I’m pretty new out of school. I don’t have the best resume but I’ve gone on a lot of auditions and have had next to no luck. I’m really good at self taping, still unable to find an agent. It just feels like nothing is working out. I was never the best in my class, I was never the standout. But I thought maybe i could do it. I guess not. I love this. Acting is all I’ve wanted to do forever. But I’m so close to just shutting the door and giving up.

Hello, I watch a lot of movies and always got very fascinated with how they film certain parts involving CGI green screen or special effects to the point of wanting to try it myself. I enjoy editing on my phone, but I also may want to be a part of bigger productions. I’m not a person that is comfortable memorizing pages of lines since I have the disability of autism which affects me a lot, but I’m willing to do some memorization if needed. So basically I think I would enjoy doing things I wouldn’t be able to do in real life. For example, I wish I could fly, teleport, become a superhero, do magic, fight monsters and much more. I know I’m not really doing these things, I’m basically interacting with imaginary items and props. Because I’m not comfortable with a ton of memorization, I am more interested in nonunion jobs. I don’t think I’ll ever join the union. Can any of you tell me any experiences of when you had to act in a production with special effects and what were you told to do to help create the effect? I am interested in hearing what your experiences are.

We recently had a family audition for commercial print shoot. We thought we didn’t get it but heard back about a week after that we were being considered and needed to fill out a background check. We did. The shoot is next week. Our link for the background expired last night. We filled it out Friday night. Would they tell us we didn’t get it? Should I text the agent back? Or just leave it be?

Hello!

I find myself being called to audition for Lifetime movies, and yes, we all hear that they’re cheesy and what not but hey, we can’t pick our roles for 95% of our career.

I find myself a lot with this “funeral” way of speaking, or just melodramatic, and I just can’t see what other way this can be played, what do you all think?

Thank you very much :)

Is it possible for me to get into acting without any experience or acting school in the UK?

If yes, where do I find roles? And what kind of roles should I audition for?

If not, what do I have to do to become a viable candidate?

I am playing a character in an immersive, sort of live action murder mystery, and I am tasked with playing the killer, what would be the proper sort of demeanor and body language to go with that role? Any advice is appreciated!

Hey smart folks,

GWC says it is "being upgraded" and will be "back soon."

How long has it been like this? I'm just moving back to the City so haven't used it in a few weeks but I always had decent luck with it.

How long has it been like this? Has this happened before?

Thanks!

Hello, So I come from Paris, and I always believed that the world of cinema was made for me, even if I know it is complicated I would like to at least try my luck so as not to have to regret later. I would like to go to an acting school in Los Angeles, I would like some advice please. I wanted to go to Michelle Danner but she doesn't inspire much confidence in me anymore based on what I see circulating about her. Furthermore, given that I have no experience in this professional world, I don't know how to get a VISA allowing me to practice the profession and have a job on the side to finance my projects there at the same time ( I know you have to be exceptional in the field but aren't there other ways to get it?). In short, I would really like someone to help me and give me a little more information.

THANKS!

Hey guys! I worked a series last year and was in two episodes. I had a scene in both episodes and my character has a name and is part of a subplot.

On my resume do I put “recurring” or “recurring costar”?

Is it misleading if I place recurring? There’s so many different definitions that I don’t want to put something that misleads CD’s into thinking I was a regular.

Thanks!

I have an audition for a co-star role on a network show due on Friday. Normally, I film self-tapes against a plain white wall in my house. However, that white wall is now covered with a Christmas tree and many other decorations that are not easy to move.

My initial plan was to cover the brown closet door in my room with a white bed sheet, but I have bar in my basement. The scene takes place in a bar so I thought maybe that could work. Thoughts?

Hi all! I started acting more seriously at the beginning of this year and I have been in various productions since then. I have an agent at the moment but am looking to switch due to not the best representation. To do so I need to make a demo reel (also to help with auditions) but I have no clue how to go about editing it. I have footage from atleast 4 of the principal and lead roles I have had and am not sure how to structure them. I edit videos so I would love to use it to gain experience, but I have no clue what it should look like...

If you guys have any way to help me better understand what it should look like and how to make them flow in a way that agencies and casting directors will be drawn to, that would be highly appreciated. Thank you

Does any one have suggestions for good acting, voice coaches, and community theatre opportunities in Toronto? I feel like I’m not taking advantage of the city’s art scene. What are some ways you interact creatively in the city?

I’m a newbie and I’m just curious about acting. I also have a day job, so what are opportunities for amateurs after work hours?

I went to a weekend intensive once, it was pricey and wasn’t really helpful. We played some games and did some weird warm ups. I feel like as any skill, it would take time to develop, so going to an intensive for a newbie was not a good idea. It would have been better spread out in multiple months as I develop into it.

It’s also frustrating since acting seems like such a team effort. What are some ways to practice alone, besides monologues?

Many shows I watch are filmed in LA but I'm not located there. Do CDs in LA reach out to agents in other major markets if the actor would be a good fit? Or do I need to get a manager on top of an agent...

Hi, I’m think about going this Hollywood Mixer this Saturday but was wondering if it is worth it and what it is exactly.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/annual-hollywood-film-tv-mixer-holiday-gala-at-skybar-mondrian-tickets-1100161706279?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Thanks!

So a friend of mine signed up for a new service that is out called ActorsPR(actorspr.com). Apparently, they launched at the beginning of December with a Black Friday discount so my friend figured it would be good. He said he did the first session with them and he said it was amazing. They do the business of acting and they are making it understandable for actors. He told me he met with someone who was an actual agent with actual knowledge. He said that they went over his profiles on casting networks and actors access and talked about layout and what a solid direction would be for his headshots. they talked about how SAG projects worked and what would be a good headshot place, good classes and tried to cover everything. he said its like a life coach and acting teacher in one. he also said that it was better then dealing with that on group on Facebook where he said its like being attacked just asking questions. My question is, has anyone else used them? I would like to know about more about them. I have been trying to get an agent and the service they offer sounds more tailored than others. Any insight?

I've always used Actors Access and Backstage, but am considering adding Casting Networks as well... but $300/year just feels wild to me. I was hoping they would have some kinda Black Friday or holiday discount but they didn't - any thoughts or resources on how to get the price a bit lower? Or if I should even bother with it?

Hey guys. so i was born and raised in Brazil. but my family is half american half italian wich means i also got italian and american passport and can work as an actor anywhere. honestly i have a good contact in Los Angeles and i've been kind of doubting my self if i should go give it a try or not. i'm 24 btw and speak English, spanish and Portuguese all as a native. also will attach some pics of myself.

https://files.fm/u/sg5rzbe2jp link with some pictures of me.

Really curious on everyone’s thoughts on the movement of eyebrows in performance. Don’t know why it’s been something I’ve been very conscious of recently, what my own are doing and also paying attention to it in things I’m watching. Seems to be a less is more situation but I think I’d need to work on expressing certain emotions with little use of my brows.

This time of year is always fun because of the screener and live events from sag. From wicked with the leads QA to Lady in the Lake and Trump. They are always fascinating conversations.

We got a new one this year and one of the kids qualified as a professional at San Diego comic con next year. We go every year, so its a very nice perk for us.

Sometimes it's just the little things that make this a lot of fun. And it's always good to step back and look at some of the fun positives in a tough industry.

What are some of your favorite side perks of being in this game?

Has any actor who has worked or is currently working in the student film space ever had the opportunity to be added to a universities talent pool? To be called on for in classroom assignments and potential student film work? Would love to know both good and bad experiences.

Hello friends! I’m an actor producer director contemplating a WIF membership and its tiers. I think I’m sold on 60$ tier for sure. What has been your experience there? Especially anything NYC related is highly appreciated.

Does it mean that there is no audition for a role if there is not an audition date listed in the top right corner on actors access under the producer and casting directors name?

I see a role but there is no audition date listed and most listings have audition and callback dates listed.

Just wondering what this means. Thanks!

I had a fitting and two days booked, cancelled because I had just caught a cold. I got a multiple cancellation warning and haven’t even had an availability check since. Previously I was getting multiple inquiries a week. I received a cancellation warning email that no action would be taken and future cancellations would result in my account not being used for selections.

Is the expectation that we go to set knowingly contagious?

About ten years ago, I had the worst audition of my life.

I received my associate's degree, began my journey at The Second City Training Center in their acting program, and wanted to get involved in the Chicago theater scene. I found an audition for a Halloween one-act showcase at Angel Island off Sheridan. Like every actor, I practiced my sides and prepared as best as possible for the audition.

When I arrived at Angel Island, I went up the stairs and into the performance space. The theater was a dark, cold black box, with the stage well-lit and the director sitting behind a table. He was kind and genuinely happy to see a great turnout. I performed my scene with a partner and worked very well together. The director liked what he saw and asked me to stick around.

After agreeing, I received a new side and began my prep work. Yet, I made the mistake of staying in the theater and watched other actors perform the exact scene I was assigned to do. One actor caught my attention, and I got in my head about their choices and originality. I thought, "I need to do everything he is doing." This was a terrible habit I had developed back then. If you're an actor, you know this is almost a death sentence for any audition.

When it was my turn to go up, I copied the other actor’s choices. My performance was unnatural, unfocused, and scattered. Once I realized this, I started rushing to get my words out quickly—another terrible habit I used to have. Now, I recognized what I was doing; I felt overwhelmed with embarrassment and wanted to get off the stage. I was so enamored by these thoughts and trying to perform simultaneously that I forgot to breathe. I somehow made it to the end of the scene, but then I collapsed and fell hard to the ground.

Instead of helping me, my scene partner stood there; the other actors watched, and the director looked uncomfortable and was ready to move on to the next scene. Nobody helped me except myself. I got back up, and the director said, "Uh, thanks. We'll be in touch." After checking to see if I was injured (I wasn't), I grabbed my belongings and hurried out. I called a friend, asking if I could come over because I needed support at that moment. I drove to Little Italy and spent the rest of the night with him and several of his acting friends, sharing my experience and our acting nightmare stories.

I left behind a notebook I was using for my Second City acting classes. I didn't realize this until several days later. I emailed someone from Angel Island to see if they had found my notebook, and they said they would check it and get back to me. But they never did, which frustrated me because it contained everything I wanted to study at that time. As I continued my acting journey and training at Second City, I began to let go of the notebook.

Fast forward to last week, well removed from the acting scene, I received a Facebook message from a stranger saying he might have something for me. He followed it up with a picture of a folder that read "Attn. MY NAME Second City Composition Book." I immediately recognized it and asked if we could meet. The man came to my office in Chicago and handed me the folder. When I opened it, it was—the notebook with "The Second City" written on it. He asked how it had come into his possession, and I shared my story of that audition. "Well, it finally came full circle, huh?" he said. It sure did. Shortly after, I ran into an actor from my friend's place in Little Italy that night. He was working on Chicago Fire, and they were shooting an episode outside my office. It really did come full circle.

Was I truly over losing that notebook? Maybe not. That night was the worst humiliation I’ve ever experienced. But it also taught me a lot about resilience, trust, and self-awareness. It gave me thicker skin and made me a better person. Now, having the notebook back feels like the final chapter in that story. I can put it away, not as a reminder of failure, but of how far I’ve come.

https://preview.redd.it/uoxmrtelm86e1.jpg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fc4ee6cf8f167b32c6c46429348905b4550da411

My friend took a workshop with a very high profile casting director in Atlanta, and by high profile I mean probably the biggest one down here. They have their hands in Marvel, Stranger Things, and everything in between.

The workshop started off with CD simply stating that work is no longer coming to GA. So much so that this Emmy winning casting director stated that he may have to look for another job. California has apparently matched the tax incentives, so productions are starting to move back to LA and NYC, and he also stated that a lot of productions are moving to Europe just because it’s cheaper there. In fact it’s cheaper to put up a guest star recurring actress in a five star hotel in Romania for a week than do it here.

I was shocked but I guess it makes sense. The writing has been on the wall this year. I just feel so discouraged because I’ve been making huge strides in my career, and now to be told that most likely any roles left in Atlanta will be co stars. Feels like a gut punch to be honest. I gotta say, if you’re a newbie right now, it’s damn near impossible to get work. The competition for under fives is through the roof.

Just a sobering thought for Atlanta actors. Anybody have any suggestions on what to do next?

Any help is greatly appreciated but looking for more London/UK based people here.

I, M21 am looking for representation from an agent for more roles to get further in the industry. I already have a lot of experience on sets as I do a lot of background and extra work. I have previous acting experience from school and college but I really wanna do this full time and reach my potential. I have a professional showreel being made soon as I have some screen acting classes with some London based agents. My questions is should I be doing more and if so what could I be doing more to get myself on the books with an agent?

Hey, I think the title says it all. I am a comedy guy, and have a lot of sketch comedy experience, but I’ve not done much dramatic work. Just wondering if anyone has any advice to quell the nerves about a dramatic scene I have to do. I mean, I booked the part, so that should be a confidence boost, but I know I’m gonna be nervous as heck on the day. Anyone got any good mantras? Thanks in advance.

Is it worth continuing to pay for? Do people find work on their currently?