"This Is a Hard Time to Start a Career. These Two Words Can Help." by Jodi Kantor ( Ms Kantor is a NY Times investigative reporter who also broke �the Harvey Weinstein story in 2017 with co-author Megan Twohey) The NY TIMES essay title grabbed my attention last week as I reflect on what younger actors must go through starting their careers here. Here are a helpful and wise excerpts that applies to young actors, not just the college graduates she addresses: MORE AT https://conta.cc/4ewL2P9 #actorslife #nyactor #LAactor #sagaftraactor #actingtipoftheday #actorstudio #actorsla #scenestudyla
Low class fee? Let me explain... A dismayed LA actor called me after doing some online research. He asked me why my classes where so highly rated, yet my prices of late were much lower than other experienced teachers. ( and thank you all for those 5 stars!) Well, ACTORS ARE MY TRIBE. And though I have seen ups and downs in the business as a union actor, never have I seen more challenges for them since the 2020 Covid shutdown: stressful self tape mania, a debilitating Sag-Aftra strike, LA production slowdowns, national economic uncertainty, housing costs and fees for various casting sites blowing up. That said, we absorbed it all. But at a cost. Younger actors are hurting. It is never fair, but I don't like to see it being this hard for my tribe. I am a lucky working actor with both a Equity and Sag pension. I just shot a nice top of show guest on BALLARD. I have wonderful coaching clients. I have been giving back for awhile now: teaching a free 8 week Scene Study class at the SAG CONSERVATORY but it is always full on Day 1 of registration. And I just love to teach (and keep learning as I do). Plus I own my studio, so I can do this- get actors back in class where they can knock off the rust, rediscover community, play , move, warm up, rehearse alot , stretch in roles against type, and get their confidence back with live feedback. So we stay ready! That's why. So yeah, my fees are low, and even $50 less if you enroll by April 19. ADVANCED SCENE STUDY live at the CSFA Studio with CARYN WEST� April 25 - June 13, 2026 Saturdays 2-6pm 8 weeks WORK EVERY CLASS Sign up at #actorslife #actorsla #scenestudyla
BEN AFLECK and MATT DAMON on the "No Memorization" Myth: https://conta.cc/3LhEojy “NO MEMORIZATION REQUIRED” on your audition requests is a MYTH: Ever since the 2023 theatrical contract was approved, union actors now see this clause on all CD audition requests. This not a generous gesture by Casting . IGNORE IT . The CD verbiage “No memorization required” was mutually agreed legalese between producers and our union. It was first adopted in the 2023 SAg-Aftra Tv/Theatrical contract as a workaround of the binding, long established audition pay stipulation in all our previous contracts since 1947. That audition pay clause (intact for almost 80 years of contracts) was only rediscovered in the last few years . It clearly states that if you are asked to memorize for an audition or test, you are due 1/2 days pay for that labor. There are many instances right up to the 2023 strike where actors or their agents put in claims and collected audition pay. Including “No Memorization required” on all casting calls now nullifies any audition pay due. "No Memorization required” is not CD recommendation. It is a legal way to avoid the contractual liability to pay you. That said, being memorized and well prepared in self taped or live auditions will result in your best , most dropped in and competitive effort. So, keep the memorizations skills up and warm, and it will free you up to book more! CSFA Scene Study addresses these skills, among other incisive preparation skills: Only 1 slot left for the Jan 24 CSFA SCENE STUDY #actorslife #actorsla #scenestudyla #actorstudio #nyactor #LAactor #actorauditioning #bookactingjobs #selftaping #sagaftraactor #actingtipoftheday #actingauditions #Hollywoodactingschools #actinglesson #onset #bookingacting
What do these 3 hit shows Adolescence, the Studio and The Pitt have in common? ...The Oner shot: First championed in virtuoso fashion by Orson Welles in TOUCH OF EVIL with much bulkier film equipment of the day, filmmakers have been paying homage ever since to the hard-to-setup Oner. Some of these current Oners took months to prepare, ie ADOLESCENCE . And yet in each of these shows' long takes, its the ensemble work that sucks you in! The actors must serve very technical one-take challenges, yet have an ability to leap with their authenticity or comic timing and invention immediately. If anyone chokes or goes up, the shot is DOA. One- take shots requires actors to focus for much longer than a self tape scene, and to improv in character when there is a trip up, to save the take. You won't have 15 self tape takes and a teleprompter to save you. I coach ant tape actors for auditions alot, but after almost 6 years of post-Covid self tape pre-occupying us, sadly I am seeing regression and short cuts in actors' work. Taping skills alone won't make you a great collaborative artist. Oners demand that you be completely off book ( no pick ups!), have a spatial and technical awareness, and yet keep a truthful grounding in a character you can sustain. Which brings me back to the upcoming Scene Study, and how I think it can help build your confidence back for these new challenges. (Are you not very tired of the self tape disconnect and brevity of Zoom callbacks?) Here you work on: longer scenes to get your acting muscles really firing ( and I assign some doozies!), on deeper character development so your are less thrown on set. Enjoy looking into other actors eyes again in warm ups, games, and scenes, get that needful human connection back. Plus we have a guest coach/ film director and producer on hand ( this time TOM DOLBY !). Free rehearsal time in our WeHo studio .Only 3 slots left https://conta.cc/3LhEojy #actorslife #actorsla #scenestudyla
I am doing another backyard project with @TurfCity.la and Daniel, after the care with this fence installation. This one was a fence demolition of a 30-year-old termite-challenged fence and a spectacular rebuild in one day by his fence crew. The design was beyond my expectations. They worked quietly with quality execution and were open to input. I will seal it and stain it when it is dry in 2 months. My big young dog is now totally secure and no longer able to wander into my neighbors' back-rented unit area.
I have had 23 years of ownership on a tight budget, and I have had quite a few contractors try to sell me a load of goods. Not TurfCity ( aka Renom Construction), who delivered what they said they could do. 2 project was pet turf installation in my raggedy shady backyard which would never grow grass. And now, I am hiring them again for a BIG concrete driveway and paver redo of the rest of my yard. #fencingposts #fencing #turfcityla #petturfinstallation
Sag-Aftra Actors and Happy Labor Day Weekend,
I am running for LA Local Convention Delegate (look for #178 on the ballot) in the current Sag-Aftra elections. I hope to earn your vote and for all on the Slate , many of whom I have seen in action in devoted volunteer leadership on contract negotiating teams and committees, membership events, and the strike lines. Many are incredibly smart, innovative younger members who are non-partisan about the past strident divides in the union. They bring fresh energy and insights to this coalition that is open to independent thought and real member feedback. Please check out to see the National and La Local mission going forward as there is still much to fix to protect actors.....
This letter in its entirety at: https://conta.cc/45YFd7a
2025 has already left me breathless. It is a lot! East coast mega storms, LA fires, evacuations, loss of homes and businesses, a delayed industry, a * CD on social media bragging she only watch 4 seconds of your labor intensive self-tapes, Musk, a country in radical turmoil. You?
And yet we have to go on. How?... First, turn off the phone and SHAKE IT OFF, MOVE, DANCE, SING, PLAY, IMPROV, TELL SOME GOOD JOKES to someone who needs it. Seek daily joy.
And start with a simple career 2025 Goal: to show up to find that next job, while you pick the battles you can fight carefully. My actor heart aims to offer strength and hope throughout my next Intensive. And to just take the time to listen to a hurting colleague for a gentle bit of time before we get to coaching or taping. The world always needs you, authentic Storytellers to get us through these tumultuous times.
Hope this helps too: I dropped my prices for now to 2010 levels and my early enroll $75 offer is extended this Happy Valentine's weekend for my next Zoom Audition Intensive starting Feb 22.
Let me share my hard-earned insights and tools (plus preparation and script analysis handouts ) to ensure any decent CD will give you more than a cursory look.
More info at https://conta.cc/42R2vfc , but first be kind to your tender heart and soul Happy Valentine's to you oxcaryn
THE SHORTCUTS to shoot within 48 hr submission deadlines are creating some very bad habits: nothing behind the lines, a lack of earned beat changes or subtextual moments, obvious and result-oriented characterizations as described in the character breakdown, a lack of spontaneity and a scene with no arc. I address this "shortcutting" effect to a result in class now.
Nobody likes working this fast but there are some ways to counteract an underdeveloped taping. And there are some very effective, simple ways in about 20 minutes to drop into a deeper place before jumping in front of your camera and hitting that record button. Let me share those needful adjustments with you in this next Self Tape Audition Intensive.
Nov 3 Intensive's enrollment savings offer ends tomorrow night Oct 22
MORE AT: https://conta.cc/3Abec4l
#actingtips #actorslife #laactor #actors #actingcoach #actorstudio #actingaudition #actingclass #bestactingcoach #nyactor #auditiontips #actortipoftheday #ActorTipoftheday #onset #casting #picoftheday #actingtips #laactor #actors #nyactor #actorstudio #backstagepollwinningcoach
https://conta.cc/3UiaLzO
Homework: something must be done alone, looking for the details for insights and nuances and word disputes in different versions ( lauds or tunes?) alone. But not so lonely with these 3 : First Folio, Riveside Shakespeare and Judi Dench recollections.
#auditionsarework #actorslife #nyactor #LAactor #sagaftraactor #actorsequity #actorauditioning #selftaping #actingtipoftheday #actorstudio
