What exactly are we doing when we say 'I'm acting'?
I'll start it off with "we don't ACT - we RE-ACT"
Look forward to reading your reflections on this.
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
Stage 32 Moderator & Creative & Executive Director at Dacian Wolf Productions ♦ Acting Teacher, Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Actor, Creative Executive
2 months ago
Worst Audition Experience
I would love to hear from those of you who have had a lot of auditions. I know this answer will be helpful to those just starting out, and the lurkers. I, personally, would also love to know. I haven't had as many auditions as I used to, and with it being self submission now, the times have changed....
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Juliana Philippi
- 3 months ago
Suzanne Bronson I'm actually so happy they did that, they showed me how parts of the acting world are: agenda driven, prejudiced, but more importantly, places I am happy to be away from. And...everyth...
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I would so love to hear from others about their worst audition experience and what it taught them.
Matthew Cornwell
- 2 months ago
While not a "horrible" experience, an early audition that taught me something was for the TV movie Wool Cap with William H. Macy. The local Casting Director called me for in for a small role that had...
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Suzanne Bronson
- 2 months ago
Thank you for sharing that Matthew Cornwell I was taught the same thing, not expected to be completely off book for an audition, use the script, follow along with your thumb. I also come from the thea...
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Sebastian Tudores
- 2 months ago
Suzanne Bronson 'enjoying' reading this thread and everyone's experiences. My worst one was auditioning with a monologue from the Crucible - had little time to prep it and, frankly, understood very li...
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Stage 32 Moderator & Creative & Executive Director at Dacian Wolf Productions ♦ Acting Teacher, Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Actor, Creative Executive
2 months ago
What stands between you and your character?
Just finished reading a great blog article by our platform colleague Alexandra Stevens on the potential benefits of some types of therapy-related techniques to the acting craft. I've had the pleasure of having a few wonderful convos with Alexandra on this topic and remember sharing with here that on...
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Suzanne Bronson
- 2 months ago
It is a great read Sebastian Tudores I too have had many convos with Alexandra. Especially on Attachment Style. I never thought about how my attachment style may unconsciously impact how I perceive a...
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Sebastian Tudores
- 2 months ago
yes, awareness is so valuable Suzanne Bronson , you're so right. also, it may give us tools with which to explore our character.
The Actor Awards 2026
Did y'all enjoy The Actor Awards?!
I loved Harrison Ford's acceptance speech!
“The stories we tell have a unique capacity to create moments with emotional connection. They bring us together,” he said. “So while we’re all at different stages of our lives and careers in this room, we all share somethin...
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Choosing Between Projects: Does the Role, or the Story, Make or Break it?
Heart
Players!
When the fortuitous and magical moment comes...after auditioning for two films, a tv co-star role, and a few commercials...weeks, maybe a month goes by...and you hear nothing. So, you have no conflicts if you got nothing, right? But...
...then! Then, you hear back from one feature film...
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Suzanne Bronson
- 2 months ago
I wish I had that problem Juliana Philippi
Juliana Philippi
- 2 months ago
Suzanne Bronson Be that frequency, feel what it would be like...your heart's a powerful transmitter.
It's really about opportunity Juliana Philippi We need filming to come to Arizona.
Robert Carradine. RIP
Rest in peace, Robert Carradine.
Stage 32 Opportunity - Limited Time: Consult with Execs Behind Oscar Winners
Happy Friday Fellow Creatives!
The Academy Awards are right around the corner and we've compiled a list of executives who worked on Oscar-winning and Oscar-nominated projects.
These are producers and executives who've developed films at the highest level of the industry including SPOTLIGHT, F1: THE M...
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In LA March 8–18 | Lead Actor in Short Film Nominated for 2026 Academy Awards
Hi everyone,
My name is Omar Sameer, an Arab filmmaker and actor visiting Los Angeles from March 8–18.
I’m the lead actor of the short film Butcher’s Stain, which is nominated for Best Live Action Short Film at the 2026 Academy Awards.
I’d love to connect with filmmakers, producers, and industry profes...
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Head of Community at Stage 32 ♦ Creative Executive, Writer, Author, Director of Development
2 months ago
Celebrating Molly Ringwald’s Legacy & Next Adventure on Yellowjackets!
This casting news feels like a full-circle moment. Molly Ringwald has joined the fourth and final season of Yellowjackets, stepping into the role of Van’s mother in the series’ final chapter.
Beyond the...
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Darrell Pennington
- 2 months ago
Love Yellowjackets!!
Performing Absolute Loneliness
How would you portray loneliness when you are the only conscious being in existence?
Curious how actors approach emotional scale in high-concept roles.
Amir Sadeghi
- 2 months ago
That makes sense, Maurice Vaughan .
Simple actions alone can say a lot.
But in this case, it’s even deeper —
not just doing things alone…
It’s being the only consciousness that exists.
So maybe the lonelin...
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Amir Sadeghi
- 2 months ago
Those small rituals —
checking the phone, pouring a drink, turning the TV off —
they feel very human.
For a human character, that works beautif...
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Amir Sadeghi
- 2 months ago
You’re absolutely right —
acting isn’t portraying a feeling, it’s living it.
In this case, the character would be the only conscious being in existence.
No other ref...
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Absolutely you can be lonely if you have never known connection. That is in our DNA. Think of how they cuddle babies in the NICU. Even animals need connection with each other. Punch the monkey is a good example.
I would have the character doing something alone. That could be cooking, shopping, walking their dog (if they have a pet), etc. I'd also have the character doing something artistic alone, could be pai...
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Are you extremely conscientious?
What would you choose?
Suzanne Bronson
- 3 months ago
Would you mind reposting this one toe?
Angelika Ursula Heeg
- 3 months ago
Suzanne Bronson you mean in English?
Suzanne Bronson
- 2 months ago
Yes. I would love to be able to read it. I think you will get more engagement.
What is your favorite Robert Duvall movie?
Few actors have been in more great movies, and brought such integrity and authenticity to every single role. Wow - what a career. What's your favorite Robert Duvall movie of all time? I have a big list, but I have to start with "The Godfather". What's yours?
Charles Torres
- 2 months ago
Falling Down with Michael Douglas
Frank Fortin
- 2 months ago
One more comment: I just saw a scene from early in Godfather 2 where Tom Hagen is kicked out of a family meeting. Duvall's forced smile as he picks up his papers and leaves- pretending everything is c...
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William Mann
- 2 months ago
second hand lions does it for me
Dustin Quinteros
- 2 months ago
SO MANY, such an impressive catalog of work, The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, THX II38, but the one that holds a special place for me is The Great Santini. The man was a force both on and off screen.
H. Romero-Gomez
- 2 months ago
Best portrayal of a southern preacher, The Apostle.
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2 people like this
Yes Sebastian Tudores acting is reacting. That is a simple way to describe it. I say acting is being. Acting is living truthfully in imaginary circumstances. We Re ACT truthfully to what our scene par...
Expand commentYes Sebastian Tudores acting is reacting. That is a simple way to describe it. I say acting is being. Acting is living truthfully in imaginary circumstances. We Re ACT truthfully to what our scene partner is giving us within the confines of the established world.
3 people like this
Love this questions Sebastian. All acting is reacting. I always watch facial expressions when watching actors - that means so much more than words.
1 person likes this
totally Suzanne Bronson - many outside the craft think of acting as 'pretending' to be someone else, when in fact our responsibility is to truthfully live through that moment with, as you point out, o...
Expand commenttotally Suzanne Bronson - many outside the craft think of acting as 'pretending' to be someone else, when in fact our responsibility is to truthfully live through that moment with, as you point out, only the circumstances being imaginary. And it is true that some schools train the actor to refer to the character they're playing in third person and others in first person, but the fact remains: when I speak or do something as that character, I AM that person.
But I do think we sometimes forget the most important thing - acting is DOING. Life is DOING - the Buddhists assert that life is 'effort'. In fact, the word 'drama' comes from the Greek 'to do' - isn't that wonderful :) always doing whatever the heck we need to do to get our objective. No wonder actors are exhausted! lol
1 person likes this
Great point Amanda Toney - watching the physical response tells us if the actor is actually listening, hearing, AND 'letting it land' so to speak. And I guess that's why we always need those freaking...
Expand commentGreat point Amanda Toney - watching the physical response tells us if the actor is actually listening, hearing, AND 'letting it land' so to speak. And I guess that's why we always need those freaking 'reaction shots' :)