Acting

Sorry to hear you got ripped off, Michael T Gregory. Was it a screenwriting agent?

Hey Michael,

I'm always warning others of the scumbags that infiltrate the industry and yet I get warned not to bitter (Truthful) or stand-offish (Cautiously optimistic). Now the biggest rip-off when dealing with agents is that they are all, to some degree, rip-offs. There are no REQUIRED licenses needed to become a literary agent. They mostly just weasel their way into the bedrooms and backseats of "decision" makers and studio head morons that love to greenlight overpriced bombs like The Running Man remake and lose 100's of millions of dollars.

That being said, the biggest rip-offs are stealing your screenplay and then ripping you off out of cash. Never pay an agent anything! They get 10% of what they structure a deal for. Always copyright your work. The process is fairly simple through The Library of Congress. After that, you just can't be just a screenwriter anymore. You should have some rudimentary knowledge on how to construct a business plan which will include, but not limited to a shooting schedule, a budget for Above the Line and Below the line talent, a cast wish list, but don't go for too big of a name because that no longer has any pull with audiences because audiences are becoming sick and tired of being lectured by these celebrities on what they should like as opposed to what they just like. The thing is, there are a lot of morons out there ready to take your money. They say you need to hire a Line Producer. Now you don't. You need to budget for one then when he's hired, he can make the appropriate adjustments.

Thing is that you have to research these people. I have had producers talk a big game and after a little digging have found out that they produced nothing of note. I myself am a director/screenwriter that made a film for $2,200.00 which grossed $4,500.00 on a 3 day/9 show weekend at a privately owned theater. The film featured over 14 locations and over 20 actors so I never lost money, but studios would rather lose $100M than take a gamble on a $1.5M budget action film.

Don't take anyone on face value alone. Do some research or have a trusted friend research them. Everyone says "They know the business," but according to the track record just from 2025 alone, none of these "professionals" know anything about the film industry or they are just to dense to learn from their past mistakes.

what is her perspective on sex and people? does she like them/it? hate them/it? how does she take her being forced/sold to do favors? Victims of SA all process that differently. Some lean heavier into sex as a way to rewrite their story and maintain control. Others become sex adverse. I think revealing her attitudes could help shape her character better.

Thanks for the response. I'm not sure yet. She's not being sold really, used would probably be a better term. I see it as a bit of a trade-off. She's provided with a job that brings her into contact with wealthy and famous people. She's put up in a nice house. She is asked to make herself available on request, but not as a constant, ongoing thing, more like every once in a while. It's not always about sex, sometimes it's just about being an attractive accessory. Because she has ambitions as a singer, perhaps she felt she could justify it all as a means to an end as she gets to meet film and music people in her work, but is at a point where she realizes that she is being used, or more to the point is being strung along, and that the people around her are not ever really going to deliver on their promises. The death of her friend maybe brings all of this into sharper focus and then brings someone into her life who she is ready to risk everything for, or thinks she is. There may be another layer to that. It's all still evolving. I posted this looking for inspiration, a woman's perspective that might provide a key that would unlock a deeper understanding of the character.

Is there some hints to her childhood? What her childhood was like would definitely inform her choices. That is something I delve into when developing my character.

Yeah, I haven't thought about her backstory too much yet. Haven't even decided what nationality she's going to be. Once I do, something may suggest itself, though honestly, I'm not a huge advocate of detailed backstory. I usually just want to give enough information to show what brought the character to the particular point in time where story takes place.

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

Actor ualities go!

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!

On the flip side, has not getting a role changed the trajectory of your career? I was listening to the Bones rewatch podcast, and the director of the pilot said that Jonah Hill was in serious contention for the role of Zach Addy. The network loved him, Hart Hanson said he wasn't right. Jonah Hill's whole career is because he did not get cast in BONES.

Something to remember when you don't get a part you really wanted.

bumping this up

Suzanne Bronson yes so simple and yet no so simple in my experience

https://pro.imdb.com/videoproembed/vi4036345625?ref_=ext_shr_lnk

Is that a memorable moment for you Jack Teague ? What made it so?

My apologies, Suzanne, didn't see your response until now. It was for me. IMO, it seemed potentially reflective of conversations hetero parents have with gay children who have been ostracized, capturing remorse, seeking understanding. Being totally outside my personal experience, I had to find that emotion.

Hey what are some memorable moments?

Congratulations on making the bold move, Suzanne Bronson! I used to be a lurker on Stage 32. After RB gave the community a challenge to be more active, I started being a lot more active. I've had a lot of success on here since. Meeting people, learning about different areas of the industry, getting script requests, paid jobs, and more.

That's great Maurice Vaughan see my comment to RB's blog. Similar to what you just said.

Maurice, I never knew there was a National Lampoon's Thanksgiving Family Reunion movie. My parents and I love the National Lampoon movie series! Will definitely check to see if I can find that to watch.

I will be adding THANKSGIVING to my list. Yes, I am surprised there aren't some Hallmark Thanksgiving movies. The one I watched on Thanksgiving a couple of years ago is called PILGRIM. Horror/slasher movie on Hulu. These first Thanksgiving reenactors come to a family's dinner. And welp- let's just say, it's not the turkey that gets carved.

Brittany Christine Hello!! OMG how long have you got, lol: "Home for the Holidays", early Robert Downy JR; "Miracle on 34th Street", classic Thanksgiving Day Parade; "It's a Wonderful Life", tears; "a funny one, "Holiday in Handcuffs", if you can find it, with Melissa Joan Hart and Mario Lopez, hilarious! ; "The Family Man", with Nicholas Cage and Tea Leoni, it's fantastic. So, so many more, but these are great finds. Hope it helps, and have a blast with your friends!

Juliana Philippi It's been super long since I've seen Home for the Holidays that I don't remember it anymore so that's the perfect time to watch again! & I love Melissa & Mario have never heard of Holiday in Handcuffs so look forward to checking it out! Just looked up the Family Man trailer and it looks so good too- it's gettin watched, thank you for these!

My Thanksgiving Film lineup while we cook always includes: Stuck in Love, Son in Law, Addams Family Values, Chicken Run, and if we have time for a dark comedy- The Oath.

I think it's great that Lucy Liu stood up for her worth, Alexandra Stevens!

Some producers, directors, writers, etc. embrace diversity in the industry, and I think it should be done a lot more.

I think the name of a character should be changed if a person of a different race takes over the role (sometimes). Sometimes names aren't just names in stories. They have meanings, and some of those meanings are cultural.

I guess that's up to all involved. I agree with Maurice Vaughan Sometimes it matters, sometimes it doesn't. Really depends on the writer. I don't see the problem with the name in Lucy Liu's case. Since she said she didn't want to change it to an Asian name, I think that's great. I know Hispanics with non Latino names. I have an ex who is Hispanic, but has a Swedish last name, as that was the name of his step father and his step father raised him. I think it's great if they don't even explain in the movie why she has the last name Slevin.

Interesting that Lucy Liu said she was tired of being seen as the Dragon Lady from Kill Bill. I have forgotten all about that. I remember her as playing Dr. Watson on ELEMENTARY. Which, btw, is another iconic gender reversal and ethnic recast. (See previous post in this lounge for reference.)

I agree, Suzanne Bronson. I use names for different races sometimes, like Brian. And I think it's great if they don't even explain in the movie why she has the last name Slevin. Everything doesn't need to be explained, and it could create some mystery in the story for the audience.

Everything Everywhere All At Once, Ashley Renee Smith. Michelle Yeoh is incredible in that film! Her role inspires me to write better characters. I need to rewatch the movie, especially to study her character and Stephanie Hsu's character.

I subscribed awhile ago to the ActingCareerCenter. I subscribed to so many during the pandemic. I will definitely go through the videos and learn as much as I can! :)

I have signed may be a dozen NDAs as a background actor Aaron Marcus and would you believe, most of them were for GLEE? We could say we worked on it, but you couldn't talk about the scenes, because apparently a lot of people would spoil the ending on social media. Which is why we had to start signing NDAs and sometimes they would even film different endings.

The two major ones I had to sign NDAs for were: The Dark Knight and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. We couldn't say what we were working on, the production even had a code name. It was so tight, that they took our phones at check in and had a security guard watching them. If you had to make a phone call, you had to do it in front of him. They were not fooling around. No pictures allowed even. One extra got fired because she swore she lost her phone on set and had people look for it. They fired her for having her phone on set, turns out she left it in her car. But she was not rehired. These studios don't play.

The irony is, they keep the extras locked down tight, but the crew, (who also sign NDAs, are allowed to keep their phones, and do take pictures on the sly) are the ones who end up posting the spoilers.

So don't violate your NDA. You won't just get fired, you might possibly also be sued and blacklisted, FYI.

I used to be in a Facebook group similar to that Haley. Casting Directors for Actors, basically an AMA. They had a separate one for headshot review. But like anything on Facebook it became a toxic waste dump and was shutdown.

Hi Suzanne, it is so true. It is amazing what people will say online. So many things that they would never say to someone in person. We always have to be very careful where we go online for information.

Haley, so glad you subscribed. Just click the notification bell and you will always know when a new video has been uploaded.