3 Acting Secrets for TV and Film Actors

Perhaps only a handful of actors truly know the secrets in acting - secrets that drama schools fail to teach these days. We're not talking about improvisation or method acting here - we're talking about something else. Things that you may find more useful when auditioning in the future.

1. When acting, do not fling your hands.

Using your hands often when acting is not good - unless you are playing the part of an Italian character. In real life, people do not fling out their arms with every phrase from their mouths - so why do it when acting? Perhaps you can fling out your arms sometimes, but doing it with every act can be a little distracting and irritating.

2. Add some mannerisms with every character

When we say mannerisms, we don't mean something big like twirling your hair or sucking your thumb. We mean something very small, you can barely notice it in the screen. This will add character to your character. Observe Johnny Depp's different characters - Sweeney Todd, Jack Sparrow, etc. - see how he moves his hands or walks? One cannot describe it because it is very subtle, yet by closer inspection, you can see it.

3. Research about your character's background and then forget about it


It seems like an odd advice, but you have to study the script and find out your character's background - his age, his ethnicity, his hometown, what decade he lived in, historical events during the decade of his birth, the culture of his parents, etc. From this, you will know at which point you can jump in on your emotions when acting. When you have found out everything there must be to know about your character, forget all information, instead, let them blur into the background and use them to position yourself in your character's world. Use it as your "springboard" for acting.

Most actors find these tips useful. Remember, if you love your craft, you will continue working to be better at it. Good luck!

Actor Auditions - Broadway Shows Actors Must Audition For

 When you're an actor looking to succeed in Broadway, it is always necessary to attend actor auditions. You may start with small roles in small shows and slowly work your way up. Of course, there are those Broadway shows that lots of actors dream of being a part of. Here are five of the best Broadway shows of all time.

1.  The Phantom of the Opera


The longest-running show on Broadway since 1988. Written by Andrew Lloyd Webber. It was based on the French novel  Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux. It is a love story about Christine, a chorus girl and The Phantom, a disfigured musical genius.

2. Cats


The show has been translated into many languages all over the world. However, its reign as the longest-running show on Broadway ended in 2003 when the show closed. The story revolves around the life of the Jellicle cats, based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot.

3. Les Miserables


Based on the novel by Victor Hugo and was composed into a musical by French composer Claude-Michel Schönberg. The Boradway production of Cats began in  March 12, 1987 and closed after over 6,000 performances in 2003. It revolves around the character Jean Valjean and his life after being released from jail for stealing a loaf of bread.

4. The Lion King


Based on the 1994 Disney animation, it opened  on Broadway in October 1997, after debuting at the Orpheum Theater in Minnesota. Several changes were made in the musical production of Lion King when it opened.

5. Wicked


A new musical that took Broadway by storm and broke box-office records all over the world. Despite being ignored by critics at first, audiences embraced the show and was voted Best Musical in 2007. It was set in the land of Oz prior to Dorothy's arrival.

Joining actor auditions for these Broadway shows and getting in will be big thing to put in your resume. So practice, prepare, go to an audition in any one of these shows and good luck!

Actor Auditions to Get into Broadway

Actor auditions for Broadway are plenty. Just type in any Actors Union website or Broadway casting website on a search engine, hit the search button, and you will find millions of results.

Broadway is always looking for new talent. However, they never settle for mediocrity. That's why it is important to maximize your talents in order to get noticed by Broadway casting directors.

When auditioning for Broadway plays, you must remember the following:

• Check the things needed for the auditions: what songs to sing? what scenes to memorize? will you be asked to dance?
• If they are asking for you to sing something in specific, then practice it beforehand.
• If they did not let you know what songs to sing, then you are free to choose whatever you want. But the best thing to do here is to choose a song that is of the same "feel" as the show you are auditioning for.
• Memorize at least 32 bars of the song you are going to sing.
• Read the play. Understand the characters. This will help you bring more feeling to the lines you are about to read.
• Sometimes casting directors will put you to the test through "cold reading" or reading lines that you haven't previously rehearsed. This will help casting directors see if you can still act, understand and deliver lines well even only after a few seconds or a minute of preparation.
• You might be asked to do a monologue, so prepare one.
• If you were notified that you are required to prepare a dance routine, be sure to wear clothes that you can move freely in as well as proper dancing shoes.
• Be polite to everyone in the auditions.
• Arrive at the auditions early, ideally, 15 minutes before the time of the audition. This will help you adjust to the environment and prepare yourself.
• Bring your resume and headshots. Prepare at least 3 copies of them. Casting directors like to look at them before you are asked to go on stage.
• Walk into the audition with confidence.

Auditioning for Broadway is a tough challenge that hundreds of people are willing to take. Actor auditions for Broadway must be paired with training, preparation and most of all... talent. And to truly succeed, you must be persistent. So even after multiple auditions and zero roles casted for you, you have to keep trying. The Broadway world opens its doors to those with immense talent and passion if they knocked hard enough.

Acting Auditions Online – Videotaping Yourself for Online Auditions

The ways casting calls operate have changed during the past few years. What used to be thousands of dollars spent by aspiring actors to go to big cities for auditions has now been replaced by just a click of a mouse. Acting auditions online has taken over. Nowadays, aspiring actors can tape themselves and post their audition pieces online for casting directors to see.

Some tips to make your video audition top-quality in the eyes of casting directors:

1. Choose a good-quality camera

If all you’re using is a web camera that gives you a pixelated outcome, chances are, casting directors would ignore them. Remember that you could have hundreds of competitors out there who might be using a better quality camera than yours. And admit it; even you yourself don’t like watching low-quality videos on YouTube, right? Well, so do casting directors.

2. Proper Lighting

We’re not talking about renting lights for your home-made audition video. We’re talking about not filming in the dead of the dark. Yes, if possible, videotape yourself during the day. Choose a place in your house where light is plenty. Don’t make viewers think you’re trying to catch ghosts on film.

3. Ensuring Top Audio Quality

Most video cameras have built-in microphones but it’s better to have a real microphone connected to your laptop or any audio recording device. This way, your words will be sharp and clear. And what if you chose a monologue where you’re required to say sad lines? You can’t shout the lines out just so the built-in mic in your camera could catch it! So trust me, a microphone (not a built-in one) comes handy.

So now you’ve learned the basics of creating a home audition video, you can be a lot more confident in posting your video in websites hosting acting auditions online. Good luck!