Dry work spells are common in any actor’s career. Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do when your acting career is quiet that can prime you for future work and opportunities. It is the opportune time to develop new and existing skills, expand your artistic knowledge, or even simply recharge your batteries before the chapter.

Before we dive into what to do when your acting career is quiet, it’s worth clarifying that this article isn’t about remedying the lack of auditions or jobs. There are, for example, things you can do if you feel you’re not getting enough auditions. This page is about preparing for the inevitable—those slow times which can easily break an actor unused to stepping off the merry-go-round.

Check your Actor’s Toolkit

This article was written in the depths of the dreaded month of January. It’s a quiet time of year, when many actors are questioning their choices )or perhaps their acting career altogether.) Our first piece of advice in this famously quiet period is always to spend time looking at your actor’s toolkit: headshots, resume, showreel, casting profile.

Does your headshot need updating? Is it time for a “new year, new me” scenario? How about your resume: does it reflect the work you did last year? Is it ready to be seen by a casting director or potential agent? The showreel is a larger commitment, and one we’ll speak about in greater detail below. But slow seasons are the perfect time to ensure that your means of being seen in the industry are up-to-date and looking swish.

Update your Showreel

In the last five years, we’ve seen two truths about showreels emerge. One: they are the best, most direct way to promote yourself, and can achieve this for you from the comfort of your home. And two: showreels are no longer about excerpts from short films or tv commercials—they are about showcasing you doing short scenes in front of a blank background. Also from the comfort of your home. What do these truths mean? That it’s harder than ever to make excuses for not having a polished, professional showreel ready to go.

Far too many actors have showreels that are either outdated or non-existent. When your acting career is quiet, take that time to update (or simply create) your showreel. Keep it short, keep it punchy. Find that connection and warmth. Get to it!

Work on Self-Taping

When your acting career is quiet, take the time to focus on upping your self-tape game—priming yourself for whatever job comes to you next. Self-taping is one of those actorly skills you will never stop working on. There’s always another way of shooting, another interpretation of the scene in question. The advantage of working on self-taping in slow periods is that you normalise the process for when a professional job prospect lands on your desk.

Self-taping can be done at home with a reading partner, enough lighting and your phone’s camera. However, if you’re looking for a little more professional guidance, why not try out our StageMilk Scene Club and get feedback from industry figures on every submission?

Take an Acting Class

When your acting career is quiet, it’s a great time to examine the way you approach your craft. Consider taking an acting class, either in person or online. You can develop your skills, practice scene work and audition technique—maybe even dip your toe into a practice totally unknown to you, such as clowning or mask work!

Even when you are going for work and booking professional gigs, acting classes are a vital part of your career as an artist. After all: you need to keep yourself challenged and growing. So a quiet period is the perfect time to instil such a process and thought pattern into your regular routine.

Invest in New Skills

Ever wanted to learn the trombone? How to sketch? Fence? Prep a kick-ass tiramisu? When your acting career is quiet, consider learning a new skill separate to your craft as a performer. The skill may not directly help you book the next job (unless you’re auditioning for the role of a swashbuckling dessert chef) but the artist’s life is about variation and consuming of knowledge.

That being said, you might find yourself pleasantly surprised by how a new skill can come in handy. Picking up the guitar could get you singing. Singing might get you playing in a musical or cabaret. Doing a stint at an improv class could lead to teaching young artists—which pays surprisingly well and gets you out of the hospo grind.

Support Your Creative Community

If you find yourself with time to spare, why not look for ways to lift up your artistic peers? Can you help a friend prep for an audition? Can you teach somebody how to improve their self-tape game (with all that practice you’ve been doing?) If you know a writer or a director, perhaps they need help in a devising workshop for a new project?

It can be tough to see people around you working and moving while you’re feeling static. Jealousy is an unattractive quality, even though it comes for us all. So remind yourself that one of us succeeding can elevate us all. We’re all in this together, and you never know who might be in a position to give you a break down the line due to something nice you did for them in the past.

See Some Theatre

Do it. Go to a live theatre show. Spend too much money on a ticket to the best show in town. Spend the price of a house red and see some strange fringe monstrosity. Catch student theatre, catch any theatre you can. Actors owe their very existence to the long tradition of live theatre performance; it’s the best place to hone your skills and build your network of peers. So take some of that free time and invest back into the form that made you.

Be a student in a theatre show: analyse what works, what fails, what was ambitious? Here’s a good question: what you have done differently/more/better? When you go to the theatre as an actor, you’re not just an audience member. You are there to learn from your colleagues, to absorb the work of others. And then take those learnings into the next acting job!

Write Something

Ever tried writing a film? A play? A sketch or a series? When your acting career is quiet, writing is a terrific thing to do. Our industry praises multi-hyphenates, which is a fancy way of saying “artists who can do more than one thing”. Set yourself apart from your acting peers by adding something to your skillset that can not only open you up to new professional opportunities, but create new acting work for yourself.

If you have any ambitions or interest in writing, pick up a pen, open a Google doc and go for it. Don’t worry about training or fancy software or some fountain pen forged in a volcano. Writing is a great thing to self develop because it’s free. All it takes is some time and effort, and you’ll be well on your way.

Listen, Read, Watch

Good actors are literate when it comes to art. If you want to be taken seriously, you need to know your Shakespeare from your Simone, your Kandinsky from your Kipling, your Pollock from your Peele. If your acting career is quiet, spend some time absorbing films, books, artworks, music. You can hit up the canon—the classics—but don’t forget the rebels and low-taste-makers as well. Just be sure to diversify and step beyond your usual tastes.

Much like our advice on going to see theatre: be an active participant when you consume art or media. Don’t glaze over, watch ten seasons of Drag Race and kid yourself it’s for your art. Engage with what you listen, read and watch critically. What can you learn? How might what you see inform/inspire your own work as an artist or actor?

Relax

If you’ve done everything else on this list, or nothing we’ve mentioned feels quite right, it might be a good time to tune out and recharge your batteries. Relax. Take a time out while you can and focus on something else: work, family, relationships, hobbies, nothing at all.

Actors, like any artist, suck at relaxing. They’re all filled with the innate desire to hustle, to upskill, to make the next milestone. Given how important it is to switch off and recharge, relaxation is actually a skill you need to develop. If you’ve got one week off between two huge jobs, you must learn how to take that time for yourself, otherwise you head into burnout territory.

Take quiet spells in your career as the opportunity to practice relaxation and mindfulness. And trust us when we say that far too few people in our industry will tell you how important this really is.

Conclusion

There you have it: ten suggestions on what to do when your acting career is quiet. Quite a lot to get done, isn’t there? Perhaps this is the biggest takeaway we can hope to impart you with at the bottom of this article. For an actor with drive and work ethic, there’s really no such thing as “quiet” parts of their career. There are times when you work less, absolutely. But choosing what you do with those times is what separates the great from the good.

Whatever you end up doing with these times, don’t forget to do it with a good attitude and take plenty of breaks. Sooner or later, that phone is going to ring. And you’ll want to be in top shape for what might be a truly life-changing opportunity.

Good luck!

The post What to Do when your Acting Career is Quiet appeared first on StageMilk.

A stage name is a name assumed by professional actors and other performing artists, for a number of reasons. Stage names can distinguish one actor from another of the same name, simplify an actor’s real name, or build on an actor’s archetype. Whether or not you should use a stage name will come down to these same factors. What you should change it to is a whole other question. But don’t worry, we’ll get to that.

As always, remember that this article offers up information and advice, but never an ultimatum when it comes to your acting career. Please keep that in mind before you dig up your birth certificate and potentially break your parents’ hearts by telling them the name they gave you just ain’t gonna cut it for Hollywood.

When to Change your Name

First of all, changing your name only really becomes a necessity once you reach a certain level of recognition. If you’re still on that very important independent theatre grind and you’re wondering about whether you’re due for a name change, you’re not. Of course, if you really want to, go for it! But you certainly don’t need to.

The most common reason that actors change their names is to distinguish themselves from other performers with the same name. David Bowie, for instance, was born David Jones and took the surname Bowie from a 1960s film called The Alamo. He did this to make sure no one mistook him for another English singer by the name of Davy Jones (of Monkees fame.)

The only caveat we’ll throw in here is that actors’ unions sometimes specify that you can’t have the same name as another performer in the same union. This rule varies, but is worth some research in your country/city/area.

Why You Might Use a Stage Name

Okay: let’s imagine you’ve hit it big and you’re on the route to worldwide fame. You’re landing some good roles, your agent is very excited and you’re being groomed for stardom. What’s your name in this scenario? Schnitzel Von Crummington III. As far as notable actors with the same name go, you’re pretty safe, but, wow… I mean, what were your parents thinking? 

While I do exaggerate with this example, if you have a complicated name—too long or too difficult to pronounce, or an unfortunate sounding name—it’s time for a change. You also may want to consider whether your name has the potential to pigeonhole you. If you heard the name Schnitzel Von Crummington III, what kind of person would you imagine? Some affluent, pretentious manor lord? 

Our brains are association machines and we can’t help but make connections and assumptions based on what we hear. A lot of big companies use this to their advantage to build an effective brand for themselves using things called “brand archetypes”. Actors can also take advantage of brand archetypes, and this strategy usually begins with their name.

Building a Brand

As an actor, your brand is you, so it follows that your name is also the name of your brand. We’re getting into my least favourite part of being an actor: marketing. As much as I complain about it to my friends on weekends over a glass of red, marketing yourself well as an actor is crucial.

Let’s talk specifically about archetypes. Archetypes are associated with psychology and also literary analysis, and speak to the common examples of character or behaviour that we might use to classify figures in a narrative. 

The examples listed below have their roots in Greek Mythology. I’ve provided a quotation to give you an idea of what each of them represent.

• The Outlaw – “Rules are made to be broken.”
• The Magician – “It can happen.”
• The Hero – “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
• The Lover – “I only have eyes for you.”
• The Jester – “If I can’t dance, I’m not a part of it.”
• The Everyman – “You’re just like me and I’m just like you.”
• The Caregiver – “Love your neighbour as yourself.”
• The Ruler – “Power isn’t everything. It’s the only thing.”
• The Creator – “If it can be imagined, it can be created.”
• The Innocent – “Life is simple and simplicity is elegant.”
• The Sage – “The truth will set you free.”
• The Explorer – “Don’t fence me in.”

I’ve got some homework for you that you can do right now: Open Instagram and scroll to the next ad that pops up, paying attention to the company it belongs to. Then, try to fit that company into one of the archetypes.

Weird, right? Just about any company you can think of makes use of one or maybe a combination of these twelve archetypes. We can apply it to actors as well. Jennifer Lawrence fits nicely into “The Everyman” archetype—she’s relatable, humble, and down to earth. James Dean was textbook “Outlaw”—rugged, alluring and rebellious. 

The reason these archetypes work so well for brands is because people connect best with personalities, not features or benefits. When you get the chance, take time to figure out which archetype best suits you. It’s useful information for an actor.

Let’s return to our up-and-comer friend Schnitzel.

How to Choose a Stage Name

So, Schnitzel Von Crummington III has been working hard and recently landed a role in a major television series. It’s only a few seconds to midnight for Schnitzel but they’ve realised a few things about their name:

1. It is too long and complicated.
2. They will probably be made fun of for it.
3. Everyone they meet seems to think they’re a wealthy English lord when in reality they worked in construction before their Big Break.

Schnitzel does some research on the twelve archetypes and thinks that they align best with “The Outlaw”—they’re a bit rugged from working outdoors all day and they have a gorgeous charlatan grin. Based on that, they decide to drop “Crummington III” and use the surname “Von”. Von makes a great surname: it’s punchy and it’s got a rough edge to it that fits with “Outlaw”.

As for their first name? Some actors use nicknames as a part of their stage name. (For example, Whoopie Goldberg was nicknamed “Whoopie” when she worked in theatre, because she was constantly breaking wind) Back to our friend Schnitzel, when working construction, their friends called them “Schnit”. It’s short and catchy, but it does sound a bit like a cuss. Something else actors do when changing their name is think about someone they’d like to pay homage to. Olivia Wilde took the surname “Wilde” to honour the great writer Oscar Wilde. Schnitzel is a big fan of Nicholas Cage. “Schnit” and “Nick” sound kind of similar, too, which is a bonus.

Schnitzel Von Crummington III is an eccentric aristocrat drunk on power and swan’s blood. However … Nick Von is an actor to keep your eye on. They’re known for playing the villainous characters you love to hate, and for capturing the hearts of everyone with their rugged charm and knowing smile.  

Sounds good to me.

Conclusion

The marketing side of acting can feel like a bit uncanny valley, as you’re effectively marketing yourself. Your name is the thing that people will remember, so it’s important to have a good one when you start to make waves. Even if you don’t need to change your name right away, coming up with a stage name for yourself is always a bit of fun. See if you can create one for a few different archetypes that best suit you. The names should evoke a certain personality or image, and they should be simple and memorable. When the time comes to make the change, you’ll be prepared with a few options in your back pocket. 

Hope this helps. I’ll see you, and your fabulous name (either stage or birth), on the credit roll!

The post Do You Need a Stage Name? appeared first on StageMilk.

It is entirely normal for an actor to think about quitting acting. If you find yourself in doubt, start by assessing your career and identifying what is causing you concern. Is there a way to modify the way you work towards your goals? A way to pause your career, or redefine your objectives? Quitting acting is always a viable option; however, many actors find that simple reassessment and planning can be enough to grant them a second wind. 

Before we jump in, it’s worth us being honest about where we stand with this topic. We love actors at StageMilk, and it is our mission to support them in their acting journeys. However, we also acknowledge that the actor’s life is not for everybody—whether by choice or simply by circumstance. In this article, we’re going to be as impartial as we can be in conveying the information to come. Please know that whatever your decision, you have our deepest affections and respect.

It’s Normal to Think About Quitting Acting

Take two points if you’ve ever heard an actor say this at a party, swilling cheap red wine: “There’s no question that I’m an actor. There’s nothing else I can do, nothing else I’d rather be doing. It’s my calling, it’s me, it’s everything I am.” Take another two points if you were really impressed the first time you heard it. How’s your score? Tell you what: take a million points if you’ve realised, yet, that this attitude is complete bulls**t.

Acting is a difficult career path. It’s wonderful and beautiful and rewarding and exciting, sure. But a lot of the time it’s incredibly stressful and painful. You know who doubts their career as an actor? People with sense, people without something ridiculous to prove.

Doubt says absolutely nothing about your worth as an artist. Doubt, if anything, is healthy. It means you’re checking in with yourself and marking your own life and wellbeing as a priority. As for blind faith? It sounds more like a person trying to convince themselves than the mark of a brilliant thespian…

Reasons for Quitting Acting

If you’re thinking about quitting acting, first try to identify the cause/s of this line of thought. Below, we’re going to list a few classic reasons actors hang up their tights, along some quick suggestions as to how they might be reframed or countered.

No Jobs

It’s hard to feel like an actor when you’re not working as one. And if it’s been a while since you’ve last booked a professional job, it’s easy to think about packing it all in. Just remember that this isn’t on you, it’s a universal woe: the statistics differ, but most outlets estimate that 85 – 98% of performers are unemployed (as actors) at any one time.

What’s to be done? First of all, remind yourself that dry spells happen. Just because you’re not starring in the next Marvel blockbuster doesn’t mean that your career is over or that you have no worth. If things are quiet, take the opportunity to train, take a class, do some scene study. Update your headshots, tweak your resume, shoot a showreel. You might be surprised as to how a little focus in one of these areas might end the work drought…

Rejection

What’s worse: hearing nothing about a potential acting job, or sending out five great self-tapes in a month and hearing “no” on all of them? Rejection sucks, and too much of it is enough to break any actor.

What’s to be done? Honestly, our advice about dry spells stands. That, and remembering that there are so many different reasons you didn’t get the job unrelated to talent or ability that we wrote an entire article on the subject. Feeling pangs of rejection is a great reason to lean on your creative community—your actor/artist friends who’ve been there and felt the same feelings. Get together, crack a bottle of wine and commiserate.

Cost of Living

How much do actors get paid? Not a lot, as we’re sure you know by now. The increasing cost of living is enough for any actor to question their career, especially as paid acting work hardly equates to long- or even short-term stability.

What’s to be done? Is there a way to take the pressure off your acting career as a financial pillar in your life? Can you seek out more work opportunities external to your acting? It might also be a sign that you need to do less jobs that do not pay, or even prioritise your financial situation over your career goals—at least in the immediate future. Don’t forget that the vast majority of actors have other streams of revenue, teaching, presenting, working in hospitality or retail. A day job is no sign of retreat, let alone failure.

External Pressures

Getting more hours at your day job? Hoping to marry and start a family? Sick and tired of explaining your career choice to parents at Christmas? External pressures are difficult for actors; they can spell the end to an acting career rather easily, as they often stem from other important things in your life you’re loathe to give up (or, in the case of friends and family, disappoint.)

What’s to be done? Find balance. Your entire life as an artist will be about seeking balance between your creative life and, well, everything else. Thoughts of quitting often signal a need to re-jig that balance and to establish some firmer boundaries.

Losing the Fire

Arguably, this reason for quitting acting is present in all the others. At the very least, it’s something that results in the other pressures mounting. One day, you may wake up and realise you don’t love it quite so much, or you’ve lost the fight in you that kept you going through previous dark times.

What’s to be done? Be honest with yourself. Try to identify why you think you’re losing the spark and acting doesn’t shine so brightly. It could be related to any one of the above reasons, or just creep in on its own—even when things are going well. However it manifests, our advice is to listen to yourself and address the fact that, hey, acting is not always beer and skittles.

But remember this: actors have far more sway over their attitude and situation than they might think. Keep thinking, keep searching, keep planning. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the options on hand.

Redefine Your Acting Career

If you find yourself thinking about quitting acting, and it’s not a good feeling, start by redefining what your career looks like. A lot of actors get into this game thinking about ways to get famous and what their address will be in Hollywood. This is fine, and a little bit of this is healthy—bet on yourself, after all.

But focus on fame and fortune is no way to prolong a healthy, lasting acting career. If you truly love the work you do, you won’t be fulfilled only by the promise of a franchise of your very own. So redefine your acting career: redefine what success looks like and what your goals might be.

What’s your definition of success? What’s a dream role you can snag in the next five years? How might you live comfortably? What’s the kind of recognition you’d like from the creative community in your life. Here’s a personal example, refined after almost ten years in the creative industry: to me, success looks like doing one thing at a time. No hustle, no thousand other jobs, no multitude of projects on the go. If I found myself working on one thing and one thing only, I’d know progress has been made.

“Can I Pause my Acting Career?”

Yes, you absolutely can! Actors take pauses in their careers all the time; often, they don’t realise they’ve done it. Life gets in the way, jobs that pay bills come up. Sometimes, you can find yourself doing something related to acting but not quite—and in the ensuing success you don’t even realise that your focus has shifted.

If you love acting, and if you’re willing to work hard at your career if you return to it after a break, then it’s an excellent option to consider. Just be aware that time out of the game is time you won’t get back, and your profile/contacts/prospects won’t be the same. A lot can change when you step off the merry-go-round, even for six months or a year.

Here at StageMilk, we have actors returning from career pauses all the time. It can be disorienting, it can make you feel old or out of the loop. But we find most actors push all such intrusive thoughts aside once they rediscover their joy, and become excited by the possibility of new acting adventures. If you’re looking for this feeling, why not give our Scene Club a go?

“Am I Making a Mistake?”

If your career isn’t working out the way you’d hoped, if you’re not finding yourself fulfilled, if you’re not having fun with acting like you used to … that might be enough to get you thinking about quitting. The important takeaway is that it’s always your choice—whether you’re actively pursuing a career or not. And if you quit and think you’ve made a mistake by doing so? Start back up again.

If you’re a year, five years, twenty years down the line and you miss the life, you can surely find your way back to acting. Your path might be different, your goals might have re-adjusted in the life lived between now and your previous attempt. But odds are you’ll find just as much fulfilment where you left off—perhaps even more, as you approach your art with more life experience and maturity.

Follow your joy. We know how hokey that sounds (it was hard enough typing it), but it’s an important thing to remember in an artistic pursuit so often caught up in career progression. If you find yourself missing acting because you gave it up, come on back. It’s not like we’re running out of stories to tell!

Conclusion

So what’s next? If you’ve clicked on this article in the middle of a career and artistic quandary, we’d suggest you take some time to think openly and honestly. Remember, through it all, that thinking about quitting acting and actually quitting are two very different things. A bit of doubt is healthy, and if that turns into a pause or change of career there’s nothing wrong with that either.

No matter what you’re thinking, no matter your decision, keep this in mind: you are an actor. If you take acting seriously, if you give it your love and your efforts and even a piece of your life, you have merit and worth as an artist. So for all the doubts and all the conclusions you may need to draw, for all the pain that honesty can bring, bear no uncertainty about your worth as a performer to be regarded and taken seriously. If that sways you one way or the other, if that helps at all, we’re happy to hear it.

At the very least, know you have our respect, and that of your wider community artistic peers.

Good luck.

The post So You’re Thinking About Quitting Acting appeared first on StageMilk.

Acting in student films allows you to develop your skills and process, gain some much-needed screen credits and on-set experience. While there’s almost never a chance of a payday, the reach of student films on studio circuits can boost your profile significantly. Furthermore, you will have the chance to work closely with up-and-coming talent in the screen industry—a favour you may be able to call in when their own careers progress.

In this article, we’re going to talk about the many benefits of acting in student films, so you can approach any potential job or offer made to you with the best possible information. While I freely admit I threw my camera-wielding colleagues under the bus in that opening paragraph, I should acknowledge that film students are still students, still growing. And the vast majority of them are excited to work, learn and collaborate.

What is a Student Film?

A student film is a screen project produced and created by students of a film school or related arts institution (university, college, etc.) It may be part of a course requirement, or simply a project undertaken by students while they study.

Student films are typically low budget, simple in script and execution. Cast will be minimal, and the entirety of production will take place in any time frame from a day to a week or two. As a rule, cast and crew are unpaid as the film is not intended to be released commercially. However, there is a chance that a student film may tour a festival circuit (see below), acting as an industry ‘calling card’ for those involved.

Is there a Difference Between “Student Film” and “Short/Indie/Low-Budget Film”?

Yes and no. Some people use “student film” and these other terms interchangeably, especially when the  filmmakers involved are current or recent graduates of an institution. The difference with a student film is that it generally has more in-kind support from that institution. It will receive production support and equipment, if not some small budget. It may also enjoy the supervision of teachers/mentors who can step in and bail out a filmmaker who finds themselves stuck or overwhelmed.

Structurally and artistically, they’re all one and the same. Just remember that a potential bail-out from a fancy school won’t save any project if it’s truly a stinker.

“Can I make money acting in a student film?”

Some projects will pay actors to step in and perform, often as they’re the one missing ingredient for a young artist with most other resources at their disposal. However, it’s pretty rare. As mentioned above, student films are not intended to be sold as commercial vehicles.

If this is something that bothers you, then that’s completely fine. Knowing when to work for free is as important as knowing when to say “no” to a role; if it’s not something you want—or, more importantly, something you can’t support—don’t bend over backwards to sign on. Do it for the love, or at least the credit.

“What’s the commitment/workload for a student film?”

As student films are low-budget and generally short in length, the lead-in work commitment is small. That being said, the shoot dates will often be long to maximise the amount of time the producer can pull together a crew for little-to-no money. You’ll be fed, but get plenty of sleep and pace yourself—especially if you’re not used to long days on set.

One final thing we should cover before we jump into the benefits is the actor/director partnership on a short film. Due to their inexperience, directors may struggle to articulate themselves or know how to get the best from you as an actor. Our advice is to cut them some slack and remember they’re just starting out (just don’t put up with bad behaviour.) Do a bit of extra homework before you arrive. Ensure that you’ve thought about character, objective, actions, as it’s entirely likely the director will prioritise these lower than getting the thing shot.

Okay: question time over. Let’s talk about the benefit of acting in student films!

Add Credits to your Acting CV

Student films are the perfect way to pad your CV in between other acting jobs. They’re quick to work on, meaning that you could potentially do a number of them in a year if you had the motivation!

It’s also a nice insurance policy in cases where the film isn’t, well, very good. It might not be something you’d include on your showreel, but it still has currency as a line on your resume because it signals that you’ve had some on-set experience and booked the gig. Truthfully, a casting director is unlikely to try and track down everything you’ve ever been in. Who’s to say it wasn’t the best film of all time?!

Gain On-Set Experience

A film set is a surreal space to traverse: a whole other reality you want to be ready for before you step up as a professional actor. Working on a student film will help you gain understanding of film set etiquette, and help you learn what everybody does.

Bear in mind that a student film set will run a little differently to a professional one—it’ll be smaller for one thing, and corners will definitely be cut. However, you’ll get the gist of it, and your crew of industry hopefuls will be doing everything they can to get the same professional experience you’re looking for. And if they lack some seasoning or seem a little amateurish? Rise above and show ’em how it’s done.

Develop Your Skills

Acting in student films is not just about CVs and set life. It’s a perfect chance to flex your skills as an actor and develop hone process. Remember those long days we talked about? You need to be a professional, you need to be prepared, you need to be on for as long as the director requires. It can be taxing, but it’s vital for progressing your career.

So use each day on a student film set to improve your acting chops. Truly build a character, find your voice and your physicality so you’re not acting for the camera (from the neck down!) And when they’re setting up lights or adjusting the sun/moon/stars, why not use that time to do some script analysis? If you’re across the part in this film, consider working on the next, or reading a play. Improve yourself!

Work with the Next Generation of Filmmakers

When you find yourself acting in student films, you’re going to rub shoulders with a lot of up-and-coming industry talent. Use this: think of the goodwill you’re investing in these young pups and how this may later become a call-back when they’re R & F! You may find a real kindred spirit with a director or producer, and discover a collaborative relationship that kicks of a decades-long partnership.

If they don’t turn out to be the next Greta Gerwig? No harm no foul, and it’s still a credit on your CV. But the attitude we recommend taking into a job is this: who’s to say what these people will be doing in five years time? So don’t risk treating the 3rd Assistant Director like a lowly assistant: they might end up running a studio one day. In our business, it happens all the time. And stories like what we’ve just described never include the name of the actor who simply faded away…

Feature in Film Festivals, Promote Yourself

Student films aren’t about making money, they’re about networking. For the directors/producers/crew, they’re a chance to show their skills to the industry and announce themselves as new talent to be reckoned with. What does this mean for you as the actor? You may end up with a striking piece of art that features you and makes you look good. Student films mean festivals, festivals mean exposure and new contacts in new places and even awards!

If you’re thinking about acting in a student film, ask the director what their plan is for the project. Do they have a festival circuit in mind? If they don’t, it’s actually a great thing to encourage them to do. You’d be doing both of you a favour.

Strengthen your Creative Community

This last one’s a bit sappy, but bear with us. The lives of creatives are difficult, whether you’re in front of the camera or behind it. Acting in student films, even in times when it’s not directly going to benefit you, helps bolster your creative community. Support your fellow artists. Make connections, support each others’ art and ideas. Do what you can to bring their projects to life.

Actors can audition dozens of times a year for multiple projects. You may find yourself reading for a play one Monday, shooting a commercial on a Wednesday and then participating in a development workshop over the weekend. For filmmakers, it’s often a lot more isolating: projects take years to reach the filming stage, and it may be years until they can afford to make a follow-up. On set, give them your everything. Once you wrap, keep in touch: make a friend!

Conclusion

So have we convinced you? Are you ready to update your casting network profile with student films in mind? Let us leave you with one final point: student films are incredibly fun to be a part of. You get to step into somebody else’s story and be an integral part of bringing it to life. Sure, they can get chaotic. But it’s a wild, vivid ride with you at the centre—doing the one thing you love more than anything else.

Student films have multiple ways of benefitting you, as we’ve covered in this article. For the people behind the camera, you’ll be like a superhero to them. So enjoy doing some good for yourself and for others in this industry. We’re all in this together.

Good luck!

For more ways to build your acting career, check out the companion article: Why You Should Be Acting In Indie Theatre.

The post Why you Should be Acting in Student Films appeared first on StageMilk.

Actors become famous for a number of reasons; these are often tied to the larger entertainment industry and its support of talent they deem to be marketable. But there are other pathways that actors may find themselves on that lead to fame and recognition as well. However, being a famous actor doesn’t necessarily guarantee success. There are lots of exceptionally successful actor/artists who aren’t so well known, and a lot of famous actors who aren’t necessarily good at what they do. Whether or not you strive for fame, it’s super important to understand that becoming successful actor does not depend on becoming a famous actor.

Before we jump into the list below: The discussion around fame is somewhat fraught due to a long and entrenched history of racism, sexism and classism within the entertainment industry. It’s important to recognise that privilege does, unfortunately, play a big role in who gets to stand in the global limelight and who doesn’t. Is this changing, and for the better? Yes. But there’s a long way to go until a person’s background is a diminished factor in their level of fame.

The Breakout Role

The best, most promising and (save perhaps for “Freak Accident” below) most romantic way of becoming famous. You’ve been hustling away as an actor for years. Commercial here, showcase there. Day job, bank account more pennies than dollars. And then… Suddenly… Without warning… BAM! A lead role in a brand new series, or a supporting role in the next big superhero movie.

There are 25 years, count ’em: a whole quarter century, between Morgan Freeman’s entry into the arts industry and his recognition by Hollywood as a viable star. Was he out of work? Hell no, he did incredible films and award-winning theatre work right up until 1989, where films such as Driving Miss Daisy and the incredible Glory put him on the map. Arguably, these were breakout roles for him as an actor and his career took off into the stratosphere.

So what’s the lesson, here? The breakout role path to fame does happen. In fact, happens more than you might think. The problem is a point I’ve already made once—and will likely make again before the bottom of this page. Fame does not equal success, any more than success equals fame. There’s nothing stopping an actor achieving a great amount of fame with a break-out role, only for their career to founder just years later. “Remember [INSERT NAME]? Gee, whatever happened to them?” Exactly…

Drama School

Throw a stone in the air and it’ll land on a renowned actor who studied conservatoire. Whilst training for three years at a renowned drama school doesn’t guarantee fame and fortune as an actor, it can do a great job at putting you on the path. Drama school offers structured education with professionals and exists to refine both your theoretical understanding of acting and your acting practice itself. What’s more, they often have standing relationships with agencies, meaning that their students get at least a guaranteed look-in come graduation.

But most importantly, drama schools produce great actors. And great actors generally have a better shot at fame. Some actors in your your drama school year will find work and representation almost immediately after graduating, if not slightly before. Why’s that? Let me throw you a few possible reasons:

• #1 They’re great actors. They’re diligent, they’re talented and they love what they do. They’re the kind of people you want to watch on stage and screen.
• #2 They’ve got the right look. An unfortunate truth about the industry is that there are aesthetic trends. Sometimes people fit the bill based on appearance alone. I don’t mean that these people are getting cast because they’re drop-dead gorgeous, rather they have a certain look/type/brand that the industry, and indeed audiences, deem “in-fashion”. Sad but true
• #3 They’re lucky. Sometimes it’s a simple as right place, right time. You certainly need talent and drive to meet the luck, though. And not all of the golden graduates manage to stick the landing.

Social Media and Self Promotion

Now more than ever in our cutthroat industry, actors are empowered to self-promote and build their brands. We have access to casting profiles, cheap and effective solutions for showreels and even the chance to build awareness through platforms like TikTok. Yay for us, right? Sort of.

Recently, one of the writing staff here at StageMilk told me a story about being in a casting meeting for a tv show they were working on. They said the executive producer checked the Instagram accounts of each potential actor and noted their number of followers—stating that it was most beneficial to secure the talent whose social media might translate to new, loyal viewers. Earlier this year, The Hollywood Reporter produced a list of 11 up-and-comers known to have started their acting journey on social media.

If you want to be famous—not good, not necessarily respected but famous famous—you need a presence on social media. This metric will become increasingly important as our industry melds and clashes with new and diverse media. Even if you’re not looking for fans in the tens of millions, it’s still an important field to be across.

Nepotism

Nepotism is the practice of favouring friends and family members in professional settings. When someone has familial connections in Hollywood, there is more of a chance that doors will open for them that otherwise would’ve remained closed. “Hollywood Dynasty” is a term used to describe families with a long history of success in the industry who pass fame and acclaim from one generation to the next. The Barrymores, Baldwins and Coppolas are all prime examples.

The debate around nepotism is largely centred around issues of inequality and privilege. People arguing against nepotism insist that it stifles diversity and opportunities for talented people who lack the same powerful connections. On the other hand, proponents of nepotism cite the benefits of passing down industry knowledge through generations to create a lineage of exceptional talent and familiarity with Hollywood. I don’t think I subscribe to such an idea personally, but it’s certainly worth knowing what is being discussed.

An example of nepotism in Hollywood is Angelina Jolie. Her father is Jon Voight, an Oscar Award-winning actor. It should be noted that her success, and many other actors who achieve fame by way of nepotism, isn’t entirely due to her familial connections. Jolie proved herself to be a transformative and talented actor, winning an Oscar for her role in Girl, Interrupted. That said, it would be naïve to say she started on the same level as everyone else aspiring to win Oscars some day.

Freak Accidents

A.K.A. “getting discovered”. Showbiz, baby, is unpredictable. There are a handful of actors whose journey to fame began with a twist of fate, a chance encounter or truly wild circumstances. Let’s talk about Charlize Theron and how her path to stardom began, of all places, in a bank.

One day, Charlize was in a bank, arguing with the teller. It just so happened that on that particular day, a talent agent was also in the same bank and watched in awe as as she quarrelled with such zeal, such presence and control. The agent approached her at once and asked if she’d ever thought about being an actor. Now set on the perilous path of acting, Charlize Theron had a breakout role in Monster, for which she won the Academy Award. 

Charlize Theron is an example of just how unexpected and downright random the industry can be. There’s no tried and tested path to becoming a successful actor, it can happen over many years or it can happen one day in a bank: you just never know. Do be careful about exploitation when you are ‘discovered’, though. When you operate outside the usual systems, it’s possible for directors or producers to take liberties with safety or appropriate conduct. It can end badly.

Hard Work

Let’s be a little more positive: some actors achieve success purely through hard work and recognition for their craft. Meryl Streep comes to mind, as does Daniel Day-Lewis. Especially in the case of Day-Lewis: do you remember any talk show appearances from him? Any long, profound Oscar acceptance speeches? No. But I bet you remember the conviction with which he approaches roles, the way he throws himself into everything from making canoes to making shoes to painting with his feet.

It’s rare, and it’s often in conjunction with another path to fame (such as a breakout role), but actors can become famous simply by the calibre o the work they put out into the world. Remember this at time, and let it comfort you.

Being a Delight to Work With

This final point relates less to being famous as being internationally idolised and paid in piles of gold. Let’s re-think more about the concept of recognition. You know which actors receive recognition, and with it lasting and fruitful careers? Those who are kind and thoughtful collaborators. Be a delight to work with and fame will come a lot more easily to you. Because people will like you and want to work with you again!

The best part about this point is that it’s true for the entirety of your career. We’ve written a lot of articles about the importance of getting involved in short films, independent theatre, workshops, readings—the list goes on and on. One of the reasons you should go out of your way to find these smaller opportunities is so you can build your reputation and work with the same people again. This is also known as “nepotism”, but this time it works for you!

If you’re a decent person, people will want to work with you again. If you do a good job, and make them look good, there’s no reason they won’t propel you alongside their own careers. Look at what Edgar Wright did for Nick Frost: you may not even know who Edgar Wright is! 

Conclusion

To quote Jason Bateman: “You’re one job away from changing your life.” That breakout role us actors chase can come about in bizarre ways. It can take many years of hard work for little pay and recognition, steadily building connections that one day lead you to that coveted role… Or it can literally happen overnight.

Regardless of what sets one on the path to stardom, it takes skill, talent and determination to maintain a steady course. My tutor says that you can either go for celebrity or you can go for integrity, and I tend to agree. There are pitfalls and traps on every side of fame that most of us are completely unaware of. But the allure will always be there and truly there’s nothing wrong with striving to be recognised for something you love and work hard at.

Hope this helped. See you around the traps!

The post How Do Actors Get Famous? appeared first on StageMilk.

Being an actor in 2024 is all about diversity and resilience. Keep yourself active and grow your skills in a way that means you’re not left behind by the ever-changing industry. Look back and learn from your personal experiences in 2023. And set specific goals that you can work towards in order to grow and mark career milestones. It’s fair to say that the industry is more challenging than ever for early-to-mid career performers to find a foothold. But there is also more you can do as an individual to maximise success.

Let’s start with a few things you can do right now to further your acting in 2024. After that, we’ll take a step back and examine the state of the industry so that you know exactly what you’re jumping into. And remember that whether you’re reading this on Christmas Eve, or half-way through January with nine of your ten New Year’s Resolutions already broken, there’s never a bad time to take stock and think ahead. Jump on in!

Set Goals for Being an Actor in 2024

“A vision’s just a vision if it’s only in your head. If no-one gets to see it, it’s as good as dead. It has to come to life!”

The moment you finish reading this article, set some goals for being an actor in 2024. Think about what you want, think about what you’re hoping to achieve. Then write them down and hold yourself accountable.

Actors are forever being asked to set goals. I think it’s because so much of one’s work as an artist is self-driven—so much development of skill happens under our own steam. With the pressure put upon actors to set goals and achieve them, it’s worth knowing how to set good goals so you don’t stress yourself out or snow yourself under. See below:

• Keep goals realistic. “What can you actually get done in the time you have?” “Is there a pathway towards making this happen?” “How does your life/location/financial situation affect your goals?” Asking grounding questions like these can help you differentiate “goals” from “dreams”. Remember that you score goals, you chase dreams. Learn the difference.
• Diversify your goals. Reach wide when you’re setting goals. Find a diverse slate of things to work towards, so that when one task stalls or stops you can move over to something else.
• Set deadlines. This is the most important point to remember. Deadlines hold you accountable and force you to make concrete plans in achieving goals. If you think you’re going to blow a deadline, that’s okay: set a new one and give yourself an extension! But keep yourself on task with a timetable and you’re guaranteed to get more done.

Look Back and Learn From 2023

The holiday season is a great time to look back on everything you’ve learned from the year you’re about to kiss goodbye. Whether it was terrific or terrible, it’s always worth finding an objective viewpoint. Don’t forget that the best learning resource for actors is always themselves. Get comfortable with examining your work and achievements, your strengths and weaknesses; this is the perfect way for you to grow.

Assess Your Achievements

Start here. Write down your wins! Think back on jobs, callbacks, connections made. Good reviews, high marks or praise from your acting teacher/coach. Is there a particular performance you’re proud of—even a self-tape you can point to and say “Yeah… I really nailed that role.” How about the firsts? Did 2023 mark your first time onstage, your first paycheque as an actor, the first time you called yourself an actor and didn’t feel silly?

When you reach December and find you’re not sitting poolside at a Hollywood mansion, it’s easy to be tough on yourself. This is why marking your achievements is so important: remind yourself how far you’ve come, and what you’re capable of. A lot of the time, you’ll recognise things you didn’t even realise you’d accomplished.

Little tip for assessing achievements: be focused. Don’t just say “I got better at acting.” Be specific: did you work on accents, characterisation, script analysis? When you paint your wins with broad strokes, you downplay exactly how much you’ve worked towards your craft and process.

Learn from the Good … and the Bad

Feeling good about yourself? Feeling giddy? Great! Let’s talk about your failures. All of them. As much as you want to think about your wins, count your losses and examine them. Learn from them. It’s the best way to prevent them happening again.

Ask yourself “Why didn’t I get the part?” Crack open those self-tapes and watch for aspects of your craft you still need to improve. If you’re feeling particularly brave, you can talk to an acting teacher or your peers for some extra insight. Every potential weakness is a point you can work to—and learnings from this process make for great dot points on your list of goals for 2024.

Acknowledge How Far You’ve Come

By looking at your achievements and identifying the parts of you that still need work, you’re able to acknowledge how far you’ve come on your journey as an actor. Honestly, this is the most important thing to do when looking back on the year just passed.

We use the word “journey” a lot on StageMilk when talking about an actor’s life, career, progression, etc. That’s because every artist’s life is unfinished. When you journey toward your goals, and you achieve them, you discover that a new set will always appear on the horizon.

So take the time to acknowledge how far you’ve come. If it’s been a good year: fantastic! Don’t get cocky, keep moving forward. If it’s been a tough one, or a quiet one, or a year that’s got you questioning the acting career altogether, remind yourself that such times pass. And in the scheme of things: they don’t count for much at all.

But enough of what’s come before. Let’s start to look ahead…

The Acting Industry in 2024

Actors in 2024 have more opportunities than ever to diversify their approach to craft and career. There are countless ways to promote yourself, to put your work out there and get your name seen by the industry powers that be. To best navigate acting in the new year, we’ve highlighted a few things worth taking into account.

Actor’s Tool-Kit

Headshots. CV. Showreel. Casting profiles. If you’re going into 2024 with any of these out-of-date or lacking, you’re doing yourself a disservice.

The new year is the perfect time to brush up on your actor’s toolkit. Ensure that everything is current and reflects work you’re proud of. Don’t forget that the multitude of avenues available to actors these days means that competition is extremely fierce. Put your best foot forward and invest some time/effort into improving how you promote and brand yourself.

Nail Your Self-Tapes

Self-tapes will continue to be the dominant means of actors securing work. In 2024, ensure that your self-tape game is on point. Many actors forget that self-taping is a medium that sits in between screen/stage acting. It requires thought and practice, and familiarity so that they exhibit their strongest work.

Are you comfortable with eyelines? Do you know how to choreograph and set them in a way that builds the character off-screen? How about framing your shot depending on the genre/material you’re speaking to? Set yourself the goal to become a self-tape expert in 2024. If you’re looking for self-tape guidance, don’t forget that you can study with us, right here at StageMilk, via our Scene Club program and receive personalised feedback from industry leaders!

Diversify

As an acting coach in the above-mentioned Scene Club (would love to see some of you there next year!) I have had a lot of actors ask me what they can do to strengthen their career in 2024. Beyond craft and study, I urge them to diversify. Branch into other media, work in other roles. If you add to your skill set as a creative, you will stand out in the ever-growing pack.

Let’s speak to two important options. First up: consider acting for stage. Too many actors these days are turning up their noses at independent/low-budget theatre work, opting instead to hold out for a Netflix series or their MCU big break. By doing this, you actually miss out on one of the best ways to improve your acting craft, network and even earn a little money. There’s a whole article on this very subject I’d urge you to read, suitably titled Why you should be Acting in Indie Theatre.

The other option is to write. Try writing (and directing) a short film or play. If you can sing, put together a cabaret. A writing project, while not without its own challenges, is at least something you can do that is cheap and works to your own personal schedule. At the end of it, you might have a compelling vehicle for yourself that could raise your profile even further.

AI is Here to Stay

Remember how smug creatives were when other industries feared obsoletion through automation? “They’ll never come for the artists! They’ll need us to entertain them! No computer can do that!” I suppose ChatGPT hit us with more than a pinch of karma…

In 2024, there are solid odds that actors you know personally will have their careers ended by AI technology. Whether it’s the replacement of voice acting for digital alternatives, the digital scanning of actors’ faces in order to kill the extras industry/motion-capture performance, your job is under siege by cutting-edge tech. What can you do to counter this? Diversifying helps, as we’ve already covered. It’s a lot harder to have machine learning take over live performance.

So as you navigate the industry in the new year, be aware of your rights. Be wary of projects that use AI to replace other creatives and the people behind these jobs—it’s likely they’ll replace you as well, as soon as they can. It’s also worth familiarising yourself with the technology. Know what you’re up against, and see if there are ways that you can use it in your own practice—try asking an AI for 20 questions you can use to build a compelling character!

Join Your Union

In 2023, SAG/AFTRA chose to strike in solidarity with the Writers Guild of America, seeking rights and fair agreements from studios over the future of their (your) industry. It was brutal. It lasted for over one hundred days cost 45,000 jobs and robbed the industry of over $6 billion. As of the writing of this article, a tentative agreement has been reached, with actors and writers returning to work.

But it won’t be the last of these. With studios looking to cut costs and streamline production, while at the same time offering up more content to subscribers and consumers than ever, they will take every opportunity to cut costs that harm artists’ quality of living. Being an actor in 2024 means your right to work is threatened. If you’ve yet to do so, join your union and stand in solidarity with those who aim to keep you fed and clothed and working.

Take an Acting Class

If you’re asking yourself “Should I Take an Acting Class?” in 2024, our answer is a resounding yes. Continued study of your craft is always important. As you look ahead at the year t0 come, think on how much you’ll be able to distinguish yourself by brushing up on acting fundamentals, or exploring a new technique to freshen up your auditioning game.

Acting classes will also teach you about the current trends in securing work. If you do suspect that your self-tape game won’t pass muster, spend a couple of nights in a room with actors, a coach and a camera. You’re sure to get some strong pointers as to what you’re doing well, and which areas may need further development.

Finally, an acting class is a great thing to participate in if you’re returning to acting after a break, or if the dry period of December/January starts to bleed into the following season. The stakes are low, the returns are high. So in any quiet periods of the year, keep yourself sharp!

Strengthen your Creative Community

If we haven’t made it clear enough already: 2024 is going to be as tough for actors as it is exciting. You’re going to need support and encouragement from your peers, validation that keeps you moving and honest advice when your work or your momentum is slipping.

Spend time strengthening your creative community. Be a reading partner for your friends’ auditions, start a scene study group, celebrate and commiserate successes and failures together. The holiday season/new year is a tough time for actors—any artists for that matter. You’ve got family doubting you, you’re looking back on the jobs you missed, you’re wondering how the hell you’re going to make it through the next year with your strength intact.

It’s the perfect time to rely on your colleagues in the arts. Support and encourage one another. This goes beyond being ‘nice and polite’: it’s about resilience and survival. You stand a better chance at a lasting career standing with others than on your own.

Keep Working on Yourself

As an extension to the above: work on yourself and your own well-being. Make 2024 a year of career balance, of sound mental and physical health, of being kind and learning when (and how) to say no to a role.

The arts industry is not a place where you’ll hear this advice a lot. It’s built on the notion that success comes from hard work and hustle, and any moment not devoted to goal-setting or goal-kicking is a moment wasted. Frankly, this is crap. It’s a dangerous attitude to take, and leads directly to burnout … or worse.

As an actor, you’ll work a little harder than your muggle counterparts. You are, after all, working an additional career on top of your everyday life! So prioritise finding a sense of balance, and don’t be afraid to pull back or pause when you feel the need arrive. Remember that the actor’s life is a journey: you need to cultivate career longevity, otherwise you’ll burn bright for a few years and then flame out.

Nobody wants that. Least of all you.

Don’t Waste the Holiday Season

One final thing: it’s fairly easy to think of December as a bit of a write-off. There’s a lot going on with work or family, it’s a tough time of year financially. If you do find yourself winding down, you probably feel like you deserve am much-needed break (and you certainly do.) Our recommendation is to rest, of course. But keep yourself quietly moving towards acting goals at this time of year by focusing on the things that you don’t normally have time to do.

We’re talking about the little things that often seem like a lower priority. But they’re also some of the more enjoyable things you can do as an actor! Read a play, watch a classic movie, hang out with actor friends for a little scene study (also a great excuse to toast the year and talk about what’s ahead.) Got an acting book on your night stand you’re only a few pages into? Crack that open as you sit by the fireplace/poolside.

At the very least, take this time to work on that list of goals you can start working towards in January. You’re guaranteed to feel better once you do, and there’s still plenty of time for some very deserved laziness.

Conclusion

So there you have it. Feeling inspired? Hooray! Feeling daunted? That’s fair. There’s a lot to be done, and a lot you can do. So as we wrap up this epic of an article about being an actor in 2024, let us remind you of this.

You don’t need to do everything on this list, nor will everything in this article apply to you and your acting journey. Goals are great to set, and a new year is the perfect time to do so! But do remind yourself to enjoy this life, and all the wonderful positive things it offers. As long as you’re committed, as long as you take yourself seriously, as long as you put in the work and go for the audition, or read the play or put down the self-tape … you’re an actor. That’s being an actor in 2024. That’s all there is to it.

On behalf of the team at StageMilk, we wish you a wonderful holiday season surrounded by loved ones and filled with joy. Thank you for making our community so special, and we can’t wait to see you all in the new year and support you on your journey as artists. Don’t forget: we’re all in this together. We’ve got this!

The post Being an Actor in 2024 appeared first on StageMilk.

It is fairly common for actors to ask themselves “Why haven’t I heard back about my audition?” Most likely, the reason for this is related to the casting team not having made a decision yet. They may be deliberating, or even running callbacks with actors (that still might leave you in the mix.) However, not hearing back after an audition can also be due to human error or confusion, or simply an indicator that you didn’t land the part. Try not to dwell: the best response to hearing nothing is to look for the next opportunity.

Before we jump in, a quick personal anecdote. When I teach acting to young people and we run an audition workshop, I like to follow each audition piece by having my students spin a wheel—lined with reasons they might not get the gig. “Great take,” I’ll tell them after a spin! “Just a shame that the producer thinks you look like that mean barista at their local café…” It’s a fun, silly way to learn a vital lesson: sometimes the gig won’t come to you. Remember this when you’re stressing out about hearing nothing; there are a million reasons you may not hear back, but that never diminishes the actor you are.

First of All: Relax

Not a reason, but a damn good reminder. The first thing to do if you’ve heard nothing about your audition is to relax. Distract yourself, throw yourself into your day job, or a good series or baking sourdough bread. You may even want to read over a list like this to remind yourself that there are plenty of reasons out there that you’re yet to hear anything.

And don’t forget that hearing nothing is not the same as hearing “no”. If you’re feeling good about the work you submitted, bet on yourself and have some faith! But time spent dwelling and stressing is ultimately time wasted. Focus on the next job, the next goal to tick as an actor.

They’re Still Seeing People

The last indie show I produced received over 120 applications. That’s 120 self-tapes—equalling almost five hours of footage—alongside 120+ bios and headshots to read and sort and evaluate. And given that our casting team consisted of myself, the writer and the director, we had to discuss and deliberate each choice made as a team.

So if you’re asking “why haven’t I heard back about my audition”, my first suggestion would be that they’re still looking. Casting takes time. You might send in a self-tape and think that it’s the end of your process, but for the production team that’s when the real work begins. Give them time, give them your patience. You certainly don’t want them to rush!

They Haven’t Made a Decision

Related to the above: casting is a big decision. There’s every chance the team still hasn’t decided upon which actor/s they’re casting, which means you have to wait it out as they make that final call. As with seeing people, you really don’t want them to rush this decision, so maintain faith in your acting abilities and trust that they’ll give you a fair amount of consideration.

Another factor in the casting game is that each actor cast has to fit with the larger ensemble. They may love what you’ve submitted, but need to be sure that you work well alongside the other people in the cast. This process takes time, even if you’ve had a gold star next to your name from day one.

An Error With Your Submission

This reason is high on our list because it happens more often than you might think. Sometimes you don’t hear back because you didn’t submit in the first place. Your video may have gone to the wrong email address, or been a corrupted file. Your self-tape’s privacy settings may be on, locking the team out unless they can guess your password.

This is less of a factor with an in-person audition, unless you show up at the wrong venue and read for the wrong casting (slim chance of this one, to be fair.)

If you’ve yet to hear anything, check to see if you have confirmation that your application was received. Often, if actors fail to catch their own errors, the casting team won’t bother chasing them up if a link doesn’t work. Remember that they’re reviewing potentially hundreds of submissions. Somebody who doesn’t bother to check their own material before sending it often paints themselves as not taking their work seriously.

They Are Overwhelmed

Hundreds of submissions. Infinite choices. The need to cast the right combination of actors. The juggling of schedules for auditions and casting. And that’s to say nothing of time ticking away before the project begins… You can pretty much bet that your production team is feeling overwhelmed—and that’s on a good day. If it’s a smaller or less experienced team, there’s a good chance that this will affect how quickly it takes to reply to actors about their auditions.

In situations such as these, you may or may not get a message indicating that the initial timeline has been blown all to hell. At this point: swallow your frustration and be supportive. Be the uncomplicated part of the equation—it may bump you up the list over an actor they love but starts to get shirty. Is this an apology for a disorganised or overwhelmed team? Not at all! But stress gets to us all, and graciousness is always the best response.

You Didn’t Get the Job

A.K.A. “They are rude.”

I know I led this article with a reminder that hearing nothing is different to hearing “no” … which is still, technically true. Sadly, there are a great number of people casting in our industry with little thought to telling the actors they didn’t cast about their decision. In some circles, it’s largely expected that this will be the case—especially if you’re looking at a smaller part in a bigger project or a commercial. For smaller outfits, such as independent theatre-makers or student films, it’s pretty unforgivable.

If you hear absolutely nothing at all, and find out later that a friend or colleague booked the role, my advice is to let it go. Does it hurt? Is it rude? Yes and yes. But there will always be opportunities in the future—unless you go into that casting office with guns blazing demanding answers.

“Should I follow up on my audition if I don’t hear back?”

As above: if it’s a bigger, more commercially viable role, then it’s probably something you want to send out there and forget about. If you’re signed with an agent, this is the kind of prodding they can do (or at least tell you they’ve done on your behalf.) For smaller, independent jobs, especially if you have an existing relationship with those involved? You can give ’em a litlte nudge. A polite follow-up if enough time has passed.

But just because you can follow up doesn’t necessarily mean you should. As you won’t hear back about every gig, it’s important to develop a tolerance to lack of closure—being professionally ghosted, if you will.

Conclusion

Asking “why haven’t I heard back about my audition?” is a fair and valid question. It’s one that every actor will ask at some point in their career. Here’s hoping this list offers you some clarity, and maybe even some peace of mind, as you sit waiting for that phone to ring.

The last piece of advice I’ll give you is actually a recap of my first: relax. Trust in your abilities, trust in your process and remind yourself that no missed opportunity diminishes who you are as an artist. Develop that resilience, be proud of that resilience, and start searching out that next gig.

Good luck!

The post Why Haven’t I Heard Back About My Audition? appeared first on StageMilk.

Independent theatre is a terrific place for emerging actors to develop their skills, make connections and even earn some money. Acting independent theatre develops your talents and network, and provides you with a strong foundation for later, more significant work commitments in your career. 

And, look: while theatre’s not for everybody (and we do understand that) we strongly encourage you to tread the boards and give it ago. In this article, we’re going to answer some common questions about the indie theatre scene, and provide you with some info so you can make some informed career decisions.

What is Independent Theatre?

Let’s start with a quick definition. Independent theatre is a level of live performance that sits in between amateur and professional (mainstage) levels. It is usually minimally funded by either government bodies or investors, and therefore necessitates smaller budgets and modest venues of (usually) less than 100 seats.

However, this does provide independent theatre-makers with a level of freedom that often escapes larger companies with comparable overheads. Independent theatre is a space for innovation, or the staging of provocative or underrated works. It often attracts actors at earlier levels of their careers, hoping to hone their skills or gain some much needed experience/exposure.

“Is indie theatre a big commitment?”

This is a big concern for a lot of actors looking to act in independent theatre.  There is a fear that, unlike a student film, a stage show will consume an inordinate amount of time—or even rob you of other paid gigs or acting opportunities for months on end.

Generally, an independent theatre show rehearses for six weeks, with a 2-3 night a week rehearsal commitment. The shows themselves can run from anywhere from a single night to three weeks. Full-time commitments are minimal, although technical rehearsals prior to opening can run for over 12 hours a day.

While independent theatre might be a longer commitment than you’re used to, please be assured that the average indie producer/director will be understanding when it comes to balancing your work commitments with their schedule. You’ll probably have some sacrifices to make in your professional/personal, but these are always negotiable.

“Can I quit the show/miss rehearsals/do less?”

In the resource-scarce world of independent theatre, the reliability and professionalism of actors is paramount. Just because the venue is small or the role is unpaid doesn’t mean you can take liberties such as turning up late or dropping out of the production for no reason.

Things do happen: sometimes bigger, professional jobs do show up and necessitate an actor stepping  away. In such a case, give the producer plenty of notice and be as accommodating as you can. But don’t think that independent theatre’s modest status is any excuse to flip flop. Your reputation will follow you into the bigger leagues—and the stink of leaving a show in the lurch doesn’t wash off easy.

Making Money in Independent Theatre

The good news about acting in indie theatre is that you do have the opportunity to make some money.  Most indie shows operate under a profit share agreement, meaning that once production costs have been recouped the cast shares a percentage of all ticket sales. Alternatively, you may be under a guaranteed fee contract which promises a lump sum. It won’t be anything to retire from, but it’s always nice to be compensated for your work.

Of course, not every opportunity is paid. If you can afford it, and you like the project enough, you may even decide to work for free. But asking yourself when you should work for free is an important question that only you can answer. Avoid, at any cost, signing onto a show you can’t really sustain yourself rehearsing and performing in. This stress always translates onto the stage and harms the final product.

Challenging Material, Fresh Material

One of the best things about acting in indie theatre is the chance to work with excellent material. Theatre is built on the foundation of good writing, and so you’re bound to experience something you might not usually get from a short film or even a professional audition. At the very least, it’ll be something more substantial, more in-depth with some ripe opportunity for script analysis.

You may have the chance to work on a totally new piece of writing—sometimes with the writer themselves in attendance. This may actually give you the chance to develop the script and add your own contributions to the strength of the piece. Otherwise, you may find yourself cracking open a classic play you’ve always wanted to perform. Odds are it won’t have the same polish as a mainstage production, but you can guarantee your creative peers will be just as hungry as you at tackling something challenging.

Work with Upcoming Talent

Acting in indie theatre is a great place to build your rolodex of early-career/emerging talent. It’s a field that attracts a lot of younger, hungry artists and drama school grads—all on the same journey as you. Take on an indie theatre show and rub shoulders with the next generation of writers, directors, designers, crew, producers and fellow actors.

Theatre is a great place to develop your networking skills, as it gives you long exposure to the people you collaborate with. You’ll make new friends, forge connections, not to mention commiserate over late nights and terrible audiences. And if you’re wondering whether or not you stand a better chance at a future audition with an indie company after working with them once, the answer is definitely yes. It’s a small world, the indie scene: good collaborators are highly sought after.

Develop your Skills, Gain Experience

At StageMilk, we are big believers in the importance of developing your actor’s toolkit and gaining industry experience. There is no better place to do that than in theatre, particularly the small and scrappy independent scene. Theatre is where you truly build a character, find your voice and your physicality. Table work (theoretical study of a script) enables you to break down a scene, to find the objectives of your character and their given circumstances.

Sure, you can get all of this working on a film. But you’re lucky to get one or two days on a student set—and remember how much of that is spent waiting around pillaging the snack table. In theatre, from the rehearsal room to the stage, it’s pure acting all the time. You have the chance to knuckle down and focus solely on your craft. Doesn’t that sound like the most wonderful privilege?

Strengthen your Creative Community

Ever wonder why so many actors are so ridiculously nice to each other? Why it’s all “darling” and “[insert name] is a genius!” and hugs and double-air-kisses? Believe it or not, it’s not fakery. It’s because actors know that their lives are damn hard. If they’re going to survive, they need to stick together. Acting in indie theatre will strengthen your creative community. They’re the like-minded people you keep around you—not to network, or to make you feel legit. They’re there because they understand your drive and passion better than your own mother. Find these people and never let them go.

These shall be your Scrappy Creative Friends. You’ll want mainly actors, or actor/singers. Have at least one writer, and somebody who has been penning a cabaret for the past decade. Together you’ll shoot auditions,  indulge in a little scene study, maybe crash opening night parties searching for free wine and cheese.

Most actors at the start of their journey lack the regulation group of Scrappy Creative Friends. Which is a shame, because they are a deceptively important part of a successful actor’s life. Like-minded companions in the industry help you stay connected to your craft. They see you as an actor first and a friend/partner/child/hospitality worker second. And it’s not until you have that group of people who see you as the artist you are, regardless of your CV or status, that you realise there’s no way to make it without them.

Tip: one of the best creative communities around is the StageMilk Scene Club. We might be biased, but our members support and cheer one another on like no-one else. Come join us!

Conclusion

So have we convinced you yet? Are you ready to update your StarNow profile with theatre in mind? Almost-but-not-quite? Then we’ll close with this: theatre is fun. It is so fun—a delightful, delirious world of its own. It’s as close as you can get to running away and joining the circus, without having to shovel a whole lot of sideshow animal dung. Every night, you get to dress up in a costume and forget yourself for an hour or two. People show up to watch you and pay for the privilege. And they love you for it.

Acting in indie theatre is a great skill incubator, a networking shortcut and a whole other stream of potential work and income. But you really should do it for the good times it promises, and the family you’ll pick up along the way. Isn’t that why we got into this crazy business?

Good luck!

The post Why you Should be Acting in Indie Theatre appeared first on StageMilk.

That line comes from Carolyn Minnott, played by Jacki Weaver, in The Disaster Artist. If you agree with the sentiment, then congratulations my friend: you are a certified actor. 

Sometimes, all I really care about is getting on set or on stage. I don’t care about how big or small the role is, or how insane the hours might be—I just want to be where the people are. Whilst principal and supporting roles can be tricky to land purely because of how many people are going for those roles, extra (background acting) work is rarely in short supply. If you’re like me and you’re itching to walk the boards and make just enough cash doing it that your parents will be impressed, extra work for actors is your ticket in.

When you’re cast as an extra, you’re usually there to populate the world of the film, commercial, play ,etc. You’ll be sitting at tables having pretend conversations, dancing to the sound of silence in a nightclub, walking back and forth along a street. While the pay is less than you might get as a featured actor, extra work is nonetheless a stable and lucrative job in the industry—and a far easier job to land.

What is an Extra?

An extra, background actor or supporting artist, is a performer in a production (stage or screen) who populates the background of the scene in a non-speaking role. They are commonly used in television series, as well as larger budget films such as war or fantasy epics, which require a large amount of performers in a given sequence.

The role of an extra on stage or set is heavily regulated; for instance, extras are not permitted to speak or spoken to by the director (usually an assistant director has this role.) This is to ensure that actors livelihoods are preserved, and that extras are not required to perform additional labour that should warrant a featured actor’s salary.

The Reputation of Extra Work

I’ve known certain people who turn their nose up at extra work, because they don’t think it’s “real acting”—whatever that means. Sure, you’re not going to get famous from being an extra, but you’re just as essential to the project.

The most recent stint of extra work I did was for another one of those musician biopics that are so popular these days; I was part of a crowd of one hundred other extras pretending to be rabid fans at a concert. Imagine if they shot they shot the project without rabid fans. Not really a movie about a famous musician anymore… The director thanked all of us at the end of the day and said: “We couldn’t do it without you”, which is absolutely true.

Working as an extra helps you gain experience, gives you an opportunity to network and lands you a paycheque at the end of the day. Sounds like a good deal to me.

Don’t do Extra Work for Free

A quick word of advice before I tell you how to find extra work: don’t do it for free.

I’ll happily do a friend a favour for their short film, but any sizeable production will pay their extras; unless you’re getting some on-site experience (which is the real reason to be there) you at least want to be paid for those balmy 14 hour days. You’re also protected by an actor’s union when you work in a professional setting, which is super important.

Got that written down? Great. Here’s how you get paid extra work:

Where to Find Work as an Extra

First things first: if you have an agent, let them know you want to do extra work. Sometimes agents won’t put their actors up for extra work because they assume they don’t want it. Other agents will discourage you, not wanting to rob you of later opportunities to work on a particular show. Either way, it warrants a chat.

If you don’t have an agent, there are companies who specialise in extra work, such as OnCue Talent. But only sign with such an agency if extra work is all you’re interested in getting (and make sure you’re not surprised by any hidden agency fees.)

A good place to look out for extra work, whether you have representation or not, is casting networks. Start browsing options like StarNow and, well, Casting Networks. StarNow has a much broader range of work which usually includes a lot of unpaid work, so keep that in mind when you’re perusing. Casting Networks is more quality over quantity, but the yearly subscription is more expensive as a result.

Extra Work in Australia

If you’re based in Australia, check out Screen Australia’s website. They list professional projects that are about to be shot or are being shot. Pick a project that sounds like it might need extras—feature films and tv series are a safe bet. Give the production company a call and ask to speak with the extra department for that particular project. If you have representation, it’s always good to mention that to them so they know who to contact when they’re ready to cast. If you don’t have representation, your personal contact details will suffice. Just don’t miss the call when it comes!

While I’ve never been cast as an extra for a theatre show before, a good friend of mine recently worked as one with Melbourne Theatre Company and loved it. Landing extra gigs in professional theatres usually requires a well-connected agent or a personal contact—they won’t be advertised publicly. But they can provide long-term work if the show proves popular enough.

It’s always a good idea to go to general auditions for major theatre companies to potentially land a principal or supporting role, but you can also let the panel know that you’re happy to be considered for extra work on any upcoming shows; they’ll definitely appreciate the offer if nothing else comes of it.

What to Expect as an Extra

The average pay for extras varies according to the type of project. You can expect anywhere from $20-30/hr for most extra work on feature films and television series.  Commercial work, by comparison, is usually a little higher. I got paid $300AUD for being on a commercial set for 15 minutes, once. That was a good day.

If you’re working on a feature film or television series, you’ll be given a call time and a location to check-in. You head to the check-in at the start of the day and get a catered breakfast (if you’re lucky.) Then, after a stint in costume/make-up, you settle in for a long day of waiting around.

When it comes to screen, actors are paid to wait so bring a good book or a deck of cards and make some friends to play with on set. I was once called for 8 hours and ended up being on set for 14. Try to keep the whole day and night free for this reason.

If you are there all day, you’ll be fed. And from what I’ve seen in recent years, the catering is usually pretty awesome.

What Does an Extra Do?

Before every scene, you’ll be told what’s happening and what you need to be doing. A word of advice: if you’re doing a scene that requires a lot of physical exertion, pace yourself. You could be repeating that scene for over an hour.

Be certain about what you need to do. When the cameras roll, do it. Don’t try to get yourself a cheeky bit of screen time by moving closer to the camera or looking over at it and never ever look down the barrel of the camera: the operator sees everything.

Remember that you’re there to help create a vibrant world. Without you, the project wouldn’t be possible. Be professional, be respectful and commit to your action every take. That’s the kind of attitude that will take you places in this industry and get you noticed by the right people.

Should I Put Extra Work on my CV?

When the job is all said and done, I’d advise against it. You could potentially put something down if you were a featured extra. This means that you have a proper credit and maybe a few lines. But even then, it’s not something that’s going to make your CV stand out.

Think of it as something in between your regular, muggle job and your dream acting gig. It’s certainly going to give you some much-needed professional experience. But it’s not quite the same as an acting role you auditioned for and worked hard to develop.

Conclusion

After graduating from drama school, I worked as an extra on a feature film for three weeks. I’m telling you: getting on my bike each morning and riding out to the studio instead of my boring muggle job was such a good feeling.

If you’re not working on a project in a principal or supporting role, you might as well be working as an extra. There’s a process to how high-budget entertainment is created and it’s important to understand that process as a professional. Simply put: extra work is the easiest way to do this. And the free lunch doesn’t hurt.

Hope this helps. See you around the traps!

The post Extra Work for Actors appeared first on StageMilk.

Actors are paid a wide variety of wages, determined by such things as their level of fame, expertise, agent/representation and type of work. Given that some actors are paid millions, while others work for free, it is difficult to determine exactly how much actors get paid. The best you can do to explore this topic is to avail yourself of the many determining factors of a performer’s compensation.

All yacht jokes aside, it’s very important to know your worth as an actor. Oftentimes, particularly in the early stages of our careers, we will settle for very low paying or unpaid work, but this isn’t sustainable long-term if you want to make acting your full-time job. Let me remind you right now that what you do takes a whole lot of skill, and you deserve to be paid for your time. How much you are paid depends on many different factors, so let’s dig in!

Project Type & Budget

The type of project you’re working on has a lot to with how much you get paid. More prestigious, high-profile jobs are going to pay out a lot more than a no-budget film shot on iPhones. Even across the different media, commercials, screen work, theatre and voice acting all have different pay rates. Let’s do a quick financial breakdown on each:

Commercials

Commercials and voice acting are some of the more lucrative jobs the average actor can land; they take less of your time and pay you well for it. As an example, I was paid $5,000 AUD for two days of shooting for a nationally broadcasted commercial. Pretty good money for the time I spent on set.

Screen Work

Covering film, television and any streaming companies: these tend to pay out incredibly well. That said, you’re unlikely to book enough bit parts on a series of shows, or cameo in enough big-budget films to make a sustainable living. If you’re able to land a leading role in the next big Marvel blockbuster … what the hell are you asking us about pay for? Go call your money manager! The pull of screen work for actors is often that their fortunes can change with a single phone call.

Theatre

How much do actors get paid in theatre? Again, it depends on the type of project. A mainstage theatre production pays very well—and, perhaps more importantly—for an extended period of time. You might not be making yacht money as a servant in The Mousetrap, but you could be making it for years on end if the show is popular enough. On the lower/independent end, most theatre jobs pay out in a profit-share agreement, meaning you’ll make a percentage of the box office once expenses are covered.

Voice Work

Voice work pays modestly, but can be a big earner if you can line up a large number of gigs. Post COVID, many actors have their iso-inspired recording studios at home, meaning you could book a gig in the morning, record before lunch and be spending by sundown! As with any other medium, there are voice actors working on shows like The Simpsons who are being paid a literal fortune for every episode. Good work if you can get it!

Sidenote: Join Your Union

If you’re serious about turning acting into your career, join your union. Actors who are union members will generally earn more than non-union actors and have the support of the union should anything go haywire on a production. If you’re based in Australia, check out Media Entertainment Arts Alliance (MEAA); memberships are billed yearly and are fully tax-deductible. For the U.S, SAG-AFTRA is the most well-known actor’s union, but are quite selective and require proof of employment covered by SAG. You need to have worked professionally as a background actor for at least three days or in a principal role for at least one day. You also need to have been a paid-up member of one of the recognised unions (ACTRA, AEA, AGMA or AGVA) for at least a year. In the U.K, Equity membership requires proof that you to have earned at least £500 working professionally as an actor.

There are lots of benefits to joining your union–so many that it’s a whole article within itself–better pay is just about guaranteed. So, join your union.

Star Power & Experience

Your reputation plays a big role in how much you get paid. Production companies will pay famous actors more their face becomes a recognised brand and has the potential to bring in an established audience. Because of this, actors with a lot of clout can usually set a higher base rate for their work. Some actors even negotiate a kind of profit share with the production, taking a cut of the overall earnings of the project which, if it does well, is likely going to be a lot.

Less famous actors are also entitled to something similar called “residuals“, which compensates them for their work being streamed or broadcast after its first showing. Residuals support many actors through lean times, although rates in the streaming era have been labelled by many as unfair, and exploitative of legal loopholes.

Many jobs in the world have something called a pay scale which is a structured system outlining the range of salaries or rates for different positions. Acting has the same kind of system. Lead roles pay more than supporting roles; if you’re more well known, you’ll likely be cast in more lead roles that pay out better.

Genre & Role

If a certain genre is popular, working in that genre can pay more because there will likely be a larger production company behind it. Disney, with its stranglehold on properties like Marvel, Star Wars and live-action cash-ins enjoys huge financial success due to the popularity of these genres. If everyone suddenly realised how stale and overused those brands were, the company would be in serious trouble. Give people what they want and you get paid accordingly. Simple. 

The demands of a role are a huge factor in determining pay, across all mediums. Lead roles have more screen or stage time and usually have more character development. Because they require more from the performer, they usually compensate at a better rate. Complex roles that involve emotionally intense scenes, physical transformations or stunts might also influence the amount of pay.

International Variations in Pay

Alright folks: strap in for a round trip of the world, as we tour the different structures of pay in different film industries. While we’re not going to cover the whole Small World Ride, we are going to examine each of the major film markets and how their structure/box office draw affects an actor’s purse.

The United States & Hollywood

Aside from the base salary, there are a few different contributors to how much an actor will earn when they work in Hollywood. “Backend points” are a system we spoke about earlier that pays out a percentage of a film’s profits. Some actors will also receive bonuses for their work if they are nominated for awards or achieve certain box office milestones. A portion of the revenue from international distribution, streaming rights and syndication can also be negotiated as payment through backend deals. 

Some of the top earning actors in the US include:

• Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who reportedly makes around $20 million per movie.
• Robert Downey Jr., who made somewhere around $75 million for starring as Iron Man in the MCU.
• Scarlett Johansson is one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood; she actually sued Disney for the simultaneous release of Black Widow in cinemas and on streaming services, as this affected the box office numbers that would determine her percentage.

Are you spotting the trend of popular genre here? I sure am.

India & Bollywood

Bollywood actors are usually paid an upfront fee that is negotiated on a per-film basis. Similar to Hollywood, some actors negotiate a profit-sharing scheme where they are paid a percentage of the film’s total earnings. Music is a big part of Bollywood films, which can result in royalty payouts for actors if they are featured in songs from the film’s soundtrack. Bollywood actors will also make money through endorsements of brands, television show appearances and expanding into the international film industry (which can offer higher pay and global exposure.)

Some of the top-earning actors in Bollywood include:

• Shah Rukh Khan, also known as “The King of Bollywood”, has been among the industry’s top earners for many years.
• Salman Khan, whose box office earnings have been some of the industry’s highest.
• Akshay Kumar whose versatility and prolific output secures his spot as one of Bollywood’s top earners.
• Amitabh Bachchan is a veteran of Bollywood and continues to earn a significant income through films, endorsements, and voice-over work.

Endorsements are a big part of earnings for Bollywood actors–all of the actors listed above and other top earners are known for making money through advertisements as well as their films.

European Cinema

The budget for European films is generally lower compared to that of Hollywood films, which can result in lower pay. Profit-sharing is not as prevalent in the European industry; actors are paid a fixed rate or salary without receiving any substantial backend points. Public funding is more prevalent, too, which constricts budgets and allocates more money to production than actor salaries.

There is a different kind of emphasis placed on theatre and film in Europe. The project goals are often more culturally or artistically orientated, rather than commercially. The cultural and artistic value placed on theatre and film is arguably more significant than in the US and India, which means that actors are usually willing to work for less pay if they believe in the creative vision of the project. Plus, many European stars choose to work in Hollywood in order to fund local, artistically-driven passion projects or philanthropy.

Chinese and Asian Markets

The Chinese film market is one of the largest and most lucrative markets in the world, and had the leading box office revenue in 2020 and 2021. This is having a significant impact on the salary of actors around the world as more cross-cultural exchanges between Western and Asian film industries are being made. The rise of the Korean film industry has also been very significant in recent years, bringing Asian actors onto the global stage and more Western actors into Asian industries.

Into the Future

Globalisation means that more international film markets are collaborating; as a result, more international opportunities are available for artists to work overseas. Hollywood studios, in particular, have increasingly targeted international box offices with productions, because global success of a film means more money in the pocket of those involved. There is also a higher demand for dubbing (when actors who are fluent in the local language give voice-over translations of the film) making it a great time to be a voice artist. There is, however, more competition in casting as a result of globalisation. More international actors are being given more opportunities to audition for international projects. On the plus-side, there is also more opportunity for actors to negotiate higher fees if they are in greater demand.

The Rise of Artificial Intelligence

Sit down in an acting class, any acting class in the world, and look around you. Odds are, most of the faces you see will have their jobs taken by AI in the next ten years. Artificial intelligence is an existential threat for many in the arts industry; for this reason, it is important to be aware of how it is being deployed by studios and producers and how it might affect your pay packet.

The one on everyone’s mind is AI’s potential to replicate actors digitally: be it their voice, or their entire likeness. This raises some interesting questions around the rights human beings will have to their own likeness and voice, and the ethics of casting actors who may long since have died. Will they still make money off digital replicas of themselves after they’re dead? Or will using a deceased person’s likeness be outlawed?

While the news is decidedly “not good” in all directions, we are still in the early days of AI’s proliferation in the creative industries. Make it your job, as an actor, to stay up to date with current trends. For now: join your union.

Conclusion

How much do actors get paid? How long is a piece of string? Some people will work hard their whole careers to scrape up beer and rent money; others will land their first lead role at sixteen and never look back. One thing we can say for sure: if you’re looking for fame and fortune, you’ re probably barking up the wrong career-tree.

Finally, it’s important to mention that for all the modifiers and outliers in this article, the uncertainty of an actor’s pay packet grows even more fraught and unfair if they are from a diverse background. There is still not enough being done to ensure income equity across all abilities, genders and ethnicity in the entertainment world. And it is essential that we think very carefully about the industry’s future with how quickly the world is changing. (Maybe join your union?)

The best you can do is fight to get paid what you’re worth. Look for the better opportunity, the favourable rate or the agent who will negotiate for you like they’re firing two guns at once. And if the money isn’t there: find the jobs you love. They might not buy your cousin a yacht, but they’ll keep you happy ’til your ship comes in.

Hope this helps. See you around the traps!

The post How Much do Actors Get Paid? appeared first on StageMilk.