Acting

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!

Maurice Vaughan yes that makes sense, to be part of projects that feel aligned.

Suzanne Bronson well put! I agree that the creative process involves being true to ourselves. I admire those who can go all in, even though i want to i sometimes find myself holding back

Alexandra Stevens, thank you so much. I honestly have zero idea what is hot right now on the screen or in music. I just do my own thing with a lot of help from coffee.

I think the interesting thing about being true to yourself is first knowing yourself.

I do a lot of work in this area, and what is always a revelation to people is how much the world knows about us that we think we’re hiding, or that we think we need to show in order to be understood. There’s an inherent disconnect between what we think of ourselves and what the world sees.

In that sense, we can’t be authentic until we’ve reconciled the two. Because if our goal is to make art for the world, then we must do the work to know how we’re perceived first. Authenticity requires the audience’s agreement.

Otherwise we risk walking through life with the metaphorical “mustard on the face”, and everyone is wondering if we know it’s there…

Matthew Cornwell yes I remember you and I have discussed this before and the work you do with your wife is super interesting.

Congratulations on the jobs, Brandon Keeton! I haven't had that problem, but it sounds like an idea for a movie, show, book, etc. Do you have a planner (a physical one or app)? It might help you avoid that happy problem again.

You need a manager to handle this much work and schedule your day.

What a great insight John Gostomski and Erik David . As you can see, we are all more alike than different. This creative work that we do, reflects life. I'm amazed at how many acting lessons, I actually apply to real life as well. The point here is we all learned to reframe those limiting core beliefs and create new unlimited core beliefs. Yes, Life is a process. Like you, John, sometimes things I thought I dealt with come up to the surface again. Those dreaded ANTS I must step on.

You're welcome Ashley Renee Smith I think this conversation shows how we are connected. There is only love.

I have known many people who define their worth by their paycheck. Or how successful their project is. I'm glad you have come to see you're worth is you. Just you, Ashley. :)

So Alexandra Stevens how can you turn that belief around? What can you tell yourself instead? You're a therapist so I am sure you have some ideas as to what the core of believing 'big' is unsafe comes from.

Suzanne Bronson firstly I agree with Ashley in appreciating your willingness to make yourself vulnerable and your post has got quite a response. Just goes to show that, as you said, we're all of us human and have vulnerabilities despite our differences. How can I turn my belief around? Well firstly having the awareness of the belief. Next, recognising when I do 'shrink' myself. Lastly, leaning into the 'big'. It's just a new neural pathway, my nervous system just needs to catch up and be able to hold my 'big-ness'. Since i'm not currently I experiment with this in my day-to-day life, for example imagining myself further along than I currently am in my career. This play -acting works with the part of the brain that doesn't know the difference between reality and fantasy. So I also agree with you Suzanne that we can apply what we learn through acting to our day to day life.

I love it Alexandra Stevens Yes, act "as if" it has already come to be.

Congratulations on the role, Brittany Christine! Sorry to hear that happened. I hope things get figured out!

That’s such a tough situation, and I really appreciate you sharing it here, Brittany Christine, because every actor has (or will) face a version of this at some point. Sometimes projects fall apart, roles vanish overnight, or logistics just don’t line up, and none of it has anything to do with your talent or professionalism. Your story is a great reminder that setbacks are part of the journey, but they don’t define the journey.

Brittany Christine Ashley is right. It happens to everyone. Last year I was cast as a lead in a You Tube series. I met with the writer and other actors, shopped for costumes at Goodwill, went through several rewrites. I gave the writer/director/producer my availability, asked him when I needed to be off book, got the response, "I got something else I want to do, hold off learning lines for now." I never heard from him again. Ironically, he had said in a prior conversation how he won't work with people who are unprofessional. I thought the way he just up and disappeared was unprofessional. Even though it was unpaid, I was still excited and looking forward to it.

Not a role, but I lost two film scoring contracts in 2020 due to the covid pandemic. I chalked it up to 'one of those things'

Brittany Christine I can only imagine how disappointed you must have felt in the moment. And all that eclipse energy around in September. Great attitude thought to suck it up as one of those things. And you never know, maybe you escaped something or an even better opportunity will present that you never would have got if you had done the day's work (gotta think positive ;)

Hi Jessica,

If you are interested in getting acting jobs, you need an effective headshot that sells you well along with a resume that agents, casting directors and other industry professionals expect to see.

I have 500+ quick tip videos on my channel which will be a great free library for you.

https://www.youtube.com/c/aaronmarcusactingandmodelingquicktips

Always feel free to reach out if you have a question.

Oh, you can also be on my special email list: howtoactandmodel.com and I will send you weekly industry information.

Welcome to Stage 32 and to the Acting Lounge, Jessica Putnam! Starting out can feel overwhelming, but you’re already taking the right first step by reaching out and asking for advice.

Some things that can really help when you’re beginning:

• Training & Workshops: Consistent classes (on-camera, improv, scene study) not only sharpen your craft but also help you build a network of peers. Stage 32 has some excellent virtual acting education you may want to check out as a starting place: https://www.stage32.com/education/collections/acting.

• Networking: Be active here in the lounges and join discussions, you never know who you’ll connect with. Also, consider introducing yourself in the Introduce Yourself Lounge if you haven't already- https://www.stage32.com/lounge/introduce_yourself to widen your circle.

• Self-Tapes & Reels: Even a short reel of monologues or scenes can help you start applying for indie projects, student films, and casting calls.

• Small Roles & Projects: Many actors begin with short films, web series, or background roles to build experience and credits. You can reach out to local college film programs and let them know that you're happy to volunteer as a performer for experience and reel material.

If you’d like a little extra guidance, you can also reach out to our Success Team at Success@Stage32.com—they can help connect you with curated resources and even industry executives here on Stage 32.

What kind of roles or genres are you most excited to pursue?

Aaron Marcus yes please add me to your email list. I will watch your videos tonight. I’ve watched a couple of them as well as other experts online.

Ashley Renee Smith I’m looking for more serious roles. that is my goal. more like drama, horror, thrillers. Obviously not starting out, I am open to all. I would like to try my hand in comedy, I am a naturally funny person. but I trust wherever the universe takes me.

Hi Jessica, you can easily sign up to be on my special email list at: howtoactandmodel.com. I love the advice you have been given here. There are a few other ideas I want to share. Go the the Mississippi Film Commission Website to see if there are any projects happening in your area. I would also do a search on Facebook to see if there are any independent filmmaker groups in your area. I like what was said earlier about contacting colleges and universities, Go to the schools website and search for film classes (most likely listed in the Arts dept.) Find the classes where students have to shoot short films for their class. Then reach out to the instructor.

Just remember, just because someone is a univ,. student, doesn't mean they are sane. If you are comfortable with the script and get cast, bring someone with you, just to make sure it is a legit project.

I would also search for casting directors in your area. They could be great people to reach out to as well.

As I mentioned earlier, feel free to reach out to me if you have a question.

Thanks for sharing this, Ponce Deleon, I love the honesty in your post. You’re absolutely right that so much of the process is invisible and can feel isolating, but those quiet, uncertain moments are often where the deepest breakthroughs happen.

For me, I’ve found that when I hit those stretches of doubt or waiting, it helps to lean into small, tangible actions, even if it’s just practicing a monologue, journaling, or connecting with another creative for a quick chat. It keeps the energy moving forward, even when results feel far away.

Your lighting test is a great reminder that even the prep work matters; it’s part of the craft.

For anyone feeling stuck creatively, I highly recommend THE ARTIST'S WAY by Julia Cameron.

Alexandra Stevens Thank you. That’s exactly” what do as I well. I must admit I’ve gotten away from it though since coming to L.A. I’m always on the go. I do make time for moments of stillness though, they’re much less than before. I need to go deeper into my rituals again. There’s something about city life that impacts you inevitably.

Ashley Renee Smith I appreciate you. That’s amazing. I actually did one of those recently. I connected with a filmmaker friend from Argentina. Moments like that help alleviate a lot of the weight of progress. Having someone in your corner to chat with at a moments notice even if only about creativity is very therapeutic.

Hi Ponce Deleon, by the way a great pic. Is kind of hard to explain in simple example. As every one has defferent ways to handle the situation. Some do sport exercises, some take a walk in the woods.To catch up some ideas how to patch up the situation for some it helps. Anyway wish you all the best.

Erik David Thank you for sharing such a vulnerable and intense experience. You’ve really captured the push and pull of acting; balancing your own instincts with the director’s vision while still honoring the truth of the character. The way you broke it down into values, fears, and positions in a scene is such a clear framework for approaching any role, no matter how far it stretches from who we are in real life.

Aaaa Dddd I love that approach, really living in the character’s skin for a few days sounds like such a powerful way to find authenticity. Writing about it afterward must give you even more clarity on how they think and feel, almost like keeping a journal from their perspective. Do you find that those writings ever make their way into your performance?

Alexandra Stevens That’s such a great approach! Research is such a strong foundation, and finding even one point of commonality can really open the door to everything else. I love that you’re looking into Viewpoints, too. It’s such a powerful way of exploring physical connection and presence. Experimenting with it could give you a whole new toolkit for embodying characters on that body-level you mentioned. I’d be curious to hear how it feels once you start applying it.

Yes, exactly, Suzanne Bronson, going back to those basics is so powerful. The objective and the “why” really do unlock so much about a character. I love what you said about not judging the character, too. That’s such an important reminder, especially when stepping into more complex or darker roles. Even the so-called villains believe they’re the hero of their own story, and leaning into that perspective can make performances so much more layered and human.

You're welcome, Erik David. Thanks for helping to make Stage 32 a positive, nurturing and learning environment, and thanks for being active in the community. Hope you enjoy the Holiday!

I'm not familiar with that show Ashley Renee Smith what is it about and why is that your favorite?

I have a play in which I play the role of a hybrid human, a human whose father was a witch and whose mother was a human, and then I accidentally enter the same world that my father came from...

Suzanne Bronson A Tuna Christmas is a comedy set in the fictional small town of Tuna, Texas, during the holidays. It’s a quirky show where just two actors usually play more than 20 eccentric townspeople, but in our little community production, they opened up the roles to a full cast. I played Jodie, a kid caught up in all the town’s holiday chaos.

It was a big deal for me because I was 12 at the time and absolutely desperate to be on stage, but living in a small town far from a city, opportunities were almost nonexistent. I got lucky that our community theater put an ad in the paper looking for a kid for the role, and that’s how I got in. From that moment on, I practically lived at that theater until I left for college. The people there became my extended family, and the experience of working on shows both on stage and behind the scenes had such a huge impact on who I am today.

That's an awesome story Ashley Renee Smith Sounds like a fun production.

Great question Suzanne!!

Weapons is my favorite movie of the year, Pat Alexander. The acting is phenomenal!

Great share, Pat Alexander! I LOVED this film, and their performances were amazing!