Starting an acting career not only involves working out how to pick up the skills, experience, credits and agents to book good acting jobs, but you also need to ask yourself are actors considered self employed, and understand the implications of the answer. This page considers the employment and self-employment issues of being an actor…
Category: Actors
Actors have a difficult life which is seldom understood because acting looks easy.
In reality, it’s a highly competitive industry where only the lucky few can earn a decent living. Even getting into a decent drama school or signing up to a good agent is painfully difficult. And there are plenty of individuals and businesses ready to make a living from your dreams.
But if you’re ready to start your acting career, you may be interested in the following articles:
- Acting Agencies – Which One Is Right For You? includes links to dozens of pages about UK agencies in London and around the UK
- Fake Agencies: Spotting Them Isn’t Easy! outlines the warning signs you must look for when considering any talent agency
- Casting Websites are an essential tool all actors use to find work
- Facebook Groups UK lists some good place to find and establish networks with filmmakers and other actors
- What Does A Casting Director Do? should help you avoid asking the wrong questions to an important industry gatekeeper
- Getting Into Drama School In The UK explains the difficult task ahead and some of the best options available to aspiring actors
If you want to become a supporting artiste, background artiste or extra, you may find the following articles helpful:
- Extras Agencies In The UK gives you reputable options across the nation
- How To Become A Film And TV Extra introduces the type of work and how to access it
Types of Stage Space in Drama
Wondering about the types of stage space and what they are good for? Perhaps you’re unclear why all stages aren’t the same – or maybe thought every professional stage is like the traditional one found in Victorian era theatres. Several types of stage space in drama settings are commonly in use today, even across the…
Acting Classes in Liverpool
Acting classes in Liverpool are a great way to access actor training without leaving home. Getting into an accredited drama school is difficult and the courses cost a lot in fees, maintenance and lost earnings. It’s possible to get into acting without drama school, but you do have to develop your performing skills and learn…
Acting Techniques to Build a Believable Character
Acting techniques help trained actors portray their roles with depth and expertise. Actors’ training teach the art of bringing believable and realistic characters to appreciative audiences with these systems and methods. Good actors must learn and finesse a wide range of skills. These include memorisation, voice projection, movement, characterisation, and crying on demand. Also audition…
What to Wear for Headshots
Choosing what to wear for headshots takes a great deal of time and planning and every successful actor prepares their headshot clothing carefully. You can’t take your whole wardrobe with you, yet you’ve got to plan for every suitable casting breakdown for the next year or so. With black and white acting headshot photos long…
What is the Stanislavski Method?
The Stanislavski Method is a system of acting technique for training actors that was developed by the Russian theatre practitioner Konstantin Stanislavski. The method involves an actor’s four levels of skills – physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual – and focuses on a type of imaginary behaviour in which an actor gives a convincing portrayal of…
How to Balance Acting and a Job
The majority of actors don’t get enough paid acting work to keep a roof over their head, but then struggle to work out how to balance acting and a job which pays the bills. It’s a struggle which has got harder, because casting directors now set casting calls for anytime during the week, including weekends…
Setting up the best ring light for self tapes
Setting up the best ring light position improves the quality of any self tape, brightening your eyes, hair and skin tones, and helping even the tiniest of facial expressions bring the character to life. It’s also great for filming your first showreel with a well executed monologue. But it requires a few experiments in positioning…
Tongue Twisters for Voice Actors
Remember the childhood fun of struggling through ‘red lorry, yellow lorry’ and other tongue twisters? Well, tongue twisters for voice actors are just as fun, but more importantly they improve articulation by coordinating your facial muscles, lips, and your breath. The key to doing tongue twisters properly is to start slowly. Gradually speed them up,…
Ad Lib: Definition & Examples of Ad Libbing
You’re trying to get into acting without drama school and someone mentions ad libbed scenes. ‘What’s an ad lib?’ you ask yourself, trying not to let your panic show. Fear not, it just means saying words which haven’t been scripted. But read on for examples, learn why ad lib in acting is useful, and discover…
