Acting

Acting

Whether you’re an actor, voice actor, casting director or anyone else related to the profession of acting, this is the place to discuss, share content and offer advice and tips on technique, audition strategies, headshots and all other topics related to the sweet science of acting

I wanted to share this fantastic interview with singer, songwriter, and performer EJAE, the singing voice behind Rumi in Netflix’s breakout hit KPop Demon Hunters.

• Growing up as a K–pop trainee and spend...

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Can screen actors legally be considered private contractors? I thought the IRS rule says private contractors set their own hours and are self-directed. Actors don't set their own hours, and they are directed by a director.

You are largely correct in your understanding of the IRS guidelines: because p...

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You are largely correct in your understanding of the IRS guidelines: because production companies typically exercise a high degree of control over actors' work (setting hours, location, and providing direction), most screen actors should legally be classified as employees, not private (independent) contractors.

The Deciding Factor: Control

The IRS and state labor departments use the degree of control and independence as the primary factor in determining worker status.

Employees: A worker is generally an employee if the business for whom they perform services can control what will be done and how it will be done. This describes the typical actor-production company relationship: the director dictates schedules, lines, actions, and overall performance, meaning the actor has little control over the details of how the service is performed.

Independent Contractors: An independent contractor typically has more control over their own work, sets their own schedule, provides their own tools/equipment, and has the opportunity for profit or loss in their business. This is not the standard situation for most working actors on a set.

Real-World Practice vs. Legal Standard

Despite the legal standard, it is common practice in some parts of the entertainment industry, particularly in low-budget or non-union projects, to misclassify actors as independent contractors (paid via Form 1099-NEC instead of a W-2). This is often done to save the production company money on payroll taxes and benefits like unemployment insurance and workers' compensation.

However, this misclassification carries significant legal risks for the production company, including fines and penalties for back taxes and liabilities.

Exceptions

There are a few situations where an actor might be legitimately considered a contractor:

Loan-Out Corporations: Highly successful actors often form their own personal service corporations (also called "loan-out" companies). The production company then contracts with the actor's corporation, not the individual actor. In this case, the actor is an employee of their own company.

Unique Circumstances: If an actor brings their own unique equipment, supplies, and intellectual property rights to a short-term, non-integral part of a production, they might be classifiable as a contractor.

Specific Roles: Certain high-level roles, such as writers and directors (who are involved in overall planning and implementation), may sometimes be classified as independent contractors depending on the specific circumstances.

In summary, based on the IRS's control test, most screen actors working for a production are legally employees, even if they are sometimes incorrectly paid as independent contractors in practice.

Maurice Vaughan

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2 people like this
- Ashley Renée Smith
- Suzanne Bronson
5 months ago

I work on a project or network every day, but I try to take some time off during the day to rest and relax for my mental health and physical health, Ashley Renée Smith....

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Hermina Orcsik

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2 people like this
- Ashley Renée Smith
- Maurice Vaughan
4 months ago

“What resonates with me about EJAE is her perseverance. I don’t give up when I truly want something. As a mother, pursuing acting isn’t easy, but it’s possible. I’m currently writing, working on mysel...

I’m very interested in Korea, especially the film industry and K-dramas. If you have any experience in this field, I’d be happy to hear about it. I’d also be open to a private message if you’re willing to share anything related to this.

Juliana Philippi

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2 people like this
- Brittany Christine
- Maurice Vaughan
4 months ago

Brittany Christine Hey! Happy 2026!! My L.A rep also had me sign up…but crickets. I don’t think about it a lot, and my reps are sending me AA, CN and the insider scoop auditions from Breakdown Service...

Brittany Christine

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2 people like this
- Juliana Philippi
- Maurice Vaughan
4 months ago

Juliana Philippi thanks for sharing! Yes there's a lot of casting sites out there and I was told to get on while it was free to set up because I'm sure they'll start charging soon, but i'm already not...

Brittany Christine Yeah, I got off Casting Frontier a whole back, hadn’t gotten anything on that for some time, and it’s so interesting how some sites cater to some agents and locations better than ot...

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3 people like this
4 months ago

Tania Ocasio Happy, Happy New Year Tania!!! Pa'lante mija, ahora si!!!!

Sandra Correia OMG for real! We usually get in our own way.. but today, January 1, we get to with grace, and consciousness, see when we do it...and lovingly, write a new page, a new life! Happy New Ye...

Suzanne Bronson

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4 people like this
4 months ago

Hi Juliana Philippi what a great way to close out 2025. I took a moment at midnight to say goodbye to 2025 and the toxic people are in the rear view. Listening to my intuition would have saved me a lo...

Sandra Correia

Juliana Philippi, yes, exactly this. The awareness alone is such a gift. When we can see the moments we get in our own way with grace instead of judgment, everything shifts. Today really does feel lik...

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2 people like this
- Maurice Vaughan
- Suzanne Bronson
4 months ago

Suzanne Bronson Thats exactly it:) When we vibrate higher, live in our pure essence, joy and being, the rest , the toxic, the ones that fall away, cease to affect us. The Law of Affinity:) I love this...

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1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
5 months ago

Thank you for introducing yourself, I highly encourage you Roberto Micheletti to do it again for IYW. The weekend of the 19th. Also, you can search for members using the Browse tab. There are Stage32...

Roberto Micheletti

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2 people like this
- Suzanne Bronson
- Maurice Vaughan
5 months ago

Great to meet you too, Amanda Toney ! i actually started acting after a powerful personal shift a few years ago - storytelling became the way i expressed everything i was experiencing. from there, i w...

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3 people like this
5 months ago

that's awesome, Damaris Isales ! Stage combat training sounds intense and fun. January is going to be a big month for a lot of us. Wishing you an amazing training experience!...

Thank you Suzanne Bronson Suzanne, i appreciate the encourage! i'll definitely look into the IYW weekend - sounds like a great opportunity to connect with more creatives. And thank you for the meetup...

Tania Ocasio

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2 people like this
- Suzanne Bronson
- Maurice Vaughan
4 months ago

nice to meet you Roberto Micheletti

Suzanne Bronson Happy end of Year!! Last Day for 2025...cleaning out what is staying behind, and revving up the engines : ) I actually worked in real estate, managing properties for an investment comp...

Thank you for sharing that Juliana Philippi I have had sales jobs too, but I always look at is acting. Acting is sales in a way. And I can pretend to be whomever I want. If I got bored at my job, I wo...

Suzanne Bronson Oh I remember doing that, imagining I was trapped in a story, playing a role! Lol. It was amazing, I learned so much and saw, heard and experienced lots of different people and emotion...

Wendy Kay Merry Christmas to you too!!! Thank you, I am happy it resonated with you : )

Haley Mary

Happy Holidays!

Haley Mary Happy Holidays Haley!

Richard Antie

Happy holidays @Juliana

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1 person likes this
- Suzanne Bronson
4 months ago

Richard Antie Happy Holidays to you too!

Oracle Laura

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- Maurice Vaughan
4 months ago

2nd image

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- Ron Reid
- Maurice Vaughan
4 months ago

3rd image

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1 person likes this
- Ron Reid
4 months ago

My condolences to Brigitte's family, friends, and fans, Oracle Laura. I haven't seen any films she was in.

Maurice Vaughan , the first Brigitte Bardot film I saw was And God Created Woman. Perhaps I should watch Spirits of the Dead.

Khalid Rivera

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4 people like this
5 months ago

Wow Ray Watters 2 thanks for this. I can't believe that number is soooo low. So then in order for actors to qualify for those affordable acting housing options, that is their maximum threshold? I know...

Ray Watters 2

Here's a blog I wrote on my website about HR 721 that would update the tax code in our favor:

https://www.raywatters.com/post/actors-pay-attention-h-r-721-is-the-role......

Eric Charran

Suzanne, I appreciate your kind words. In my experience when we insist on proper classifications and clear agreements everyone benefits and the work environment feels more secure and creative.

Khalid, thank you for taking the time to read this. Making sure that agents and managers know these distinctions empowers them to advocate for their clients and fosters better agreements.

Ray, I appreciate you bringing this up and sharing your article. It is eye opening that these income thresholds have not kept pace with reality. Advocating for updated legislation like HR 721 is one way we can support working actors and create fairer standards.

Thanks for sharing the interview, Amanda Toney.

"One of the issues with making filmed entertainment, be it movies or TV, is that people often assume that a director or showrunner controls everything fr...

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