Acting

I have had complete strangers shake their finger at me and tell me, "You HAVE to listen to what others are saying to you.:" My response, "I don;t HAVE to do anything." And they get angry with me. It's interesting to me that it seems to be a film and television thing. Never once doing theater have as a fellow actor told me I should play it this way or that way. We all defer to the director and act as a team.

This is so interesting. I think there are a lot of angry extras who believe they should have roles in these projects and are bitter.

I have heard extras complain that someone might have gotten cast to say two words because they are friends with the director. That happens and I understand it.

Sometimes directors want toy be around their friends and like giving them a small role as a favor. So, to those who are angry about this, I would say, become friends with a film director.

Or, work unbelievably hard at being great and find an agent who can submit you for roles.

I agree with you. You don’t have to listen to anyone

If it is someone you respect, then take in what they have to say. Others you can listen and filter everything else, and if what is being said makes no sense then disregard their information

Thank you so much for sharing

Actors can say a lot! Without saying anything...! Freedom to express is part of the art form! Thanks Aaron!

You are so right Rachel. There is so much we say without saying a word. Thank you so much for this incredibly wise comment.

Awhh Thank YOU Aaron!! Much love:-)

Sam SokolowSam Sokolow thanks Sam) Hope you're well!

deDebbie Croysdale that's cool, if you are interested I can send you a self tape to show you what I can do, just give me an idea of a 'lost scene' from a famous movie, or your audition sides. No pressure)

Hmmm, I don't know that I have any UK actor connections, though I am sure there are UK actors lurking in this lounge. I agree with Maurice Vaughan search the Members section.

Hi if you message me I’ll give you my email. Thanks

@Alexander If you message me I’ll give you my email. Just show me what you have already is okay for now. Thanks

Thank you again for the great tips Tammy Hunt

Excellent insights as always, Tammy Hunt!

love these tips - so true - from a producers perspective as well. unless you're asked to do something different, same performance on a callback - don't get in your own way by trying to impress.

Thank you, very informative

Great callback tips (not that I ever got any when I was trying to act a long time ago :). It's so great to learn from you. Tammy Hunt - thank you!

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

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.

Thanks so much for this valuable information!

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 could improve. But the one question that burns into me is how on earth do actors remember their lines? Even in my 30s I couldn't remember what I wrote down five minutes before. You guys make it look so easy (I know it's not). How do you remember lines?

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 discern when it is or isn't worth it?

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 it within hours. I unfortunately inherited my grandmother's memory, so for me I am rather meticulous in my memorization. But the main thing for me is I have to rewrite my lines on pen and paper in my own handwriting. Depending on the size of the role this can be very tedious but I have to do it regardless. I also write the lines as if they were being written in my personal journal. That way the words become my own, because I may be terrible at memorizing lines, but I am very good at knowing what I have to say. By making the lines into my own journal they just become what I wanted to say anyways to a person and with that I never forget.

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 I believe it is unfair to ask for all the work of acting to go completely uncompensated. Now compensation can be as small as 50 bucks for two hours. Or whatever the rate may be, but a lot of work goes into acting and that work should rarely be valued as completely free. Again it's one thing if it's for educational purposes or if it's for the true love of it. Maybe as a favor for a friend, but I think there should absolutely be a standard of minimum compensation for time and work being spent regardless of the field.

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

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

@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 few projects I need extra actors for. Proof of concept films (2 x 20 mins long) & several table reads. Read spotlight but not found the right Irish actors yet. Sounds no biggie but projects go in front of investors. (Jobs last days but may lead to longer term for actors)

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

You’re appreciated Aaron. Thank you.

That is so kind of you Mario. Thanks.

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 continue to grow the channel, please share the link with your fellow actors so we have more people sharing information and helping each other. Thanks again.

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

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!!

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.

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

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 was sweet and wholesome. thought it also sets a good example for how we should treat other creative artists who are just trying their best and talk about the triumph of the artistic expression instead of bashing everything all the time

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

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 Jennifer hand the statue to her so that she was able to share the moment with her best friend. When I saw that, I got a little teary.