IN MY OPINION;

William Reynolds

Survive or Thrive;

Try not to become complacent in your acting career.

Build your resume, even the small jobs go on, don't listen to another 'extra' tell you not to do that. Do so and  now you have a blank resume. Even extra work shows that you are reliable, again and again. Add those credits. Then again you may just get a break. Study your craft from those that actually know the craft and know what they are talking about. Not your BFF that went to John Casablanca,and then did little to nothing. Why? Because they were still clueless. Try not to act cocky because you've been an extra in three or four films. Get real!

Wait for your day, it could be right around the corner. And when that break happens, that life changing event, you will be glad you studied and studied, and then a little more. Make sure your head shot looks just like you, not photo shopped out of sight.

Make you be the person in the photo for this blog.

Tips from the Director!

IN MY OPINION;

WILLIAM REYNOLDS

TIPS FROM A FILM DIRECTOR:

Directing a film is like a woman having a baby (I think) She's read all the books, took all the classes, learned to breathe,

and then when it comes time to deliver, they are never actually ready.

*Working with actors is one of the many, many roles for the director, The actor will need to develop some background, maybe

beyond what was given to him/her, both past and present for the character they are portraying.

*Actors should remember previous pages in the script, or scenes, to develop a sense of sequence. Movies are not filmed in

chronological order.

*Rehearse, play out the scene, (if possible) before filming.

*And 'stay focused'---Especially with relatively new actors, who many times have a tendency to wander, mentally. This can

be a travesty, for them and the budget. All actors must be on the same page, and I don't mean script page.

**** At this point each actor should have already proven themselves or truthfully they should not even be there. Period!

Preparation is the key!

WILLIAM REYNOLDS

In my opinion:

Comments from auditions:

Oh, I can do the role, the job, just not here, at a rehearsal, or practice. But once that camera is rolling and everyone else is here. You'll see. Yeah right! But you won't be here when the cameras are rolling if you can't adequately get through the audition or rehearsal. You will be at home watching someone else.

That's like a practice squad quarterback saying. "Yeah I don't look so good at here where there's nobody watching, but if the coaches give me the chance I can guarantee you that I will look just as good as Peyton Manning on Sunday." Sure you will, we can tell. I wrote something similar to this on another blog not too long ago. In California, a girl goes in for her audition.  

There are two male casting directors there waiting on her. She says "Where are the producers?"  One of the CD's says. "The producers aren't here, we're here">>we will inform them as to how you do. OK?"  Like she thinks the producers will be there to witness her audition? Sure they will, right after they raise $35,000,000 to make the film and then find a distributor, they will rush right over. You will find that casting directors and producers are not trying to facilitate your career. They are trying to do their own. To make money. It's a business. Do what you can do when you get the opportunity and don't read something into everything. Don't try to solve a problem that does not exist. Just do what you can do the best you can. That is all anyone can ask.

Think About It...

'IN MY OPINION'

William Reynolds

SOME QUOTES, 'THINK ABOUT IT'.

Acting is behaving truthful under imaginary circumstances.

Sandy Meisner..Creator of THE MEISNER TECHNIQUE, for actors.

An actor must develop their body.The Actor has to work on their voice. But the most important thing an actor must work on is their mind.

Stelia Adler..Ms Adler is one of he all-time great teacher/instructors for acting. Her classes are still around in NY and LA.

And I love this one, it's probably my favorite, also from Sandy Meisner " An ounce of behavior is worth a pound of words"

Read this one again and again.

Rejection!

IN MY OPINION,'

WILLIAM REYNOLDS.

REJECTION CAN BE A GREAT MOTIVATOR;

Walt Disney was fired by THE KANSAS CITY STAR, because he 'lacked imagination' and had 'no good ideas'

Yeah Right!

Jimmy Denny of the Grand Ole Opry told ELVIS PRESLEY after only one performance. "You ain't goin nowhere son, you ought go back to driving a truck.

Marilyn Monroe was told she should become a secretary instead of a model. "You just don't have it babe".

Steven Spielberg was rejected by USC's school of Theater for Film and TV, 3 times. Now the guy is the richest person in all of the Entertainment Business. So, who lost out.

Steve Jobs was fired by the very company he created 'APPLE', was then hired back and the rest is history.

I SUPPOSE THERE IS A LOT TO BE SAID BY NOT GIVING UP.

If first you Don't Succeed...

William Reynolds

"in my opinion"

A little humor:

IF FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED,

DON'T TRY SKYDIVING:

A few ways that can cause an actor to fail

William Reynolds:

IN MY OPINION!

A few ways that can cause an actor to fail.

Being Honest:  Don't look for an agent or a casting director to tell you what you want to hear. "Get the truth".          

Pinching Pennies:  It's difficult to fork over good money for the things that help you market yourself, your career. Really good headshots, and at some point a reel. Quality training if you don't already have it. These places are certainly no place to try to cut corners.

Priorities:  All great successes have involved some personal sacrifice. Get your ducks in a row. 

Staying Safe:  Have a couple of failures during your pursuit of success and you can get too cautious, too conservative, which makes the next attempt even harder. Don't be afraid to fail and don't take rejection personal. And really, really don't listen to this, " I TOLD YOU SO" from your friends and relatives, just keep going.

Promote Yourself

PROMOTING YOURSELF AS A ACTOR:

1. Acting Classes

Take acting classes. Develop your talent. Develop your confidence. Get references and recommendations from your instructors. Some of the students in your class will likely have some success on stage and film, so they would be good contacts in the future for obtaining roles. Even if you have no actual stage or film experience, acting classes are useful on your resume.

2. Plays

Audition for as many plays as you can. There are community and highschool theatre productions which you can audition for. Get as much experience as you can playing in front of audiences. Even the worst actor will improve by being in front of audiences. When Jim Carey was 15, he was booed off the stage at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto. That taught him he had to be better.

3. Film

Strange as it sounds, when you're starting out, film is much easier to get into than theatre. Many independent film makers do not have theatre backgrounds so they don't know any actors. Most good film actors come from live performance backgrounds, whether it be music, theatre or stand-up comedy. 

We are contacted at least once per week by indie produces looking for talent....'real actors' and

not usually SAG/AFTRA

ATL vs LA vs NY

FILM IN ATLANTA, VS LA AND NY....

In my humble opinion:

Atlanta is in the top three (number 2 right now) cities in the country for film and tv production. There are absolutely tons of opportunities

out there for those that are already ready (like the SAG/AFTRA actors) and for those just beginning. However, for those just beginning being in a feature film, to most but not all, beginners is like going to the state fair. They just want to say to everyone "Hey I was just in a Tyler Perry movie". Wow, to those 'state fair' folks, but only one more thing to put on your resume, along with your photos and where you've trained and all of your contact information. So, many of those that actually think they are serious are truthfully 'not'.it's just like a

ride at the state fair, all fun and games. Not that way so much in LA and NY because those in those casting positions are making too much money to try to enlighten beginners on what is expected of them on a film set. Most of these beginners (LA AND NY) are looking at a career, or at least possible career. For way too many here (THE ATL) it's just for show. But 'in my humble opinion" that's going to change as we get bigger and bigger, more and more actors coming here from LA and NY. When a Major film is filming here and the production company comes here they are expecting to find exactly what they had in Hollywood, so the beginners in The Atl are going to have to get on the same page with the rest of the 'real industry', that is if, they want to stay in the film industry.

Don't get this message wrong. Atlanta is wonderful, and its place in the film industry grows everyday, as do the quality of the actors, crews, and those other hundreds of professionals that put a feature film together.  We've been here for over 35 years and would never go

anywhere else. Thanks to the State of GA, the local SAG office, and to all of the new, big film studios. Even thanks to Tyler Perry for making Atlanta his home for residence and most, if not all of his filming needs.

GO ATL.

wr

Beginner or Not

YOU EVER NOTICE?????

That the talent (beginners) that want and expect the most

are the ones that are the least prepared.

Funny huh?

wr

Do your reseach

WHY SO MANY BEGINNING ACTORS/MODELS FAIL;

Well, according to Mr. Reynolds and his thousand years of experience on all sides, the wanna-be, the actor and the agent.

So, many of those just beginning to make an attempt to start a career in the Arts.

Do very little to no research at all on agencies.

Listen to way too many people telling them what they need to do, when they to know next to nothing other than what they've 

heard or idle gossip.

Who exactly are these 'people'? Unfortunately they usually are relatives, or very close friends, loved ones, simply just trying to

help. But sometimes this information so freely given comes from some with another agenda..JEALOUSLY !!!!! That's correct, and 

they hide it very well.

And lastly it is those that have worked a very, very, very small amount in the industry, making very, very, very little money if any at 

all, that try to guide YOUR career so it can be just like theirs.

Do yourself a favor, do 'real' research. Check with the BBB. Don't just rush out and get some photos done that may or may not

be adequate. Don't just 'sign up' for some modeling school because you've heard the name, or they fell in love with you, and then

you are someone spends a few thousand dollars with them and sure enough a year later, you are in the exact same spot, just with

much less money.

DO RESEARCH.

William Reynolds

Commit

I SPEAK TO MANY 'WANNABE ACTORS'.

But after only a few questions you can get the feel of their seriousness.

* What have you done to prepare yourself for such a career?

"Oh, I've been on auditions before and I've been to several agencies" And on and on.

* Have you actually taken 'real' acting workshops or classes, and not some $3,000 modeling classes?

* Have you worked as an extra? Anything?

Maybe many of these so-called aspiring actors should seriously think about a career that they can be

more passionate about. Something where they can apply some dedication.

TO COMMIT---MEANS TO PERPETUATE AN ACTIVITY OR ACTION.

TO WANT------MEANS TO DESIRE OR WISH TO POSSESS TO DO SOMETHING.

I believe that wanting something is often a passive act, whereas being committed require consistent action.

Think about that.

William Reynolds

Wannabe Actor!

I SPEAK TO MANY 'WANNABE ACTORS'.

But after only a few questions you can get the feel of their seriousness.

* What have you done to prepare yourself for such a career?

"Oh, I've been on auditions before and I've been to several agencies"

And on and on.

* Have you actually taken 'real' acting workshops or classes, and not some $3,000 modeling classes?

* Have you worked as an extra? Anything?

Maybe many of these so-called aspiring actors should seriously think about a career that they can be

more passionate about. Something where they can apply some dedication.

TO COMMIT---MEANS TO PERPETUATE AN ACTIVITY OR ACTION.

TO WANT------MEANS TO DESIRE OR WISH TO POSSESS TO DO SOMETHING.

I believe that wanting something is often a passive act, whereas being committed require consistent action.

Think about that.

William Reynolds