Acting

I think one should be fine with the name given by parents. Name doesen´t define someone´s character but the character itself.

I'm surprised when I look up actors and see that their acting names aren't their real names, Tammy Hunt. Example: I thought Will Smith was Will's real name. His actor name (and other actors' acting names) is catchier than his real name, so I understand why he goes by Will Smith. But it's great that actors don't HAVE TO change their names.

This is a really great post. I honestly don't know too many actors who change their name anymore (unless they need to for the union). It seems to have gone the way of the B/W headshot.

Tom Lapke Hello Sir, I am honored that you graced me your time. I fully take note of the valuable advice given to me by you and other respected members Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg Sam Sokolow Truly honored ! And i agree every bit of it.

Taking this opportunity, i wish to take this discussion further in depth and seek more professional insight into the matter in concern. Because, i feel this will also help the whole 'Acting' community.

My Stance and Out Come

I started with this same policy, as been suggested above, and for good many years ( 5,6), i kept on accepting the roles that came my way, even those which were over my age bracket. Casting agents would manipulate me for their commissions and offer me all kind of roles. ( negative, positive, lame, elder brother, father with kids, business man, corrupt friend, hence all types of roles accept female characters lol ).

After few years i realized that i was intentionally being put on a certain category ( D,E ...Actors who accept everything and any budget ) by the casting companies. Because, i saw my fellow actors were considered for Lead or Second Lead ( because of their previous Selective work ) while i was either not in those lists or was too down on the ladder. Though my work was more in quantity and better in appreciation, but the Label was pasted on my name. . This concerned me much. Because i have met some tremendously good senior actors who despite delivering great performances are kept for the ( character- actors roles )only. Because they were accommodating, compromising or needy as may have been the case. This scares me that not to hit the Top and remain in the middle.

So here i am, on Stage 32, exploring the world to get better and learn more. And looking fwd to know more of such platform.

So with that history of events i posted on Acting Lounge to seek professional advice.

Current Status :

I held my nerve for a year and i got a second Lead role in a TV serial and it got Mega Hit. Now i am being recognized in the malls, cafes, events and even on jogging tracks from a distance but still not successful in terms of regular work.

I feel after the success of this particular play an invisible bench mark is set on my name because those agents who manipulated me in the past, have disappeared and if some new agents come and ask about my previous work, and when mention my projects, they vanish and never return.

Fact of the matter is, i also have moved on, as now i am in contact with the Executives, Heads and Producers.

Question Now Is :

What to expect next and how to go about it by adopting the most professional approach ???

This is a difficult thing to answer. By American industry standards, if you are being recognized in malls and meeting with Executives, you should have agents and managers beating down your door. But I am not familiar with how the industry works in Pakistan. Every international film and tv market will be different. But it sounds like you should be seeking representation who can help guide you in your region's particulars.

Emmett: keep taking the offers. it is still work; the work means money and a resume with current credits. A bird in hand.

Hi Tom, great answer to the question. Exactly what I would have said and what I do myself. I recently accepted and played a role I wasn't interested in, but the money was good. So yes, it fed my wallet...I'm now looking forward to getting offers and roles that feed my soul and my resume.

Thanks Brigitte Millar. I am glad you found it helpful.

I've done jobs for all three reasons, Tom Lapke. I mainly did Feed Your Resume during the early years of my career. I took on all kinds of jobs back then, like writing a 15-second short film for a filmmaker. It was more of a scene than a short film though.

It's fine to ask at the audition when casting decisions will be made. If you are not called back or cast, 99 times out of 100 you won't hear anything at all. Often there are hundreds of submissions and auditioners and convention is that you don't hear back unless you get the part because casting simply hasn't the time or resources to call back otherwise.

Can't wait! Email edu@stage32.com with any questions you have about tomorrows summit.

...still casting.

Thanks, Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg - flagging for my network.

That's great advice, Florin Şumălan!

Amy Jo is a great expert to pay attention to. Also, if you need help with your self-tapes, then I have good news for you. Stage 32 has a Self-Tape webinar coming up in August with KYM Jackson, a working actor with over 60 film and TV credits to her name (including shows like THIS IS US and NCIS). Follow the link to sign up. It is currently on sale for only $39 but that sale is ending soon.

https://www.stage32.com/education/c/education-webinars?h=actors-master-t...

Between this strike call and developers beginning to unionize, I think video game execs need to prepare themselves for a huge reckoning on their economic model.

Tom Lapke I think you may be right, Tom. The times, they are a-changin’.

The videogame industry makes more money than the movie and music industries combined.The least they can do is pay creatives a fair wage.

Hey Geoff Hall - happy to answer this, or any, questions about Stage 32 Certification.

If you're asking if you can pay for a course now and take it anytime in the future, the answer is yes.

If you're aksing if you take one course in September does it remain something you have on going access to while you take other courses, the answer is yes (you have access o the video portion of the course as long as you pass the test after watching the course, which you have 3 chances at per enrollment).

If I am not answering your question correctly, please clarify and also know that you can always email me directly to answer any Certification questions at edu@stage32.com.

Hope that's helpful.

Ashley Renee Smith thank you, Ashley. It was very weird. There was I in the Mod’s Lounge, reading Debbie’s post and I thought I’d post this one. I noticed that my notifications said Maurice had responded, but when I checked it was in the finance lounge. Tried again - it was in the Acting lounge. Very bizarre.

Sam Sokolow Hi Sam, I was thinking more or drawing up a list in my account, of courses I wanted to take, so that i don’t have to surf through the content all over again. I’ll email you. Thanks for the address.

I got it now, Geoff. Yes, absolutely. You can "pin" the courses that you want to take and they will sit above the scroll of courses on your dashboard so you can access them easily. Here's a screenshot as an example...

Sam Sokolow thanks Sam, I’ll be in touch.

Hi. I have two different scripts I’m focused on right now. Halfway through one of them and kinda stuck :) The other is a short I’m hoping to submit at a contest.

What's got you stuck, Jon Di Rocco?

Welcome, Jon Di Rocco!

Hi, Jon It's exciting to hear that you're working on two scripts! It's all a part of the journey!

Best of luck with your short! Stage 32 offers some fantastic contests. Here's the link to check them out: https://www.stage32.com/contests

Hey Jon, I am the Director of Global Education, and I am right up the road from you in Salisbury. Please feel free to reach out to me and my team as a resource at any time. We are always here to help.

Great questions for actors to ask themselves, Tammy Hunt! What's the ideal length for a reel?

Really great points here. I wanted to piggyback and note that including your one line on NCIS is totally acceptable, but you probably don't need to use your one line from a student film. The reason is that the NCIS clip, though not really showcasing your ability, is signaling to casting that you have been on a big set before and that other CDs or producers have seen enough of your work to feel comfortable putting you on set with stars. Each piece of content should either showcase what you can do (like a really meaty scene in a student film, indie, or a scene you paid to produce), or show what you have done ("look, I was on set with James Spader in The Blacklist where I had two lines. Others producers put me on set, and you can too."). If one piece of content does both, even better.