Acting

Acting

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“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

Have you ever watched a movie and felt something was slightly off, but you couldn't quite put your finger on it? Could the day come when the line between human and digital actors blurs so much that we start questioning the authenticity of every performance?

In the rapidly evolving landscape of filmma...

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In the rapidly evolving landscape of filmmaking, AI's integration has been nothing short of revolutionary. But as we march towards a future where artificial intelligence plays a central role in the creative process, a dystopian shadow looms large over the industry. The concept of AI actors is no longer confined to the realms of science fiction; it's a burgeoning reality that's both fascinating and, frankly, a little unsettling.

Imagine settling into your seat at a premiere, the lights dim, and the movie begins. On the surface, the performance is flawless, but there's an underlying coldness to it. The actor on screen, created entirely by sophisticated algorithms, delivers lines with precision but lacks the subtle imperfections that make human performances so relatable. This is the uncanny valley – a realm where the almost-human becomes eerily alien.

The rise of digital performers presents a paradox. On one hand, it's a testament to human ingenuity, a breakthrough that could revolutionize storytelling by transcending the limitations of physical existence. Characters can now be ageless, boundless, and capable of performing feats far beyond human capacity. But on the other hand, it raises profound ethical questions. What happens to the art of acting when the actor becomes an algorithm? Does the essence of performance – the raw, unfiltered expression of human emotion – get lost in translation?

As AI continues to infiltrate the director's toolkit, the implications extend beyond the screen. The technology that enables a director to manipulate a digital actor's performance with a few clicks could also lead to a homogenization of storytelling. When machines start dictating the nuances of a performance, do we risk creating a monotonous cinematic world devoid of the idiosyncrasies that make each actor unique?

The prospect of AI actors is a double-edged sword. It offers a glimpse into a future where storytelling is unbound by the physical, yet it also poses a stark reminder of what might be lost in pursuit of technological advancement. As we stand on the brink of this new era, one question remains: Will we embrace the allure of digital perfection, or will we cling to the flawed, unpredictable beauty of human performance?

What do you think? Are AI actors an exciting innovation, or do they herald a dystopian future for cinema where the soul of the performance is sacrificed at the altar of technological progress?

View all All comments

Maurice Vaughan

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2 people like this
- John January Noble
- Tammy Hunt
2 months ago

Gotcha. Thanks, Tammy Hunt.

Pauline Hutchinson

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3 people like this
2 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?

Tammy Hunt

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).

Suzanne Bronson

Thank you for your advice Tammy

Ashley Renee Smith

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

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1 person likes this
- Tammy Hunt
2 months ago

Great advice, Tammy Hunt! Thanks for sharing the advice and resource (the online International Dialects of English archive)!

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1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
2 months ago

I didn't know about the online International Dialects of English archive, thats a great resource! Thank you for sharing, Tammy Hunt!

Nick Phillips

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

Excited for the upcoming month!

So exciting!

Me too, Nick Phillips! It's going to be great!

5
5 people like this
3 months ago

"The concept of AI actors is no longer confined to the realms of science fiction; it's a burgeoning reality that's both fascinating and, frankly, a little unsettling."- Robert Kiesling, this is exactl...

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4
4 people like this
3 months ago

I don't think AI will replace human actors in the entertainment space. AI doesn't have feelings, they can't replicate human emotion. They certainly wouldn't have AI robots doing live theater, who woul...

John January Noble

Suzanne Bronson Thanks for your sharing! Humanity is still the best technology ever made, it has its manufacturing defects and they have a solution. But it's still the best product ever made. But in w...

Niki H

4
4 people like this
2 months ago

Ashley, I'm with you 100%. Robert Kiesling I do believe that the uncanny valley will soon disappear. Technology is advancing infinitely now, the changes to all aspects of the film industry will be unm...

Pamela Jaye Smith

Very thought-provoking observations and questions. We probably always need to keep in mind that the first word in AI is "Artificial", with all that connotes.

Great audition advice, Tammy Hunt!

Leonardo Ramirez

Fantastic advice as always, Tammy Hunt. Thanks so much for all that you do!

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3 people like this
3 months ago

Thank you for the tips Tammy Hunt

Sam Rivera

Hey Tammy Hunt

It's crazy how many self-tapes I've watched where the client didn't carefully read the slating instructions and then didn't have enough time to correct it before submitting to casting. You HAVE to show the casting team that you care enough about the details to pay attention.

Christopher Maes

Love Inarritu's work. He, Del Toro and Cuaron have shown us a heightened degree of creativity with their projects over the past several years. This could be a great teaming.

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2 people like this
- Maurice Vaughan
- Ashley Renee Smith
3 months ago

They haven't said what they've done yet, but they're obviously up for a statuette, no doubt about it. What a partnership, a sure shot!

I'll be interested to see if he allows the creative direction of others to remain. I'll be disappointed if he doesn't truly let go.

Agreed Niki H!

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2 people like this
- Maurice Vaughan
- John January Noble
2 months ago

100%, Niki H! My biggest concern would be that he resists being directed after so many years of calling the shots.

Justin Groats

2
2 people like this
- Ashley Renee Smith
- Maurice Vaughan
3 months ago

Ashley Renee Smith XLR Condenser Microphone, but the RODE NT1 can also do USB

Justin Groats what kind of computer do you connect it to, will that also work with a phone with the USB?

Linwood Bell

The mic quality you can buy now for a few hundred bucks is pretty amazing these days. Use to be you had to spend a few k to get something to sound that good. During covid I had to do a project for a g...

Pat Alexander

I have a rode and they are wonderful

Good choice! It's a top recommendation for beginning/intermediate at home VO work. Let us know what you think of it after you've used it a bit!

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