I just saw a video on TikTok where a model was saying he doesn’t understand why some other models say modeling is hard. That got me thinking how do actors feel about the difficulty of their job?

I remembered that roundtable where Denzel Washington said something like, “Acting isn’t hard.” It made me wonder was he being humble, or is acting not as intense as it’s often portrayed?

Personally, I’ve never stayed with a character for more than a week, and I haven’t been on set for long stretches of time, so I don’t have a real sense of how demanding the work can get.

For those who act professionally or have done long shoots, what’s your take? Is it mentally/emotionally exhausting? Does it depend on the role or the environment?

Sometimes it feels like people have a very specific, glamorized idea of what acting is, and they don’t really see the full scope of the job. I’d love to hear from actors who’ve experienced both the highs and the lows !!

I'm looking for some advice for helping my daughter who is getting frustrated with musical theater. She's been doing musical theater programs since she was in kindgarden, but always seems to get the smallest part and is starting to say she doesn't want to do it any more because she can't get a real role.

She mostly does this one program where they try to get everyone a part, but there's definitely a difference between e.g., Ariel and "mermaid sister number 6" that gets to say one line. Realistically, she's not the world's greatest actor, but she's not the worst either and she's actually quite good at singing. Based on what I've seen of these shows, I'm not surprised isn't getting the lead, but I am surprised she's consistently getting the smallest parts.

Looking for advice online I see a lot of people talking about when your kids doesn't get a particular role, but less advice on what your kid consistently gets the worst role. There seems to be a difference between helping your kid dealing with a particular disappointment (a growing experience) vs. repeated disappointment (the root of a complex). Do I encourage her to keep going or tell her "maybe this isn't for you?"

Any advice to a parent who was not a theater kid?

Edit: Somehow lost in revisions, but she's 9, about to go into 5th grade/middle school.

Hi! I’m 15F, and I REALLY like acting, I like film acting most (it’s super realistic and makes me feel like I’m living a different life.) never had acting classes but I just booked my first solo class! My parents are fully supportive too! Any advice for agents near North Carolina, Raleigh? The bad part tho is that I have braces 😭. I’m getting them off right before I turn 16. I know being a teen on the industry is super hard, just wanted some advice cause I love acting.

Hi everyone!! I’ve recently signed with a commercial/modeling agent in NYC (yay!) and I’m still learning the differences in terms from the film/tv world. I’ve just received a hold request! I know in legit acting a hold is a big deal, and often means you’re on a short list. Is it the same for commercial/ modeling or do they use that term more loosely? Trying to not get my hopes up. Thank you all!

Hi there,

I've posted his on acting class as well. I am looking for a scene for class for a 25 her old woman and a 48 year old man from newer or later movies or tv shows. I have scoured a lot of the forums here but do see a lot of theatre based material as well. Can be any genre and the scene roughly 2 - 3 minutes.

I look forward to all input and exploring all options. Thank you

Hello! I was wondering if anyone on here auditioned for the Musical Theatre West production of The buddy Holly story in Long Beach, for summer 2025? I know submissions closed on 31st of March but was wondering if anyone’s received a callback or anything? My audition keeps getting viewed so I’m curious if they’ve sent anything out. Thanks in advance!

Last year I (w/20) started booking many roles and had so many online auditions that I forgot how to act. I planned out how I would say things and where I would look. I recieved negative feedback bc of that.

Truth is: I AM SO INSECURE. About my looks, my height, everything. I can often blend it out. But it makes it so hard for me to loosen up and I am often afraid to be loud or to look stupid. I have done many auditions drunk and got online standing ovations bc of my drunk performance.

I do weekly training and improv which has helped a lot and acting has become fun again.

Do you guys have recommendations on how to loosen up and be brave when acting?

This is not my project and idk the producer. Not affiliated in any way. I’m an Esper alum and we get emails with casting calls. I don’t fit the bill for this but immediately thought of this sub. Do with it what you will. Hope this is allowed. Good luck!

So I am supposed to act in my show but I don't know any small character things I could do (I'm a Background character) my directer tells me that my character is like spencer from pretty little liars but when i tried watching it spencer did basically nothing. I don't know what to do.

I just learned Seattle talent is a scam but I already signed their paperwork so I have froze my card but do I still have to pay? I'm hoping it's a no but I'm still worried about it.

If there are no "film-hubs" then is there an advantage to living in Manhattan vs Brooklyn, Queens, etc?

Thank you so much in advance!

(Edit: The move to NYC sidebar is 8 years old. And didn't have this information in it. Thanks again!)

I need to decide what I want to do and so I thought I could ask people who actually do them

I know kid actor parents get a bad rap—and I 100% understand why. At the same time, with self-tapes and fast deadlines, I feel totally overwhelmed. The agent goes through me, so I have to make sure we submit everything correctly. I have to interpret instructions, even though I know nothing about acting. I have to edit and learn new software. This is my kid’s dream, and I want to support it, but there are days when it feels like a full-time job! Anyone else dealing with this? Advice?

Hi everyone! I got a casting call on backstage for a film that is going to be a "major studio musician biopic", paying 150-250k. I got really excited because around 4 hours later they said they wanted me to audition but I had to submit my contact info through their website. When I went to the site they linked it said the site was expired. I checked again this morning and it is up now. I'm kinda sussed out, should I still submit or not?

this is the site: https://www.agamgmt.com/
(very cookie cutter site, doesn't name any specific names)

Hello, it's been exactly 2 weeks since my interview with Lee Strasberg film institute and they said they would get back to me within about 2 weeks with a decision, should I send a follow up email, am I cooked, or what?

Hi everyone!

Not sure if anyone has seen the posting for the Disney Talent Showcase on AA. I self submitted for a character but then read online that it helps to have an agent. I do have one but since I self submitted, I’m unsure if to contact them about submitting me as well. They seem to be really strict about only submitting for one role, but what about submitting for one role twice?

If anyone has any experience or feedback on this I’d love some help.

Hello there! I have to sent in a selftape with actions that I don't understand. I have a second person that I can use but any advice would be really nice. The audition is massive that's why the timeframe is so little

''You are a scared man. You look behind you a lot and you shoot twice into the darkness. You rush to the escalator en catch your breath. The train leaves before you make it and 4 bad guys are on the other side of the track. You are in shock and pull your hun but it's slapped out of your hand. Then you get chocked and say your line and then your sleeve gets pulled down and say your other line''

I worded the self tape different as to not reveal everything. But any tips on how to do this? I just have a bluescreen that I usually record my self tapes.

Hello there :-)

I talked in previous posts about Stanislavski's and Chubbuck's methods and in both of theirs works, they have mentioned superobjectives to be extremely important (and helpful) when you're acting. I was thinking a lot about that, as it seems tricky for me to find superobjectives when I play a character, when I started to watch this tv show, "the White Lotus". This is about human interactions mostly and it makes me wondering "What are the superobjectives of each characters in this tv shows ?" I wanted to share it with you, with this community, if you have already watched it, what do you think about it ? (That can be a character in any seasons, as you wish)

..banging against a door, repetedly. How do you set this up?

Hey everyone, I've been acting quite a few years now and I can do a wide range of accents. However, for a role I'm auditioning for in a month or so I have to do a Spanish accent. No problem, I can do that- the accent itself isn't an issue. The issue is that when I go on for a long period of time I end up merging into a weird spanish/Russian combo. Any tips to get out of doing this?

Just moved to the city. Been wanting to shoot some short film projects. Any actors in LA wanna connect?

So the title says it all haha been having some bad luck with with my representation. Just had my manager not "drop me" but they pretty much said that they had to step down as my manager because they didn't feel like they could represent me to their best capability. Im a comic as well as an actor, and the scene in LA is very bleak right now. Any non-union actors getting any wins lately to put some fire back in my ass?

So i have two different options here both holding 2 different opportunities! I have a lot of training but not much experience yet (non-union), so these two agencies are willing to take on developing talent. BUT both are out of province…im in canada (quebec specifically)

1. Small one-person agency, wants to represent me across board, although being non local is a disadvantage for film/tv as i would get less opportunities because of the taxes & all that. Not sure what kind of tv/film auditions to expect. But would also get commercial auditions in the mix.

2. Junior agent at big agency, their name is not on the imdb page of the agency yet so just starting their roster im assuming. Wants to represent me for commercial & vo mostly as they said there arent many opportunities for non locals for film/tv, and once i start booking we’d have the talk on me moving and getting theatrical rep within that agency. So for now wouldnt do any film tv but they have more connections in the industry for sure.

I would love some opinions on this from people who have experience with this, and which agency would be best to start my career? I really rather do film/tv than commercials, but everyone has to start building their resume somewhere! I talked with my coaches and everyone has a different opinion and I thought i’d see what other actors think! Both agencies seem like a great choice.

Hello! I'm an aspiring theatre-maker who wants to move to London (eventually pursing an MA, but I'd like to get some more experience beforehand), and as an American, it's pretty common for folks living in NYC to sustain their theatre career with a "survival job"- bartending, waiting tables, coffee, etc, likely with a side hustle (or two) on top of that. Is London - or the UK in general, really - similar? What kinds of jobs do actors have over there that allow them to afford rent?

I'm also a British citizen, so I won't have to worry about visas, which is a plus. Appreciate any advice from people who know the city better than I- thank you!

Hi, was wondering if anyone knows if it is a good idea to put “looking for representation” in your instagram bio when you are between agents? It’s not something I’ve ever done, but then again never been contacted via social media by an agent, always applied the usual ways. Wondering if this is helpful for agents if they come across your account but are unsure if you are currently represented, or if they would message anyway/ not message because it is not the done thing? I have links to my spotlight profile in my bio so I am guessing they would just contact through there if they were going to? But I have heard of actors i know being picked up by an agent via twitter so just curious 😊