Acting

Thank you for your always introspective and interesting comments. I think, as I got more comfortable with myself, as a person, I was able to be more in touch with who I am. That helped allow me to see that I bring something unique to the table at auditions and in this world. That is not boasting in any way, just a fact. Thank you so much again for always leaving such interesting and though provoking ideas.

I am in a different boat than many Actors. I'm already retired twice and never have to work again if I don't want to. I do this to keep busy. I think, weirdly enough, that that actually helps me. I'm not dependent on this to pay my bills, so I never walk into an audition with an air of desperation. If I get it, great. If not, I'll get the next one.

I'm always relaxed and that helps a ton.

That makes a lot of sense to me, Brandon. Yes, not feeling desperate really changes your read and the way you are perceived by the casting director. Do you have many in-person auditions, or are most of your auditions self-tapes? Thanks so much for sharing.

Aaron Marcus Most of my first auditions are self tape. Then callbacks are usually on Zoom. I started this whole thing in 2020 so I do not remember a time when the majority of them were in person. For the in person ones I've done, I have a pretty solid booking rate so I can do it either way. But it is weird walking into a room and seeing a bunch of dudes who look just like me! Lol!

It was very different before 2020. Especially, when I would attend a go-see (audition for commercial models) in New York. I would see hundreds of people who could all be cast as the Caucasian doctor. That is when I started learning that you can only do what you think is right and interesting, and understand that after the audition, we have no control or way of understanding why some people book and not get the job.

Fantastic advice, Aaron Marcus!

Thank you so much, Maurice. If you have any suggestions for what to say to an agent when things are slow (even if it isn't an acting agent,) please share it here.

You're welcome, Aaron Marcus. I don't have any experience with agents, but I think your advice is spot on!

Thank you, Maurice.

You're welcome, Aaron Marcus.

Thanks, Alexandra. I knew when creating this video that most people watching it won't be affected much by the information. Still, I think it is great to learn new things about the industry, even if it doesn't pertain to their personal situation. Hope you and your family are well.

This is good to know. Thank you Aaron Marcus

You are very welcome, Suzanne.

Hi Erik, each check will be dependent on its usage. Not sure if you were being serious about the $100 or just making a point.

Thanks for letting me know. Sometimes it is hard to hear the other person's intent in written form. How long have you been in India? Did you grow up in the U.S.?

Acting conservatory in Europe. It was useful in terms of theory, exposure to very good writing and also theater training. I don't really work the way they taught. And in films, of course, it's about your own experience and intuition.

Ivan Doan How were you able to transfer your theater training over to film?

I trained for a little while in New York with a GREAT coach, James Andrew O'Connor. If you've seen a cop show, like, ANY cop show, he's been on it. A working Actor himself, he is also a wonderfully humble guy who seriously takes joy when his students succeed.

After that, I enrolled in a college program here in Central PA. I am the world's oldest film student, learning to write and direct and still Acting on my own. I'm literally doing a commercial in Atlanta on Wednesday. Good times!

Goes to show you are never too young Brandon Keeton

Ive actually just started with the Stella Adler school. So far it's blown my mind with the approach. Very much sticking with Stella's philosophy of imagination which is surprisingly harder then you might first think.

This is very good, Elliot, but be aware of the people around you

I like it Matthew Gross I use ChatGPT for advice a lot. It was free tax expert. No paying H&R Block. I also use it to write my social media posts and create images for my trivia hosting job. I also run sketchy job postings through it. AI is a lifesaver in many ways.

Matthew Gross thanks for highlighting the ways AI can support us, not just mess with us. Like Matthew Gross I use it a lot, it is like my personal assistant. It helps me with tax and accounts and has even helped me to claw back money from Portugese Customs that I was wrongly billed for. Acting wise, I use it to suggest scripts that i might be interested in.

Tony Fisher Definitely a staple for every tv/film actor.

Brandon Keeton love it! Got 20 mins and had to pause but will definitely return. So much gold in those first minutes. What stood out was what he said about believing the camera is your friend and everyone loves you as a way to relax and not over-act. It makes sense. I will bear this in mind next time i'm acting in front of a camera.

great share Brandon Keeton ! a titan at work :)

Thank you for sharing.

His memoirs have a lot of acting gems too. Have you read them Brandon Keeton ?

Brandon Keeton, for me, the hardest note I used to get was always “slow down.” I heard it constantly when I was a teenager doing community theater, and it would drive me crazy, not because I didn’t want to, but because it didn’t feel like a helpful note. I knew I was rushing, but if I could slow down, I would! Nerves just had a way of speeding everything up whether I liked it or not.

Eventually, one of the women at the theater kind of took me under her wing, she became this unofficial auntie figure and changed everything for me. We’d hang out after school and on weekends, watching old movies and talking about performance, directing, timing. She taught me breathing techniques that actually worked. Slowing down finally became something I could do instead of just something I was told to do. That made a huge difference when I started pitching in film school, and even more as a Development Executive. Being able to control that pacing when the pressure’s on? Game-changer.

That director in your story? Wild. Rewriting the whole thing the night before and blaming you? No thanks.

Non. All notes have meaning.

I went to read for someone doing a submission for Project Greenlight. There were the producer and writer and a handful of other actors. We had a group meeting and the writer gave us a low down, etc. We had what I thought was a very productive meeting about the scene he wanted to shoot for his submission. Said we would all be in it. I walked out with all the other actors. A few days later, I got a poorly worded email from the writer informing me I wouldn't be in the scene as I didn't get along with anyone there. Which was odd to me since that wasn't my experience.

I think he just didn't like the questions I was asking. I have a lot more experience in how things work than obviously this writer did. I found when I moved to Tucson having come from working 4 years as an extra in LA, that people who have dreams of filmmaking, but don't know how the business actually works, don't want to be told that the way they think it works, is not actually how it works.

This writer also, spelled whether, "weather", so that's what I thought of his firing me. It wasn't a paying job anyway.

Suzanne Bronson Had a couple of those "I actually dodged a bullet" things as well. I always go back on to IMDb and see if they ever actually made what they were trying to do. More often than not, it's nowhere to be found.

the even weirder thing Brandon Keeton is he contacted afterwards, to tell me he most certainly did feed everyone and here is the scene. Like, who does that?!

Wow, sound like you have a good preparation routine there! And the coconut milk iced matcha sounds yummy, can just imagine myself there with you sipping it under the ac ;)

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Physical movement, and vocal warmup. For writing, workout and coffee first.

I just get a quiet place, sit breathe out deeply, think alot about what am going to write then l start my script

Eat, Exercise and Sleep... and find a bit of solitude in nature to contemplate

Nature is great Ryan OL I love water. I go to lakes, rivers, the canal.

My strengths include I'm a natural actor and storyteller. It's in the genetics. I've appreciated the help of others over the years to focus those abilities on roles and scripts.

Playing strong and witty ladies. I also make a producer and director's life easy by taking direction quickly and being calm and grateful on set.

Bumping this back to the top. It's a good thread.

For me, being a good listener and being willing to use my imagination when taking direction has really helped me grow.

Let's hear some more answers

Some of the directors on my dream list are Steven Spielberg, Jordan Peele, Zach Cregger, Lana & Lilly Wachowski, Zack Snyder, and Kathryn Bigelow, Suzanne Bronson.

Jonah Nolan and Lisa Joy are HIGH up on my list. As are Phil Lord and Chris Miller!

Great question Suzanne Bronson . I would love to work with British director Mike Leigh. He gets actors to improvise the film rather than writing. a script. Would also love to work with Jane Campion due to the emotional depth she prefers. I also love Sophia Coppola because she creates such delicate, atmospheric worlds and really gives space for characters’ inner lives to come through.

Oh yes Alexandra Stevens I totally get what you mean about Jane Campion. She would be on my list as well as Greta Gerwig

So anyone else have a dream director?

"Great minor roles come from scripts." That's right. I like to develop minor characters like they're major characters, Ashley Renee Smith. I give a minor character a personality, strength(s), goal, and more. A lot of it doesn't make it into the script, but those things help me write the character and script.

Great topic Ashley Renee Smith I don't look at minor roles as minor. When I studied theater in college, our instructor always said, "These are the most important moments in these characters' lives. That's why it's a script. Nothing happens without purpose, even a "minor" character has a reason for existing." That has stuck with me. A character may only have one or two lines, but they are an important part of the story or the writer wouldn't have put them in. I think about that when I watch tv, pay attention to the actor who has only one or two lines, that character serves a purpose., they drive the plot forward.

A supporting role is by no means lesser acting. A supporting role is very much an integral part of the story, supports the leads in moving the plot forward. That's what Maurice was saying, there are no minor characters. So if you only have one line, give that line your all. It matters. Those actors in this video embraced it. "There are no small roles, only small minded actors." That is what I tell myself when auditioning.

My favorite character actor is Anna Farris. The Scary Movie franchise is cheesy and I would feel really silly doing some of the stuff, but she doesn't hold back. She willingly makes a fool of herself on camera.

Great advice, Matthew Cornwell! I remember an actress on Stage 32 wrote, produced, and acted in scenes so she could have material for her acting reel. I think that's a great idea! I'm looking forward to checking out The Brooke & Matt Show!

This is very approps Matthew Cornwell We were just talking about this in the moderator lounge, about not waiting for permission to act. And here you are with a perfect example. I will definitely check it out. Thank you for sharing.

To you other point, I have done those things as well. I took scenes from plays/movies, rounded up local actors, another acquaintance who wanted to get into cinematography, shot them, another friend edited the footage into a reel for me. All actors got copies of their scenes as well. It was a win for everyone.

That's great, Suzanne Bronson!