Acting

In acting, you don't have the luxury of knowing why you weren't cast, or even why you aren't allowed to audition.

Rejection is just a part of the business. Things have changed with the advent of self-tapes. The good part is that we can tape our audition at home and not have to drive so much. The downside is that more actors are self-taping for that one role. I believe it is important to have other interests to occupy your time — otherwise you'll go crazy wondering if that call will come. I have had auditions where I thought I aced it and should get at least a callback. Didn't happen. I had an audition for an ensemble lead role in a Hallmark film that I was sure I wouldn't get...and booked it! One never knows. Rejection is part of this crazy business. I wrote a blog about it...

https://www.raywatters.com/post/tired-of-rejection-not-getting-any-roles...

Suzanne Bronson, thank you for opening this conversation; it’s one so many creatives carry quietly, and it deserves far more space than it gets.

Rejection in this industry is uniquely personal because we are the product. Even when we tell ourselves not to take it to heart, it still finds its way in. And you’re right: the ratio of “no” to “yes” for actors, writers, directors, all of us, is higher than most people will ever experience in their careers.

Something you said really resonated: being proud of your audition. That’s a powerful anchor. You controlled the part that was yours to control, and that’s often the only part of this process that’s truly in your hands.

The harder moments: the near misses, the silence, the roles you know in your bones you could carry, those can shake even the most seasoned performers. But rejection in this industry rarely means what we think it means. It’s almost never about ability. It’s timing, or type, or chemistry with a partner, or a director’s private instinct, or ten tiny factors that have nothing to do with talent.

What I’ve seen help many actors (and writers, and anyone in the creative trenches) is reframing rejection as redirection. Every “no” narrows the path toward the opportunity that is meant for you. And often, that one turns out to be stronger, more aligned, and more creatively fulfilling than the one before it.

For me, it’s community that helps me push through it. Talking about it, normalizing it, reminding each other that this is a shared part of the path, not a personal failure. It’s allowing ourselves to feel the sting, then grounding back into the work. It’s trusting that momentum matters more than any single moment.

Thank you Ashley Renee Smith That is what I want this post to be about. Us reminding each other that we are not alone on this journey, and yes, sometimes it does suck. If you need to vent, or, cry, or scream into your pillow, I want everyone to know Stage 32 is a safe place for that. Let it all out here, or dm me, or another mod. This is a judgement free zone.

I like what you said about allowing ourselves to feel the sting. It is important to acknowledge that. Though we may not know why we didn't get the part, and most likely has nothing to do with our personal talent, it does hurt sometimes. And it's ok to feel that. The key is "trusting that momentum matters more than any single moment." Emotions last 90 seconds. Feel the 90 seconds, then get back on the horse.

I remind myself of THE FOUR AGREEMENTS

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word

2. Don't Take Anything Personally

3. Don't Make Assumptions

4. Always Do Your Best

Three of those for sure I can apply to acting auditions.

Reframing is a good idea Ashley Renee Smith Especially when you submit an audition request and don't get a response. I like to tell myself, "I guess they think I am way too experienced for their production." haha

That's great advice Matthew Gross

Thank you for sharing. I hope all agents are aware of this.

Matthew Gross Thank you for posting this. Just a reminder: under current IRS rules, a W-2 actor can’t qualify as a Qualified Performing Artist if their adjusted gross income is over $16,000—a number that hasn’t been updated since 1986.

That’s exactly why I keep encouraging folks to support HR 721, the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act of 2025. It would finally bring those limits into this century, raising them to $100K for single filers and $200K for joint filers.

Wow Ray Watters thanks for this. I can't believe that number is soooo low. So then in order for actors to qualify for those affordable acting housing options, that is their maximum threshold? I know for those housing options performing artist tenants must have 80% of their income come from the performing arts. Unless that has changed? Makes me wonder.

Here's a blog I wrote on my website about HR 721 that would update the tax code in our favor:

https://www.raywatters.com/post/actors-pay-attention-h-r-721-is-the-role...

Brandon Keeton I thought I was still a part of it for the feature too? Woohoo congrats! I'm most excited for the other two we talked about at Cannes, those youtube videos you showed me still haunt my dreams!

Brittany Christine ...We're taking a Caribbean cruise from Dec 14 to 21st. Other times, we'll be busy spoiling our grandchildren and great grandson!

Brittany Christine, this sounds like such a fun and thoughtful way to spend the holiday! I love that you created your own themed tour and shared the experience with someone seeing the area for the first time. That’s such a creative way to break out of the usual rhythm of the season.

For me, this holiday break is going to look a little different. I’ll be spending most of it moving into a new home, unpacking, and if I get the chance, maybe painting a few walls. I know I won’t get much done creatively, and honestly, I’m giving myself permission to be okay with that.

The funny thing is, I actually love the process of unpacking. There’s something about setting up a space, organizing it, and finding a new flow that becomes creatively fueling once the dust settles. I always feel more inspired when I have a fresh, intentional environment to create in.

And when I’m not buried in boxes, I’ll be binge-watching shows with my sister while she’s on break from college, which is its own kind of creative recharge.

Ray Watters that sounds amazing! Vacation away and family time at home with loved ones, best of both worlds! Happy Holidays

Ashley Renee Smith I love a good move! New spaces to get settled into is so much fun, I am with you on unpacking & reorganizing-putting belongings in new space mixes things up and gives me fresh eyes on them to help see/attach to each differently. Have you watched the Marie Kondo series? I highly recommend for anyone in a new place or decluttering, it really helped me during Covid. And sis time is the best! Have a wonderful time with her in your new home, Merry almost Christmas :D

I wouldn’t have a problem with being in one, my only concern is that the writing is good.

Alexandra Stevens, this is such an exciting topic and honestly, the rise of micro-budget filmmaking feels like one of the most hopeful shifts in the industry right now. When resources expand at the smaller scale, opportunities expand with them, especially for actors who are hungry to build credits, stretch creatively, and collaborate with emerging filmmakers who are telling bold, personal stories. And your timing couldn’t be better — we actually have a brand-new webinar kicking off next week on How to Write Vertical Micro Drama Scripts (https://www.stage32.com/education/products/how-to-write-vertical-micro-d...). It’s a great entry point for anyone curious about creating short, impactful stories that can be produced quickly and affordably.

Tony Fisher have you had experience of i.e seen any where the writing wasn't good?

Ashley Renee Smith ooh how exciting!!!! I am very tempted. I think there are so many possibilities for vertical dramas. I'm just so overladen with the projects I have got going that I just don't have the capacity for more. However I believe if I buy i can come back to it later when i have more time.

Alexandra Stevens, absolutely! It will save the webinar in your education library, and you can jump into it whenever it's convenient for you.

Well this has me asking Willem Elzenga 2 can you teach AI to act? They don't have feelings, they don't understand feelings. How would you teach that? Would it be then, just mimicry? It's similar to the question about AI written scripts. AI has no personal experiences and emotions from which to draw from. I see AI as sociopaths.

There are Charles Chas Green actors who have sold their voice and likeness for AI use. so the physical rendering is not a problem. I actually know a producer/director who is doing this very thing. Using real people as the skin and voice of the AI and then AI are the actors. Which reminds me I need to check out his YT channel and see how it plays. You can't make AI feel no matter how it's dressed.

It can't be taught, it has to be programmed. We don't know if AI has personal experiences and emotions, maybe the human brain and body isn't that complex after all in a couple of years. I see AI as my famlily and good friend. Together we're a great team!

Willem Elzenga 2 .... I'm not sure I follow your reasoning?. Programmed "Yes"... but I can say without reservation that "NO" AI doesn't have personal experience and emotions.....only sentient creatures i.e. Human beings possess that ability. That's not to say that things can't/won't possibly change in the future - but certainly not in my tenure on this earth I'm confident in saying.

Willem Elzenga 2 I agree there’s clear potential as the tools improve, especially when a filmmaker’s sensibility is shaping the material. There’s something exciting about seeing where the two might eventually intersect in a way that expands possibility rather than replaces craft.

Thanks for sharing this Dan Martin Roesch. You're certainly in the right place to kickstart your networking. I like your writing style. Are these articles part of a blog ? If so, what inspired you to write?

Dan Martin Roesch, this is such a powerful reflection, not just on the industry, but on the inner architecture of being an artist. You articulate something that so many creatives feel but rarely find the words for: Show Business is both myth and mindset, dream and discipline, poetry and process. It demands that we hold both the wide-eyed dreamer and the strategic builder within us at the same time.

Your story about the Expendables casting, and the conversation that followed, struck me in particular. Those moments, the ones just outside the spotlight, often end up shaping our direction far more than the big breaks ever do. The idea that movement, connection, and visibility create momentum is so true. None of us can afford to disappear into waiting; the industry rewards those who continue showing up with intention.

Those small moments of connection, the ones that change us even when no one else sees them, are something I wrote about in a recent Stage 32 blog as well (https://www.stage32.com/blog/what-stage-32s-community-is-really-about-be...). Your post is such a reminder of how true that is. Thank you for sharing your philosophy and your fire with the Lounge. Posts like this remind all of us why we create, why we fight for visibility, and why this industry — even with its challenges- remains one of the most meaningful places to pour our energy.

Hi Ashley Renee Smith,

thank you so much for this beautiful reflection — your words mean a lot.

It’s rare to meet someone who not only understands the mechanics of this industry, but also the inner architecture of what it takes to keep creating: the dreamer and the builder, the poet and the strategist, the resilience and the faith.

Your insight into those “moments just outside the spotlight” is exactly right. Those quiet turning points, the ones nobody sees, often shape us more deeply than any headline ever could. Movement, connection, and visibility — the consistency to keep showing up — that’s where momentum begins.

I appreciate you sharing your Stage32 article as well; I’ll absolutely give it a read.

And thank you for showing up here with such intention and generosity — you set a tone that lifts the entire community.

Warm welcome, Ashley — I’m glad our paths crossed.

Dan Martin

Thank you so much, Dan Martin Roesch! That means a lot.

Hi Alexandra Stevens,

thank you so much — that really means a lot.

No blog yet… at least not for now. Most of what I write comes directly from life experiences — the ups, the setbacks, the strange little moments that shape us as artists.

Maybe one day I’ll turn it into something bigger… a blog, or even a podcast.

For now, I’m just sharing what feels honest and true in the moment.

Thanks again for the encouragement — I appreciate it.

Dan Martin

Maurice Vaughan Thanks my friend!

You're welcome, Leonardo Ramirez 2.

What about one on Creating A Demo Reel? That question gets asked a lot here.

Awesome question Suzanne!

James Lagrimas, this is such a fantastic roundup, thank you for pulling all of these together. It’s been so exciting to see how many actors on Stage 32 are leveling up their craft, and having resources taught by people actively working in the industry makes such a difference.

Here are a few additional acting-focused topics I’d love to see explored next year:

Self-Tape Mastery for the Modern Casting Landscape

A deep dive into framing, eyelines, reader strategies, lighting, pacing for comedy vs drama, and making bold choices that pop in a crowded inbox.

The Actor’s Business Blueprint

A class dedicated to the practical side: contracts, agents vs managers, branding essentials, building a sustainable workflow, and long-term career planning.

How to Build a Reel That Books Work

Not just “what to include,” but how to shoot your own scenes if you need to, how to structure your reel for different rep meetings, and how to tailor it for film vs TV vs commercials.

Scene Study Labs with Working Directors

Ongoing work that lets actors practice scenes and get direct notes from directors currently in production, great for understanding set expectations and communication styles.

Working Actors Roundtable Panel: The Reality of Building a Career

Multiple actors from different career stages sharing what’s really working right now: networking, audition routines, self-marketing, and mental health strategies.

Voice and Movement for Film and Streaming

Training that helps actors build physical and vocal awareness specifically for intimate, micro-expressive camera work.

Voiceover Training for Film, Games, and Animation

Voiceover opportunities are exploding right now, especially with animation, video games, dubbing, audiobooks, and branded content. A class breaking down home studio setup, vocal health, character voice creation, audition workflow, and how to approach VO agents would be incredibly valuable.

Excited to hear what everyone else is hoping for, 2026 is already shaping up to be a strong year for the Acting community here.

I just paste a link to my reel instead of uploading.

Yes that's what I did too.

I usually post a link to my demo reel that's on my personal website.

Charles Chas Green, the videos I've uploaded to my Stage 32 profile have always been .mp4 files.

Awesome sauce Brandon Keeton ! I just wrapped on what I think will be my final two films of the year, a Christmas Horror that I'm the lead in (it's a gas lighting story called, Forever Yours, a script winner at Darwins last fest, he was a Producer on it) followed by my very first ever Silent Film ON FILM Old school Hollywood style where I play Stefan's wife (that was in our Cannes group) I can't wait to see the finished products for both, they looked really bizarre and artistic WHICH I LOVE of course, the weirder the better ;)

Congratulations on wrapping your final two films of the year, Brittany Christine! I'm looking forward to seeing them!

Even though I don’t have any holidays, I am still working on a thriller movie script whenever I get some free time. For now, I am not thinking about investors. I have full confidence that whoever reads this story will definitely like it.

Hey Brandon Keeton, this is great advice! I get fewer auditions since I am edging ever so close to the age of 82, so I work on other things related to the business. I joined Film Florida seven years ago and am on the legislative committee to work on getting film incentives for our state. This week, I have written several letters to members of the House Ways & Means Committee, urging them to move the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (HR721) out of committee for a vote. I read for another actor for his self-tapes. My wife and i love to travel and we'll be on a cruise ship this month for a week. Of course there is also spoiling my grandchildren and great grandson.

Brandon Keeton, this is such a grounded and motivating perspective, and the Marine Corps wisdom is spot-on. There’s something powerful about using the quiet seasons to move with intention, even if the industry itself is catching its breath. I love your reminder that this season can be both restful and productive. There’s real value in taking a breath, but also real momentum to be found in working while everything is quiet. Your projects sound fantastic, and I hope your meeting with the investor goes incredibly well.

Hi Camila, so the usual casting sites like Mandy, starnow and Backstage would be good places to start. If you have the credits then there's always spotlight, also spotlight does have a large directory you can look at for things like agencies and other useful info.

Hi, Camila G A. You could check Stage 32’s Job Board (www.stage32.com/find-jobs). It gets updated regularly.

There is a lot of information to be gleamed Camila G A just by scrolling through this lounge. Some actors even have YouTube channels, packed full of info. I also encourage you to check out the Education tab. There are multiple webinars on the subject. You can reach out to success@stage32.com with your goals and questions, and they will point you in the right direction. You can ask edu@stage32.com for a curated list of webinars and classes.

Hello Camila G A ...I live in Florida and my second agency is in London. I am using Spotlight, Filmmakers EU, and etalenta. I've been on Spotlight for the past three years since being repped by my UK agency. Filmmakers EU and etalenta is new for me, so I can't speak much to those.

Oh good idea thank you Ray Watters One can also reach them via X.

Good to know, Suzanne Bronson ! Any way to communicate with them is good...as long as a bunch of us communicate!

The Cyber Monday sale is still going strong - save 20% on all webinars, labs and classes until midnight tonight! Don’t miss out!