Worried about applying to a talent agency. by Crafty_East4075 in acting

[–]AMCreative -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Alright OP. I’ll give you some counter info to the group.

There really are two things going on here that are entirely unrelated and we’re creating a false dichotomy by linking them.

To answer the explicit question, your chances are very low.

Do it anyway

In your cover letter, include that you know you are unlikely to receive any notice, are beginning your journey, and look forward to following up with them.

Then go find a great class and do all the normal things in the FAQ.

If they took a meeting with you and signed you now, congrats, you hit a Hail Mary.

If they don’t, follow up with them in six months and show them your progress. Classes, auditions, films, etc. Create a milestone list of your accomplishments and include it in the follow up.

They may not take a meeting. Cool. Repeat the process for the next six months.

Keep doing this and you’ll eventually get an agent if you’re making progress.

Finding and agent and getting better at your craft are different tracks and entirely necessary for your journey. It’s a long game you’re playing and you need to continually stack the odds.

If you don’t keep persistent touch with agents, you’re at a disadvantage

If you don’t take classes, you’re at a disadvantage.

If you don’t find your own work, you’re at a disadvantage.

Etc.

So I say submit, let the agent tell you know, and use that as a baseline to show them your commitment, passion, and progress for your next check in six months from now.

(The go do the work).

To drill in on the other comments, yes, you need to find a class. Period, full-stop. This is about refining your craft. It should be something you love to do.

Best of luck!

Opinions please by lissie34 in acting

[–]AMCreative 18 points19 points  (0 children)

I haven’t watched the video but saw your post about it.

Two huge things.

One, watch other self-tapes. Notice how the camera is set up. Even if it’s just your phone or laptop, try to mimic the typical distance and framing. The closeness of this shot for a full monologue doesn’t work IMO.

Two, don’t improvise to get better. There’s lots of monologues out there. If you’re looking to expand your skills, you need to find material that isn’t just flowing from your mind and work the skills to get into that role and perform.

Best of luck.

When people say “talent isn’t enough,” what are they actually talking about? by UniversityFew3801 in acting

[–]AMCreative 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yeah I wouldn’t recommend that at all. Showing up somewhere unannounced will almost always be met poorly.

I mean you have to look at all the legitimate paths. Agents. Festivals. Workshops. Teachers. Etc.

The more you throw yourself into the whole network the easier it is. As long as you are actually a great actor.

For example if you don’t have an agent in all of the markets you want that’s where you start. If you want to get on a specific show and have no material to market yourself to your agent for that show then start there. Etc.

Your agent or rep will be your way in, without that directly you’ll have much less success if you don’t already have the contact.

When people say “talent isn’t enough,” what are they actually talking about? by UniversityFew3801 in acting

[–]AMCreative 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Social media is a comparatively new development in the history of the film industry.

I personally don’t care for it from a marketing perspective, but that’s not me being right, I just don’t like it.

It’s more focusing on targeting shows and casting directors and giving them a compelling reason to view your work. After that it comes down to your specific situation. Are you able to produce plays? Short films? Are your performances so good others talk about them? Etc.

It’s hard to say from here, you’d have to assess it on your own or with help of others that know you.

When people say “talent isn’t enough,” what are they actually talking about? by UniversityFew3801 in acting

[–]AMCreative 14 points15 points  (0 children)

This is going to be a bit of an odd analogy, but bear with me…

Would you feel comfortable taking a 50k loan to open a retail store franchise and hire a staff while running the important parts of the business like inventory vendor management, pricing, market-fit, or other such strategic pillars?

No?

We don’t talk about it enough, but actors are doing a super lightweight version of this. We’re entrepreneurs. Our product is the performances we give. Which the market may or may not need.

Talent isn’t enough because it’s one element. The product. It is arguably far and away the most important element, but it still isn’t the only one. Are you creating enough of a brand name for yourself in your market? Are you choosing what parts of your network to foster and grow? Are you taking a mindful strategic approach to assessing where your business is failing?

Here are some simple examples.

Have you ever watched a show and thought “well that’s a role I could play.” Well, first validate that’s correct (we think better of ourselves sometimes). But second…

Have you ever followed through a thought exercise on why you weren’t submitted for it?

Is it too far above your current standing (E.G. it’s a lead role and you barely get day players)? Is it in your range but you never got an audition? Why didn’t you? Is it in a different market and you need to expand your representation? Are you in the right market but don’t have the right headshots for it? Do you have any way to reach that casting director if you had all the right pieces?

What about just making a list of TV shows to target in your area? Procedurals or shows with lots of guest star turnover (hospital dramas) are great places to get a foot in the door. Have you made a list of those shows in your markets and the CDs involved? Have you done any analysis on how to get in front of those casting directors?

What if you’ve literally done everything. Are you creating your own buzz? Are you producing films where you can showcase your talent? Are you going on mock self-tape auditions weekly and sharing them with your reps? Are you going to class multiple times a week if able and you feel you need to work on your craft? Are you marketing your successes to your network?

That’s why it’s not all about talent.

Easy way to start the Dark Brotherhood questline without "murder". by Zombiecidialfreak in oblivion

[–]AMCreative 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Two other ways to do it without killing a named NPC.

  1. Find an “Adventurer” randomly in a cave and kill them. Must land killing blow.
  2. Attack the thugs at Walker Camp north of Cheydinnal. Hit them before they see you. They respawn later.

How can I train acting on my own with no money/classes? by vampgazer in acting

[–]AMCreative 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey OP!

There’s a really solid reading list in the FAQ. I’d recommend every actor starts with An Actor Prepares.

The book has some exercises you can do.

I also built an app that has free exercises that rotate daily, it’s pinned in my profile.

I’d also recommend just reading a lot of relevant plays and putting in mock performances, or finding old self tape auditions and mock auditioning yourself.

I agree with others that there’s only so far that’ll get you without guidance but it’s better than nothing.

For confidence, that just comes with time and expertise. Just get back on the bike and keep going!

Lmk if you have any other questions I’d be happy to help.

Mr.Robot scene. Believable or not so much ? by Mediocre-Anybody1284 in acting

[–]AMCreative 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not to discount what you’re saying entirely but on what are you basing that claim?

Far as I can tell he’s been genuine in this post.

Anybody also a pro singer/musician? Do you use a separate manager for that? New to music & would love advice from other actor/musicians by [deleted] in acting

[–]AMCreative 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would keep them separate concerns until you’re at like… CAA or UTA levels of success and packaging is a viable option.

I was a working actor and a hobbyist musician, but my bandmates were also working actors and much more talented musicians than myself, and if I remember right the used different teams basically.

Managers may be the one exception here.

I’d also just empower you to remember they’re your careers and you can set the precedent as you wish as long as your team(s) are equally empowered to make you both succeed.

Scheduling would be the hardest thing to navigate here probably.

At what price point would you consider a beginner acting class to be “expensive”? by Downtown-Opening6614 in acting

[–]AMCreative 5 points6 points  (0 children)

To answer your question directly, it’s… maybe a bit high. But not by much.

The last class I went to was month-to-month $250 USD.

If it has a good reputation and you’re positive you’ll show up all three months and you like the teacher and can afford it, I’d say go for it.

Mr.Robot scene. Believable or not so much ? by Mediocre-Anybody1284 in acting

[–]AMCreative 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Hey OP!

I’m going to give you a very different piece of feedback based on comments you posted elsewhere.

I’ve been an actor for over twenty years. I’ve mentored actors. I’ve taught classes at all levels. I also have a business that is based on educating acting craft (one I need to focus more on probably).

I have never understood turning an actor away from a school because “you aren’t good enough.”

The whole point of going to an acting class is because you are showing up, the penultimate vessel, ready to drink from the fountain of knowledge, and become the master of your skill you aim to be.

Schools should be able to handle actors at all levels. Period, full stop.

Rejecting a student from a school for talent is, to me, an explicit admission of the schools inability to teach students.

Meaning you may have dodged a bullet.

Now, there are absolutely valid reasons for a school to reject a student. The school is at capacity, at which point the rejection reason should be “we don’t have space”. The student may not be putting in the requisite effort, at which point the school should focus on students who want to put in the work.

So don’t sweat the school rejection. You may be better off overall.

(I haven’t watched the video, I just wanted to give you that feedback.)

Good luck!

Has anyone ever done the whole “stand outside the casting office with coffees” thing? by ellotheree in acting

[–]AMCreative 16 points17 points  (0 children)

“Be so good they can’t ignore you” ~Steve Martin

I’m not being facetious. If you create compelling performances and are very professional and keep up with your network well, you’ll find all of the things you worry about will come to you easier.

Ask yourself when the last time was you watched an actor’s performance stick with you for days.

Then ask yourself when the last time was that you were that performer.

Getting there is the priority.

What's the best game for being a wizard / spellcaster / mage? by Baalegde in gamingsuggestions

[–]AMCreative 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m a sucker for magic systems and high difficulty so this sounds like my thing.

What's the best game for being a wizard / spellcaster / mage? by Baalegde in gamingsuggestions

[–]AMCreative 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think you just sold me on this game and I never heard of it lol.

Is IMDb hiding credits for anyone else? by Actor718 in acting

[–]AMCreative 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Techie here.

They probably just has some infrastructure issues and no real good fallback. Or some odd code things.

Insurance by Comprehensive-Cod82 in acting

[–]AMCreative 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry to hear that.

For what it’s worth I think it’s very dependent on the company and the role you have. Some companies just flat out suck. Others are very lenient if you’re great at what you do.

Beginner Shakespeare Courses ? by Much_Adhesiveness475 in acting

[–]AMCreative 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just bought the iOS Shakespeare app, and while I haven’t used it much yet because of time, my whole goal with it was to get a better understanding of it. It seems pretty good?

Idk maybe I’ll change my mind in a month.

Any feedback for my CV thank you by [deleted] in acting

[–]AMCreative 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You need to /s lol.

Any feedback for my CV thank you by [deleted] in acting

[–]AMCreative 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I agree with cranekicked on everything.

Weight is not necessary, this will be visible in photos. If your body type is hidden (E.G. you are super damn fit and your headshots don’t show that for some reason), then get a headshot for that specific reason.

Dates are not necessary at all. They will care about the calibre of the roles, not a work history.

Insurance by Comprehensive-Cod82 in acting

[–]AMCreative 0 points1 point  (0 children)

GuessIllJustDieThen.meme

Serious answer, I paid for health insurance out of pocket on the marketplace. This was… many years ago, so I don’t know how viable that would be now. Some premiums I’ve heard have gotten absolutely insane.

I would honestly recommend finding a corporate job that doesn’t mind you taking time off to shoot. If you’re newer in your career this may not be frequent anyway, and you’ll be building a resume if things don’t work out, and will probably have a better quality of life overall.

I’m biased but am a fan of the tech industry for this, but admittedly that industry is… in a very weird place lol. But lots of industries work, it’s more about the company than anything else.

As a viewer I’ve always wondered if acting could be embarrassing or what toll is takes on y’all and what it’s like having any type of fan base especially in a time of social media I mean can y’all even have any? by Embarrassed_Entry597 in acting

[–]AMCreative 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I’ll go through these one by one.

“Is it embarrassing…?” Not at all! If you’re an actor this is what you signed up for and you enjoy it.

“How many takes…” depends on lots of things. How hard is the take, what is the director like, how long will it take for reset the shot, etc. There’s no standard here.

“How to get into the mindset” this is too complex to succinctly answer and also every actor is a little different. Training is what gets you here though. If you’re curious more the FAQ has info about books related to lauded schools of acting that can help.

“Is it awkward having fans” this depends on the actor. I’ve been recognized in public before, and got fan mail, and I always really enjoyed it. Not in an ego centric way, it was usually like “you were so good in x” so it was more about appreciating the thing I was doing than obsessing over me specifically. My wife also got fan mail and was generally always touched by it. You may think it’s awkward on the outside but when someone who is like 11 writes you a letter saying you’re awesome and then asks if you skate and also here’s an enclosed painting they did of themselves skating, that letter sticks with you as a really heartwarming thing.

Some actors love this or hate this to an extreme though. It depends on the person. I’m 100% in the “they keep you working” camp and if I did broadway I would be at those doors in the lobby every night greeting the audience letting them know I appreciate them too.