Acting

Acting

Whether you’re an actor, voice actor, casting director or anyone else related to the profession of acting, this is the place to discuss, share content and offer advice and tips on technique, audition strategies, headshots and all other topics related to the sweet science of acting

- Don’t overdo your makeup. You want to look like yourself on your best day and not look like you tried too hard. Be yourself. Do your hair the way you would for every audition.

- Don’t go quirky with clothing and props.

Let’s not get nuts here. Keep it simple and classy, and follow the standard form...

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- Don’t overdo your makeup. You want to look like yourself on your best day and not look like you tried too hard. Be yourself. Do your hair the way you would for every audition.

- Don’t go quirky with clothing and props.

Let’s not get nuts here. Keep it simple and classy, and follow the standard format. Professionalism gets you noticed. A simple, solid shirt with a little texture that fits you well and matches your eyes should do the trick. No whites and no graphics or anything that might distract from your face, and no props.

- Consider natural light vs. studio.

Some photographers do both, as they offer a different look and feel. Natural light gives a very real look. Studio lighting tends to be a little more polished, with a more neutral backdrop. If you are more of a sitcom actor, perhaps a well-lit studio headshot is best for you. If you want to look like you are on the Fargo series go for the outdoor look.

- Pay attention to framing, lighting, and background.

Generally a good headshot is chest-up with good lighting on your face, and no strong dramatic shadows.

- Choose personality over glamour.

Make sure it looks like you with easy airbrushing. Casting directors expect you to look just like your headshot and will not be happy when you show up looking totally different or 10 years older. It’s not about looking pretty, it’s about representing your type, wrinkles included.

- Go pro.

Spend money—it’s worth it. Go to a professional who is trained, understands lighting, and takes headshots for a living, not a friend who happens to have a decent camera who has a hobby of taking photos. Save those pics for Instagram and leave the headshots to the pros.

#actor #headshot

“Is it unrealistic to get a manager before I have an agent?”

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“Is it unrealistic to get a manager before I have an agent?”

Not unrealistic at all! Every actor is different and in a different stage of his or her career. If you find yourself without an agent, that doesn’t mean you are new to the business. For several reasons, any actor can find themselves without an agent during their career: a falling-out, a direction change, a location change, even the I’m-taking-a-break-from-acting scenario.

It is totally fine to seek a manager even if you don’t have an agent. That said, you must have realistic expectations of having a manager versus an agent before acquiring your first (or next agent.

Managers will advise you on your career and image related to photos, social media, website, and general day-to-day planning and strategy to help you gain your foothold in the industry.

Agents are the ones who gather casting opportunities and negotiate the deals and contracts on your behalf.

A good manager can help you get an agent so your career is a team effort and you feel the most productive in pursuing all of what you want to accomplish in your career as an actor.

For new actors, it may even be a better fit to start with a manager instead of an agent to get a sense of what you want in an agent and what your goals are.

A manager will assess your current skill set and encourage you to add certain elements to your list of skills so that you’re better equipped to be cast in more roles. They can advise you on various workshops or coaches, adding more dialects to your résumé, and stepping outside your comfort zone by being more well-rounded in areas you’re currently lacking. More often than not, having a manager can assist with your perspective of the business and give you a realistic vision based on where your aspirations are with your career, so it’s totally your call.

#actor #tv #film #video #script #writer #drama #manager #agent #casting #director #success #hollywood

Maurice Vaughan

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1 person likes this
- Nancy Nave
2 months ago

Great tips for actors, Nancy Nave! And all creatives. Be ready.

Nancy Nave

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1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
2 months ago

It's easy to rush through the agent-finding process when you're excited. But looking at the whole picture is worth a quick pause to get it right the first time.

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Daniel Husbands

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3 people like this
2 months ago

Thanks so much for this valuable information!

Debbie Elicksen

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4 people like this
2 months ago

Grace Duah Thank you so much for donating your time and experience with us. While I was asked to appear in one commercial (what were they thinking?), acting is something I am not sure even practice co...

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Emily J

Hi Grace Duah! Thanks so much for doing this AMA! I would love to know your thoughts on actors working for free - obviously there's always free work when you're first starting out, but how do you disc...

Grace Duah

Hi Debbie Elicksen! I can assure you it's far from easy! I truly think it depends on the actor. I have actor friends who are just wonderful about memorization and can pick up an entire script and know...

Hi Emily J! I think the only time I really approve of completely free work is if it's being done in an educational capacity, whether for a student film or for a workshop for students. Other than that...

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- Ashley Renee Smith
- David Horton
3 months ago

Hi, Odera Ugwu. You could also post an ad on the Job Board (www.stage32.com/find-jobs)....

Suzanne Bronson

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1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
3 months ago

I'm 48 Odera. I'm your huckleberry!

Debbie Croysdale

@Maurice Do you have to be in SAG to post a job here? I’m UK Indie freelance, whoever the producer is on the day pays the actors I direct unless production company specifies its own actors. I have a f...

@Odera Are you directing over zoom? Just wondered cos you said distance no problem.

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1 person likes this
- Debbie Croysdale
2 months ago

Hi, Debbie Croysdale. You don't have to be in SAG to post a job on the Job Board. There are non-SAG job posts on the board.

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2 people like this
- Tammy Hunt
- Pat Savage
2 months ago

Great tips, Tammy Hunt! You mentioned airbrushing. Airbrushing is used on headshots?

Pat Savage

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2 people like this
- Tammy Hunt
- Maurice Vaughan
2 months ago

Spend money! Yes it’s very worth it. Go to a professional who takes head shots for a living,

Tammy Hunt

Maurice Vaughan Yes, that and of course corrective photoshopping of skin and any flyaway hairs, etc. Some is fine to do of course but it’s the overdone look that is not wanted....

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- Tammy Hunt
2 months ago

Oh ok, Tammy Hunt. I think of shirts and shoes when I hear "airbrushing." Thanks for explaining.

If you can't afford headshots, you can do a trade perhaps. I would trade with a someone who is starting out as a photographer and wants to build their professional portfolio. They would take my headshots in exchange for building their portfolio and referrals.

Aaron Marcus

Thank you so much for sharing this. I am sure the networking events will be very helpful to fellow actors.

Mario Leone

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2 people like this
- Pat Savage
- Maurice Vaughan
2 months ago

You’re appreciated Aaron. Thank you.

That is so kind of you Mario. Thanks.

Chase Sirota

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2 people like this
- Suzanne Bronson
- Maurice Vaughan
2 months ago

Loved this video! Lots of great tips I'll be sure to keep in mind at my next networking opportunity. I really like the dating analogy, makes perfect sense!

Thanks so much, Chase, and congratulations on all of your success. I hope you subscribe to the channel and click the notification bell so you always know when a new video has been uploaded. So we can...

Leonardo Ramirez

Sounds like a very helpful tool, Tammy Hunt. I'll check it out in the app store. Thanks!

Kagiso Mike

I'm really grateful for advice on memorization to scripts and is something I need to apply on scripts and acting

Thank you for sharing this Tammy.

This is super awesome. I could’ve used it a couple weeks ago.

Excellent!!

Dustin Richardson

I thought the ex-Oscar winners presenting the nominees was a cool addition, respectful, and made it all feel more like a community. I didn't watch it when it was live, though, because I didn't see enough of the nominated films.

Pat Alexander

Poor Things is a great movie and a well taken win by Emma Stone whose performance is super dynamic and nuanced. Really liked Lily Gladstone in KOTFM too but it felt like she was in more of a supporting role in that movie drafting in DiCaprio's wake

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2 people like this
- Maurice Vaughan
- Dustin Richardson
2 months ago

Dustin Richardson i liked it too. they were nice little words of affirmation moments where people were just being kind to each other. as we all know, anti-conflict is not the best for #ratings but it...

2 months ago

Mark Deuce that moment made you change the channel?? it had everyone at my watch party in stitches hahah

Ashley Renee Smith

I really liked the format! It felt personal and special, that they aren't just being awarded by the institution, but also by their peers. It was especially nice in Emma's case because Michelle let Jen...

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- John January Noble
- Tammy Hunt
3 months ago

Gotcha. Thanks, Tammy Hunt.

Pauline Hutchinson

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3 people like this
3 months ago

Great article Tammy Hunt . Thank you for lighting up a hidden pathway. What you suggest emailing or calling managers directly and pitching oneself?

Email a brief note with a two or three sentence reason why you seek representation and a few sentence bio that qualifies you as rep worthy (a career that needs representation because it’s developed and busy).

Thank you for your advice Tammy

Thank you for such great advice as always, Tammy Hunt!

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