Acting

You're welcome, Robin Gregory. I think the blog's a must-read for directors, casting directors, and actors.

Agreed - this is a practical and smart approach - cast your characters and not the actors. I'll share this with several directors I know. Thanks, Maurice Vaughan!

You're welcome, Sam Sokolow.

Maurice Vaughan. Maybe we should start a new TOPIC on Casting. "Cast the Character, not the Actor." What do you think. I'd really like to get more of a discussion going and I think I need your help.

That's a great idea, Mark W. Travis. You're welcome to make a new topic on casting in the Acting Lounge. Or you could write a blog about it if you like. If you want to write a blog, email Ashley Smith at blog@stage32.com.

Mark I'm a lounge Moderator, not an employee of Stage 32. About all I can do is try to keep bumping this thread to the top.

On this topic guess what: there's an education class coming up :

Directors: How To Work With Actors From Audition to Post Production

https://www.stage32.com/education/products/4-part-class-directors-how-to...

As an actor, the thing that I find important is when the director gives me space to perform the scene initially without trying to control everything from the start. That can make the actor feel tense, and then the director will not be able to get the most out of the actor. Let the actor give the scene a go, then give notes, direction etc. Also, I always feel at ease when the director is not tense, we know how tight the schedules are, but going into a room of tension never helps, it just keeps the tension alive.

@Emma Thanks for your comments, Emma. They are very helpful and insightful.

Suzanne Bronson Thanks for the information on the class. It looks very interesting.

Director chiming in here: Reading off a screen is noticeable and can detract from your performance. Instead, share a clip from your demo reel or a short film that highlights your acting skills. If that’s not what they’re looking for or you can’t provide it, it might be best to move on. Wishing you all the best Kris Keppeler !

Thanks, Stephen. This was a self tape so couldn't do anything but spend an hour memorizing and trying to deliver it as correct as possible or using the script. I find quick memorization and trying to get it right exhausting and also detracts from my performance because I'm thinking about getting all the words right.

That is incredible, Glenn! I once collaborated with an actor who had a unique technique for memorizing lines. He transformed his dialogue into a rap, which helped him remember the lines and added a fun rhythm to rehearsals. It was fascinating to see how he creatively approached his craft, turning a mundane task into an engaging experience. His ability to blend music with acting showcased his talent and dedication.

Thank you, Maurice! Yes, we went deep into this. I did miss one word in the script, but that happens. Everything else was spot on. I’ll be doing more of these. I think the next one will be from Chicago PD. I’ll pick the scene tonight, and then throughout the week, I’ll listen to it using Speechify, which is a great app for learning lines until they become an earworm through repetition. That’s what I did for this scene. Of course, I won’t tackle longer scripts until I become more proficient with these. No matter how good we are, there is always room for improvement. Compared to my last one this one was better I feel.

Thanks, Paul! That’s an amazing approach—turning lines into a rap must have made rehearsals a lot more fun and memorable. I love hearing about creative techniques like that; it’s inspiring how people find what works best for them. For me, using Speechify and listening to the script repeatedly has been the game-changer, turning memorization into a natural process. It’s all about finding that rhythm, whether through music or repetition, to make it stick.

You're welcome, Glenn Axelrod.

awesome congratulations

John Gostomski “Keep your stick on the ice, we're in it for the money, fame and fortune plus the women!!!!!!” John, you must have me confused with your local Fort Worth lothario!

Maurice Vaughan me too, Maurice. Actors don’t need another long drawn-out strike. I’m just surprised the gaming industry didn’t learn anything from the last strike. They certainly don’t want Fran Drescher on their case!

There were grumblings about a gaming industry strike during the actor strike. I knew this was coming, especially using AI in video games. So easy to generate a voice. I hope they do a better job at protecting their members than SAG AFTRA did for the live action actors. It's ironic that Fran Drescher makes that comment now. I don't think she did a good job with the first strike. I don't know what A.I. protections she's talking about. Everyone needs to read your contract. It may be up to the individual to assure their likeness and voice isn't stolen, as it doesn't seem one can count on the Union to do it.

Do union members make proficient local/national executives. The talkies are coming out of the silent era to not just being recorded but created to be recorded. Technology is a tool but who does it really affect. A - F listers and entry level players?

Thanks for the info! I'm not really following events in the gaming industry, but it was interesting to find such an info! Of course, the gambling industry changes because of new technologies, AI, and so on. But I think that it's getting better and more interesting. We have so many cool sites to play, and the games are amazing. Some time ago, I came across this page https://online-casinocz.com/casino-vklad-1-euro/ , which provided me a lot of new information about some casinos, deposits, games and so on. And the one I chose turned out to be really cool.

That’s great to know Maureen Mahon, and very interesting!

I fully agree with Mario Leone; but I think there is one more point he left out because it's so obvious, still it must be mentioned, 'know your material!!'

I’m loving all the great advice here - thank you everyone!

That is very true Rutger Oosterhoff lol

I agree Amanda Toney lots of great and helpful advice :D

Great read - thanks for posting!

I have nice nollywood movie’s story lines but I don’t know how to work on them

this is great thank you for posting.

Wow great points. Stanley Kubrick's comment on not working with fearful actors hit home. I've seen it when he's working, he was so engrossed with the filming, it wasn''t a question in his mind that he hired a fearful actor. That would have disrupted his whole sphere on set. It takes a special kind of individual/actor to be fearless.

Randall Paul. I think that quote was from Lee Daniels (Precious, Empire) and not Stanley Kubrick. Regardless, it's a great quote. From my experience fear is a constant aspect of every actors world. The question is how do we recognize it and (a choice here) either use it to enhance the performance of the character (remember, the characters are always dealing with fears) or how to we work with the actor to navigate around the fear?

I highly recommend that directors learn the fine and delicate art of "Directing the Characters, and Not the Actor" which will almost automatically bypass whatever fears the actor may have simply because the emotional state, needs, desires and fears of the character take over.

Just a thought.

You're welcome, Aaron Marcus. It was definitely a lesson learned.

Excellent advice, William Joseph Hill!

Great points, William. In the last Union negotiation, one of the key issues that they resolved was not allowing companies to scan Union extras, pay them a full-day fee (less than $200) and have their image to use forever. As I mentioned in the video, sometimes it is hard but absolutely necessary to say no. Thank you so much for your insights.

Aaron Marcus

This is really good about the five powerful reasons. I can relate—I’ve turned down some roles or auditions myself, and that goes beyond just acting; it applies to any profession. Through Backstage, I’ve had some unsolicited opportunities to audition, but since I don’t live in the city, they often wanted me to travel for very little or no pay. With my full-time work schedule, that’s just not feasible, as acting is more of a side gig for me. So, this really resonates—thanks for sharing!

Thank you so much for your thoughts, Glenn. You are right on target. This applies to any profession. I have accepted bookings where I made very little money, but I needed the experience and contacts, so they turned out great for me. But, everyone needs to set their own limits on what they can and can't accept.

Thank you so much again for your input.