Tag: Advice for the actor

Auditioning is mostly a solo career. Yep, preaching the truth, friends.   As actors, we spend a lot of time by ourselves on the train, in the car, on the bus, in an Uber, on the way to, or returning from an audition. Sure, people might be sitting next to you on the train, but usually, you are self-focused, in your audition zone. It’s rare that an actor will go with…

Misconceptions of Movement, Dang It!  There’s a misconception about on-camera acting out there in the universe that I think needs to be dispelled. There’s this general feeling/idea/thought that you have to stay frozen and barely move, and talk really, really quietly. Actors want so badly to come off as real and authentic, that I’m finding that some actors get locked into an unmovable position once they hit their mark and…

WHY VOICEOVER WORK? There are more reasons than you think! Written by Jeff Lupetin Author of  Ultimate Voiceover Why voiceover work? People come to the voiceover business for a few common reasons. One: They want to make more money. Two: Someone told them they have a great voice. Three: They want to do cartoon voices Four: They want to do audiobooks. The good news is having a voice over career…

You got the part and it’s your first time cast in a television show! You’ve worked hard and you’re excited about this first day. But you’ve never been on set before and you aren’t sure what to expect. Here are a few guidelines to get you through that first experience. 1. Don’t be late. There’s nothing that sets a bad precedent more than holding up production because you didn’t arrive…

1. The first question to ask yourself is, “Should I go to this audition?” “LORT general auditions are for the entire season including undisclosed workshops/readings, so its worth going even if you don’t see an appropriate role.  If it is an EPA for a specific show and there isn’t an appropriate role, don’t attend the audition.” ~Adam Belcoure, Casting Director-Goodman Theatre If it’s a general theatre audition, especially at a…

by Chris Agos All actors need reels. The question is how to build an acting reel that works. In Part 1, we talked about the reasons for having an acting reel (showreel), covered the hierarchy of reel footage sources, and highlighted the importance of building an actor’s credibility through a reel. By the way, notice I’m not calling them “actor demos” or “demo reels”. Demos are for voice over. Anyway….

by Chris Agos If you’re an actor and you don’t have an acting reel showcasing your work, you’re doing it VERY wrong. I don’t care how much or little experience you have if you’re pursuing an acting career, a reel (or showreel for non-US readers) can be the first step in getting work you’ll be able to book again and again. Why?  The number one question casting directors have about actors…

by Mandy Walsh Being an understudy is a crazy ride, but I think it’s important for every actor to do it at least once during their career. Being an understudy is a unique opportunity to learn about your own personal process since so much of the work must be done on your own. Plus you have the different perspective of creating a performance from the outside in. You get the…

I’m a dreamer. I believe that a dream without a plan is just a wish. Two years ago, I decided that after years of begging my parents to let me pursue acting, I was going to take control of my career and follow my dreams. My parents didn’t support my aspirations because they thought it’s a waste of time, I knew if I wanted to do this I would need to be…

The following is an excerpt from Acting In Chicago: Making A Living Doing Commercials, Voice Overs, TV and Film And More by Chris Agos, and has been reprinted by permission.   If you don’t know what an ear prompter is, you’re going to thank me for introducing it to you. Ear prompters let you deliver your lines word for word, without memorizing them or holding a script in your hand. It’s sometimes…