What is Voice Acting? Definition and Guidelines

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.

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Acting Activities During Summer

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.

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.

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Protagonist - Learn to Play The Lead/Star Role

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.

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.

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Online Acting Classes - Learn Acting Online

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.

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.

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Acting Methods - What to Learn and Where to Get Them

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.

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.

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What is Humor Duet Acting? How To Do It.

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.

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.

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How to Act in A Horror Scene or Movie

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.

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.

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Finding the Perfect Acting Role For You

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.

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.

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Being an Actor and Making it Big

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.

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.

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Getting Duet Acting Scripts For Free

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.

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.

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Looking For an Acting Agent - The Guide

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...

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.

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Acting Schools - What You Need to Know

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.

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.

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Stage Partners - Tips on Acting With a Co-Star

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.

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.

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Mind Prepping For Theater Acting

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.

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Comedy Acting - Making People Laugh

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!

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.

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Defenition and Explanation - Brights Eyes Acting Method

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.

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.

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Acting Tips For Villains and Antagonistic Characters

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.

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.

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The Process of Choosing a Good Acting Workshop

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!

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.

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Why Do You Need Acting Training?

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.

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.

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Lost Talent? Regain Your Acting Skills

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.

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.

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Creating a Great Resume - Actor's Guide

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.

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.

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Try Auditioning For an Act Using Poems

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.

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