ARE YOU Really Ready?

Think you have the temperament and business sense to survive in the entertainment industry? Take Lana's self-evaluation quiz and see how you score.

1. Is acting the only career that will make you happy? Would you be miserable if you only pursued acting for fun?

2. Are you comfortable not knowing where your next paycheck will come from? Or realizing that it may depend on something as arbitrary as your looks or the way you deliver a line? Does security sound like death to you?

3. Can you face rejection after rejection and still retain hope? Are you happy to attend dozens—even hundreds—of auditions without getting cast? Will your belief in yourself be enough to buoy you through the hard times?

4. Are you comfortable with your physical appearance? We’re all too tall, too short, too hairy, not hairy enough, the wrong type, the wrong sex or the wrong ethnicity at some point. Are you self-confident enough to cope with this kind of scrutiny?

5. Are you emotionally healthy? Show business can be a breeding ground for drug abuse, eating disorders, and depression. If you’re already dealing with personal issues, better to seek help before diving in.

6. Are you prepared to work long hours, at times for no pay? Can you work evenings, weekends, early mornings, and sometimes even in the middle of the night?

7. Do you have a positive attitude? Are you persistent, adaptable, and willing to go the extra mile?

8. Are you committed to constantly improving your craft? Do you always seek ways to develop your skills and learn new ones?

9. Do you enjoy a myriad of interests and activities that not only make you a unique and well-rounded person, but also clear your mind and refresh your spirits for acting?

10. Will your loved ones encourage you when times are rough and cheer for you when they’re good? Will they understand when your schedule renders you unavailable, or when it’s difficult to make ends meet?

11. Are you organized? Can you be counted on to keep track of paperwork, arrive on time, return calls promptly and follow through on commitments?

12. Are you willing to invest in your career, even if funds are tight?

The more YES answers, the more you may be suited to the pressures of professional acting. Ten to twelve is a high score.

If you answered YES to eight or nine questions, better work on your NOs, before making any drastic decisions like dropping out of law school to enroll in an acting program.

If you answered YES to seven or less, you may want to adopt a more informal approach and regard acting as your creative outlet--not your vocation. You’ll be happier in the long run.

In any case, don't quit your day job! You’ll need the cash flow not only to pay your bills, but also to finance your acting endeavors.

Casting Director Lana Veenker wrote this article.

WHY? Because you love it!

So, maybe you have spent months of submitting yourself to the tons of projects you find on all the casting websites and you simply aren't getting called so you can show just how good you really are. Or, maybe you are going on auditions but still nobody wants to hire you. Or you're spending or have spent hundreds if not thousands of dollars on workshops or 'pay to meet' agents or directors. And still nothing. Now you begin to question everything from your head shots to your talent, even to the decision to even try.. You've even thought about quitting altogether, like your friends tell you you should do. "Get a real job' they say. And then there are those that you know that have done very little to nothing and they have moved forward. I am certainly not advocating that route, but it does happen from time to time. This is not fair, right? So why do you do it? Because it makes you happy, it drives us, it give us the freedom to explore ourselves and hang out with other like-minded people.

And then, suddenly it seems you get booked, hired, you're on TV and making good money. And heaven knows you've earned it. You paid your dues. It's a great career, and no-one is forcing you to do it. You, on your own have lived and suffered through the good and the bad.

Why? Because you love it.

william reynolds

WE ARE MOVING SOON

Hey talent.

The William Reynolds Agency has been at the same location on North Druid Hills for over 20 years. But we will be moving our office/studios to a much bigger, newer office about 2 blocks from where we are right now. The address will be 2751 Buford Highway Suite 285. The name of the Building Complex is 'DRUID POINTE'. At this time the new office is still under construction but is suppose to be completed by the first or second week in November. We will post a map and directions on our website and Facebook as we get closer to completion. 

Our business will not change, but the Free acting workshops will be onsite in our new building. The photo studio will be onsite as well.

Although we are super excited we are also a little sad since we have been here so long and have very fond memories that were born here.

We shall look forward to one day soon seeing you there.

Janet Queen-Jackson

Director/

Casting and Talent Services.

"I'm a Natural, everyone tells me so"

Acting is like living your life, all of your life's experiences you have had gives you something to draw from. Much like have experience in any other profession make you better at what you do. Many if not most actors begin their careers as extras, or background actors, with no lines.

Or featured roles, also no lines but being very visible to the camera. Some of these featured roles can be recurring, like maybe a uniformed officer in a courtroom or the court reporter. Seen but not heard. These roles may require some acting experience or training due to certain requirements by the director. These type roles can also turn into a 'speaking' role which can be a big step forward. The common thread that pretty much all successful actors have and have had is good solid training for their craft, their career. Many careers are born from this opportunity, to speak to create the opportunity to become SAG/AFTRA and become more marketable, by being able to create something out of a given chance. They, the actors have prepared for this moment, and I don't mean just being lucky that the director picked 'you'. But being able to do something with the shot you were just given. Keifer Sullivan (24) says "Being pitched the ball is one thing, being able to run with it is quite something else.". Personally in over 30 years as an agent I can count the 'natural' actors I've met on less than one hand.

"People think that acting is like walking and talking, so they say "I could do that". Well known acting coach and teacher Nina Foch laughs, but acting is difficult. The best succeed because they make it look so easy. If you are an actor your whole life you may do one or two scenes really, really well."

Think about that before you make the comment "I'm a natural, everyone tells me so.

William Reynolds

CONGRATS!!!!

We at the agency would like congratulate Erin Keeble and Alysia Hibbert, way to go, only been with the agency for a month and already booked for 5 episodes on the new Netflix show "Stranger Things"

Call our office if you want to get your career moving in the right direction today!
404-636-1974

To Be a Real Actor...

While looking around on the internet I frequently see comments from real actors and from wannabe actors.
Wannabe's say 'Real agents work on a percentage of what you make'. And while that is certainly true for
REAL ACTORS that have worked, studied and struggled to get where they are, this statement hardly applies
to those that have done very little to nothing to enhance their skills or careers. What is ten or fifteen percent of
nothing. Oh yes, it's nothing right. Many beginners feel that they are naturally talented enough to compete with
trained serious actors. That is almost laughable.
Just an observation. Think about it, if you are one of those 'naturals'.
Want to breathe some life into your acting career? Try getting prepared first and go a little beyond your friends and
neighbors telling you how they think you would fare.
Once again. ' IF YOU KEEP ON DOING WHAT YOU ALWAYS DID, YOU'LL ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU ALWAYS GOT".

william reynolds

Listen and Follow your Instincts!

Some things parents may want to know and certainly need to know about their children's welfare when online.

a. Set up a Google alert for your child's name.

b. Check their phone often and let them know you are doing so.

c. Take control. Do research on those that you are thinking of your child working with or getting started with. 

d. Be a stage parent without going overboard. Don't leave them alone or drop them off at some place or with someone that you really don't know that much about.

e.. And finally, LEARN TO LISTEN AND FOLLOW YOUR INSTINCTS, while not abusing your authority.

f. And you too must be professionally.

William Reynolds

Just be logical!

With regards to casting opportunities, once again,  there is no certain look. The director may have a certain need, a certain skill set. For example the need is for someone that can roller blade or water ski, play soccer etc. There may also be certain restrictions like no physical disabilities, or contrarily someone with a certain disability. Traditionally if a role specifies nothing other than gender or age range the assumption is that the role is for a able-bodied person. Actors also need to apply some logic when seeking roles. I've had new wannabe talent come in to see me and say they are 25 yrs of age when in fact they are 42 yrs of age, "Everywhere I go people tell me I look to be in my 20's. My response " You don't get to decide how old or young you look". And truthfully sometimes when suggesting that you look 15 yrs younger than you are comes across as almost silly. Some of those that say they look younger actually look older. So, apply some logic. PLEASE.

William Reynolds.

FREE ACTING WORKSHOP

FOR THOSE NEW TALENT THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE REPRESENTING;

The purpose of our FREE ACTING WORKSHOPS is to bring actors together to work and study under the guidance

and supervision of experienced professionals in order to develop new creative talent for the burgeoning Film and TV Industry in

Georgia.  To actually 'needing an agent'. Consider it a springboard into experiencing working on a 'real' film project, seeing and working with known actors and talent. Actually having the opportunity, and not just spinning your wheels due to lack of knowledge and poor advice. So

many of our talent that had done nothing prior to coming to us, are now working and succeeding in the film industry. We like to think that we

played a big, big part in that, due to the programs and staff that we have assembled.

William Reynolds

Are You a Part of It?

The expansion of the thriving film and television industry in Georgia is wonderful.
The industry historically has offered many, many good jobs and careers to those
associated in this, and with this endeavor From the actors/actresses to the producers,
directors and all of those incredible crew members that we hardly ever see, but play
such an integral role in the entire product.
We are glad to be a part of it

William Reynolds and staff.

"ARE YOU ARE PART OF IT?"

Comments on acting from an actor

With this role I wish I'd had a chance to meet Rene. In general, I don't know if I can answer that.
I was acting since I was a kid, going to drama classes and being involved in every school play
and musical that I could get my hands on. So it was part of me from a very early age. It has
always felt like a very organic process and ongoing journey. That's what I've love about it, the 
journey. That is the joy of it ,not knowing certain things and discovering them along the way.
I imagine that happens until the day you die.

You'd have to be there to understand.
wr

Be Prepared

Actors love to act, but fear the audition. Why?

Because if you don't get the audition done correctly and well, then the casting director or director cannot see you ability, and you will be sitting at home watching someone else doing 'your job', while you prepare for your next audition. Right?

We (you) can only do what you can do. You portray the character to be as you see the character. You can control your preparation. And while i'm on that particular subject let me interject this. {WAY TOO MANY BEGINNERS THINK THEY ARE PREPARED WHEN IN FACT THEY ARE NOT EVEN CLOSE}. That said let me continue. Actors can get so focused on the audition, the scene, trying to be perfect that they blow the whole thing. If you have actually studied acting and not just watched other actors, then you are almost there.

My advice. relax and enjoy yourself.

william reynolds