One of the fundamental lessons for newbie actors to learn is of course the importance of listening. Focusing fully on the other person or people in a scene with you and reacting in a genuine way to the energy as ...
If there’s one thing that actors of all stripes worry about, it’s appearance. Let’s just be honest, kids. Yes, our talent is the most important thing, of course. But acting is a notoriously looks-oriented business. There are very few other ...
The whole world seems to be focused on Westeros right now as the final season of HBO’s Game of Thrones gets rolling – as of this writing already one-sixth of the way over (arrrgghh!!). The epic fantasy’s tales of ancient ...
As actors, we have a tough row to hoe. Most people who don’t really understand acting think it’s easy: just step up there in front of the camera and say the words, mate, then sit back and enjoy your swimming ...
Acting coach Joseph Pearlman speaks with a tremendous positive energy and enthusiasm that’s downright infectious. But it’s the information he imparts to the actors he’s working with that’s the real gift he offers. Pearlman’s message is all about empowerment: helping ...
Being an actor is kind of like being in a club. And the people who aren’t in the club are often really perplexed by what we do: “How do you memorize all those lines?” “Don’t you get nervous?” “Why don’t ...
If we actors can learn anything at all from having watched Jon Hamm play Don Draper all those years on “Mad Men,” it’s the importance of having a high tolerance for alcohol. Wait, that’s not it…Well, that’s one lesson, sure. ...
“Now what I have worked out is that it would actually be physically impossible to be perfect for everyone. Everyone has a distinct idea in their head of what each character is like. So I’ve kind of had to lower ...
Ah, auditions. If only there were some scientific formula actors could follow to ensure that they would book the job every time they go read. Of course, there isn’t. (And if there were, people who write acting advice columns would ...
The audition, and specifically the monologue audition is probably the most discussed–and stressed-about–aspect of being an actor. And with good reason. No matter how long you’ve been in the game the monologue audition remains a challenge. But here’s the good ...
Actors probably more than any other profession go through peaks and valleys when it comes to working. That’s just the nature of the business. Even the most bankable Hollywood stars have fallow periods where there just aren’t so many jobs ...
When we talk about the tools actors need in order to secure auditions, the first thing most people think about is headshots. And of course, having a quality headshot is vital–as is getting the latest casting alerts and submitting your ...
It’s autumn in New York, and naturally a young actor’s fancy turns to thoughts of…new headshots. Or at least it should. If you have even a vague sense that it might possibly, maybe, perhaps be nearly time for new headshots, ...
Fall season premieres are anxiously awaited by television viewers, and make the ending of summer just a little bit easier. Those cliff hangers from May season finales always leave everyone wanting more, but did you know that filming has already ...
In our quest to be a successful, recognized, possibly award winning actor, we always have to be aware of what the people who are hiring us, i.e. casting directors, are looking for. At first thought this can seem extremely difficult. ...
If you’ve spent any time in acting classes, at a university level theater program, or even if you just learned acting by doing, one thing we can all probably agree on is that commercial auditions are weird. Any audition is ...
Jumping into acting as a career choice is like stepping off a cliff, and at the bottom is a murky pool filled with black water and populated with mysterious swirling creatures that you can’t quite make out. In other words, ...
Let’s face it, acting is a strange, unnatural job. Think about it: pretending to experience the life events and emotions of other people for the entertainment of an audience is just…really weird when you get right down to it. And ...
Oftentimes, making a name for yourself in the film and television market means taking on the festival circuit. With everything from short films to features to web series’ being honored in the form of both local and international film festivals, ...
As an actor, your headshot may be your calling card. However, it’s your reel that can really make or break your chances before you even walk into the audition room. Because a reel can do something that your resume of ...