Why Acting Class is Crucial in your Development as an Actor!

Do I really need to go to acting class; my friends think I?m a
natural performer? Isn?t acting all about knowing lines anyway??


If only acting where all about knowing lines. If it where that
simple everyone would be an actor. Acting requires skill and
discipline on many levels and to start to learn about these
skills and disciplines acting class is the PERFECT place.


An acting class is not like any other class, history or English
or pottery. There is no formula or textbook regurgitation to
passing an acting class.


Acting class is very different; really it is the study of YOU! Of the Self!


Great acting comes from a place of knowing. Knowing your truth,
knowing how to relate, knowing how to connect and communicate.


Acting class is the place where you go to KNOW more about YOU!


The way to learn more about your Self is to put yourself out
there. Try a love scene. How do you feel? What happens when I
allow myself to be funny or sad? How does it feel? Are my
instincts tuned? How do people react? What can I do to go
deeper?


An acting class should be a safe environment where you can learn
to express yourself. All of you. And even if your efforts flop
this is the perfect environment because it hasn?t cost you
anything in terms of losing a job or making the wrong impression
with the people that count.


Find an acting class or acting teacher that is supportive and
encouraging, one that is constructive and objective not critical.


Acting class, first and foremost should be FUN but also
challenging! You want it to be a place where you are
continuously discovering, going deeper, and pushing your comfort
zone.


Use your acting class to try everything. Don?t shy away from
your impulses, urges, and ideas, embrace them. This is how you
will grow as an actor.


This is the place where you can really screw up, fall flat on
your face, and it doesn?t matter. This is the place to learn to
push the boundaries, to discover who you are and how you work as
an actor.


Also I find that when you are continuously working on your craft
in such an environment you?re in a state ready to work, you have
greater confidence in your ability. You?re prepared to nail that
role!


So go out there, take an acting class and:


Express yourself


Learn the craft, Gather the tools


Find your Technique


Make mistakes


Learn the Lingo


Work with other like-minded people


Meet people and start a theatre group


See if your have what it takes


Practice, Practice, Practice


Add to your resume


Free yourself up


And most importantly;


Have fun!


To Your acting


Leanne Mauro

Ur Network Film/Acting Biz Support

ASCAP "Meet & Greet", Durango Songwriters Expo, Latino Screenwriter's Lab, VH1 Hip Hop Honors, Alameda Writers Group Meet, NAB New York, Gothic Pagan Halloween Ball, CMJ Music and Film Fest, Highlight October Media & Hollywood based Ur Network Alliance at http://www.urnetworkalliance.com/3.html will begin weekly networking and support group meetings featuring film and show business industry guests leading sessions where they discuss new projects, share leads and motivate serious actors, writers, and filmmakers. Meetings happen in various locations but will be situated in and around Brentwood in West Los Angeles and are limited in size so registration to email: urnetworkalliance@urnetworkalliance.com is a must. In the series titled "Anatomy Of A Script Master Class" happening in Los Angeles, Tuesdays, October 3 to November 7, Writers Guild Foundation produces a series of discussions tracking the evolution of a script. Music industry support network, ASCAP, hosts a "Meet & Greet" in Dallas on October 4 with free food and drinks and open to the public. More than 300 artists will perform as part of this year's Atlantis Music Conference in Atlanta, October 4-7, representing a wide variety of generes including Rock, Alternative, Urban/R&B, Hip Hop, DJ/Electronica, Soul, Americana, Country, Christian and more. A business primer conducted over 9 meetings, October 4 to November 29 in Westwood, explores starting an Entertainment Production Company, whether in motion pictures, television, music, or the new media sector. Durango Songwriters Expo and Conference, opening October 5 in Park City, is famously known to limit its Expo enrollment to 200 attendees to preserve that low "expert to songwriter" ratio helping to distinguish it from other music events.

Aside from presenting the best Latino films made in the US, Spain, the Caribbean, and Latin America, the 10th LALIFF holds a Latino Screenwriter?s Lab and presents the Desi Arnaz scholarship when it runs October 5-15 in Hollywood. At the Third Annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors, Ice T hosts VH1's awards show to honor Wu-Tang Clan, Afrika Bambaataa, Russell Simmons and Beastie Boys, and pay tribute to Ice Cube, at the ceremony taking place October 7 in New York City. Todd Robinson (Lonely Hearts, The Senator's Wife) leads discussions for the month's Alameda Writer's Group Meeting, October 7 in Glendale. BMI, Gibson Guitars and Billboard Magazine present the Industry Insider Series: "Where Are the New Sounds and Rhythms Taking Latin Music," October 11 in Los Angeles. SAG continues to present its Low Budget Agreements Workshop which are held the second Thursday (October 12) of every month from 6-8 pm in both New York and Los Angeles. American Cinematheque will present the 21st Annual American Cinematheque Award to George Clooney in an October 13 event taking place in Beverly Hills. Miami Digital and Cine Expo presents two days of the latest production equipment, seminars and workshops opening October 13. From October 16-28, Women In Film present "Creating Your Own Yellow Brick Road", an exploration of entrepreneurial and non-traditional Hollywood career options, held in Los Angeles. At Entertainment and Media Forum 2006 industry leaders gather in Beverly Hills, October 18 & 19, to review the challenges faced by entertainment and advertising executives to reach and engage consumers by todays leading edge technologies.

The theme at the 13th Annual Austin Film Festival and Conference, October 19-26, is "Telling Your Story By Any Means Necessary" featuring accomplished screenwriters and filmmakers participating in roundtables, panels, and with agents and producers on hand to network with. For the two day (October 20 & 21) that the 15th Annual Entertainment Law Institute will meet in Austin, a review of current legal issues, such as copyright protection for sound recordings, digital distribution of music and film distribution models are on the agenda. Nashville Songwriters Association International and Nashville Songwriters Foundation puts on an induction ceremony from Nashville October 22. When NAB New York opens October 23 it will feature more than 100 training sessions in cutting-edge production and post-production techniques and an exhibit floor that showcases the latest audio and video content creation technologies. The "Fourth Annual Los Angeles Independent Horror Film Festival and Gothic Pagan Halloween Ball" is merely a celebration of darkness in films, animation, music, art and cyber-creation, on October 29. CMJ Music Marathon and CMJ Film Fest launches October 31 running through November 4 featuring dozens of panels covering topics affecting all corners of the music industry in addition to live music and film screenings.

The above events are only a sampling of what is listed. Many of the events above have a submission process for indie and/or performing artists to take part in. Complete details are on the "Media, Entertainment and Performing Arts Industry News and Events" page at http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html. Experience the newly relaunched message board on The Actor's Checklist which now permits user profiles and private messaging which you can find at http://actorschecklist.com/phpBB2/.



News and Networking Events Covering the Media and Show Business Industry for this Month from The Actor's Checklist News & Events page at http://www.actorschecklist.com/news.html or through RSS/XML feed http://actorschecklist.com/showbiznews.rss.

Hollywood based Ur Network Alliance at http://www.urnetworkalliance.com/3.html

Tips and Tricks Found in Acting Books

For the last three years I have been reviewing books on acting for a drama weekly. However, I haven?t yet found a book on acting that compares to real acting experience. Now, I?m not saying that acting books are worthless because they have their place. These books contain an almost encyclopedic discussion of various acting methodologies and approaches. These books also can also provide useful contact information that might take a while to find on your own. Nevertheless, a book on acting cannot take the place of a good acting course.

Acting books can help you to take your first steps into the world of acting. After that, it is all up to you. You can study all of the books on acting that you want, and try out every acting technique known to man on your own, but they are worthless if you can not use them to impress a director. Acting may require a lot of methodology, but the methodology is not the point. Acting is about figuring out what you want to do and finding ways to do it. Some professional actors know so many techniques that they write acting books on their own, but others know very little. Diving into the mind of the character to make him or her come alive is enough for them.

You should consider getting a few drama books instead of spending hard earned money that actors tend to have in such small quantities on acting books. Classic books of plays are an actor's best friend. After all, theater is one of the original art forms. You can strengthen your acting by delving more deeply into theatrical arts. Even movie actors can attest to the benefit of reading drama books. In fact, many of the best movie actors started out with Shakespearean acting courses. Only a select few actually spend their time reading acting books.

Now, don?t get me wrong because I?m not trying to discourage you entirely. Go ahead and read acting books if you are inspired by reading them. Spending time with whatever inspires you to act is important and worthwhile. Just remember that the purpose of these acting books is inspiration and ideas. None of them will give you real acting experience, although they can be great sources. You will have to take acting courses, go to acting workshops, and hustle for jobs like the rest of the acting world if you want to gain valuable acting experience.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Acting Books. Visit our site for more helpful information about Humorous Duet Acting Scripts and other similar topics.

11 Jobs That Can Help You Stay Focused On Your Acting Career

1. Try to get work in a casting director or an agent?s office. Sometimes in the industry trade papers agents and casting directors advertise for assistants and people to work a few hours a week opening mail and doing office chores. It?s a great way to learn what goes on in their offices. You get to see the kinds of mail other actors send in, overhear telephone conversations, and just basically see what it?s like first hand.

2. The Actors Connection is an organization in New York that provides a great service to actors by giving them the opportunity to meet and audition for agents, casting directors and other industry professionals who are not always the easiest people to be able to meet. They do this in the form of seminars every evening and often even on Saturdays. During the seminars there are what I call ?gate keepers? who keep the time and ensure that all the participants get an equal share of the industry professional?s time who is conducting the individual session.

At times AC is looking for people to work, usually flexible hours as one of the ?gate keepers?. That is also a great way to meet first hand casting directors and agents, listen in on the question and answer sessions before the individual, one on one sessions take place. A great way to learn!

3. In addition, there are other acting schools around the city that look for assistants.

4. Theater companies looking for stage personel and production assistants often with no experience necessary. Prerequisite is to be responsible and a fast learner.

5. There are also a host of casting websites and organizations, such as Actors Access, Breakdown Services, NYCastings as well. If you do a Google search, you will find a slew of others. Why not see if they need help or could use your services?

6. There are also showcases and industry events that are organized to help actors promote their careers. It's a great way to meet casting directors and agents. The organization of those events is a big to do and they need hosts and hostesses to help the event go smoothly. You can find information about such events by simply keeping abreast of what?s going on in the industry. Read the trade papers regularly and check the top acting/casting websites.

7. Why not see if the local union offices of SAG, AFTRA and EQUITY could use some help? Find out where their offices are. See if you can find out what they might be looking for. Find out who the person is you need to contact and if your approach is to send a cover letter, then address the person by his name as opposed to ?To whom it may concern.?

8. Do you have skills that one of the trade papers could be interested in, maybe to work in one of their offices? Could be an idea to contact Backstage, Ross Reports, probably the most read of the industry papers. Have a look on the internet or in the Drama Book Shop in New York to see some of the other possibilities that exist.

9. There are many production companies who are looking for good people with skills.

10. Do you have the skills to form a production company? I know someone, a fellow actor, who has done just that. It?s a great way to make industry contacts with people who could also help you further your career as an actor.

11. Do you have the skills to start and run your own small business, form your own company? What do you love to do? Could you turn your hobby into a business? If so, do you know other responsible and reliable people who share your same passion and who have good business skills? If so, maybe you could form your own company together with those people. Why not? As time goes on, you could gradually distance yourself from the daily business of running your small company and dedicate more and more time to acting and promote your acting career.

The whole point of this article is to help you think. If you don't have a steady stream of residual income that will permit you to focus 100% of your time on your acting career and you have to work in the traditional sense to make ends meet, then at least do something that will keep you connected to the industry and at the same time help you grow in some way as an actor.

Anthony Smith left a successful corporate career as a senior manager in Nike and Levi's after 15 years to follow his dream of becoming an entrepreneur, writer, motivational speaker and actor. While enjoying success in his "new" life, Anthony shares his business insight and acting experience with young actors. Aside from acting work, he has created http://www.actingcareerstartup.com and his first book, Acting Career Start-Up: Four Key Factors For Success will hit the U.S. market in April 2007.

How To Get A Disney Channel Acting Audition

Kids all over the country dream of making it big in show business. While acting jobs can be hard to land, it is possible to break into this difficult field by answering a call for a Disney Channel acting audition. Many of today's hottest young entertainers got their start from a Disney Channel acting audition. Though there are sometimes hundreds, or even thousands of people competing for just a few spots, this has been the big break that boosted the career of many performers.

The easiest way to land a Disney Channel acting audition is through an agent. They are made aware of current calls and will have the specifics of the open roles available. It is much easier for inexperienced actors and actresses to get themselves noticed by using an agent than attempting to land these highly sought after roles on their own. While there are ways of getting a Disney Channel acting audition on your own, this is the simplest route.

A great resource that will allow you an inside look at a Disney Channel acting audition listing is the Disney website at http://home.disney.go.com. Their corporate section has a special page that will let the public know about any open auditions, casting calls, or extras opportunities. While this may not get you the scoop on every Disney Channel acting audition, it can be a foot in the door if you do not have an agent. Check this page regularly to see what auditions are being offered nearest you.

Though winning a part through a Disney Channel acting audition can be difficult, with hard work it is possible. Just take a look at all of the big name celebrities who have become hugely successful after a start on the Disney Channel. Who knows, maybe you could be the next huge success!

Rian Avanau is an avid Disney fan. He happily maintains a website with reviews of disney games and the games based on the latest disney channel shows

The Future of Video Search, Getting Paid For Acting Like A Jackass

Found an interesting article on SEOChat regarding Google?s plans for video (both regarding Google Video and their newly acquired youTube properties). Here was one of the most interesting quotes from the article:

Google and YouTube made another announcement about the same time that attracted some serious attention from those in the search community. Over the next few months, the two companies are going to introduce a system whereby those who upload videos to YouTube?s site will get to share advertising revenues. The details have not been worked out yet, but only those who actually own the copyright to the videos they upload will be eligible.

Beautiful, now all of those kids with videos of fireworks going off in their hands and exploding soda bottles will be able to make money from their dangerous acts.

Seriously though, this is a phenomenal idea. A few weeks ago I was having a discussion with a commenter on another blog about Digg. There has been a lot of controversy about Digg?s rating system and the ability for top users to get any article they choose to the first page.

The first page of digg means thousands and thousands of visitors to your site. Advertisers and marketers have been contacting the top users of digg, in some cases offering cash to get their particular article or website to the front page. But, the most interesting thing about digg, and one of the biggest reasons the top diggers are taking compensation is that digging takes work, time, skill, but digg is free. There is absolutely no way to monetize your efforts (as a user) through digg. Digg itself is only supported by advertising.

Some might say this is what makes digg so great, but I wonder if the complete lack of monetary compensation for diggers might lead to its eventual collapse. I personally don?t have time to spend hours searching the web digging sites and articles.

Google?s announcement may also shed light into how they plan to index videos. By allowing users to post their own videos, and get a portion of advertising revenue from any ads shown before, during, or after the video it gives people incentive to add the proper search and meta data to their videos (the most time consuming portion of video search). Video search is complicated in that content spans time (changes over time) and it is completely visual. Unlike text on a blog or a website, it is not as easy for a search engine to scan through a video. I am sure some kind of automatic detection process is being worked on, but even if it is flawless it will probably take a lot of processing power to detect any content.

For now, humans are probably the best tools for adding meta data to videos.

For more information on the future of search and search marketing you can contact the author of this article, Zach Katkin via his company web site at http://www.webdesignid.com.

Zach also authors a blog at Naples, Fort Myers and Estero Based Web Design Firm, Unique ID Web design with his business partner and fellow technologically savvy employees.

Acting Camps ... Creating Drama The Professional Way

Parenting absorbs another irony as teens and pre-teens move off to the range of summer acting camps, in order to learn the arts of creating real-life character dramatizations. Script analysis, language and diction, the relationship of actor to camera, lighting, sound, stage design, TV versus 16mm film versus video, and much more in the latest generation of performing arts summer camp programs.

What Goes Into A Summer Drama Camp? From a high-impact high-intensity weekend workshop summer theater camp to 2-week long arts programs, your budding teen stage or screen artist gains small group highly personalized instruction in the creation and delivery of believable performances projecting entirely new characters. Truthful characterization, the immersion process that results in a young actress totally absorbing a learned role, means overcoming shyness through instruction, while adopting the physical and psychological attributes of a newly acquired character...just like witnessing an acting session by an emerging Tom Cruise, Marlon Brando or Robert Duvall or Kate Blanchard.

Acting Camp - Writing Development. In any multi-faceted performing arts summer camp, the "total artistic" composition includes the dynamics of creative writing...establishing a plot...developing artistic tension through events and dialogue...creating characters with depth and nuance...weaving the various characters into a plot...ensuring that the film score or stage play conforms to the timing limits of the performance. All this and more adds to the creative writing immersion experience for young actresses and film makers.

Summer Theater Camp - Learning About Directing. Making Star Wars or producing weekly Comedy Central programming combines the best of creativity, scripting analysis from the writers pool, selection of actors and actresses best suited for each role, understanding and manipulation of the various staging, lighting and sound technologies, as well as creating budgets and producing to a due date time table. Teen actors looking to enter the entertainment and creative arts industries use summer acting camp as an exposure experience to learn the skills and responsibilities of directing. Rule? Know what a director knows and you'll become the very best actor you can be!

Summer Acting Camps - Technologies Unwrapped. What's the difference between a 16mm camera, a pocket held digital camera or a video camera? How does daytime lighting...mixing artificial with natural sunlight ...compare with night time stage sets? How do you create the ideal camera crew? How many people are required? How many cameras? What sort of post-shooting editing is necessary to finish an "in-the-can" theater or film project? What sorts of sound equipment, microphones and placements are available, and from how many separate input channels? The top theater camps set the foundation for future actors jobs. Just ask any Oscar winning actress, writer or director.

Scheduling, Enrollment Tips And Costs. Pure acting camps or musical theater summer camp programs more heavily focused on song, dance and dramatic theme vary on curriculum format...expect enrollments to be small-group oriented unlike a summer sports camp...enrollments typically fill out quickly pre-summer, yet for older actors and actresses can lead to all-year theater jobs. Costs vary from New York to California and spots between...estimate up to $200/day or more depending upon the location and whether leading stage and film actors and actresses provide workshops...add your travel costs...remember to throw in "spending money" for incidentals. Check to see that the summer acting camp maintains current wide coverage indemnity insurance to protect your child against unforeseen risks.

The Acting Bottom Line. Imagine the gain in knowledge, self-expression and confidence as your daughter or son completes a total immersion performing arts summer camp, returning home to star in a local production, or prepare themselves for a college acting degree program or launches their film or production career!

Learn More About Acting Camps.
Please go to the following links for additional details on teen summer acting camps for your family?s needs.

Info on Acting Camps: http://www.wise4living.com/kidcamp/acting.htm

Info on Teen Summer Camps: http://www.wise4living.com/kidcamp/

Robin Derry is publisher for http://www.wise4living.com/ a specialty knowledge site that gives insights and solutions into specialty summer acting camps programs, auto tire and wheels technology trends, medical spas, home and gardening projects such as decks and deer fencing, technology trends, unique gift designs, HDTV and home entertainment systems, technology gifts, tips for families committed to youth summer camps, body health, household, sport, travel, footwear, education, spendthrift trusts and family law legal needs, and much more.

Acting Or Non-Acting Schools

How to choose an Acting School: There are so many schools for acting out there in the world. So many styles and form of acting to be aware of. So what does one do in order choose the ultimate acting education.

Well there are two basic forms of studying acting: Formally- with literature and the history thereof. Doing It: observing people and mimicking our own versions of it. Observing our emotions.

So get a list of Schools for acting that pertains to your desire. And decide where you want to go. Location is key.

Different tips on how to choose an Acting School: There is also the world of acting Class. This class workshop is basically the same as school but quicker and no diploma. Same info attained though. So in this field it's not really important to have a diploma. And choosing a class workshop will give you more flexibility and management of time.

If you are one for the 4 year acting school. I recommend one with high prestige or either wacky outlook. You can make it either way! Trust the situation at hand.

Actors explore and Acting teaches actors to explore their insufficiencies. In a university you do this for 4 years with a same group of people. You will get very close to them. But with a workshop you will get close to these people and it'll be much quicker.

I have had some random extraordinary adventures with the acting classes. I studied in a few schools for acting. I recommend doing what suits you best . Indulge in the 4 year commitment. Find an alternative. Study from the world. Find Classes. Either one will lead you the right way.

More on How to choose an Acting School

There's more on this Film/Acting Website

Acting

Acting...

The universe and all of history is your classroom

It takes a very strong and dedicated person to pursue a career
in acting. After all, you are doing it because you love it. You
couldn't imagine doing anything else. And of course, not many
people will understand this.

Some people cannot understand why anyone would want to do
something with such an unpredictable future. But you know it is
you future, it must be.

No one can quiet explain that feeling that you get when you
perform. One of the most exciting things about acting is that
you can be or do anything that you want. All the worries and
sorrows disappear. The stage is a very relaxing place. It's your
home. You learn, grow, and develop there, as an actor and as a
person.

The members of the audience come to be entertained and/or
educated. They are living out their fantasies through your
character. Therefore, your portrayal of the character must real
and truthful.

In order to act, you must be an observer of life. You must watch
people closely: how they talk, the gestures they make, and so
forth. You must observe and then be able to duplicate what you
see. This is real.

This is true life. You also must experience all that you can.
This gives you more knowledge and a broad area to work with for
understanding your character.

Try new things, experience life. Don't be the spectator, that's
not your job. The definition of to act is to do. As Miss Stella
Adler said, "You cannot afford to confine you studies to the
classroom. The universe and all of history is your classroom."


Addicted to acting? Me too! Tap into an ever-growing source of Free articles, resources, and insider career tips, visit my site at http://www.acting-1.com