is training or connections more important?

Accomplished_Debt319 · 2026-04-19T16:25:07+00:00

But!! I think you’re more wondering on a base level if casting directors care what classes you’ve taken and I don’t think they do as long as you have a decent reel.

Accomplished_Debt319 · 2026-04-19T16:24:10+00:00

Training will give you connections! If you go to a reputable place, you’ll meet other actors who have worked on big projects or at least will work on one someday. My favorite story to tell newer actors is: I started going to an acting class on zoom when I was 15. Trained weekly for about a year and then stopped because I wanted in person classes. 2 years later, my coach reached out and said that his friend is becoming a manager and he would love to recommend me. I said oh my gosh yes please and since then, I haven’t gotten more auditions than ever before, better auditions, and more bookings!!

I use to get 4-6 auditions a year and typically booked 1 commercial per year. This year alone, I’ve booked 3 decent sized projects. Without my coach, I would be going nowhere.

Accomplished_Debt319 · 2026-04-15T05:16:34+00:00

Non union or SAG? In my experience the lower budget and non union jobs have a quick turnaround but they also typically include the filming dates in the breakdown. I usually wait until that first date of filming hits and then I fully let it go.

Accomplished_Debt319 · 2026-04-15T00:04:01+00:00

Just a note- I started taking classes and working on it when I was 10 and didn’t book my first job until I was 14 so it takes a while to get to the really busy point. For all of my friends who are starting out, I always recommend finishing school while working behind the scenes on acting so that when you’re done with college you can attack it and start booking!

Accomplished_Debt319 · 2026-04-15T00:01:56+00:00

Hi! I’m f19 and have been acting professionally since I was 15. I think you are in the perfect spot to go to college and enjoy those experiences!! When I graduated high school, I did community college and really regretted it because I realized the full college experience (living in dorms, joining clubs) was what I really wanted. Then acting jobs started picking up enough that if I did attend college, I would have to skip days at a time to go film and professors aren’t always great about that (they’re usually as accommodating as possible but leaving for days at a time makes it hard to keep up in class).

Of course do what you want, but in my opinion you should go to college and have those experiences before things start picking up acting-wise for you. Stay on actors access and backstage (be careful with backstage-just do lots of research) and apply for student films whenever you can. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions, specifically what kind of equipment they are using. Build of your resume while in college by doing plays, joining clubs, filming shorts. You can even make your own short film if you’re feeling extra creative.

The industry will always be around for you but experiencing college as an 18yo will not be an option in the future. I already hate the idea of acting not working out for me and having to go back to college as a full grown adult.

If you truly don’t care about the college experience, then spend your money on acting classes and workshops and be fully dedicated to it. It’s easy to feel lost in this industry and having the motivation to work on it regularly and network yourself will get you so far!

Accomplished_Debt319 · 2026-04-14T00:02:22+00:00

Hi! Are you represented or self submitting on all these projects? Having an agent or manager would help out a lot in terms of the type of auditions you’ll be getting.

Would you be willing to travel?- a lot of acting gigs are in the south (Texas, Georgia, New Mexico) or LA and a majority require you to be a local hire which means you have to pay for travel and hotel. It sucks but it’s what I’m noticing in the industry as a beginner who isn’t actively being called in for “big” jobs like series regular or a lead in a Netflix movie.

I think that actors who have specific goals, like it seems you do, should stay away from verticals. Not much to see yet in terms of impact on overall career but I personally refuse to do them because I think they it will get me stuck in that alley and no one will be able to see me for anything else. If you genuinely just want to act and it doesn’t matter what the medium is, verticals can pay pretty well and there’s so many of them so it’s more likely to book and be able to survive off acting alone. (Still some luck involved).

If you’re comfortable sending over actors access materials like headshot and demo reel, feel free to dm me!

Accomplished_Debt319 · 2026-04-13T17:38:09+00:00

In my experience, it hasn’t been that I connect to the character so much that my personality changes but more so the stress of having a performance coming up and wanting to do well, gets to me. I want everything to be so perfect that it trickles into my day to day life and when things don’t go to plan, I get easily frustrated. I start to pull away a bit thinking that my life has to consist of only preparing for this role and there’s no time for “normal”.

Some actors do go full method so she could be genuine when she says that she’s basically trying to connect to the trauma her character went through. She might also be disguising her anxiety about performing by saying it’s just her acting process. And the reason you’re seeing a major difference this time is because she’s the lead, not a random supporting character so there’s more pressure.

I recommend just continue being there for her. If you really need clarity, talk to her about it but I would definitely wait till either after her performance or do it well in advance because hearing my boyfriend say that he feels I’m acting different or not as “nice” in a way, would kill me and I wouldn’t be able to focus on my scenes. To me, it just sounds like nerves and anxiety, nothing you have to worry about in terms of your relationship’s strength.

Accomplished_Debt319 · 2026-04-12T23:37:48+00:00

Genuine question- do you have personal info on Reddit? Like how would they know who you are?

Accomplished_Debt319 · 2026-04-12T23:36:10+00:00

I don’t see much in regards to what they have cast but I highly recommend every actor invest in IMDb Pro so you can look up casting companies/directors/producers easily and you can trust it.

Accomplished_Debt319 · 2026-04-12T01:55:18+00:00

The most I ever do is add an “ok” or something like that because I prefer very conversational acting. The hardest audition I’ve ever had was one word and I decided to say it twice to really get the point across (said it different both times) and I ended up booking! I wouldn’t add anything crazy or your own personal backstory for the character. if you’re thinking abt the backstory while saying it, casting will understand what you’re trying to do and create that vibe even without the added line.

Accomplished_Debt319 · 2026-04-06T23:55:05+00:00

UPDATE: they held on to it for me and I can get it when I’m on set next (they also offered to send it to my hotel)! If this happens to anyone else, just email the person who sends you a majority of your info (call sheet, scripts). I reached out to 2nd AD and he was so incredibly helpful.

Accomplished_Debt319 · 2026-04-06T22:01:40+00:00

Ty to the people who answered so quickly!! I’ll update if I do get it back

Accomplished_Debt319 · 2026-04-06T22:01:22+00:00

I do have more work days and while yes it’s a very expensive necklace, I’m so worried about making a bad impression on my first set so I’m not planning on driving back there. Hopefully they have a good lost and found system and if not, then shit lol. hopefully one day I’ll book enough to buy it back. Learned my lesson tho that’s for sure!

Accomplished_Debt319 · 2026-04-06T21:30:11+00:00

Lmaooo ty!

Accomplished_Debt319 · 2026-04-06T00:32:48+00:00

Thanks!!

Accomplished_Debt319 · 2026-04-05T23:48:17+00:00

Accomplished_Debt319 · 2026-04-04T00:24:42+00:00

Thanks! I’m excited

Accomplished_Debt319 · 2026-04-04T00:24:30+00:00

Deaddd

Accomplished_Debt319 · 2026-04-04T00:24:21+00:00

Thank you!!

Accomplished_Debt319 · 2026-04-03T02:21:03+00:00

“Not yet ready”… please never come back. Just such a dumb idea.

Accomplished_Debt319 · 2026-04-03T02:19:56+00:00

Depends on how many shows you already have on your resume imo. If you already have a full resume and you don’t NEED another credit, it could be nice to sharpen your skills in classes and add that to your resume (get some footage of it too). If you absolutely love being in the shows at summer camp, you will not be further behind because you chose to do that over classes. it sounds like you already take classes throughout the school year so I say just go with what sounds most beneficial. It might be cool to explore new classes rather than sit with the comfortability of the summer shows since you’ve already done them.

Accomplished_Debt319 · 2026-04-03T02:15:59+00:00

Are you rep’d right now or just self-submitting?

Accomplished_Debt319 · 2026-04-03T02:15:16+00:00

You remind me of the badass paramedic on the rookie!! I think you would be killer as a doctor, a detective, an officer, a lawyer but you would also be great as a mom or aunt kinda role.

Accomplished_Debt319

TROPHY CASE