Acting
Acting Stage 32 Blogs
Shed. Create. Book The Room.
When RB asked me to guest blog, tell a personal story and give some advice, I shuddered. So much wisdom has been written. From great essays that went viral like Frank Langella's The Demon Seesaw Actors Ride to Julia Cameron's bible The Artists Way, there's so much to say and nothing to say ... The same demons the divine Langella and Cameron speak of remind me that I am an actor, not a writer, and what if no one wants to read my words? But just like when I walk onto a stage, onto a set, into...

...good intentions.
Thanks for bearing with the weird title... Recently I have been on several interviews for jobs, 'proper' jobs, some of them highly paid, with real responsibility. They went well, I have been called in for second interviews.... The thing is - I don't want any of them! Really, I couldn't imagine anything less appealing, I know what I really want to do and it's not that! My journey into the world of the entertainment industry has been short if you look at it from the point of me trying...

Sh*t Or Get Off The Pot
Show business has always been in my blood. When I was 5, I stood on a stage and sang with a live band at my grandfather's infamous restaurant in New York, Moskowitz and Lupowitz. Based in the lower east side, the restaurant was a celebrity hangout for the likes of Henry Fonda, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Laurence Olivier and Paul Neman. The world's biggest stars walked through that door every day. Some of the effects rubbed off on me. My uncle Hy Anzel was an accomplished character actor who worked in telev...

The ABC's of Getting an Agent
The most frequent question asked of me is, "How do I get an agent?" My Plan A and the one I consider the strongest approach is to mail well-thought out, and attractive hardcopy packages that appeal directly to the needs of the agency (commercial or theatrical). All packages will include a picture, resume, cover letter and access to a performance reel. I spend a great deal of time on this in my business of acting class, and devoted an entire chapter plus additional segments in other chapters, to...

For the Love of Acting
So who is Sonal Shah and why are you reading this? I'm just a gal in the entertainment industry. Everyone is on his/her own path and has a story to share. As an actress, here is a bit of mine. I've been a bridesmaid 15 times. FIFTEEN!!! Yep, I'm the little brown version of Katherine Heigl. Wait a second, does that mean I only have to be in 12 more weddings before I get to marry James Marsden?? Albeit, I don't have a husband...I am married to my acting career. Sound like a clich'e? We...

Landing Lincoln
It all started in the back hills of Virginia. The run to the 'outhouse' was a cold and hurried experience... that's when I knew I had to act... not really but I thought that sounded good... After having performed in a few local productions and also "expressing" my extra/ background work with a couple of serious films, I was notified by a local casting organization, Erica Arvold Casting, that Mr. Spielberg was coming to town and that she was seeking a few actors to read for some desired roles...

Branding Yourself Successfully As An Actor
Let's face it. As actors we all want the same thing - to work! We want the chance to joyously share our talents and we dream of being able to make huge artistic contributions in film, TV and theatre. But how many actors set specific goals? Do you know exactly WHO YOU ARE as an actor and what specific movies or TV shows you are right for...and why? If not, you're not alone. I've done guest stars with faces you'd recognize. I'm always amazed that when I speak with these other actors on set...

Scared Stiff Reviews interviews Stage 32 CEO Richard Botto
Stage 32 member, Forris Day Jr. asked me to be a guest on his terrific podcast, Scared Straight Reviews. We discussed the origins and future of Stage 32, recent success stories, and how members of the community can get the most out of the site. My thanks to Forris for the opportunity... I enjoyed every minute. Here's a link to the streaming audio: http://chirb.it/255t6E Also, it came to our attention that my HeadshotCafé interview with Ajay from Argentum Photo Labs had been knocked o...

Part II: ACTOR MUSCLE: Handling "Rejection" & "Failure" & Surviving Yourself
Training?! Isn’t There An App For That? I went to a film premiere recently and a very young, very handsome guy asked if I was an actress. I said, "Yes". He said, "Great! Can I sit next to you?" In the next few minutes, this total stranger gave me a brief but detailed spin of his life: yes, he was an actor, but unemployed. He'd had a series, but it was cancelled. Now, his manager wouldn't return his calls, and his auditions recently had been awful and unnerving. I casually suggested that he m...

Part I: ACTOR MUSCLE: Handling "Rejection" & "Failure" & Surviving Yourself
One of the most frequent comments I get is, "Acting? Oh my God, I could never do that. All that rejection! The daily dust-off from pounding pavement is discouraging and I can only pass on the things I eventually learned to survive it myself. One of the secrets to tenacity is reverse psychology - I choose to look pragmatically at all facets of the cycle as opportunities. These things keep me grounded: "ENERGY BREEDS ENERGY" Energy breeds energy, it's a law of physics. The business side of...
