How The Industry Is Moving Forward

If you have been around Boost My Star for a while, or even if you were just recently introduced to us, you know that I have by and large tried to steer clear of “the subject.”

So much so, that I have refused to even identify it by name, mostly referring to it as “the situation, this time, etc.”

I haven’t done so for any reason other than, I wanted actors to stay focused on their careers during this time.

I’m not a scientist or a doctor, and Boost My Star is not a news network. What we are is the place where you can find the information about the industry that no one else dares talk about.

So rather than bringing you more doom and gloom, lately I have been talking about the things that everyone else, even the so called industry “experts” have been missing.

We have all been in some sort of lockdown for what seems like forever, but it seems there’s finally a light at the end of the tunnel. Here’s what you need to do right now to prepare for the reopening, during which you will see more projects put into production than ever before.

That means more acting jobs available for you, if you put things in place to take advantage of the opportunities now. Here’s where to start...

First, let’s clear something up.

What has driven me absolutely insane, are the emails I get from stressed out actors, freaking out about the industry being “shut down.”

While production schedules have been incredibly impacted, the wheels of the industry haven’t stopped moving.

In many cases, things have sped up at an unbelievable pace.

I have spoken with several agents, all of whom are sending out scripts to their talent rosters like never before.

Writers rooms for projects in development have gone virtual but they are still working, and those projects will be ready to go on schedule. In fact, many of them are being so much more productive right now, without any outside distractions and they are way ahead of schedule.

Think editing bays have gone dark...guess again!

All over town, post production rooms are open with people working alone in shifts and conferencing with other crew members as needed. In some cases, they are all able to work completely remotely.

Casting Directors have taken to social media to solicit self taped auditions and reels from actors in an attempt to keep their projects moving.

Things like this have never happened before...at least not at scale.

Not everyone saw the writing on the wall, but I’ve been sounding the alarm about the industry moving from in person (traditional) auditions to self taping for years.

Honestly, the audition process has been broken for decades. It hasn’t made sense in a long time because of the several shortcomings and inefficiencies. That’s a subject for another time though...

What’s important for you now, is to realize that it’s going to be a very, very long time before anyone in their right mind wants to pack a room with actors sitting shoulder to shoulder for hours, just read for 2 minutes.

That never made sense, but I digress.

The ripple effects of this situation are being felt all over the industry but the changes happening are probably going to be felt most by actors.

On set you will see huge differences, many that you never would have even imagined.

For example, having a makeup and hair crew that is covered head to toe in hazmat gear is going to be jarring.

There’s even talk of productions going into a sort of micro quarantine, where everyone working on the production would be housed together and kept from interacting with anyone outside of the production for the duration of the shoot.

We’ll have to wait and see what actually comes to fruition. Some of those decisions will be guided by studios and productions looking out for the bottom line. Others ideas will be tossed aside because they are simply not feasible or practical.

For actors, what matters perhaps even more than that is what happens to the pre production environment. Namely, what happens to the casting process.

Auditions, at every level, will change. Even the network tests will be very different. Packing a room with a dozen or more executives, directors, writers, assistants, etc. is going to be a thing of the past.

If that moves to a pre taped network test, will you be ready for that? What about call backs? How will those be different?

Understandably, actors have many questions about things like this. They are very important and I wish there were more answers to many of those questions.

For now, we are still in a holding pattern on many things but instead of focusing on what we can’t control, the actors that are going to dominate the “post event” industry are the ones who are taking matters into their own hands.

They are the ones who are continuing to build relationships with industry decision makers, many of whom are easier to reach than ever.

They are the ones who continue to work on their craft, instead of binging on Netflix.

They are the ones who are ​continuing to make a name for themselves and ensuring that their industry reputation matches their goals.

Because of what we do at Boost My Star, we know that actors have mostly stayed the course. That means, if you don’t get serious about adapting to the way the industry is moving now, you will be left behind.

It has always been important for you to be as visible to the industry as possible. Today, and going forward, how visible you are to industry decision makers will be a career maker or a career breaker.

For years, that process has been moving towards becoming virtual and it’s one of the reasons I started Boost My Star.

Now that everyone in the industry has gotten a taste of how much easier and more efficient it is to do things virtually, there is no going back.

Anyone who is going to be a working industry professional, will adapt to the new way of doing things and continue doing them this way for the long term.

What many actors don’t fully grasp is that the measure of your industry reputation is not a zero sum environment. If someone moves up in rank, that means someone moves down.

Actors who know this are scrambling to improve their ranking so by default, ​many actors are seeing their rankings tank. Here’s how I can help you with that.

It’s not limited to IMDb either!

Because Casting Directors won’t get the in person interaction and get that “gut feeling” about you, your social media will become incredibly more important.

It’s the next best thing to meeting an actor in person.

In many ways, it’s even more helpful and that’s CDs have been putting even more of an emphasis on this.

Going forward, it will be ​an indispensable part of the casting process. What will yours say about you? If you could use some help to get the ball rolling, here’s how I can help with that too.

Your health and safety is always the most important thing.

As creatives, I know everyone is incredibly anxious to get back into the swing of things. So, what are you doing to keep your skills sharp and position yourself for what’s to come in the industry?

Let me know in the comments below or shoot me an email. Remember, I’m always happy to help you on your journey, so I can...

See you at the top,
Scott

The Hollywood Cabal is Hanging on By a Thread

Saying that nothing is the way it seems in this town, is a gigantic understatement.

After all that's what we do here. We literally make things seem differently than they actually are.

This time we are experiencing has put us all on a level playing field, or as Madonna put it, it has "equalized" us.

Here's what I mean...

At no other time in history would you and Ellen DeGeneres, Jimmy Kimmel, etc be broadcasting at the same level of quality and with access to the exact same content.

What this has shown us is that watching Ellen kick back in her living room is not nearly as interesting as watching her on set.

We'll come back to that in a moment because it's very important and has huge implications for your acting career.

The same is true for Jimmy Kimmel and everyone else, and there is a big lesson to be learned about how to succeed as an actor.

As the old Hollywood cabal withers away, and the stars of yesterday try to cling to relevance desperately, many of their secrets are being put on display.

More on this in a moment...

There has never been and will probably never again in our lifetime be a better time to make huge career progress than right now.

Mark my words...the stars of tomorrow are being made right now and if you truly want to be a successful full time actor then you have to seize the moment.

You can literally use the cabal's secrets to take their place in the spotlight. Here's how...

First, I want to be clear on something. I'm as big an Ellen fan as anyone else. She's had a long and successful career doing many different things in the industry that most actors strive for.

So making her the face of the Hollywood cabal for this report is nothing personal. It's just kind of an easy example of someone that we are all aware of can all relate to.

She also represents the old Hollywood system that is being replaced.

One of the reasons that she is struggling at this time is that she has lost on one of the biggest differentiators that makes watching her show and consuming her content desirable.

The same is true for practically everyone else in Hollywood.

It's also one of the biggest levers of power used by the old Hollywood system: perception.

Without the big sets, audiences that laugh and cheer on cue, and everything else that comes along with a bloated production budget, audiences are much less interested.

The perception of being a star and commanding attention is often easier when you can take advantage of things like this.

So, when an actor is signed to a major agency, like WME, their first order of business is to build up the perception of that actor being in demand.

That could take many forms. Sometimes, you might see an actor on red carpets and at A list industry events without any meaningful credits to speak of.

Why? That's the agency, trying to build the perception of their talent being a big part of the industry. It works because demand often comes from the ​perception​ of something being in demand. This is how humans are wired and it's not limited just to the industry.

Entire companies exist just for this purpose.

They hire crowds to be present at ribbon cutting events, restaurant openings, and will park dozens or even hundreds of cars at shopping malls to create the perception of those places being popular and in demand.

Have you ever been to a mall where you couldn't find a parking spot but not many people were there shopping?

Most people see the crowded parking lot as a good sign, because nobody would be there if nothing good was going on.

Here's what this means for you as an actor.

Right now, no one is winning at the game of perception so you can build a platform solely based on you and your talent.

The old disadvantages of being the underdog, clamoring to get attention when trying to build a platform have been fading for a long time.

Now that's pretty much obsolete.

And, if you want to be a successful actor, you have to be building a platform.

This too is about perception. ​Attention begets attention, and it's so important that I built this to help you get the ball rolling.

Under the old Hollywood system, this was almost automatic for those that were a part of that system.

They were promoted heavily and built huge audiences, even if their content wasn't great.

Now, because content has become a much bigger part of the equation, they are able to hold their audience's attention just by simply showing up.

This means that if you have better content that an audience actually wants to interact with, you can win them over.

This is incredibly important, and it's one of the biggest secrets of success for members of the cabal.

It's why they focus so highly on creating a certain perception too.

They work really hard to generate a market for their talent before actually launching them.

This is something most actors don't understand. To a large extent the old Hollywood system remained in power through misinformation.

Actors were told and made to believe that if they would just get “good enough” they would be discovered and handed their big break.

In fact, what matters is having people that are interested in you and your talent. In essence that's what a market is.

Most actors never gave this a thought or at best they left it as an afterthought, when really this has always been the most important part of building a successful acting career.

You could be among the most talented actors in the world but if no one knows you no one will hire you. You have to ​dedicate time every day to making yourself highly visible to the industry.

Having a platform, the right perception, and being visible will get you a long way And the differentiator from that point is just your talent.

With those things in place everything else will fall in line.

The right people will find you and want to work with you. You will get to know other actors and industry professionals that are just as ambitious as you are.

Then the final thing is for your reputation to match your goals.

This is how successful actors are building their careers today. If it sounds overly simplistic that's because it is.

The most complicated things are the things that are most easily broken and the most difficult to execute on.

If you look at what successful people do in any industry you will see that a big key to their success is keeping things simple and doing them consistently.

So don't over think things. Take action on one part of the success formula we just went over and start doing it now.

Whether you start working on your platform, your marketability or anything else, feel free to reach out.

Leave me a comment below or shoot me an email and let me know how I can help. I'm always happy to lend a hand however I can because my goal is to...

See you at the top,
Scott

How To Skyrocket Your Acting Career in Uncertain Times

It seems like the rules of everything have changed. At a time when even leaving your house comes with some type of “conditions” it can be really tough to see the things that are still the same as before.

Let’s be honest, normal life may seem like it was ages ago, when in reality it’s only been weeks (not that it’s much of a conciliation).

Since this situation started, the world has been kind of like a time warp. For some, days seem like weeks, and for others days are happening in the blink of an eye.

Last week, we talked about a group of actors for whom, this time has been the greatest career expansion they have ever experienced.

They are auditioning much more often than they were before. They are also auditioning for bigger parts and making huge career strides.

Everyday, I get multiple emails from actors with good news about their bookings.

In just a moment, I’m going to tell you how they are doing it when all you hear about is how the world has come to a standstill.

First, you have to realize that this isn’t happening to them by accident...that’s the good news, because it means that you can absolutely duplicate their success and advance your career right now too.

As much as things have changed recently, and no matter what else might be coming down the pipeline, success leaves clues and it’s formulaic.

If you follow the formula, and keep your eye on the prize, failure is not an option.

So, turn off the TV (yes turn it fully off), turn off notifications and give this your full attention for just 2 or 3 minutes, because it has the power to impact the next 20 or 30 years of your career.

Can I be honest for sec?

The most successfully people in the industry seize moments of opportunity, and we are in one right now. Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying, it is a very serious situation and what we are talking about has nothing to do with exploiting the situation or anything like that.

What I mean is that most people are hiding right now.

Quite literally in most cases. Not only are we being asked to remain at home, many if not most of us have retreated into the 24 hour news cycle, Netflix, etc.

I won’t go into all the ways that this is horrible for you.
What’s important is that this has allowed other actors, the ones who haven’t retreated, to be found.

See, the industry is operating with limitations just like everyone else. Of course, here have been production delays, that goes without saying.

However, by and large the studio’s slates remain unchanged.

In many cases, they have actually expanded, and projects are being greenlit at breakneck speed. For streaming services, there is the very real possibility that a huge number of subscribers will leave the service if they find themselves having already watched everything after being in lockdown.

That’s not an exaggeration! The internet grid is literally creaking and being held together with band aids and bubble gum because of how many people are streaming 24/7.

As for the studios, there is an incredible, new category taking shape right now. It’s a category they have tons of projects ready for.

See, for a film to be successful at the box office it needs to have a pretty broad appeal and generally speaking it has to generate tens of millions of dollars to break even.

However, there are many projects that are too ambitious to plug into the direct to DVD or direct to streaming model. These projects also tend to be too narrow for a traditional box office release.

With the studios being forced to bypass the box office right now, and instead create a hybrid category, those projects are being dusted off and put into production.

It won’t only happen with the traditional studios either. Of course, Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu will snatch up many of those projects.

So will YouTube, whose original content has been getting increasingly more ambitious.

Also, don’t forget that Facebook and Instagram are positioning themselves to be producers of original content and these types of projects will be a perfect fit for them also.

These are not fly by night production companies. They are some of the biggest companies in the world and they are dedicating tons of resources to get into the production space.

So, because they are putting a lot into their content, they are also being extremely cautious in their casting decisions.

That’s why it’s more important than ever for you to make sure that your industry reputation matches your goals.

If you want to make meaningful career progress right now, instead of just sitting around and waiting for the situation to pass, it’s quite simple.

Start going through your industry contacts and reach out to them.

Just touch base with them, let them know you are thinking about them and their safety, and include an unrelated “fun fact.”

That could be a recommendation of something for them to watch, a book, a new delivery place you just discovered, etc.

Practically no one is doing this, because they have retreated, so you will be able to rekindle your working relationships with some contacts that you may not have been able to reach otherwise.

Pick at least a few people to reach out to and do it every day. This is also a great time to contact people you would like to work with in the future.

You will be surprised at just how many of them you can reach, when almost no one else is trying.

Just make sure your time is well spent. If you are reaching out to someone (whether it’s a brand new contact or someone you haven’t worked with in a while) they will look into you and what you have going on, before deciding whether or not to respond.

IMDb is the go to place for that information. Here’s how I can help you stand out.

Lastly, to make the most of this time, don’t retreat!

Instead you should be expanding and making yourself even more visible to the industry than before. Casting Directors are still out there searching for talent, so you have to make it easy for them to find you.

The seeds you sow right now are what you will reap when this is over.

So, what is your harvest shaping up to be like? Are you putting the pieces in place to skyrocket your career?

Are you unsure of what to do next? Let me know in the comments below or shoot me an email.

I’m always here to help you keep moving forward, so I can...

See you at the top,
Scott

Is This The End of The Industry?

We can talk about the following on a few different levels. We can either go on an esoteric tangent or we can talk about the here and now: the things that you can see and experience.

Let’s focus on the here and now because major things are happening for and to actors right now.

I was once told that reality is plastic. You can mold it and shape it to suit your needs and desires. As an actor, those words are something that should always be in the back of your mind on set.

As it relates to building an acting career, those words carry even more importance.

There’s a ton of uncertainty in the industry right now and many actors are finding themselves with lots of questions and few answers.

However, there’s a small group of actors who are literally booking projects at this very moment and you can be one of them too.

Here’s how...

The big problem actors have right now has nothing to do with government orders or regulations.

The real issue is, if you were to ask 100 actors what they are up to during these crazy times, 99 of them will tell you practically the same thing: Netflix, workout, news binge.

On any given day, this would get in the way of your success. And, when you look at things objectively...this is what most actors do on any given “normal” day.

Sure, they throw in an acting class in every now and then and go on auditions sometimes, but the core activities stay the same.

If you want to actually build an acting career, you are going to have to do things differently. First, you have to realize that it’s not business as usual. That may be the understatement of the year, but it brings us to the next point...

If it’s not business as usual, then what is it? It’s a whole new world!

Last week, I brought up the subject of self tapings and how they are poised to replace traditional auditions for many reasons. It was bound to happen at some point and the current crisis is merely accelerating it.

Here’s something you need to be highly aware of right now.

The following may sound harsh but succeeding in anything worthwhile always has it’s share of moments when you have to get real about things and leave the politeness aside.

If you ask your industry friends what they have going on right now, and you get variations of the Netflix, workout, news binge routine, it’s probably time for a new circle of friends.

Seriously, follow through on this right now. A simple text to just 5 of your industry friends will do. Then, follow it up with an honest look in the mirror.

Whether you are an actor, director, producer, acting director, makeup artist etc. the industry is a labor of love which means you can’t simply turn it off because you are stuck at home.

So, everyone who loves what they do in the industry is still pushing along. Have some productions been delayed? Of course!

Are studios shuttered at the moment, hampered by government orders? Yes. Are Casting Directors still casting? 100% yes!

There’s a content storm brewing and that can be a very good thing for actors that are prepared. Netflix, Amazon Studios, and Hulu are going to have to ramp up their content productions dramatically to keep subscribers when this is over.

You may have missed it, but Internet Service Providers are being asked to stream in lower definition because the internet grid is highly stressed with so many people streaming basically 24/7.

This means, their content libraries will have to be refreshed and projects will be greenlit and fast tracked in record time.

Beyond that, studios are finally getting to test out the public’s reception to streaming movies at home in lieu of going to the theatre.

Mark my words, that will become the standard as contracts between studios and distributors reach expiration.

That will further drive the demand for fresh content. It won’t replace the box office altogether of course, but it will drive demand higher since the access to new releases will be much easier. That will mean the studios will be forced to expand their slates.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg and you do need to position yourself properly to benefit from this as an actor.

Things have been changing for a long time as the industry has tried to make data driven decisions about projects as well as casting. This is just accelerating the pace of that.

See, there are huge things that most of just miss. For example, when you pause a scene and click on the “X Ray” feature in Prime video to learn more about the actors, those interactions are logged for reference.

Not only does it impact your recommended viewing list, Amazon Studios is using that data to influence casting decisions.

And, it’s not limited to them. Every streaming network has the ability to collect that kind of data in some way.

Since IMDb is a part of Amazon, they just happen to have the most advanced features and are best able to use that data.

That’s why it’s becoming more important for you to place your attention here and make sure that your STARmeter matches your goals.

Beyond that, what is really setting actors apart form one another right now is their ability to keep up with the pace of change.

Everyone knew years ago that social media would play a big role in the industry. Those who have put real effort into figuring out what works and what doesn’t work on social media (to build an acting career) are now reaping the rewards of that.

As the industry moves more and more towards things like self taped auditions, your online presence will make the difference between being cast or being looked over. Here’s how I can help.

Remember, the industry hasn’t stopped. And we have seen in the past, it won’t slow down to let anyone catch up either.

So, while you’re stuck at home don’t let yourself get stuck into a routine that doesn’t benefit your career.

Instead, try to do at least 1 productive thing every day.

Set up your self taping station, reach out to your industry contacts and stay top of mind, shoot a one person short film, or do anything else that keeps your momentum going and your skills sharp. Here’s a great place to start.

You can even get your new headshots done right now (and probably get a really good deal on them too).

So, how will you be spending your time? Let me know in the comments below or send me an email. I’m always here to help.

Boost My Star is going to stay fully operational during this time too, so I can support you. My goals haven’t changed, and I still hope to...

See you at the top,
Scott

How Auditions Have Changed Forever and What To Do About It

It’s no doubt that we are living through historic times, grasshopper. Big, big changes with reaching consequences are happening all around the industry and that will mean a bright future for those that are paying attention.

Chances are, you are reading this while being “socially distanced” from practically everyone for a while now...

I don’t want to get into the specifics of the situation, other than to bring you up to speed on the irreversible changes that are taking place right now.

If you have been following Boost My Star for any length of time, you have heard me talking about exactly what is going on.

Most actors are always reacting to the current environment which puts them several steps behind.

There’s a lot to unpack right now. Disney practically bypassing the box office and releasing titles to streaming much earlier than planned is huuuuuuge! That too is an irreversible event, but we’ll get to that another time.

Let’s focus on what is changing in real time for you as an actor,

Here's how the auditioning process has changed forever and what you need to be prepared for so you can build an acting career that exceeds even your wildest dreams...

Self taped auditions are inevitably the future. The present situation will pass of course but something remarkable is happening all around town.

I’m hearing from our fellow actors and tribe members that casting is still underway, but instead of being invited to come in and read, they are being asked to self tape instead.

This has been around for a while but has been missing is casting departments switching to this system out of necessity.

It doesn’t make any sense, because self taping is much more efficient both for casting departments and for you as an actor, and it allows CDs to “catalog” their favorite actors in real time.

I could write a book on all of the benefits that come with self taping auditions for casting directors, actors, and even production budgets.

The change was coming, there’s no doubt about it. However, being forced into switching to this system will bring about a much quicker adoption.

Even if you’ve only been in the industry for a short while, you have probably been asked to self tape at least a couple times.

Since this will quickly become the norm, you need to be fully prepared, because it’s not the same as going in for a traditional audition.

I’ll get to that in just a moment.

When I talk to other actors about this they immediately jump into what kind of equipment they need and how to set things up, edit, etc.

Let me be clear: you don’t need fancy equipment. Your smartphone will do.

No one will expect you to submit a broadcast quality audition, but there are a few ways that you can make your self taped audition stand out.

When you are filming your scene, try to create some distance between you and the background. This will give you the dominant focal point, instead of everything in the frame running together.

If you have a plain wall or background to film against, that’s a safe choice.

If you have a wall or an environment that makes sense and adds context to the scene, that’s even better. Most actors won’t do this so you will immediately stand out.

Plus, the casting director will be trying to imagine you actively playing the role you are reading for, so if you make this easier for them, your chances of booking will skyrocket.

That doesn’t mean you have to green screen yourself into a lab, if your reading for the role of a scientist for example.

But if you’re reading for a librarian, self taping your audition in front of bookshelves makes perfect sense.

If you can blur the background a bit, that’s even better. If you can’t, that’s ok. Just make sure there are no distracting books behind you.

In a traditional audition, you don’t have to worry about lighting but that changes when you are self taping.

If you are relying on your existing light fixtures, make sure that there are no distracting shadows.

Watch for racoon eyes and be careful of overexposure, since that would wash out your facial expressions and make your audition less impactful.

Sound is another area that is very important when you are self taping your auditions. If you have wood or ceramic floors, you may need to invest in some sound dampening materials to prevent echoing.

You can get these pretty inexpensively through amazon or at a sound shop.
Don’t wait until you are asked to submit. Get yourself set up and record a few test scenes.

Decide for whether the sound on your phone's built in mic (if that’s what you are using) is good enough and determine whether your lighting set up is adequate.

A quick note about sound: your phone’s built in mic, will record a wide range of sounds, since it’s meant to pick up everything going on in the room.

That makes it more prone to picking up echoes, and background noises. Using a lav mic, or a boom picks up more directional sound and better limits background noises.

If you choose to add one, make sure it’s compatible and plugs right into your phone. These are also pretty inexpensive

When you are filming, be sure that you remain aware of your frame.

The camera isn’t going to be able to capture every emotion so you may have to play things up just a bit for them to be seen on screen.

Keep in mind that your scene will be watched on a computer monitor which is a much smaller scale than being live and in person. Watch your scene back and be sure that everything comes across clearly.

For a variety of reasons this is the future of the industry and of auditioning, so don’t be caught off guard. Many requests will come in with short notice, so rather than scrambling to set things up at the last minute, set up your space to film so you are ready to go at a moment’s notice.

While this change has been happening, as productions aim to become more efficient, there are some things that will never change.

Whether it’s a self taped audition or a traditional one, the CD still has to feel confident enough in your ability to see things through and ​that goes way beyond just measuring your talent and it’s why this is so important.

Casting Directors are putting their careers on the line with every casting decision. It’s your job, as an actor, to show them your talents of course, but you also have to put them at ease.

As we shift to self taping auditions i​t will become even more important to make sure that your reputation matches your goals.

Your opportunity to build the casting director’s confidence will be limited since they are not meeting with you face to face.

That’s what makes this next part increasingly important too.
The biggest driver of confidence in anything is social proof, and the industry is no exception.

Social proof is the reason you watch movies, read books, and even eat at restaurants your friends recommend to you.

Social media can play this role when it comes to casting and that’s why casting departments have been putting a big focus on this for a long time.

More than ever before, ​you need to be building your presence on social media because it will continue to play a big role in casting decisions. Here’s how I can help you get the ball rolling.

In uncertain times, people have the tendency to shrink their goals and abandon their aspirations, but the most trying times are what will make or break your career.

So, expand when you are uncertain and take bold action. Something I’ve been saying for years is that doing the opposite of what everyone else does is what will get you to the places they can’t even dream of.

Remember, I’m always only a comment or an email away for whatever is on your mind. I will always help and support you in any way I can because my goal is to...

See you at the top,
Scott

How Successful Actors Build an Acting Career

Being an actor is tough! That goes without saying...

Being a talented actor that isn’t making the kind of career progress you should be making is even tougher.

Unfortunately, the industry isn’t built to reward talent alone, and actors that are extremely talented often find themselves struggling to progress in their acting careers.

Because I work with so many actors every day, I have a unique insight into what is working right now. I am able to keep up, in real time, with the fast moving developments of the industry.

Most actors still operate under the false assumption that talent will get them to places they want to go, career wise. Keeping your acting skills sharp and working on refining your talent are always a good idea of course, but it’s not the end all be all that will bring you success in the industry.

If you are focusing on the wrong things, your progress is going to be minimal at best.

It’s kind of like getting in your car, taking your hands off the wheel, closing your eyes and putting your foot on the gas, hoping that you end up where you wanted to.

Sure, you are moving down the road in your vehicle so you are going somewhere. But, if you don’t have a direction and you are not making the correct moves, then you will never reach your destination.

Sadly, this is how most actors unknowingly approach their career.

If you haven’t been making the kind of career progress you know you should be making, here’s what successful actors are doing, and what you should be doing too...

Actors are creatives, and as creatives we tend to focus on “being original” While that may work on set, when it comes to building a career, the most accomplished actors follow in someone else’s footsteps.

They don’t forge their own path. They start down the path that someone else has already laid down, first and then they venture in a new direction.

So, study the careers of the actors you look up to. Model what they did right and avoid the things that caused them to stall or take a step backwards.

We’re living in the information age and this information is widely available. You may have to spend time piecing some things together from various sources like their websites, biographies, autobiographies, interviews they’ve given, etc.

That’s time well spent, because afterwards, you can basically reverse engineer their success model and it will provide you with a wealth of information.

For example, if you are at a decision point and wondering what to do next. Look at what those successful actors did.

Are you thinking about whether now is the time for you to join the union?
When did they do it? Are they at a similar career stage or did they postpone joining the union?

If you haven’t worked in a while and you’re thinking about taking a step back and accepting roles that you may not have considered a year or 6 months ago, look at what other actors have done and how they climbed back to the status they enjoyed before.

Successful actors also build a team around them. No one becomes successful alone, and actors are no different. ​Here’s a way that I can join your team and help you be successful.

You can be good enough at a lot of things and you will definitely wear many hats as you build your career.

However, there will come a time when you need to bring others in, to help you.

For example, over time you may want to bring in a publicist to help you build your media contacts and get you exposure that you wouldn’t be able to get on your own, if you lack the contacts.

Whoever you decide to bring in, be careful to only partner with people that are as ambitious as you are. That doesn’t mean you have to sign with one of the majors. There are plenty of agents working in smaller agencies that are just as talented.

It also doesn’t mean that you stop working on that part completely. We’ll come back to that in a bit...

Successful actors also have a passion for the industry that extends beyond just acting, and they get to know the inner workings of the industry.

If you haven’t done so, take a course in filmmaking and learn about the process from A to Z.

You don’t need to become an expert in every area but knowing how everything works, gives you a better perspective on production and makes you a better actor.

Knowing how the movement of the camera or the lighting set up will display your facial features allows you to make character choices on a very granular level. In the end, those little details that most actors never think of, make the difference between an acceptable performance and a world class performance.

Plus, knowing how a professional set works will make you stand out on set. Even if you don’t have much screen time, your professionalism will shine through and people will want to work with you over and over again.

This goes hand in hand with taking responsibility for your own success. No one will ever be as invested in your success as you are.

At the end of the day, no one can do it for you. No one can take your place at an audition or get out there and shake hands, or these days maybe bump elbows ;) on your behalf.

A mistake I see actors making all the time is relying on someone else to make things happen for them, and it costs them big time.

An agent is there to support you. A manager is there to support you and work in tandem with your various representatives and keep things running smoothly while working to create new opportunities for you.

While a publicist may be able to get you into some events and open doors that make it possible for you to meet decision makers, it’s still up to you to “work the room.”

Making yourself visible to the industry is something you should work on every day and I created this to help you.

When actors think about how the various people all fit in to their career building, they often make the mistake of thinking they “offload” certain responsibilities.

In other words, when they sign with their agent, they breathe a sigh of relief and feel like their agent will take care of the rest. Truthfully, your agent can only be as effective as you are and if you want your agent to be good, then you have to be a good client.

That means you provide them with all the tools and resources they need. ​Here’s a great place to start with that.

There are tons of things you can do, but focus on these for now. Some things will fall under these categories.

For example, social media will fall under making yourself visible to the industry. We’ll go over more of that in detail another time.

Do this for now and let me know how else I can help. I’m always only an email or a comment away, since my goal is to...

See you at the top,
Scott

Why Your Acting Career Is Stalling

If this is your first rodeo, so to speak you may not have noticed this yet, but you will soon.

Every seasoned actor knows that part of being in the industry is encountering the same people over and over again.

These other actors become your colleagues and coworkers, and sometimes you build long lasting friendships with them.

However, almost nobody stops to think of why we audition against the same people over and over again, let alone what this could mean for your acting career.

See, Casting Directors have a framework for casting. They don’t just arbitrarily try to judge who was “the best actor” for the part. There is a specific set of criteria they are looking to fulfill.

More on that in a sec...

When the same things happen over and over, people tend to get comfortable with how things go, and they stop thinking anything of it.

It just turns into “the way things are.”

When it comes to your acting career, if you are seeing the same people over and over again, chances are your career is stuck.

What’s worse is that you may not even realize it yet.

Click below to find out why, and I’ll also share with you how to get your acting career “unstuck” and finally start making the progress you deserve...

Most actors tend to think of the industry as being a highly compartmentalized organization that is unlike anything else on the planet.

In many respects that’s true, but it’s not entirely how it works. There are two sides to the industry.

There’s the creative side which is made up of actors, directors, screenwriters, and everyone else involved in bringing a production to life.

The other side is what most actors ignore.

That’s the business side of the industry. I’ve talked about this at length many times, so we won’t go into the specifics of that now.

What I wanted to bring up about this is the workplace. Think of it like this...

If you are seeing the same pool of actors over and over again, then you are not progressing (being promoted) in your “workplace.”

This makes sense in the 9-5 world, but most of us don’t think of it this way when it comes to the industry.

If you were an accountant and after some time, you were promoted to senior accountant, you would then be interacting with management day to day.

So, you would basically have a new pool of coworkers. The industry works the same way.

As you progress in your career, you should be getting “promoted” to bigger roles with more screen time and more responsibility as well.

So, if the group of actors you are auditioning against isn’t changing, that’s a surefire way to know that your career is stuck.

Of course, actors do leave the industry in droves every single day so you will naturally see some familiar faces leave and you will also see some fresh faces enter the scene too.

But, if the caliber of roles you are auditioning for isn’t changing, that’s another warning sign of a career that has hit a wall.

You have to break free of the circle you are currently running in and move up to bigger and better projects. That mostly goes without saying but we tend to mistake an opportunity for progress.

Almost everyone gets an opportunity to read for something bigger than they normally would, but that doesn’t equate to career progress.

You know you have made real progress when you are consistently reading for higher caliber roles. To “get promoted” to the next level, Casting Directors must have faith in you.

Stick with me for a sec.

So, when a CD has you move forward in the auditioning process, they are essentially giving you their stamp of approval. In other words, they are vouching for you and they are sticking their neck out for you.

Because of this, they have a certain set of criteria they look for, and they are not simply searching for the “best actor.”

One of the most important factors is their level of confidence in you. That’s why I built this. It quickly improves your industry credibility, so you no longer have to worry about it.

They must believe that you will show up on set everyday and deliver a stellar performance without causing too many headaches or delaying production schedules.

When you are on the audition circuit, you are not only reading for the part at hand. You are also, in effect, reading for everything else that CD will ever cast.

This is why standing out among the crowd of actors who are very similar to you is so important.

An easy way to do that is to build rapport with the Casting Director. Being polite and leaving a good impression is a starting point.

Quickly building a rapport with the CD makes you memorable. When you do this successfully, CDs will even invite you to read for projects your agent is unable to get you an audition to.

Actors tend to see CDs as gatekeepers and treat them as superiors (in the workplace). When was the last time, you had a really great rapport with your boss? It does not happen very often.

Instead, treat the CD the same as you would a colleague. It’s a refreshing change of pace for them to be treated like that and you will immediately stand out from everyone else.

That doesn’t mean you should treat them like your best friend and overshare. Treat them with respect and as a warm acquaintance, then gradually develop the relationship over time.

Longevity in the industry comes from having people in your corner with whom you have a working relationship with. No Casting Director wants to start from scratch and they are always looking to meet actors they can call on in the future.

You don’t have to meet everyone in town. Just a handful of sold industry contacts is plenty to get your career going in the right direction quickly.

So, keep this in mind during your next audition. If you don’t have an audition coming up soon, then you have to check this out.

It helps you make yourself highly visible to the industry, while you are free to focus on what you do best.

So, when is your next audition? Do you feel prepared to switch gears in the way you interact with Casting Directors?

Let me know in the comments below or shoot me an email. I’m always happy to help however I can because my goal is to...

See you at the top,
Scott

3 Acting Exercises Every Actor Must Do

Every actor I have ever met absolutely loves to talk about their process, so over the years I’ve become very familiar with a wide variety of acting styles.

Some actors take a very serious approach to building characters and preparing to perform on set.

Others take a rather laidback, if not altogether lazy, approach.

The most talented and successful actors fall somewhere in between. You will see why in a moment.

They are the actors that can pick up a script and step right into a role with seemingly minimal preparation.

They don’t hesitate, over act or over-react either.

If you are going to learn from someone, they are the actors to study closely. While no 2 actors have the exact same process, there are many similarities.

So, if you want to become a world class actor and unlock the door to many more opportunities, faster than you thought possible, here’s where to start...

First and foremost, the most successful actors don’t wing it. They always have a process for everything.

Whether that’s for creating opportunities or creating characters, there’s always a method to what seems like madness to everyone else. More on that in sec.

There’s always an order in which they do things, and of course there’s reasoning behind that as well.

To start with, they carve out time every day to generate new opportunities. This means networking, marketing themselves, and making sure that they stay top of mind with industry decision makers.

In fact, the most successful actors put this above anything else, because in their words “you can have all the talent in the world, but if you can’t book a job, what difference does it make?”

They don’t leave this to chance and hope to one day be discovered, nor does this get off loaded to an agent either. They make a conscious effort to meet decision makers and be highly visible to the industry.

This is such an important part of building an acting career but most actors sort of leave this as an afterthought, usually because they don’t know how to go about it.

Because of this, I created a tool that you can use right now to make yourself visible to industry decision makers on autopilot. Click here to get the details.

Only after they have taken care of that, do successful actors move on to working on their skill set.

Something that almost no one talks about, or at least talks about accurately, is people watching as an acting exercise.

When you are working on your characters, you want to model them after what real people do. That’s how your performances will become believable and really resonate with the audience.

Method actors do this, and take it to the extreme, literally stepping into the shoes of the people they are modeling.

If that works for, great!

Most actors, however, don’t have the time to spend a full week in character, so when you do people watching as an acting exercise, you are “hacking” your way to method acting.

It’s very simple.

Carve out a few hours and pick a spot or two where you can sit inconspicuously and observe people.

Make sure that you can easily blend into the background, so that people don’t alter their behavior because of your presence.

Then sit and observe closely. Watch the way people talk to each other. What do they do, what hand motions do they make and why?

Pay attention to the expressions on their faces and imagine what’s going through their minds.

What about them can you inject into the character you are working on?

Is it the way that someone tosses their hair and raises an eyebrow when she orders a drink?

Is it how someone taps their fingers rhythmically while walking through a crowd, even though they are not wearing earbuds and there is no music playing?

When you notice something like this, expand on the thoughts that could be going on in that person’s mind so you can figure out why they are doing what they are doing. Maybe they have some social anxiety that is triggering it and that small trait can add another dimension to your character.

Do this for a few hours or until you have picked up on some character traits that help you make character choices.

After that what the most successful and talented actors work on is vocal tonality.

This goes beyond knowing when to raise your voice or when to speak softly. There are some very particular things you can do with your voice that will make your characters legendary.

Remember, how you say something is many, many more times more important that what you are saying. It’s no different on set.

While I could write an entire book on this subject alone, here are a few things you can do to make sure you are on the right track.

If you were to pay attention to your speech patterns throughout the day you would notice that your inflection changes dramatically depending on what you are trying to communicate to someone. It also changes depending on who you are communicating with.

When you are communicating something serious or want to be taken seriously, your voice will go down in pitch at the end of a statement.

When you are excited, trying to get someone else excited or are trying to be friendly and build rapport, the opposite is true. Your voice will go up in pitch at the end of a statement.

If you are nonchalant, don’t care what impression you make, or if you are trying to break rapport with someone and duck out of a conversation your vocal pitch would remain neutral.

99.99999% of your character choices will fall into one of those 3 categories, so use this a guide and your on set conversations will flow naturally and effortlessly, making your characters connect with the audience deeply.

Try the 3 exercises we just talked about, in order, before your next audition. Do it this way so that you layer the nuances of your character correctly, rather than trying to make a character trait fit retroactively.

Often, we find ourselves getting really excited about the way a line is delivered then try to fit that into blocking that doesn’t mesh well. That’s when the disconnects happen.

If you don’t have an audition or an acting job to prepare for, take a look at this to help you get the ball rolling.

Start every day by focusing on what you can do to get your next opportunity cued up.

Yes, that’s considered an exercise because the more you work on it, the better results you will get. Just like training a muscle.

That’s the one thing that you can’t afford to leave for another day because of course, none of this matters if you are not getting enough opportunities to showcase your talent.

So how can I help you become a successful actor? Let me know in the comments below or shoot me an email anytime.

Whether it’s helping you make character choices or prepare for an audition, I’m always here to help because my goal is to...

See you at the top,
Scott