This is an excerpt from my book,
SO YOU WANNA BE A NEW YORK ACTOR? It seems appropriate at the moment: lots of actors are complaining right now that the business is slow. The union merger is causing confusion, and/or it's just a momentary lull.
BUT, You're presented with an opportunity here. Try on of these 20 things!
(Get it? The puppy is "stuck"!)
20 THINGS YOU CAN DO WHEN YOU FEEL STUCK
1)
Volunteer in a casting office. When you meet a new casting director, ask them
if they ever need readers or assistants. Readers are the audition assistants
that read audition scenes with the actors who come in. It’s a great way to get
to know the casting people, to show that you know how to act, and to demystify
the process, so you’re much more relaxed next time you come in.
2)
Volunteer as an intern to do some office work with your agent or manager. It
can be really eye-opening for an actor to see exactly what goes on in the
office all day. The actors get to know their reps better, and vice versa. This
relationship is crucial. Why not spend some time on it?
3)
Take a class. Improv, Stand-up, Storytelling, VoiceOver, Shakespeare. There are
1000 great classes in the city. Classes will sharpen your talent, they will
help you network, and they will give you something to put on a postcard.
4)
Go to the gym.
5)
Write a short film script. The book “Screenplay” by Syd Field is the classic
how-to manual on screenwriting.
6)
Organize an actors' support group with a few of your friends to meet once a
week and work on new material. A support group can help you work your audition
material, can sharpen your mailings and correspondence, and hold you
accountable for your marketing plan. When you set a goal and tell everyone about
it, you're much more likely to put the work in.
7)
Submit yourself for five things you would not normally submit yourself for.
8)
Learn a new monologue.
9)
Organize your expenses to date so you are better prepared for tax season.
10)
Write a thank you to your agent or manager for no specific reason, just for
their partnership in causing your success.
11)
Read a play you have never read before.
12)
Pick your favorite actor. Rent three movies he/she is in, and have a movie
marathon.
13)
Register to do background/extra work. Being an extra is boring, yes, but it
pays and gives you the opportunity to work on a set. If you're not comfortable
with how a film/tv/commercial set works, then do some extra work and learn the
lingo. You can register with the big casting directors either by mail or open
calls.
14)
Go to an open call you wouldn't normally attend. Open calls are great ways to
gain experience and the perfect venue to debut a new monologue you've been
preparing.
15)
If you sing, prepare a song and tape it for your website or to send in CD form
when you do mailings.
16)
Hold a staged reading in your apartment. Cast your friends in all the roles.
17)
Research improv and/or theatre groups and submit yourself to five.
18)
Videotape yourself doing a scene or monologue and watch the tape. Look to see
what works and what is missing.
19)
Learn a new accent so you can add it to your repertoire. The standard way to do
this is to buy practice tapes at any drama bookshop, but thanks to the magic of
youtube, you can also find free lessons online.
20)
Start an AFI film club with your friends. Go to AFI's website and pick one of
their many “Top 100” lists, then start working your way down the list, watching
the movies. Pay special attention to studying the performances.
This is 2012: The Year of Content, right? I made a promise to myself to create something new: a web series, a pilot, a novel, a play. When no one is creating projects to showcase you as an actor, you have to start creating them yourself!
