Acting

It's hard being an actor or any type of freelance artist. Few freelance artists, whether they be actors, videographers, crew members, scriptwriters, photographers, etc… are able to make a living in their field. Especially, at the beginning of their career. Instead of taking on a 9:00-5:00 job that takes you away from pursuing your chosen art form, why not find some great side hustle jobs to bring in additional income? You might even be able to find jobs that are in your field. Here are 10...

As a working actor, I am often asked: How do you balance your acting career with the rest of your life? It usually comes from those who aren't actors/artists or those who are actors but are struggling to find that balance. This got me thinking about balance and I asked myself whether "balance" is just an abstract idea or something practical to have in your life. More importantly, is it even possible to have balance with all the things we have going on, all the tasks we have to perform every...

Do you remember when you were a kid and you heard adults talk about "the way it used to be" or even "how things are done now?" That’s because the world is constantly shifting and evolving and it’s the same for how we do business. Our personal and professional lives - everything about "how it used to be" has changed in recent years. Do we fear it? Do we welcome it? These are the questions we’re forced to ask ourselves - the leftovers of a world forever having to change "business as usual." A...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Have you had a creative weekend so far? I have some content here for you that is sure to get the creative juices flowing, so grab your coffee, and let's dive in. First up, we're getting inspired with this video from British Vogue, interviewing tons of household name actors on how they view the industry and their careers. I think one of the most important questions asked was when the person felt they had "made it." For many of them, they never feel like they have,...

Many people have asked me what acting has to do with stunts. Well, everything. We are not just stunt people. We are not simply daredevils hungry for the next big thrill or buzz junkies craving our adrenalin fix. We are actors who perform stunts in character. It does not matter whether it's doubling or a role with no lines. It's still a performance, and it still needs a believable and three-dimensional character. That said, what is stunt acting? What is involved in the process? What is a stunt ac...

Okay, you are a licensed Stunt Performer. What now? Firstly, I used to say to myself, "Now that you have the license to act as a human crash dummy, don't be a dummy!" What it means is to look after yourself. Because the most challenging work, the most difficult part, is just beginning. After your initial grading, you will become a stunt action personnel (again, this may vary from country to country). What it means is that you are pretty much a trainee. You can be onset and work; however, you...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! First, congratulations to all of you who have already participated in our monthly Introduce Yourself Weekend! Thousands of connections have been made between entertainment creatives and professionals from around the globe. Whether you are a long-time member or brand new to Stage 32, take a moment to pop over to the Introduce Yourself Lounge and say hello before the end of the weekend. December means the holidays have arrived, and the count down to the end of the...

Thanksgiving just ended, the next morning, you and your family head into their local mall or downtown commercial center for Black Friday shopping, and you have the kids in tow. All of a sudden, you see a recognizable commercial or cartoon character trying to entice you to come into their store. They’re waving, they’re jumping up and down, or maybe they’re handing out samples. Around the corner, you encounter a long line to see Santa Claus because every kid wants to get a head start on th...

Whether you’re a new or seasoned Voice Actor, you don't get very far into voiceover without hearing about the mighty demo. Why is that? Well, since the beginning of professional voice actor-hood, demos have been used to showcase the vocal range and portfolio of voice talent. Today, demos are used as business cards or calling cards for Voice Actors. It’s one of the only ways potential clients can hear your voiceover chops outside of auditioning, so it’s pretty important to be sure our demos ar...

Being pushed and shoved. Getting punched and kicked. Just another day in the office. Being hit by a car. Getting blown up. Just another day in the office. Yes, I am talking about the, for many years, overlooked unsung heroes of the entertainment industry: Stunt actors. I have been privileged to have been part of that unique group of people. Some call us daredevils. Others call us adrenalin junkies. Still, others refer to us as fools. We are none of these. We are actors, and the risks we ta...