How to become an actor
Where to start, what materials you need and how to build a career: everything you need to take the first step with real information.
Latest
How to Become an Actor as a Teenager: A Guide for Ages 13 to 17
How to start acting at 13, 14 or 15: school theater, classes, student films, materials, agents, permits, online safety, scams and a realistic first-year plan.
How to Become a Voice Actor: Training, Demos, Jobs and Scams
How to become a voice actor: training, a home recording setup, demos, where voice work is cast, SAG-AFTRA, audiobooks, anime dubbing and scams to avoid.
How to Join SAG-AFTRA: Eligibility, Steps and Costs
The routes to SAG-AFTRA eligibility, what Taft-Hartley and SAG-eligible mean, the joining steps, what it costs and how to decide when to join.
Union vs. Non-Union Acting: What It Means and How to Choose
What union and non-union acting mean in film, TV, commercials and theater, the trade-offs at each career stage and how actors move to a union card.
How to Get Your Child Into Acting: A Parent’s Guide for the US
A US parent’s guide to child acting: realistic expectations, safety, where auditions are posted, agents, work permits, trust accounts, school and red flags.
Do I Have Acting Talent? 10 Signs and How to Test Yourself
The 10 signs that you have acting talent, how to test yourself with a workshop, a monologue or improv, and how to tell whether you’re acting well.
Do You Need Acting School to Become an Actor? Pros and Cons
Acting school isn’t required, but training is. Pros and cons of studying acting, how long it takes and your options if you don’t have the money.
How to Get Acting Experience as a Beginner
Build experience with student films, independent theater, workshops that end in a showcase and open castings, and add every project to your acting resume.
How to Improvise in an Audition: 6 Improv Tips for Actors
Learn to improvise in an audition with 6 improv tips, exercises you can practice at home, and what casting directors look for.
How to Make an Acting Reel at Home with No Experience or Budget
Build your acting reel even with no footage: which scenes to choose, how to record them at home, how long it should be, and where to upload it.
How to Make an Acting Resume: Format, Sections, and Examples
Build your acting resume on one page: what goes in each section, examples, how to make one with no experience, and how to format and send it.
How to Prepare Your Audition Materials: What to Send and How
Get your headshots, one-page acting resume, short reel, and intro video ready. Name every file with your name and send your videos as links.
How to Record a Self-Tape for an Audition: Step-by-Step Guide
Read the instructions, set your phone at eye level with light in front and a plain background, look just beside the lens, and send your best take by link.
How to Take Headshots at Home: Audition Photos on a Budget
Take your own headshots with your phone: which photos to include, how to get good light and a plain background, what to wear, and when to hire a photographer.
Instagram for Actors: 6 Tips to Boost Your Profile
Switch to a creator account, write a clear bio, show scenes and headshots, organize your Highlights, follow casting accounts, and edit with good apps.
Monologues for Auditions: How to Choose Them and 6 Originals to Practice
Choose a 1 to 2 minute monologue for a character close to your age and type, with a clear objective and a change. Skip the famous ones and name the play.
Auditions for Kids and Teens: How to Become an Actor as a Minor
How kids and teens can start acting: the role of parents, permits, materials and where to find auditions without falling for scams.
What Is the Best Age to Become an Actor or Actress? A Guide by Age and Goals
The best age to become an actor is the one you have today. What to do depending on your age and your goal, from childhood to your 50s and beyond.
Bilingual Actors: How a Second Language and Accents Open Doors
A second language and a few accents can open more roles. Learn how to list them on your acting resume, train them, and use them in auditions.