THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ON TIME AND RESPONSIBLE

IN MY OPINION:

WILLIAM REYNOLDS:  

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ON TIME AND RESPONSIBLE.

The auditions – If you are fortunate enough to be called in to audition for a project, proper and timely communication with the casting office is a must! When given an appointment time, do not hesitate to contact the office if you have questions/concerns about the project or audition materials. Questions about how to get the sides, if there is a script available, and which scenes to prepare, are all common types of inquiries. More importantly, you should also let casting know as soon as you can if you are confirmed, passing, running late, or need to reschedule your appointment. Once given an audition, you may notice that casting offices will tend to be more receptive to answer your questions, and are often very accommodating – they do want to see you, after all, and they are assuming that you are professional and 'eager'

This also applies, maybe even more so to those that are trying to gain representation. Agents will assume and rightly so, that if you are late for the audition you are also likely to be late when it really matters.

Why Study Acting?

IN MY OPINION:

WILLIAM REYNOLDS

Why Study Acting?

The idea exists out there that acting training is a waste of time. Or that it's something you might do to "tune up for pilot season." Or that training is less important than meeting people – casting directors, agents, producers, Hollywood parties, screenings, going to Sundance – the myth is strong that success is based primarily in such networking activity.

And why invest money in a good acting class if you can take the same money nowadays and produce a short film that you can put on YouTube within 24 hours, (could be a killer of your career also)  receiving comments and acknowledgments, and maybe even... a deal!? So why study? Because whether you would say it aloud or not, there is something other than money and "success" that has driven you into acting. There is the thrill of performance, the ability to affect an audience, to create an emotional experience, to have an artistic experience yourself in performing – this is the true motivation. And in order to do this – you need to know what you're doing. You need to be trained. You need to study. Hard. Sure Money and success are what you get for providing quality performances. And the networking and parties and YouTube videos – these and QUALITY TRAINING AND A 'REAL AGENT' are means by which you try to create the opportunity to deliver a quality performance. Networking is important for sure – actors should be proactive in being at least part of the force driving their careers – and NOT JUST WAITING ON SOMEONE TO COME KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR.

ACTING FOR A LIVING

IN MY OPINION;

WILLIAM REYNOLDS;

ACTING FOR A LIVING;

Thanks to cable tv, the internet, and the rise of independent films there has never been a better time to become or 'be' an actor. Acting is quickly becoming a viable

choice as a profession, regardless of where you happen to live. Places like the Atl, have become alternatives to Hollywood or New York. If you read well, if you speak

well and you have a good imagination. AND YOU HAVE SOME TRAINING, and are in a SERIOUS search of a career that you can sink your teeth into and get excited

and MOTIVATED. Then the next step is DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT> You are NOT going to start off with your own series or hanging out with Tyler Perry, but if you

do some quality research and avoid MODELING SCHOOLS AND SUCH, you may just find yourself in a spot that you've only dreamed about.

SOME REAL TRUTHS ABOUT THE 'REAL MODELING INDUSTRY'

IN MY OPINION:

WILLIAM REYNOLDS:

SOME REAL TRUTHS ABOUT THE 'REAL MODELING INDUSTRY'

QUOTES;

"Lauren" is 24 and has been modelling for five years. She doesn't want to give her real name as she fears her agency would offer her less work if she speaks out. She says pay rates have fallen in recent years. { THIS IS NY AND LONDON STUFF} {REAL MODELS}

All the first jobs I did were free. When you do a commercial job for a High Street brand or a big ad campaign they pay money, but editorials - everything you see in industry magazines - you don't get paid for those at all. It's an unwritten rule in the industry that you have to do them to get your profile up. You've got quite a lot of girls who can't afford to live and are going to the agencies to ask for advances on money and are getting into debt. The bookers laugh at them for asking for handouts.They try to discourage you from collecting your money and put you off asking for it. When you get your money it comes with a statement and there are always unforeseen charges on the statement. It's never set out what they're charging you for and the more you've earned the more weird charges there are on your account.Agencies pick and choose. If they don't like you that week then they won't put you forward for the job. I've been in the agency when they've actually said not to put certain girls in certain packages because the girls have been annoying them or they've been asking for money.

THIS IS NOT WHAT YOU NEW MODELS HEAR FROM THOSE MODELING SCHOOLS IS IT? NOPE NOT EVEN A LITTLE BIT.<> GIVE US ABOUT $3,000 AND YOU ARE SET FOR SUCCESS. YEAH, RIGHT<><><>

COSTS FOR FILM PRODUCTIONS

N MY OPINION:

WILLIAM REYNOLDS;

COSTS FOR FILM PRODUCTIONS;

When I tell new actors, why it is vitally important for 'them' to actually know what

they are doing, or better still....what they are trying to do. Because it cost thousands of dollars per minute

for the final cut, to film these projects and they are NOT looking for beginners.

l

OK FOR A TWO HOUR EPISODE WHICH WILL INCLUDE

ADVERTISING THAT COMES TO A WHOPPING

$23,000 per minute. Get the picture????

THE MOST OVER-RATED ACTORS

IN MY OPINION:

WILLIAM REYNOLDS:  

THE MOST OVER-RATED ACTORS,

ACTUALLY NOT MY OPINION BUT HOLLYWOOD WRITERS;

BUT I TEND TO AGREE:

1.

George Clooney

Actor, Gravity

George Timothy Clooney was born on May 6, 1961, in Lexington, Kentucky, to Nina Bruce (née Warren), a former beauty pageant queen, and Nick Clooney, a former anchorman and game show host (who was also the brother of singer Rosemary Clooney). He has Irish, English, and German ancestry. Clooney spent most of this youth in Ohio and Kentucky...

“ bad actor, bad movies OVERRATED to the max.

OVERRATED OVERRATED, all his movies are boring and all the movies he does doesn't require much acting skill. ” - LoneWolfKyle24

2.

Tom Cruise

Actor, Top Gun

In 1976, if you had told 14 year old Franciscan seminary student Thomas Cruise Mapother IV that one day in the not too distant future he would be considered one of the top 100 movie stars of all time, he would have probably grinned and told you that his ambition was to become a priest. Nonetheless, this sensitive...

“ annoying and his acting doesn't impress me. the best movie he has been in is Collateral. ” - LoneWolfKyle24

BIG YEAR FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN ACTORS IN FILM:

IN MY OPINION:

WILLIAM REYNOLDS:

BIG YEAR FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN ACTORS IN FILM:

Let's hope fiction will catalyze reality (2016)

We’ve made it. After decades of paltry onscreen portrayals of black people—who often don’t seem to exist apart from being slaves or sidekicks—2016 has given our lives silver-screen shape. Gil Robertson, co-founder and president of the African American Film Critics Association, recently highlighted this historic plot twist, saying that, “by any measurement, it’s been an exceptional year for blacks in film. From comedies to high-quality dramas and documentaries, 2016 will forever represent a bonanza year for black cinema, and all cinema, really a banner year.  Congratulations, yes, yes, yes

CONGRATULATIONS FALCONS!!

IN MY OPINION:

WILLIAM REYNOLDS:

GO FALCONS...

CONGRATULATIONS, WE ARE GOING TO THE

SUPER BOWL!!!!

A LITTLE ABOUT METHOD ACTING;

IN MY OPINION:

WILLIAM REYNOLDS:

A LITTLE ABOUT METHOD ACTING;

This idea was first called the ‘System’ by Konstantin Stanislavsky, and later, as further developed by Lee Strasberg (at the Group Theatre, the Actors Studio and then at the Institute). The Lee Strasberg Method™ trains actors to use their imagination, senses and emotions to conceive of characters with unique and original behavior, creating performances grounded in the human truth of the moment. As the only school in the world that teaches Lee Strasberg’s work in its consummate form, This is the home for all actors seeking to delve into The Lee Strasberg Method Acting and its tradition of training some of the worlds most brilliant and truthful actors.

These last two blogs are a brief history of the, well almost standard for all great actors. At the very least study from those that have studied these techniques and methods. You will be much better for it. And directors will know almost immediately that you' are real, and not a 'dreamer'.

THE MEISNER TECHNIQUE: ON ACTING;

IN MY OPINION:

WILLIAM REYNOLDS:

THE MEISNER TECHNIQUE: ON ACTING;

The Meisner technique is an approach to acting which was developed by the American theatre practitioner Sanford Meisner.^[1]

The Meisner technique is often confused with "method" acting taught by Lee Strasberg, since both developed from the early teachings of Constantin Stanislavski. The focus of the Meisner approach is for the actor to "get out of their head," such as that the actor is behaving instinctively to the surrounding environment. To this end, some exercises for the Meisner technique are rooted in repetition so that the words are deemed insignificant compared to the underlying emotion. In the Meisner technique, there is a greater focus on the other actor as opposed to one's internal thoughts or feelings associated to the prescribed character.

SO, WHAT IS ACTING???

IN MY OPINION;

WILLIAM REYNOLDS;

SO, WHAT IS ACTING???

QUOTES FROM FROM SOME OF THE GREATEST ACTORS OF 'ANY TIME' AND THEIR TEACHERS.

Acting quotes that define the art. 1. Acting is behaving truthfully under imaginary circumstances~ Sanford Meisner  2. An actor is a fool for God.   Gerardine Clark   3. Without wonder and insight, acting is just a business. With it, it becomes creation.

• ~ Bette Davis   4. The best acting is instinctive. It's not intellectual, it's not mechanical, it's instinctive.~ Craig MacDonald  5. That's what makes acting so attractive. You get to break all your own rules  >Gerardine Clark  6. Acting should be bigger than life. Scripts should be bigger than life. It should all be bigger than life. ~ Bette Davis   7. Acting is standing up naked and turning around very slowly. ~Rosalind Russell
8. Acting is not about being someone different. It's finding the similarity in what is apparently different, then finding myself in there.
• ~ Meryl Streep  9. Good acting -- real acting is impossible to spot. Do you ever catch talents like Robert Duvall or Kathy Bates acting? No. I defy you to show me where. ~ William Esper 10. Stop explaining yourself. Shut up and act! ~ Craig MacDonald

ACTORS THAT MADE IT QUICKLY AND THOSE THAT DID NOT

IN MY OPINION;

WILLIAM REYNOLDS;

ACTORS THAT MADE IT QUICKLY AND THOSE THAT DID NOT:

Three actors that seemed to make it successfully almost overnight.

SCARLETT JOHANSSON

CHRISTIAN BALE

JENNIFER LAWRENCE

Three that made it later but never quit.

JAMES GANDOFINI

ALAN RICKMAN

NAOMI WATTS

What did they have in common? Talent, persistence and for some LUCK coupled with talent.

ARE ACTORS INHERENTLY UNRELIABLE???

IN MY OPINION:

WILLIAM REYNOLDS:

ARE ACTORS INHERENTLY UNRELIABLE???

This is gonna be a super quick post>

ANSWER>>>NOT IF THEY WANT TO WORK. PERIOD.

I write an opinion every now and then on this same 'friggin' subject. There are those that say they are dying to have a chance. And then

show up an hour late, or want to reschedule or, not show up at all. Return an email or casting call 'AFTER IT'S OVER;, Yes those guys.

If there is one consistent thing in this particular industry is that it solves it's own problems. Wannabe's weed themselves out. Those that

contribute to their own success by being professional are 'exactly' the ones that are working.

MARKETING YOURSELF AS AN ACTOR

IN MY OPINION:

WILLIAM REYNOLDS:

MARKETING YOURSELF AS AN ACTOR:

These days, being a professional actor doesn’t necessarily mean fancy credits on your resume and paparazzi following you around town. As Hollywood expands past Los Angeles with the use of the internet and other modern technologies, anyone can be the actor they want to be. It often comes down to attitude, confidence and perseverance. The ability to market yourself as an actor is much easier than it used to be, and a lot cheaper. If you’re not getting the auditions you’d like, and you eventually DO want to see your name in lights, take your career into your own hands–within limits, of course. Here are some tips on how to market yourself as a professional actor without being Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie and having a publicist/agent/manager do it for you: HERE ARE A COUPLE OF TIPS ON ACTOR MARKETING.

#1 Use strong marketing materials, like great headshots, a resume showing your 'quality' training. #2 Be remembered. Whether you get the gig or not, casting directors remember those good auditions as well as the bad ones, ie the unprepared, the tardy, the attitude ones. #3 Think outside the box. If you have an agent, great! But don't be afraid to do some leg work on your own, be a go-getter don't trash someone, another actor or

casting director because it didn't go your way, just keep going.

STALLONE, 'BIG' SUCCESS STORY; >>INSPIRING;

IN MY OPINION:

WILLIAM REYNOLDS:

STALLONE, 'BIG' SUCCESS STORY; >>INSPIRING;

One day Stallone was sitting at home watching a fight between Weppner and Muhammad Ali. Ali was literally destroying Weppner but he kept getting up and coming back for more. He  was really fighting for it despite the slim chance he would even get close to winning.
This  inspired Stallone to begin writing based on his inspiration from this  fighter. He wrote for over 24 hours straight and after this time he had  written the entire script to Rocky. He began trying to sell the screenplay to many producers with no success. This went on for months. He  was so poor by this time that he decided he had to sell his best  friend, his dog. Stallone waited outside of a local liquor store asking  people if they would buy his dog. Eventually someone bought the dog for  around $50. He was devastated to have to do this.   He kept  pursuing this story that he had written. Eventually someone loved it and  they agreed to do the movie. He was wrapped and told them that he  wanted to play the part of Rocky. They declined and told him he  was a writer not an actor. Stallone disagreed and told them he was an  actor. He declined their offer of over $100 000 despite his current  poverty. A couple of weeks later they contacted him with an even  higher offer and Stallone still insisted that he play Rocky. They declined obviously.
 Eventually they offered Stallone a  measly $25000 so they weren't throwing their money away by having him as  the lead role. He accepted. Then the first thing he did was go back to  the liquor store to buy back his dog.  He waited 3 days for the  guy to come by and finally there he was with his dog. He offered the guy  $150 to buy back the dog, the man declined. The offer kept rising, but  again, Stallone knew his outcome and kept pursuing his goal.
It ended up costing him $15000 and a part in the movie to buy back his dog. The guy and the dog are in Rocky.  Of course we all know what happened with the Rocky movie. It won the  Academy Award for best picture in 1976. At the awards ceremony he read  out all the rejection slips from those who said the film would be sappy,  predictable and a film that no one would want to watch.   Now thirty years of acting and after more than thirty films he is one of the greatest action heroes Hollywood has ever seen. His story is a great inspiration for all those who want to succeed. Failure is not the end and success is not the beginning. If you know this well, U can be anything you want.

Need Training? Or You're Just A Natural

IN MY OPINION;

WILLIAM REYNOLDS;

DO ACTORS REALLY NEED TRAINING? OR, ARE THEY JUST NATURALS?

Like any skilled profession you need to practice in order to become objectively good.  With regards to acting this can be accomplished in a couple of different ways: 
- you can do a lot of plays in school and learn as you perform and continue that in community theater and work towards becoming a professional stage performer 
- you can audition a ton and learn what works and what doesn't by doing that.  I don't know if Aaron Paul was telling the truth but he claimed to have never taken an acting class and he learned from self analysis through auditions
- you can take classes and hire a coach  Regardless of what you do you need to practice and perform in order to become a good actor....But is that what you should be satisfied with?  Do we want to be "good enough" or the best we can be?
I can't think of a single competitive endeavor where a coach or mentor of some kind isn't necessary.  No athlete will ever qualify for the Olympics without multiple coaches in their life to get them to achieve their peak physical performance.  Nobody will ever get a PhD without an advisor to guide them through research.  
So long story short I think it is possible to become a professional actor, in the sense that someone will pay you to be in front of a camera, just on your own if you have the right combination of natural charisma, connections and luck.  But if an individual wants to achieve at the pinnacle of their acting potential they need some kind of FORMAL TRAINING.

IN MY OPINION;

WILLIAM REYNOLDS;

SOME FACTS ABOUT KEANU REEVES:

Most people don't know this, but Keanu Reeves had a very hard life. His father left his family when he was 3, and he moved from high school to high school. He had trouble in school so he left high school without a diploma. At the age of 23, he lost his best friend, River Phoenix, to a drug overdose. IT GETS WORSE; Five years later, he met Jennifer Syme who would quickly fall pregnant with his child. However, the baby was stillborn at 8 months which emotionally devastated the couple. Keanu still had more tragedy to come—18 months later Jennifer was killed in a car accident. All of these tragic things have changed Keanu for the better. He doesn't care about the money he makes and will even give money to the production staff of his movies because he thinks that they do more work than he does. For the Matrix, it is estimated that he gave $80 million of his $114 million earnings to some of the production staff.(INCREDIBLE)  He was asked about why he lives a frugal life and he said"You know, I've been very fortunate in my life. Which I am grateful for. And I guess it's just to my tastes to keep life as simple as I can.">>>>Keanu Reeves has had one of the most unfortunate lives of any actor, but it’s incredible how that pain has caused him to be a better person.

JUST ANOTHER QUOTE, A SO REAL ONE

IN MY OPINION;

WILLIAM REYNOLDS;

JUST ANOTHER QUOTE, A SO REAL ONE;

“A lot of people give up just before they’re about to make it. You know you never know when that next obstacle is going to be the last one.” 

CHUCK NORRIS - KARATE CHAMPION AND SUCCESSFUL ACTOR.

BEING AN EXTRA! ARE YOU SERIOUS?

IN MY OPINION;

WILLIAM REYNOLDS;

BEING AN EXTRA! ARE YOU SERIOUS?

Yes, dead serious:>>  So you receive a casting notice for a film or tv show. You've done this before right. Then late that night you get a text or email from a casting director

that tells you you have been selected for a background role on 'perhaps' one of your favorite shows.

First tip: Show up! In fact, out of all of the non-union actors called for a shoot, about “20% don’t show up” according to casting directors that we know well and have to deal with on a daily basis. And casting background actors can be a more complex process than most people realize. Oftentimes, in order to increase your background booking ratio, you need a headshot that accurately shows what you look like, an array of special skills (Do NOT lie on your resume!), different looks on your disc that you can show when needed. and availability for an entire day (or even multiple days at a time). And once you get the job, it’s a whole new ballgame. “What I have come to notice is that some extras are really committed to being a character, and being a persona, were exactly the ones that ended up actually being pulled into the frame more, being talked to more, and being utilized more, “I know you’re not necessarily supposed to stand out as a background actor" , but if you’re doing something that is unique, then all of the sudden the director or the AD [assistant director] would be like, ‘This guy is really funny. He knows what he’s doing. Let’s put him over hear so that he’ll actually get in the shot.’”AND SOMETIMES GET UPGRADED TO A SPEAKING ROLE"  And the on-set experience will also end up being a lot more fun this way! “Really take it seriously. I know people get complacent when they’re doing extra work because they’re just an extra, and you don’t know if you’ll get in it, but half the time you’re there to help create the whole ambiance and the whole atmosphere. And if you’re really committed to it, it gets noticed. 

So, what does that mean for you? Submit for the roles that interest you and, from there, be sure to show up prepared — with all of your required costumes, be on-time, and don’t be in the way of production too much. Even though you’re in the background, you still are there to do a job and to play a character — no matter how small it may be. Have fun! Connect with others! And be ready to do the best you can! Because isn’t that what working on a movie set is supposed to be all about anyway? AND THEN OF COURSE THERE ARE THOSE (USUALLY BEGINNERS) THAT SAY ' I ONLY WANT SPEAKING ROLES, I'M TIRED OF BEING AN EXTRA'. WELL THESE INDIVIDUALS MIGHT ENTERTAIN THOUGHTS OF READING UP ON SAG RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR GETTING A SPEAKING ROLE.. MOST ACTORS THAT MANAGE TO ACHIEVE THAT HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER STATUS HAVE PLAYED MANY BACKGROUND ROLES WITHOUT GETTING WAY AHEAD OF THEMSELVES IN THE PROCESS.

"PILOT SEASON..IS HERE"

IN MY OPINION;

WILLIAM REYNOLDS;

"PILOT SEASON..IS HERE"

After what's been a largely forgettable fall 2015-16 season in which "TRIMMED BECAME THE NEW 'CANCELLED". Broadcast networks hope to find the next Empire or Big Bang Theory AMONG this season's 87 comedy and drama pilots. With overall orders up three year over year, despite three of the five broadcast networks pulling back on their total pickups, vertical integration continues to be the biggest story of the season. To that end, many networks bought nearly exclusively from their studio counterparts. "Personally, I believe that the ATL will get about one-third of these, as will NY and LA>

WHY DO WE THINK ACTORS 'KNOW IT ALL"?

IN MY OPINION:

WILLIAM REYNOLDS:

WHY DO WE THINK ACTORS 'KNOW IT ALL"?

Why do we idolize actors?

Mark Walberg is that rare actor who knows his place. In an interview with a  magazine after the historic 2016 Election, he criticized his fellow actors for speaking out on politics as if they are uniquely qualified and their political opinions are important. He said:

“A lot of celebrities did, do, and shouldn’t. You know, it just goes to show you that people aren’t listening to that anyway. They might buy your CD or watch your movie, but you don’t put food on their table. You don’t pay their bills. A lot of Hollywood is living in a bubble. They’re pretty out of touch with the common person, the everyday guy out there providing for their family.” "THAT GOT ME TO THINKING,,WHY DO WE REGARD ACTORS AS CELEBRITIES, THAT KNOW SO MUCH...OTHER THAN ACTING, NOT SO MUCH."

THE 'RIGHT KIND' OF ADVICE.

IN MY OPINION:

WILLIAM REYNOLDS:

THE 'RIGHT KIND' OF ADVICE.

This just happened to me today. One of our actors had to self tape an audition to send to a potential casting opportunity.

That means a JOB. She had done the self tape and showed me the results. IT ABSOLUTELY SUCKED, TO BE BLUNT.

Problem?? When She was taping she was asking a girlfriend of hers for advice on how She was doing. Yeah Right?

Always as an amateur for professional advice. You know what you get? Amateur advice for a professional job.

So, we did it ALL OVER AGAIN, but with a little input of professional advice. Looked pretty darn good, so now maybe

she will have at least a shot.

Did you know that IF another actor, especially a beginning actor starts handing out advice to yet another beginning actor,

and the Director overhears the advice. SOMEONE IS ABOUT TO GET THEIR WALKING PAPERS.

If you want advice on anything, not just acting, legal, medical, techie stuff. ASK A PRO, NOT ANOTHER AMATEUR.

SAGE ADVICE FOR STRUGGLING ACTORS

IN MY OPINION;

WILLIAM REYNOLDS;

SAGE ADVICE FOR STRUGGLING ACTORS;

Why do some people succeed in the acting world when others do not? Is it always down to talent, or do you find that, sometimes there are actors who have completed three years

at drama schools and are still stuck in a rut, or even giving up, while a new actor with only a little training and questionable skills is moving toward the top. This does happen of course.

Why? Have you ever watched a tv series or soap and thought to yourself. "There are much more talented actors out there, how in the world did they book the job? It must be there agent.

Or, maybe they are just lucky. Nope, probably neither. Being successful has nothing to do with luck and everything to do with attitude. To stop being ordinary, we (you) need to do things

that ordinary folks, actors don't do and think in a way that sets them apart from the rest. Do they need talent. Absolutely. But having talent alone is not enough. Be the kind of actor that

others want to work with and the sort of attitude that says 'success is the only option', regardless of how many 'no's' and 'rejections' you may receive.

Surround yourself with others like you and not like.......the 'others'.

CREATE, DON'T COPY

IN MY OPINION;

WILLIAM REYNOLDS;

CREATE, DON'T COPY: 

Create, don't steal, or copy from what someone else did or said. 

The vast majority of short films on the Internet are parodies or mash-ups. Only a tiny fraction of these are clever, but the real problem I have with them is that filmmakers are wasting time and talent on derivative works, leeching off of someone else's ideas (even when making fun of them). This is much like another actor trying to make it, yet full of phony knowledge.  If this keeps up, there won't be any original material left to spoof! Dare to rise above and make something wholly your own. An added benefit is that you will own your own intellectual property, so you can copyright it and maybe even profit from it. 

This little note if for wannabe writers, director and yes, even actors