For all headshot articles & tips, ask Timothi Jane Graham, NYC based professional photographer for the "headshots" section.
	Great NY casting tips and audition advices from New York NY casting director: Doriane Elliott are a must to read for any serious acting performer pursuing an acting career in NYC.
	New actress from NYC Shira Leonard-Shailin has a lot to share about her audition and NY casting call experiences in the big apple. Click here to read her articles.
	NY actress Daveda Travis focuses on Broadway tips for auditions and acting jobs. Click here to read her articles.
	Jeannine D. Willms speaks of her career path as an acting student in Manhattan. Click here to read her articles.
	NYC actress Anatoli shares audition tips and mistakes to avoid. Click here to read her articles.

News: NYC NY casting Director Doriane Elliott will be in NYC giving 3 hours seminar - click here for details

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Basic camera lens
First of all, you'll learn with time how to work with the lens but usually you just forget its existence. You need to let it observe you just like a lil bird. Imagine that you are attached to the lens out from the front of the cam. Images are coposed in depth but not in width. In a 3shot, the lens should be in the center of the gap, not you.

Let's say you find it hard to hit the mark, simply imagine a «web» from lining up 2 spots at the end position you need to hit. Girls? Worry about your look? Straight-on shoulders look bad compared to ones angled toward the lens. :)

Vocal tips
Remember the importance of the pronounciation. You don't need to increase the volume but create the intensity through the enunciation and pace. When the camera tracks you, move slowly but talk fast. When someone asks you to tone it all down, try to reduce only the volume but don't change your gestures.

Dont speak louder when you speak with an accent, sometimes we tend to but it's wrong. Just know that when people can hear you without using a mic, you're probably too loud.(Studio audience)

If you play with a movie star never project louder either on series or regulars. Also, keep in mind that wheb speaking at low levels, everything else seems louder. Just be careful about noises and sounds around just as footsteps, dishes, newspapers and even breathing.

Acting for the camera
The best and main acting note you have is yourself. After all, you got that role so use your look and personality a lot. Learn your lines by heart. Usually you should have the necessary rehearsal time to create the character they need. If not, ask them to change your lines. You need to find a way to communicate negative thoughts though a positive way. Have something to do after the shots. Keep yourself ready and alive :) May sounds cliche but really remember to act like when you're alone in a single shot. Use your inner voice to guide yourself continually with instructions.

The editor
Try to make the editor's job easier by keeping your work linear so that when he'll need to, he'll know where to cut for your best acting performance. Most editors like to cut on movements so remember that before an important acting take. Alwyas keep in mind the company you work for and adjust your thoughts to it. While speaking, look at the other actors because the editor will look at your «eyeflashes» to cut.

Reactions
Since we watch the listening character on screen, react while actors speak. The reactions must be there before you speak. There's a better result on the intake of breath before your line.

Keep in mind that the camera will not follow the fast movements so you must be careful about fast. On a multicam studio, the red light means the cam is on so you have to keep your reaction on stand-by until the cam sampled it.

On a final note, remember that you need both talent and mastered techniques to become a believable actor. Have an organized schedule and be sure of what you want for a career. At the same time, keep things simple. Take your time a go one day at a time, one project at a time and you'll succeed !

Get an acting agent
Many agencies like the Creative Artists Agencie, CAA, the William Morris Agency, WMA etc are mostly solicited because of their high status. In reality, you need to find someone interested in boosting you acting career. Maybe you can start by looking for a small talent agency that will specialize in their area. Sometimes, in order to find acting jobs, many actors will have several agents for different fields. One for theatre, one for commercials and a voice-over agent etc...

The role of a New York City casting agent
You may still wonder what do agents do exactly? The acting agent works for the production company and for the NY casting director. The agent will not work for the performer itself. The agent's job is to provide the New York City casting director with actors and talents when the demand is high. In other words, the New York City casting director and production company survive in the acting business because of the agents.

You are a product, the agents look out for the most talented «products» for the boss. Simple business right? This is where the agent needs to get and negociate for the best price to get you because that determines the commission he'll receive. One thing with acting agents is how they'll care for details you'd not even think about such as fees on screen credit, the bills and publicity cost.

The acting business
When you have an agent you have way more chances to get acting jobs because the NY casting directors feel more confident. It's just more professional in terms of representation. It will enhance your credibility. In hollywood and nyc, the acting business is like wallstreet. The more popular you become, the more important your name is for the major New York City casting agencies. And money is there. Agents are really playing a big part in the career of an actor. Something interesting, it takes the business people's efficiency mixed with the artistic brains of the actor to generate cash and success. Ego-boosted actors don't have the negociation skills of a pro talent agent and that's why a good agent knows the market and how to get the best quality out of a studio for it's client.

NY casting calls
A powerful agent will be most likely to get deals with studios. If it's a good rep, he will not only talk about deals but get you to audition and meet the producers as well. Though, they can't do miracles, they submit the actor to the NY casting contact and wait for them to call back for an acting job. But what about the money? The typical ten percent rule still applies. If they only get that ammount of your pay check, you must work for the other 90%.

New York City and LA are filled with acting agents but you need to choose only one. They are exclusive so you can't have more than one per acting field. Keep in mind that agents are business men first. You may be surrounded by millions of creative ideas and see no reactions when explaining them to your representative. They don't think like you in terms of career. They guy needs money to live and you're his short-term product to sell. You must always keep a long-term attitude for you career and simply go through the normal phases any actor had to go through.

How to find a good agent
You might see some competition between agents to get you sign a deal, especially if you're a talented good-looking fresh and young actor. Be wise and take your time before you sign something. Great and viable agents are often found by word to mouth. Ask the established performers around you who's a good agent and keep a list.

Tasks to prepare yourself
You must prepare yourself even before getting an agent.
Here are some tasks you need to do on a daily basis for acting jobs:

- Become involved in acting communities available in your area as well as virtual ones on the internet.
- Make phone calls.
- Keep developping your acting skills and techniques.
- Make good referrals with friends in the acting biz.
- Get appointments.
- Educate yourself with good documentations about how to improve yourself as an actor.
- Print this article or bookmark it ;)

What I mean is that you need daily efforts invested in your acting career instead of making a hundred phone calls after watching «The actors studio» lol

Get the agent's attention
The more active you are, the more your agent will want to work for you and the sooner you'll appear on screen. Agents spot working and active talents. If any agent wants you to pay for signing with them, he is a theif, the real ones will only get the commissions from your work. Not less not more.

To get your agent's attention an acting jobs, you need to do student films, take acting classes, prepare yourself for auditions, know what's going on in the acting biz actualities, read the trade papers. If you do all of this, you'll impress your agent. Don't waste too much time and cash sending birthday cards and gifts to your agent, keep him informed about where and when you act, that will get his attention for sure.

Acting career
To become an actor is one of the hardest choice of career you can ever make. Even if you are way more talented than others, it's still very hard to get to the top so you appear on the screen and make it a living. Hear me good though, it's not impossible to become an actor and that's why you're reading theses advices. There's no perfect path to get into acting , the final result is important but here are some basic "laws" about that field. Dreaming of walking on that red carpet is not enough, start by taking acting classes to know how to improve your acting talent. Sometimes it's easier on the weekends and usually not that expensive either. Depends of who your acting teacher is though. Taking classes will help you getting the acting experience you need by switching characters while working with them.

Always keep an eye at church's plays or schools productions, anywhere you can practice without too much pressure is good for you! Also, you'll receive compliments if you're good , and your ego will start to be annoying for your family , but that's another subject! lol. Another step you'll probably go through is becoming an extra. Not really a big pay day but not alot of acting work either. That will however give you the opportunity to be on a real acting set with professional actors around you. Then you can analyze and memorize some great tips. Also, what's good is the contact you make on the set. You never know, you might directly talk to a producers looking exactly for small role requiring your look.

Most of the famous actors you watch on screen started their career at theatres working for a small pay and were seen by head hunters watching the play. So the theatre is something you want to look at for your career. Look in the newspapers or on NewYorkActing.com 's job section if you can find any role you could audition for, remember that even small productions will appear on your acting resume so do not snob them. The Indie movies and student films are good too. Sometimes, it's impressive how far theses movies can go and you could get some great exposure by helping a small production. Don't expect them to pay you thousands of bucks but they'll support your acting career and help you to climb higher. Higher enough to get an acting agent. That's your goal. You get as much acting experience you can and then you finally get acting agent's attention. Be careful, don't spend money, a real acting agent will want to invest in you, not have you pay up front! Be wise! When you have a real agent, tell him exactly what you expect from him and be clear in what you mean. Agents love actors with concrete and realistic goals, as long as they see you keep working on your talent, they'll give you more attention and help than they give to the lazy ones. Don't forget to mark an X on your ego, you're not an actor living in the clouds, you're a working professional actor respecting descent acting opportunities. Success is on the way!--------------------------

Acting auditions
NY Auditions are obviously THE way for ny actors to be chosen for acting jobs in the movies, TV shows as well as commercials. It's just the place and time for an actor to prove the NY casting director that he is THE perfect performer for that NY casting call. Like any kind of job, there's a lot of resumes for a few acting jobs. You win or you loose. However if you loose the role, you GAIN acting audition experience and that is a plus for your career! Auditions can be taped or not, depends of the director's choice. They are recorded for later review. You might be asked a few things during your audition like : To read something and play it right away, we call it "cold reading. They may also ask give you some script and let you prepare yourself for it.

Biggest audition mistake?
In all cases, what do you think is the biggest mistake actors make during auditions? It might surprise you but it's "relaxation". According to New York City casting directors, they see: "a lot of awesome actors walk into the room, they get so nervous that they don't get the part, we will probably never know who, but we know we miss them". So it's important to be calm. The best way to do so is to watch auditions. You'll see amazing performers missing the role just because they are 2 year older, not tall enough, you name it... The best attitude to adopt while you audition is this: " This is HOW is would act if I was chosen , I do my best, love me or not, if not, see you at the next New York City casting call." The thing is that you need to start somewhere you know. De Niro was not born auditioning! It's true! Every ny actor you see on TV/Cinema had to go through a first audition. All of them, no exception, have not been cast for a lot of roles even though they had the acting talent. They were stressed out, nervous, not sure of themselves, sometimes performing amazingly and sometimes real bad... Maybe you are the next Robert De Niro and you don't know! Who knows ? No one will ever know if you don't start auditioning. Don't let your futur fans down, work on your acting talent, you're responsible for it.

Don't get discouraged about jobs!
When you think about it, the word audition means nothing. You must realize that hundreds of auditions take place each month. Don't give that word too much importance in your mind. It's a simple process: You go somewhere, you act a little, and who knows, NY casting directors might call you back for more. That's it. The world will still exist whatever scenario happens. No matter your acting career path, remember that you made the CHOICE to become an actor and if you currently live where you can acheive your acting goals, don't hesitate and go for it! Work on your dreams. You may be working in a factory to pay your bills but inside of you, you're a futur successful actor! It's true, let me go deeper on that thought. If you hold on to your acting talent, it's inside of you and no one can be able to remove it. The only one that can is you! Don't be discouraged just because one certaing NY casting director did not like you. In fact , he didn't like your performance, but it's not all about your real talent.

Acting work and Robert De Niro
I'm gonna add something about that and it might sound off the track but you'll understand my point. You know how we react when we see a futur doctor studying 24/7 on the Starbuck's table with a pile of books? We think: " Yeah, that's a sacrifice he does to study 10 years but he's gonna be rich at the end!". It's the same thing for an acting career. If you invest as much effort as he does , and it's every day, trust me, if you have the talent, in 10 years from now, you'll be on TV for sure! Stop thinking it's different, it's not! The futur doctor has the "talent" of math etc.., but he needs to work on it! You never see him always talk and dream about how beautiful it will be when he gets rich and all. No , he is down to earth, there's work before success. That's THE secret for you to become an actor, there's work you must invest in your acting talent before we see you on screen. Robert De Niro gained 50 pounds to play boxer Jake LaMotta in Scorsese's Raging Bull. For one single movie it's a lot of work. You see in acting, the word WORK will never disappear. So back to auditions, they are opportunities to grow and gain experience. During an audition it's like taking acting class for free, take it that way ;) I know artists love the word free. Sometimes if you get the acting job for a commercial, the NY casting crew might call you back for more and you'll be seen more and more, and the pay is very very good! Work on your acting skills, audition, then get paid.

Acting jobs and the right attitude...
When you go audition for your acting job, you're supposed to know how to prepare and what you should bring. Only sometimes, if you're not sure, ask them. What really defines actors is how well and quick they can usually impersonate the role. What about some acting audition tips now? Sounds great? Yup. I know i can't promise you a role on Broadway but there's a lot of acheivable work you can do to be seen there. Same for hollywood, same for voice-over. Auditions are the stressful part of the «find myself an acting job» process. It's the most important step since you really need to be at you top! What do I mean by top? Your acting skills must be more than ready to interact with all the knowledge you've patiently took months to stick inside your brains. That all mixed together with the right attitude will bring you higher, at a next level. Some say we artists, are runnning after the wind and wasting our energy etc...please be careful about that sort of attitude. It's really dangerous for you. Stay away from such «advice». What they do is to make you doubt about your potential and we all know you're aint gonna build an acting career on a ground of doubts. Sometimes it's sadly surprising how the negative words come from people that are close to us, family, friends, co-workers etc. Don't become a paranoid and anti-social to escape the negative but always be careful. Don't fall into that book «the secret», just plain garbage lol. Be sure that even with the greatest talent, the attitude you have on a daily basis is what determines the rest of the day. However, as a strong Christian myself,I must alwyas admit this greater God which I name Jesus-Christ has the power to bless who He wants to, when He dedices to. Anyway, to make my train of thoughts short, life is not always like we plan it but it's not a reason to stop planning. Simply do your best in what you're the best at and you'll get that job!

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