Acting

Hi, Alexandra Stevens. I think on-set dating and dating in other areas of the industry are ok if they don't get in the way of projects.

Honestly... I would prefer to keep things strictly professional. There used to be a saying "don't mix business and pleasure". But ultimately it comes down to the individuals to decided.

I don't know that I could have a strict rule Alexandra Stevens It is easy to get swept away when working on a project. Especially in the theater because you form such a close bound and if you have an intimate scene together, it is easy for real feelings to develop. I think that's why there are so many onset romances. Those romances also tend to fizzle out after filming wraps. I think I would wait until after the project is over and see what develops then. I would want to make sure the feelings are real and not a result of working together. It's a work hazard for actors to develop a crush on your scene partner, since the feelings towards the character are real, and we mistake them for feelings for the actor.

Hey, Dwayne Williams 2. Mark Dacascos is a great actor! I think he fits the energy and depth.

He has played some great villians Dwayne Williams 2

Thank you both, Maurice Vaughan and Suzanne Bronson really appreciate your thoughts! That gives me more confidence in how I’m shaping Kaizu Shen.

You're welcome, Dwayne Williams 2.

Did you get the part?

Stephen Olson I'll find out this weekend! Lol! I doubt it though. I think maybe my frustration shown through in the callback. We'll see though.

I have empathy for casting. Yes, I have things to do, but if I'm invited to audition, or just signed up, either way they want me be their guy. So, I would fall on the side of waiting an hour longer if necessary. If I had to leave, I would ask for rescheduling. It's online.

Casting is unrelated to production (casting directors don't have anything to do with the actual running of the set), so I'm not sure how you can draw the conclusion that "there's no telling what the set might be like." There are any number of reasons casting could be running late, the fact that they told you to plan for it, is telling to you expect it. I, for one, am always surprised when my audition is on time. I usually expect to have to wait at least 15-20 minutes. If there are other people ahead of me, that can help me gauge.

That being said, I haven't encountered this on a Zoom audition. I have had to wait before but not an hour. I think I would be wondering if I got the date and time wrong, looking for a number to call etc. I don't have an agent, so I don't know how long I would have waited, but if I had to go, I would have sent an email to reschedule. It just depends on how much I want the part.

Suzanne Bronson and for everyone on this thread, I understand that casting is separate from production in most cases, especially for TV/Film. In this case, however, it wasn't. This was for a commercial. The client and the Director/Producer were the ones running their own casting and were all on the call. They would also be the ones I would be dealing with on set.

And I did plan on running a little late. As you stated, they usually do and I have found that to be the case as well. But in their own email, they said that 11:00 would be the latest I would be seen. I didn't go on until 11:45 (ish), which seems like a bit of an extreme. However, this was the Agent I have had REALLY good luck booking for lately and I didn't want to let her down, so I stayed a little longer than I thought.

I guess it would have been nice if their assistant who sent the email would have sent me another one telling me what the case was. In the end, I still did the audition so I guess it's all much ado about nothing and I'm just complaining! Lol!

Imagination and creativity that can expend and mace they character multidimensional

Great answers everyone!

Suzanne Bronson From an actors POV in a class - paying attention while other actors are performing their work (no texting, chatting, etc) punctuality, familiarity with the material you will be performing, listening to the acting teacher when he/she is talking. Just a few pet peeves as I have experienced them.

being able to work s part of a team, being able ti coloboirate with others abd bringing their ideas to the table, inmag8ination in terms of characater development whilst paotrying them.These ar definitely the most important things i have found when colobrating with client representataives. Trust is another,

I can relate David Horton

This resonates totally.... do something you're proud of and that feeds your soul and chances are you'll end up broke. Very interesting conversation.

Thanks for sharing the video, Pat Alexander. I've been there. Chasing money. I wrote scripts and took jobs fot the money. They weren't projects that I was excited about or pushed me creatively, and I could've been working on my projects instead. But I needed the money at the time. So, it depends.

The Godfather, Alexandra Stevens. I didn't know that was her in the film at first.

Maurice Vaughan gosh, I didn't even know she was in that, embarrassed now. Must re-watch it some time.

Sonething's Got To Give Alexandra Stevens and I HATE rom coms. Also, love this quote from her, "What is perfection anyway? It is the death of creativity."

Oooh! I LOVE First Wive’s Club, Because I Said So, and The Family Stone.

Great video for actors, Aaron Marcus!

Thank you so much, Maurice. I hope this video helps a lot of actors. It could also help writers who want to branch out and work on scripts for industrial films.

You're welcome, Aaron Marcus. Thanks for the idea!

And for the record, I'm mainly asking for Indie filmmakers. I know studios do this all the time. But rarely do I see it in the Indie world.

I love this idea, Brandon Keeton and honestly, I think it’s both a creative marketing move and a meaningful confidence boost for your cast. Individual character posters can do wonders for building buzz, giving each performer a tangible piece of the project to share and celebrate. They help showcase personality and tone, especially when done with a cohesive visual style that ties back to the film’s world.

Brandon Keeton I think this sounds like a fun idea and also, as Ashley Renee Smith said, good for marketing. I'm always so impressed by your productivity and creativity.

Ashley Renee Smith That's what I was thinking. I have seen projects that didn't have Actor buy in on the back end. I was hoping this would give them something to hype about themselves.

I like the idea especially if it's really an ensemble like CLUE was. I think I will ask my assistant to make one for me.

Suzanne Bronson Not yet!

I wish ! :) Suzanne Bronson . How about you?

I have but on a much smaller scale. And maybe not what you're looking for for an answer but it was something I produced.

My first feature film "Turbo Cola" (currently available wherever you go to watch movies! Had to get that plug in there! Lol!). We made a really good Indie film. It won Best Comedy and Best Indie Film of the Year for 2023 (according to Film Threat) and I got to act in it in a small role.

Mind you, I had only been acting for 6 months when this thing was made. I had, maybe, three other IMDb credits at the time. Fast forward a few years and I'm STILL talking about this film. But because I took a chance on me and Produced a film, it led to sooooo many other acting gigs.

I've been told on sets (usually non union commercials) that they picked me, not only because I had the look that they were going for, but that I had been in a feature film that did well. On three separate occasions the Directors of these commercials, I had met on our festival circuit.

Sometimes, the thing that changes your life is when you take a chance at making your own stuff.

Thanks for this question!

Thanks, Aaron Marcus.

Thank you Aaron Marcus It is a good reminder that getting asked to audition is success. There have been a couple different posts about A listers, saying, that auditioning is our job.

That is so true. Auditioning is the job. Working on set is vacation. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and ideas here.

Aaron Marcus thanks for your words. Such an encouraging perspective to treat each audition as a 'win'. I think that would give me more motivation to keep trying rather than telling myself i've failed.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts here, Alexandra. I used to be very hard on myself about getting the audition but not booking. It took me a long time to really understand how getting the audition is the real win. Thanks again.

What a powerful and important reminder, Leo. Your daughter showed incredible self-awareness and integrity in that decision, and I think that’s something every creative, especially actors, has to learn at some point.

I’ve seen so many artists wrestle with that same question: “If I say no, will I miss my shot?” But the truth is, protecting your boundaries protects your longevity. Saying no to something that compromises your values or emotional well-being isn’t closing a door; it’s making space for the right opportunities to find you.

Thanks so much Ashley Renee Smith - nicely said! And I wholeheartedly agree!

Leonardo Ramirez 2 sounds like your daughter did the right thing and I can totally see what it could be viewed as a test that she passed. I have said 'yes' but then further down the line changed my. mind and said 'no' to a creative project. Like Maurice Vaughan it boiled down to realising that I did not have the resources to give it my best and I needed to focus on other stuff.

Sometimes an actor has to play a role they dislike. This uncomfortable and unpleasant work can help the actor attract attention and eventually get a bigger, more worthy, and significant role. To reach heaven, one must go through hell. The road to heaven lies through hell… IMHO )

I'm a big believer in following your intuition. The one time my intuition said "no" to what looked like the perfect opportunity, it was hard to turn down. The next one, the one I said "yes" to, made a wonderful impact on my life.

Hi, Alexandra Stevens. Hope you're enjoying your weekend! I play it small when I write scenes sometimes. When I realize it, I rewrite the scenes.

This is a good question Alexandra Stevens because when I first read it, my instinct was to say, "I'm not," when it comes to acting. But as far as BEING an actor, making career choices, I have recently come to see how I am playing it small. I allow other things, relationships, non acting money opportunities, to take precedent. Even in selecting which auditions I submit for. I didn't bother if it didn't pay. I told myself I'm past that point. Now, I see that is playing it small, being selective. I chose to audition for a student film because I miss being on set, the shoot wouldn't be that time consuming, and the auditions were improved, in groups of four, and improv is an area I need to work on. Let's just say, I had a blast and I will do it again. No more making small choices when it comes to my career. I choose to do what will bring me the most joy.

I'm curious Maurice Vaughan how do you play it small when you write? What does that mean exactly?

Plain scenes (not a lot of conflict, twists, etc.) and cookie-cutter scenes that have been done over and over in movies, Suzanne Bronson.

Suzanne Bronson woah, way to go with not playing small and choosing joy. Your student film sounds like such fun and a very aligned. choice. Look forward to hearing more about it one time