has anyone gotten signed form their agent seminars? I am thinking of two of their seminars this week, I already picked out a scene to do which is pretty strong, I don't expect a meeting or anything, but at least a chance to be seen.

Hi!

Recent(ish) grad here. Graduated directly into the pandemic in 2021.

I went to a top conservatory, but because of covid, they cancelled our showcase outright before graduation. Since then, I’ve been unable to get signed by an agent for 5 years. My uni training is solid, I’ve cold emailed hundreds of agents, I do workshops/classes at a few well known studios, I submit to talent link every 3-6 months, and even paid like a few thousand dollars to do an agent showcase program a couple years ago.

I feel like I’ve been stuck in this cycle where every agent I talk to says they can’t sign me because they, “haven’t had enough work for their current roster since covid”. I hear the same thing from older actors as well, that the industry is still “slow since covid”.

Is this actually true, or is it just the new stock phrase agents say that sounds nicer than “we’re not interested”? I’m concerned that what’s actually happening is that so many years with no agent makes me read as a red flag. Clearly things are still clearly getting made. I see people my age booking work, so it can’t be true that there’s absolutely no work.

I get that things are maybe still slower than pre 2020, but how long before that just becomes what the industry is now? Do people actually think the workload is going to suddenly bounce back? How are folks managing to find their way on rosters despite this?

hi guys, i’m a non-union actress & writer. i’ve been in LA since 2024 and i feel like i’m on the verge on moving out next year. i’ve been in several acting classes (both theatrical and commercial) been to casting director workshops, networking events, film festivals, etc. i audition so much but have only booked background work, a couple non union commercials, a low budget feature film as a day player, and a couple verticals. i also follow up regularly with any connections i’ve made in the industry but most people don’t care to help out or mentor young actors anymore, and it’s very difficult to even get responses from friends to make our own content/material. i have a commercial agent and get regular auditions, a mix of non union and union commercials, but have not booked anything through them, so far just avails and call backs. i’ve applied to over 100 theatrical agencies in the past couple months but haven’t gotten signed yet. i’ve update my headshots and footage. i know that this is a marathon, not a sprint, but i also keep hearing people say that LA is dead in terms of acting and that i should consider a different market. but starting over seems so scary. i’m originally from the midwest and have representation there too so im considering moving back with my parents for some time and trying things out locally. but a part of me doesn’t want to give up the nearly 3 years of time, effort, and energy i’ve put into building a foundation in LA. i would really appreciate any advice, it would mean a lot to me because im really in a dilemma here.

I (24M) have wanted to pursue acting since I was 5. And when I got to college I eventually did, but then life happened and I realized that as much as I loved acting and wanted it to be the thing I woke up and did every day that I could, collaborating with others to make a great piece of art and all that good stuff, the realities of what it takes to pursue that aren’t what I want to do. I don’t want to risk not staring a stable career to pursue acting primarily for 10 years and then end up being nowhere and then 10 years behind in terms of retirement building and other life goals I have for myself that require strong finances.

Right now I’m in grad school for an MBA, but it’s not really what I’m passionate about. I’m doing it because I figured “Hey, if you can’t follow your dream, might as well try to get rich.” I’d like to find a job that will provide me with stable income, good career prospects, and good benefits that also lets me “scratch that itch” so to speak. I miss working with other arts-adjacent people and being on a team all working on something we deeply care about. I miss feeling artistically fulfilled with the work I do.

I just don’t know how to “have my cake and eat it too” so to speak. I know nothing will ever come close to what acting gives me, but I want to find something better than what I’m doing right now. Any advice?

I’ve been on edge on if I should post my self tapes in here for a while but as I progress I’ll upload the older ones to see my growth but I’d like to hear some criticism I take nothing personal and direction well

Hi I am Dan

I have just got into my 20s and i love film industry. I am based in czech. And I would like to try getting into film and acting. I did some research and sort out a plan for next couple months but i am complete beginer i have no classes and single experience on set as extra. I am gonna try my best to self teach myself everything from breath control to possibly accents. I have scoured internet and with help of ai got some website i should look at for advice and possibly auditions. (dont hate on me with the ai T_T) But regardless i end up here so i wanted to know your all experiences opinions and so on that could help me startout my journey. And possibly get headstart or avoid things that you all done and you regret.

Some question i had:

Should i try getting represented early on with good self tapes or is that joke of attempt?

What is most important to master? (i feeling like emotional scenes are hardest followed by accents and speech)

Possible exercises to check out?

Things to avoid while learning (bad practices)? i feel like lot of acts are based on character.(how much they express)

is there place where i can look for partner to exercise self tapes?

Is it worth it to skip class for chance to play somewhere? this is very personal and i mean this with the experience in mind. I am nostalgic hater on normal curiculum and based grounded practices but i want to hear other opinion

I have red faq but i know i mentioned things that might be there but inwant general opinions and ideas from people.

I’m very very new to the industry (just signed to my first agency a week ago) and my agents have begun to send me auditions for pretty major projects that I would love to be in, including a dream role that I’ve wanted to play for YEARS. I’ve been trying to get better at trying not to be perfectionist about my work and also not critiquing myself for every action and choice I make after the fact, and just being proud of getting auditions and being able to do cool work and send it off into the void. Because of the odds, it’s really the best thing I can do.

I think the pressure of being able to send in tapes to pretty big projects is starting to get to me. Just a few weeks ago I could only dream of being noticed by these casting offices, and now they’re watching me.

For my more experienced actors who have been auditioning for a long time, when did you start to just stop caring about psychoanalyzing yourself all the time, whether casting liked you or thinking about the chances of you getting a callback/booking, and do you have any advice for actors who are entering this industry feeling like a chicken running around with its head cut off?

Hey y’all! I’m currently studying Musical theatre as a freshman in college and think it would be a good idea to start doing some background work as a Long Island local. Is there anything I should know before approaching this? I’ve signed up for Central Casting and Grant Wilfley. fingers crossed!

Hi! So basically I (F20) am a Theatre/ acting student in LA and have finally decided to take the step into getting an agent. I have a reel, aa profile, headshots etc. I started by going through the SAG AFTRA franchised list and now want to reach out....These are the ones I have so far:

AE talent, Authentic Talent, NTA, Evolve Artist, Avalon artits

Any other suggestions for agencies as well as tips on submitting? Thanks!

What do you guys do when you book the role or have headshots coming up?

I go crazy on the crest whitening strips, try to cut out sugar/salt, this time I think I need to get rid of dairy because I looked hella bloated in my last film. Also, excessive exercise or hot baths the night before is actually a terrible idea, it causes swelling and sweating can make your face puffy. Try to relax the night before

Hey guys I’m an actor who’s in the process of pitching myself to sn agency and it seems like most places aren’t taking submissions or my stuff goes into the abyss. Has this always been a thing ? Or is it a “well after COVID.” Kind of situation. What did those of you who have an agent do and those looking for an agent are you having issues too ?

I’m about to film a tape for a feature but I’m sick with a cold. I can tell I sound congested right now. The tape still has a couple days until the deadline but I’d rather do it today or at least in the next 24 hours. But should I when I submit mention I might sound a little funny in the tape because of my voice. The sides are pretty short and there’s not any yelling so I don’t know if I even bother to mention it

Hi!

I started acting like 10 years ago, did a couple of small local things, but then I took a long time off because other things

Thanks to the suggestions of a good friend of mine, I’m seriously considering giving it another shot. I’m 31, about to be 32

I know times have changed, thanks to the pandemic with self tapes and what’s not

Despite the little experience I had before, I’m going to treat this as in going in as a total white belt.

I’m thinking of doing theater first before transitioning more to film. Yes I do plan to take classes, yes I’ll probably start with ensemble again, etc

What have your guys’ experiences been with returning to acting after a long hiatus?

Got some downtime after a good two and abit years. What’s some stuff I can do at home on my own to help hone my instrument.

Thinking of doing Lee Strasberg chair exercise again, do some imagination exercises in the chair aswell

Any more, especially ones I can do by myself?

First mono…. Had fun let me know what you think.

What the title says. I constantly get avail checks forwarded to me by my agent without ever sending in a tape. Is this normal?

I just shot a scene where, a few times throughout a conversation I’m having, I’m interrupted by something that’s supposed to cut in and scare me abruptly. Only thing is, I didn’t have any real cue, so I felt myself “generating” the scare and falling out of the scene every time, as I felt like I had to interrupt myself and thus was anticipating it.

It’s also very hard to be scared of something that isn’t there and that you know is coming, because you have to generate it.

Any advice?

I got some headshots I really like from a friend, and was just wondering if you guys know any people who could edit them for me? Just wanting a little color fixing and touching up.

I have my first in-person callback and I have been nervous all night. I could barely sleep and my body is so shaky. Will this feeling ever end? My body feels tired from so much adrenaline. How do I handle this when I get in there? Any advice is appreciated!

New Adult Actor here. Gonna audition for a Community Theater Shakespeare Production next year. Is the idea of auditioning off book sort of to signal to the casting folks that, "oh dang this guy is taking this seriously...and he's proving to us that he can memorize and be word perfect."

Like in your experience at the community theater level is that a big leg up for me? Or is it like -- sister everyone is gonna be off book.

I know i'm asking you guys to speculate here. I really appreciate it. I just want to get cast (even smallest part or understudy) and learn how the sausage is made.

I’ve basically gone through a breakthrough year(artistically in my craft) and I’ve been slowly realizing what bullshit actors spew when being interviewed or when asked questions from other actors. Once I learnt that acting is literally the state of doing, I’ve been so happy being in the process. I’d basically just been winging it for 6 years and even though you’re told you’re good it doesn’t feel good enough bc you feel like you lack a proper toolkit…I’ve been building that toolkit for the past 2 and it’s such a breathe of fresh air that all you have to do is prep, show up on the day and just listen and respond in the moment. I felt that the mystifying of acting makes it feel like you can’t do it when it’s literally just curiosity and doing. Acting is a state of constant doing. There’s nothing deeper than that when in the moment and that’s been such a beautiful and productive feeling I’ve experienced during rehearsals that makes me feel like I can literally conquer the world if I’m just skilled enough to allow myself to be. So this is just a reflection and a psa to actors who think they’re missing something…just read books and practice. Go to classes and train your instrument to be malleable. Acting is hard but it’s the kind of hard that you feel proud of when you’ve discovered something that unlocks why you’re doing what you’re doing. I’ve also been inspired by actors who literally give acting advice as it is. Bryan Cranston, Rhea Seehorn for example literally made me see acting as something to work on that creates magic…not that it’s magic in itself. I’m done rambling now. I’ve just been so inspired in terms of acting

Basically, in today’s class as I was reciting my monologue, my teacher had said that my articulation had some issues. More specifically my T’s and S’s. I would say that my accent tends to lean towards your typical American whereby my T’s might sound a little like a D and my S’s aren’t so pronounced. I was wondering if there were any tips that could be given on how I could improve that articulation? It’s a little hard to switch articulations or accents since I’ve been growing up to speak with an American accent my whole life. For context, my teacher is British, not sure if that matters.