So, I was wondering how do an actor practice acting when he has no work. I was thinking of taking a scene from a movie and try to do it. Doing different types of scenes and characters can eventually lead to growth, isn't it?

http://more.showfax.com/column...ives/2009_07_27.html

Best article on it.

Great article. Thanks Morgin. :-D

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Originally posted by Morgin Felicia:
http://more.showfax.com/column...ives/2009_07_27.html

Best article on it.

Very helpful!

Some things I personally do on my downtime is:

• Read new plays
  
• Script analysis on one or more of those plays
  
• Practice cold readings
  
• Fine tune my current monologues and add new ones
  
• The entire audition process
  

I like to stress the last two.

Many actors think that once they have a monologue memorized, they're done with it. I believe monologues are a never-ending process and they need to be constantly worked on... even a year or more later. I'm also of the philosophy that the more monologues you have to choose from, the better off you are.

Also, most actors don't know how to audition. There is a lot more happening outside of the monologue/cold reading. That stuff needs to be fine tuned and rehearsed as well.

To be completely honest, I don’t practice acting every day (hell, I don't know who actually does). But what I DO do everyday is network. I’m always frequenting indie movie forums, acting forums, community film forums…always finding the ‘new talent’, or watching all the new trailers. I also keep an eye out for local auditions I may want to attend. When I find someone I’d like to work with, I do some research on their company and the individuals they work with frequently…then I send them my information and a letter of interest. This is something actors should do on a regular basis. It’s half your job as an actor. Jobs and production companies aren’t going to find you (until you make a name for yourself locally or nationally). Even then you should be researching who YOU’D like to work with, and being proactive.

Yes this takes up a lot of time on the computer...but trust me, it's worth it.

Also, as an actor, you should always try to be working on at least one project at a time—one play or one film. This way when someone asks you what you’re doing, you can give them something to chew on, let them know you don't just sit around waiting, and it also let's them know people always want to work with you. You can also be posting on community forums the projects, news, press, and updates on your projects. It doesn’t take long for people in your area (or beyond) to see that you’re getting a lot of work, and maybe THEY want to work with you. Many hardworking actors (union and non) tend to be committed to multiple projects at one time…just be sure not to over-commit or double-book.

I don’t think it’s necessary to practice the craft of acting every day…but it is necessary to put your feelers out everyday.

But if you want to get technical...how do I practice my craft every day? I watch people...closely. I watch them when they don't know they are being watched...I study body language, tone of voice, eye movement and all the little goodies we actors use as tools. Observation is something every actor should be active in at all times.

Thanks.

You learn by DOING. PERIOD.

Look at many of the great actors out there- De Niro, Pacino, Daniel Day Lewis, Chazz Palminteri etc. These are people who spent a lot of time on the stage doing theatre and working on their craft- day in and day out.
They broke through on the sheer force of their talent, even while the didn't fit the Hollywood mold. How? They WORKED their asses off being the best they could be.

You either want to be good or you don't. Like anything- practice makes perfect.

You know whay ther are no great actors in the making right now? They are effing LAZY that's why. People still cling to this absurd idea that they will be discovered and don't put any real effort in and it's just so sad.

If you haven't the passion to dedicate to your craft then why act?

If you're not in class - which you should be - you should at least be doing a minimum of an hour voice and body warmup every day not including your actual physical workouts. Just make sure you vary it to keep things fresh and to ensure you're not just going through the motions. Also, if you're not actually preparing a role for performance, you should be preparing one as practice, anyway. It's not like there aren't ten gazillion plays at your local library. Just pick a character you'd like to play and break her down. Oh, and I love me some tongue twisters. Here's a nice set ... http://www.uebersetzung.at/twister/ Some of the foreign language ones are kind of cool. Can you read them at sight without stumbling all over yourself? If not, you have work to do. We all do ... Chop chop!

quote:

Originally posted by Fishgurl:
If you're not in class - which you should be - you should at least be doing a minimum of an hour voice and body warmup every day not including your actual physical workouts. Just make sure you vary it to keep things fresh and to ensure you're not just going through the motions. Also, if you're not actually preparing a role for performance, you should be preparing one as practice, anyway. It's not like there aren't ten gazillion plays at your local library. Just pick a character you'd like to play and break her down. Oh, and I love me some tongue twisters. Here's a nice set ... http://www.uebersetzung.at/twister/ Some of the foreign language ones are kind of cool. Can you read them at sight without stumbling all over yourself? If not, you have work to do. We all do ... Chop chop!

I totally disagree with the notion that actors should always be in a 'class.' Your class should be on the job. And I hate to be cliche, but *life* is an actors daily class.

Far too many actors (and teachers) push classes...and most of these actors are never working on anything. I honestly don't mean any disrespect, but I'm serious. Actors I know who are always taking classes or trying to find the perfect instructor...are usually the actors who's minds are filled with mush about what they want, how to act, what technique to use for this or that...over thinking everything...the actors I work with most...the ones who are the most talented and constantly working...they don't take classes. One because they are constantly busy, and two because they are learning and bettering their skill set on set, instead of focusing on monologues they'll never perform and talking about it in a circle of actors that are in the same boat.

I don't hate classes...don't get me wrong. I think if you aren't a good actor, you should definitely take some classes, and get down the basics, and add those much needed tools in your toolbox.

But...once you are comfortable with the general 'rules' and 'techniques'...and once you are confident that you can 'act'...you should spend your time on sets or on stage, and not surrounding yourself with politics, popularity contests, and 'technique.' I'm not saying every class is a waste of time once you begin landing roles, there certainly are teachers one might want to take private lessens from time to time, but these instructors are few and far between...they are rare. You have to find the perfect one...so many classes now'adays prey on innocent and naive actors, who think acting classes are the only way to succeed...

Oh man...I could go on and on. And I know there are a few teachers on these boards, and they will certainly become defensive about my *opinion*...just know that that is what it is...an opinion. I've been doing this for a long time now, and I'm always working as a principle or lead in a project or two...once I found my center and began to 'get it', I dropped the classes and got to work on real projects...and that has made all the difference.

You don't need to always be in a class, but as I suggested before, you should always be working in a production. If you can't find the work, and you can be honest with yourself about needing some serious instruction, then find some classes, read some books, and do some community theater...but if you're landing work in solid productions constantly, I wouldn't worry about classes.

And remember...making it in this business isn't about joining SAG and doing union productions. Your resume should be filled to the brim with non-union productions LONG before you join SAG...(and I'm talking about speaking roles, not background work), that is where you learn the ropes and master your craft. Rushing into SAG, AFTRA or Equity is for the fishes. You'll regret it if you jump in too quickly. Only join when you're made an offer you can't refuse.

My two cents.

quote:

Originally posted by M1chae1:
I totally disagree with the notion that actors should always be in a 'class.' Your class should be on the job. And I hate to be cliche, but *life* is an actors daily class.

There are things you will only learn on a set, and there are things you will only learn from a good (key word good) acting teacher. To have a long term career in the industry, you need both.

And whoever quoted that article ought to get a gold star. Terrific advice.

I believe the OP was asking about how to practice when he has NO WORK. I'm not going to waste my time going in circles with someone who thinks he's so good he doesn't need continued training, so I'll just let Secret Agent Man's buddy, Tony Martinez, who I think we'll agree has forgotten more about the biz than most of us wi

I believe the OP was asking about how to practice when he has NO WORK. I'm not going to waste my time going in circles with someone who thinks he's so good he doesn't need continued training, so I'll just let Secret Agent Man's buddy, Tony Martinez, who I think we'll agree has forgotten more about the biz than most of us will ever know do the talking and let others use their own critical judgement. Fortunately, I already had these quotes written out and posted on another forum from when I encountered someone else dispensing what I consider to be similar bad Kool Aid ... From [u]An Agent Tell's All[/u] ...

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Acting is one of the few careers in this world that constantly attracts people with no training. I'm always meeting young actors who haven't done any real studyinig and yet, they still think they're ready to work. Can you imagine if doctors behaved this way?

Granted, there are plenty of people out there who possess natural acting ability but trust me, that will only get you so far. Craft and technique are still very important and that's why you absolutely, positively must always be in class.

In response to what impresses him about an actor's training ...

quote:

For me, it's variety. Let me explain what I mean. Remember Bruce Lee? He's still considered one of the greatest martial artists who ever lived. Do you know how he attained that level of ability? Bruce spent his entire life studying every martial art in the world. His background was Chinese fung fu but he also trained in Japanese karate, American boxing, and many, many others. He took what he liked from each style, discarded the rest and created Jeet Kune Do, his own personal martial art.

I challenge you to do the same thing. As an actor, it is your duty to get out there and learn as much as possible about the craft of acting. Try everything at least once. See what works for you. You will end up bringing a little bit of each technique to your own personal style.

quote:

I recently took a meeting with an actress who moved out here from New York and had been living here for over a year. Her resume had plenty of New York training on it but I didn't see any LA teachers. When I asked her about this, she told me that she hadn't gotten around to it yet.

Excuse me? How can someone live in LA for that long, surrounded by actors, and not act? It doesn't make any sense. If you love acting, you have to act. It's that simple.

Needless to say, I passed.

quote:

Originally posted by Fishgurl:
I believe the OP was asking about how to practice when he has NO WORK. I'm not going to waste my time going in circles with someone who thinks he's so good he doesn't need continued training,

Took the words right out of my mouth.

Excuse me you two...I hope that snub wasn't geared towards me...because I absolutely think we all need constant training...I never said we don't...

...however, in terms of 'training' I am referring to 'on the job' training, and constant observation of life. Not classes.

And I also said there are two times when you should take classes--in the beginning to familiarize yourself with all of the things you should know to utilize your tool-set, and then again once you've settled in a career in acting, and have the time to find a high quality instructor for private lessons.

If you two truly read my posts, you'll see I never eluded to not needing training, nor do I act like I'm too good for anything. I'm sorry if I'm acting a little offended...but I am, and I have a right to be.

I think once you start landing continuous work, and you can honestly assess your ability, you don't need to take classes. Because your classes are 'on the job'...and I'm not talking about showing up on set, doing your job, hobnobbing, and going home...I'm talking about actively working those techniques and muscles you learned in your initial phase of education.

quote:

Craft and technique are still very important and that's why you absolutely, positively must always be in class.

Absolutely? Positively? I'm sure there are a myriad talented, working actors out there that aren't in a class and who are well respected and happy with their careers. Telling an actor they absolutely, positively have to be in a class at all times is total bullocks, I'm sorry.

Phrases like that are going to confuse the hell out of beginning actors, in addition to getting them to spend tens of thousands of dollars on something that may be doing damage to them. Oh yes, you are aware that many actors are taking classes from instructors that are doing more damage than good? It happens all the time. Thousands of dollars spent a year, and for destructive instruction.

Never once did I say you don't need training as an actor. The snub was obvious. I don't think I deserve that. I'm not here on these forums to talk smack and act like a diva...I'm here to help, share, and network. I put a lot of thought into my posts, I don't need people with their own 'opinions' snubbing me because I have a different opinion.

Cheers.

quote:

Absolutely? Positively?

That's what the man said. Given the competition out there, it seems that it would be pretty difficult to get oneself in position for ojt without the basic skills to get a job in the first place and most high schools and typical university/college programs don't provide that. Sure there are bad teachers around in some of these studios, but there are plenty enough who are more than competent to give one a handle on the basics. You just have to shop around to find who they are. I'm not here to talk smack, either. I'm mostly here to pick up pointers on the business side of things and rarely post unless it's something I'm pretty sure about ...

On my own:

-I try to do 1 or two exercises a day from Viola Spolin's "Theatre Games for the Lone Actor."

-I also REALLY practice using my imagination with Kimberly Jentzen's Emotion Cards. I got a deck when I studied with her. The deck of cards comes with various exercises to help develop your emotional range and imagination.

You can get them here:
http://kimberlyjentzen.com/products.html

-For cold reading, I pick out a random article from either the Economist or wallstreet journal and practice reading in front of the mirror or camera. The idea is to be able to lift of the page as much as possible. I choose Economist and Wallstreet Journal because they're NOT easy reads. If I can read that, then I can read anything.

quote:

Originally posted by Fishgurl:

quote:

Absolutely? Positively?

That's what the man said. Given the competition out there, it seems that it would be pretty difficult to get oneself in position for ojt without the basic skills to get a job in the first place and most high schools and typical university/college programs don't provide that. Sure there are bad teachers around in some of these studios, but there are plenty enough who are more than competent to give one a handle on the basics. You just have to shop around to find who they are. I'm not here to talk smack, either. I'm mostly here to pick up pointers on the business side of things and rarely post unless it's something I'm pretty sure about ...

I'm a little confused...so, you're saying that you can't pick up the 'basics' from High School or University training?

I'm not sure what schools you're referring to, but I'm pretty sure 99% of schools (even High School Drama) cover the 'basics' pretty well.

I think that much of what classes are used for nowdays is to network and get auditions rather than actually learn anything.... maybe it's just where I live, but so many people take classes with the local casting directors, not because they want to get better, but because if you take a class with a CD you are more likely to get called in for an audition - it's basically buying your way in... not saying that those classes aren't good classes, but I think people go into it with the wrong mind-set and aren't concentrating on the work and rather the end result.


I agree with Michael - you should not always be taking an acting class. If you're always in classes, when are you going to get to actually get out there and do it? You can study physics or chemistry all you want, but it doesn't do any good until you actually start doing experiments and mixing things together. Same goes for acting. Everyone should take classes at some point - pick up a few tips and then go out and actually put those tips to practice and see if they work for you - run with it for a bit, and then once you think you've reached a plateau in your abilities go back and take some more to try to break through to the next level...

Constantly taking classes is a waist of time and money as far as I'm concered, unless you're one of the people I mentioned earlier who are just using them to get auditions. They should be used a sparingly when you need them. You need to have time to explore the craft on your own, and find out what works best for you, make your own decisions rather than be told what to do. If you're constantly in classes, how are you ever going to be able to digest what is being given to you and actually benefit from it?

And like Michael said, I have also found that I have learned far more about acting by being on a set and doing it and watching other skilled actors than I did in 4+ years of training. It's important to learn techniques ect, but you need to put them into practice too - outside of a class in the real world, because once you take it out of a classroom, all your techniches and training will evolve into something completely different not that practical application has been added in.

quote:

Originally posted by M1chae1:

quote:

Originally posted by Fishgurl:

quote:

Absolutely? Positively?

That's what the man said. Given the competition out there, it seems that it would be pretty difficult to get oneself in position for ojt without the basic skills to get a job in the first place and most high schools and typical university/college programs don't provide that. Sure there are bad teachers around in some of these studios, but there are plenty enough who are more than competent to give one a handle on the basics. You just have to shop around to find who they are. I'm not here to talk smack, either. I'm mostly here to pick up pointers on the business side of things and rarely post unless it's something I'm pretty sure about ...

I'm a little confused...so, you're saying that you can't pick up the 'basics' from High School or University training?

I'm not sure what schools you're referring to, but I'm pretty sure 99% of schools (even High School Drama) cover the 'basics' pretty well.

THAT is not true. The training I received at Stella Adler was specialized and unlike anything I farted around with in high school!!

HOW you could even try to make such a blanlet statement is beyond me.

PEOPLE- just so there is no more gross misinformation coming out of this thread, please check out the awesome articles by working casting director Mark Sikes in Los Angeles.

http://more.showfax.com/column...ives/2009_05_04.html


http://more.showfax.com/column...ives/2009_10_26.html

Whose opinion do you take more seriously? I am going take the word of someone who actually CASTS films in LA and is WORKING REGULARLY in the biz.

This man has proven to be right on the money time and time again thoughout the years I have spent in LA and in the business.

My own feeling is this- aspiring actors spend most of the time NOT ACTING. What do they DO with all that time waiting!! To me, class means you GET to ACT and that is the whole point. You get to be around the art and around other actors and that's the beuaty of it oo, as well as always learning, ever evolving. If all that doesn't interest you than it's obvious what your real motivation is- it's of the superficial kind. In whioh case, good luck as the people that don't truly love to act and are only in it for fame and fortune, rarely lack the passion to keep trucking after years of rejection. They eventually fall by the wayside and become NOTHING as the love for the art is not there.

Al Pacino slept on the stage in his broke years. People like him and many other great actors worked like DOGS in class to get where they are and that is why they are successful- because they have found their CALLING.

Benicio Del Toro went to my school. He could barely speak ENGLISH. HE worked like a dog. He nailed a perfect East Coast dialect for an earlier film he did and there is no way he could have made that journey if he was not ALWAYS training or rehearsing. Mark Ruffalo was always in a play and even founded his own theatre company. Chazz Palminteri created all of the characters from his play while in his CLASS. The work shows in these people. In everything they do on stage, you can see the WORK.

It's up to you all to decide why the hell you are doing this. If you don't truly love it, get the hell out. If you are not here, stay out. LA is frigging crowded enough, thank you very much.

Sounds harsh but the truth is, if it's money you really want, do something else as you are more likely to get rich doing pretty much ANYTHING else other than this. The irony here is people do it thinking it's the easier way to become wealthy but they could not be any more wrong.

quote:

Originally posted by miss stone:

quote:

Originally posted by M1chae1:

quote:

Originally posted by Fishgurl:

quote:

Absolutely? Positively?

That's what the man said. Given the competition out there, it seems that it would be pretty difficult to get oneself in position for ojt without the basic skills to get a job in the first place and most high schools and typical university/college programs don't provide that. Sure there are bad teachers around in some of these studios, but there are plenty enough who are more than competent to give one a handle on the basics. You just have to shop around to find who they are. I'm not here to talk smack, either. I'm mostly here to pick up pointers on the business side of things and rarely post unless it's something I'm pretty sure about ...

I'm a little confused...so, you're saying that you can't pick up the 'basics' from High School or University training?

I'm not sure what schools you're referring to, but I'm pretty sure 99% of schools (even High School Drama) cover the 'basics' pretty well.

THAT is not true. The training I received at Stella Adler was specialized and unlike anything I farted around with in high school!!

Miss Stone...

We are talking about the 'basics' of acting...not rocket science. I learned the 'basics' in High School.

I am in no way talking about advanced technique...again I think you've not truly read what I've written. I clearly said 'basics.'

Are we confusing what the term 'basics' means?

As far as the rest of your rant, I'm honestly not sure where that relates to this thread, or to whom you're directing this fame and fortune segment towards...

quote:

Originally posted by miss stone:
My own feeling is this- aspiring actors spend most of the time NOT ACTING. What do they DO with all that time waiting!! To me, class means you GET to ACT and that is the whole point. You get to be around the art and around other actors and that's the beuaty of it oo, as well as always learning, ever evolving.

To me, working on a set means you get to act and be around the art and around other actors, and put your tools to use - you don't need to be in a class to do that.

If you are doing nothing, not working on anything, then you are right, you should be doing something to keep your chops up, whether it's paying for an acting class, or getting together a group of actors to work on scenes or working on a monolouge and taping yourself at home...

But, if you are constantly working on projects (and I consider myself to be an aspiring actor since I haven't worked on anything that anyone's really heard of yet, but I none the less am constantly working) then I don't think you always need to be in classes. Like I said before, classes should be used when you've hit a wall or reached a plateau and need outside help to help you grow - when you know what you need to work on, not just to keep you busy - they're too expensive for that.

If you simply want to constantly be working, get a group of friends together and do it yourselves for free! They might not be prestigious teachers, but I bet you can still learn things from each other, you can get some great tips from other actors! (Afterall, aren't most of the best teachers those who are actors themselves?)

I think it's close-minded to think that the only way you're going to grow and get better is by taking classes. There are many other avenues that should be explored... as the old saying goes "too much of anything is no good"... you need to branch out and be exposed to other things in addition to classes.