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 just watched The Hollywood Reporter Actor Roundtable, and it’s one of those conversations that feels less like a panel and more like a masterclass in why people keep choosing this career, even when it’s brutal.

This roundtable b...

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Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OK0nnxG6dU

This roundtable brings together Adam Sandler, Dwayne Johnson, Jacob Elordi, Jeremy Allen White, Mark Hamill, Michael B. Jordan, and Wagner Moura. What makes it special isn’t the resumes, it’s how candid they are about fear, doubt, and choosing the cliff over comfort.

A few moments that really stayed with me:

Mark Hamill talking about Star Wars and admitting he had no idea what it was going to be, so he made the choice to play it completely sincere. That decision alone shaped an icon.

Michael B. Jordan unpacking rejection, the power of saying no, and how doing the right work early opens doors later. His reminder that “what’s for me is for me” hit hard.

Adam Sandler reflecting on being trusted with dramatic roles and how playing characters who care deeply actually changes how you show up in your own life.

Jacob Elordi and Jeremy Allen White both talking about injuries, detours, and accidents that redirected their paths, and how seriousness about the craft gave them calm and focus when everything else felt uncertain.

Wagner Moura’s refusal to lose his accent or cultural identity, and how embracing where you come from can be the thing that makes your work resonate globally.

What I loved most is how often they come back to the same idea: preparation matters, but at some point you have to jump. You can’t control how it lands, only whether you show up honestly.

What moment in this conversation hit closest to home for you? Do you believe sincerity still cuts through more than perfection?

Most actors walk into auditions thinking:

“Am I good enough?”

“Will they like my choices?”

“Do I look right for the role?”

After nearly forty years directing actors, I can tell you:

We’re not thinking about any of that.

< div> The real question in every audition is:

“Will this actor make my job easier...

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Maurice Vaughan

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3 people like this
3 months ago

Hi, Jessica Putnam. I suggest checking Stage 32’s Job Board for voice acting jobs (www.stage32.com/find-jobs). And it gets updated regularly. I hope you find jobs and get hired!...

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David Horton

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

Jessica Putnam You may want to search your local area to see if there are any classes you can take. I would also encourage you to take an intro acting class if you haven't done so already....

Suzanne Bronson

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1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
3 months ago

Stage 32 has some great voice over webinars that will answer that question! Email the Success Team success@stage32.com with what your current goals are and they can point you in the right direction. Y...

Cheryl Chase

HI Jessica…you can try some pay to play platforms. One is Voices123.com and Voices.com. You go on there and fill out a profile, upload your demos and your home studio set up and producers looking to hire VO actors go on there and if they feel you are right,, they get in touch. Good luck!!!

Amanda Toney

Agree with Cheryl - great resources. We also have an AWESOME webinar that Id highly recommend - it has such great info in it! https://www.stage32.com/education/products/voice-acting-101-what-you-need-...

Ashley Renée Smith

Juliana Philippi I love the way you framed this as interpretation instead of performance. That shift alone feels like it honors the craft on a deeper level.

For me, right now, it’s Julia Schlaepfer and...

Juliana Philippi

Ashley Renée Smith Oh, I want to watch this now. A non-cliche, deep love story...I love that, how you describe her and his interpretations...wow. I want to watch this : ) Thank you for sharing Ashley,...

You should, Juliana Philippi! You don't have to see the other Yellowstone shows to watch it. It can stand on its own. My sister never watched any of the others and was completely engrossed....

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2 people like this
- Angelika Ursula Heeg
- Maurice Vaughan
3 months ago

This is great question Angelika Ursula Heeg When it comes to being more confident, really to me it's trusting in myself. I need to trust my instincts, listen to what my body is telling me, knowing I a...

Angelika Ursula Heeg

Suzanne Bronson great to hear that you trust yourself and ask those questions. That’s the right way. Many people have problems to focus on themselves and feel unsafe. That’s what I do in my coaching....

Thanks for sharing the Actor Roundtable, Ashley Renée Smith. Put all of them in a movie! The moment that hit closest to home for me is when Michael B. Jordan talked about using rejection as a healthy...

Timothy Miller

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4 people like this
3 months ago

how they stayed sincere to the roll of their characters to bring a film to life, making the films they were in so iconic. it must have been an exciting time seeing a roundtable of amazing actors.

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2 people like this
- Suzanne Bronson
- Angelika Ursula Heeg
3 months ago

I check myself and think about what others might think of me when I speak in front of a crowd and pitch live, Angelika Ursula Heeg.

Maurice Vaughan that’s the reason why many people are nervous and stressed during speaking and not present in their speeches. Your head is busy with thinking about what others might think and not pres...

You're right, Angelika Ursula Heeg. Then later on I think about it and realize I didn't need to be checking myself and thinking about what other people might think of me....

No, I don't. I can honestly say I don't care what other people think of me, it's none of my business. I am responsible for what I say, I am not responsible for how it is perceived. As for checking mys...

Suzanne Bronson you’re right. And congratulations that you don’t think about what others might think. Many people have this thoughts during their acting or speaking and the audience feels that you’re...

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1 person likes this
- Suzanne Bronson
3 months ago

Must-watch video, Aaron Marcus! Thanks for sharing the resume secrets.

Aaron Marcus

Really appreciate your kind words, Maurice. I hope a lot of actors who are just breaking into the industry watch this video.

Your post got me thinking about characters entering and exiting scenes, Suzanne Bronson. That could help me write better characters and scenes. Thanks for the idea....

Suzanne Bronson I close my eyes, take a breath, and forget everything I thought I knew, let go of any expectations, and connect to my breath, and live Her, the character I am interpreting....

Must-read article for actors and casting directors, Andrew Higgs!

Andrew Higgs

Thank you, Maurice — glad it connected. Understanding how risk gets assessed on both sides of the table makes the whole process work better.

You're welcome, Andrew Higgs. You're right. As a writer, I like to think as a producer to understand what they're looking for in scripts.

That's a smart approach, Maurice — and it's the same principle. The closer you get to understanding how the person on the other side of the decision thinks, the better your work lands.

3 months ago

Wow, Pat Alexander! I've only seen Odessa A'zion in one movie (Until Dawn), but from that movie and this audition tape, she's a talented actress! Filming an audition tape in a phone booth is a unique...

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You're welcome, Andrew Higgs. I like learning about different areas of the industry. It helps me as a writer.

Andrew Higgs Spot on! Yes, yes, love this post Andrew. Exactly, our job is to really, be a team player, reliable, professional, and prepared. Also, something I am living more and more: enjoy it! Enjoy...

This: “Will this actor make my job easier — or harder?” - 100% it's collaborative and a huge part of the casting.

Thank you, Juliana — and "sometimes it's your role, sometimes it ain't" is exactly right. The actors who understand that stop taking rejection personally and start treating auditions as work they're already doing, not work they're hoping to get.

Wow! Thank you, Amanda — coming from you, that means a great deal. It's a collaborative process at every level, and actors who understand that early have a real advantage.

I've watched scenes of two people talking in one place (standing or sitting) for a long time that kept my attention, James Woodland.

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