Acting Career Blog Posts

How to Choose an Audition Monologue, According to Casting Director Erica Arvold
Selecting an audition monologue to represent who you are as an actor can be stressful. Having the freedom to choose any piece when there is so much material can feel like a daunting task. In this Arvold ASK video, casting… Read More

How to Market Yourself as an Actor and Become a Self-Promotion Wizard
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from helping actors build their careers, it’s that auditioning on its own is never enough. Making it as an actor is a long and arduous process, and one of the most important parts is… Read More

Understanding Fi-Core
“Fi-Core,” short for “Financial Core,” is one of the most controversial issues facing on-camera performers today. Many actors, agents, managers, casting directors and other industry professionals do not fully understand what it is, and are therefore making uninformed, unwise, and… Read More

The Five Items You Need In Your Self Tape Studio
The biggest draw of online casting is the ability to put your best foot forward. Take a break from crowded casting calls and hurried auditions to let the perfectionist in you take control. Film as many takes as needed until… Read More

Judy Kain’s Commercial Audition Tips
For commercial acting coach Judy Kain, the key to successful auditions is personality. “Your authenticity comes from your training as an actor,” Judy says. “But, your personality is what lands you acting jobs. Often, you’re going to be auditioning with… Read More

How to Boost Your Acting Performances By Reaping the Benefits of Poetry Slams and Spoken Word Events
Are you still looking for more opportunities to perform before audiences? If so, you might consider participating in open mic events held in countless coffee shops, bars, restaurants, classrooms, libraries or even stadiums across the country. Whether you’re performing poetry… Read More

Matt Damon on What It Takes to Succeed as an Actor
Hollywood is full of super-charged, hardworking stars who often engross themselves in several projects simultaneously, and one of these actors is Matt Damon. The Massachusetts native is known for his never-say-die work ethic whether he’s starring in movies, producing films… Read More

Ways to Get a Theatrical Agent When You Only Have a Commercial Agent (and vice versa)
While it’s not mandatory, having a talent agent can sure make working as an actor easier. Commercial agents, for example, can schedule profitable commercial auditions for their actors as well as negotiate contracts once a job is booked. And a… Read More

A Complete Guide to On-set Do’s and Don’ts
Legendary screen actress Gene Tierney once said, “Eccentric behavior is not routinely noticed around a movie set.” As much as we like to believe that a TV and film set has just as much drama as the story being told,… Read More

Booking Without a Callback
While it’s the exception to the rule, sometimes actors book jobs without returning for a callback audition. In the video below, House of Cards casting director Erica Arvold and Lincoln actor and acting coach Richard Warner discuss some of the… Read More

Steven Pressfield: Amateur vs Professional
Steven Pressfield’s book Turning Pro directs those of us who are stuck in amateur habits to consciously adopt a professional work ethic. Turning pro, he argues, is imperative to overcome “Resistance with a capital ‘R.’” Resistance is the term he… Read More

Three Tips to Succeed This Episodic Season
Episodic season is the time of year when the episodes of many TV shows are being cast. With TV pilots now sold and the leading actors hired, the casting of recurring roles, guest stars and co-stars begins. This is when… Read More

Casting Director Lucy Bevan’s Audition Room Tips
Acclaimed casting director Lucy Bevan boasts a long and impressive resume which includes casting for Beauty and the Beast, Cruella, The Batman and most recently the blockbuster juggernaut Barbie. Based in London, she selects talent for British independent films, theater… Read More

The Callback vs. The Shoot
I have been teaching commercial acting for over 20 years and auditioning for over 40 and have never figured out a way to teach actors how to work on set. I have found numerous techniques to hone their skills in… Read More

Tips for Actor Websites
Do actors really need a website? According to casting director and social media consultant Amy Jo Berman, the answer is no; actors do not need their own websites to achieve their career goals. However, she firmly believes actors should have… Read More