The Actors Gym

How Fringe Festivals Can Help Improve Your Acting Career

2009-08-13T22:10:00.001-07:00

Hi,

The following article is taken from Chad Gracia's Actor Tips (www.actortips.com), which is an excellent online resource for actors. Feel free to check him out. Enjoy

It's the beginning of August and that means that it's Fringe central all across America and Canada. "What's Fringe?" you might ask. "Fringe Theatre" is a term described to use alternative theatre, which derives from the original Fringe Festival, The Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland. Whether as a participant or a spectator, Fringe festivals offer valuable insight into up and coming art forms, as well as push the boundaries for theatre and performance art. Fringe festivals typically take place in the summer and feature works of art that may not otherwise be performed on the mainstages of theatres. Fringe Festivals typically look for original or little known pieces that don't necessarily have the appeal of mainstream musicals or dramas, but still possess qualities that make them interesting and attractive to modern theatre goers.

Fringe Festivals can also prove to be quite lucrative for traveling artists who are willing to have flexible schedules. Artists can make anywhere from 50% to 100% of proceeds from ticket sales, depending on the operation of the producing organizations. Many artists invest in Fringe entry fees early on, but are able to make enough money to fund their tours as well as have some disposable income. It is a good way for actors to get national and international exposure, plus the networking opportunities can really become big payoffs over time.

Solo artists can benefit greatly from these festivals, as they are less likely to have to pay a crew or obtain a rental space. These festivals typically provide a venue with the application and entry fees collected from participating artists.

Fringes also provide valuable lessons in self-promotion. With artists competing against several other productions, they must find creative ways to attract audience members to their show over another. Postcards, trailers and more become vital in raising audience numbers.

More than 20 North American cities currently hold Fringe Festivals, and new ones continue to pop up around the country each year. Here is a list of current Fringe Festivals, and if you're in some of these cities, you might still have a chance to check out these unique events. Here are some established festivals worth checking out.

Atlantic Fringe Festival (Edmonton, Canada)
Capital Fringe (Washington, D.C.)
Chicago Fringe Festival - coming 2010 (Chicago, IL)
Cincinnati Fringe Festival (Cincinnati, OH)
Boulder International Fringe Festival (Boulder, CO)
Fringe Wilmington (Wilmington, DW)
Hamilton Fringe Festival (Canada)
Indianapolis Theatre Fringe Festival (Indianapolis, IN)
Kansas City Fringe Festival (Kansas City, MN)
Long Island Fringe Festival (Long Island, NY)
Minnesota Fringe Festival (Minneapolis, MN)
Montreal International Fringe Festival (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
New Orleans Fringe Festival (New Orleans, LA)
New York City Fringe Festival (New York, NY)
Orlando Fringe Festival (Orlando, FL)
San Francisco Fringe Festival (San Francisco, CA)
Toronto Fringe Festival (Toronto, Canada)
Vancouver International Fringe Festival (Vancouver, Canada)
Windsor Fringe (Windsor, Canada)
Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival (Winnipeg, Canada)

. . . and many more.

For more information about writing and producing your own work, check out the multitude of helpful books for sale at actortips.com. Go to: http://www.actortips.com/books

Action = Success!

Getting Started In Acting - As An Extra

2009-08-11T00:01:00.000-07:00

Hi,

My apologies for the delay in posting as I've been a bit busy lately setting up a new website for actors, directors, film makers and writers to connect and develop their skills. But more on that to follow in futre posts. For now I want to mention briefly a great way to get started in acting.....being an extra.

Now some may believe that being an extra is not really acting. I am here to say that is not true. Anytime you are on screen or on stage in a performance, you are acting. More importantly though, being an extra on set, can potentially provide you with some major steps forward in your acting career. Some of those include:

Ability to network with other actors and crew to possibly find other work.
Possibility to be noticed by a director or producer who may be interested in seeing you audition for thier next project.
The possibility to be given a line or two in the production.
A credit for your resume.

Many successful actors started their careers as extras. An excellent online resource for possibly obtaining extra work is Moviex.

They are also an excellent resource for many other actor related services.

If you are not in the USA, then find out from other actors,a cting teachers, and your acting network where you can start getting involved in being an on set extra.

Good luck with getting involved as an extra and remember...

Action = Success!

Stephen J Cannell Gives Tips For Writers

2009-07-30T22:27:00.000-07:00

Stephen J Cannell has worked in Hollywood most of his life. He is a famous for creating, writing and producing many TV shows including The A-Team, 21 Jumpstreet, Hunter, Silk Stalkings, Riptide, The Rockford Files, Baretta and host of others.

The following video is great advice for writers especially when it comes to honesty in your writing and developing a comprehensive outline. This advice he provides for novel writing can just as easily be applied to script writing.

The most amazing thing about Stephen J Cannell's writing is that he is actually dyslexic. If you want to learn more about Stephen, I highly recommend you view more of his videos on YouTube and check out his webpage to discover more about this amazing, inspirational writer.....click here.

Action = Success!

"Whenever something unfortunate happens in my business dealings I never sit there and observe it as a problem... The first thing I do when something goes wrong is say: 'hey, I can use this!"
- Stephen J Cannell

Improvize To Win Acting Auditions

2009-07-28T21:08:00.000-07:00

Personally, I believe good improvization skills are one of the greatest assets an actor can posses, regardless of whether you are doing TV commercials, film, TV or theatre. I’ve heard it said that up to 50% of auditions will require some form of improvization. Frankly, I think the figure is higher. Actually, the entire subject of improvization probably requires a separate book on its own, so we are only going to touch on some basic ideas here.

Improvization and good acting is often organic and will only occur if the circumstances allow for it. There is definitely some thought that must go into improvising (thus it’s not guessed, but more based on instinct). Basically it’s your ability to use your creative imagination and trust your “gut”.

I recall vividly a particular audition where along with some other actors we (a family) were meant to be enjoying a well known fast food brand at the park on a sunny day. The casting director gave us very little to work with and asked us to just pretend to have a good time eating our food at the park. We were provided some bread pieces to represent the fast food brand. There was no dialogue, just pure acting (or real life scenario). Suddenly one of the other actors started throwing small bread pieces onto the floor as if they were feeding the ducks at the park (of course there were no ducks). Now, this was not in the script or on the storyboard, however it quickly gave us and the viewing audience an immediate connection to something we might all do when at the park. It also gave us (the actors) some action to do, rather than just sitting starting at one another eating our food. It was brilliant improvization and there was no direction from the casting director to take that action.

Afterwards, the actor who had instigated the improvization, apologized to the casting director for making a mess on the floor with the bread crumbs. The casting director said; “Don’t worry about it. I love it when actors take initiative and make the audition their own. It was great!”

I learnt a valuable lesson that day. Never relax and just do what probably every other actor is doing. Always be thinking about ways in which you can improvize a scene to “make it your own”. What can you add to the audition that will set you apart from all the other actors performing the same audition? Now, I don’t recommend you try to make major changes to the story or the copy. You really just want to always be aware of opportunities to add your little point of difference and make a scene come alive to suit you and your personality.

Often times you may have a Casting Director say something like, “Don’t worry about the copy just improvize this scene.” This is where studying the copy (script) in advance without trying to memorize the lines will be extremely beneficial. If you know what is going on in the scene and the objectives (more info following), then you should have no problem improvising. Be very careful not to try and over think it trying to say the perfect line. It’s not about how clever you can be or how extensive your vocabulary is. It’s about where your improvization can take the character and the scene. Remember, the casting director and those viewing the tape later don’t care as much about the words as they do about you and the image you portray in the scene.

If you are required to improvize with another actor, then there are some simple guidelines you should stick to in order to ensure the scene moves along as seamlessly as possible with the least amount of awkwardness, discomfort or silence.

1. Listen – The most important thing you can do is LISTEN to what the other actor is saying. Do not try to think too far ahead about what you are going to say next, as it may have no relevance to what the other actor has just said and will stop or slow the scene.

2. Don’t ask questions – Firstly if you ask a closed question, you will mostly likely receive a quick answer which doesn’t allow the scene to progress. You will then be forced to either ask another question or respond in some manner to the other actor’s response. Secondly, by asking a question, you are forcing the other actor to have to think about an answer which may take so long that there will be an awkward silence in the scene.

3. Don’t judge or put limitations on the situation – Basically, allow anything to go. There is no reality in improvization (this is acting!). If the other actor were to state something like they just jumped off the Empire State building and survived, don’t then tell them it would be impossible, they would be dead. This would cause some discomfort with the other actor, probably kill the scene and would not help either of you.

4. Constantly build on the situation – This is a continuation to the above rule. You want to respond to whatever they have just told you regardless of how crazy it might sound. For example your response here might be something like; “Wow! That must have been some amazing experience. I wish I had the guts to try something like that. I only jump from speeding trains.” You have now just opened the conversation up for the other actor to take it wherever they wish to take it.”

5. Remember the objective – If there is one, you always want to have the scene objective in the back of your mind, thus you are able to steer the improvization more or less in the right direction. It may not always end up exactly where it was meant to go, however at least there is less likelihood of it wandering too far off course.

To finish off, I would strongly suggest you take some improvization workshops and/or acting classes with an emphasis on improvization. You will never regret the experience and any expense will come back to you in bucket loads. Once again, the more you practice improvising, the better you will become at it and the more successful you will be in ALL of your auditions.

Action = Success!

"I honestly think it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate."
- George Burns - Actor/Comedian

What You Should Never Say At Auditions...

2009-07-25T16:11:00.000-07:00

Hi,

It’s very important to remember that your audition is basically your job interview. It is your rather brief opportunity to show exactly what you have to offer. There are any number of different variables that can affect your audition, however there are some things you can definitely do to improve your audition success. Simultaneously, there are also some certain things you can do and say that will definitely reduce your odds for success. A few examples of what NOT TO SAY….

1. “Oops, I messed that up, could I start over and do it again?”

While it is generally alright to ask to have another attempt at an audition, explaining that you made a mistake or messed it up, is not good practice. Yes, it can be commonplace to stumble over some words or lose your place in the audition script or sides. When that happens, don’t worry too much about it as the casting director is generally not as concerned about whether you can memorize or read all your lines. Their main concern is how you portray the character and what choices you make. Redoing your auditions simply because you didn’t like your performance is generally unacceptable and amateurish. Most actors will think their performance was not their best effort. If you are certain that you can improve your performance with one more attempt, then certain ask politely if it would be possible to do again. You may or may not be given the opportunity, depending on if there is enough time and possibly if the casting director saw some potential in your initial performance. Note that you should never ask for more than one additional attempt. Nobody is prepared to wait around until you feel you get it right. If you still don’t think you did a good enough job after the second attempt or you were denied another go, then don’t worry about it. Let it go. Just, accept your performance as it stands, chalk it up to experience and use it to improve your next audition.

2. “Sorry, I’m really nervous”

Uttering this phrase or anything similar screams “amateur”. Sure, like virtually most actors, you will have some nervous apprehensions. But never actually vocalize your nervousness as it will demonstrate your inexperience and inability to handle the pressure. Some ideas to assist you in overcoming that nervous state, could include, deep breathing exercises, focus on something you see in the room (the mind can only focus on one thing in any split moment), use an MP3 player or IPod prior just prior to your audition in order to focus your mind elsewhere.

3. “That’s it! I’m done”

When your audition has finished, there is no need to yell anything to the casting director such as “That’s it!”, “I’m done.”, or “I got nothing else.” Etc. Big, big mistake! At the conclusion of your performance take what’s sometimes referred to as a “professional moment”. A few seconds of silence and then possibly a slight nod to the casting director should be enough for the casting director to understand that your audition or monologue is finished. If you are doing a particular scene on camera, then continue to stay in character until the casting director instructs you to end the scene at which point they should say something like “Cut!”, “Thank you”, “Stop” etc. This is why it is important that actors have some form of improvisation skills, so that they are able to carry on a scene for as long as they are required to do so.

4. “Sorry I’m late, traffic was terrible” or “Sorry, I couldn’t find a parking space”

Don’t waste your time. Nobody cares what problems you have been having. If you are late, there is nobody to blame but yourself. The casting directors couldn’t care less why you’re late. All you have done is interrupted or held up their auditioning process. If you are late, relax, calm down, take a deep breath. Explain that you are aware you are late and ask if there would there be any possibility to still audition. You may get some complaining or a lecture on the importance of arriving on time, but just take that in stride, nod and acknowledge. If you are allowed to still audition, thank the person kindly (and only once), then forget about the fact you were late and refocus on your audition and treat it as if you were on time and everything is good. A worthwhile acting tip to embed into your brain is: “If you’re early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late!”

5. “How was that?” or “How did I do?”

Only a complete newbie or amateur would ask such a question at the end of their audition. Never ask the casting director how you did or what they thought of your performance. One a casting director will probably not be entirely honest and will probably tell you what you want to hear which would be mostly positive comments which would be of very little benefit to you. Secondly, they just want to get the job done. If they had to explain to every actor how they did, it would be a lot of wasted time and their schedule would be shot. Lastly and most importantly, often times (and especially for screen auditions), they will not be making the final decision so their opinion is worth very little when it comes to who gets the role.

In relation to this issue, one other point is to never look for recognition or approval from the casting director or anybody else in the casting team. Sometimes you may get some feedback but more often than not you will get very little. You have to learn to live with your own self appraisal which should be constructive as opposed to negative.

Be aware that everything you do in an audition environment is being judged. Therefore, it is imperative that you act and appear professional at all times. Focus on your audition and learn from every single opportunity you are provided. If you are interested in learning similar valuable auditioning tips that will improve your odds at auditions then click here.

Action = Success!

"You need to study and work on your craft. If you`re not prepared when that dream audition comes, you are not going to get that opportunity. To me, the definition of success is when opportunity meets preparation." - Hilary Swank

Acquire Extra Skills To Improve Your Acting

2009-07-25T12:37:00.000-07:00

One of the best acting tips I ever heard isn't actually directly relevant to the art of acting however is one of the most valuable lessons any aspiring actor can take on board. D To be a great actor, don't just concentrate on acting. Learn as many other discliplines as you can.

Basically, there are a number of various skill sets that could be very advantageous to posses when it comes to acting. You may like to spend some time learning the basics of other skills, as you never know when they may come in handy.

Recently, I knew of a television series being shot locally, which was a period piece and involved a great deal of sword play. I knew virtually nothing of handling a sword, but I knew I wanted to audition for this series and have a good shot at it. So, I took a fencing course. I learnt how to better handle a sword with an opponent (and plenty of other cool stuff). But my intention was not to become a great fencer, all I wanted was some experience that would be noticeable on my resume and at an audition. This would give me a slight edge over much of my competition.

Some extra valuable skills might include:

Horse riding
Martial arts (Judo, Aikido, Kung Fu, Karate, etc.)
Boxing
Kick Boxing
Public speaking (also great for confidence building)
Gymnastics
Dancing
Skating (ice/roller)
Motorbike riding
Fencing / Swordsmanship
Gun handling
Stunt work
Animal handling
Playing a musical instrument
Comedy classes (make sure it’s a reputable teacher) -comedy timing can be a very valuable skill to have.
Learn to cook - actually that's more important so you can eat, not so much for acting...lol

It's not important that you become an expert at these skills, just knowledgeable and experienced. Any one of these skill sets added to your actor’s toolbox could be that one thing sets you apart in an audition and could eventually allow you to play the required role with more realism and confidence.

Action = Success!

"Success is a journey not a destination. The doing is usually more important than the outcome" - Arthur Ashe 1943-1993, African-American Tennis Player

An Objective Gives You Direction

2009-07-23T20:54:00.000-07:00

An objective is a goal that an actor must pursue and wishes to achieve before moving onto the next objective. According to Stanislavski (famous Russian director /actor / teacher); “the actor must discover the character's objective in each scene, and a 'super-objective' for the entire play (applies to TV, film or theatre), which can direct and connect an actor's choice of objectives from scene to scene”. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanislavsky_System)

Every performance will have objectives regardless of whether it is for film, theatre, television or commercials. Objectives can be broken down many different ways. In fact an entire book could be written on the subject. As far as we are concerned, we will concentrate on 3 types of objectives which apply to your character:

1. “Super – objective” – What is the overall objective for the character and the story? All of your individual objectives in each scene will direct you to the “super-objective”. In TV commercials, the overall objective could be to “help” the audience. If they purchase the product or receive the service, they will have been “helped” and better off because of it.

2. Scene objective – Every separate scene will have its own objective, which moves towards the “super-objective”. In a TV commercial for instance, one of the scenes might require the actor to overcome an obstacle which can only be achieved through the use of the product being advertised.

3. Line objective – Each line of dialogue will have an objective that is related to the scene objective and ultimately the “super-objective”. When studying your dialogue for a scene, you will want to try and determine what the objective is for that line and how it relates to the overall objective of the commercial. Do not try to over analyze this. Sometimes the objective can be as simple as agreeing or disagreeing to what was just said by another actor.

The pursuit of objectives is constant active behaviour and becomes the connecting link for your character from line to line, scene to scene and beginning to end. Without a defined, pursuable objective, your performance can lack focus and appear de-energized or diffused. The more defined your objectives, the easier it is to focus and direct your performances to desired outcomes. You will have a direction to head.

Once you feel you are connected to the objectives, you will come across more confident in your delivery with clearer emotions that are both varied and precise. Often the moment your objective changes will be the “key moment” mentioned previously and the new objective will provide you with the appropriate reaction.

Be careful not to confuse “motivation” with “objective”. The best way to differentiate the two is generally a motive will be based on the past, while an objective is based on the future.

If you are just starting out in acting, don’t become too concerned at this stage with objectives. You will soon learn what they are and their importance. At some point though, as you progress and experience more auditions and more roles, you will want to take a closer look at objectives and discover how to develop them, ultimately improving your abilities in the process. Acting classes or workshops that focus a great deal of time on understanding objectives will be extremely beneficial to your success.

Action = Success!

"When an actor is completely absorbed by some profoundly moving objective so that he throws his whole being passionately into its execution, he reaches a state we call inspiration."
- Konstantine Stanislavski

Voiceover Acting

2009-07-22T15:59:00.000-07:00

Hello,

A great way for actors to make extra money is to start doing some voice over acting. There are literally thousands of voiceovers required daily for radio, cartoons, animation and TV commercials. I have a very close acting friend of mine who makes a very decent living out of using his “acting” voice for voiceovers.

Although it can be a very selective industry and voice actors tend to have a distinguishable voice, there is no reason you cannot give it a try. You won’t know if you don’t try. Practice using your voice in different ways. How much range do you have in your voice? Check with a voice coach if they think you may be suited for voiceovers. If you do start to go down this path, you will want to develop a demo reel of your various vocal options. If you have an agent, check if they are involved in voiceovers or alternatively, start asking around to other actors and teachers in your area.

Voiceover acting is very similar to regular acting except without the camera. You must still use all of your skills as an actor, if not more so. Often times your audience cannot see the expressions or the actions, therefore they must be able to experience what you are experiencing through your voice. Voice over acting will help you to stay on top of your game.

If you are interested in possibly doing some online voice over work then you may like to check these guys out......"Find Voice Over Jobs"

Action = Success!

"When you create you get a little endorphin rush. Why do you think Einstein looked like that?"

Robin Williams
Comic/Actor

The Mystery Box

2009-07-21T14:27:00.000-07:00

Hi,

I recently saw the following inspiring speech by JJ Abrams (creator of Lost, Fringe and director for MI3, Cloverfield and most recently Star Trek) and felt it was worth posting here, because it has so much to do with what we as actors, writers and film makers are constantly trying to achieve....the ability to draw our audience into another world, a different story. Take 15 minutes to watch the following video, you won't be dissapointed.

Although some people may not believe this speech was worthy of "TED", it is definitely inspirational, thought provoking and motivational to those of us that share the same passion JJ does when it comes to acting, writing and making films.

What is your "Mystery Box"? Is it that blank sheet of paper just waiting to be written on? That blank computer screen awaiting some key strokes? That camera sitting in it's case just dying to come out and shoot something? Or, is it all those thoughts and feelings of humanity wanting to express themselves through the character you portray?

Go and discover what your mystery box is. Unleash your imagination and your stories to the world. Let your creativity soar. You will never regret it.

As I am sure Mr. Abrams would agree....

Action = Success!

Get More Acting Work

2009-07-19T18:48:00.000-07:00

Hello,

So, one of the issues facing many actors is the struggle to find work. I have often found that the opportunities arise when I am pro-active and keep busy. Some places I continue to find work:

Local Theatre
Short Films or Student Films
Indpependent Films
TV/Movie Extra

Being involved in any of these even in the smallest capacity can lead to further paying work. Let's take a brief look at each individually.

Theatre

Is there a community theatre in your area? If so, why not go down and speak with somebody who can point you in the right direction towards getting involved in the next production? Even if it’s just a small bit part, the experience will be invaluable and could lead to bigger parts.

Additionally, producers and directors will often go to their local theatres either looking for talent or just for entertainment purposes. You never know who might be in the audience and spot your abilities.

Short Films or Student Films

Do you have a university or college in your area? Check to see if they have a film department. Film students are always looking for actors they can use in their school projects. Short films and student films are a great place to start and learn a great deal about what actually happens on set. You will learn about camera angles, continuity, lighting, working with all kinds of people as well as hundreds of other bits and pieces that will assist you with your acting future. There are so many benefits of working on short films, that I can’t possibly list them all here. Just suffice to say that I strongly recommend getting involved with these types of projects.

You may also find that parts of your performance along with the production itself are so good they can be used for your demo (show) reel. On top of that, the experience will be excellent to put on your acting resume. Be warned though, that often times with these student projects the film crew is fairly green and just learning, therefore keep your expectation relatively low on the quality of the final production.

Bear in mind also, that all directors started out making short film projects or student films. Who knows if one of these directors doesn’t go onto to do great things and remembers how you did such a fantastic job helping them out. If you remain friends with the people involved in the production it could easily lead to bigger and better things in the future. These student projects and short films are great places to network.

You can also go online to locate possible projects in your area requiring actors. Don’t be afraid to put your name down for anything, even an extra would be a worthwhile experience. If there are no actor roles available, then volunteer to help out. Just being on a live set will give you a huge insight as to what goes on. That way you will be better prepared when you are required for a paying job.

Independent Films

Much like student films and short films Independent films can also be worthwhile experience when first starting out. Most independent films are very low budget and will advertise for actors through open casting calls. They will probably be advertised in local newspapers or trade publications. Be careful when responding to these ads though. Some may be suspect and exploitive. If you are asked to pay any money, refuse and walk away. If you are asked to remove any articles of clothing, do not walk away… RUN! If you feel at all uncomfortable, politely leave. I am not trying to scare you, just warn you that there are unscrupulous people out there preying on naïve and inexperienced actors all the time. Always be careful and trust your instincts.

TV / Movie Extra

Similar to being involved with an independent film, short film or student film, being a TV/movie extra can be a very valuable experience for you. You will at least gain some set experience which is invaluable. Additionally, you will be networking with other actors and industry professionals. You may also be noticed by the director, producer or other key individuals involved with the production. I have met actors that were originally cast as extras on feature films and while on set, were given some small lines of dialogue. This gave them immense kudos and also a better paycheck.

While on a TV/film set, try to learn as much as you can about what’s going on without getting in the way or annoying anybody (especially the Director or Producer). Don’t hesitate to volunteer to help out, even if it’s to go get coffee for the cast or crew. Whatever you are prepared to “give” will come back to you in positive karma.

An excellent online resource to find opportunities for movie extras is: www.moviex.com (a division of www.actingland.com).

You never know where your involvement in any of these projects could lead so be sure to network with as many people involved as possible. Through doing so, you will soon begin to find more work for yourself, well actually, the work will find you.

This acting tip is another prime example where .....

Action = Success!

Cold Reading Tips

2009-07-16T21:36:00.000-07:00

Hi,

So, what is "cold reading"? Well, it's certainly not when they forgot to turn up the heat in the audition room. Cold reading is a common situation that occurs when you are required to audition for a TV commercial, film, and sometimes television role without having had a chance to view the script (sides) in advance of the audition. Figuratively speaking, you are going into the audition “cold”.

The most important lesson to learn about cold reading is that you should NEVER TRY TO MEMORIZE ALL OF THE LINES. The casting director is fully aware of the fact that you have just received the script and nobody in their right mind would expect you to have the script (sides) completely memorized after only a short preparation time; unless… it’s only one or two brief lines or a key line. Instead, your first goal is to have a basic understanding of what is happening in the scene. If you know what it is your character is meant to achieve in the scene, then the words become secondary. It is more important to understand the “gist” of the scenario and allow the casting director and “the powers to be” an opportunity to see what choices you make, your delivery, your reactions, how you portray the character and if can you be directed.

My book on achieving audition success covers the "cold read' situation in much more detail, but here are 3 tips (of total 12) that will definitely help you when you are required to cold read.

1. READ IN SENTENCES – It will pay for you to attempt to read an entire sentence as opposed to reading word by word. This does definitely take some practice and don’t expect to get it straight away. However, the more you attempt to read the entire sentence, the easier and faster it will be to recall and deliver your lines.

2. KEEP YOUR HEAD OUT OF THE SCRIPT – This will seem difficult initially. Your tendency will be to want to keep looking down at your script and to even deliver your lines while reading the script. Your head will be down and those viewing the tape will not be able to see your face or your expressions - therefore you have just wasted your audition. Whatever you do, do not let yourself fall into this trap. It is extremely important that you deliver your lines with your head up and with the correct eye line. Practicing at home will help you to overcome this bad habit.

3. HOLD THE SCRIPT IN YOUR “OFF” HAND – If you are right handed, it’s probably best to hold the script in your left hand and visa versa if you are left handed. This allows you the freedom to utilize your dominant hand for possible gesturing (if required), while also minimizing potential motion of the script.

One of the most important things to remember is that, you are going to make mistakes! Don’t worry about it and don’t apologize or request to start over if you do make a mistake or two. Carry on as normal and often times it won’t even be picked up. The moment you draw attention to a mistake the entire focus of your performance is lost and you will find it difficult not to worry about the mistake from that point onwards. It will come through in the rest of your performance.

I hope that prepares you a little bit better for cold reading. I will definitely include more posts on this subject in the future, however if you would like to learn more about cold reading and a whole lot of other acting tips then feel free to check out Audition Success Tips.

Action = Success!

Watch The Extras

2009-07-14T17:30:00.001-07:00

No, I'm not talking about that hilarious TV show with Ricky Gervias. What I am referring to is the "Extras" provided at the end of most DVD's. If you are at all interested in acting, film making or screenplay writing, then watching the "extras" is a an absolute goldmine of valuable information.

What I tend to do is watch the film first for pure enjoyment. Then afterwards, (often the next day), I will go to the "extras" section. Usually with the more recent films, there will be an option to watch the entire film again with the directors, actors or writers commentary included. This really is an amazing resource and I can't tell you how much I have learnt over the years from doing this. Plud the great thing is, it doesn't cost you anything extra. If you really want to pick up some great acting tips, then I highly recommend this practice. If you are a film maker you will also discover why certain shots were shot the way they were and how the director managed to achieve the shot they were after.

There will often be some "Behind the Scenes" footage as well, which is another excellent learning opportunity as many of the cast, crew, writers and producers will provide their thoughts and insights, passing on little tid bits of information that you can take away and begin applying to your craft immediately.

I recently watched "The Secret Life of Bees" with Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo and Paul Bettany. What a fantastic film it was. To top it off, this DVD had a fantastic array of "extras" which included many discussions with the writer, the crew and virtually all the cast. It was well worth the money I paid and the time it took to watch everything.

Another fantastic "extra" is the featurettes at the end of "Curious Case of Benjamin Button" starring Brad Pitt & Cate Blanchett. Not only is the film a fantastic cinematic achievement, but the "extras" are well worth any expense for the DVD whether rented or purchased.

There is so much to learn from an acting perspective, a writers perspective and especially a film makers perspective. The insights as to what went on throughout the entire process is a film makers course in itself. This extra is practically a movie in itself. If you do go to watch it, be sure to have a pen and notepad handy, as you will pick up many tips you can apply to your own creative process.

Some other great "Extras" I have watched recently include:

Crank (wow, these boys provide an amazing lesson in guerilla film making)

3.10 to Yuma (recent version with Russel Crowe & Christian Bale)

Casino Royale (always great to learn how they shoot a Bond film)

Pride & Glory (with Ed Norton & Colin Farrell. Find out what it's like to be shooting a film and not have the ending written yet....priceless).

These are just a few of ones I have watched recently. Most DVD's these days will have extras on them. So, any extras you can watch at the end of a DVD will be an enormous investment in your craft. You will be immensly inspired and you will gain a tremendous amount of insight as to what it takes to master the art of screen entertainment. Trust me, start the habit today and you will become better at what you do.

Action = Success!

A Key to Acting Success

2009-07-14T16:21:00.000-07:00

Hi,

There is something you can start doing immediately to improve your chances for acting success and it doesn't have to cost you anything. I am talking about the incredible power of networking. In this game of entertainment it often comes down to the old cliche......"It's not what you know, but who you know." If you want to have more doors and opportunities open up for you, then you really do need to be out there networking with as many other people in the industry as you can.

If you are not already involved in some sort of acting, writing or filming group, then shame on you. This is an excellent place to meet others in the industry and to promote yourself. Now most people think that because they are an actor they should only join groups related to acting. Yes, that's a good start, but don't stop there. You should be joining as many groups as you can in relation to your industry (entertainment). As an actor you will not go wrong in joining other creative groups such as film makers and writers, etc. All of these people will be connected to somebody else in the industry, who may just be that one person that gives you your big break.

You want to always work on making your connections as wide as possible. If you just limit yourself to one group such as actors only, then you reduce your opportunities considerably. The more groups you can connect with, the better your chances of achieving success. This goes for online (internet) and offline (real world) connections. Find out where you can connect with others in your area. You should be able to search Google to find some options close to you, but some great places to start might be....

Acting workshops, film festivals, writing group get togethers, film schools, acting schools, local theatre. If you can't find something that works for you, then start your own. Put up a page on noticeboards calling for others in the industry to join a weekly, 2 weekly, monthly (whatever suits you) get together just to discuss projects, dreams, goals, ideas, etc. You will be amazed at what can come out of this sort of meeting of the minds. Be sure not to limit your participants to just one group though (i.e. only film makers), open it up.

Networking effectively with others in the industry will also provide you with a huge insight into what happens "on the other side of the fence". You will learn a great deal from other aspects of the industry that can only be advantageous to your career. Good luck and get out there!

Action = Success!

PS - Be sure to carry your business cards (in relation to your entertainment discipline) with you to any event you attend.

PPS - If you are interested in reading more on good networking skills then Amazon has an excellent selection that may interest you.....click here.

Memorizing Lines of Script or Copy

2009-07-13T11:09:00.000-07:00

Hi,

A big issue facing many actors is their ability (or inability) to memorize lines effectively before an audition. They feel fairly certain they know their lines, they're feeling good about the audition, they stand in front of the camera, perform their slate brilliantly and then the casting director shouts; "Action" and then.....and then.....silence and a blank stare. O No! What happened? You knew the lines in the audition waiting room. Where did they go? Now you're flustered and no matter how hard your try, the vibe for your audition has changed. I'm sure something like this has happened to many of you and if it hasn't yet it probably will.

Following are 3 methods (from total of 9) for memorizing lines that I cover extensively in my auditioning book. I am certain they will help you when it comes to memorization. Give them a go and see how they work for you.

Firstly, before even looking at your script, make sure you are somewhere where you can work (yes, this is your work) uninterrupted. Tell any friends or relatives close by that you are working and would prefer not to be disturbed. Have everything handy you think you will need, paper, pens, water, snacks, etc. Get rid of any distractions; radio, TV, Xbox, etc.

Secondly, read the copy (script) completely twice without trying to memorize anything. Just get a feel for your character (who you are auditioning as), the other characters (if there are any) and what is happening in the scene(s). Try to determine the genre of the script and more importantly understand what is the advertiser’s message in the commercial?

Next, try one of the following memorization techniques and commit to it. If you find you just aren’t getting it, then try another one until you find the one or two that do the trick. If none of these work for you, then don't worry I will be covering other techniques in later posts.

3 Simple Memorization Techniques:

1) Underline or highlight 1 or 2 key words in each line of dialogue that hold some meaning for you in that line. These will be your anchor words to those sentences. Try to choose the words that best sum up that sentence and its objective. Associate each of those words with the line and what’s happening at that moment. Once you have your anchor words chosen, read the lines from the script, noting those key words. Soon you will only need to think of those anchor words and the lines will come to you much easier.

A tip here would be to use interesting words or action words in the line. Stay away from any basic words unless they are the only words being spoken of course.

2) Read & record the script onto an MP3 player, recording device, tape machine or your mobile phone if it has this function. Then just listen to it back three or four times. Next, listen a few times while reading the script at the same time. As you begin to feel comfortable with your lines, start to take the script away and say your lines at the same time as they are heard on the machine.

Eventually, you should be able know what lines are coming up and repeat them. At this stage, you may like to re-record the scene, however with your lines spoken silently in your head while recording. Then when you play the machine back, say your lines during the blank spaces. This will put extra pressure on you to remember your lines however will pay off in the end while also helping you to come in on the right cue.

The beauty of this technique is that once you have recorded your scene, you will be able to listen back almost anywhere; in the car, on the bus, on the subway, in class, in the bathtub, exercising or just before you go to sleep. I have even fallen asleep with the headphones still in my ears and the MP3 player on repeat. I may have woken up with a dead battery and the earphones somewhere in the bed, but my recall of the lines was excellent, and that’s the main thing.

MP3 players are dirt cheap these days and well worth any expense. I keep one MP3 player solely dedicated to recording lines of dialogue and nothing else.

3) Use Post It™ Notes. If you don’t have a lot of lines to memorize, you can place Post It™ notes around your house. Every time you see the note, say the lines out loud. Put them wherever you feel you will see them often. Some great locations might be the bathroom mirror, on the refrigerator, by your telephone, on the bathroom door, your bedside clock, and the TV remote.

I hope you find success with one of those methods. Through proper memorization of copy, you will eliminate one extra concern when you go to audition which will naturally provide you with more confidence and the ability to concentrate on what you need to do.

Action = Success!

Low Budget Film Making - A Master

2009-07-11T23:45:00.000-07:00

Following on from yesterday's post in relation to amateur film making, I would like to state for the record that I am a big fan of Robert Rodriguez. Not so much for the movies he has made but more for the fact that he got started in this business with nothing to back him up except some amateur film making experience, a whole lot of desire and the willingness to "Give It A Go". That's what I admire most about him.

If you want to check out some excellent film making lessons and discover some of the tricks RR used while filming his classic cult film El Mariachi (pre Desperado), then have a look at his "10 Minute Film School" videos.

He basically shot the entire film on a budget of US$7,000 (mind you, it was in Mexico). It is definitely worth seeing, if only to learn more about low budget film making. If you can find a DVD somewhere with the directors commentary and extras, the you should definitely get it. You will learn a tons of stuff. Here's part two of his 10 minute film school.

I can also recommend his book "Rebel Without A Crew" which is a fantastic read for any budding film maker. There is so much to learn from within those pages.

If you are into low budget film making (let's face it most of us have practically no budget), then RR is the man to learn some pointers from.

I think Rodriguez understands the importance of....

Action = Success!

"What I love about new technology is that it really pushes the art. It really pushes it in a way that you can't imagine until you come up with the idea. It's idea-based. You can do anything."

Robert Rodriguez - Director / Writer

Keep Working

2009-07-11T10:34:00.000-07:00

I am a firm believer in the popular saying "The Harder I Work the Luckier I Get" which was a comment once uttered by the successful pro golfer Gary Player. From my experience this philosophy is particularly true when it comes to acting or film making.

I have always found in the past that when I push myself to get out there and work on projects (many of them unpaid) then my luck seems to change for the better, not long after. I find more work, meet more people in the industry or learn more about the craft of acting and shoting films. Often times the work can be unpaid or very minimal fees, however the rewards far outweigh the monetary gain. It basically comes down to the premise that when you are willing to put yourself out there, the universe returns your efforts tenfold.

These are some photos of a recent amateur short film job I did with an excellent actor friend of mine. Although I didn't get paid, it was an extremely fun shoot and we had some great laughs. Plus I was introduced to a potential up and comer director as well as some clever crew members. The interesting thing was that in the following week I was contacted for two paying jobs.....go figure.

Action = Success!

PS - The photos are me in uniform as "The Chief". Myself and my good friend Cam Cooley working out with the director (blue jacket to left of screen) what the heck we're going to do. Plus, check out the home made camera boom (almost entirely made from wood). I just love amateur film makers!

Produce a Quality Demo/Show Reel

2009-07-09T22:17:00.001-07:00

There is no doubt that having a good quality demo/show reel will open more doors for you and get you more audition opportunities.

But what can you do if you don't have much experience put down on tape or don't know where to start?

Well, there's a fantastic resource in Los Angeles that will produce amazing highly quality, professional looking show reels at reasonable prices (when you consider what you get). They will even go so far as to write an entire scene for you, organize other actors to play along side you and shoot the entire production in their professional studios or appropriate location. You can choose from a number of different genre options, including drama, sci-fi, comedy, action, documentary and host of others. Once you've agreed on the story (or stories), all you have to do is learn the lines and then show up on the day of shooting.

They are called Perfect Reel. You can check out some of their work and contact them right here.

I would say that even if you don't live in LA, and you want to have a professional looking showreel, it could be worth the cost of the trip to go there and visit with these guys. But I'll let you be the judge.

Either way, you will want to start putting together your show reel as quickly as possible. Any expenses you incur producing a decent demo reel will more than likely come back to you tenfold. So, don't look at it as an expense but more as an investment in your future.

Action = Success!

Actors Wanting to Work In USA

2009-07-09T17:39:00.000-07:00

Hello,

You may or may not be aware, but over 90% of 01 work visa applications (immigration visa for entertainers and industry related professionals) made through the California immigration offices are rejected. I couldn't believe it when I heard that, but it's true. There are many reasons why that's the case. Not the least of which though is the fact that the California Immigration office receives literally hundreds of applications everyday from overseas actors wanting to work in Los Angeles. So is it really any wonder they have so many rejections?

Don't despair though. There's more than one way to skin a cat. I have recently come across an excellent resource for actors or others involved in the entertainment industry to improve their chances tremendously of obtaining an 01 Work Visa. It is an outfit run by a successful actor, Richard Burke who is from the UK but also now works legally as an actor in the USA.

His organization is called Industry Hollywood and find out alot more information at their website:

Industry Hollywood

If you are not a US based actor but would like to consider working in the US entertainment industry, then you really should check these guys out. I have met Richard Burke personally and he is very genuine in trying to help overseas actors get a start in The States.

Best of luck!

Action = Success!

Welcome Post

2009-07-09T17:14:00.000-07:00

Hi,

This is my first post on a blog where I hope to regularly provide worthwhile information for actors and anybody else involved in the entertainment industry wishing to improve their skills, learn more and subsequently increase their odds for success. It's a tough business and I strongly believe that any help or advice you can get along the way will only be positive for both your acting career and your life.

I welcome any questions, comments or discussion, so don't be afraid to get back to me.

I wish everybody who views this blog all the success in the world and I do hope that our paths may cross one day in real life. In the meantime remember....

Action = Success!