Ward Acting Studio Podcast

Having respect for your classmates is a good thing, but don't revere them too much.

One of the habits you can create that helps get rid of nerves and allows you to do your best work under pressure is to value every acting experience equally.

As an actor, you're your own business.  When you're going to meet an industry professional, find out all you can before the meeting.

When you start to see tangible proof of the value of something that is the time to invest more in it.

Honest conversations to determine if your relationship is supporting or hindering your acting career.

If you're a specific type, be fully prepared to own that niche.

Learn to put your attention somewhere else than on yourself.

Know the boundary between overfamiliarity and professional courtesy.

Sexism in the acting industry is a huge topic and takes a lot of time to discuss.  It can also be really complicated.  It's not as simple as "standing your ground."  If you want to have a career and not be a victim of sexism, you'll have to chart your way through complicated waters.

If you've ever felt intimidated by the actor who walks in exhibiting that "I already know these people" air, let it go.  Regardless of how they might come across, the actors who you find intimidating are possibly terribly insecure.  You can beat those feelings inside of yourself by calmly knowing you're the best in the room.  But you have to become the best in the room.

Best practices for your auditions when it comes to using accents or other physical adjustments.

An actor's voice can be one of his or her most attractive traits.  It can also become a great disadvantage when it is too manipulated, overly character-y or obviously projecting the sound of feeling when no real feelings are present.

Yes, there comes a time when actors need to identify themselves as working actors.  There are also plenty of times when making more money is a reality that actors need to face.  It takes a certain type of confidence to take yourself out of the marketplace -- to train, to plan for a move, etc.  But sometimes that time out of the marketplace sets you up for a much bigger leap in your career.

During his many interviews with Charlie Rose, Robin Williams shared some basic tips he learned from others in the industry.  They are the same skills we strive to create in Meisner courses -- be reminded of how important they are.

It's not your job to change the atmosphere of where you are.  It is your responsibility to manage your own feelings and get through the difficult times.  There are people who are dream killers.  Don't try to convince them of anything.  My advice -- stay away from them as much as you can and keep your eye on your long-term goals.

Don't understand why you're not enthused about shooting your new webseries?  Wondering why you don't feel like going out and auditioning?  Everyone goes through those down times when we can't figure out why we aren't more excited about stuff we could be doing for our careers.  Wendy discusses this and a new resource that might help.

You've heard it before, "Don't try to be funny."  Don't.

I've been teaching 25 years and I see actors becoming more and more fragile. It's not helpful.  It hinders greatness.  Actors need to understand that just like athletes they have to toughen up to get on their game.

If you play the adjectives, you'll end up with a caricature and that's never believable.

Using endearments like "love," "dear," "sweetie," etc. is just wrong in this industry.  Please don't do this until you are least on a first name basis with someone.  Even using a person's first name can be presumptuous.  Better to err on the conservative side and wait until a name is given to you to use.  People like to say, "Oh, you can call me by my first name."

Mickey Rourke was given a second chance but do not romanticize the stories you hear on the Actor's Studio and think that your bad behavior will be tolerated.  Being difficult to work with can sabotage your career.

Sometimes being ready to shoot the best take just takes some time.

Sometimes students complain about friends who disparage their Meisner training by saying things like "Sounds like a cult!"  When actors make a commitment to training, sometimes it means giving up Friday nights out with friends in favor of rehearsing or prepping for that Saturday class.  Sometimes significant personal growth shows on the actor's face, as he talks enthusiastically about his new experiences.  And those experiences can threaten other people -- especially other actors.  So don't concern yourself when someone refers to Meisner as a cult.  It's not.  But it does demand a singular focus on becoming a great actor.

Shout out to strong, talented women.  We need you to step up as writers, directors and producers! When will our stories move front and center?  How many decades will it take before the industry (and the culture) identifies women's stories as being as interesting as those of men?

Acting is not therapy or a mystery nor is it an intellectual pursuit.  You want to find training that makes you proficient without a teacher manipulating into a temporary result.  You want to make choices that make your work more human not less.

Why we need to get past the myth of the Aussie invasion.

Some tips for working more intimately with other actors and how you might deal with actors who are not present during an audition.