GARY MASON

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Acting

If I had a Time Machine

Acting, Training, Voice Over

Welcome back!

And thanks for reading!  Let’s have a bit of fun and think about what we might be able to do if we had a time machine.

REMEMBER:

Just a reminder here that when I use the term “actor” I mean it to encompass all forms of acting including voice, stage, and screen.  Yeah, I know I say this every week, but it falls under the heading of “The things that go without saying are the things that most need to be said”.  What follows applies relatively equally to all of these forms of acting.

We see it all the time

That age old social media question about what age would you go back to if you could.  This is not that.  THIS is about staying the same age you are now and traveling through time.  What would you do?  Who would you talk to?  You can post yours in the comments section below, but here are mine.

Changing history

Nope.  Not interested.  I wouldn’t use my time machine to assassinate Hitler or prevent JFK from being killed or any of a million bad things that have happened throughout history.  Why?  Well, who knows what other potentially worse things may happen as a result. I’m not smart enough to know how my actions might influence future events, so I’d just leave the past as it is…well, mostly.

If I could talk to my younger self

If I had a chance to talk to me, and could convince me that I was future me, I’d only say three things:

  • I’d let me know that I turned out OK and stop worrying about it.
  • Suggest I pay a little closer attention in school (of course…who wouldn’t?)
  • Suggest I not give up on acting so I didn’t have to start over again so late in life.

That’s it…I wouldn’t warn myself about all the stupid mistakes I made or try to change the trajectory of my life, because then I might not be the guy I am…and I am pretty fond of me right now.

The first VO artist

A lot of people believe Walt Disney became the first VO artist when he recorded the voice of Mickey Mouse in Steamboat Willy. A lot of people would be wrong.  The very first voice artist was a man named Reginald Fessenden, and I’d try to meet and talk with him.  I’d have to travel all the way back to 1900 Canada to do that.  My goal would be to learn WHY he started recording his voice (he recorded weather reports).  It’s interesting what VO has become today, and it would be even more interesting to talk to the guy who invented it!

May as well meet the master himself

No actor worth his salt would travel back in time without meeting the great Konstantin Stanislavsky. As long as I was checking out 1900 Canada, I should take a quick trip to Russia to meet and study with Stanislavsky.  Of course, it may take a while since I’d first have to learn to speak and understand Russian, but it would be worth it.  I’d train with the founder of actors “inhabiting” a character instead of pretending to be that person.

Moving forward in time…

Not much chance I’d get to actually speak with Walt Disney, but I’d try or at least speak with some of his minions. While he did not record the first VO, he did record the first VO synchronized with animation.  I’d love to hear about how he conceived and executed that.  Well, I also wouldn’t mind picking mister Disney’s brain about a lot of things, including his vision for the future.  No giving away future secrets though!

Even before Disney though…

Since I’d already spent some time studying with Stanislavsky (and learning to speak Russian) it’s probably a good idea to head to the US and see if I couldn’t hook up with Lee Strasberg for a while and learn Method Acting, which is of course an offshoot of the teachings of Stanislavsky.  Most modern acting disciplines are based on Stanislavsky’s work, and The Method is one of them.  How cool to study with both men one right after the other?

And while I am in the 1930’s

May as well see if I couldn’t get a chance to work with the prolific Mel Blanc.  As a matter of fact, Mr. Blanc is regarded as the most prolific voice actor in entertainment history.  He voiced so many cartoon characters it would take the rest of this blog just to list them, but of course some of the most famous are Porky Pig, Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, and Daffy duck.  A couple coaching sessions with him would be an amazing experience and couldn’t help but offer an improvement for me.

Jump forward to the ‘50’s

A stop in NYC is in order where I’d enroll in classes at HB studio in Greenwich Village.  I mean, just hanging out in The Village in the 1950’s would be cool enough but learning directly from one of the greatest contemporary acting teachers, Uta Hagen, would put the icing on the cake.  Hagen’s technique, also based on Stanislavsky’s teachings, draws from an actor’s personal life and uses those experiences to substitute or transfer them to the character.  Her method wants the actor’s essential self to show through the performance of their character.

And no trip through time would be complete…

Selfishly I would also jump FORWARD from today 10-20 years just to see if I ever win that Oscar.  And no, I wouldn’t want to know the date of my death.  That’s just scary and creepy.

We can do a lot of this WITHOUT a time machine!

While it would definitely be fun to travel through time (if only) and learn from some of the foundational people in the worlds of acting and VO…it’s possible to do that travel through books and today’s acting classes.  Sadly, not many of the great voice actors wrote books about their trade (at least not the ones I mention above), although Mel Blanc did write a memoir called “That’s not all Folks” which could be a fun read.  If you are interested, what follows are some books by these famous teachers.  If not, then stop reading now.

Stanislavsky

The most recommended book by Stanislavsky is “An Actor Prepares”.  If you don’t read anything else by him, read this one.  If you enjoy it you can follow that up with “Building a Character”, “Creating a Role”, and “An Actors Work”.  You can’t go wrong with Stanislavsky but remember to use it as a basis for understanding later work by those who learned from him directly or from those who learned from his students.

Strasberg

Not quite as prolific a writer as Stanislavsky, he did pen a couple of useful books.  The first, and probably most important for actor’s studying his “Method” would be “A Dream of Passion: The Development of the Method” followed by “Acting: A Handbook of the Stanislavski Method”

Hagen

The most contemporary word on acting comes from Uta Hagen. Many actors like her teachings because it falls somewhere between the external and internal aspects of portraying a role.  The two books to read by Hagen are “Respect for Acting” and “A Challenge For The Actor”.  If you want to up your acting game, these are great books to do it with.

Thanks for coming along!

It was fun to take a short trip back in time to meet and talk with some of the greats of our industry.  Even though they’re not still with us, you can definitely learn a lot by reading what they wrote about the art of acting.  And the simple truth is all of these techniques are still being taught.  Most acting teachers base their exercises on one or more of these famous teachers!

If you enjoyed this, please leave a comment below to let me know.  If you DIDN’T enjoy it, well, I’d like to hear from you too!  And please feel free to share this blog on social media or with other people you think might enjoy it.

If you haven’t already, please feel free to subscribe so you don’t miss anything – and as a thank you receive a free copy of my E-Book: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About getting Started in Voice Over but Didn’t Know Who to Ask!

Blogs actors and VO artists should be reading

Acting, Voice Over

Welcome back!

And thanks for reading!  If you like reading this blog, here are a few more you might consider following as well!

REMEMBER:

Just a reminder here that when I use the term “actor” I mean it to encompass all forms of acting including voice, stage, and screen.  Yeah, I know I say this every week, but it falls under the heading of “The things that go without saying are the things that most need to be said”.  What follows applies relatively equally to all of these forms of acting.

Always learning

Acting and voice over (VO) are two dynamic fields that demand talent, dedication, and continuous learning. Whether you are new to the industry or have been doing this for a long time, if you want to stay ahead of the game you should be on a quest for continuous improvement. One way to do that is to subscribe to blogs in the genre you are working in.  There are numerous blogs dedicated to providing the latest information, tips, and resources to help build your career or maybe just to be entertaining. Here are some of the best blogs that actors and VO artists should follow.

The Voices in my Head

Informative, helpful, humorous.  Josh Alexander has been in the business of VO for a while, and he’s become very successful.  He’s also a whiz at marketing your VO business.  Check out The Voices in my Head blog, and if you like it subscribe. Note that it appears Josh has taken a short (?) sabbatical in publishing (last published December 28th, 2022) but there is plenty of content to keep you satisfied till he returns.

Backstage

OK, so backstage actually calls their blog a Magazine, which at one point in time it actually was.  Backstage is one of the most comprehensive blogs for actors and VO artists, providing resources for everything from casting calls to career advice. The blog covers topics such as acting techniques, auditions, and industry news, and provides a platform for actors to showcase their work and connect with other industry professionals.

Voice Over Xtra

Voice Over Xtra is less a blog and more a VO focused news service. The site is dedicated to the voice over industry, and provides VO artists with the latest news, information, and resources to help them build their careers. They cover topics such as recording techniques, marketing strategies, and industry news, and provide access to a community of VO artists and industry professionals.  While it’s not actually a blog, per se, it’s useful to subscribe to their newsletter to get plugged into the latest news and events for VO artists.

Actors Connection

Actors Connection is an acting school that also hosts a blog dedicated to providing actors with resources and tools to help them connect with industry professionals. The blog provides information on auditions, workshops, and industry events, and provides actors with access to a community of fellow actors and industry professionals.

The TL;DR Voice Over blog

John Gardner’s TL;DR Voice Over Blog doesn’t publish on a regular schedule, but it’s definitely worth subscribing so you see it when he does.  John is a VO artist with a down to earth vibe and a real sense of humor. Most of his blogs center on his journey as a VO artist and are helpful when you just want a laugh or to realize your struggles are not yours alone.

SAG-AFTRA

How can we talk about acting and not mention the union!?  SAG-AFTRA doesn’t actually publish a blog, but there are frequent articles related to acting and of interest to actors regardless of your union affiliation.  These articles are available through Feedspot, which is linked above.

The ACX Blog

If you are an audiobook narrator, or want to become an audiobook narrator ACX Blog is for you!  This blog, from the biggest audiobook creation website – which is affiliated with Amazon and Audible – is chock full of useful insights for the world of audiobook narration.  It covers everything from setup, SPECS and equipment, to running a small business and what it’s like to be a freelance narrator.

Acting Magazine

Like other acting sites mentioned, Acting Magazine is more a…well…Magazine thank a blog.  The site provides info on acting, auditions, casting directors, talent agents, SAG-AFTRA, theatre, voice-over & more!  It’s definitely worth following!

Nethervoice

The Nethervoice Blog is written by VO biggie, Paul Strikwerda. Paul has been writing about voice overs, freelancing, and personal growth for almost twenty years. As he says; “The Dutch are known for their directness, and I’m not afraid to speak my mind and stir the pot. I’m here to teach, challenge, inspire, and entertain you…We have much to talk about!”  Subscribe to Paul’s blog and you can’t go wrong!

Monologue Blogger

Every actor needs a couple monologues in their back pocket, right?  Sure they do!  Monologue Blogger provides creators (actors, directors, producers, influencers, teachers) with thousands of free scripts, monologues, plays and scenes.  Check it out, especially if you are on the hunt for the perfect monologue for you

Karen Commins Blog

Karen is another giant in the audiobook industry and she has a lot to share with you.  She actually hosts two separate blog streams: One for Narrators and one for authors. Both are useful and informative for either, so you’ll have a lot to read.  Karen also hosts a useful website for aspiring narrators: The Narrators Roadmap which is filled with TONS of useful information for anyone who wants to strike out as an audiobook narrator.

Nick Dunning Blog

Nick Dunning’s Blog is filled with ideas and suggestions to help shape your acting career in surprising and delightful ways.  This blog will benefit you at a very cool level starting right now. Nick Dunning is a leading actor, holistic high-performance acting coach, BBC-produced screenwriter & creator of ‘ACTivate the A-List Actor Activation Method’.  Check it out.

Findaway Voices Blog

Like ACX, Findaway voices is a platform where authors and narrators can come together to create audiobooks and distribute them.  Unlike ACX, Findaway is not constrained by Amazon and Audible, so they can distribute to a far larger audience.  Findaway Voices Blogs provides narration news, product updates and special announcements from Findaway Voices.

This is just a smattering of some of the best blogs that actors and VO artists can and should follow to stay ahead of the game. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or just starting out, these blogs provide the latest information, tips, and resources to help you build and improve your career.  Take a look and subscribe so you don’t miss anything.  Happy reading!

If you enjoyed this, please leave a comment below to let me know.  If you DIDN’T enjoy it, well, I’d like to hear from you too!  And please feel free to share this blog on social media or with other people you think might enjoy it.

If you haven’t already, please feel free to subscribe so you don’t miss anything – and as a thank you receive a free copy of my E-Book: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About getting Started in Voice Over but Didn’t Know Who to Ask!

Useless facts and Trivia

Acting, General, Voice Over

Welcome back!

And thanks for reading!  Let’s just have some fun this week.  Here are some useless facts and a bit of trivia that actors should enjoy.

REMEMBER:

Just a reminder here that when I use the term “actor” I mean it to encompass all forms of acting including voice, stage, and screen.  What follows applies relatively equally to all of these forms of acting.

Behind the scenes

If you’ve ever been on a sound stage, in a studio or on a TV or movie set, it’s fun to see all the things that go on behind the scenes.  The average “civilian” consumers of entertainment have no idea what kind of things go on in making that entertainment.  What follows are just some fun bits of trivia and not a few useless facts for you to digest. Let’s start with a couple big ones. WARNING: There may be spoilers ahead!

Armageddon

Who doesn’t love a Bruce Willis movie about a bunch of hard charging, hard partying oil drilling roughnecks being launched into space to land on a meteor to drill a hole and save the world?  Well, not many people apparently as Armageddon was a very successful film.  But here’s the thing: Did you know that NASA shows this film during management training? Because it is so accurate?  No.  New managers are supposed to see how many errors they can find.  To date more than 160 have been discovered.

The Godfather

It’s iconic.  Anyone who loves gangster movies has seen the first Godfather movie at LEAST once (personally I like to watch it at least once a year.  And I LOVE the seven hour long cut where the scenes are arranged chronologically across all three movies). If, like me, you’ve watched this movie several times, you may have noticed Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) holding a cat in the opening scene.  That cat was a stray found on the lot who apparently took a liking to Brando so he just became a part of film history.  The cat’s purring was so loud at times, Brando had to ADR some of his lines.

Interstellar

I confess I haven’t seen this one, so I can’t comment on the content of the movie, however here is an interesting tidbit.  I think we all know that making a feature film is expensive and time consuming.  Apparently in this film there was a scene filmed in a huge cornfield.  In order to pull off the scene the producers actually GREW a huge field of corn, shot the scene then sold the corn for profit.  Imagine having to plant the field, tend the field and then wait for the corn to grow before shooting a scene.  That’s dedication.

Star Trek (1966-1969)

For all of us who grew up watching William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy conquering the “final frontier” the technology was pretty far out for the viewers in the 1960’s.  Phasers, transporters, communicators…doors that whooshed open as you approached them.  Fun stuff for youngsters like me at the time.  And the recognizable sound of those doors whooshing?  The Foley artist used the sound of a flushing toilet in a Russian train.  Who could have known?

Titanic

Leo and Kate…what a great couple.  The majority of this movie is set in 1912.  Of the total run time for this film…a whopping 3 hours and 16 minutes…the 1912 scenes comprise a total run time of 2 hours 40 minutes; the exact amount of time it took the Titanic to sink. And the scene where the ship collides with the iceberg?  That runs just 37 seconds…the reported amount of time the actual collision lasted.  Attention to detail!

Pulp Fiction

This is, of course, the film that brought John Travolta back out of semi-obscurity.  In one scene, his character Vincent plunges a needle on a syringe into his scene partner Mia’s (played by Uma Thurman) chest to revive her from an accidental overdose.  The film was shot with Vincent violently pulling the needle out and then it was run in reverse in the final cut.  My question is:  Did they actually insert a needle into her chest for this scene?  Since every scene is shot multiple times from different angles and with different lighting, I’d say having a needle inserted and removed from your chest over and over is true dedication.

Psycho

This classic movie depicting a hotel owner who keeps his mother’s dead body in the attic to talk to, and who tends to snuff out his guests, was rife with controversies at the time of its filming.  One of the many was a flushing toilet.  Yep, prior to this somewhat shocking film it was considered taboo to show a toilet being flushed.  It was only three years earlier (1957) that a toilet was shown on screen at all in the TV series Leave it to Beaver.  Like slashing Janet Leigh’s character Marion Crane wasn’t quite shocking enough!

Star Wars

We can’t mention Star Trek without also mentioning Star Wars. Casting shows and movies is a bit of a fine art.  The writer, producer and director definitely have a character in mind for each role, and they sift through (sometimes) hundreds of auditions to find just the right person to fill each role.  The lovable character of Han Solo was one role that was tough to fill…they searched for seven months.  As part of the audition process the casting team uses a “reader” to feed lines to the auditioning actor and at one point Harrison Ford was called in as a reader.  They liked his delivery of dialog so much they cast him as Solo, and the rest is history!

The Matrix

A complicated computer program plugged directly into people’s brains to keep them from realizing they are just a set of biological batteries for the machines that run the world.  Keanu Reeves as “The One”.  What’s not to love about this classic movie?  And Sushi too.  That’s right, those scrolling characters depicting “The Code” that runs to hide reality from humans are Sushi recipes from the cookbook of the wife of one of the production designers.

007

OK, this isn’t A movie, but a movie franchise, and we are only going to focus on the part of the franchise where Sean Connery plays the dashingly handsome and debonair Bond…James Bond. Since the actor began balding at the ripe old age of….17…Connery wore a toupee in every James Bond movie where he played the lead actor. This may disappoint some of the ladies for whom Connery was a heart throb.  Sorry ladies, I warned there may be spoilers.

Fight Club

Some of you probably already know this one, but it’s kinda fun so here ya go.  A meek, stressed-out automobile recall specialist played by Edward Norton (does that job even really exist) who is never named (although he does adopt a number of aliases in the film) creates an alter ego, Tyler Durden (played by Brad Pitt). They go on to create a “fight club” where men pummel each other in basements and warehouses across the city.  Beyond the little-known fact that both Edward Norton and Brad Pitt both learned to actually make soap as part of their preparation for their roles, watch closely and you will see a Starbucks cup in every scene (with permission from Starbucks).  The director, David Fincher, was poking fun at the chain because he thought the ubiquitousness of a Starbucks on every corner was a bit much.

Gone With the Wind

Vivian Leigh, Clark Gable…a love story for the ages.  Strange, since love is pretty much destroyed in the film… “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn” and all.  It’s a great movie, but here is the fun bit.  When the film depicts the burning of the plantation, Tara, as part of the Civil war General Sherman’s “March to the Sea” it was ACTUALLY the first scene shot for the film. Huh?  How can that be?  How did they burn down the plantation BEFORE filming?  Truth is, the scenes that depict the burning of Atlanta, including Tara, were actually old movie sets that needed to be removed before building sets for this film.  So they burned them and filmed it…all before the first actor was cast.

Well, there you have it

Some fun little bits of trivia and little-known facts about some of our favorite films.  I hope you had as much fun reading about them as I did researching them to write this.  I know, not a lot of “meat” this week…but hopefully you’ve had some fun.

If you enjoyed this, please leave a comment below to let me know.  If you DIDN’T enjoy it, well, I’d like to hear from you too!  And please feel free to share this blog on social media or with other people you think might enjoy it.

Looking for your next great non-fiction read? Only 2 days left to check out this promotion: Become Inspired. Become You.

If you haven’t already, please feel free to subscribe so you don’t miss anything – and as a thank you receive a free copy of my E-Book: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About getting Started in Voice Over but Didn’t Know Who to Ask!

Top Twelve Acting Skills an Actor Needs to Develop

Acting, Voice Over, Wisdom

Welcome back!

And thanks for reading!  So, you’re an actor or want to become an actor?  Consider these Top Twelve Acting Skills an Actor Needs to Develop.

REMEMBER:

Just a reminder here that when I use the term “actor” I mean it to encompass all forms of acting including voice, stage, and screen.  What follows applies relatively equally to all of these forms of acting.

Skills

Or is it Skillz these days?  I don’t know, but what I do know is that actors need them.  I recently had someone comment on a Twitter link to a blog post that “…acting and blogging isn’t real work.  It’s all just pretend…”. Well, to that I say…PSHAW!  If you’ve been doing this work for any amount of time, one thing you’ll realize right away is: It’s not as easy as it looks and there is a definite skill set involved.  These skills can be natural or trained, but the skill is required no matter what.  Let’s take a look at the 12 most important skills an actor can have.

Memorization

Admittedly, this skill is not one that is terribly important for the VO actor, although in a way it is if you are able to “lift” copy from the page – read ahead of your speaking so it doesn’t sound like you’re reading.  That’s sort of a rolling memorization.  For a stage or screen actor?  Probably the most important skill to have.  When you first get started this is also probably one of the hardest to master, but your brain is like a muscle and when you exercise it it gets stronger – and memorization gets easier.  There are a couple of methods to help in memorization such as; writing your lines out by hand; reading your lines over and over and over and over…; or reading your lines out loud with a partner.  These days there are apps like Rehearsal Pro that help a lot.  Rehearsal Pro is my go-to method.

Communication

 

Maybe an essential skill in any career, but certainly important for an actor on several levels.  Much of an actor’s work is communicating with a variety of people.  Everyone from agents and managers to producers and directors while working out the details of the logistics of acting: Rehearsals, call times, wardrobe and many others.  This is a critical skill for actors both on and off stage, after all, acting itself is communicating.  One very important aspect of communication is listening. More specifically, active listening.  If you are working with a scene partner, you are going to have to be actively listening to them so that you react appropriately!

Control: Body and Voice

As an actor your body and your voice are your instrument.  An actor MUST learn to control their voice and body in order to be competitive in their career.  For stage/screen actors think about learning dance, or fight choreography.  Learn to know how your movement relative to the camera affects the scene.  As a voice actor you will need to learn to control your voice much like Nancy Cartwright does when voicing Bart Simpson and Chuckie Finster.  This skill is as important for voice actors as memorization is for stage/screen actors.

Script Analysis

No matter the length of the script – a 30 second commercial to a feature length film to a series of 60-minute television shows – an actor will need to develop the ability to break down and analyze the script.  A script is a 2 dimensional thing, but the end result needs to be 3 dimensional and believable.  You start by asking the 5 basic storytelling questions of who, what, when, where and why.  Who is your character?  Who are the characters your character will interact with? What is everyone doing? What time period are we in? Where are we? Why are we doing and saying the things we are?  All of these will inform your character and their dress, language, accent and how they interact with other characters.  If the script doesn’t answer these questions, the actor comes up with answers as they build their character.

Stamina

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Actors work exceptionally long days, usually starting in the wee hours of the morning when sane people are still sleeping.  Even with long periods of waiting while changes to camera position and lighting are going on, it takes a good bit of Stamina to be an actor.  If you are a stage actor, add weeks of grueling rehearsals to the mix. And for VO, imagine recording, editing and mastering an 8–10-hour audiobook!  Stamina is a necessity!

Emotional Intelligence

This is one you don’t think of often. An actor must be able to tap into their own emotions and use them to connect with their characters and their audience. Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand, manage, and express emotions, which is essential for actors to be able to fully inhabit their characters. You not only need to understand a plethora of emotions and their nuances, you also have to know what they look and sound like.

Improvisation

It seems counterintuitive when you think about scripted content.  Sure, IMPROV troupes need to learn and hone their IMPROV skills, but even in scripted formats improvisations is important.  In a stage play if another actor “flubs” or misses a line, his scene partner(s) has to keep the scene flowing by improvising something or it looks wooden and unnatural.  Actors should be able to think on their feet and react to unexpected situations.  And sometimes an improvised line in screen or VO makes it into the final cut because it sounds more natural and the director likes it.  Improvisation allows actors to be more spontaneous and responsive in their performances and can lead to more dynamic and interesting characters. Check out this list of The Ten Most Iconic Ad-Libbed Scenes in Film History.

Resilience

The acting profession can be unpredictable, with rejections and setbacks common. As an actor, you better be able to handle rejection and failure and keep pushing forward. Even the best actors go through periods of un (or under) employment.  It can be very easy to just give up and fall back on a 9-5 job. But the resilient actor keeps pushing on.  You may never “make it”, but giving up makes it certain.

Passion

I’ve talked about this one before:  If you are an actor who does this for any other reason than you love it, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Actors must have a genuine love and passion for their craft or they quickly burn out. It is this passion that drives them to continue to improve their skills, take risks, and persevere through the challenges of the industry. Yes, you can still act and may even be successful without passion, but the odds are definitely not forever in your favor!

Business Savvy

Let’s face it, no matter HOW much you love acting it is, at its core, a business.  As an actor you are an independent freelance business owner and treating this career like that will take you a lot farther.  Know your brand, understand fundamental marketing, stay on top of shifting industry trends, know simple financial management and contracts and you will go much farther, with much less stress.

Self-Tape Basics

The COVID pandemic shut down the industry briefly, and a major shift was to begin auditioning almost exclusively by self-tapes.  This opened up an acting career path for a lot of people who might otherwise might not have had access, which is great, but it also added a whole new skill set required of actors: self-tape production.  You don’t have to be an experienced DP, but you do need to understand a bit about framing lighting and sound to produce a professional self-tape.

Kindness

You’d like to think this is a skill every human would possess, but if you’ve been alive long enough to become aware of other people, you’ll know it is not always so. This doesn’t need to be a massive effort, but small acts of kindness go a long way.  Simple things like remembering the casting associate (or casting director’s) name, always being on time (or calling if circumstances make that impossible), listening attentively and following the rules.  These are simple things that make people want to work with you more.

In conclusion

Being a successful actor requires a wide range of skills and talents. These include memorization, communication, body and voice control, script analysis, stamina, emotional intelligence, improvisation, resilience, passion, business savvy, self-tape basics, and kindness,  Actors who are able to develop and master these skills will have a greater chance of achieving success than those who do not.

If you enjoyed this, please leave a comment below to let me know.  If you DIDN’T enjoy it, well, I’d like to hear from you too!  And please feel free to share this blog on social media or with other people you think might enjoy it.

Looking for your next great non-fiction read? Check out this promotion: Become Inspired. Become You.

If you haven’t already, please feel free to subscribe so you don’t miss anything – and as a thank you receive a free copy of my E-Book: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About getting Started in Voice Over but Didn’t Know Who to Ask!

PROS and CONS of an acting career

Acting, Wisdom

Welcome back!

And thanks for reading!  So, you want to become an actor?  If you are not yet familiar with the film or VO industry, consider these Pros and Cons before jumping in.

REMEMBER:

Just a reminder here that when I use the term “actor” I mean it to encompass all forms of acting including voice, stage, and screen.  What follows applies relatively equally to all of these forms of acting.

Acting

Ever thought how great it would be to be an actor?  I used to think that all the time, and now I AM an actor!  Let me tell you, it is definitely an awesome career choice…although not quite as “stable” as some other career choices might be.  Most jobs have you apply, interview, get hired and then you work there for a few years, or even decades before either finding another, better, job or retiring. As an actor?  Not so much.  Sure, a few actors land gigs as recurring characters on popular shows that last for many years, but that is the exception, not the rule.

Like any other job

Well, OK, not exactly like any other job…but a lot like any other job there are pros and cons to being an actor.  It’s great, but as I tell my kids all the time “If it was always fun, they wouldn’t have to pay you to do it”. Unlike other jobs there are a ton of actors who actually DO work for free just because they love it and are trying to build a portfolio.  I suppose other industries also have unpaid internships; it just seems more prevalent in this industry.  Anyway, let’s look at some pros and cons, shall we?

CONS

I like to get the bad news out of the way first.  So, I’ll start with the CONS of acting.  If you answer the question: “You want the good news or the bad news first?” with “Good news”, then you should start at the bottom and read your way up.  That’s just not me, and since this is my blog, I’ll start with the bad news.

Questionable job security

Probably the biggest CON of deciding to work as an actor is the uncertainty of it all.  No matter how talented you may be, there is just no guarantee you’ll book enough work to support yourself. While you definitely need talent to be successful, booking enough work to be able to support yourself also requires a fair amount of luck.  No matter who you are, or how good of an actor you are, you are GOING to experience periods of unemployment…sometimes LONG periods. Acting is one of the very few career choices that will likely require you to have a second career to be able to pay the bills, at least for some period of time (and maybe forever).

Competition is FIERCE

It doesn’t happen often in today’s self-tape age but walk into an in-person audition and you’ll see 100 other actors who look similar to you waiting to audition.  Generally speaking (there are exceptions) and in my experience other actors are friendly and helpful.  But as an actor you have to know that there are a multitude of others all vying for the same jobs.  It’s a bit of a dichotomy but what I have found is most actors are not “competitive” with other actors per se, but at the same time there is a lot of competition for a given role.

The hours are abysmal

It may look all glamorous and fun, but working as an actor means long days, early call times and long periods of just sitting around waiting.  The actor may be the face of the production, but the 200 people who run hair, makeup, lights, sound, set design, photography, catering, craft services and a host of other necessary production items are the ones who “work” full time.  Most of the actor’s day is spent either IN hair, makeup, and wardrobe…or waiting around for the set to be ready to shoot.  And once the production day is over, the actor gets to go start preparing for the NEXT production day.  Honestly, most of the work of an actor is completed away from the set.

One bad performance

In the Navy we had a saying: “One Aw-Sh*t wipes out a thousand atta-boys” and that can definitely be true for an actor.  You may be cruising along booking awesome roles and knocking them out of the park and then one bad performance can crush you.  Not only does it wreak havoc with your ego and self-confidence it may mean you have to (or at least FEEL like you have to) start over trying to claw your way to where you were before a bad review.  If you are emotionally fragile, this can hurt you in ways a bad performance review in other lines of work cannot.  You will definitely need thick skin and a pretty stable mindset to succeed in the long run.

Privacy

And then, you finally “make it” as an actor.  You get the recognition of industry pros that you are a solid, dependable actor and you begin to have a fan base. Uh-Oh…you have a fan base (I’m speculating here, because my fan base consists entirely of people who were my fans before I started acting: My family and friends). If you do this right, and become a well-known actor, you can kiss your privacy goodbye. Want to take your wife out for a quiet dinner?  Better be able to buy out the whole restaurant. Thankfully, most of us will never have to worry about this CON.

PROS

OK, now on to the good stuff.  While there are certainly some downsides to being an actor there are even more PROS.  Of course there are…or no one would want to do it!  I’ll try to briefly capture a few of them here.  There are a lot more, but I try to limit my word count.

FAME!

Well, fame is a double-edged sword, and it’s not very likely as I have mentioned a number of times before, but it is a perk if you manage to achieve it.

Wealth

Again, not as likely as we’d like it to be, but you can earn a decent living even if you don’t get rich once you start booking consistent union work.

Enjoyable work environment/fun work

Contrary to the CON mentioned above about abysmal hours (which can definitely be true) and sitting around a lot (also true) you get to work behind the scenes “making the magic happen”.  On top of that, all that sitting around gives you time to meet and get to know some very interesting people.

Opportunity to collaborate

Are you creative?  (If not, why are you an actor?).  This career not only gives you an opportunity to meet and get to know some pretty interesting people, it ALSO gives you a chance to collaborate with them on projects you’ll enjoy.

Exploring new places

Face it, it’s not likely there are going to be any movies shot in your backyard, or even in your city (unless you live in LA, NYC or Atlanta anyway).  So, it’s a pretty safe bet that you’ll get to travel to some cool new places as an actor.  You may not have a lot of time to explore those places (see abysmal hours above), but you should get to experience some of the culture and may even work in a day off here and there,

It’s never boring

Despite all the sitting around (that is really networking) being an actor is never really boring.  Each project and set are different, and there are always new people to meet.  On top of that you get to portray a different character each time.  It is fun and a learning experience to explore new characters as well as your own emotions.

And there it is

Some PROS and CONS about becoming an actor!  Pretty sure you can think of more, and if you do, I’d love it if you popped them into the comments below!

If you enjoyed this, please leave a comment below to let me know.  If you DIDN’T enjoy it, well, I’d like to hear from you too!  And please feel free to share this blog on social media or with other people you think might enjoy it.

Looking for your next great non-fiction read? Check out these promotions:  Personal Wellness and Self-Help and Become Inspired. Become You.

If you haven’t already, please feel free to subscribe so you don’t miss anything – and as a thank you receive a free copy of my E-Book: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About getting Started in Voice Over but Didn’t Know Who to Ask!

10 Acting myths debunked!

Acting, General, Voice Over, Wisdom

Welcome back!

And thanks for reading!  There is a lot of mythology surrounding acting and most of us believe at least one of them.  This week let’s debunk some acting myths!

REMEMBER:

Just a reminder here that when I use the term “actor” I mean it to encompass all forms of acting including voice, stage, and screen.  What follows applies relatively equally to all of these forms of acting.

The myths of acting

Sitting on your couch binging Netflix is a great way to be entertained, especially during a global pandemic (let’s hope THAT’S behind us in 2023!) and may make you want to be an actor.  Actors and non-actors alike have likely heard many of the myths that follow, and maybe even believe them.  What follows are 10 common acting myths you may have heard, and reasons why they are myths and not facts! There are a lot more, but these are the 10 I chose to talk about.  So, let’s just jump right in!

Background (BG) work leads to principal roles.

OK, so this misleading bit of tomfoolery gets passed around pretty often.  It’s true and can be verified by our friend Mr. Google, that many of the famous actors you know and love once worked as background actors.  The thing is, none of them were “discovered” as BG actors. Working in BG is a great way to learn your way around set, make a few bucks and get an idea what the life of a principal actor is like.  While it is possible to pick up a line or two (rarely), working as a BG actor is not likely to get you discovered and help you move into speaking roles.  While I was able to find many examples of famous actors who once worked as BG, I was unable to find a single example of an actor being noticed by CD’s, producers or directors.

Actors are born, not made

Ummmm…no.  Talk to any well-known actor or VO artist and you will find that each and every one of them has put in countless hours of training and practice to become the actor they are.  Having some natural acting ability is certainly a plus, but even starting off with no natural ability won’t stop you from being a working professional actor.  Acting is a learned skill…after all, acting is, according to Meisner, just (Just…LOL) “Behaving naturally in fictional circumstances”.  Acting is living, even if it is living in a fictional universe.  We all know how to live; the key is learning out how to live within the framework of the fictional world.

You have to be young and attractive to become an actor

Seriously, I don’t understand how this keeps going around.  First of all, watch TV and movies…you see every type of person being portrayed, because these productions are attempting to depict a real (even if fictional) world…that every kind of person inhabits.  And if you are into VO?  Who CARES what you look like!  My mom said I have a face for radio, and I STILL have managed to book a number of on-screen gigs. I didn’t even start till I was 60 years old!

You need an agent to be successful

A lot of people believe that signing with an agent will propel them to stardom pretty quickly. They are sorely disappointed when reality sets in.  Having an agent is not a bad thing, and agents generally have access to bigger roles than we do as actors…but the agent doesn’t book your roles, you do…so if you are not booking roles on your own, an agent isn’t going to magically make a producer hire you.  The unhappy truth here is that an agent is not likely to even consider signing you unless you are already booking work on your own (they only get paid when you get paid!) and even after you sign with one you need to keep hustling on your own if you want to be successful.

You need connections to make it big

Sure, having some connections to people in the industry doesn’t hurt…just look at all the “legacy” actors who have followed in their parents and siblings’ footsteps.  Connections help, but not having connections won’t prevent you from making it as an actor.  I’ve said it many times, relationships in this industry are foundational, but you don’t have to start with them; you can build them over time.  Get involved in your local acting community, join groups on social media for the type of acting you want to do.  This is the way to meet people in the industry and start building relationships.  Just remember, building relationships starts with how you can help them, not the other way around.

Introverts can’t become actors.

I’d love to put a BIG RED X (a la Family Feud) on this one!  Again, Mr. Google is helpful here.  Click the link and see if you recognize any of the names right at the top of the page: Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks…these are just the first three on the list.  It’s also true that many successful actors are extroverts, but it is not essential to being a successful actor.  You bring a bit of yourself to every role, and you just have to find the roles that are best for you and your personality.  And when your character is an introvert, who better to portray them than an actor who is an introvert!

Actors are “starving”

We’ve all heard of, or may even know, a “starving artist”.  The problem with this myth is that there is a grain of truth to it.  Particularly when just starting out, most actors will need a survival job in order to make ends meet.  It is extremely unlikely (although not completely unheard of) to begin your acting career and immediately earn enough money to support yourself.  The simple truth is if you put in the work and keep putting yourself out there you can become successful (not talking about fame here) and be able to fully support yourself with an acting career.  There are many, many, non-famous actors making a good living with their craft!

Voice actors are not “real” actors

I love (HATE) this one! Let’s start by setting the record straight: Voice Artists are actors.  If you want to “get into” voice over, first “get into” some acting classes (along with VO classes, because while it IS acting, it is a different kind of acting from stage or screen acting).  Of course, the most obvious difference is you can see a stage or screen actor and not a voice actor.  The truth is just because you can’t see them doing it, a voice actor behind the mic, if they are any good, is presenting the same facial expressions and some of the same gestures as any other actor…and don’t let anyone tell you it’s not possible to “hear” those expressions.  Voice actors are real actors.

There are rules and rituals to follow for success

Most of us have our rituals or things we believe will help us along our career path like always making sure to send a thank you, mailing postcards every six months ad infinitum.  The truth is a career as an actor is very unpredictable and there is no formula for a one-size-fits-all path to success.  If that were true every actor would follow the same path, and all would eventually be a success.  Instead of looking for some magic formula try working on honing your skills as an actor and figure out what works for you.  Acting is art, and art is both individual and unique.  If you want to be successful, find out what makes you unique and highlight that.

Fame is success

If you are acting because you want to be famous, I have bad news for you: only .001% of all actors become famous.  The good news though, is that fame does not equal success in this business.  If you are an actor because you want to be famous, then perhaps you need to find another line of work.  While fame certainly means you have been successful, being successful doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be famous.  There are thousands of successful actors, people you see or hear all the time, who are not famous.  Truth is, success means something different to each person, so figure out what success looks like for you and pursue THAT.

And there you have it!

Ten acting myths debunked.  If you can think of more, stick them in the comments section below, but remember: They call them myths for a reason.  We’re all individuals with an individual path and an individual goal.  Don’t just follow someone else, find out what works for you in pursuit of your acting goals and just keep working it!

If you enjoyed this, please leave a comment below to let me know.  If you DIDN’T enjoy it, well, I’d like to hear from you too!  And please feel free to share this blog on social media or with other people you think might enjoy it.

Looking for your next great non-fiction read? Check out these promotions:  Personal Wellness and Self-Help and Become Inspired. Become You.

If you haven’t already, please feel free to subscribe so you don’t miss anything – and as a thank you receive a free copy of my E-Book: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About getting Started in Voice Over but Didn’t Know Who to Ask