt lost about how I was supposed to approach these exercises. Most of the other people seemed to have some previous experience. For the 3rd session, we've been asked to rote-learn a short 4-sentence monologue and a small dialogue/conversation and come prepared to perform them. My question is: Is this a legitimate/normal way to train beginner actors, particularly for theatre? Is the instructor deliberately trying to develop spontaneity, physicality, emotional range and inhibition before teaching actual acting techniques, or is there something unusual about this approach? I'm especially interested in hearing from people who have experience with theatre or screen acting. What would you normally expect in the first few sessions of a beginner acting course?
RB wrote a book on it! Learn more about it here: https://www.stage32.com/blog/crowdsourcing-for-filmmakers-nobody-builds-anything-alone-4562
Hwy everyone, I am an actor in Toronto that has been wirh a boutique agent since October 2024. I am getting alot of auditions (I got 95 auditions in 2025 and I am currently at 67 auditions for this year) a few callbacks from her, and even booked twice. I am super grateful at the auditions that I am getting, however I feel that I am missing out on better auditions cause she is a small agent. I have only had 3 union auditions (1 feature and 2 commericals). I'm debating trying to get a new agent for next year that can get me more union auditions so I can join the union. Was just curious what you all think.
I have a couple credits and decided to try out that actors access talent link for Toronto and within a day I have 5 agents reaching out. I’m thinking of waiting the full 2 weeks so I have more I suppose. Is it really just luck assuming all of them have similar credibility? They’re all on the actra agent registry so it’s legit.
Hi there! I recently attended a CD workshop from a very reputable CD who essentially said they filter out all non-union submissions and taft-hartleys are rarely given out now. As someone who is trying to break and get their first co-star credit this was pretty deflating so I've been on a mission trying to figure a way to join SAG to work on higher quality productions. Yes I know non-union work can be high quality however my goal is to work on TV and thus joining SAG appears to be a must to get work now vs booking the role then getting taft-hartley. I'm working on a self produced short film and figure I could use the SPA contract and verify my employment status that way. I reached out to SAG SPA a couple weeks ago and haven't heard back. I'm curious how many fellow actors have gone this route to get SAG? Anyone who could help with guiding me through the process I'd be super grateful. I've read the post in the FAQ about it but given it was posted two years ago I'm hoping for more recent information. * How long did the paperwork take? How long did it take for it to be approved? I see on the [SAG SPA site it says no less than 4-6 weeks](https://www.sagaftra.org/production-center/contract/886/getting-started) but does the process really only take 6 weeks? * Are there instances where its not approved? How can I ensure that it is? * How much did the paperwork and legal requirements cost? Thank you very much!
So this is TECHNICALLYY more related to video editing? but since I see a lot of voice actors doing this same thing I wanna safely assume most of you have already done this. I’ve been seeing alot of these reels and whatnot where it’s voicing over funny tumblr posts or threads. sometimes it’s twitter too. like for example this reel: [https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaguONuiQIE/?igsi=YXp0bnR5M2R4eTg4](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaguONuiQIE/?igsi=YXp0bnR5M2R4eTg4) . This is just a random reel i pulled from search that does what I’m trying to explain. The text kind of reveals AS the va is talking. And I’ve seen another version of this where it’s very linear and not speeding up or slowing down, it looks smooth but it ends up either not catching up to the voice or going too fast. I think this would be the best way to do this, where it reveals chunks of text at a time. This is probably a really basic question but I don’t know anything about video editing!! Also im doing this so I get a better chance at getting cast. I figured if ***I*** cant find any projects to audition for. What if ***THE PROJECT FOUND ME???*** A lot less effort on my end, and plus, I get a lower reject rate. It’s a win for me!
I’ve been studying acting for about…3-4 years, off and on. And I don’t feel as passionate about it as I did before. ? I never really wanted to be an actor growing up but when I took a class, I learned to love it. I enjoyed acting because I felt alive doing it. Being in the moment with your scene partner. Being truthful (as best as I can). Exploring emotions I’ve never thought I’d have. Being in someone else’s shoes. “Living truthfully under imaginary circumstances.” It was a beautiful skill and a very difficult one at that. I still haven’t figures it out yet. But now, what excites me more are trying out new things as me: New food, new activities, new life skills. I don’t want to live in imaginary circunstances anymore… I feel a little conflicted. I little sad. I thought acting would be my my thing. I thought I’ve found my place. But there is a whole world out there.. not pretty all the time but so many things to discover.. Has anyone else felt like this? I don’t even know if I should pursue this now…I’m thankful for it, I love all the people I’ve met because of it, and I have so much respect for this craft and the people who do this.. but now, truthfully, real life looks so much more interesting than imaginary ones ?
Hello! I am a beginner actor and would love recommendations for classes in NYC that will help me with presence, emotional availability, and turning nervousness/tension into authentic form of expression. My motivation for acting is primarily personal growth through classes and performance. I fell into acting by chance and it has helped me incredibly to heal my mind and body from past trauma and toxic work environment. So far my entire training has been at HB studio (speaking voice, alexander technique, acting 1, and scene study 1). The scene study class I took recently made me realize how difficult acting is, but also how much I grew by challenging myself to be present and connect with myself, partner, and audience. Would love recommendations from actors who have taken classes that helped with your personal journeys - which teachers, classes or techniques helped you the most? Thank you!
Hi everyone, but of a random one but I’m visiting LA soon (22-29th) I’m an actor based in the UK, recently been involved in a very popular series based in the UK and done multiple films and prominent adverts. I’m still weary of that fact I don’t have a massively extensive CV but it’s still fairly built up and is all recent stuff. This is my first time in America let alone UK and I’m wanting to take advantage of it whilst I can. Does anyone know of any legitimate and decent agencies/managements in LA who I could email and potentially set up a meeting with that will accept UK based talent and help them with that transition and get them onto the American scene? Any help will be hugely appreciated thank you all <3
I'm an actor in my 20s, I made my film debut as the lead in a genre film last year that did well at festivals, it went to many genre-specific festivals as well as some of the bigger general festivals. I managed to get an agent in Vancouver shortly after it started doing the festival circuit. It had its wide release earlier this summer; it got a fair bit of positive press in big publications and showed at some of the bigger theatres that show independent films in the US and Canada. My performance got strong mentions in outlets like Indiewire and Variety. Living in Vancouver, auditions have been slow due to the nature of the industry here at the moment and the fact I'm trying to get into the union. I was told so many times while working on the film that this movie was really going to change things for me. Apart from managing to get an agent, which I'm obviously thrilled about, things are basically the same as before the film came out. This has bummed be out, and also left me wondering what I actually should be doing right now to capitalise on the release and how to make the most of it for my career? I'm starting to really question if it's even possible to establish a career and build any kind of name/get good work as an actor based in Canada. What would people who have been in similar spots, or just industry professional in general, advise me in my situation or just in general? Thank you!
Hello! I am an actor who works a lot in the indie theater scene in NYC and loves it - but I a startng to have to be more selective about the jobs I accept. I was just offered a job that will be about two and a half weeks of work with a $600 dollar stipend. The team says they'll be flexible with my schedule, but I'm just not sure its a good idea, and I've never heard of or worked with the theater company. Anyone ever heard of The New Stage Theater Company and have any experiences to share that might help me make an informed decision?
I’m exclusively a commercial actor and model, and recently a production company I had worked with took footage from a shoot I had done and used it to create an entirely new ad with new AI-generated footage of me that I had never actually filmed. The standard **non-union** commercial release is essentially a total buyout, and that’s where I’m finding this issue becomes really complicated. I rarely see contracts that explicitly mention AI, but AI can fall into the gray areas of terms like “likeness,” “image,” “biographical material,” etc... you see these terms in pretty much every commercial contract. Whenever I bring up AI protections with a production company, I’m often made to feel like I’m being difficult or unreasonable. But this feels like a very serious issue to me- especially since I have already experienced theft of my bio data. I am completely comfortable signing a contract that allows unlimited or perpetual use of the footage... but olny the footage actually captured during a shoot. I’ve already had to cancel several jobs because production companies refused to make basic amendments to their contracts addressing this. I understand a lot of companies spend a lot of money to have lawyers do their contracts and they can't just modify them, but some won't even put in writing in an email that they won't use my likeness with AI. I’m curious how other actors/models are handling this right now. Are you asking for specific AI language in your contracts? Are production companies generally receptive, or are you running into the same pushback? And what protections, if any, are you currently putting in place? I don't think this really applies to Union actors since the Union is pretty protective. I don't do UGC at all anymore because that is the most sketchy since all of that stuff is used for targeted ads and its very difficult to find,
Hello actors, I need your advice. I am a young actor (late teens) and I am starting to gain a bit of momentum in both local theaters and films in the area. I will cut to the chase, I really hate my name. It is super religious, complicated to spell, and difficult to pronounce. In all honesty the thing I hate about it most is that I was given my father’s last name and we do not have a good relationship. I do not want to give him a platform by creating a career for myself. Thus, I really want a stage name. I have chosen one that has similar initials for the sake of high school and future education. But I still have a few questions: 1. If I intend to go to college, will this name be confusing? 2. How do I state that this isn’t my legal name to future production management/directors? 3. Will I accidentally commit identity fraud? 4. What should I be wary of when using a stage name/Pseudonym? 5. Does this affect citizenship or Immigration status at all (USA)? If you have extra advice, I will gladly take them. I am paranoid. Thank you so much, so sorry if my questions are dumb.
I'm putting together a trailer for my Fire Emblem romhack for FEE3 2026, and I'm in the market for voice actors to record 1-2 lines per character. I already have the lines written. There are 19 characters featured in the trailer, with 22 lines total. I've attached the list, with asterisked characters being higher priority. In total, unless I miscounted, there are 286 words. I've never hired voice actors before, so pardon me if I'm lowballing (and I will correct my offering price). I'm willing to pay ~~up to 15 cents USD per word~~ $5 per line but may be willing to negotiate higher. I look forward to hearing from you all! :) The list: Amaranth: American female voice, slightly airy, 12 words. Desperate and plaintive *Amaranth 2: same voice/voice actor, 10 words. Resigned and melancholy, but resolved and loving *Calystegia: Ideally same voice actor, 13 words. Mature, weary, and with the weight of lifetimes *Calystegia 2: same voice/voice actor, 5 words. Desperate and determined Alystra: Irish or Scottish female voice, 22 words. Jaded and well-worn, the voice of a trained soldier and spy Igni: Irish or Scottish male voice, 14 words. Bright and cheerful, but a bit unsteady Salamander: Female voice, any accent, 8 words. Chipper and big-sisterly Whisper: Male voice, any accent, 9 words. Practiced and dark (but not evil or malicious), the voice of an assassin *Whisper 2: 3 words. Wary, tinged with hints of fear Ono: Female voice (preferably American or Welsh), 14 words. Bright and chipper, but annoyed Anika: Slavic female voice, 31 words. Tired and disapproving Nylek: American male voice, 11 words. Practiced and teacherly Kusumi: American, Japanese, or Italian female voice, 10 words. Chipper and smug Calliope: Italian female voice, 18 words. Determined and heavy, the voice of a master swordswoman Nagi: American or Japanese female voice, 9 words. Very tired, but hopeful Eimlaq: African male voice, 12 words. Loud, boisterous, and confident Marie: Irish or Scottish female voice, 20 words. Anguished and desperate Fiorella: American or Italian female voice, 12 words. Young and full of confident hope Alua: American or Italian female voice, 11 words. The mature, but not biting, voice of a no-nonsense queen Fumiko: American or Japanese female voice, 8 words. Young and brimming with insistent adoration *Duke Fox: American or Italian male voice, 21 words. Tired and finally at the end of the road *Alma: American voice of either gender, androgynous, 13 words. Loving and very tired, at the end of the road. His last words.
Gang. Some help. Watched brando's classic performances like streetcar, godfather etc. His presence and expression is on another level. In particular Streetcar. He just oozes sex, and anger, and twitchy unpredictability, like an animal. I'm trying to understand how he managed to do so. And when I ask I get something like "psychological realism" and "method acting." Sorry guys. That's bs lol. Obvs those two elements helped him bring out his talent. But we have plenty of psychological realism and method actors and they succeed only on acting and not in effusing so much animal spirits like he did. As in, Brando would still outclass most good method actors and realists and such. Do any skilled viewers of acting understand it better? I've gleaned he's extremely loose. And that he has a very very narrow screen between what is happening in a scene and his feelings about it, and then a very narrow screen between his feelings and how they escape his body. And of course. In real life he must be very charismatic for the same reason. He is more of a man (a human being called man) because more of him escapes his body in every moment. But this of course, is not very actionable. Neither for acting nor for living. Any ideas? I invite you all to try to figure it out with me at a higher level than "he changed acting" or "psychology" which clearly misses 80% of his talent.
Hello! I had the pleasure of working with talented voice actors Saphira Joy, Shannon Brewer and Matthew Frias in helping bring a project of mine to life! I have a couple of ideas where I want this to go but until then, please enjoy!
I know I may get a bit of flack here for ever being FI-Core but I'm curious if anyone has ever gone back to full fee status and what that process was like? I know a lot of people are actively considering going Fi-Core at the moment as the industry is struggling so it may seem like a weird time to have this epiphany. I've never done non-union theatrical work, just commercials and was living a lot between two countries and thought it better to be honest than the many SAG actors I know that do non-union commercials and just hope not to get caught. I know it's rough out there and we're all trying to make a crust but at this point, despite the issues the union has, I think it's kind of more important than ever that we strengthen the union so we're not taken advantage of. So please, if this familiar to you, love to share your insight.
Hey all! Just wanted to ask a quick question. Had a meeting with a talent agent recently and they want to represent me for theatrical representation. They did say they have an agreement that I can sign. But they also offer a verbal agreement option which is essentially just virtually agreeing that they will represent me. Which option would be the better choice for me as an actor? I know not having a full on contractual agreement it kind of gives you more flexibility to be more freelance.. I just don’t know if this is normal. Thank you!
Need a female voice actor with an Indian or Middle Eastern accent to read 500 words for an independent homemade comedy podcast. Need someone who can be expressive sounding. Will pay you $15 by Venmo if you can get me a decent quality WAV or MP3 file within 3 days from accepting the job. If interested, please send a link to 1-2 brief voice samples to [jalfredpostrock@gmail.com](mailto:jalfredpostrock@gmail.com) and I will provide the script to you. Thank you!
Need a female voice actor with an Indian or Middle Eastern accent to read 500 words for an independent homemade comedy podcast. Need someone who can be expressive sounding. Will pay you $15 by Venmo if you can get me a decent quality WAV or MP3 file within 3 days from accepting the job. If interested, please send me a link to 1-2 brief voice samples and I will provide the script to you. Thank you!
Need a female voice actor with an Indian or Middle Eastern accent to read 500 words for an independent homemade comedy podcast. Need someone who can be expressive and hostile sounding. Will pay you $15 by Venmo if you can get me a decent quality WAV or MP3 file within 3 days from accepting the job. If interested, please send 1-2 brief voice samples to [jalfredpostrock@gmail.com](mailto:jalfredpostrock@gmail.com) and I will provide the script to you. Thank you!
I’ve seen interviews where these two fine actors put distance between themselves and their iconic characters, and give credit to the writing. “The writing is what brought the character out of me”. I’ve never acted outside of a first grade play, but it seems to me that these actors must have been chosen in casting because they had predispositions that fit their characters. This seems like it would make the directing/writing easier. I guess my question is how much credit do you give these two actors (as well as other actors who are known for one performance) vs their creators?
Hello so basically I’m trying to emulate this character from the game Disco Elysium this character’s voice actor has been swapped because the first VA who was the voice director over the project couldn’t nail him even though he’s a very famous metal vocalist from the UK and is a pretty great voice actor they swapped him with an old 60 year old man who did a great performance so my question is how in the world could I preform a voice like his and am I limited by genetic ceiling that being I’m 18 and not a grumpy old man His voice seems to have projection and is load yet a lot of rasp at the same time whenever I try to do this my vocals feel constricted and if I relax my components it’s no where near him My base is 120hz I think to get a voice like his mine might need to be naturally 90hz Any advice would help immensely
AI is already changing how actors work — from digital replicas and voice cloning to digitally altered performances and consent requirements. If you’re an actor, understanding how these technologies can affect your performance, your likeness, and your rights is no longer optional.Join The Actor’s Guide to AI: SAG-AFTRA Protections, Consent & Digital Replicas to learn directly from Michael Maizner, a top entertainment labor attorney and former Netflix Director of Labor Relations, who advises studios and production companies on SAG-AFTRA and AI compliance.You’ll learn what counts as AI under SAG-AFTRA agreements, how digital replicas and voice replication work, when consent is required, how compensation comes into play, and what you need to know before agreeing to AI-related uses of your performance.You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of YOUR rights, the questions you need to ask, and what to look for before your performance or likeness is used with AI.Can’t attend live? You’ll have access to the recording, so you can watch on your own schedule.If you’re an actor working today, this is information you need to have before you sign your next agreement.Learn More + Save Your Spot: https://www.stage32.com/education/products/the-actors-guide-to-ai-sag-aftra-protections-consent-digital-replicasHave questions? Drop them below or reach out to us directly at edu@stage32.com — we’re happy to help.
Hey actors! We are halfway through the summer, and I feel like I am in the summer slump. Here in Phoenix, Arizona, there is a heat warning. It has been too hot to go outside for months and will be many more months. Half the world is in the middle of winter, and some of you may have the winter blues. When things get quiet between bookings or auditions, I try to keep my creative muscles working by reading scripts, selecting new monologues, and finally watching those webinars in my Stage 32 library. I'd love to know: What is your absolute favorite way to stay sharp and inspired when you aren't actively on set or in rehearsals?Looking forward to celebrating everyone's wins here!
We’ve been fortunate to create multiple case studies exploring the work of Jude Law in the Fantastic Beasts franchise.We’ve also had the privilege of studying the incredible performance of Dexter Sol Ansell in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms — one of the most exciting young actors to watch today.And we recently came across a fascinating Turkish series that explores the art and science of chemistry in a truly compelling way.All of these case studies are live on Instagram: @theintake_
Hello everyone,I’m present you new visual logo of my animation serie project Star Galaxy. What do you think about it. For more information about the project, you can check out my profile.Every comment is welcome
Hello All, I work in Canada and have an agent I like. Just wondering if there are managers that consult with actors for an upfront fee? Looking for solid career advice/next moves. My agents are great and would offer their two cents but I sort of want a super focused meeting that will help me understand what, if anything, I should be doing differently.
As the title says, I’m just curious if I’m crazy or if it is a red flag? They post their other actors bookings and didn’t post my recent commercial booking. They don’t follow me but follow seemingly their whole roster. It just feels weird because they are getting me a TON of auditions and it feels great but idk it just weirds me out and it’s not exactly something I can just say “hey why don’t you follow me on Instagram?” That just sounds cringy. Any input would be super thank you!
And that's it. and it kinda scares me. I had to stand in front of people and get it right in three takes, and I kinda crumpled. I Forgot the well known lines, improv most of it. My takes at home are usually ten or even twenty tries. I saw a vid that shows were firing people on set. They couldn't handle it. I am so used to talking to the air and making my own choices, now I wonder about having an actual actor in front of me. I began taking Meisner because of that worry. I'm not new to acting. I have an agent. I've done Theatre and Independent film. That was easier because the takes were more patient. Now I have done the work and moving into possibly paid film bookings. I've done many self tape classes, and even plenty of auditions, but never booked in over a year. I just want to be ready when I do. How do I get out of it and be the person a director needs? Drop the self tape acting and be present? Any advice?
Heyo! This is my second attempt at a resume! Let me know what you think! I tried to go for more unique style so the format is a bit different with images of me on stage and screen! Also my headshot at the top is only temporary my next ones will be a lot better! my “extras” was to fill space but I think it tells pretty cool info so if you think it should be removed I shall listen! Please ignore the black boxes those are just censors for location and other people since this is online! Anyway thank you for your time please give me your thoughts!
This showcase is looking for actors with "presence" Honestly..what the fuck does that even mean? You mean be good looking and now how to act? sorry I just feel those instructions or what they are looking for is terrible..but I'd love any tips.
Hello! \*No chris pratt is not in this audiobook.\* Im an author and I've had a book I've written for years, i wanna have an audiobook posted on youtube, its not very long \*five pages\*. Its contains a parody of certain actors, but with a superhero movie aspects, The pay will be for the entire thing, since its only 5 pages, the pay will start from highest to lowest! Narrator : idk exactly what im looking for in a narrator, you can get creative with it! It has the most dialogue: $12 Chris Pratt: whoever can do the closest impression of his voice will earn the roll, hes the main character: $10 Elizabeth Olsen: just like chris pratt im looking for whoever can do the closest impression will earn the roll, shes the main villain: $8 The Farmer Dude: a guy with a southern accent would be great, middle age would be perfect, he has the third most spoken lines: $8 The rest have like almost 1 to 3 lines Cop: looking for a male voice, surprise me, im not looking for anything specific, just make it sound like a cop and a male: $5 Pajama saleswoman: im looking for a teenage girl with attitude voice: $5 Woman: an older woman voice, must be able to yell: $5 Tom Holland: anyone that can get as close as possible for a tom Holland impression will get this roll, dispite only having one line, itll pay $6 because its a roll that may show up again if the audiobook does well, ill Tom Holland and Chris Pratt, WILL, show up again for next book, and chris pratts va will be 10 again, and tom Holland va will be $8, and the narrator will be $12 again, You will be payed thru cash app, If you want to audition, dm me for lines to audition for, and this is a joke book, it's not made to take itself seriously AT ALL, it was made for fun, i really hope to expand it a TON if people enjoy it!
Hi everyone, I'm an aspiring actor based in Belgium, and I'm currently at the very beginning of my journey. This summer, somewhat unexpectedly, I had the opportunity to work on a TV production. It's a serious production, but I signed an NDA, so unfortunately I can't share any details about the show or my involvement in it. It was my first on-set experience, and it actually confirmed that this is something I want to pursue seriously. My background is fairly limited at this point. I have some theatre experience, but I haven't attended acting school or completed any formal professional acting training. My experience on camera is very limited, and I obviously don't have much of a portfolio yet; very few professional photos, headshots, credits, etc. (But I expect to build this along the road) I'm trying to figure out what the smartest next steps would be from here. For those of you who have been in a similar position, I'd particularly appreciate advice on: How should I present my first professional TV experience on my CV/resume, especially while I can't disclose the production and it being my only one experience? What should I prioritize next: acting classes, workshops, professional headshots, self-tapes, short films, student films, theatre, background work, contacting casting directors, agencies, or something else? Which platforms, casting websites, or resources are actually useful for someone based in Belgium? How can I gradually build a credible portfolio when I don't yet have many credits or professional photographs? Is there anything I should avoid doing at this stage? I'm fully aware that I'm currently a very small fish in a huge pool of aspiring actors. I'm not expecting one TV appearance to suddenly open doors for me. I'm mostly looking for a realistic roadmap to make the most of the opportunity I've had and progressively position myself better. I'd especially appreciate advice from people who have experience with the European/Belgian industry, although advice from actors elsewhere is obviously welcome too. Thanks!
I'm 21 and currently studying law. My plan, at least on paper, is to become a media/entertainment lawyer. Because I'm from a financially unstable background, I've always felt like I need to choose a career that gives me some level of stability. I also work in marketing alongside college to manage my monthly expenses. But there's another thing I've wanted to do for as long as I can remember: act. I've always brushed the idea off because acting never felt like a "realistic" or stable career for someone in my situation. I've been told quite a few times that I'm pretty and that I should model or act, and while I know looks can be an advantage in the film industry, that's not really what draws me to acting. I genuinely want to learn the craft. I watch a lot of films, and sometimes I find myself completely fascinated by actors who can disappear into a character. I notice the little things how they carry themselves, their expressions, their voice, the way they react to something without saying anything. I honestly envy people who are able to dedicate themselves so deeply to a character and make you believe that person is real. And I want to know if I can do that too. The problem is that I'm a working student. I can't afford expensive acting classes or workshops right now, and I'm not even sure where to begin learning on my own. I don't necessarily expect to become a successful actor overnight, or even know whether I have what it takes. I just don't want to spend the next 10 years wondering if I could have done it. So I'm looking for advice from actors or people who have seriously studied acting: * If you had no money for classes, how would you start learning acting? * Are there good books, exercises, online resources or free courses you'd recommend? * What should a complete beginner actually practise every day? * How do you practise acting alone? * At what point should I start auditioning, even if I'm inexperienced? * Is it realistic to pursue acting gradually while studying/working? * Are there any mistakes you would recommend a beginner avoid? I know the industry is extremely difficult and I'm not looking for a "follow your dreams and everything will work out" answer. I'm looking for the practical reality of how someone with limited money and a full-time degree can start learning the craft seriously. I've spent years telling myself that acting isn't realistic for me. Maybe it isn't. But I feel like I owe it to myself to at least give it a genuine attempt before deciding that. Any honest advice would mean a lot.
Hey party people!! I'm (33 F) a Boston/NYC based actor who has been working pretty consistently on indie films, but I have been having a lot of trouble finding reps! I currently am repped in New England, but most of the auditions I get here are for commercials. Trying to secure some NYC or maybe even LA or Southeast representation, but not sure if maybe I'm going about it wrong or my materials could be the cause?? I'd appreciate any help or suggestions anyone could offer! It'll only allow me to attach my headshot, so I guess I can show my other materials upon request...sorry fairly new redditer ?
My friend and I are both planning to audition for the Studio this May, and I'd love to hear from anyone who's been through it. How was your audition process? Which plays did you pull your scenes from, and did you get in? Any insight is appreciated, thank you!!
Casting for Short Film Casting Non-Union actors only Non-Union shoot Location: Los Angeles/Orange, CA Dates: September 2026, exact dates tba, will shoot for one day only, 8am-6pm. Usage: Class project . Character Breakdowns: 2.) Latina, 40's - 50's, Supporting: Open minded, knows what she wants, confident 3.) African American female, 20's, supporting: Fun, curious 4.) Caucasian Male, 50's, supporting: Insecure, possessive Plot: A young man has a chance encounter with a poly throuple. He is immediately taken by them and decides to explore the lifestyle. copy/imdb credit, food/drink offered no pay email me at [filmmakersun78@yahoo.com](mailto:filmmakersun78@yahoo.com)
For the actors in LA I was wondering should i still move there? I’m 18 and planned on moving next year after saving up around 30k, I need more experience and my state dosent really offer any acting classes close to me, I’ve searched far and wide across the state and to no avail, most recommend Georgia since it’s close but I wanna see acting on a wider scale and be able to grow even bigger than the experience i currently have. I need a class and more time I am in no rush, but i’d rather have something going than nothing, I’m still just currently looking for classes and studying different acting techniques and styles.
Hello! I wanna say a big thank you for all the people giving me advice yesterday! You genuinely helped me so much and I can’t be more thankful! Anyway here’s my next attempt please let me know what you think! Also like 3 of my credits haven’t come out yet but should be out by the time i actually use this resume so I assume that’ll be okay! I also realised some of my credits were wrong I didn’t understand what “ensemble” ment so excuse me! Thank you! For reading and giving me advice!
hi guys im 16 years old and i live in Saudi Arabia but here we don’t have any support for acting so what should I do in this situation? After i watched Spiderman I really wanna be in the cast so much but I don’t what to do and i don’t have agent or manager
The link is below. I'm going to try and keep posting as often as I can. I have been very lucky in my life to study with and learn from amazing teachers and actors. I'm old enough now that I think a lot about the next generation and giving back. So I decided to start this blog as I place I can share some writing, some of my own experiences, and some technical tips, all with the intention of hopefully making the road a little easier for someone else. Feel free to check it out. [https://www.howtobeanactor.com/](https://www.howtobeanactor.com/)
Now be wary, im not a pro voice actor (been doing it for a month), nor am I a director. So im not saying this is in any way good or bad.. but I made this for myself and felt like it’d be a waste if I spent ALL this time typing just to not share it with others. So without further ado: Additional notes at bottom, information relevant to a given section will be identified by a #(NUMBER) matching the one on said section RUDOLF LABAN TRAITS: WEIGHT (Light/Heavy): (Not necessarily pitch.) SPACIAL QUALITY (Direct/Indirect): (Or how clear and direct their dialogue is.) TIMING (Sudden/Sustained): HEAVILY IMPACTING TRAITS: STYLE (Nasally/Throaty/Normal): BREATH (Breathy/Normal): ENERGY (Energetic/Medium/Drained): PITCH (High/Medium/Low) CHARACTER TRAITS: AGE (Young/Middle-Aged/Old): \#1 GENDER(Male,Female, Non-Binary): ACCENT (too many options lmao just write it down): \#7 DEFAULT EMOTION? (Happy/Sad/Angry/Other): (Not necessarily attitude as you can be happy even when you’re alone but you cant be friendly if there’s nobody to BE friendly to) \#7 ATTITUDE (How this character treats others): OTHER: TEMPO (Slow/Medium/Fast): VOLUME (Quiet/Medium/Loud): MISC. (Only used in rare, specific cases) LISP (Y/N): \#2 HARD OF HEARING? (Y/N): \#3 NOT PRONOUNCING CERTAIN LETTERS OR CLUSTERS OF LETTERS? (Y/N) \#4 EXAGGERATING CERTAIN LETTERS OR CLUSTERS OF LETTERS? (Y/N) \#5 ARE THEY HIDING A DIFFERENT EMOTION OR A SECRET UNDER THEIR MASK? (Y/N) \#6 HAS SOMETHING IN THE STORY IMPACTED THE WAY THAT THEY SPEAK? (Y/N) \#1: If non-binary is chosen, VA may just default to their regular voice idk? It’s kinda an umbrella term no? It’s hard to generalise all/most enbies. Not really sure how a character would be oozing the personality of NOT being associated with a specific gender but if you know how to do that, go ahead! (And teach me, please!!) \#2 If a character is hard of hearing they’ll likely pronounce words a bit different. Maybe a word will have a different sound instead of the intended one, and they’ll very likely be old. It’s hard to describe honestly but you’ll get the feel, just try your best! \#3 If so, include letters or letter clusters character won’t or cant pronounce. And what they place instead. Like for example if we have a character that rarely or doesnt pronounce their T’s, it’d be “Doesn’t pronounce T’s, in place pronounces them silently or too soft to hear”. \#4 The inverse of 3, For example if we’ve got a pirate character they’ll typically exaggerate their R’s. Additionally you could also include HOW the character exaggerates, a pirate would say their R’s very deep throated and roughly. For other characters, they may just pronounce it at a slightly higher or lower volume, pitch, tempo, etc etc. lots of ways to play with these \#5 Usually seen only in certain situations etc etc, but if a character is hiding something for a REALLY long period of time (like the majority of the project), they’ll act differently sure, but try not to make it TOO obvious unless that’s what you’re going for. Think like a huge plot twist being foreshadowed. If you choose to do this I recommend to do so LIGHTLY, your viewers are smart, they’re humans too remember? Maybe the mask slips off sometimes, the character messes up, or breaks down, giving a window of opportunity to see the truth of the character. So I repeat again, unless it’s intentional and you WANT your viewers to know they’re hiding something, maybe avoid this one. \#6 Very vague, I know. It makes more sense with an example: A soldier or something gets a serious injury, maybe to the abdomen, near the throat etc. They’ll sound weaker after the injury (assuming your project covers both before and after this event, there will be a change in voice). Or let’s say another character experiences a river of mental sicknesses like depression or anxiety. They may speak quieter, less confident, etc. Or if their mental sickness is REALLY severe, it’ll go the opposite way, they’ll APPEAR to be more bombastic, energetic, and happy all around. but of course thats because they’re hiding their mental struggles (see note 5), not because they ACTUALLY feel that way. \#7 What emotion would this character default to in most situations basically? And how does this character treat others? How do the two relate? This also creates unique pairs of emotions and attitudes towards others. For example if we have a character like Flowery from deltarune, he’s usually genuinely positive and is very cocky about himself. Although he isn’t ALWAYS that way, it seems to be the main emotion or feeling present in his character. Or if we have a character that’s genuinely positive but puts others above themselves. Thats (in some cases) being humble. But if we have a character thats genuinely sad and puts others above themselves, they’re uhh.. not doing well on mental health. This is also similar to footnote #5 except the character often doesnt try to hide it as it’s more of an instinctual thing, how they genuinely and actually feel vs how they choose to treat others because of their feelings. This creates a much more complicated character. Final notes This copy and paste text can be used in absolutely any way you desire, Mainly for directors and voice actors/Voice Over artists. dont really care since it’s just text. Although I hate generative AI and it’s content, this text wouldn’t be very useful anyways. If you’re a director, it would probably be best to not STRICTLY follow this format and push it out to your voice actors. It’d be very much preferred to add character sheets, descriptions of the characters, or some lines of dialogue with added context. This is also meant for more important or prominent characters. It’d be really unrealistic to expect directors and voice actors alike to write through or read through all of this time and time again for mostly character with less dialogue than this text. I personally recommend filling this out only for 1-4 absolute MAIN characters (unless theres like a goddamn army of main characters in your story?) and then maybe a few important villains or generally reoccurring characters. I know this thing is long, but I like being detailed and you can’t do much about that.
As stated in the title I dont really have a resume. I was in a print ad for Fred Meyers and a background for a Dutchbros promo video about 16 years ago. I went on with life chasing other goals and have come back full circle to the one that I never pursued. I am very new in my pursuit of acting and currently reading sanford meisner on acting and trying decide between a local, online, or traveling to an in person acting. I feel like my pursuit of other goals has built a unique resume of special skills. Professional Background • U.S. Marine Corps veteran • State Trooper • Volunteer Firefighter • Commercial airplane pilot — General Aviation • Commercial helicopter pilot Technical / Tactical Skills • Military and law-enforcement firearms training • Handgun and rifle • Tactical movement • Arrest / handcuffing procedures • Police radio communications • EVOC trained • Pursuit driving • Emergency/high-speed vehicle operations • Fire/rescue environment familiarity • Emergency response procedures • General aviation cockpit procedures • Aviation radio communications • Flight planning/navigation Sports / Outdoor Skills • Rock climbing • Snowboarding • Wakeboarding • Hunting • Shooting • Ice Hockey/ Ice skating I guess my main question comes down to... does this background give me anything meaningful to work with as a new actor before taking an acting class, and how would you position it on an acting resume? I am known as the dreamer of my family so I havent told anyone this new goal I am pursuing so I figured this would be the best place to try and get some advice and guidance.
So, I received the following email 2 days ago: *Hello \_\_\_\_\_\_,* *I hope this message finds you well. As part of a general search for voice talent for an upcoming educational production, we came across your portfolio and were impressed by the quality and professionalism of your work.* *We are currently developing a project focused on climate change and its impact on human health, intended to support academic learning, accessibility, and public engagement. We are interested in exploring whether your voice would be suitable for the project.* *Before sharing the full brief, we would appreciate a brief overview of your professional background, including the languages you speak and record in, your experience, and any relevant work in educational, scientific, environmental, documentary, or long-form narration.* *If you are open to discussing the opportunity, we would be pleased to share the project scope, script information, recording requirements, timeline, and compensation. Look forward hearing from you* *Kind regards,* *K---- H-----* *Project Manager* *OpusConnect* After a LinkedIn search and Google search, K. H. is nowhere to be found AND "OpusConnect" is tied to a couple of organizations...yet it doesn't makes sense for such organizations to be making educational videos on climate change. Over two days, the email address URL has pointed to some sort of AI application logon or intranet (Avatar Live Studio). I've played along the last two days to see where this would go. They agreed to signing an AI Rider, but no initial "in good faith" deposit to work with me. Because I stated that I would be able to complete their request by their due date (if my conditions were met), they sent me an NDA and contract within 24 hours. Quite nice and professional looking, too! The payment is broken into milestones totaling 6000 euros. There is a mailing address pointing to a location in the Cayman Islands. Has anyone else received a similar email? This has been THE best email scam I've seen targeting voice actors, so far!
I just need to get this off my chest and wanted to share with a community that would understand. I moved to LA in 2021 to go college and study theatre, because performing was the only thing I cared about and I wanted a career in film/tv. I grew a tremendous amount as an actor at school, but in the two years since I’ve graduated, I’ve been having a rough time. I know the industry isn’t in a great place for anybody right now, but even by those margins I’ve been having a dry couple years. In 2025, I only worked on a handful of student films being made by friends/classmates, so they weren’t even projects I submitted for. I thought things were finally looking up in early 2026 because I booked an independent short, an appearance on a daytime court show, and a day player role on a vertical short all in quick succession. But since then, it’s been crickets. The past few months I’m lucky if I even get more than one self-tape request. I know the big step I need to take is to get representation and audition for big casting directors so they can see the talent I know I have, but my package just isn’t interesting enough to attract attention from agents/managers when I send emails or use talentlink. A pretty average looking white guy in his early 20’s with an uninteresting resume isn’t in demand. As much as I want to keep pushing, especially because I’m making my short right now that I’m very proud of, I’m going to have to leave LA in the next couple of months. The regular job I work doesn’t make nearly enough for me to support myself here even with help from my family, and I can’t get hired for a better position no matter how many applications I submit. I know in this day and age, a 20-something moving back in with their parents after school is pretty normal, but it takes me completely away from anywhere I want to be. There will be opportunities to perform in local theatre and perhaps in independent films, but nothing that would help me make headway in the goals I had set for myself when I moved here. The only thing I really have to dedicate myself to is trying to work more in Voiceover because it isn’t limited by location, but that’s just as much of an oversaturated market as LA is. Generally, I’m just finding it really hard to not see this as failure, when I’m suddenly having to put all my goals and ambitions on indefinite hold. I know there’s absolutely no reason to compare myself to others, but it doubly hurts when I watch many of my classmates from university posting about their projects they’re booking through agents and managers they seemed to get without any issue. I just needed to say all that, and voice the frustration and disappointment I’ve been stuck with. Thanks to anybody who actually read all this.
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.
