Is this fun and cute or will a casting director roll their eyes and toss in the trash? Suggestions if this is indeed as stupid as I think it might come across as?

Russian cinema isn't very popular internationally even tho they helped shape the modern day acting scene

Did this self tape for a class. Pretty happy with it!

I as a joke signed up for "Nine 9 Talent" on an Instagram ad. I'm a med student for reference so had no idea what this was. I basically knew this was all bullshit once I got an email and phone messages. I said I'd join the call to see what it was. Line and hook if I ever saw one. Long scripted story with little actual verifiable details about anything. I tried to warn people in the chat in the end but she kept on ignoring me while I was telling her off. I reported it to the FBI but not sure if I gave them enough info. I wrote down a list of names that I could see but many seemed so generic that I could never actually pinpoint who was on the call if there actually were others. And it sounded like some were making payment. Nobody should feel shame if you fall for them because they know exactly what they're doing. And it seems like given how long people have complained that the authorities have not put an end to it.

Hello! I have been acting in theater since middle school. Since graduating high school a couple of months ago I have been trying to build a professional career in acting. I live in the middle of nowhere in NC and don’t have a car so all I can really do is submit to major productions on Actors Access that will pay for my travel and stay which is fine I enjoy the hustle and I have really trying to work on my craft anyway. To be honest I didn’t think I would get any auditions on Actors Access; I have no demo reel or media in general, all I have is a headshot and resume with no on camera experience so I didn’t really expect to ever get any auditions given that people submit to hundreds of smaller projects and don’t even get auditions. I have submitted to like 5 or 6 things on Actors Access, and I just got an audition for a big untitled project by a big director. I am experiencing a lot of self-doubt. I am worried I am spending way too much time studying the 5 pages of sides I got. Like I spent almost 9 hours trying to find subtext and thoughts and feel like I’m hitting a block/wall. I have done a couple of runs through with a reader and I keep messing up my lines which I don’t ever do or have had a problem with. Tbh I’m a mess. Any tips or advice or wisdom would be great and is it uncommon for something like this to happen. Really it’s not about getting the part, just want to submit something I’m proud of.

Did there anyone in this server that picked up acting while being shy in social settings ? Id like to hear about your experience !! Id also love to hear if you were ever able to get a job too??asking out curiosity !!

I’m a professional “working” actor (graduated 2 years ago and have booked a couple things every year) and wish there were more communities for professional actors to chat.
I don’t want to gatekeep the profession but it seems like most online forums/ facebook pages / Reddit threads are oversaturated with questions about drama school auditions- how to get an agent etc, which are valid questions- but it’s entirely different.

I know in the US there is far more transparency and open communication about auditions and the industry with forums like callback corner etc- we lack a UK equivalent- and it means myself and many other actors friends feel totally out of the loop if we don’t discuss current auditions- which you don’t always want to bring up in a social context where you just want to relax.

I’d like somewhere we can speak openly about auditions, experiences with casting directors, upcoming projects, etc.
I can imagine if spotlight had a forum for members only it would be great.
Does anyone else relate?

I have an opportunity to join equity through the SAG sister union program. Is it worth it to join Equity as a NYC actor if you have a light resume on the theater side?

EDIT: should also add I have a lot of theatre training at this stage

Looking to see if anyone has recommendations for acting classes for on-camera that are online. Live in Colorado but hoping to eventually move to LA once I get some more experience. I ask because there are not a lot of on-camera classes options here. So wanted to see if there are any LA based ones that do online. Appreciate the help.

Hi everyone! I'm a newer actor and this is the first time a manager (not an agent) has shown interest in me, so I'm not sure how it works. Basically, I submitted through a small management company's online form on Sept 24.

They emailed me on Oct 1 saying they'd reviewed my resume and would love to learn more about my work, and asked me to send any recent acting and singing clips. I sent everything within about 15 minutes of their email.

It's now Oct 27 and I haven't heard anything back. No reply to my clips, and no pass.

My questions:
Is it okay to send one polite follow-up at this point, or does silence after a request like that usually mean a pass?

Does managers' behavior differ from agents' here, since they're often smaller or boutique?

I'm still submitting elsewhere in the meantime. Any experience would help, thank you!

Hello, to those who might remember me from my last post!

For context, I am mixed and naturally have 3c curly hair. However, the last time I’ve really seen my natural hair (long-term) was around 8 years ago. I’ve cut it all sorts of ways, dyed it, bleached it, all the works. I’ve finally grown my hair out to a length I’m happy with, and a length that has gotten me audition requests and callbacks, but I’m hitting a wall. My hair is currently bleached a light blonde and although my curls haven’t been processed into oblivion, it’s obvious my hair is struggling. My roots are about 1-2 inches grown out and I’m considering starting over, cutting off all of the bleached parts, and letting it breathe and grow back in naturally. I both act and model so I’m worried that essentially chopping off all of my length and colored hair will ruin my chances on the market and will take away a “standout” quality of mine per se.

Hi everyone, I want to submit a tape for a small project. I just have no idea how to tape it. Any tips would be a great help. I've attached the side.

Hi, I'm sure this has been asked a million times, but I'm new to the community so wanted to hear what people think - I have an offer from a Manager, their commission is 15%. Historically managers I've worked with have taken 10%, how common is 15 at this point, in other folks experience?

Hi! Basically just what the title says! I'm a new actor and I'm currently building out my Backstage profile, and I'm just a little confused as to what I'm supposed to be putting in there. I have a resume, I've uploaded all my credits and skills and such, and it's only 500 characters, so it's clearly not meant to be very detailed. Any advice would be really appreciated!

I recently did my first few projects. In a couple of cases I was disappointed to see what I (and my scene partners) thought would be good for our reel not make it in the final cut. After seeing the final product, I would agree that those scenes in their entirety do not support the story so as a director, I would’ve cut them as well.

On the flip side, a few other scenes were rewritten to include my character so there is that.

Having said that - I would still like to see it to learn and use.

Do you ever ask for footage that didn’t make it? Asking for me and a friend. 😀

Just interested in polling whether most actors here/in general will read or watch the full play they’re auditioning for when first auditions only consist of a monologue from any play. Obviously for new works if or if they provide it to you (usually for callbacks) that’s one thing, I’m more talking about EPAs or appointments for non-union theaters where the first round is just a monologue.

Can I approach TAMAC agencies for meetings while I’m still represented, if I intend to leave my current agency? Or will most agents refuse to meet until I’ve officially parted ways with my rep?

I’m ACTRA, and after bad experiences with non-union agencies I considered unethical, I’m looking to move to a TAMAC agency, especially now that EIC has dissolved. (I am also open to suggestions for ethical non-TAMAC agencies with strong union casting ties.)

If prospective agents ask why I’m leaving, how honest should I be about my current rep’s conduct? (In short, it's been extremely unethical on their end.) Should I be candid or keep it diplomatic? I don’t want my current agency’s behavior to reflect badly on me, but I also don’t want to pretend everything is fine when it isn’t. I've also been debating terminating the contract but hate the idea of freefall.

How would you handle this?

Hey everyone!
I’m looking for advice from actors who have filmed their own scenes or short films to build their reels.
I’m trying to get more footage that reflects my casting type and the kinds of TV/film roles I want to book. Unfortunately, some of the projects I’ve worked on either weren’t filmed well or didn’t give me usable footage.
I’ve looked into professionally filming scenes, but even getting one scene done can be pretty expensive, especially when you’re trying to build a solid reel with multiple clips.
For those who’ve done this on a budget, how did you go about it? Did you collaborate with other actors, hire a small crew, work with film students, or just shoot everything yourselves?
I’d love any advice on keeping costs low while still getting footage that looks and sounds professional enough to use for submissions.
Thanks in advance!

I'm applying to colleges and I'm auditioning for their theatre program or whatever it's called in each school and one of the colleges didn't ask me to introduce myself, do i just not do it then? like I'm asking because the others did ask and i know that in general in auditions you need to slate it so...

Yep what it says. I worked for fast food for a long time. Started at community college. I transferred to a really good college in the southeast. Graduated when I was 27.

This was my first in person callback and principal for a commercial. It’s like a be yourself commercial. Never done one and didn’t know what to expect, but I’m typically a shy person but was comfortable to be myself and had good reactions from the person interviewing me and the director. But I’m also new and didn’t know what to expect or etiquette. Thanks!

Hi newly represented actor, I haven’t got an audition in almost two weeks when I usually get about 2-3 a week sometimes more. I just want to check in and make sure everything is okay, but I also don’t want to be annoying if I’m in a slow period. Wonder if I’m on hold or something. Would I be bothering them by asking? Is this customary to do?

Hey everyone! Thanks for being so helpful as I navigate getting new management. One of the things that has been mentioned is working an exit clause into the contract (like, if within 3 months you're not getting ample opportunities, you can re-evaluate and leave).

I've brought this up in 1-2 manager interviews and they've balked at the idea, saying they wouldn't want to invest in someone who would leave so soon. On the flip side though I don't want to get stuck giving 10% of everything I do to a manager who CAN'T land opportunities (I learned the hard way a lot of them talk a big game just to get you a cut of your wins).

For those who got one built into their contract, how did you bring it up? And what language did you use in the contract?

Thanks so much all <3