Acting Career Blog Posts

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’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

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

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

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

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

If you’re one of the many actors who earn income from your acting, you’ve had the opportunity to enjoy the artistic side of an actors’ career throughout the year. But when tax season arrives, it’s time to get down to… Read More

You’ve got an audition and it’s time to prepare. You start by memorizing your lines, getting your look together, researching the commercial or project and showing up on time. It’s important you find a way to connect with the material… Read More

Santa Claus, Captain Jack Sparrow, Mr. T, Hagrid, Gandalf, The Man with No Name…some characters are unimaginable without a beard. And it’s hard to look at a screen these days without seeing a Hollywood celebrity sporting some amount of facial… Read More

Slating at the beginning of a commercial audition seems like a simple enough task: you look at the camera in a personable manner and say your name. What’s so hard about that? Well, an actor’s style of slating has the… Read More

Getting a callback means someone who viewed your first audition tape was convinced you had a legitimate chance in landing the role. So feel encouraged and appreciated for what you have to offer! Your work and overall essence was strong… Read More

“…I can do anything good, yeah, yeah, yeah. Better than anyone! Better than anyone!” –Jessica’s Daily Affirmation (over 20 million hits) When you’re preparing for an audition, surrounded by similar types in the lobby, what messages is your mind giving… Read More

According to SAG-AFTRA, the unemployment rate for its members is about 85%. However, the 15% employed includes minor roles and even extra work. Indeed, many “working actors” collect unemployment a good chunk of their year.  Pursuing a career in the… Read More

It may be hard for you to admit this because you are a tremendously diverse, uncommonly nuanced, unpredictable, multi-talented actor who refuses to be labeled. But labeled you are. Every time you’re called in for a commercial audition, you are… Read More