Stephen Mitchell, author of Action/ReAction, talks about branding, technique and smart marketing for actors.
An actor's brand doesn't always arrive fully articulated and nuanced. In this podcast, I talk about Steve before he was fully 'Steve'...
Why it's important to 'Make an entrance' as an actor and understanding how to do it even without help!
My first 'epicenter' was the set of the TV series Mission: Impossible on the Paramount lot. Here's why it's important to have one of your own...
The first questions an actor or actress should ask before getting around to the usual FAQs
The numbers governing the casting of movie and TV roles are staggering and I'm not talking about the number of actor submissions for every part that is listed in a casting notice...
When we begin to think out of the box, should we assume there's only one box?
When do you join S.A.G. and what is financial core?
What the Kelley Blue Book is to automobiles, the Q rating is to actors--crafting the craft of acting...
A simple, easy way to upgrade the quality of your acting that is pleasurable and vastly rewarding.
The 'hurry up' machine got me to thinking about the wavelength of an actor's voice...
The care & feeding of passive-aggressive friends and family...
My encounters with acting icon Steve McQueen and the lessons about acting and branding I took away from talking with the screen legend.
Talking about the two modes of an actor's performance.
Reward the audience for their kind attention; you are not there to deliver words like the pizza man delivers pizzas...
When, why and how to say no is an important consideration for actors...
Find out why a performance can feel right to you as an actor but look all wrong to the audience...
Every business endeavor should have a board of directors that can keep it on the path to success--who is on your board (and how to add some great names to your board)?
Why we should follow the example of Irving 'Swifty' Lazaar...
Show business can't wait until someone calls "Action!"
How do you get an agent? When do you need an agent? What does an agent want?
Why paying attention to this can take your acting to the next level. Try the experiment I outline at the end of the podcast!
Acting: A cynic's perfect paradise or reflections on keeping one's head above water for as long as possible...
A philosophical approach to acting can change not only the way you perceive yourself with regard to the industry but the results you achieve as well.
No one succeeds in the entertainment business without receiving help from somebody...
Smart marketing makes your public want what you've got. In your experience, does submitting resumes to casting notices accomplish that?
No! You don't need to know anything about the character! Find out why I say this...
I encourage actors to think of their careers in strategic terms and to approach their acting from the perspective of taking control of what may seem to be uncontrollable.
Once you have mastered the art of playing a character, there is another layer of performance you can confront. It isn't in the script and you have to give yourself permission to author and implement it but it can and will take you to another level as an actor.
In my book, Action/ReAction, I advise actors to think of themselves as singer/dancers as the rules of those disciplines apply very effectively to speaking dialogue and expressing emotion. In this podcast, I talk about the use of vocal tonality in making a performance more organic.
The better defined a product is, the easier it is to market and that which makes you different is what defines you for the audience. Let's find out what that is...
Everything you do on screen sends a message about you, the story and other things as well so it is best that an actor understand the impact of his or her actions--nothing should be random or arbitrary.
An effective brand not only articulates the personality dynamics of an actor or actress but it can serve as a catalyst for bigger, better and more challenging roles as filmmakers start to see your brand as more interesting than the character as written in the script they are casting.
This quote from Miles Davis was meant for musicians but is particularly applicable to actors and points to the essential part of acting. Dialogue is only 20% of the performance.
Branding and typecasting are at the opposite ends of the spectrum for an actor. Learn the difference and the consequences of each as it affects your career.
Most of what you communicate as an actor--both on and off the screen--transacts at a subliminal level. Learn what you are communicating and how to tailor your message to convey that you are a seasoned professional worthy of upgraded roles.
In launching a career as an actor, writer or director, it is important to understand your brand and develop it to a point of expertise before marketing to the people who actually hire actors. Follow all of the expert advice and you are likely to end up in the parking lot instead of on the 50-yard line taking snaps from center. If you are still doing under-5s, your career has yet to launch...
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