The Acting Class

What is Voice Acting? Definition and Guidelines

2010-05-24T03:27:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered how all those animated characters got their voices? Thanks to voice actors, people all over the world can be entertained by cartoons, anime and commercials. Voice acting can be a wonderful career in entertainment. Here's how you can get started:

What do you do?
Voice acting is a job that requires providing the speaking and singing voices for a variety of characters in film, TV, documentaries, animation, video games, commercials, puppet shows and audio dramas. Of course, there's also the dubbing required for foreign language movies. Your job as a voice actor is to bring a character to life without being seen, using just your voice.

Do you need to be famous to be a voice actor?
You don’t have to be a big name star to become a voice actor. Most of the voice actors who work in the industry today aren’t famous, probably with the exception of the late great Mel Blanc, who voiced Bugs Bunny. If the character you voice becomes famous, expect to have your name known as well.

What's the advantage of voice acting?
In an industry where looks matter, voice acting allows you to come to work without makeup or costumes and you don’t have to be a certain age, provided you can act with your voice. You don’t have to worry about lighting or blocking scenes either. However, don’t think it's going to be an easy job. It's hard work and quite challenging.

Where can I learn voice acting?
Training is being offered at many acting schools. Some cities even have learning facilities that offer lessons. Check with your local community centers for a list of clubs or associations that provide voice acting classes.

What can I expect as a voice actor?
Expect to voice some very unlikely characters. Women, for example, are often cast to voice the role of a male child. You might also be asked to provide voices for animals, even monsters and robots, with the accompanying sounds. It would be a great advantage to you if you have a wide range of character voices, ranging from that of a small child to a teenager to an old person. And having a good singing voice wouldn’t hurt either.

Most voice acting jobs can be found in larger cities, such as Los Angles, New York and Chicago.

Will I have fans?
Once you work for some time in the industry and if you voice a character that gains popularity, you’ll have fans. They will be significantly smaller compared to famous actors but they are dedicated, often arriving in droves at conventions and special events. Who knows? You might even have your own website.

Want to be an actor? Get Instant Acting Tips from one of Hollywood's acting coach Calvin Jung. Jung, also an actor, is the coach to a number of illustrious actors like Julia Roberts, Jamie Foxx and Mel Gibson. Be an actor, click here to learn Instant Acting Tips now.

Acting Activities During Summer

2010-05-23T03:26:00.000-07:00

Want to make your summer productive? Why not take acting lessons from summer acting programs? It's not just a fun way with which to spend your free time, you can also learn some skills that could turn into a real job someday. Furthermore, if you're an aspiring actor, a summer acting program can help refine your acting skills. Here's how to find the perfect program for you:

Which technique?
Before you enroll in a summer acting program, find out what acting technique is being taught. There are different types of techniques and methods in acting. The Method and the Meisner Method are just two of them. Learn about the particular method first before signing up so you'll know what to expect.

Find out about the requirements.
Summer acting programs have certain requirements, some of which depend on their curriculum. Some programs also have age limitations, so make sure to check. There are also summer acting programs that will only accept actors with previous work experience.

Ask for the location.
If the summer acting program will be held in your locality, that's good news for you. But if the program will be held someplace else, find out if it's convenient and cost effective. You could be spending a lot of money on a program unnecessarily.

Where to go for a summer acting program
Young Actors Camp
The acting program offered by this camp is intensive. Junior and senior acting students can take core classes to learn the basics of acting and then expand their skills with elective classes. Classes last from 1 to 3 weeks and are limited to film and television acting. Learning is presented in a summer camp environment, so expect to be uprooted and spend many days with fellow aspiring actors. Some classes are taught by professional actors.

California Actors Workshop
This summer camp is held on the campus of the University of California in Berkeley and is designed for students in middle school and high school. There are three acting programs being offered: Middle School Workshop, High School Workshop and Intensive Workshop. Classes in basic acting are held daily.

Before the end of the acting workshop, participants in the high school and middle school programs will do a monologue during their performance on the last night. For intensive workshop participants, however, monologues will be used as exercises during the course of the program but they will be producing a full play to complete the course.

A letter of recommendation from the participant's theater director or teacher is required for admission to the programs.

Protagonist - Learn to Play The Lead/Star Role

2010-05-22T03:22:00.000-07:00

As the protagonist, do you know what is expected of you? In acting, the protagonist can be many things and he or she can be any age, social status and background, regardless of the genre. What he/she does will be the result of his/her motivations and emotions. Are you ready for protagonist acting? Here's what you should know:

What is a protagonist?
The protagonist is the main character in a movie, play, TV series or novel. Contrary to what most people think, the protagonist doesn’t even have to be the good guy. He can be anything from a man, woman, child, even an animal, as long as he or she is the central character around which the story revolves. It is possible to have more than one protagonist in a given medium, especially if you'll be working with an ensemble cast.

What to expect when you're acting as the protagonist
In protagonist acting, you are the core around which the progress of the play or film depends. You, as the protagonist, will not always have control of the situation but very often, it is your point of view that will be in focus. Your character's thoughts, what he does and says will have an impact on how the drama is played out.

As the protagonist, your character will be well-rounded, meaning that your audience will be able to know your character well enough to understand why you do what you do. Your character will be joined and interacted with by the antagonist, deuterogamist and other supporting actors.

How you act as the protagonist will depend on the role. If you play the standard hero, you will be presented as the character who faces a challenge and works against it to emerge victorious in the end. As a tragic hero, you will be faced with difficulties that you won’t be able to surmount, even if you started out with good circumstances.

Another type of protagonist is the anti-hero, someone who isn’t always likeable and whose motivations may not always be pure but who has a story that is exciting enough as to interest the audience and make the drama work.

Famous protagonist roles
If you want to be familiar with protagonist acting, there are several protagonist roles you’ll need to know. A good example would be from the works of Shakespeare, who often showed clear delineation lines between protagonist and antagonist. Some of his famous protagonists include: Macbeth, Othello, Romeo, Juliet, Hamlet and Richard III. In films, there's Capt. Willard (Apocalypse Now), Terry Malloy (On the Waterfront) and Michael Corleone (The Godfather), among others.

Online Acting Classes - Learn Acting Online

2010-05-21T03:24:00.000-07:00

If you want to learn acting but don’t have the time to go to acting classes, there is a way you can obtain lessons without leaving your home. No need to sign up for acting classes in studios or join your local theater group in order to learn. There are online acting classes you can take to hone your craft.

What you can expect from online acting classes:
With online acting classes, you don’t have to leave your job. You can learn acting on a part time basis. If you're a novice actor and are rather shy, an online acting class is perfect because it lets you act within a comfortable environment. You also don’t have to contend with criticism from friends and family. You do everything on your own. It's also less expensive than one on one acting classes.

ActingOnTheWeb.com

Acting On The Web was founded by Frank Cavestani who came up with the idea after coaching an acting student over the telephone. He then decided to create an acting school that used the technology provided by the internet to offer classes to students.

Students can get their acting classes through streaming video. This is where you'll learn the tricks and techniques of your craft. Simply play the video so you can take note of the lesson and apply it later on. If you need to practice lines, you can click on the Acting Page and choose a monologue. You can then videotape the monologue and send it to your AOW instructor for an evaluation.

As a student, you can access the site's archives to check out the written lessons. You will also receive acting tips from your acting instructor. A one time fee will be charged and you'll only need to pay for the acting evaluations you request.

ActingConnection.com
Another site that offers online acting classes is ActingConnection.com. It offers one-on-one acting classes so you can expect to have your own instructor to guide you through the learning process and give you advice during the exercises.

If you enroll in one of their classes, a representative from the company will call you and discuss your acting needs. You can also communicate initially through e-mail. Acting Connection will then design your very own lesson plan. Using detailed homework, you can practice the techniques using the exercises. Once a week, Acting Connection will get in touch with you over the phone for an assessment. If you pass, you can move on to the next level.

Acting Methods - What to Learn and Where to Get Them

2010-05-19T03:18:00.000-07:00

So you want to learn Method acting? Method acting is probably the most famous acting technique being used today. It has launched the stellar careers of actors such as James Dean, Marlon Brando, Rod Steiger, Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro, and of course, Al Pacino. Ready for your close up? Here's what you need to know about the Method:

What is it?
Method acting is a particular acting technique based on the teachings of Konstantin Stanivslaski which encourages actors to use their own emotions and experiences and replicate them into the performance. This results in real, life-like acting, with an actor being able to create a character that resonates with genuine feelings and emotions.

While Method acting was pioneered by Stanivslaski, who taught similar ideas, it was made famous by Lee Strasberg, who taught in New York City's The Actors Studio in the 40s and 50s. The difference between what Stanivslaski taught and the technique popularized by Strasberg is that the Stanivslaski System urges the actor to analyze his character's emotions and motivations in order to be able to portray him with realism. With Strasberg, whose technique is what we now refer to as The Method, the actor uses his own emotions and experiences and identifies them with his character.

How difficult is it to learn?

There are many people who consider Method acting difficult to teach and learn. This is probably because there is no single method in existence. Even Stanislavski made changes in his system, some of which were quite dramatic.

In general, Method acting is just a combination of determining the character's psychological motives and how an actor identifies with that character. This combination results in a reproduction of the character's state of emotions in a very genuine way.

What you can expect from Method acting
If you attend an acting class that teaches the Method, there are several things you can expect to learn and experience. One is that you will be working with a coach that may be using a different version of Method acting, so be prepared to learn certain practices and ideologies. You can also expect a lot of character surmising that will require sensitivity and emotional openness on your part. Expect to learn how not to act, but how to become.

Where to get Method acting

Method acting and similar techniques are taught all over the world in acting schools. The more famous ones include the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute and the Actors Studio Drama School.

What is Humor Duet Acting? How To Do It.

2010-05-18T03:18:00.000-07:00

Humorous duet acting is when the flick or play has two people as main characters of the story, and the story is about a humorous situation involving the two characters. The two characters are usually the main characters of the story and they are then surrounded by supporting characters.

Among the humorous and interesting duet acting feel good films that have been shown are the ones French kiss with Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline and most recently Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant in Notting Hill.

French kiss is the story about Kate, Meg Ryan, who traveled all the way to France to look for her fiancé, Timothy Hutton, only to find that he had already hooked up with a gorgeous and sexy French lady. On her way to France, she bumps into Kevin Kline, Luc, a French guy who tries to help her find Timothy because he accidentally places a very expensive necklace in one of her bags. To get the necklace, he follows her around France as she looks for her fiancé. Together they embark on an adventure around France and in the process fall in love with one another. Cute.

Notting Hill is the story of the love between Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. It is the story of Anna Scott, Julia Roberts a famous Hollywood star and William a local bookstore owner in the small town of Notting Hill, England. The story lets the two character meet in the film and they fall in love with one another in the process of their meeting. Anna is a very rich Hollywood actress and William is just an ordinary resident of Notting hill who rents a house with some eccentric roommates. The story is about two people from different social classes falling in love with one another and making their love possible even with the situation that they are in. It gives a very entertaining feeling to the audience as the story grows until its end.

Other duet acting film include, Batman and Robin, Shanghai Noon with Jacky Chan and Owen Wilson and Starsky and Hutch and Zoolander with Ben Stiller and several others. Others would be Brothers’ Grimm and Van Helsing 2.

How to Act in A Horror Scene or Movie

2010-05-17T03:01:00.000-07:00

What are horror films? Horror films are usually scary, unsettling films, used to frighten and cause panic and dread and alarm to bring up the worst hidden fears as it ends in a terrifying finale. Horror films usually tackle topics that center around the dark side of life, the forbidden, strange and alarming events. Most of the time they deal with the most primal nature of the human psyche and human fears, like nightmares, vulnerabilities, alienation, revulsions, fear of the unknown, fear of dismemberment and death, loss of identity or fear of sexuality. (Tim Dirks, 1996-2007)

There are many famous horror films that come out every year in Hollywood. Some of the most famous horror films that came out on the big screen were household names like Nightmare on Elm Street, Night of the Living Dead, Jason Goes to Hell and its predecessors, and several other teenage oriented horror films. Did you know that one of Johnny Depp's first roles was in Nightmare on Elm Street? He was the guy who was eaten by the bed. Yes, our Pirates of the Caribbean Jack Sparrow started as an extra in Horror films.

Based on the definition of what horror films are, it is then necessary for the actor to be able to exude these elements of the film to the audience. A horror film actor should be able to cause a feeling of dread and alarm to the audience by bringing up their worst fears and at the same time entertain them. Since it appeals to the fears of the audience, it should bring about a scary feeling as they watch the film.

If you want to be a successful horror film actor, it would be good to learn from the historical records on horror films. Film libraries have records on the earliest horror films , those about vampires, monsters, like the Death of Dracula, Nosferatu, A Symphony of Terror, Phantom of the opera, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dracula films, Original Frankenstein and the newer ones like The Wolfman cycle.

Sometimes horror films are combined with adventure, comedy and romance like, Van Helsing, Underworld, Constantine, Resident Evil, the Omen and others. If you are serious about acting in a horror flick, watch these and learn.

Finding the Perfect Acting Role For You

2010-05-16T03:01:00.000-07:00

There are many possibilities in acting and each role you find will (hopefully) be different from the past roles you've played. But if you've never acted before, how do you know what kind of acting is right for you? Here's how to find out:

Film acting
Film acting means working in front of the camera, where you play the lead, supporting actor or extra. Films, like all types of acting jobs, have genres, so expect a lot of work in drama, comedy, suspense, horror, action and documentaries, among others.

Film acting requires some very precise and specific movements; meaning that you will be working within the camera's frame and will be limited by it. Speaking and moving will also be as close to normal as possible, compared to stage acting.

TV
TV can offer different kinds of acting for you. There are sitcoms, soap operas, series, mini-series, TV movies and documentaries. TV can be steady employment, provided you find work in a successful series or get cast in different TV projects.

Theater
Theater is as hard as or harder to work in than film. Rehearsal hours are long and you have to memorize dialogues with no second takes. You'll also be playing to a live audience so be ready to improvise in case you commit mistakes. You have to train your voice to reach all of your audience.

With theater acting, you also have to audition so you better come prepared knowing what the play is about and your character's role. Theater acting may also require you to sing and dance. But just because your acting will be confined onstage doesn’t limit your possibilities. Stage plays, especially the more recent ones, have some of the most innovative and avant garde concepts.

Voice acting
With voice acting, you can work in any medium, be it feature films, TV shows, TV commercials, animated cartoons and even video games. The talent fee is considerably less, even if you are already famous, but if you become involved in a successful series, you can expect steady work. It would be wise to have a good range of voice characters so you won’t get stuck with just one characterization.

Stereotyping
One trap that most actors don’t want to get caught in is stereotyping. This happens when you play roles that are similar to one another. For example, you could play a villain successfully but never cross over as a successful hero/heroine. You could also be a success being a comedic character but may have difficulty becoming a serious dramatic actor.

Being an Actor and Making it Big

2010-05-15T02:49:00.000-07:00

Do you wander and dream of becoming an actor or an actress? Have you ever wanted to be in the limelight and become the star of the show in your school plays or community events? There are ways to solve your problem. You too could become the next big thing in your community and grace your audience with beautiful acting or skillful presentation of dances, songs and plays.

How do you do it? You can attend acting classes which are usually offered locally. These classes are for young people who are interested in becoming actresses or actors or just want to learn a craft that can gain an audience if ever you become successful in it. With the training of the teachers or facilitators in these acting schools or acting workshops, you too can act in front of a big audience, on stage or even on television.

Workshops are usually done in groups and they usually are seasonal. For young people, workshops are held during the summer vacation when the kids have time to attend. They are commonly held in communities, towns or cities and a small fee is just what you need to pay to attend the workshops. Sometimes, some of them are free.

Acting schools are very common for people who want to get into acting. These are usually found in the big cities or even in small towns. Acting schools come in a variety of formats. Some acting schools offer short courses and others offer full time bachelors degree courses for very serious people who want to make it big in Hollywood.

There are several acting schools which offer, short courses and bachelors degrees in acting as well as specialized fields like Masters and Doctorate degrees. Do you know that some Hollywood actors took some acting classes during the course of their school years? Yes, many of your favorite actors and actress had some education in acting before they became big stars. They have at some point in their lives went into learning the little details on how to face the camera and what things shouldn’t be done in front of the audience. Yes, they too have undergone the mastering of the craft before they become the stars that you know today.

Start learning how to act and you just might be the next big thing in Hollywood.

Getting Duet Acting Scripts For Free

2010-05-13T02:45:00.000-07:00

Duet acting is a popular high school forensics event. It involves two people who act a script of their choosing together. This event is usually presented in a form of a competition. And depending upon the rules employed, chairs, tables, and other furniture may be used. The general rule is that the pair performs a scene that runs on an average of 8 to 12 minutes. Actors can change roles, but they should only play a single character for every scene.
Duet acting can really be nice to watch. But even more so, they are rather challenging to perform. But the selling point of the acting duo should be their script. If they fail to choose the right script for the play, no matter how good their acting is, their chances of winning the competition may not be as good. Therefore, the choice of script is essential so that the actors can effectively showcase their talents in the best way possible.

So, where does one get free duet acting scripts? There are many options. And here are the most common places where you can find them:

1. The School Library. If your school has been sponsoring duet acting for quite some time now, then there will be records of previously acted scripts on file. You just have to ask where you can find them. You might also need to ask for permission if you can reuse the materials. Clearly tell the administrator though, as to where, when, and how you’ll actually use the script. That way, you won’t be infringing on copyright rules, should there be any.

2. The Internet. If you want free, or almost free, duet acting scripts, then the internet is the best place to find them. In fact, the internet not only contains these. There are a whole lot of other useful materials you can find. You can also get acting tips and pointers from the internet so that you’ll win the competition easily.

3. Your mind. If you dropped by the library and there’s no duet acting script, and went online and can’t find the one perfect for you, then why not write your own instead? If you are a good actor and your mind works like that of a director, then you can surely write your own duet acting script. If you do it well, you might just garner additional points from the judges on the originality criterion. And if you write your own script, you’ll have the advantage of working around your bad side and showing off what you’re good at.

Looking For an Acting Agent - The Guide

2010-05-12T02:42:00.000-07:00

Okay, let's get one thing straight. Agents are a necessary part of the equation in any good actor's career. They help actors find acting jobs, micro manage their careers, and use their wide pools of contacts to help an actor along - all for a fee, of course. There are, however, free acting agents. Now, the term "free" acting agent makes people think that the agent won't be charging them a dime. If that sounds too good to be true, guess what? You're right. Free acting agents are simply agents who don't charge you anything EXCEPT the standard cut they get if you manage to land a job successfully. Here is the criteria to help you find a good, reliable free acting agent.

Make sure that the agent is registered with the Screen Actors Guild or another similarly reputable group. While quite a few free acting agents are independent operators, they are best avoided like the plague when you're new to the industry. Acting in general has been likened to a crocodile pit or shark infested waters for very good reasons, and more often than not the perpetrators of trouble are unscrupulous independent operators. Any agent that's actually registered with a reliable guild has to abide by it's rules and regulations, which are made for the protection of actors.

Another criteria to consider is that YES, the agent will eventually be charging you a percentage for services rendered. Nothing in life is free, and anyone trying to tell you otherwise is mistaken. So, you should find out exactly what services the agent is willing to offer for free, and more importantly which ones he WILL be charging you for. Balance your options, and choose someone that won't charge you a dime if, you can't get any successful auditions.

The simplest yet most legitimate type of agent contract can be broken down into three considerations. One, the agent will help you FIND auditions, and will even book you for them for free. Two, IF you land the acting job successfully, only then will he take a fee (the industry standard is 10% of your fee). Third, in the event that you fail to land the acting job, you WON'T owe the agent anything. Details can often get more complex than this, but this is the most basic operation style of legitimate free acting agents. Lastly, remember to READ the contract before signing anything. You never know when something might get snuck in the fine print...

Acting Schools - What You Need to Know

2010-05-11T02:25:00.000-07:00

Credibility and Reputation

One of the most important things to look for when selecting an acting school is it's reputation. You don't necessarily need to go to the most high end establishments. Finding a small but tidy acting school held by an acting coach with a good name for him or herself is all that's required. This gives you two advantages over a relatively unknown acting school - for one thing, you have the assurance that you'll be in competent hands. Secondly, if the school or coach has a good reputation in the industry, this will immediately "rub off" on your name when you're trying to land an audition after you're done with the course.

Available Curriculum

Not all coaches and acting schools are the same. Just like any regular college, acting schools also have different courses that you can take. There are acting courses that specialize in the basics like speech control and body language to convey emotion, others that focus on acting out characters from a certain genre or theme, still others that teach "back stage" support skills to their students etc. Gauge which courses the school has available, and pick one whose selection fits your personal level of experience, abilities, and goals.

Teaching Methodology

Right alongside the curriculum you should also consider the teaching style adapted by the school you're considering. Does the school employ a sink-or-swim method of teaching, or do the school's coaches prefer to take a more supportive albeit coddling style? Do they allow freedom of personal expression in a character role, or do they adhere to subsuming your personality inside the roles you're playing? Do they focus on traditional methods or modernized ones? Again, pick one that suits you and what you want to do with your acting career.

Post Graduate Support

Lastly, you should see if the acting school will give you any support after graduation in terms of trying to help you land auditions and acting jobs. Do they have a pool of agents they can call on and hook you up with? Do they contact their graduates to let them know of any openings in the nearby theaters? Do their coaches have connections that they can use to help you get started? This kind of support can make or break your career, especially at the start when you're still relatively new.

Stage Partners - Tips on Acting With a Co-Star

2010-05-10T02:15:00.000-07:00

Act in Complement to your Duet Partner

When working as a duet on stage, the basic rule to remember is that you're NOT a solo act, and neither are you just another face in a larger set of actors on the scene. The tough part about a duet is that it combines elements of both the limelight of a solo act, AND requires the ability to interact with another actor that a scene with larger numbers demands. To this end, the most effective way to treat a duet is to complement your partner's moves, lines, and actions with your own. Think of it as if you were one pedal on a bike, and your partner the other. Work together as a team to get the scene going.

Don't be out to Steal the Show

One of the biggest problems for some duet acts is that one partner or the other may wind up being a prima donna who tries to hog all the attention and glory for him or herself. While this can work effectively for some scenes, there are quite a few cases where it ruins the scene altogether. Unless one character or the other is SUPPOSED to have an overpowering personality that overshadows the partner's character, try to avoid this. As an example of a case where a play can be ruined by this, consider a case where the villain's portrayal and presence overshadows that of the main protagonist. In the end, the audience winds up siding with the villain...

Work out Minor Details Beforehand with your Partner

This is very, very important. Small things can wind up ruining a big scene altogether. Remember that in acting, everything is used to convey the scene to the audience, from the volume and tone of voice of the actors, to small facial expressions, to subtle body motions, to the props and the placement of the actors on the stage. Work out every possible quirk with your partner beforehand to make sure that no small details cause a hitch in the scene when you actually get on the stage.

Practice both the Regular Lines and Ad Libbing

Lastly, in practice you should both work on the assumption that you MAY wind up forgetting your lines. So, instead of limiting your practice to the EXACT lines required by the scene, also practice ad libbing sessions where you both follow the spirit of the scene without sticking to the actual lines used in the dialogue. This way, if one of you suddenly develops a mental block, you won't be left flat footed and the scene won't grind to a halt.

Mind Prepping For Theater Acting

2010-05-09T02:15:00.000-07:00

Empathy is The Key

On the stage, the most vital skill for any actor or actress is empathy. At it's most basic, empathy is the ability to sense and accurately judge a person's mood and emotions. However, empathy taken to a higher level can do much more. For one thing, empathy allows you to accurately imagine the emotions running through your character. By the same token, you can also convey this imagined emotion to a much greater degree by projecting it to the audience. Contrary to what some acting coaches say, when you have to ACT the emotions of your character but never really feel them, the heart of effective character portrayal on stage is that you are able to generate emotion in yourself and convey it to the audience.

You ARE your Character on stage

Another good tip for effective acting is the ability to fully immerse yourself in role-playing your character. Where some stage actors often maintain a certain degree of self on the stage, if you wish to be truly effective you should almost completely forget who you are on stage; while the scene is being enacted, you ARE your character. Don’t just think of the scene itself; during practice, consider the history, mindset, motivations, ambitions, and especially the emotions of your character. Let this shape how you act on the stage.

Project with Everything You Have

A third tip for effective stage acting is the ability to project your character and the scene to the audience with every tool at your disposal. Some people are blessed with excellent voices, or the ability to convey volumes of meaning through facial expressions, or expressive body language. Most actors often only utilize one favored means of projecting their character to an audience. However, to be truly effective you should use every means at your disposal, from the volume and pitch of your voice to every tiny gesture, facial change, and body posture.

Harmonize with Your Team and The Audience

Lastly, any good actor must remember not to be immersed inside him or herself too much. Some actors tend to focus their attention completely inwards - analyzing their own movements, thinking about what lines to say next, or just trying to emote. However, you should also remember that you're working with fellow people on the stage, AND that you're acting for the benefit of the people in the audience. Work WITH your fellow actors and actresses, supporting their roles with your own, and always remember that the audience is out there beyond the stage and that you're essentially telling a tale for their benefit.

Comedy Acting - Making People Laugh

2010-05-08T02:12:00.000-07:00

A lot of actors say that making the audience laugh is more difficult than making them cry. Whether this is true or not, don’t let it hinder you from making your dreams as the worlds finest comedian come true. Here are several tips to improve your comedy acting skills.

Tip #1 Learn your lines well. You can make people laugh more if you’re able to deliver your punch line naturally. Whether you’re in a comedy, drama, or action, the dialogue must always flow smoothly to keep the audience engaged.

Tip #2 Walt Disney once said that in order to be funny, you have to touch somebody’s heart. Even if it’s a comedic role, you still need to know your character very well. You need to know who he is, what he likes and dislikes, what he wants to be, where he comes from and everything else about him. The audience won’t relate to you if you can’t relate to your character.

Tip #3 Get physical. Comedies don’t always have to be slapstick, but it’s easier to make people laugh when your facial and bodily movements coordinate with your mouth. You don’t need to act like Jim Carrey, but you’ll be amazed with how even a simple hand wave can enhance the scene. Don’t be afraid to improvise with your face and body!

Tip #4 Improvise the script only when you know it’s welcomed. Let Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler improvise as they will. They’re producing their own films anyway. But as for you, remember that the film costs money so if you’ve hit upon a great funny idea, run it by your director or co-actors first instead of trying it out on camera.

Tip #5 Take the time to find your style. Its okay to borrow certain qualities from great comedians here and there, but the end product should be uniquely your own. It’s hard to be funny your copying someone else’s style.

Tip #6 Watch lots of funny movies and learn from the masters. If possible, watch your own work too and learn from your mistakes.

Tip #7 Last but not the least, remember that comedy actors are first and foremost funny people. They were able to make people laugh off camera before they started performing. If you know you’re a genuinely funny person then don’t let obstacle stand in your way!

Defenition and Explanation - Brights Eyes Acting Method

2010-05-07T02:10:00.000-07:00

If you’re looking for the exact term, bright eyes method acting, you’re either looking for a way to have bright eyes as a method acting technique or you’re interested in finding the meaning behind the song Bright Eyes by the band Method Acting. Both will be discussed here.

Bright Eyes as a Method Acting Technique
When an actor has to perform method acting, he’s asked to reproduce all possible aspects of the character he’s playing to render the most realistic presentation. People often think there’s only one way to do method acting, but there are actually no official rules on how to achieve it. Instead, they may have assumed that method acting and the Method that acting professor Lee Strasberg pioneered is one and the same.

For Lee Strasberg, the only way to give a realistic performance is by using the actors personal experiences as a way of relating to his character. That’s one way to do method acting, but there are other techniques and as long as what you do works then that would be probably be good enough for most directors.

Many known actors have been under Strasberg’s tutelage and some of them were Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Al Pacino, and Dustin Hoffman.

Sometimes, characters are described as having bright eyes. This can mean different things. Bright eyes could indicate happiness, optimism, or having actual tears in your eyes. Its important to understand why your character has bright eyes before your own eyes start shining as well.

Understanding your character is the best way to achieve method acting. You don’t have to like your character, but you do need to understand his GMC or goals, motivation, and conflict. Knowing his background would help a lot. If your scriptwriter can’t supply you with an extensive background then you can create one for your character.

If you’re portraying a real-life character, talking to the person you’re portraying would definitely help. If that persons dead, talk to the people closest to your character. Its all about connecting with your role.

Bright Eyes by Method Acting
When you hear the song Bright Eyes by Method Acting, its easy to think that its all about people seeking meaning to life. With all the violence going on around us, its not surprising when someone gets confused and wonders about the pointlessness to life.

But if you try reading the lyrics several times, you’ll see that although the meaning of life is indeed the main topic, it isn’t the message the band wishes to share. In the end, they’re urging people to also continue living and moving on.

Acting Tips For Villains and Antagonistic Characters

2010-05-06T02:00:00.000-07:00

An antagonist isn’t always the villain. An antagonist is simply the opposing force against the protagonist. If the protagonist is a thief, the antagonist could be the police, even if they are actually the good guys in the story.

Antagonist Acting Tips to Make Your Performance Realistic

Tip #1 Know where you’re coming from. Antagonists need a reason to be who and what they are, and especially so if they’re the bad guy as well. Its easy to make the audience hate you if you’re playing a zombie or a demon, but what if you’re playing Hannibal Lecter, a well-educated man who turned crazy and murderous somewhere along the way? You need to connect with your character to play your role as naturally as possible.

In other words, understand your character. You don’t need to profess love or hate for it, but you do need to understand your characters goals, motivation, and conflict.

Tip #2 The role of an antagonist is to create and stimulate conflict. It’s your job to make the protagonists life difficult so every step you take should be focused on attaining that goal. That is your primary purpose and if you’ve made the protagonists life hell then you’ve done your job!

Tip #3 Have fun. There are certain antagonistic roles where you can simply have fun being bad. Being an antagonist doesn’t always have to be dark and gloomy. Obviously, roles like the Riddler or a nasty Leprechaun prove that true. If you don’t think being seriously evil will match your role then explore other alternatives like being gloriously evil or hilariously bad. A change of perspective could save you from a lackluster performance!

Tip #4 Be angry for your character. The first tip tells you to find the reason why your antagonist has to do what he’s doing. If he’s a terrorist, you need to know why he finds it acceptable to throw bombs and kill hundreds of people. Now, once you’ve found that reason, keep it close and never let it go until the whole things under wraps.

Understanding the reason will get you started, but its nursing the resentment inside you that will sustain the level of performance you need for the rest of the film or show.

Tip #5 Be prepared for physical torture. On camera, you might be the one doing the butchering but off camera, its you who’s going to be tortured by the makeup artists and costume designers. A lot of antagonists in films require a change in looks and usually for the worse which could mean being baked alive under dozens of pounds worth of makeup and prosthetics.

The Process of Choosing a Good Acting Workshop

2010-05-05T02:00:00.000-07:00

Anyone can become a celebrity; its just the how’s and whys that’s different. But not everyone can become an actor and that’s where acting workshops come in.

How to Choose the Best Acting Workshops for You

LEVEL Know if the workshop will be divided according to acting levels. Some people are pressured when they’re with actors with advanced training while others thrive on the challenges more experienced actors bring and represent. Choose the acting workshop you feel you’ll be able to learn the most.

TEACHERS Its futile joining an acting workshop if you don’t believe in the people teaching. Ask about the teachers acting credentials. Also, some people are more comfortable learning from someone older and of the same sex. If you have such concerns, you need to look for a workshop that will match your exact preferences.

LESSONS The most important question to ask when looking for acting workshops to join is what you’re going to learn from them. More specifically, what do you wish to learn from these acting workshops? If you’re set to play a role in a horror flick, you could look for an acting workshop that teaches you how to exhibit horror realistically.

Are there specific acting techniques you wish to learn? Are you looking for a way to overcome stage fright? Do you need help with memorizing your lines? Would you like an acting workshop to include lessons outside acting but still integral to your career such as choosing the right role or finding the right agent.

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS How will students be taught? Some acting workshops focus mainly on coaching while others teach by hands-on application? Do you wish for one-on-one sessions with an acting trainer or do you wish to learn with other people? If you’re going to enroll in a group workshop, what’s the maximum number of students allowed in a workshop?

TRIAL Will it be possible for you to try out the class even for a day? A one-day trial is enough to know if you’ll truly benefit from the acting workshop.

COSTS Acting workshops cost money. How much do you have to pay for how many days? What does the total workshop fee entail exactly? Do they offer scholarships? If so, what are the requirements you need to meet? What is the acting school or workshops refund policy?

And last but not least, don’t forget to ask for referrals!

Why Do You Need Acting Training?

2010-05-04T10:30:00.000-07:00

Having the right look, height, or appearance could get you your first job in show business but its purely acting skills that will help you stay in Hollywood. If you want your career to last a lifetime, invest now in acting training.

4 Reasons Why You Need Acting Training

ACTING TRAINING HELPS YOU GROW. Experience can get you somewhere, but professional acting training can help you get further. Training will help you evolve as an actor and graduate from teeny-bopper roles into critically acclaimed acting. Even Hollywood stars like Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins take acting classes once in a while so why shouldn’t you as well?

ACTING TRAINING TEACHES YOU TO BE PROFESSIONAL. Acting schools and workshops aren’t always about acting. They also teache you key lessons on how to take care of your career. With professional acting training, you’ll also learn how to work with a director and the rest of the cast, choose the right roles, find the perfect agent, and the best things to do during auditions.

ACTING TRAINING WILL KEEP YOU MOTIVATED. As you spend more time in show business, you might find yourself suffering from ennui and losing the necessary motivation to continue doing your best. Acting training will give you the opportunity to mingle with aspiring actors and remember just how lucky you are to be doing what you’re doing.

ACTING TRAINING INCREASES YOUR NETWORK SIZE. Having the right contacts will gain you the kind of access that you’ve dreamed of. If you want to increase your network size, having acting training from a workshop or school is one of the best ways to do so. There, you’ll not only meet other aspiring actors but also directors, scriptwriters, and producers with whom you can work with in the future.

Where to Get Acting Training
Now that you’re aware of the importance of acting training, you can get professional help either by joining acting schools or acting workshops. If so, here are some factors to consider when looking for the ideal provider of acting training.

Cost. Look for a workshop or school that offers affordable fees or a payment plan

Time. With all the auditions you have to attend as well as the various jobs you need to keep, you need to look for a schedule you could easily integrate into your daily routine.

Lessons. Since acting training can cost a lot, look for a workshop that teaches you exactly what you need to learn. You can take extra acting lessons later but for now, concentrate on getting what you need.

Lost Talent? Regain Your Acting Skills

2010-05-03T10:23:00.000-07:00

Whether we are spending our holidays on sessions of charades or musing over our high school musicals, acting is always present. There are some people though who can act better than others. Well, to be like them you must consider four acting tips.

Five times isn’t enough

Practice is the first of these acting tips. Practice makes perfect. There is no such thing as over-practicing. Practicing your piece takes more than five trials. Remember that acting isn’t just memorization of lines or pure emotions.

To be a good actor you must know your lines by heart and the only key to doing this is by reading the script over and over again and acting it in front of the mirror. You can also practice with your co-actors to build chemistry. Either way will improve your acting skills.

Study your material

Second of these acting tips is research. Acting is studying in general. By the time you receive your script you must study the character you are to portray. Spend time absorbing the characters details. Character profile researches will be your advantage. You can visit libraries or even check the internet to get a more specific idea as to how the character acts. You can gather character profile information through watching television shows or movies. Observe how actors played their characters. Then, be your character.

It is not a one-shot victory

One of the most important acting tips is patience. Patience is a virtue. If you can’t get things right don’t give up. Do it over and over again, until you finally get it down. Sacrificing your time and spending additional effort will help you become a better actor. Even professional actors try to remain patient while practicing their roles.

Stay in the line, wear blinders

Acting tips and drama coaches will tell you to stay focused. True enough for an actor who is confused won’t perform well. Acting is a play of emotions, so you may want to learn how to stabilize your feelings. Managing your problems is up to your discretion, just stay composed when you are acting.

You can shed your emotions in acting, however in doing so balance everything out. Sometimes, being too emotional may make your concentration weak. If you lose your focus you’ll lose the words, the script, the gestures, and the characters personality.

These acting tips are beneficial for beginners and even for professionals. Remember, in acting nothing is procedural, everything is spontaneous. So, there is no step-by-step process to success. You will have to rely upon yourself and how well you manage these acting tips.

Creating a Great Resume - Actor's Guide

2010-05-02T10:24:00.000-07:00

As an actor, you will have to 'apply' for an acting job, except that in your profession, it will be called an audition. Your acting resume is one that casting agents take a look at first in order to determine whether you're right for the job or not. It's an essential tool in your career as an actor because it shows your training, acting experiences and important projects you've worked on. Here's how to make an impressive acting resume that will get you noticed:

What your acting resume should contain:
- Your name, address and contact numbers.
- Your acting training, if you have any
- Your acting experience, including the title of the film, play or TV show you worked on
- Include other acting experiences like voice overs, commercials, etc.

Resume must-haves:
Keep a short but concise acting resume. A one-page resume is perfect and don’t forget to include a headshot. Better yet, use your headshot and staple or print your acting resume on the back so it's easy to review.

If your acting experience is short, make sure to highlight the major ones. If you have a lot, include only the more important assignments. Don’t worry too much if you only have a few projects under your belt. All actors have to start somewhere.

While a standard acting resume size is 8 x 11, you can trim it down in order to make it the same size as your headshot if your photo is a little bit smaller. Use staples to attach your acting resume to your headshot, using one staple for every corner of the paper.

Use at least a 10 pt. font to make your acting resume easy to read. If you have a lot of acting experience, try to include only the most significant jobs. You can also make different resumes, each one with a different focus in order to fit a specific part for an audition.

Resume must-nots:
Never lie on your acting resume, it could be found out. The acting industry, while huge, is well connected and documented so whatever work you'll write about will be easy to reference. You should also never lie about special skills or other abilities.

Don’t write a long resume. Casting directors are always in a hurry and don’t have enough time to read everything you've written. Make sure you include only the more important information.

Don't handwrite additional credits on your resume. Everything should be typed.

Don’t name names on your acting resume. If you worked with a famous actor or director, you don’t need to mention it. The casting directors will know.

Try Auditioning For an Act Using Poems

2010-05-01T10:19:00.000-07:00

It's not common to use poems when auditioning for roles but it is possible to bring one to the audition and have a successful performance. Poems can be an excellent way to show your range and technique as an actor because the words that make up a poem don’t reflect the way people normally speak. Words are more colorful and hold deeper meaning, which is why poems are also difficult to recite. However, if you have the technique and emotional range as an actor, poems can be quite effective. Here are several poets whose works you might want to use:

Pablo Neruda
Neruda was a Nobel Prize winning Chilean poet who first wrote symbolic poems before moving to surrealism. However, some poems by this great South American poet are excellent reading for acting, especially if you will be auditioning for a romantic part. Try selections from his 'Cien sonetos de amor', a full volume of poetry dedicated to love or get his collection of poems from 'Selected Poems of Pablo Neruda'. If you can read Neruda and move your audience, you can definitely play a romantic character even if you dressed up as Quasimodo.

E.E. Cummings
If you want lyrical acting poems, Cummings is your man. The works of this American poet are characterized by non-conformity to traditional poetic form. There are plenty of distorted syntaxes and the use of slang is prevalent but you will love the rhythm if you are adventurous and willing to try something different. If you can get past the new words and hurdle the strangely placed punctuations, E.E. Cummings can give you the perfect acting poem for your audition.

If you want something that's closer to theater, try 'him' (small caps), a play Cummings wrote both in prose and verse. You should also check out excellent selections from 'Poems', '95 Poems' and :' six nonlectures'.

Shakespeare
The Bard never fails to bring out the best (and worst) in every actor. Everyone from the great Laurence Olivier to Keanu Reeves has played a Shakespearean character. His poems or sonnets, however, can be great pieces provided you understand the way the language was created and can work with the rhythm. Shakespeare likes to use metrics in his work.

Don’t be limited by the more popular Sonnet XVIII. There are about 150 sonnets to choose from, but make sure you use these only as part of an audition for a part in a love story. The sonnets are unabashedly romantic. They are also quite awkward to use if you are unable to grasp the rhythm early on. However, they are perfect for developing your vocal and rhythmic skill.

Acting On Television - What Every Actor Should Know

2010-04-30T10:19:00.000-07:00

TV has been around for many decades and since its first appearance in our living room, it has become an important part of our lives. Can you imagine not having a TV when man first walked on the moon or not seeing what is happening as leaders of two great nations meet? No wonder television never ran out of reasons to stay on the air. And with all those programs on TV, you also have more opportunities for acting jobs. Here's what you can expect when you're acting on TV:

There are plenty of job opportunities.
From a background extra in a crowd scene or as a witness on a crime TV series, there are plenty of roles to fill when you want to work on TV. There are hundreds of programs needing actors for a variety of parts. Open casting calls are common, especially when casting directors are looking for ensemble casts. You also get to work in a lot of genres, from crime and suspense to drama to sci-fi. Plus, there's plenty of work for actors of different ages.

You're not limited to a series or mini-movies.
If you're idea of acting on TV is landing a role in a soap opera or a series, think again. There are other acting jobs available such as documentaries and TV commercials. Documentaries often hire professional actors to act in dramatizations of real events so you'll have some very interesting characters to play.

Don’t scratch commercials off the list, either. There is always a need for fresh, new faces for ads and since TV ads enjoy a lot of air play, you’ll get more exposure as an actor. This is especially true if the ad runs nationally. There are plenty of actors who have been spotted by casting directors in a commercial and have been asked them to audition for roles in a sitcom or mini-series.

Another possibility if you want to work on TV is a voice over assignment. This is a popular acting work for many actors who lend their voices to animated characters, commercials, dubbed films and narrations.

Don’t expect overnight success.
Even Jennifer Aniston had her share of not-so glory days. But it took only one very successful sitcom to launch her to stardom. As a working actor on TV, expect a lot of auditions, refusals, holds and a lot of call backs before you book an assignment. Furthermore, expect a lot of competition. However, don't let these things get between you and your dream. Acting on TV can be an exciting career and if you find steady work, it's even better.

Difference Between Acting On a Movie and Up On a Stage

2010-04-29T10:16:00.000-07:00

On sober reflection, people readily admit that films are like buildings, books, and symphonies or artifacts made by humans for human purposes. Yet, as part of an audience watching an enthralling movie, people may find it difficult to remember that what they are seeing is not a natural object, like a flower or an asteroid. Unlike theater, cinema is so captivating that people tend to forget that movies are make believe.

An understanding of the differences between acting on movies versus acting on stage or theater depends initially on the recognition that film is produced by both machines and human labor, while theater is more of a reflection of real life.

Understand the Differences between Movies and Stage

In order to understand the differences between portraying a role in a movie and a theater, it is important that you know the difference between a movie and a play.

Watching a film differs from viewing a stage performance. A film presents its audience with images in an illusory motion. For cinema to exist, a series of images must be displayed to a viewer by means of a mechanism, which presents each image for a very short period and inserts between successive images an interval of blackness.

If a series of slightly different images of the same object are displayed under these conditions, physiological and psychological processes in the viewer will create the illusion of seeing a moving image. Like most human artifacts, a film depends on particular technological factors.

This goes to show that the quality of acting in movies may not be as intense as those delivered the theater. In theaters, naturalism and realism take the stage. That is why some critics say that most people often go to the theater to use their brains, not just to be entertained.

Acting in movies depends so much on the script, hence the term scripted whenever somebody wants to refer to things that are too good to be true.

In theaters, acting sometimes depends on the wits of the actors. They also have scripts but there are times that the lines of the actors on stage should be sharp and witty so that the audience will be entertained.

Boiled down, the main discrepancy between acting in movies versus acting on stage is realism. Acting in theater faces life as it really is. With movies, you can have as many takes as you need to come up with the emotion the director wants to convey.

What is a Monologue and How to Best Do It

2010-04-28T10:15:00.000-07:00

Monologue is the art of producing a dramatic sketch of exemplary acting performance by an actor. It can be a long speech, a soliloquy, or a skit designed for only one actors performance. Most people consider monologues a form of soliloquy, the act of talking to oneself. When used in a play, it is more identified as a monologue, where the actor is directly speaking to his audience.

If you want to start your acting career, you can start with monologues. Most actors prefer to commence on this kind of acting job because this is where their talents are best reflected. So if you want to start acting monologues, here are some tips to follow:

1. Know what you want

Don’t be the typical jack-of-all-trades but a master of none. Before you start acting monologues, it is best that you know what kind of monologue you want to pursue.

There are many kinds of monologues available for you. You can try Shakespearean if you are more poetic, comedy if you have a good sense of humor, or dramatic if you can project intense emotions with ease. However, some actors try to perform all kinds of monologues just to show how versatile they can be as an actor.

2. Practice

To acquire skill in speaking in front of an audience, you should practice before a mirror. Try to practice skits from a previous play and see how well you can deliver the lines using your emotions and superb acting performance.

Keep in mind that you will be able to give a very satisfactory performance with your monologue if you put your heart into it.

3. Choose your skit

Choosing a skit or a speech that you will use in your monolog is, of course, your first problem. You may want to write your own monologue, using an original plot. Or perhaps, you would like to dramatize a favorite story or poem. Just be sure to ask the publishers permission to use it if you will be using a published speech or skit.

Be sure that the speech or skit you use is right for your age and skill. Remember that talky, sophisticated speeches are a poor choice for young performers. Moreover, if you aren’t into comedy, then avoid using speeches like that.

Indeed, acting monologues can be pretty difficult for first-time or amateur actors. However, these can be great stepping-stones to success because directors or producers will definitely see you as a great actor.

Making Kids to Like and Pursue Acting

2010-04-27T10:14:00.000-07:00

For most children, few things in the entire world are more fun than acting. It is fun to begin acting with just a few simple lines to deliver, perhaps start building your child's acting career in the theater or go big and shoot for the big screen. It is fun to watch their talents grow as if by magic in a world of make believe.

Unlike many other pastimes or hobbies, acting doesn’t have special requirements. However, you need to consider some important things when considering acting jobs for kids. Here’s are just a few:

1. Find out your child’s acting style

Not all actors can perform roles to the best of their abilities. This means that some personalities are better at performing specific roles. So before you consider some acting jobs for your kids, try to assess their acting style first. Is your child a comic? Is he more dramatic? Does he like action better than any other elements in acting? Or does he have a combination of styles?

2. What are the affinities of your child?

Affinities are things that your child loves to do like playing outdoors, reading, collecting toys, etc. Affinities are the strengths of your child. Affirm these affinities and they will surely help develop his talent for a specific acting job.

For instance, if your child is more inclined to read, then he might be good at memorizing scripts. It will be easier for him to conceptualize roles as he relates to the characters in the stories that he usually reads.

3. Probe your child’s strengths and acting style

Don’t push your child to start acting right away. It is important that you let your child enjoy acting as much as he enjoys watching his favorite actors play the roles. Of course, there are many acting jobs available for kids; however, it is important that you let them assume roles that they can play best.

By understanding your child’s ability for a specific acting job, you will be able to develop his talents to the best of his abilities.

Still, in finding the right acting job for your child, his strengths will be what really counts. Helping a child improve in a role he is capable of portraying will develop not only his ability to assume specific roles but also help him find the right acting job for him.

Guide to Making an Impressive Acting Headshot

2010-04-26T09:57:00.000-07:00

As you prepare for your acting career, don’t forget to create an effective acting headshot. Acting headshots can make your future in acting life a lot easier and more possible, but not without putting it to the test.

1. Be professional

Like the usual job hunter, you must also be professional with your acting headshots. Even if you have to prepare your acting resume as well, it is still important to come up with an effective acting headshot. One that will tell about you, professionalism is one of the greatest factors to consider.

So how can you do about this? Always come up with an 8 x 10 copy. This size will show a definitive representation of your face. After all, the facade counts most in acting, notwithstanding the talent.

Color is also important. A professional look is always represented by black and white, so stick to that.

2. Get a good photographer

Keep in mind that this isn’t your usual identification picture. Acting headshots tell so much about you; hence, it is important that you get a good photographer to capture that real you.

A good photographer will know how to take a good shot of your head and shoulders. They know just the right angles.

Picture perfect images aren’t always innate. Sometimes, it depends on the photographer, quality of material used in developing, and the kind of camera used to capture the images. So if you want the best, go for the best.

3. Be simple

Before your photo shoot, make sure that you aren’t wearing fancy clothes or accessories. Keep in mind that you want your acting headshot focused more on yourself and not on other things. Make it a point that you stand out with no distractions.

In addition, you don’t want to convey a personality that is different from who you are. Of course, it would be best to look like the next superstar with glamour but you are on your way there. What is important is to land an interview. After all, you aren’t trying to get a modeling job.

Boiled down, keep your acting headshots simple yet valuable. Avoid any distractions that will divert the observers attention away from your face. It is your one-way ticket to stardom, so make sure you represent yourself well.

Encourage Kids to Try Acting - Unleash a Future Star

2010-04-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

Acting is considered to be one of the most prestigious careers, it brings fame and fortune to those who are hailed at the top of the industry. Because of this, acting appeals to many people of different ages including kids. Perhaps your own child wants to be an actor and if this is what the child really wants what you can do as a parent to give your support. But acting as a child may not be as simple as it is with adults. Here are some helpful hints if your child wants to go into acting:

1. Make sure your child really wants to go acting because you don’t want to waste your time or money. Some parents may impose their own dreams on their children because they had hang-ups. Be sure that it is your child who wants to join the school play or the movies and not you just seeing yourself in your little one.

2. Help your child prepare to act. You are the adult and you understand things better than your child. Help your child to know what the role is about. Explain to him or her who the character is, what they do, and where they are going. Add bits and pieces of information that can help your child internalize the role well.

3. Notice signs your child is becoming tired or restless. Children are less able to manage stress than most adults and you should be able to notice if the acting is taking a toll of your child. If your child is tired then rest is needed and you should give him or her time to rest.

4. Be present as much as you can. It is important to show your support. You are the source of your child’s security and inspiration and your presence is crucial to make you child feel safe and confident. Being there reassures your child that everything is okay and that you are there when he or she needs you.

Acting for kids can be more difficult than acting for adults. But with the right preparations and support from parents, acting can be quite fun and exciting for kids. Just remember that your child is still more of a child than an actor. A healthy childhood still matters very much.

Acing For Beginners - Bring Out Your Star Potential

2010-04-25T08:55:00.000-07:00

Acting is among the oldest and most popular forms of the performing arts. Nowadays, acting can make people rich and famous. Some people shy away from acting because they think it is a complicated manner. However, acting is really simple because we do act in many occasions in our daily lives. Acting is not only for the professionals but for dummies as well.

If you are new to acting here are acting tips that even dummies can learn:

1. Read the script or the play freely at first to get the feel of the script and let it flow through your head. Don’t get into acting immediately but just read the text to learn the material and familiarize yourself with it.

2. Research the script or play because it pays to know beyond the words what you are going to act. Check out who the author is and how his other plays have been. Read about the setting of the play or movie. Check out what kind of characters it has especially the one you are going to act. Know all you can about it.

3. Read the script another time and this time you can focus on the character you are playing. Based on your research, how do you think the character should behave? Keep this in mind as you read through the text and imagine the character come to life.

4. Know the who, what, and where before you act, ask yourself who your character is, what it wants, and where it’s set. This will help you place yourself in the shoes of the character. Imagine what you will do in such a situation. Think of everything from your gestures to the way you will speak.

5. Read the script aloud with the character in mind. This will help you say your lines more comfortably. Play along and try out different ways of speaking based on how you think the character would say the text. Repeat as much as you can so that you can truly master everything.

6. Practice in front of the mirror once you have mastered the text you can practice your act. Do this in front of the mirror so that you can see how you look and you will soon not to be too conscious about yourself.

Acting can be simple and fun if you put your mind to it. Try out these tips and see how soon you become a good actor.

Are Your Acting Fee Worth Your Talent? You Might Deserve More!

2010-04-24T08:55:00.000-07:00

Yes! Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts are the highest paid actresses in Hollywood, and their accountants and lawyers might be the ones managing their money for them. But as a simple starting actor/actress, you should be the one to know if you are getting a fair acting fee. Acting fees can be your sole source of income and you don’t want to suffer from unfair agents. What composed acting fees? Here are some reminders:

1. If you have plans of having an agent, you can have background and principal agents. The background agents are working for those who perform extras in shows or movies. 15% commission on the gross earning is charged.

Principal agents on the other hand are the ones working for actors with speaking roles. He will charge 10% for stage plays and 15% for television or movie appearances. He may also ask you to shoulder smaller expenses such as courier fees and other registration fees. Look for agents who are charging a reasonable percent on your acting fee.

2. If you will be booked for a show, you can collect certain fees; these fees are charged yearly or hourly. If there is a need for overtime, it will be applicable before 9 am and after 6 pm on bookings over 8 hours. Special rates should be negotiated for night work.

3. If your photographs and clips are to be reproduced and used by certain companies in certain purposes such as for tickets, posters, packs, show cards, etc., you can charge additional fees. The terms of usage and its extension can be negotiated and can be used for a required location and span of time.

4. If you decide to run your own acting school, there are also certain fees to follow. The Screen Actors Workshop as an example, charges professional acting fees amounting to $185 for teen-agers (ages 13-17 years old) for a ten week term class and $300 for adults. The fees vary depending on the individuals age and acting capability.

All the above acting fees are negotiable. Agents, actors/ actresses and companies hiring them can arrive at reasonable acting fees. The acting fee can also vary from one country to another.

Acting corresponds to money. Many good actors and actresses nowadays are exposing themselves on stage, television and wide screens to earn money. Though beginners aren’t assured of bringing home large sums of money, he or she must be aware of the acting fees he/she can collect.

Tips on How to Get Great Acting Contracts

2010-04-23T08:26:00.000-07:00

If you are an aspiring actor, it would be good to know about acting contracts. Acting isn’t an easy job but you shouldn’t be shortchanged. Talent agencies are around to help you sell your talent for the best price.

1. If you contact an agency, make sure that the one you are dealing with meets all the requirements of their unions. Specific requirements are stated in contracts that protect talents such as yourself from abuse from these agencies. As a member, you have the right to get ahold of a copy of this agreement from the union.

2. Your agent should be able to guide you in your career development. He should keep your resume updated and even your physical appearance should be of his concern. He should always be around to give you sound advice to jumpstart your career. All these things should be stated in the contract that you sign with the agency.

3. The contract that you have with the agency should also state that it is the agents duty to do all that he can to get you work by sending your profile to all companies needing your specific talent, look or skills.

4. When you do get a job, it is your agency’s duty to negotiate the contracts for you. The agency should be the one to settle disputes with your employer if there is a need.

5. The contract that you have will also state that you, in turn, shall do your duty by having the professionalism and commitment required of you. In most cases, 10% commission goes to your agency as payment for their services.

6. In terms of contracts that you sigh with producers, it would help to know that there are different types of contracts, especially in theater acting. Make sure that you sign the right contract, may it be main stage, touring or performance internship contracts.

7. Since contracts are binding, make sure that you are signing a contract for the duration of time that is most suited to your needs. If you have plans of moving, it would be good to let your agent know so that arrangements can be made to shorten your contract. Most of the time, they will be open to such kinds of negotiations. If you encounter problems with this, then it’s time to find another agent, or producer for that matter.

Growing and Developing as an Actor

2010-04-22T08:26:00.000-07:00

Acting is a hard task but is always enjoyable and fun. An acting class will help you learn how to portray characters and how to memorize your dialogue. Your voice, body and emotions will serve as the acting tools to perform your scenes. Firstly, you need to have your acting warm ups to help you stay focused with what you are going to do.

First, the beginning exercise should be the eyes closed leader exercise. In this activity, half of the class will go and stand on one side of the room with fingers pointed out, eyes closed. The rest of the class will come across the room and will touch the tip of the fingers of their classmates and they will be the ones to lead them around the room. The leader must be careful not to walk too fast to prevent them from being separated; they should always keep their fingers together.

The second stage of the exercise is playing the casting procedure. The leader will divide the class into 4. One group will be the casting directors and the other group will be doing different leading roles in a film, such as a horror, gangster or a drama film. They will change roles, after the first casting activity.

The third stage will be the emotions game exercise. The students will now be given hand-outs, all about emotions. They should understand all the insights discussed in the hand-out. One student will pick one emotion, and he will act it out and the class will guess what emotion he portrays. This activity will end after all the students have tried this.

The fourth exercise will be the acting analysis. Show the students a short acting or an extract from a professional film. Always tell your students to pay attention when it comes to acting, then hand them a script and have them play the same roles. The leader will be the one to distribute the different roles. Ask a person to shoot the acting roles of the class, so that the class can watch it afterwards.

The next exercise is just the same as the previous one, just do it all over again, the only difference here is that they will try to watch the effect and the original performance will be compared to the professional film.

After these exercises, the class teacher will tell the students to read on the scripts and find locations for the scenes. Then if the location is ok, tell the students to visit them, and always check the applicability of the location.

Acting Coach - Why You Should Get One

2010-04-21T07:51:00.000-07:00

So, you’ve had the acting bug for as long as you can remember. You’ve been performing since you were a child and now that you are an adult, you want to take a stab at it and see how far you can go. You know it is a cutthroat business but you’re willing to take your chances.

Remember that making it might take years of sacrifice and perseverance amidst rejections. But as long as you love acting and you can take all the blows because that is how willing you are to live your dream, then you must earn your keep as an actor.

You must attend workshops in order to learn more about the craft. Enrolling in classes taught by credible acting coaches will help you learn more about the craft, as well as the industry.

Acting coaches know that a surefire way in testing the acting chops of an aspiring actor is through workshops. Acting coaches provide meaty acting courses which include stage work, improvisation, voice-over, acting on-camera, movement and so much more. They make sure that their students learn the basics as well as the fundamentals of acting.

A great acting coach has tons of acting experience as well as passion and enthusiasm for teaching acting. They must be there during the intense phases as well as the simple tune-ups.

Acting coaches will work on what you already know. Show them what you’ve got and follow their suggestions and directions. Be open to what they ask you to do. It may be new or unconventional but as an actor, you have to be open-minded to any situation.

Now, here’s where the tricky part comes in. You have to get an acting coach that you will learn a lot from. You have to be very wary of hoaxes too. Take for example, in the movie Ellie Parker, Naomi Watts was disappointed after she saw her acting coach sniffing cocaine. She didn’t have to say it because her face gave it away. She felt cheated.

There are actors who’ve learned from the best. Take for example, Marilyn Monroe was trained by Lee Strasberg and Selma Hayek was taught by Stella Adler. Now Strasberg and Adler are two teachers most actors respect because of their approach in acting which they have shared with the world. Strasberg and Adler influenced actors the world over.

So invest in your craft. It’s worth it.

Making a Memorable Acting Scene For Your Best Performance

2010-04-21T03:23:00.000-07:00

Acting at one time or another has been everyone’s dream. I mean who wouldn’t like to be famous and living the lifestyle of the richest people on Earth. So, for those who are trying hard to get into the business, a little practice will bring you close to your most memorable acting scenes. How? Well, you have to know your acting skills.

Knowing that the key factor in achieving your most memorable acting scenes in the theater or in Hollywood is through constant practice and self-realization, you are going to get to the top. You can’t practice without a scene or script. Technology is improving so fast that you can enjoy the vast number of great scripts in the comfort of your own home.

Downloadable materials can help you settle on your acting spot. With them you can practice your acting prowess in front of the mirror or with a partner. The trick to having your own memorable acting scenes is perfecting you skills.

(Read The Business of Acting: Learn the Skills You Need to Build the Career You Want)

To perfect your skills aside from practicing your lines and the blockings, enriching your emotional capability will help you as well. You may be clueless as to what emotional capability has to do with memorable acting scenes? Well, to be able to portray the masochist lover or the lady-in-distress you have to experience it first.

Experience need not be real, or painful. Reading and watching films regarding such characters portrayed can help you extend you emotional cup. You will learn not only how they speak and act, but also how they feel when placed in different situations.

Remember that efforts must not only come from a single person, because such scenarios will indeed make the play or act memorable but not in a good sense. The success of a particular acting scene also depends on the other actors, not just you. Also, the props and costumes help make a performance memorable.

Do you know what will make your acting experience memorable? Originality. Yes, it is a good thing to learn and to execute classics like Cats and Shakespearean plays. However, everything will be memorable if the performance itself is unique. Acting scenes are memorable because of the message or context.

The logic behind edgy plays or performances isn’t just that they are new to the audience but also the content is intriguing. Intrigue, artistic flare, great props, and acting prowess must all work together to produce memorable acting scenes.

How to Start Your Acting Career

2010-04-20T07:51:00.000-07:00

They say it’s impossible but it was possible for Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts. Once upon a time, the biggest stars of today were aspirants just like you. They settled for small roles on TV or commercials that hardly showed their face just to make ends meet. But look at where them now.

If you want to kick off your acting career, you need to have the following: Motivation, Confidence and Passion. These three will serve as your driving force to handle rejection after rejection. We’re telling you right here right now, there are a lot of those in Tinsel town, and even on Broadway.

If you want to live your dream, you can start it off by:

1. Find an agent. There are tons of agencies in Los Angeles and New York. Somehow, these two cities are the focal points of entertainment. If you make this your home base, then you will have an easier time getting an agency. Although, agencies are picky. If you aren’t what they are looking for (physically and experience-wise), don’t expect to get any calls from them. Just be patient and keep on trying till you find the agency that signs you on as a talent.

2. Get started. Now that you have an agency, you will be informed of the auditions. You will have to be there and expect a competition. A casting call means there are hundreds of hopefuls trying out for a single role. You need to understand this as well as have the patience to sit through the entire casting procedure. You have to wait your turn which may take an eternity.

3. When it’s your time to shine, shine and don’t choke. Think of a time when you waited for something. Once they let you in and you are face-to-face with the casting directors (better yet, the writers, producers or directors), show them what you’ve got. Try to not impress them too much because they know when you’re showing off. Everything in moderation and most importantly, you should be in character. You are, after all, an actor.

(Read Audition: Everything an Actor Needs to Know to Get the Part)

4. Have a good supply of headshots. First impressions last in this industry. Most of the time, these first impressions come in the form of your headshots. Casting directors judge on what they see in your headshots. Have them professionally taken. They may be expensive but it is something you have to invest in if you want to turn your dream into a reality.

The Reason Why You Need to Take an Acting Class

2010-04-19T07:49:00.000-07:00

Lee Strassberg taught Marilyn Monroe. Salma Hayek was trained by Stella Adler. Acting is a craft and it has to be learned. If you want to be the best, then you have to sign up for acting classes.

It may look fun but it has to be taken seriously. Acting means you have to take on characters. There are different approaches in doing this. There’s Meisner, Strasberg and Morris to name a few. Now if you aren’t familiar with those names and you want to be an actor, you have to grab some acting books right now and read up in order to catch up to your fellow aspirants.

Acting shouldn’t be merely regarded as a hobby. It is a profession for most aspiring actors and actresses. If you have problems speaking in public, are shy and introverted, then you may want to consider another career.

For those people who want to make it big in Hollywood, they know that acting classes must be taken under authentic acting coaches. If you’ve seen Ellie Parker, theirs is a part where she catches her acting teacher sniffing cocaine. She didn’t have to say anything; you could see in her expression that she was disappointed. Obviously, the acting class she enrolled in was a hoax.

Look at acting classes as a workshop. You must choose a schedule that is convenient for you. When you go to class, you have to be completely focused. Leave your other concerns behind and just let go. For most professional thespians, they feel rejuvenated after acting classes because it might not be on camera or onstage but the exercises they did during the session were still acting.

When searching for an acting class, do some background research on its credibility. There are classes claiming to have the likes of popular actors under their belt. Double check this information. It may just be a hoax to entice you and other aspirants to enroll.

You should also be careful of acting classes that require you to have your headshots taken by them. Clearly this is a collaboration between the owner of the acting class and the photographer to make some money at your expense.

The tricky part about acting in cities such as Los Angeles and New York is that most people know that there are tons of actors and actresses trying to make it. If the offer seems too good to be true, it might just be.

Spend Summer Learning How to Act! Summer Classes Are In!

2010-04-18T07:46:00.000-07:00

Summer is just around the corner. Surely you wouldn’t want to spend your time letting the hours fly by and do nothing. This lifestyle makes an artist dull. As an actor, you have to be constantly up and running, constantly learning and constantly getting experience. You can use all of these in your craft.

Therefore, we suggest that you look for an acting camp this summer. Surely, there are tons offered in your state. There are a lot of aspiring actors and actresses out there. The thing you have to be concerned with when making a sound decision is choosing the acting camp you will invest your talents in. Remember, you will be there for the whole summer.

A dreamer such as yourself can have a one-of-a-kind experience at an acting camp. If you’ve seen Lindsay Lohan in Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, there were times she seemed like she was a loner because she was so different. Well at summer camp, you will be spending your days with those who share your interests as well as your dreams of making it big in Hollywood.

Choose a summer camp that will teach you about the film and television industry. Most of these camps can be found in Los Angeles because it is closer to Hollywood but there are other states that offer these nonetheless. If theaters more of your thing, choose a summer camp that focuses on onstage performances.

There are some summer camps that let their students make a real feature length film as their final production. Then there are those that celebrate the end of summer by staging a whole production for the students parents to see. These culminating nights showcase what the students have learned during those hot, yet fun summer days.

Choose a summer camp that will help kick off your acting career. Check out the core classes they offer. Examples are on-camera acting, commercial workshops, sitcom workshops and audition workshops. There’s also a special class for the business side of acting.

You see, acting isn’t just about fun. If you are aspiring to make a career out of performing then it should be taken seriously. The more you learn about the craft, the more you’ll become a better actor or actress.

So choose your camp wisely. Make sure it offers what you need, it’s close to your home and it’s within your budget.

Acting as an Extra - The Process of How to do It

2010-04-17T07:44:00.000-07:00

Whenever you see the posters of old epic movies, you might notice an often-repeated phrase: featuring a cast of thousands In the good old days of movie making, producers had all the money to pay thousands of people to show up as gladiators, raucous crowds, or protesters. To act as an extra in a movie was akin to rubbing elbows with the stars, and people who acted as extras were more than happy to lend a hand in making a movie.

Today, movie studios rely heavily on special effects wizards to create artificial crowds. For instance, entire battle scenes can be filmed with only ten to a hundred people standing in as soldiers, with the rest of the people designed into the scene. Nevertheless, acting as an extra has not lost its appeal, and there are still many ways to land a role as an extra. You can walk through a scene, raise a shield for a scene, or simply be someone in the background.

If you are interested in acting as an extra and yes, getting paid for your services; here are a few tips that you might want to follow.

- Join an acting workshop. Most workshops will either be headed by people who have worked in the industry, or organized by people who regularly cast for major studios. In order to land a role as an extra, you need to have connections, so start making them.

- Look for an acting agency that specializes in landing extras. Do a lot of Internet research on this one: you can find acting agencies that regularly look for extras, and who like to keep pools of people to act as extras. Get your resume ready and have some good photos of you taken.

- Join online groups or forums that are frequented by people who work in the movie industry. In order to land a role or get a job, you need more than abilities and skills: you need to have connections, and you need to know people. Activate your social network: if you have close friends, you can ask about working as an extra. Who knows? Simple questions and friendships can sometimes make for big breaks in a career.

- Watch out for calls for extras in your local newspaper or on your favorite Internet movie site. Be especially vigilant if a movie is shooting in your town or nearby, as the producers will certainly post openings for extras. When the call for extras comes, get everything ready as though you’re already posing for your shot!

Audition - Guide to Finding Acting Jobs

2010-04-17T02:25:00.000-07:00

Have your Resume Handy

Before even beginning to look for an acting job audition, you should remember that, like any good job opening, it all begins with your resume. No stint in acting should be overlooked, even ones in your high school or college drama club. Formal work with any theater will help pad your resume, and most importantly, if you've actually got stage acting experience list the plays you've done and the theaters you've worked with. Character references from any old contacts you have in the industry will be helpful, too.

Know Where to Look for Auditions

The simplest and easiest ways to look for auditions is to check common public information sources. Newspapers and the internet are the easiest and fastest ways to find any openings in your area. These openings will usually, but not always, be casting calls for a certain role on the stage. If your acting repertoire is limited by inexperience be sure to pick the roles that you know you can handle.

Do Research on the Role

Once you've got a set of potential auditions to go to, don't just jump into the car or hail a cab and run off to the theater. Do some research on the role that the audition is being held for. Remember that you'll most likely be competing with dozens if not hundreds of other hopefuls trying to land a place on the stage. You have to be able to slip into the character role in a heartbeat. You have to know how the character thinks, dresses, walks, and talks. If you can look and act the part before you actually start the audition, so much the better! There have been instances where a stage or movie director actually canvasses the line of applicants incognito, looking for someone who will jump at him out of the line screaming "pick me!" by his or her bearing and demeanor.

(Read Acting Is a Job: Real Life Lessons about the Acting Business)

When all Else Fails, Get an Agent!

Lastly, if you're having trouble finding an audition or getting booked for an opening in one, you should consider getting an agent. Do your research so you can find a decent and reliable agent. Call your local Screen Actors Guild office and you can ask for a list of any and all registered agents they have. Guild registered agents have to adhere to the rules and regulations set by the guild, and as such are completely reliable. A bonus to this is the fact that they will have contacts who are already established in the acting industry, and they can put in a good word for you to help you along.

Fun Acting Games You Can Do For Classes and Parties

2010-04-16T09:03:00.000-07:00

Learning the art of acting can be both difficult and enjoyable. If you are an acting instructor, you need to teach people how to find something within themselves that can drive every single emotion and motivation available. You need to teach people how to discipline themselves so that they express the right emotions for a particular scene, nothing more, and nothing less. You need to teach people how to act, not overact or under-act.

All the same, acting can be enjoyable. As an actor, you can meet new friends in acting workshops, learn a lot of new things every time you learn new scenes, and discover things about yourself that you didn’t know you could do. Acting can be even more fun to learn if you are engaged in acting games; so if you are planning to hold an acting workshop, take a look at these possible games for your students to learn how to act.

- Charades can be a great way to allow your students to know how difficult acting is. The best acting is done without words, so if you can discipline your body and make precise, recognizable movements, then you are on your first step to acting well. Play charades with your students using different themes: you can do statesmen or famous celebrities, so that your students can learn about characters and their habits; or you can do actions or jobs so that students know about details of movement.

- Play guess the emotions and use only your eyes. Because many great actors can act up a storm using only their eyes, you can train your students to not only use their eyes in acting, but to recognize emotions by examining peoples eyes. Pair up your students, and give one of the pair a card containing an emotion, such as anger, amusement, indifference, and the like.

The first to guess the other persons emotions wins the game. A variation on this is played using only your lips, which can be even more difficult. Try it on your students, and you all might end up laughing!

- Have you ever tried gazing into another persons eyes for a long time, without laughing? Teach your students how to control their emotions and gain focus by pairing up your students, and letting them look into each others eyes or stare at each other. The pair that can look at each other for the longest time without making any reaction wins the game.

- Have your students sing a happy song without breaking into a smile. The one who controls his or her emotions the longest also wins the game.

Everything You Need to Know About Acting Companies

2010-04-16T08:25:00.000-07:00

There are many companies that offer acting experiences for students and would-be actors and actresses. Acting companies are specialized organizations that provide performing and producing skills to complement learning in the classroom and hands-on experience. Here are some of the things you should know if you want to be an actor.

1. Acting companies cater to all ages, from children to adults, undergraduate and graduate school students. There is an acting company that will suit you, no matter what skills you have or your age.

2. A lot of the famous actors originated from companies like the Acting Company. This company is one of the most famous and personalities like Kevin Kline, Frances Conroy of Six Feet Under, Harriet Harris of Desperate Housewives and Jeffrey Wright of Angels in America performed. Theater performance is the specialty of this award-wining company.

3. Acting can be a profession. Acting enthusiasts have benefited well from acting companies. Many have made it big and have toured places around the world to perform in different play performances. These students have also acted as mentors to university acting guilds because of the skills they possess.

4. London history shows that acting companies took advantage of winter and spring months to perform in London. When the plague struck in the summer, the performers traveled to other places, giving rise to traveling troops.

5. Even in the 1500s and the 1600s, children were actively participating in play performances as part of acting companies. They performed at courthouses where the scripts showed moral themes. These companies were highly preferred by Queen Elizabeth and were extremely popular at the time.

6. Modern times have allowed acting companies to evolve into many different mixtures. Although the original concept was there, music and dancing were incorporated. Different genres are mixed to create interest among viewers. Many aspects of life has been explored to create original masterpieces.

7. Nearly all countries have developed their own styles in different acting companies. Each one has an originality that depicts its culture and traditions.

8. Many of the present performances have been derived from past works like those of Shakespeare. However, to add more interesting viewpoints, acting companies of today have given more credit to directors who standardized performances and ensured greater performances.

9. Joining an acting company will ensure that even without innate acting talent, you will learn skills that you thought you never could. So if you think you really want to try out acting, join an acting company today. Your area surely has a company that will bring out the actor in you.

How to Snag a Role - What to do for an Audition

2010-04-16T07:43:00.000-07:00

Auditioning for a part in a television show, stage play, or movie can be a nerve-wracking experience. You need to get all your glamour shots ready, so you need to dress your best and be in good makeup and going into the audition in character. You need to get your resume in order, your documents in order, perhaps even your SAG card in order!

With the right preparation, however, your acting audition can be a walk in the park. All you need to do is follow these tips, and you might get that role you’ve been dreaming about for a long time.

- Some producers will allow you to apply beforehand for the audition, and they will give you specific lines that you should say, or scenes that you should act out. If you are working on a well-known story or play, read as much as you can on the character that you will be acting out. Ask yourself what the characters past is, and how it affects his or her present. What motivates the character? What does the character look like? All of these should help you deliver your lines better.

- If you have no lines or scenes to base your audition on, you still have to go to an audition prepared to act up a storm. Get sample scenes from the Internet, or buy a book with acting scenes (try The Actor's Book of Scenes from New Plays: 70 Scenes for Two Actors, from Today's Hottest Playwrights) that will require you to use a wide variety of emotions.

What time will the audition be? Schedule a certain time of each day to match the audition time, plus and minus an hour before. For instance, if your audition is on a Thursday afternoon at five, do your own auditions every day starting Thursday the week before, from four to six in the afternoon. Soon, auditioning and acting will feel like a simple routine.

- Some producers will require you to send them an audition tape. All the former rules apply: practice as much as you can, and perform your scenes perfectly. Dress up as the character, act as though you were already shooting your film, and get all the aspects of the audition tape down pat, from images to sound. Show how professional you are as an actor, and the producers will treat you like a professional.

- Relax! You are the character, and your nerves aren’t playing a part in the movie, show, or stage play. As long as you know your stuff, then you can be the best actor that you can be.

The Benefits of Acting

2010-04-16T07:39:00.000-07:00

Acting can be a great hobby for you to enjoy in your spare time (like acting games!), and there are many places that offer classes that can help you hone your acting skills, even if you already have experience in attending and participating in acting workshops; or that can help you learn the basics of acting, if you are going into acting for the first time. Some workshops are even offered to cater to the needs of office workers and amateurs.

Why should you spend time and money to learn acting? And why should you even consider it as a great hobby aside from spending time learning how to sew, write, knit, or draw? Here are a few advantages to acting and taking it up as a hobby.

- It can help you control your emotions. Contrary to what you might have seen on reality television shows, real acting isn’t all about letting all your emotions out, running across the stage naked, or flailing your hands up and down and screaming all your thoughts to the heavens. Real acting is about knowing which emotions to use for which lines, and how to control your facial expressions so that you are conveying the right emotions.
In other words, acting is more than an art or a craft: it is discipline, and if you can learn the ropes and discipline yourself through acting, then you might also learn how to control and discipline your emotions in real life.

- Acting can help you gain focus. In order to act out a specific scene and convey emotions, actors need to be especially focused: they need to stay in character and know the character through and through. This can be an especially difficult task if there are many distractions.

The acting techniques that get actors focused can also help you get focused on many aspects of your life, including your job, school, or anything that you are working on or getting paid for.

- Acting can help you let go of tension. Many of the acting exercises that you will be learn can be enjoyable, and even make you laugh. Other exercises will help you understand why you react in certain ways to certain stimuli. As you discover more about yourself, you can control yourself better and perhaps be more at peace with yourself as well as enjoy yourself in the process.

- Attending acting workshops will help you make more friends. That means a wider network, more parties to go to, and more fun!

Engaging in Acting and Stage Play Activities For Beginer Actors

2010-04-16T07:36:00.000-07:00

If you go to the theater frequently, you might suddenly find yourself thinking what it would be like to be a theater actor. You might think of it as glamorous, to be standing in the spotlight, holding a bouquet and bowing to an appreciative audience. However, you might also think, how difficult a stage actors life is: you might not always have a job, you have to practice for days with no guarantee of the plays success, and you have to perform the same play night after night.

Acting and stage play activities, however, don’t have to take you to the theater as a professional actor. In fact, engaging in acting and stage play activities can be a hobby, and it can help you make good use of your free time. Here are a few ways that you can make these acting activities a part of your everyday life.

- Look for books on simple acting exercises that you can carry out. Contrary to popular belief, acting exercises aren’t meant to help you lie better. Acting isn’t only an art, it is also a discipline, and it entails placing a great deal of discipline in how you express your emotions, how you change and control your facial and body muscles, and how you can find something within yourself from which to draw your emotions.

Why is this so important? If you can learn the discipline of acting, then you can learn how to recognize your emotions, and even control your anger better. The discipline of acting can help you discipline yourself.

- Contrary to popular belief, the best actors aren’t the most melodramatic or poetic. The best actors are down-to-earth people who are true to themselves and are able to separate work and family life. Look for books that chronicle the lives of such great actors. You can get great insight into how to live your life better from people who have learned to live many different lives, and yet who have never lost a sense of themselves.

- Many good actors are made, not born. However, acting schools can be expensive, so instead of formal education, go to your local community theater or arts center and attend workshops.

- Take a friend along for the ride. Look for friends who are as enthusiastic about the theater as you. You might be able to attend workshops together, read monologues and critique each other, and check each others progress. By enjoying acting with someone else, you will see that the art will make your life more enjoyable as a whole.

Look For Acting Agencies and Start Your Acting Career

2010-04-16T07:33:00.000-07:00

Whether you are acting on stage, for television, or for the big screen, you can’t just walk into the studio and audition for a role. You will need to get a reputable acting agent who will help you get to the audition and get the role that you want. Gone are the days that open auditions were easy to get: production companies now have a pool of agents to whom they constantly go for advice on who to best get to audition for a particular role.

There are many determinants that will help you get the best acting agency to fit your needs. Whether you are going for Shakespeare, CBS, or Spielberg, here are a few tips that you might want to try out as you get that all important agent to represent you.

- Before scouting for agents, prepare your acting resume. Have you had any previous roles on stage, on screen, or in a movie? Do you have any education in acting? Have you attended acting workshops? Who organized the acting workshop, and who conducted it? The resume is highly important not only for the acting agency, but for the production company as well. It can be their only basis for assessing you before you step into the audition.

However, because different acting agencies follow different resume writing styles, put all these points in a list. You only need to get them ready so you can see the breadth and scope of your experience.

- Agencies will pick up talents who are in line with their missions, visions, and goals, so do some research on the agency before applying to it. Better yet, make a list of agencies, and go through each agency on the list so that you can narrow your list down.

There are signs that you should watch out for. Since you already have your acting experience summarized in your itemized resume, you need to see what your particular expertise is, and use this as the basis for selecting which agency you’ll apply to. Is your acting style similar to another actors? Then look for that actors agency and apply to it.

Another sign you should watch out for is the pool of talents in the agency. Does the agency support stage talents, television talents, film talents, or all kinds of talents? Make sure that you know the agency well enough before making any applications.

- Don’t go through the casting couch, and get a reputable agency. You can get a job faster with one.