1) Find a pair of cozy fun socks. Don’t go plain Jane on me.

2) Watch a new film and study the acting in it. Maybe even learn a scene from it. For women roles I highly suggest watching Battle of the Sexes. Emma Stone performance is amazing and for the men I would watch Downsizing with Matt Damon. Both current and strong performances. I really enjoyed just watching the films too. 

3) Start an acting blog. Show people what training your doing, what plays your doing and talk about the work. 

4) Go to the gym. I don’t care what size you are but what if there is a running scene and you can’t run. YIKES! 

5) Do an acting workshop in your hometown or better yet travel to one. Keep your training current. The good thing is that training is indoors and you can wear your cozy socks. 

6)  Gear up for pilot season and rehearse some scenes. Get ready for self tapes. There will be lots if you have your portfolios in full gear. Demo or footage on your breakdowns are key.

7) Breakdowns are slow. Relax. February is coming. Be prepared for a busy season. Get an agenda and a calendar. Color code. Block off self tape deadlines. Self tapes don’t mean optional auditions. It’s just like going to one in person. Make sure you find some reading buddies that you can call up. If you need a male reader make sure it’s a guy and if your reading with female characters make sure it’s a girl. So make sure you have a few buddies.

8) Make sure you set some time aside so you and your agent can review your profiles before February. Take notes and really listen. Make sure you do this before pilot season. When working L.A. hours and regular hours February gets crazy and we are focusing really hard on pitches. Do it during the down time.

9) Go see a theatre show. Go see people act and see what inspires.

10) Get more than one pair of fuzzy socks. Canada’s winters are long. One pair of fuzzy socks just won’t cut it.

Hope these tips get you out of these winter blues. Remember…PILOT SEASON IS COMING. 

Lisa Meuser

Talent agent

 

2018 is here! Are you ready to work hard? Are you determined?  You really have to make sure you really want to be an actor. Being an actor is one of the hardest jobs.  It’s a really hard road if you don’t. There is loads of rejection and you really have to believe in yourself and work hard for it. 

Be brave about rejection and remember it’s not personal. It is necessary.  It usually means that you need more training when you don’t get the job whether it’s audition techniques or just in general. With every rejection you learn from it.  Remember being an actor is a vocation. You are going to get people saying no, so what? Fail. Fail again and keep going. Go to all your auditions. Build your portfolio. If you can’t do anything else it means you are an actor. 

Going to start with some tips that would hopefully inspire you to what you want to achieve as an actor.  Since it’s 2018  I decided to do 18 tips.  

1) Have an audition journal. Write down what you thought went well and what you thought didn’t. Make a note if you got the job or not. You may start to see a pattern of what works for bookings and what doesn’t. Monthly go through it with your agent and start working towards your goals.

2) Tom Hiddleston chats about how actors are like anthropologists. They are sort out there. They are digging away at a mind chart of collective emotions of human beings. The present, the past and history. The actors have to bring back their findings.  Think of different characters in shows and breakdown the characters. This will help you with auditions and projects. It will bring more depth to your roles.  Have a character notebook and start breaking down roles. What can you bring to different characters? Even go to a coffee shop or a bar. Really watch people.  Take notes. Not for very long though cause that might get weird. Watch people’s mannerisms. 

3) Work with directors as much as possible. 

4) Practice memorizing lines so it becomes effortless. Then you could put more work into your character rather than focusing on memorizing.

5) Train. 

6) Work on special skills like accents. 

7) Think of what your brand is. What characters can you play? Do you look Russian? Could you play this character? Maybe it would be a good idea to work on that particular accent. 

8) When you figure out what characters you play make sure you get head-shots that illustrate this. If your head shots don’t display a character how would that director think you would fit that role.  Head shots are your golden tickets.

9) Read scripts. You are an actor. 

10)  Watch films that were filmed in Canada and Canadian TV shows. Figure out who the director is and notice what he/she is looking for within the characters that you can portray. Take notes and you will see a pattern. If you get an audition for a show or movie with the director you studied you can bring those notes into your sides and character. You know exactly what the director is looking for in a character and you can portray that accordingly. That can help you get a job. Every director has their own style. Study. Study. Study. 

11) Do your size card on casting workbook and breakdown. Sometimes you can be hired directly if you fit what they are looking for. They can search it. If you are missing something it basically means you could be missing out opportunities.

12) Do your slate on Breakdowns. ONLY say just your name.

13) Demo reel should be up on casting workbook and breakdown. Make sure your material is professional. Bad material could harm you from getting an audition.

14) Prepare for pilot season. If you don’t have your demo up on the breakdowns by February you will get less auditions. Be prepared to do self tapes. Check out this link to view some self tapes:

15) Don’t be afraid to talk to your agent to discuss your career and goal. I know I can always make myself available for my roster.

16) Take the time to update your profiles. Make sure everything is current.

17) Go to networking events. Meet people in the industry. Apply the 15 minute rule. Don’t over talk. Introduce yourself, who your represented by and maybe a bit more. Then leave. 

18) Love yo self.

Keep working for your dream. 

Lisa Meuser

Talent Agent