Happy New Year! What’s your acting related resolution?

http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/5-new-years-intentions-actors/

5 New Year’s Intentions for Actors

By Craig Wallace |

I don’t make New Year’s resolutions anymore. They never worked for me and I think the reason was that they always seemed a bit selfish, like I was asking the world for favors.

So, now I set intentions. I find that setting intentions is more active and enables me to focus more on what I am willing to give instead of what I want to receive. I have also found a great deal more peace in establishing intentions that are bigger than just getting my needs met.

So for next year:

1. I intend to relax and breathe around all of the changes happening in my life instead of fighting for the status quo.

2. I intend to soften the edges of my life and allow all of myself to be fully present because my friends, students, and spiritual partners deserve the benefit of all I have to offer.

3. I intend to think of others needs before mine in every situation I find myself in.

Focusing on giving instead of receiving is important for all of us, but it has a special resonance for actors. Great actors are open-handed and open-hearted in their work. They move us because they are willing to let us in and able to let themselves go.

Their power comes from their generosity.

So here are a few ideas of intentions for actors. Add your own in the comments section below!

1. I intend to go deeper into my work, bust my boundaries, and take big risks.

2. I intend to offer a glimpse of my soul in all of the work I do.

3. I intend to inspire others through my work and through my life.

4. I intend to bring dignity to every role I play.

5. I intend to be completely vulnerable in my work so that others can see themselves in me.

Setting intentions that include how you want to affect others will not only help make you a bigger person, but can also help make you the actor who has the depth and understanding to know that being able to act is a gift – and gifts are meant to be given.

So, let’s all do this – let’s set our intentions so that we are as generous, expansive and embracing as we can be in 2013. Let’s give it all away!

What a beautiful year it will be.

Craig Wallace is the creator and award-winning teacher of The Wallace Audition Technique, an audition preparation system that he developed based on his years of experience as a studio executive, talent agent and casting consultant. In his 14 years of teaching, he has seen the careers of hundreds of his students take off. He is also the author of the best-selling book, “The Best of You – Winning Auditions Your Way.”

Craig is currently teaching his audition technique classes and his Meditation for Actors classes in Santa Monica, CA. For more information visit www.wallaceauditiontechnique.com.

You can follow Craig on Twitter @craigteach  and like him on Facebook.

Happy New Year, actors and Hollywood industry. With ticket sales on an upswing it’s a good year for the Hollywood dream. Here’s to 2013!

Happy Holidays from everyone at StarCast. In our inaugural year, we’re happy to have been part of your 2012! 

Never underestimate the power of a good attitude in an audition or on set. 

15 Things Actors Do That Make Me Happy

http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/15-things-actors-do-make-me-happy/

1. You show up every day. You make no excuses.

2. You love the work wherever and whenever you’re doing it and you don’t complain. None of the “I’ve been a series regular for six years, and I’m only working one day/week for $40,000.” Or “I’m so ready to work, but I’m home all day with nothing to do.” You bring your love of acting to the audition room, set, rehearsal, class, and you carry your love of the work into every experience. You relish it.

3. You do everything you can to be prepared. You know your lines. You do your homework. You do it to get out of your own way.

4. You’re generous to each other, and you’re generous to yourselves. You give yourselves a break. You manage your expectations.

5. You don’t apologize, and you’re willing to applaud yourself. You turn limiting beliefs into empowering ones.

6. You focus on others, not on what they think of you but on what their needs might truly be. We are all your audience, and you’re there to offer yourself and your work to us in performance, in collaboration, in a shared adventure.

7. You train. You study. You work out. You continue to develop your craft. You get that being in shape is what gives you the edge to compete and the freedom to fly.

8. You live full lives.

9. You’re proactive and deeply creative. You take responsibility for your work, your success, and yourself.

10. You’re willing to fight for it.

11. You understand the power of fear, that it’s a force, not an impediment. You take risks in spite of your terror. You let it fuel you. You do what Yoda says: “Feel the force!”

12. You’re courageous. You embrace the struggle and find a way to love it, knowing that the creative spirit grows from battling through the night, that this is the force with which we create. You’re willing to do whatever it takes.

13. You’re about the work first, knowing that career will follow and not the other way around. Dedicated work leads to good work. Good work leads to great work. Great work is thrilling. Great work is noticed. Celebrated. Hired. And money follows bliss. As Steven Pressfield wrote in “The War of Art,” “The most important thing about art is to work. Nothing else matters except sitting down every day and trying.”

14. You know how damned lucky you are to have chosen this thing, this thing that is generated from the fire within you. You’re blessed to be on this journey.

15. You have faith. 

My happiness isn’t really determined by an actor’s decision to take care of him or herself. This is my own checklist for artistic sanity and success. However, when I do see fellow artists show us and embrace these actions, I’m gratified. We conspire together in our pursuit of happiness. 

There’s further to go in the exploration of each of these commitments… For now, let’s embrace them. Let’s look at where each of us shows up, where we might have to recalibrate how we approach our creative lives. Our careers and our joy depend on it.

Risa Bramon Garcia has just started up a new Studio in L.A. with partner, Steve Braun, called The Bramon Garcia Braun Studio, dedicated to actors’ whole journey, connecting craft with career. Visit Risa’s website, active and inviting for actors and other artists alike is:Risabg.com.

For the past 30 years Risa has worked consistently as a director, producer, casting director, writer, and teacher, collaborating with some of the most groundbreaking artists in the world.  Having directed two feature films ‐ the cult classic, “200 cigarettes,” and most recently, “The Con Artist” in Canada - Risa’s also directed for television, including multiple episodes of “The Twilight Zone” for New Line/UPN, and shows for HBO, Lifetime, and Comedy Central. She’s directed dozens of plays in New York (The Ensemble Studio Theatre, Second Stage, Manhattan Theatre Club) and in Los Angeles. Risa’s casting résumé includes more than 65 feature films, classics such as “Something Wild,” “At Close Range,” “Angel Heart,” “Fatal Attraction,” “Wall Street,” “Talk Radio,” “Jacob’s Ladder,” “Born on the Fourth of July,” “JFK,” “The Doors,” “Sneakers,” “The Joy Luck Club,” “True Romance,” “Speed,” “How To Make An American Quilt,” “Dead Presidents,” “Twister,” “Benny and Joon,” and “Flirting With Disaster;” and numerous television shows, including “Roseanne,” “CSI:NY,” “The Cape,” and most recently “A Gifted Man” for CBS and the pilot “Rewind” for Syfy. She’s about to start casting the Showtime series, “Masters of Sex.” Risa served as a producer on Oliver Stone’s films “Heaven and Earth” and “Natural Born Killers,” movies she also cast.

In Hollywood, you’ll hear a lot of you’re “too this,” or “too that.”  Keep in mind that your career is more than just one part; and that while you may not be right for the first 99 things you audition for, you could be perfect for lucky 100.

26 Reasons Why You Didn’t Get the Part 

http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/26-reasons-why-you-didnt-get-part/

Yes, I’m writing about why you DIDN’T get the part. Yes, even though your audition was amazing and you were totally on your game and you lit up the room with creative acting genius, you still might not get the part. I know, I know…you’re probably thinking, but Amy, you are always so positive. Why are you talking about something negative?

First, it’s not negative to understand why you didn’t get a job because it will free your mind of all that monkey-mind chatter that happens when you find out you didn’t get it. Second, and this is the important part so pay attention, it doesn’t matter. By the end of this article, I hope you understand that.

Since this is one of the most frequently asked questions I receive and the one that hangs you up the most and twists you into knots as an actor and a creative being, let’s get into it.

Based on my years and years of experience as a casting director in film and television, these are some of the reasons you didn’t get the part.

1. You’re too tall.

2. You’re too short.

3. You’re too pretty.

4. You’re not pretty enough.

5. You’re too fat.

6. You’re too thin.

7. You’re too blonde.

8. You’re not blonde enough.

9. You’re too old.

10. You’re too young.

11. You’re too serious.

12. You’re too funny.

13. You look too much like the lead.

14. You don’t look enough like the lead.

15. You’re taller than the lead.

16. You’re shorter than the lead.

17. You remind the producer of his sister, and he hates his sister.

18. You are too ethnic.

19. You are not ethnic enough.

20. You were the first one to read that day.

21. You were the last one to read that day.

22. You’re more like the best friend than the lead.

23. You’re more of a lead than the best friend.

24. You’re too character-y.

25. You’re not character-y enough.

26. You look like the director’s wife and he had a fight with his wife right before he left the house this morning.

Okay, this is a small sample of the some of the reasons you didn’t get the part. Have you heard any of these after one of your non-bookings? Can you tell what the one common thread is among this small sampling of reasons?

None of these are within your control. NONE.

Yes, of course there are many other things that are within your control and we will definitely get into those in a future article. But these are the ones that drive you crazy. Right?

What you must understand is that your only job in an audition is to do your best work. Everything else is not up to you. The role you are reading for is one piece of an entire jigsaw puzzle. It must fit with the rest of the puzzle or the puzzle won’t work. The casting director, producer, and director are fitting pieces of the puzzle together all day long. Your only job is to be the best “piece” you can be. Whether your edges fit in the slot for that piece is not up to you.

Just go to your audition. Do your best and let it go. If you’re good, they will remember you. And the next time you hear one of those things, remember these words, let a knowing smile creep over your face, and go enjoy your day!

Amy Jo Berman is former Vice President of Casting at HBO and for 14 years has overseen the casting of over 150 films, mini-series, and series. She is the founder of Audition Polish, a membership-based audition coaching program that has helped actors around the globe nail their auditions on the first take. Using her 18+ years of technical audition experience in the casting room, Amy has helped thousands of actors with her tele-classes, private coaching, workshops, and seminars. Amy loves staying in touch with actors on social media. Watch her video acting tips onYoutube, join her Tips On Acting community on Facebook and get her VIP event updates here.

Launching an acting career is like launching your own brand. 5 things actors can learn from entrepreneurs: http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/5-things-actors-can-learn-entrepreneurs/

1. Listening. A bad entrepreneur will give a 10-minute speech about why you need a new vacuum cleaner only to have you say, “Actually, I only have hardwood floors” at the end of their rant. Good entrepreneurs are masters at listening to what customers want and then tailoring their product and message to meet the customers’ needs.

It’s all about listening and reacting, and creating a truthful, human connection, just like in acting. Without that, there is no sale.

2. Show that you care. One of the most successful auto salesman in the world was once asked the secret to his success. His answer was simple. He hand-wrote individual thank-you cards and holiday notes and sent them to anyone who had ever stepped foot on his lot.

This also applies to actors. A simple thank you note to a casting director after booking you on a job or a director after a shoot goes a long way. Everyone likes to be appreciated. Let them know.

3. Leave it all at the door. A good salesman doesn’t walk up to a house hoping to make a sale, knock, and then when the potential customer answers, say “Hi. On the off-chance you might be interested in buying something today, I was hoping you’d like to know more about this semi-useless product I’m here to sell?”

Ummmm … door slam!

Instead they leave it all at the door. As someone once said, “Success in life is directly proportional to the number of awkward conversations you’re willing to have.”

Feel awkward emotions. Don’t play it safe. Give the scene everything you’ve got. And leave it all on the stage. Commit! Something I always ask students is, “What’s the worst that can happen?” Equally so, what’s the best that can occur when you fully commit and feel as if you’ve left nothing to chance?

4. Patience and Persistence. It takes time to build a business. Years of hard work. Moving forward. Not giving up. The turnover rate for high-income potential sales is extremely high.

You really have to have determination and passion for what you’re doing in order to succeed. And it takes time. The big paydays are at the end of the road. After years of paying your dues. Malcolm Gladwell talks about the 10,000 hour rule in “Outliers,” which simply states that the key to success in any field requires around ten years of work perfecting that task.

This model applies to actors as well. We often don’t think in these terms in acting because it’s “creative” or “art.” Or we believe that people are still plucked from obscurity and made a star overnight. That does sometimes happen, but most people forge careers over a long time and by consistently doing the work. You’re building the business of YOU. And you need to be in it for the long haul to see the return on your investments.

5. Originality. Entrepreneurs find a niche market, find a need, and create a unique product. Then they present it in the best way possible, creating unique and captivating marketing and releasing their product out into the world.

Actors are constantly marketing themselves. So how do you present yourself in an exciting, original way? That’s where resourcefulness and creativity come into play. A website? A cool business card? A great reel? A professional audition? It’s all part of your unique marketing plan for YOU. And there’s only one you so the originality part is already taken care of!!! You just have to believe and know that you’re a great product worth investing in.

Because if you don’t believe it, nobody else will.

Anthony Meindl is an award-winning writer, director, producer, and Artistic Director of Anthony Meindl’s Actor Workshop (AMAW) in Los Angeles, where it was voted the Best Acting Studio in Los Angeles by Backstage in 2011 and 2012 (Best Scene Study and Best Cold Read). AMAW is also located in New York and Australia. 

Meindl’s first feature film, “Birds of a Feather,” won the Spirit of the Festival Award at the 2012 Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival, and he won Best Director at the Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles. He is a regular contributor to The Daily Love, Backstage, and various spirituality podcasts. He has been featured in ABC News, Daily Variety, LA Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter and the CW KTLA. He is also the author of the new best-selling book, “At Left Brain Turn Right,” which helps artists of all kinds unleash their creative genius within. Check out Meindl’s free smartphone app on iTunes. ‘Follow Meindl on Twitter @AnthonyMeindl.

Can you live with these 10 sacrifices an average actor has to make? If the answer is an easy yes, you have the requisite passion. http://backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/10-sacrifices-actor-makes/

Being an actor is amazing. You get to “play” for a living, embrace your creativity, and sometimes, if you’re lucky, earn a very good living at it. But there are also so incredible setbacks and sacrifices that an actor makes as they pursue the Silver Screen, the Small Screen, or the Great White Way.

So what exactly are you giving up?

10. Social Life. There is a reason that, “I can’t, I have rehearsal” is emblazoned on t-shirts at thespian festivals and significant others are known as “theater widows.” You’ll create intimate relationships with new castmates at lightning speed, only to have those relationships crumble when the project ends.

9. Leaving Town. Every time I go on vacation, someone contacts me asking me to audition or offers a role outright. The size of the opportunity seems in direct proportion to how far away I am from home. It’s gotten to the point that I’m afraid to leave town for even a day, let alone a weekend or even a week.

8. Security. Ah… to know where your next paycheck is coming from. That would be great, wouldn’t it?

7. Life and Limb (due to Paper Cuts). C’mon, admit it. How many times have you given yourself a paper cut while stuffing your headshot, resume, and cover letter into that pesky 9x12 envelope. See? You’re cringing. Enough said.

6. The Time/Space Continuum. Thank goodness for Facebook and Twitter. Seriously, without these things, I would never know what day it is. I’m a solo-entrepreneur and an actor, which means I work from home and make my own schedule. This also means I have to have a calendar nearby to function. There is no one around to tell me how much they hate Mondays, or a day job to let me know when a weekend is approaching. What’s worse, there’s no one to remind me to “Fall Backward” or “Spring Forward.” I run the risk of being an hour late or early as least twice a year.

5. Stability. A few years ago, I was shooting the title role in an indie feature, and my leading man was forced to leave the film to take a theater job out of town. Why? He thought he had plenty of daytime hours to shoot the film while he was appearing in the brand new Broadway musical, “High Fidelity.” You remember that one, right? The one that closed after 10 days of performances. All of the sudden, the sure thing of Broadway was a figment of his imagination, and he was on the hunt for another job. It was heartbreaking.

4. Birthdays. Monday is my birthday, and in the first part of the day I’m doing a reading of a musical, in the early evening I have a meeting for my theater company, and then I’m teaching a master class in social media to my company members. There’s no time to celebrate my birthday that day, nor the days before or after because every other day of the week we’re in rehearsal for our upcoming show that opens at the end of the month. So, add not celebrating your special day as a huge sacrifice on this list.

3. Health. Not only is it difficult to afford health insurance (or earn enough to qualify for union insurance) but our schedules are so erratic that we often eat food that’s bad for us, drink way too much, and exercise way too little. Well, at least our ECC Dance Calls give us a little exercise, right?

2. Tattoos, Odd Hair Colors, Piercings. You’d think that as an actor you’d have the luxury of being able to express yourself in any way you please. Not so much. Our level of expression is limited by the “type” we portray. The last time I checked, Laurey in “Oklahoma” did not have a punk red stripe in her hair. Drats.

And… the number one sacrifice that actors make?

1. Sleep. Film & TV actors are regularly on set for 12-14 hours. Theater actors get up early for auditions and stay up late for performances. We squeeze in day jobs and time to memorize lines, to go to the post office and pay our taxes. Add to that the juggling of items 2-10 on this list, and you can just kiss that 8 hours of beauty rest goodbye.

So, with all of that bad news, why do we do it? Are we crazy? Yes, a little, because we love it, despite all of that. We actors are living historians, yearning to share ourselves with the world in the stories we tell. We need to do it. We burn to do it. And that’s pretty wonderful.

Big shout out to Twitter follower, @TomRomero2, who gave me the idea for this article.

Erin Cronican is a professional actor (SAG-AFTRA/AEA) with over 20 years of experience performing in film, TV, plays and musical. (NYC, LA, regionally.) She is the founder & coach with The Actors’ Enterprise, one-on-one coaching service that provides affordable career coaching to actors who want to feel more fulfilled and in control of their careers. She helps actors set goals, design their materials, organize their business, and create a plan of action with easy tools that can take them to the next level — with an emphasis on feeling empowered and working smarter, not harder. First consultation is free. Follow her on Twitter @ErinCronican and like her on Facebook.