Tips and Tools Blog Posts

Renowned New York City acting teacher and coach Suzanne Shepherd studied with Sanford Meisner, and her former students include Gregory Hines, Christopher Meloni, Helen Slater, Joan Allen, and Bebe Neuwirth. Shepherd is also a working actress herself, and has appeared… Read More

When new to acting, it can take some time before you understand the many industry terms that are thrown around. As much as possible, it’s helpful to learn the audition terminology before jumping in the game. Pretty soon, you’ll feel… Read More

The craft of acting requires thespians to have a command of physical, mental, facial, vocal, and emotional expression. To promote fresh and responsive performances, actors can warm up their minds and bodies with a wide assortment of games. These exercises… Read More

“Think about the donuts of your day.” –Clark Todebush The next time you’re feeling trepidation before a big audition, consider reflecting on the playful life advice for adults from a Michigan kindergartener, wise beyond his years. When Gwenyth Todebush was… Read More

Some actors in cinematic history portray such spine-chilling villains, it can be hard to separate the actor from the character. How do they do it? As Leonardo DiCaprio once said, “Don’t think for a moment that I’m really like any… Read More

Casting Society of America Artios Award-winning voice casting director Linda Lamontagne shared valuable tips for voice-acting submissions during an interview with “Variety.” Lamontagne is known for finding the voices for “Invincible,” “BoJack Horseman,” “Family Guy,” “American Dad,” “The Angry Birds… 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 state your name. But there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes… Read More

We’re all influenced by the people closest to us, so it’s wise to be intentional about who we surround ourselves with. First of all, it’s important to be in the company of folks who are rooting for you — individuals… Read More

Most performers — drama school graduates and seasoned acting veterans alike — have demo reels to promote themselves to industry professionals. Reels showcase your unique personality, look, and brand. They also document your best on-camera performances to date and display… Read More

With the shift to online auditions in recent years, you’ve dedicated yourself to mastering the various aspects of the digital format — purchasing equipment, learning the technical know-how, and setting up a designated space at home. Making sure you can… Read More

“If you were teaching an acting class, on day one, how would you start out with the students? What would be your first lesson?” That was the question five prominent actors were asked during an Actor’s Roundtable with The Hollywood… Read More

Albert Mehrabian is famous for his research on verbal and nonverbal cues, namely his findings known as the 7%-38%-55% rule. As a professor emeritus of psychology at UCLA, his research suggests that, generally speaking, body language accounts for a whopping… Read More

Charisma is often misunderstood to be sort of a magical quality that a person is born with. But controlled laboratory experiments have shown that a person’s level of charisma can be modified by simply incorporating specific charismatic behaviors. Some individuals… Read More

If a film or TV show is excellent in all aspects — great script, fantastic sets and costumes, breathtaking lighting and music — but the performances are subpar, the production will only go so far. The quality of acting is… Read More

You’ve heard the phrase, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” That’s particularly true in the casting world. Described as a calling card into the business, headshots are an actor’s most important marketing tool. After all,… Read More