Acting

Hi Roberto Urbina Thank you for this informative answer. In particular, i'm fascinated by your observation that training relates to how each culture sees the world. It makes me wonder if what you say about reactive/improvisation-based versus methodic also applies to how directors work in different cultures?

Ashley Renee Smith Hi Ashley! Finding international opportunities is all about being proactive, having a strong online presence (IMDb, social media, etc) helps a lot.

Working with a good agent or manager with global connections is key, but networking is just as important. Film festivals, workshops, and social media can be great ways to connect with international filmmakers and casting directors.

Of course, self-tapes have made it easier than ever to audition from anywhere. Being ready with a solid reel and strong performances is crucial. That's part of the reason why I think that taking smaller roles, not only because it keeps you active, but also because you start building a portfolio or body of work that can showcase your range. who knows who might see it in the future.

Sandra Isabel Correia Hi Sandra, thanks for your question. Playing Conejo was definitely intense, one of the biggest challenges was getting into the mindset of someone who operates in such a dark and ruthless world while still finding the humanity in him. Suspending my judgement of his chosen path was not easy.

Physically, it was demanding, too, with many high-energy scenes that required both emotional and physical endurance. But honestly, the biggest challenge was making sure the character felt real and not just a stereotype. I wanted to bring depth to him, to show the layers behind his actions.

Hi, Roberto Urbina and Cristal. I have another question. Some producers and companies look at an actor or actress' follower count on social media before casting them in projects. I think it's a new thing. Does this happen in Colombia or other countries you've been to for projects?

Hi Roberto Urbina, Thanks for sharing with us. And you did that; your "Conejo" is brillant. Stepping into dark minds isn't easy; that's why you are an amazing actor, and you accomplished your biggest challenge. Congratulations for that! I wish you all the best.

Hi, Alexandra Stevens. I think it's great when a director includes actors in the creative process! I think it brings the director and actors closer, and actors might have ideas that the director didn't think of.

Hi, Aaron Marcus. Hope you had a great weekend. I lost interest in the Oscars a while ago, but I got the interest back this year because of some of the nominated films (like The Substance, Nickel Boys, The Wild Robot, and Alien: Romulus) and Conan O’Brien. I wasn't able to see the Oscars this year since the ABC app didn't have coverage in my area, but I watched some of the highlights. Conan's opening monologue was hilarious.

I see your point. How do you compare movies and performances, especially when they're so different?

I agree with what you are saying Aaron. Art is so subjective that ranking films feels more like an industry exercise than an objective truth. But at the same time, awards do help highlight work that might otherwise go unnoticed. Maybe the real issue isn’t the idea of ranking films, but the way the industry decides what 'greatness' looks like? P.s I was interested to hear about your unconventional life. I think it takes courage to walk a different path from the majority

Thanks, Alexandra. You are right, it is wonderful to expose so many great films to a wide audience. But, like you said, the arts is so subjective. I normally don't say much about my life to the world. Guess, I am more of a private person and typically share things with individuals and not through social media. But, in this video, I thought it would be helpful for people to understand my background. I think it allows people to have a better understanding why I view the Oscars and awards shows in general this way. Talking about courage, you must have an incredible story to tell. Thank you again.

HI Aaron Marcus I hear you. I also think telling actors a little about your unconventional background is helpful to them. Because i think that the more fully you have lived and experienced, the more you can bring to acting. As Alan Rickman says: "forget about acting....... because whatever you do as an actor is cumulative. So I say go to art galleries, listen to music, know what’s happening on the news, in the world". I hope all my life experience, coming to acting late, seeps through into my acting.

You are very wise, Alexandra. I never would have had the success I have, if I started my acting career much earlier in life. It took many years of therapy to get to a much better place and understanding in order for me to live well. I do read about what is going on in the world, but wow, it is just numbing. It is really hard to believe what I read. I was expecting this insanity, but to actually live through it is very hard. Seems like the best we can do is surround ourselves with those we love and work on being as happy as we possibly can.

Personally, I love improvising lines. My words feel so much more authentic, alive, and natural when I do. The downside, of course, is remembering what I improvised—especially if the director/acting teacher says, ‘That was great! Do it exactly like that again!’ And suddenly, I have no idea what I just said!

Hi, Alexandra Stevens. Thanks for sharing. "And suddenly, I have no idea what I just said!" Oh no. :D Ask for a second to take a look at the footage?

I read yesterday that two actors improvised a lot of their lines for a film. I think it's great when actors improvise lines. Some of the best lines came from actors improvising. But I thought, "would improvising lines throw off other actors?"

HI Maurice Vaughan sorry i thought i had replied to you but it seems not. I agree it could put others off if some actors start improvising. I wonder which actors and film you were reading about?

It's ok, Alexandra Stevens. I can't remember. It was a Comedy though.

So fascinating and truly impressive! Thanks for sharing Zuzi's post – I really enjoyed it!

You're welcome, Sydney S. I really enjoyed this blog too! A must-read!

This sounds like a helpful exercise, Alexandra Stevens! A great exercise!

Thank you Maurice Vaughan . Glad you think so. Could be useful for anyone really, not just actors.

You're welcome, Alexandra Stevens. I was thinking the same thing. Other people can use this exercise. Thanks for sharing it.

Hi, Alexandra. Thank you for your positive comments. There is a lot of a preparation before a scene is shot. I would assume that an actress or an actor would react/interpret the scene in their own creative manner that could be different from how a storyboard artist illustrates a scene. I don’t know how directors work with actors and actresses regarding storyboards. I know that boards are needed for the cinematographer to prep the shots. Blocking/framing/lighting are other elements that go into the scene along with the performance of the actress/actor in that scene, what emotional quality they could bring that serves the film.

I never rely on any actors or actresses when doing boards, because, I believe/assume that no one has been casted yet. A director or a producer contacts me with the script, I read it and then I breakdown the scenes, see how many boards I will have to draw. It’s a visual blueprint for the director and the cinematographer to have. I have to think about angle shots and how each scene transitions from panel to panel. Try to put a lot of effort into it, as oppose to phoning it in. Do the best I can. I highly recommend to anyone in the film industry to watch tons of films and study various visual techniques/acting styles etc., to understand all the aspects of visual storytelling.

That’s a great question. I am not sure. I don’t know what happens on set, whether a director uses storyboards for the actor or actress when they are filming. Again, I know that a director and a cinematographer will need boards for preproduction. What I like about what I posted-my storyboard and the close up shot of the actress-is to see the transformation of the scene from the board- a tight close up shot of an eye-to a low angle close up of the actress. And also notice the lighting/facial expression and framing of the shot. These are other key elements that serves the scene, whereas the board is the framework. So many ideas and concepts go into the scene.

Again, thank you for your positive comments and will be posting more work soon. Have a great weekend! All the best.

This is such a great breakdown of the collaborative nature of filmmaking, Rich Terdoslavich! It’s always fascinating to see how a scene evolves from script to storyboard to the final frame. The comparison between a performer interpreting a scene like a singer interpreting a song is beautiful.

Hi Rich Terdoslavich Thanks for explaining more about how you go about thinking about and preparing for making storyboards. I admit to not knowing much about it. I’m impressed by the work , artistic and technical skill it must require! Look forward to more posts from you in due course

Hi, Ashley! Thank you for your positive comments. I think actors/actresses and singers/musicians have the ability/challenge to express their interpretation of a scene in a film.play or a singer cutting tracks with lyrics in hand, recording in a studio. That’s why certain actors or singers own that character or that song. There are probably great actors who can do Streetcar, but Brando always come to mind or songs that Sinatra recorded. Anyone else can do it, but you think of Frank with It Was A Very Good Year. Again, thank you for what you wrote and talk to you soon!

Thanks, Alexandra! I enjoy doing boards, because you get to visualize the scenes and start composing them. You make creative choices/decisions as to how to draw these scenes and how they will interconnect. Thank you for liking my work and I will be posting more artwork soon. All the best and have a great weekend!

This is such great insight, Tammy Hunt! The point about using lines as an excuse really resonates. So often, actors get caught up in the mechanics of memorization rather than truly understanding the scene. It’s about living in the moment and making choices, not just reciting words.

I also really appreciate the reminder to read the entire script when possible. A character doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and knowing the full context makes performances so much richer.

Hi Tammy Hunt Thank you for this very helpful point that not having learned the lines is an excuse. And also for the reminder that to learn our lines we need to have done the work of character development. I also agree that knowing the whole of the script helps with learning our lines. I guess the avoiding of learning lines is a fear of ‘failing i.e if we learn our lines and still don’t act well then we will have ‘failed’. Similarly I guess the ‘forcing’ of emotion (which I have been guilty of) in order to impress is because we have a ‘not good enough” negative belief running in the background. So we overcompensate by ‘forcing’ emotion. Tackling these negative beliefs can be another way to make our acting more effortless. I wonder how others feel about the learning of lines?

Hey Ferris, welcome to Stage 32! We’re so excited to have you here! I love Dallas :) such a fun city! It’s awesome to see your drive and determination to break into the industry. With your headshots, demo reel, and passion, you’re already on the right path !!

If you’re looking for some great resources to help you along the way, we have some fantastic educational opportunities for actors! I will link below.

- Stage 32 4-Hour Acting Intensive Workshop: Develop your audition process to book more work! https://www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32-4-hour-acting-intens...

- Actors: How to Get Noticed by a Casting Director: A great guide to help you stand out in the casting process! https://www.stage32.com/education/products/actors-how-to-get-noticed-by-...

If you have any questions or need more guidance, feel free to reach out to me or email me and the team at edu@stage32.com You’ve got this! Keep pushing forward, and building your network!

Hi Ferris. A warm welcome from me too. I love your enthusiasm, determination and ambition. I'm sure it will take you a long way! I wonder what kind of specific opportunities you are looking for? With regard to mentors, I think networking within this community (as you are already doing) is a great way to go. Just reaching out to people of interest and having conversations - without necessarily knowing where they will lead but just folloing your curiosity - in my experience is very fruitful. Here is a blog article on it. I'm happy to answer any more questions questions. Wishing you a wonderful day https://www.stage32.com/blog/the-importance-of-community-and-collaborati...

Welcome, Ferris

Welcome to Stage 32, Ferris Vasser! This is a great place to build connections and grow your career. A great way to network here is by engaging in the lounges regularly—join discussions, offer insights, and ask questions. You can also connect directly with casting directors and industry professionals through the platform’s education, webinars, and pitch sessions. Networking is all about building genuine relationships, so stay active, contribute to conversations, and opportunities will come your way! Best of luck on your journey!

Hi Alexandra Stevens

Hi Omari Washington

It means a lot to me, and definitely to all other readers

Thanks for sharing; I'd love to see your movie, I'm waiting!

Congratulations on your film Omari!

Hi Omari, Thank you for your wonderful contribution.I love all the great information you supply.

These are some excellent lessons, Omari Washington! The setback with your DP must have been incredibly frustrating, but it’s inspiring to see how you pushed forward and turned it into a learning experience. Pre-production and contracts are absolutely crucial, and your point about hiring the best crew you can afford really resonates.Cutting corners can end up costing way more in the long run. Looking forward to hearing more about Back Burner as the release gets closer!

Gosh! Talk about passion for the job if Walter took in this role despite his extreme phobia about snakes! I think i have lots of fears but one would be forgetting my lines and freezing. Another is getting a 'perfect take' and then there is a techical failure.

Walton Goggins is one of my favorite actors in the business. I'm so glad he was ok! He's killing it in the new season of White Lotus.