ACTING
"Acting is ... not a very high-class way to earn a living. After all, Shirley Temple could do it at the age of four."
~ Katharine Hepburn
A curation of articles, podcasts, videos, and courses to help with your acting adventures.
Where Are You Struggling?
Auditions • Agents • Accents • Voice Overs
DOWNLOADS
A collection of FREE forms, templates, questionnaires, and websites:
This website is a simple and helpful tool to help you get started and stay focused in your acting career.
The Beverly Hills Playhouse put together a simple checklist for actors to go through before performing a scene.
Backstage magazine and their website have been a staple for actors for years. In this article, they provide a simple checklist of how best to prepare for your audition.
Here is a simple one-sheet checklist to help you prepare for the character you are about to portray.
BOOKS
A collection of books on the art and craft of acting. (*These are affiliate links)
Uta Hagen's Respect for Acting
This book is used in many acting classes. Hagen's instructions and examples guide the aspiring actor through practical problems such as "How do I talk to the audience?" and "How do I stay fresh in a long run?" She advocates the actor's use of substitution in informing and shaping the action of the character the actor is playing.
Sanford Meisner was one of the best known and beloved teachers of acting in the country. This book follows one of his acting classes for fifteen months, beginning with the most rudimentary exercises and ending with affecting and polished scenes from contemporary American plays.
Constantin Stanislavski's simple exercises fire the imagination, and help readers not only discover their own conception of reality but how to reproduce it as well.
Michael Shurtleff has been casting director for Broadway shows like Chicago and Becket and for films like The Graduate and Jesus Christ Superstar. His legendary book on auditioning has launched hundreds of successful careers.
Stella Adler is arguably one of the most important teachers of acting in American history. She has offered vast acting knowledge to generations of actors, including Marlon Brando, Warren Beatty, and Robert De Niro. Howard Kissel has captured her teachings in this 22 lessons book.
Michael Caine - Acting in Film: An Actor's Take on Movie Making
A master actor who's appeared in an enormous number of films, starring with everyone from Nicholson to Kermit the Frog, Michael Caine is uniquely qualified to provide his view of making movies.
True and False: Heresy and Common Sense for the Actor
One of our most brilliantly iconoclastic playwrights takes on the art of profession of acting with these words: invent nothing, deny nothing, speak up, stand up, stay out of school. Acting schools, “interpretation,” “sense memory,” “The Method”—David Mamet takes a jackhammer to the idols of contemporary acting, while revealing the true heroism and nobility of the craft.
Acting as a Business has earned a reputation as an indispensable tool for working and aspiring actors. Avoiding the usual advice about persistence and luck, Brian O’Neil provides clear-cut guidelines that will give actors a solid knowledge of the business behind their art.
CASTING
A collection of casting sites and acting apps to help you book the next gig.
Breakdown Express is how talent representatives submit their talent via the Internet and how casting views submissions of pictures, resumes, and videos. Actors Access is the portal where actors can upload their information, view those Breakdowns and submit to them.
Casting Frontier creates and posts breakdowns, schedules and submits talent, tracks auditions, offers real-time notifications, and bookings. Casting Directors from all over use this service, so it's best to have your information up on this website.
Depending on what city you're working in, there's a chance that your local casting directors are also using Casting Networks. Be sure to create a profile on this site as well.
The New York Film Academy curated a collection of apps that are useful for actors.
PODCASTS
A collection of podcasts and podcast episodes that cover different aspects of the acting process.
Casting Director, Michael Taylor Fontaine
In this episode, I interview Michael Taylor Fontaine, Casting Director of Casting House NW. Listen in as Michael gives tremendous insight to the casting process … a must listen to for all actors!
In this episode, I interview actor, Ted Rooney, as he shares a wealth of insight of how hard it is to be a working actor and gets in depth about the craft of acting. Ted has been on everything from Seinfeld, ER, Gilmore Girls, Grimm, and Boardwalk Empire.
In this episode, I interview Dennis Troutman, Talent Agent for Option Talent. Listen in as Dennis gives a behind-scenes-look at what it’s like to be a talent agent in the Portland, Oregon market … a must listen to for all actors!
Casting Director, Eryn Goodman
In this episode, I interview Eryn Goodman, Casting Director for Cast Iron Studios in Portland, OR. Cast Iron Studios handles the local casting for shows like NBC's GRIMM, TNT's Librarians, and the Oscar Nominated film, "Wild".
Description
Inside Acting is a weekly industry podcast for actors, by actors. Get insider information on marketing yourself, creating your own work, and booking the gig – straight from the people who've been there, done that, and are doing it again.
Hosted by Brad Bradley, who is not only an amazing performer but also someone who I went to middle school with ... In this unique podcast, Bradley takes you behind the scenes of life as a Broadway performer.
Off Camera with Sam Jones is the podcast that brings you in-depth, intimate, comfortable conversations with the most iconic artists of our time. Join Sam Jones as he talks with actors like Robert Downey, Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Bell and Don Cheadle.
Want to get in on the lucrative career in voice over? Kate McClanaghan and Jeff Finney discuss current trends and helpful techniques regarding the voice over industry.
VIDEOS
A collection of videos that will inspire and help you with your acting efforts.
The Hollywood Reporter puts together their roundtable series before every awards show. This series features the amazing women working in film and television today.
The Hollywood Reporter puts together their roundtable series before every awards show. This series features some of the biggest stars working in film and television today.
It's both humbling and inspiring to watch actors in the auditioning process. Enjoy this collection of actors doing their job of ... auditioning.
In addition to Michael Caine's book, "Acting in Fim", enjoy this video collection of the man teaches us acting himself.
COURSES
A collection of online courses that you can take right now to help become a better actor. (*Affiliate links)
Samuel L. Jackson - Teaches Acting
As a kid, Samuel L. Jackson stuttered so badly that he stopped talking for almost a year. Today he’s one of the world’s most successful actors, with roles in over 100 films, including Pulp Fiction and The Avengers. For the first time, the Oscar nominated star teaches how he creates memorable characters, powerful performances, and a long-lasting career. Learn to master auditions, analyze scripts, and find the truth in every role you play.
- 20+ video lessons (over 5 hours)
- Class Workbook
- Office hours for select students
Film School $90,000 • MASTERCLASS $90
STEVE MARTIN - Teaches Comedy
One of Steve’s first gigs was at the drive-in movies. When the audience liked a joke, they honked. In this class, Steve shares insights from performing for cars and humans over a 50-year career spanning sold-out arenas and blockbuster films. Learn how to find your voice, gather material, develop an act, and take your comedy to the next level.
- 25 video lessons
- Class workbook
- Office hours for select students
Film School $90,000 • MASTERCLASS $90
Learn Voice Over!
My Voice World offers:
• Voice Over Courses
• New Quarterly Content
• More than 150 Practice Scripts
• Exclusive Access to hire your coach, Dustin James Leighton, for Private Coaching and Audition Feedback
Who is your coach?
Dustin James Leighton is a voice actor best known for his work on prime-time television including the Super Bowl, Emmy winning productions and commercial campaigns for multiple national brands.
He is the radio voice for the Dodge “Welcome to the Brotherhood of Muscle” national campaign and has introduced musical artists including Red Hot Chili Peppers and Bruno Mars. His voice is also part of the Transformers franchise.
With almost 15 years of voice actor experience, Dustin utilizes a latest-generation, network-approved recording studio featuring Pro- Tools HD, ISDN, Source Connect, Phone Patch and file upload capabilities.
He is represented by William Morris Endeavor Entertainment.
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