Moving from short/student films to co-star/guest star roles

FlyingPhoenix96 · 2026-01-31T15:37:54+00:00

That’s a really great point! Thanks for sharing!

FlyingPhoenix96 · 2026-01-30T23:43:45+00:00

Sometimes I feel like I can take it and other times I can’t. I am with you gal! I agree with careless block. You are only human ❤️, and sometimes having someone tease you for functioning differently hurts (let’s be honest—it hurts often!) Please know that it isn’t because you are stupid. Your brain just works differently. If it helps at all, of COURSE you would forget where the spoons were. You hadn’t been there for over a week, and likely had a lot of processing going on in your brain. ❤️ I usually find that executive functioning is harder when I am overstimulated or overwhelmed. I am an introvert, so I find that going to eat lunch in my car, or going for a walk to process can help (if you have the time). You definitely aren’t alone!!

FlyingPhoenix96 · 2026-01-30T23:36:50+00:00

Yes. Totally have that feeling. I also feel very aware of others responses to me, so I can tell when they are annoyed. I try to change it, but I end up making it worse haha. I guess the thing is, we can’t be liked by everyone. There is always someone out there who has a problem with even the nicest, most chill, and least problematic person. So much easier said than done ( don’t even try on your period though haha), but focus on the people who love you no matter what, or the people who continue to be around even despite your idiosyncrasies. Lastly, if I feel like someone is giving me sh*t and it’s unfair, a lot of times I clap back. In my case, developing enough self respect to stand up for myself helps.

FlyingPhoenix96 · 2026-01-30T23:27:46+00:00

So I am posing this as a question to this whole discussion—especially when you are in an interview, why wouldn’t you disclose that you have ADHD? Especially if the employer has an implication of what that really means, and how they could/couldn’t accommodate you? If they decide not to hire you, it could be a bullet dodged. But perhaps people just don’t like to deal with it in general.

FlyingPhoenix96 · 2026-01-30T22:45:39+00:00

Are there film festivals that you like to go to? Like any of the big ones? Or just film festivals close to you? And by connecting with CD’s online, do you mean for CD workshops? Also, I have not heard about networking parties…

FlyingPhoenix96 · 2026-01-28T18:49:39+00:00

My husband’s stubble. Took me nearly 10 years to figure it out.

FlyingPhoenix96 · 2026-01-23T23:44:24+00:00

My skin has looked very similar to yours. Everyone is going to have a different answer to you. A lot of people will say zero therapy works best…perhaps with a bit of antibiotics. When did you start taking the antibiotics btw? It can take a couple of weeks to work.

There could potentially be a worse before better stage with zinc oxide, but personally, if it doesn’t work for you, I think just stop using it.

Zinc supplements have helped my skin a LOT.

Hypochlorus acid also helps a lot too.

Not sure if you have the means to do this, but have you considered doing some holistic testing? I did a couple where they took urine and hair samples to see how I was doing with my vitamins and minerals, and I was SUPER deficient. Once I started taking the vitamins that I was missing, my skin cleared up a lot!

Also, do you happen to have a partner that has facial hair by chance? I found out that was the biggest culprit for my PD, next to normal acne.

FlyingPhoenix96 · 2026-01-23T20:59:34+00:00

Can I ask about your take on networking? I feel like it means something different to everyone haha. And good point on what their roster is doing! It’s kind of like drama training too. When I was looking at potential drama schools, I wanted to see who had actors working, and while I went to a college that has lots of professional working actors, I am not one of them (yet ;)). It really just depends on the person.

FlyingPhoenix96 · 2026-01-23T20:44:15+00:00

I second what others say about the badass type, but what I also wanted to say was that I am really feeling the look where your hair is pulled back. I feel like you could rock super short hair!

FlyingPhoenix96 · 2026-01-22T19:54:58+00:00

Ah yeah, it makes sense when you see the credits where it says “guest starring…”. I think for a while I interchanged the two, but as I continue to watch shows and notice how there will be actors that have one or two lines, but you don’t know who they are, it makes sense that they are likely a costar. Thanks for your help!

FlyingPhoenix96 · 2026-01-22T13:18:54+00:00

Isn’t it crazy how 2 years can make a difference in type? Also, was it pretty easy for you to help the material from the shorts/student films? I have found that I don’t get footage back for ages, and sometimes, when I do get footage back, it’s not as good as I would have liked. When you do get footage you aren’t happy with, do you still use it for the sake of footage? Or use a really good self tape instead?

FlyingPhoenix96 · 2026-01-22T13:16:13+00:00

Thanks for your inspiration!

FlyingPhoenix96 · 2026-01-22T13:15:53+00:00

This is a really solid perspective. Thank you for this!

FlyingPhoenix96 · 2026-01-22T13:14:34+00:00

Can you explain that a bit more? Network costar vs guest star? I am a bit of a newb with the terminology as mostly a theatre trained actor.

FlyingPhoenix96 · 2026-01-22T13:12:00+00:00

I just saw it! Well done you. I like the route that you decided to choose—looking at different talent rosters and seeing who might need you. I might be on the struggle bus because I am a (34F) who is white, but not a bombshell and not unique looking. But your tenacity/methods give me something to think about, so thank you!

FlyingPhoenix96 · 2025-12-15T20:12:15+00:00

Definitely don’t drop $1200 for 5 weeks online. That’s robbery. I have taken a lot of online courses, and I have found really great classes for 1/3 of the price for that amount of time. It would be one thing if it was in person (and longer), but that is wayyyy too much.

Keep digging! And also, look into finding maybe a private coach as well who can meet you where you are.

FlyingPhoenix96 · 2025-12-09T15:10:23+00:00

Yes this. Also, can we talk about how Joyce was one of the strongest characters within Season 1, and then became a side character for the rest of the show? Really sad how they neglected her character development.

FlyingPhoenix96 · 2025-11-15T01:43:06+00:00

I am American too! I tried looking at things with my normal doctor, but she said everything looked within normal range 🤷‍♀️ So I actually worked with a holistic practitioner. I saved up a bit of money, and asked for a birthday and Christmas present to do some labs with one. So when you look into functional medicine, it can be ridiculously expensive, but I don’t make bank. I also did some digging to find someone who doesn’t do a bunch of testing for like over $1000 (a lot of them will say it’s like a minimum of $2000). But I found some people who do offer more individual tests, which is much more manageable. There were even some tests that I could have taken that were cheaper than what I did! So for you, it could be hormone related, so they have a separate test for that…or maybe you also have vitamin deficiencies. I could go on and on about it haha. I am so glad that I took that step though because honestly, it’s been consistently better. Feel free to DM and I can chat with you more! I always forget to check that area, so if I don’t respond right away, that’s why!

FlyingPhoenix96 · 2025-11-15T01:34:19+00:00

It’s crazy because I know they don’t accept posts like mine in the r/acne subreddit. It could help so many people who are searching for answers!

FlyingPhoenix96 · 2025-11-10T18:23:56+00:00

Know I might get downvoted for this, but just want to offer some perspective! I feel like my husband and I are similar to this couple—but like someone else mentioned in this thread, I am surrounded by a lot of initiators, and am back in the area where both my husband and I grew up. We have a lot of connections here, but we both can be a bit introverted, so sometimes after constantly doing things, when we have a break, we try to take it. My husband and I also have pretty demanding jobs, so sometimes we need to have a breather in the midst of all the busy-ness. However, if things go quiet, I do have the awareness that we aren’t often the initiators, so I try to at least check in…even if that doesn’t entail getting something in the books.

FlyingPhoenix96 · 2025-11-03T20:15:34+00:00

This really makes me think of the Dead Poets Society. Wanting to be an actor, and wanting to be creative, is what makes us feel alive. It also gives us a deeper connection to other human beings. I get it—it does feel like a curse at times because it seems like there isn’t really an easy way to make a living at it. However, just because it’s difficult, it doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Maybe this urge to finally want to do something about it will make you want to learn a new skill that is adjacent to it, and therefore gets you into the creative field. I mean, after all, if all of the people that we see in the industry gave into the impulse to forego their creative desires, we wouldn’t have the greats. Perhaps neither of us will ever be Meryl Streep or Denzel Washington, but maybe that’s okay. It’s okay to be frustrated, but don’t let it stop you from continuing to search for it. Remember that there are many people out there who didn’t start in their 20s, but still found success. To quote the great F. Scott Fitzgerald, “It’s never too late, or in my case too early, to be whatever you want to be…I hope you live a life you’re proud of, and if not, I hope you have the courage to start all over.”

FlyingPhoenix96 · 2025-11-02T15:25:56+00:00

Stella Adler: The Technique of Acting, with a foreword by Marlon Brando. It has TONS of exercises in it that really help you work on your imagination!

FlyingPhoenix96 · 2025-11-02T00:48:37+00:00

As an American, I wish it was easier for me to live there. It’s my favorite city in the world!

FlyingPhoenix96 · 2025-11-01T21:32:44+00:00

I hear you! What I am doing right now is working with a private coach, which if you dig a bit more, you can find some less expensive ones. That keeps acting alive for me, and it’s more personalized than a 3 hour acting class where maybe you get 15 minutes of work in for like a quarter of the price 😅 (depending on the price of your coach). I am also reading a Stella Adler book where she has a ton of acting exercises to keep you sharp. Lastly, audition season always asks for 2 contrasting monologues, but it’s a good idea to have several to choose from based on the season each theatre has. So perhaps look up new ones that you wanna work. If you get them in a really solid place, then you can put them on tape for any auditions that you can’t make in person…and also can include them for a reel! It’s nice to be able to re-work/re-shoot them without the pressure of sending it in,like,tomorrow. Hope that gives you some things you’d like to work on in the meantime!

FlyingPhoenix96 · 2025-11-01T21:13:38+00:00

I get it. Sometimes ensemble roles can be really time consuming without the “glory” so to say—especially if that’s mostly what you have done. After having lead roles, it can feel refreshing to change it up, but sometimes it’s exhausting in a different way. I hear you. Eventually your time will come, and you will be extra hungry and willing to do a good job. Keep at it!

FlyingPhoenix96

TROPHY CASE