THE WINNER PAGES WINNER PAGES INDEX! Level 1 Foundation Training & Classes Level 3 Auditioning & Booking Auditioning Booking Gaining Experience Resume Format Headshot Level 5 Working Continued Education Joining SAG-AFTRA In the Zone Moving to a larger market Creating Content Level 2 Package Intro: Business & Marketing Self Submitting Legit Casting Sites (Job Boards) Acting Clips & Self Taping Set up Locating Material Social Media: FB, IG, TW, YouTube, Vimeo Level 4 Becoming Competitive Promotional Tools Networking Business Cards Website Email Signature Events to Attend Pros & Cons of Showcases Following up “Moving to LA” Representation (Managers & Agents) Level 6 Next Level Pros for your Team Self Care Money Saving money Lawyer/Marketing Team/Publicist Create a Routine Multiple Streams of Income Affording a Career WHY YOU NEED TRAINING 1.1 Emphasis on why training is important! Become an Olympic Actor! Checklist IF YOU UNDERSTAND THESE CONCEPTS CHECK THE BOXES The very 1st step you take toward becoming an actor is get into Acting Classes. Acting is not talking or just “being yourself.” It is a difficult skill that you practice until it becomes easy. To become a working professional you must become a great actor. Acting technique is paramount to anyone wanting to be a serious actor. Actors without training rarely become successful. Train in acting like an athlete who wants to go to the olympics. Build your foundation. Strong acting training will get you ready for on set work. Always be developing and adding new skills to your acting toolkit. You need to be able to act and be vulnerable in front of large groups of people Professional actors train in acting classes 2-3 days a week Read More CLICK TO GO TO LINK What do famous actors say about acting training? www.backstage.com/news/successful-actors-talk-about-their-training/ 6 Things They Don’t Tell You In Theater School Do You Really Need To Have Acting Classes? WHY YOU NEED TRAINING 1.1 www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/6-things-they-dont-tell-you-theater-school/ cast44.com/do-you-really-need-to-have-acting-classes/ WHAT KINDS OF TRAINING YOU NEED 1.2 Training is important and every actor should start with acting training. Checklist CHECK THE BOXES OF THE CLASSES YOU HAVE ALREADY TAKEN! Scene Study Improvisation Voice (Singing) Classes On Camera Techniques Cold Reading Commercial Technique Audition Techniques Movement Class Voice Over Classes Character Development You need years of training in various techniques. It could take years, but you do it as you go along. Eventually every box needs to be checked! WHAT KINDS OF TRAINING YOU NEED 1.2 List of Recommended Classes CHECK THE CLASSES YOU NEED TO TAKE. Scene Study On Camera Cold Reading Scene study class has actors take a scene from a play or movie, work on it in front of their acting instructor with constructive critiques that can help them improve their craft Cold reading class is training that teaches how to quickly prepare the text: how to read it, break it down and analyze it, memorize your lines and deliver them, with little or no previous practice or study. On-camera classes teach actors professional on camera skills, including how to control their vocal levels, how to know where to stand and where to go, and all other on-camera acting technicalities Improvisation Improvisation, or improv, is a form of live acting play in which the plot, characters and dialogue of a game, scene or story are made up in the moment. Improv is not only about comedy timing and being funny; it’s also about getting out of your head and being able to think on your feet, fast. Commercial Techniques Commercial audition technique class focuses on developing each actor's acting skills and on-camera commercial persona. Actors learn how to do Commercial Monologues, Scenes, Interviews, Product Handling, Improv and Cue Cards. On Camera Audition Techniques On Camera classes that teach an actor how to audition on camera for a project. Voice Classes Voice Classes teach an actor or singer how to sing in key, diction, correct breathing, enunciation, and performance. Voice classes are not just for actors. Lessons can open up the range of the actors voice, as well as protect from stress and incorrect use. Continued on Next Page WHAT KINDS OF TRAINING YOU NEED 1.2 Movement Class Character Development Voice Over Classes Great actor training focuses on the whole instrument: voice, mind, body and heart. While we can’t get far without vocal technique, intellectual dexterity, and text-work skills, a strong physical presence is crucial to the professional actor. Actors take voice-over classes because they greatly improve an actor's cold reading skills for auditions. Voiceover is another great way to practice the art of sounding like you're present, sounding like you mean what you're saying. The actor's job is to bring a scripted character to life. Character Development classes help you learn how to do that. Character Study is an essential part of any actor’s process, no matter how experienced. It involves creating and internalizing the details of your character’s life. These details can range from personality traits, to history and family background, to even the most mundane details like favorite color or favorite food. The more thought that an actor gives their character, the easier it is to “stay in character” throughout a scene. Audition Techniques Audition technique classes teach actors how to break down a script, understand the beats and intentions and your emotional choices. Acting Techniques Several of your favorite Hollywood A-list actors all employ different acting techniques in order to make their characters come alive. The following is a list of acting techniques many Hollywood actors use on a daily basis. THE TOP 9 Stanislavski Konstantin Stanislavski, the father of “method acting,” the Stanislavski technique - it uses conscious thought to impact the actors subconscious behaviors. Renowned & Award winning Practitioners: Lord Laurence Olivier, Sir John Gielgud, Marlon Brando Stanislavski Strasberg/The Method Lee Strasberg = Stanislavski’s technique v2.O. Lee created “The Method” which delves into specifically the psychological aspects. Which Lee dubbed “Emotion Memory”. The Actor ties their own similar emotionally charged memories to that of the characters. Renowned & Award winning Practitioners: Al Pacino, Alec Baldwin, Paul Newman, Scarlett Johansson Continued on Next Page WHAT KINDS OF TRAINING YOU NEED 1.2 THE TOP 9 Stella Adler Stella Adler = Stanislavski’s technique v3.O. She disagreed with the notion of bringing up emotionally traumatic memories and her version relies on the power of strong imagination, action, script interpretation and empathy. Renowned & Award winning Practitioners: Robert DeNiro, Benicio del Toro, Mark Ruffalo, Melanie Griffith Meisner Created by Sanford Meisner, the Meisner technique = Stanislavski v4.O. His interpretation and extrapolation of Stanislavski’s teachings led to “Meisner Technique” which encourages actors to “get out of his or her head” and empower them to respond to a set of circumstances based on instinct which can create moving and natural performances. Renowned & Award winning Practitioners: Diane Keaton, Christoph Waltz, Griffin Dunne, Jame Gandolfini, Grace Kelly Continued on Next Page Chekhov Michael Chekhov’s acting technique = Do not impersonate life, but dive into it to discover the deepest meanings and needs and present that to an audience though physical expressions of emotion. A lot of physical symbolism. Renowned & Award winning Practitioners: Jack Nicholson, Clint Eastwood, Marilyn Monroe, Yul Brynner, Anthony Hopkins Alexander Technique It is a method that empowers the actor to retrain habitual patterns of movement and posture, to become aware of the physical habits that may hinder performance, to assist the actor in being more natural in performance, promoting the easy creation of the character’s physical life and allowing more complete emotional expression. Renowned & Award winning Practitioners: William Hurt, Kevin Kline, John Cleese, Hugh Jackman, Kenneth Branaugh, Dame Judi Dench, Jeremy Irons Practical aesthetics David Mamet & William H. Macy created = practical aesthetics which consists of breaking down a scene in four-steps: the literal, the want, the essential action, and the “as if” relating the important action to the actor’s personal experiences: “It’s as if my Teacher...” using the actors own experiences to get them there emotionally. Renowned & Award winning Practitioners: Felicity Huffman, Rose Byrne, Jessica Alba, Camryn Manheim WHAT KINDS OF TRAINING YOU NEED 1.2 THE TOP 9 Uta Hagen Hagen = Realism. Bringing your own experience into a piece. Uta Hagen is responsible for some very wonderful books on acting: “Respect for Acting” + “A Challenge for the Actor.” Read them if you get the chance! Renowned & Award winning Practitioners: Matthew Broderick, Jack Lemmon, Whoopi Goldberg, Christine Lahti Viola Spolin Viola Spolin is the creator of “theatre games” which aid in the actor building the skill of making real-time decisions during performances as they would in reality. Renowned & Award winning Practitioners: Alan Arkin, Fred Willard, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner Continued on Next Page Actors Dictionary Scene If a script was a book, a scene would be a chapter Script The written text of a play, movie Improvisation (Improv) The written text of a play, movie Cold Reading Reading aloud from a script or other text with little or no rehearsal, practice or study in advance Breakdown 1) is the process/homework an actor does to prepare the script or scene that they will be performing 2) Itemization of all characters that will be appearing in a project WHAT KINDS OF TRAINING YOU NEED 1.2 How to Choose an Acting Technique https://www.backstage.com/backstage-guides/how-choose-acting-technique/ Read More CLICK TO GO TO LINK Sides a select part of a script that is given to actors before auditioning or is given to you by a teacher to practice with in a class. Typically more than one person speaking. Project (Physically) Exaggerating your movement beyond normal Project (Volume) Speaking loudly. If you hear a director say “Project!” in theatre it usually means “Louder!” 10 Types of Acting Classes (& what you must know about them) https://actinginlondon.co.uk/types-of-acting-classes/ 7 Movement Techniques All Actors Should Study https://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/resources/7-movement-techniques-all-actors-should-study/ Why Voice Lessons Are Not Just For Singers https://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/acting-teachers/why-voice-lessons-are-not-just-singers/ Why Are Voice Over Classes Necessary? https://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/professional-tips/why-are-voiceover-classes-necessary/ Character Building And What Makes A Truly Great Actor https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2009/may/09/character-building-great-actor How To Create A Character Study https://4thwallbackstage.com/2017/04/17/create-character-study-beginning-actors/ 38 Famous Actor’s Audition Prep Tricks https://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/38-famous-actors-audition-prep-tricks/ HOW TO FIND ACTING CLASSES 1.3 You can find a way to practice your craft anywhere. These are the ways we suggest to find classes you can attended Checklist DO EACH OF THE FOLLOWING Ask on your local actor FB groups & pages: “Hello Actors & other Industry Pros! I am looking for great local acting class recommendations, Scene Study, Improv, On Camera, Cold Reading & Commercial Technique specifically, in____ or near (place of residence). Thank you in advance for your help!” Ask Google/Search Engines: “(Type of Class) Acting Class Near Me” Ask SAG-AFTRA! Their Phone #: (855) 724-2387 or visit https://www.sagaftra.org/contact- us for other contact options Ask a friend for recommendations Ask actors & directors at your local community theatres Take them at your school! Ask your State’s Film Commission HOW TO FIND ACTING CLASSES 1.3 When you get class recommendations - Audit classes whenever possible (attend the 1st class free) Find acting workshops and seminars in your nearest big cities Find classes where everyone is better than you so you will be challenged Find an actress/actor who can give you private coaching Continued on Next Page TIPS TAKE ONLINE ACTING INSTRUCTION IN ADDITION TO YOUR IN-PERSON CLASSES iActingstudios.com MasterTalentTeachers.com (FREE) MasterClass.com IF YOU LIVE IN A REMOTE MARKET: Do Skype Coaching with an LA Acting Coach. Note: If you’re going to Skype, Skype someone in a major market like Los Angeles. We have some of our favorites from LA listed below. LA COACHES FOR ADULTS John D’Aquino http://www.johndaquino.net/L AClasses.php#Coaching Amy Lyndon http://www.thelyndontechniq ue.com//private-coaching- for-actors-hollywood Dan Shaner Dan@danshaner.com Gloria Garayua http://gloriagarayua.com/less ons.html Kimberly Crandall http://kimberlycrandallactingc oach.com/contact_1.html Wendy Faraone http://wendyfaraone.com/priv ate-coaching/ Marci Liroff http://www.marciliroff.com/c oaching/ Actors Edge Act@ActorsEdge.com HOW TO FIND ACTING CLASSES 1.3 Jeffrey Meek https://jeffreymeek.net/acting -online/ Carol Goldwasser CarolGoldwasser@gmail.com Bernard Hiller bernardhillerstudio@yahoo.com Dana Gergely DanaCasting@gmail.com Cheryl Faye DancerMomie@yahoo.com Tracy Martin Tracy@yourhollywoodcoach.com LA COACHES FOR KIDS/TEENS John D’Aquino http://www.johndaquino.net/L AClasses.php#Coaching Read More CLICK TO GO TO LINK 6 Regional Training Programs For Young Performers https://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/6-regional- training-programs-young-performers/ Best Colleges For Performing Arts In America https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/best-colleges-for-theater/ WAYS TO BECOME MORE MARKETABLE 1.4 Make yourself invaluable. Learn new Marketable Skills. Stay Sharp in your craft! TIPS Practice all of the skills related to acting that you can on your own to start preparing and/or to stay competitive! Do not ever say “there’s nothing you can do” there is always something you can be doing to make yourself more appealing & valuable. It takes 10,000 hours to become a master at something. Get cracking. Exercise and get in the best shape of your life, unless you are an overweight type character actor. Things You Can Do at Home Tongue Twisters! Enunciation/Diction (Some more Tongue Twisters & Exercises to get you started) http://www.uebersetzung.at/twister/en.htm Tongue Twisting - Enunciation Exercises for Drama Teachers (Article) https://www.engvid.com/english-resource/50-tongue-twisters-improve-pronunciation/ http://pun.me/pages/tongue-twisters.php https://www.thoughtco.com/enunciation-exercises-for-drama-teachers-2712994 How to Enunciate (Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBDS6Li2WQM Improve Your Voice - Daily Articulation Exercises (Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qjr9nWh5cU Voice Training Exercise | Easy steps to improve the sound of your voice (Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeyn3kLd1Y0 About the Voice tones & uses 0:00 - 3:40 Humming exercises : 3:41 - 6:22 Acting jobs 6:22 Resonance exercises & clarity 7:33 QEQR exercise 7:55 Continued on Next Page WAYS TO BECOME MORE MARKETABLE 1.4 Cold Reading! ACTING LESSON 19: HOW TO SIGHT-READ A SCRIPT (Acting Coach NYC) Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a735gXXc6ac See our How to Cold Read Page Study Scenes Learn new Scenes on the app SceneBot.com. You can download it for free! https://scenebot.com/ Practice learning and memorizing lines with Rehearsal Pro https://rehearsal.pro/ Build your marketable and useful-to-career skills. YouTube is a game changer. You can begin to learn almost anything online. Here are some examples. 7 Easy Card Tricks to Shuffle the Cards Like a Pro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvXn5ppVB2c Learn German For Beginners The Complete Course (Level A.1) | Get Germanized https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9os9Q6t6Xc Tutorial - Learn How To Juggle 3 Balls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2_j6kMg1co 10 HACKS to UP your iPhone PHOTO game FAST | 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qx4dUTLh3c 7 Hidden iPhone Camera Features That Every Photographer Should Use https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZNH8k7JlCo Making iPHONE Footage MORE CINEMATIC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyXQHPcBac8 Michael Bean Acting Teacher: How to make a quality self-tape audition https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8frj5n49pao Learn to play the Piano https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vphWgqbF-AM Those are some examples of skills and talents you can learn without spending any money! Don’t stop there! The more you have to offer the better. Learn something new every month and get GOOD at it. Have fun! Learn basic video editing, how to read a teleprompter or social media marketing while you’re at it! WAYS TO BECOME MORE MARKETABLE 1.4 Learn about Speed Reading - Find a few techniques that work for you. The more words your eyes are accustomed to seeing, the faster your brain can comprehend them. Learn How To Speed Read - Best Speed Reading Techniques: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiTK523Ot5U Tim Ferriss teaches speed reading | Tim Ferriss Cold Reading Eye Movement Only your eyes should go down to get words. Your head should not tilt down to get words from the page. You do not want 70% of your audition/cold read to be the top of your head in the camera’s frame. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwEquW_Yij0 Learn to Speed Read In 7 Minutes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb9meR_0C9o Find the sweet spot for the your material in your hand so it doesn’t block your face yet is close enough so your eyes can flick down to retrieve new text. No head tilting down. Continued on Next Page How to Cold Read & Master The Sight Read GOOD EYE MOVEMENT WAYS TO BECOME MORE MARKETABLE 1.4 Practicing Cold Reading at home (For the serious) Daily. Actors suggested 30 minutes. Voice over actors suggested 1 hour +. Read anything you want OUT LOUD. If you choose material that has smaller text and spaces (i.e. books/magazines) than the average script ... Cold reading a script feels easier than heck. When practicing keep in mind skills from speed reading & cold reading. TIPS Try to glance down and pick up more than 3 words at a time (speed reading) LOOK UP and focus on a point ahead of you before reading them aloud (cold reading) MASTERS (3 years + daily experience) can pick up a sentence to a paragraph at a time. Start with more than 2 words at a time and work your way up. BAD EYE MOVEMENT Read More CLICK TO GO TO LINK 10 Ways To Master The Cold Read https://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/10-ways-master-dreaded-cold-read/ WAYS TO BECOME MORE MARKETABLE 1.4 How to Break Down a Scene & Develop Character HAVE ALL OF THESE ANSWERED AND KNOWN. (THERE ARE NO WRONG ANSWERS.) Where are you? What are you talking about? Who are you talking to? What does your character want? Their backstory (Go into detail) What do they spend most of their time doing? What is their favorite thing to do? Their Family? Any special interests? How did they discover their interests? Where do they live? Any prized possessions? Any dislikes? Continued on Next Page WAYS TO BECOME MORE MARKETABLE 1.4 How does your character feel about... The other characters in the scene? The place they’re in? Any person, place or thing mentioned that is not present in the scene? Themselves? What they do? Their Family? Their special interests? Their living situation? Prized possessions. Why are they important? Their dislikes. Why don’t they like them? Drop it from your conscious thought before the audition so you can react in the moment! HOW TO AFFORD YOUR ACTING CAREER: 1.5 An Actor’s Career is expensive. “There’s plenty of money in the world out there, all you need to do is go get some.” – Wendy Alane Wright A 9-5 job will prevent you from becoming a working actor. You need a job with flexible hours so you can get to auditions. Try to get a job that directly relates to your dream, or a job that is entirely flexible in terms of time. List of Flexible or Creative Jobs Drive for Lyft or Uber Bartender /Waiter Affiliate Market (Sell other people’s products for commission) Drive For Instacart Babysit Sell Stuff On Ebay Become A Personal Trainer Freelance on Upwork.com Teach Music Lessons Tutor Students Office P.A. If you want to produce Writers P.A. If you want to write Continued on Next Page Related job ideas to gain more insight into the business NOTES ONLY sign up for short term projects 1-20 days. Set days are 8-16 hours long on your feet. You will have minimal energy after too long.