Acting

Haley Mary That's so lovely, singing and music are a great part of acting, and film, all stories. Music is the heartbeat without words. And I totally relate, coming home from school, singing, writing, and somehow we just keep going. And The Little Mermaid!!!! Singing, dreaming, being herself. Thanks for sharing Haley, I love that.

My reason for being an actor is not so nice and fluffy. The short answer is, I started acting out stories with my stuffed animals to escape the terror that was my homelife. I loved to pretend I was anywhere else. I would get my Barbies and act out characters from my favorite shows, Dukes of Hazzard and the ATeam. The first time I was onstage in 6th grade, I felt so free. I could really be another person. The pumping of the adrenaline, the applause, people telling me I was great. So I keep doing it. Being onstage I guess is my safe space.

Though now that I am middle aged and had a lot of therapy, I feel free to be Suzanne Bronson. I love acting because it forces you to be fully present and connected to another human being. Acting is life.

Juliana Philippi it bites us all doesn't it? Lol!

Brandon Keeton Absolutely!!!

Suzanne Bronson Thank you, thank you so much, for having shared your why. That's amazing Suzanne, that's beautiful, and yes, you are free to BE, and with that freedom, and acceptance, acting becomes more amazing and fulfilling, giving ourselves over to stories, with that innate capacity to share and feel. I love that, that's amazing Suzanne.

Hi, Oleg Syrota. Welcome to the community. I’m a Stage 32 Lounge Moderator. I wanted to let you know I moved your post from the Filmmaking/Directing Lounge to the Acting Lounge since it's about acting.

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Hi Oleg Syrota this question has been asked many times. I encourage you to scroll through the lounge. There is a lot of knowledge to be gained just from reading the posts. Stage 32 also offers webinars and labs in acting. Have you taken any classes? That is the best place to start.

Maurice Vaughan Thanks for posting this, it's just the thing to read, take in, and empower ourselves with.

You're welcome, Juliana Philippi. It's an incredible guide!

Maurice Vaughan thanks Maurice. I think I’ve only missed seeing it once in the last 5 or 6 years. Jimmy Stewart made me think of my writing too, and that I should look at my intent as a writer to ‘creating moments’ for the actor, but with the audience in mind.

Juliana Philippi ah, yes Juliana, Clarence’s appearance is wonderful and the humour when they are drying off their clothes is great. The scene that really upsets me is when Uncle Billy loses the money. I still shout at the screen and plead with him not to do it.

You're welcome, Geoff Hall. Actors love those moments! They can help get actors on board projects.

Geoff Hall I love that idea that a movie is not so much about the acting but about the micro moments that get created. I guess when everyone is on the same page, really connected to the text, their character and to each other. That's when I think something really special can occur. A shame there is no exact recipe book for this.

Alexandra Stevens haha! A recipe book would probably spoil those moments or stop them being born. The next time I watch it, I will have to see how this moment was created: camera, lighting, music, edit, actor.

Have a happy Christmas and a restive festive season, Alexandra!

Hear hear! Juliana Philippi

Suzanne Bronson Woot woot! There is so much that we can find, there's a soft hum of hope and love closing 2025...it's all happening.

Thank you for sharing!

congratulations Juliana Philippi , you are an amazing lady, I love the spirits, each and every teeny tiny bit is giving the supports and making you road map for the dream role. Hurdles are part of a journey, but our perspective help us to overcome every hurdles. Go girl it's your time to shine and learn, I wish you a very happy holiday and good lucks ahead of journey. happy holidays.

This is great question Juliana Philippi and I wanted to follow it because although I'm doing voice acting as well, my primary focus has been writing. Short answer is that I stay busy and create through other means. Aside from my day job, I'm either polishing a script, creating a pitch deck or playing the piano. I've done the latter whenever there's a slow period and the void tries to pull me down. Much like the image you used, it's much about believing that you are in the lane of your design. This is where I feel the most free and poured out. Congratulations on what you've accomplished so far friend. There is so much more to come. It's inevitable.

DJ Gautam DJ, thanks so much! Smiling so big right now. It's all about perspective, absolutely right, spot on my friend. Happy Holidays to you too, and an amazing 2026 and journey to you as well! Every hurdle, is teaching us, and will lift us higher as we go.

Leonardo Ramirez Absolutely Leonardo, it's multi-artsying, lol. Creating in many forms. The void comes up when you wallow, and my gosh, the times I could count when I wallowed…and them so, lol! But, as I keep on walking, creating, I grow, as an actress in this case (also a screenwriter, lol). And, it's not us pursuing a goal…the stories, the roles, the roles, begin to pursue us :) Thank you for your kind words, and encouragement, this is just a beginning.

It absolutely is just the beginning Juliana Philippi!

Thank you, Maurice

You're welcome, Aaron Marcus.

Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us Aaron Marcus

Thanks Aaron Marcus . As is often the case, it comes down to having some people skills and showing interest in others.

Thank you both for sharing. Having some people skills can go a long way to having success in our industry and in life. Thank you again.

I think you are looking at this backwards Alexandra. "Leap, and the net will appear."

Suzanne Bronson i likes this re-frame and admire the leap you have taken

Juliana Philippi that's great. What would you says is the 'why' for your acting?

Stephen Folker that certainly seems to work for you!

Alexandra Stevens My why, in acting, is to feel what others can't... It's...expression. Feeling, embodying a person who's story is being told, is my why. A service : )

Hey Brandon Keeton, this is great advice! I get fewer auditions since I am edging ever so close to the age of 82, so I work on other things related to the business. I joined Film Florida seven years ago and am on the legislative committee to work on getting film incentives for our state. This week, I have written several letters to members of the House Ways & Means Committee, urging them to move the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (HR721) out of committee for a vote. I read for another actor for his self-tapes. My wife and i love to travel and we'll be on a cruise ship this month for a week. Of course there is also spoiling my grandchildren and great grandson.

Brandon Keeton, this is such a grounded and motivating perspective, and the Marine Corps wisdom is spot-on. There’s something powerful about using the quiet seasons to move with intention, even if the industry itself is catching its breath. I love your reminder that this season can be both restful and productive. There’s real value in taking a breath, but also real momentum to be found in working while everything is quiet. Your projects sound fantastic, and I hope your meeting with the investor goes incredibly well.

Ray Watters 2 THAT'S AWESOME!

It's a good time to watch some webinars, and work on monologues or scenes. To apply that Marine Corps wisdom Brandon Keeton

Brandon Keeton I agree with you. I will be working on developing some digital products which will hopefully provide the income so that I can devote more time to acting next year.

Hi hun, I didn't know how to answer this one at first, and I am bumping it for you. I have not been in the position where I feel I need to reinvent or overhaul aspects of my identity as actor. I suppose that is the upside to moving to another state, no one knew me here. So I could just be me and put the LA baggage behind me.

Thanks for answering Suzanne Bronson Yeah i'm not reinventing my craft or creative identity either but i am reinventing my 'brand' with regard to therapist-coach for actors and others. For me it's about daring to be more visible and show more of myself.

Hopefully I will be going to Colorado to see my family. I just need to buy those plane tickets.

Mostly I will write my script, give a motivation, celebrate my birthday and write my character’s struggles.

Brittany Christine I'm looking forward to fly to the south of France to spend Christmas with family

I am going to be a stow away Alexandra Stevens

Suzanne Bronson that would be cool :) See you there!

Hi, Brittany Christine. One of my favorite Christmas movies is Home Alone.

Maurice Vaughan YES it never gets old! Solid pick! A fun time watching, every time :)

Did you see this, Brittany Christine: https://variety.com/2025/film/news/macaulay-culkin-home-alone-sequel-kev...

Die Hard!

Home Alone and Die Hard are movies that happen to take place at Christmas, I am on the "not-a-Christmas-movie" side. For me, my favorite Christmas movies are: A CHRISTMAS STORY, and THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS.