Anecdotes on the job: They're listening!

I was recently doing a little background work. I had been placed on a street corner with another lady and we were standing in one spot take after take. I started to get a sore back about an hour (or lets say 5 takes) into the second to last scene of the 10-hour day. It was late, the sun was fading, people were beginning to get silly. I discovered that if I, in between takes, crouched down into a squat it relieved my aches. This was an unfortunate discovery on my part primarily because anything that can peak my scatological sense of humor.

Continued: Anecdotes on the job: They're Listening! | The NYC Actor

ASK Me!: Reviews?

Could you help me with my "Reviewer/Critic Theory?" I go by the 50% rule. Only 50% of both positive and negative reviews are honest. The other 50% are either trying to get on your good side at the ground floor or are trying to look good and get more hits on their website by making you look bad. Am I off base here? How should you treat your theater reviews?

lettersofdispleasure

For the answer: Ask Me! - Reviews? | The NYC Actor

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ASK Me!: Getting clips for your reel?

I've done many videos/films where it was non-paying but they promised the footage for my reel.

What do you do when even after contacting the director/producer/whoever, they don't respond and you never end up getting your footage!? It's not frustrating when you're trying to put a reel together.

Anonymous

For the answer: Ask Me! - Getting Clips for your Acting Reel? | The NYC Actor

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Ask Me!: Getting into VO's?

How did you get into voiceovers? And how would you recommend I start?

Anonymous

For the answer: Ask Me! - Getting into VO's? | The NYC Actor

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Ask me! - How much do I charge for voiceovers?

A.D.,

A.V.L. here with a voiceover question. Say your friend Anna has been doing voiceovers for her friend's video tutorials. I've started charging as of the last project, as I am unemployed now and can no longer do pro bono. So--how much do I charge? Or rather what calculation do I use to figure out a price? Any advice would be appreciated.

Anonymous

For the answer: Ask Me! - How much do I charge for voiceovers? | The NYC Actor

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Now on Tumblr!

The NYC Actor is now also on Tumblr where you can ask me questions, post thoughts/ideas/comments and expand our acting community!

http://thenycactor.tumblr.com/

You've been framed! - Acting for camera

If you are auditioning for an on-camera project ask the CD/shooter/director what the frame is - or in very poor lay-terms where the outside of the shot is in relation to your face. Is it close-up, medium (head and shoulders) or a wide?

WIDE

<-- This is the outside of the shot/FRAME

MEDIUM

CLOSE UP

EXTREME CLOSE UP

Why ask?

Read more: You've Been Framed! - Acting for Camera | The NYC Actor

Resume

For the full article: The Actors Resume | The NYC Actor

Building the Perfect Website

These days an actor website is a MUST-HAVE. It's really important. Primarily because the industry that is not connected through your agent (if you have one) is online. There are so many casting websites that an actor should be linked up to and one thing you'll find you need is a link to a website.

There are many ways to do this and many of the casting websites out there offer you hosting and a page on their site. However you do it, if you have a website on your resume and/or business cards you are making it THAT much easier for a prospective employer to see your work - which'll make getting hired easier.

Read more: Building the Perfect Website | The NYC Actor

Know Thyself

Getting comfortable with your "type" - or, in other words how the rest of the world sees you - could be one of the most important things you do as an actor. So many of us are confused, even deluded, about who we are and what type of roles we should be playing that we can waste a lot of time working against ourselves.

When I first moved to New York I was 20. And I was deluded about my type. As an actor, I was told that I had a natural talent and a great "look." I was tall, thin, had a decent body and occasionally people would tell me to model. When I was a teenager and looking out into the world for successful female role models Kate Moss and the other supermodels of the 90s saturated the market. So of course, being associated with a model inflated my ego and made me feel VERY good about myself. I assumed that I was an ingenue and immediately set out to secure the roles that would reflect this: Juliette, Desdemona, Olivia, or anything commercially that had the words "young" "beautiful" and "ingenue" in the breakdown. 


Read more: Know Thyself | The NYC Actor

Extra Extra!

I've avoided doing extra work for a long time after doing a ton of it in my early 20s. As a non-union actor it can be a lot of standing/sitting around for very little, if any, pay.

When you enter the union world, you are treated slightly better. Your hours are monitored and you get paid a decent amount (depending on what it is your working on - more soon..). Still. It can be pretty thankless work.

Read more: Extra! Extra! | The NYC Actor

Auditioning jitters

Jitters - try tremors!

Since I've been out here working for a few years now, my relationship to auditioning/performing has changed somewhat. At some point I crossed over from fearing them to actually really enjoying them. So, my empathy for how terrifying it can be was numbed somewhat.

Until one specific audition.

Read more: Auditioning Jitters | The NYC Actor

How to Succeed in the Entertainment Industry? D.I.Y!

I've been hearing some depressing facts from the industry, lately. So I thought I'd share them with you.

Apparently, if you are over the age of 28, whether female or male (but let's be honest, especially if you're a lady-friend), the current movie/TV/Theater industry couldn't be more over you.

The word on the street is that if you are over 28 and you haven't "cracked" it yet, then there must be something wrong with you. And, just to brighten your day it seems that agents, CD's and producers these days are only really looking for new tweens (Robert Patinson, Kristen Stewart, etc) to invest in - and only tweens.

Read more: How to Succeed in the Entertainment Industry? D.I.Y! | The NYC Actor

Ask Angela directly!! - Finding auditions/representation

I've started to get individual questions from some of my readers. I will post the questions with my answers when I can as I think they are fantastically helpful! If you have a question for me please feel free to email me or post it on the blog and I will get to it as soon as I can. NO QUESTION IS CONSIDERED TOO SMALL OR STUPID. You'd be amazed how much you can help by sharing.

Question: From Patty, New York

okay, so how do you find auditions/ management? Its a pretty basic question but I know there are a lot of scam artists out there, so where do you find legitimate agencies?

To read the answer and for more: Ask Me! Finding Auditions/representation? | The NYC Actor

Ask Angela directly!!

I've started to get individual questions from some of my readers. I will post the questions with my answers when I can as I think they are fantastically helpful! If you have a question for me please feel free to email me or post it on the blog and I will get to it as soon as I can. NO QUESTION IS CONSIDERED TOO SMALL OR STUPID. You'd be amazed how much you can help by sharing.

Question: From Tom. New York.

Two hours ago I got a call from an old improv friend saying his girlfriend's production company needed a Brit voice-over NOW.

I told 'em I was non-union, they said that was cool, and I went. It was for [high-end shoe company - sic]. Crazy. I think it's just a concept piece, because from what you told me, there's no way you could luck into a gig like that if it was for air. I was doing a cockney footballer voice.

So, great news! They were nice, and I'm very glad I did it. But what the fuck should I do? I didn't even ask about money (stupid, but I didn't want to mess up the opportunity). How would you handle this? Do you think I should broach the topic of money, or let this one slide as a relationship builder? How should I approach getting a copy of the tape for my reel? I want to follow up with them tomorrow and talk about my range, but I want to come off as professional etc.

So... yay! And.. help!?

To read the answer and for more: Ask Me! Asking for Money AFTER Booking the Job? | The NYC Actor

An Actors Toolkit

As an actor who wants to be taken seriously in the professional world (aka entertainment industry, y'all!!) there are a few things you should have handy. Here is a basic checklist if you're just starting out:

HEADSHOT

RESUME

WORKING PHONE WITH VOICEMAIL

EMAIL ADDRESS

WEBSITE

MONOLOGUES

REEL

AUDIO DEMO (IF DOING VOICEOVERS)

ACCOUNTS WITH ONLINE CASTING SERVICES

APPROPRIATE WARDROBE

POSTCARDS FOR SHOWS

PENS

BUSINESS CARDS

For a detailed breakdown and to read more: An Actors Toolkit | The NYC Actor

Improv

In my opinion, improv is the key to feeling comfortable with yourself at auditions, on stage, on film sets or simply as an interactive part of a sprawling entertainment community like the one here in NYC.

One of the most frequent situations you will find the need for some improv in is at a commercial audition. The ability to stay on your toes and create/respond to something on the spot without fear in addition to handling the occasional, inevitable slip-up is crucial to being noticed in a casting. And these days, more and more, commercial copy is being created with the flexibility to allow the performers improv to be incorporated into the final spot. If you watch TV and actually pay attention to the commercials that are being made, they are littered with improv actors. Especially the weirder, quirkier ads - which are always the best ones!

Read more: Actors Doing Improv | The NYC Actor

Do I pick up that phone??

What do you do when you eventually start receiving phone calls (because it's going to happen - mark my words!) from agents and such regarding auditions and call-backs?

When I first got started in this industry, the pager was in. Eughh!! That makes me sound ancient. Most agents and casting directors would simply call it, leave a message on a voicemail system and you'd return their call to confirm. Simple.

Read more: Do I pick up that phone? | The NYC Actor

Actors casting/breakdown websites and services: Which ones?

There are a number of websites out there all vying for the attention and money of actors. They promise jobs and money in your pocket if only you pay their monthly/yearly fee. There are MANY to choose from but in my experience only a few that are worth the time and expense.

For a list of my favorites and to Read more: Actors casting/breakdown websites and services: Which ones? | The NYC Actor

Actors casting/breakdown websites and services: To Pay Or Not To Pay?

To Pay Or Not To Pay?

Well, it depends.

A friend recently asked me about a casting website for voiceovers in England. I didn't have any real feedback for her regarding that particular site but it made me think about the casting venues that I do know and that I use here in the US on a daily basis.

First off, let me dispel some myths.

Just because a website promises to book you work and put money in your pocket it doesn't guarantee anything. At best it will fill your email box with lists of the many auditions currently happening in the city and offer you a chance to submit yourself.

In some cases, for those of us who are currently without representation, it can get our foot in a door that may have previously been closed - for example perhaps an ad agency has exhausted its resources with agents and CD's and is looking for new talent beyond the pool they've already tapped. Actors Access and other such sites are a goldmine for them.

Read more:  Actor casting/breakdown websites and services: To Pay or not to Pay? | The NYC Actor