noarc-blog

Help with Accents and a Few More Workshops

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 19:40:31 +0100

So, I have to work on an accent for a role. And it's an accent I've never tried before. Funny thing is, that it's for a role I didn't even audition for. Haven't you always heard "Go ahead and audition for roles that you know you aren't 'right' for, because you never know, they might just offer you something else." ?

Well, that's sort of what happened here...only in reverse.

I had auditioned for a role as an American woman that I thought I was "perfect" for and I got offered a role of a woman from another country, that I have never been to, who has a thick accent, that I haven't heard face-to-face in years. So, now I need to have an accent that I can pull out of my back pocket. Just like that...snap. How do they know I can do this? I told them I was an ACTOR.

And I thought about all of this, and what it means I need to do, and I was like, "Oh yeah...this is gonna be fun!"

I was taught by my coach, Aaron Speiser, that I should take my characters out for test runs, just to see if I could pull it off. So, I've been to Vegas (old Vegas, as in the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino, not the sexy, swanky Vegas) as a Female Escort/Call Girl and I've been to Peanuts, a now defunct lesbian club in West Hollywood, as a butch lesbian. You see, those two characters made me step out of my comfort zone more than most of the other characters I've worked on, so I really had to make an effort to see if I could do it...especially in public. I always had a friend to come along in case things got a little crazy, but it never did. I'm not suggesting you do this, in fact, I'm telling you DO NOT DO THIS (FYI, in case you do decide to do it anyway and find yourself in jail or worse, it's NOT my fault nor Aaron's).

And with that said, I'm taking my character and my brand new accent out next week to see if I can pull it off. I've got quite a few accents (common ones: a couple of British, a couple of Southern, a couple of New Yorkers), but they came to me just by playing around. I've never had to actually learn a new accent, so this is going to be quite an adventure.

You see because I'm thorough, I don't just want to be able to say my lines with an accent. I want to be able to actually talk with the accent. I want to take complete ownership of it and have it be one of those things you just whip out at cocktail parties for no apparent reason.

So, in doing my homework, I found a pretty amazing site to help me with accents that you, too, may find useful one of these days. It's called AccentHelp and they have quite a lot of accents that you as actors may need to use. I've gone through the program for the accent I need, and I absolutely love it. I'm fooling myself and my kids with my new accent, not sure if I'm going to fool anyone else right now, but we'll soon see. I'm also waiting on a copy of Accents: A Manual for Actors by Robert Blumenfeld, which I've read is an really useful book for actors working on developing a repetoire of accents.

Of course, by far, the best thing to have at your disposal is someone who really speaks the language, and if that's not readily available, find a coach who can help you. But if neither of these are available to you, grab a recorder, dig in and be your own worse critic. You can't improve unless you can step outside yourself and objectively figure out where your weak points are.

For those of you who have no believable accents right now, pick one and work on it. Pick a logical one. And there are only two logical reasons for picking an accent to work on without having a role require it of you 1) you look like you could speak that language anyway, or 2) it's an easy one for you to perfect.

In addition, in my research, I found this actress who I find downright fascinating: Amy Walker. On her site, she breaks down how to learn an accent, so I'm also incorporating some of the things she mentions into my training. And she also has this one video entitled "21accents" which is completely riveting. She bounces from accent to accent without skipping a beat. She created this video so that she could send it out to casting directors in order to let them know she could do any accent, and it's incredibly effective. Pay attention to how free her instrument is. She simply flows, and it's beautiful.

And as impressive as accents are, it's all but impossible to nail a character just based upon a person's speech. Speech patterns and dialects can bring your character to life, but you actually have to LIVE that life, moment to moment, for any of it to seem real. So, for those of you who want to stay on top of your craft, here are some workshops/classes that are coming up soon that I didn't manage to get into the last email about upcoming classes. Please save these. I generally send out only 2-3 emails a year about upcoming classes, so it would behoove you to hold on to the contact information of the coaches conducting classes/workshops. This is so that you can contact them at your convenience, in case you are unable to attend any of these classes now.

CLASSES/WORKSHOPS

Some of these are new to the area, so I'm giving you a bit of background now. Remember, do your research, talk to the instructors and see if there is a "fit." Here they are, in the order in which I received them:

Dr. Rebecca Hale - Dr. Hale is teaching an Acting for the Camera Workshop on Saturday, February 19 at the Actor's Theatre of New Orleans. There are three sessions: Session I is for children; Session II is for beginning teens and adults; Session III is an Advanced Class. Dr. Hale's talent have appeared in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant," and "Treme," among others. Actors can email her at haletalent@gmail.com or check her website at www.haletalentagency.com for info.

Tom Todoroff - Director/Producer/Acting Coach, Tom Todoroff has been teaching for over thirty years in L.A., New York, and worldwide. Tom has acted with, directed, or coached: Peter O'Toole, Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, Liam Neeson, Christina Ricci, Gwyneth Paltrow, Blythe Danner, Claire Danes, Samuel L. Jackson, and Tony Goldwyn to name a few. His Two-Day Intensive Workshop for actors & directors takes place February 19th & 20th. Visit www.tomtodoroff.com and contact 310-980-4504 or nolastudio@tomtodoroff.com for details!

Matthew Dickens – Two-Day Acting Intensive

Saturday, March 12 and Sunday, March 13, 10:00AM – 7:00PM (with a one hour break)

Lose Your ‘Self’ - Character Study - Scene Study - The Business of Acting

Matthew studied acting in Washington, DC and has worked professionally in the industry for years. Credits include Writer/Producer/Director The War Zone 3D, Writer Beyonce (Vegas), Director Untitled Ledisi Project (Documentary), Choreographer The Aviator. He appeared in Dreamgirls, Rent andSledge, The Untold Story, on television in A Different World and on Broadway in Miss Saigon, Sunset Boulevard, Smokey Joe’s Café, Dreamgirls and Carrie. Bring your own scene/monologue or instructor can provide after consultation (several days prior to class). Email Pic/Res and short essay about your experience, no matter what level. Intensive limited to 10 actors. Email admin@thewarzone3d.com.

Break a leg, folks.

Louisiana Actors Expo Tickets are on sale

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 23:03:54 +0100

EDITORIAL CONTACT:

Shanda Quintal

(310) 980-7363 shanda@neworleansactors.org

TICKETS ON SALE FOR THE NEW ORLEANS ACTORS

RESOURCE CENTER 2ND ANNUAL LOUISIANA ACTORS EXPO

Guest panelists announced for the day-long workshop

New Orleans, LA (October 26, 2010) - Tickets for the 2nd annual New Orleans Actors Resource Center (NOARC) Louisiana Actors Expo are now on sale. The one-day event will take place on December 11, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at The Old U.S. Mint Louisiana State Museum located at 400 Esplanade Avenue in New Orleans.

The Louisiana Actors Expo was created to give new actors the information they need to start their acting careers and seasoned actors information to advance their careers. "The Louisiana film industry is growing steadily. We are third behind Los Angeles and New York in production, so the opportunities for actors are here," says Chris Stelly, Director of Film and Television for the Louisiana Office of Entertainment Industry Development. "To sustain this, Louisiana Entertainment is focused on cultivating our intellectual infrastructure, our creative talent, across all sectors of the entertainment industry. By bringing together casting directors, talent agents, directors, producers, writers and other film industry professionals, all of whom are invested in actors in our region, NOARC's Louisiana Actors Expo supports this mission. It provides an exciting opportunity for actors of all ages to learn what they need to know to start and nurture a career in the film industry."

Confirmed panelists for the Louisiana Actors Expo include:

Casting Directors

Anne Massey, Anne Massey Casting

Hank Langlois, Caballero Casting

Lisa Marie Dupree, Films In Motion

Ryan Glorioso, Glorioso Casting

Tracy Kilpatrick, The Casting Office

Talent Agents

Carol Bloodworth, Fruition Talent

Dawn Landrum, Landrum Arts

Erin Guidry, Trinity Talent

Ken del Corral, del Corral Talent and SAM Agency

Lawrence Turner, del Corral Talent

Lee MacKenzie, fameagency

Liz Atherton, TAG Talent

Rebecca Hale, Hale Talent

Tabitha Bryant Huffman, Trinity Talent

Other notable film industry professionals include:

Chris Stelly, Director of Film and Television, Louisiana Office of Entertainment Industry Development

Diana Boylston, Regional Representative, AFTRA

Eric Thompson, Senior Counsel, Twentieth Century Fox

Jason Hewitt, Director/Producer/CEO, Films In Motion

Jason Tomlinson, Regional Representative, Screen Actors Guild

Leslie Creppel, CEO, Cast Our Kids

Lolis E. Elie, Writer, HBOs Treme

Reed Daigle, Director and 2010 winner of the New Orleans 48 Hour Film Project

Steve Esteb, Director, Dirty Politics

Thomas Kelley, Executive Director, Independent Film Night (IFN)

Wayne Douglas Morgan, Actor/Producer/Independent Filmmaker, Upperline Entertainment

Panel discussions and Q & A's will be moderated by the following Louisiana acting coaches:

Casey Groves

Dean West

Garrett Prejean

Jennifer Schemke

Lance Nichols

Veleka Gray

In addition, there will be a special presentation room where the founders of two companies that provide actors with tools to efficiently and successfully manage their careers will demonstrate their online services. Gary Marsh, founder and CEO of Actors Access/Breakdown Services, the most widely used online casting portal, and Brian Vermeire, co-founder and CEO of Holdon Log and Kristina Hughes, co-founder and COO of Holdon Log, the developers of PerformerTrack, the standard career management tool for performers, will show actors how to use their online services to manage their acting career.

Due to the demand from actors, parents of aspiring child actors and industry professionals, the 2010 Louisiana Actors Expo will launch three new features: child actor panels, casting sessions and agent meetings. In addition to the adult actor panel discussions, Q & A sessions and film industry vendors featured last year, these new components will give actors of all ages the opportunity to learn inside information about the film industry.

"As a parent, I understand wanting to give your children the tools they need to succeed," says Shanda Quintal, Executive Director of the New Orleans Actors Resource Center. "And in the film industry, because a child actor's parent is the de facto manager, the parent and the child must work as a team in order to succeed."

The Expo's child actor panels will focus on children ages 8 to 14 interested in starting an acting career in the Louisiana film industry. Agents and casting directors will discuss important topics that every actor of any age needs to know if they are considering working in the industry. "There are an amazing amount of films being shot in Louisiana," says Quintal. "However, there are a limited number of roles for children in the Louisiana film industry. But for dedicated children and supportive parents, the Louisiana Actors Expo will provide the cold, hard facts both need for a child to reach their goals of becoming a professional actor. Information and dedication are key."

Topics for the child actor panel will include:

Headshots and Resumes
Getting An Agent
Audition Etiquette
Self-taping for Submissions
The Casting Process

NOARC's 2010 Louisiana Actors Expo will again offer the adult actor panels introduced at last year's inaugural expo where actors of all levels, from aspiring to advanced, can learn something new. Topics for the adult actors panels will include:

Getting an Agent
Developing and Maintaining a Working Relationship With Your Agent
Getting the Callback
Working in Independent Film
Managing a Business: Your Acting Career

Casting sessions are for actors with representation (an agent) who are interested in performing a "cold-reading" audition for two prominent Louisiana casting directors. For those new to the industry, this is a unique opportunity to be seen by professionals in the position to get actors the jobs they want. Actors must come prepared with a headshot and resume.

Agent meetings are a new feature designed for actors seeking representation (i.e., looking for an agent). During the meeting, actors can interview with two Louisiana agents who are actively seeking new talent to represent. Actors must come prepared with a headshot and resume, and two monologues--one dramatic, one comedic. There are only a few slots available for both the casting sessions and the agent meetings.

General admission to the Louisiana Actors Expo is $50 per person in advance. Parents or adult guardians of attendees between the ages of 8 and 14 must also purchase a ticket. Casting session and agent meeting tickets are $25 each and must be purchased separately. Limited slots are available. Tickets are on sale now. To register and purchase tickets go to http://louisianaactorsexpo.eventbrite.com. Tickets also will be available at the door the day of the event for $60 per person.

About NOARC

The New Orleans Actors Resource Center (NOARC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement, exposure and ongoing education of actors of all levels in the New Orleans Metropolitan area, enhancing the good of the community through the dramatic arts. NOARC is comprised of four programs: The Actors' Co-Op, which meets monthly and provides assistance with skills development and career advancement; The Workshop Series; and two other projects which are in development, an Actors' Library and Acting Classes. Learn more about NOARC at http://neworleansactors.org.

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NOARC hosts the second annual Louisiana Actors Expo on December 11 at The Mint

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 06:03:37 +0100

Media Contact:
Shanda Quintal
shanda@neworleansactors.org
310-980-7363

NOARC's Louisiana Actors Expo To Take Stage At The Old U.S. Mint
Second annual gathering of actors and film professionals hits its mark with panels and presentations

New Orleans, LA (October 17, 2010) - The annual New Orleans Actors Resource Center (NOARC) Louisiana Actors Expo comes to the city for a second run of informative discussions and Q & A sessions with film industry professionals on Saturday, December 11, 2010, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Old U.S. Mint Louisiana State Museum, located at 400 Esplanade Avenue in the French Quarter.

The Louisiana Actors Expo brings together casting directors, talent agents, directors, writers and other decision-makers in the Louisiana film industry to help actors learn how to develop and move forward their acting careers. Actors from all over the Gulf South are invited to participate in what has been called the biggest event in Hollywood South.

"NOARC is doing a great thing for actors in our region with the Louisiana Actors Expo," says casting director Ryan Glorioso. "It gives actors insight into how the business works, helps them make connections, and shows them what to do with the opportunities that come their way."

Child actor panels will focus on children age 8 -15 interested in starting an acting career in the Louisiana film industry. Agents and casting directors will discuss important topics that every actor of any age needs to know if they are considering working in the industry. Panel topics include:

    * Headshots and Resumes
    * Getting an Agent
    * Audition Etiquette
    * Self-taping for Submissions

Casting sessions are for actors interested in performing a "cold-reading" audition for two prominent Louisiana casting directors. For those new to the industry, this is a unique opportunity to be seen by professionals in the position to get actors the jobs they want.

Agent meetings are a new feature designed for actors looking for an agent. During the meeting, actors can interview with two Louisiana agents who are actively seeking new talent to represent. Actors must come prepared with a headshot and resume, and two monologues--one dramatic, one comedic. There are only a few slots available for both the casting sessions and the agent meetings.

NOARC's 2010 Louisiana Actors Expo will again offer the adult actors panels introduced at last year's inaugural expo where actors of all levels, from aspiring to advanced, can learn something new. Topics in the adult actors panels will include:

    * Getting an Agent
    * Developing and Maintaining a Working Relationship With Your Agent
    * The Casting Process
    * Getting the Callback
    * Working in Independent Film
    * Managing a Business: Your Acting Career

In addition to in-depth panel discussions, there will be a vendor area where actors will have an opportunity to network with other actors and learn about the businesses and organizations that can provide the tools they need to begin and develop their acting careers. Headshot photographers, make-up artists, demo-reel producers and acting coaches will all be available to answer questions and share with actors the business tools they need to succeed in the Louisiana film industry.

Admission to the Louisiana Actors Expo is $50 per person in advance. Casting session and agent meeting tickets are $25 each and can only be purchased in conjunction with Expo tickets. Limited slots are available. Tickets go on sale October 26, 2010 and can be purchased online at http://louisianaactorsexpo.eventbrite.com. Tickets also will be available at the door the day of the event for $60 per person.
About NOARC
The New Orleans Actors Resource Center (NOARC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement, exposure and ongoing education of actors of all levels in the New Orleans Metropolitan area, enhancing the good of the community through the dramatic arts. NOARC is comprised of four programs: The Actors' Co-Op, which meets weekly and provides assistance with skills development and career advancement; The Workshop Series; and two other projects which are in development, an Actors' Library and Acting Classes. Learn more about NOARC at http://neworleansactors.org.

The Casting Workshop, Saturday, March 13, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 05:02:56 +0100

Originally Posted on February 19th, 2010 by admin

Saturday, March 13, 2010

10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

NEW ORLEANS ACTORS RESOURCE CENTER

hosts

CASTING DIRECTOR AND TALENT AGENT WORKSHOP

in conjunction with

ACTORS ACCESS/BREAKDOWN SERVICES PRESENTATION

of their soon-to-be-launched

ACTORS ACCESS MOBILE, for on-the-go self-submission and ECO CAST, the self-tape and self-submit feature of Actors Access!

And to see how these two incredible features work in the real world, we will have a drawing where FOUR LUCKY ACTORS will be chosen to participate in a cold reading audition of the Casting Workshop!

Casting Directors Lisa Marie Dupree of Films in Motion (Blood Out, The Mortician, Wrong Side of Town) and Hank Langlois of Caballero Casting (Seconds Apart, Ticking Clock, The Somnambulist), and Talent Agents Lawrence Turner of Del Corral Model and Talent and Tabitha Bryant Huffman of Trinity Talent Agency will critique the taped auditions of our FOUR LUCKY ACTORS!

And through the critiquing and feedback, everyone will learn what casting directors and talent agents expect of talent going into an audition:

what makes a good headshot
what your resume should say about you
what you should wear to an audition, and
professional conduct at an audition

AGENDA

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Actors Access Presentation including demonstration of Actors Access Mobile and Eco Cast

Noon: Drawing of four lucky actors to participate in a taped cold reading audition. Actors will have one hour to prepare their sides.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Break for off-site lunch

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Audition Taping

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Casting Director and Talent Agent Critiquing and Feedback

Be one of the first in the country to see how these two exciting features, Actors Access Mobile and Eco Cast, will help you take control of your audition and submission process! The Casting Workshop will take place at Raleigh Studios Baton Rouge - http:www.raleighstudios.com/, the largest independent studio in the country!

TO REGISTER AND PURCHASE TICKETS, GO TO http://noarccastingworkshop.eventbrite.com/

For more information, contact Shanda at shanda@neworleansactors.org.

NOARC 2009 Actors Expo Tickets Are On Sale!

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 05:08:51 +0100

Originally Posted on November 10th, 2009 by admin

Tickets are now on sale for New Orleans Actors Resource Center's Actors 2009 Expo, co-sponsored by Sync Up: The Jazz & Heritage Talent Exchange, an economic development program of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation.

An event intended to inform, initiate and inspire actors!

Guest Panelists Include:

Emmy Award winning and CSA Casting Directors

Beth Sepko: imdb.com/name/nm0784629/

Brent Caballero: imdb.com/name/nm2720553/

Elizabeth Coulon: imdb.com/name/nm1404706/

Lisa Marie Dupree: imdb.com/name/nm1972711/

Talent Agents

Carol Bloodworth, Owner, Fruition Talent

Gail del Corral, Owner, del Corral Model and Talent

Liz Atherton, Owner, The Atherton Group (TAG) Talent

Rebecca Hale, Owner, Hale Talent

Other Movers and Shakers in the Film and TV Industry

Eric Thompson, Senior Counsel - Twentieth Century Fox

Gary Marsh, Founder and CEO, Breakdown Services / Actors Access

David Crais, Businessman / Investor

Jason Hewitt, Films in Motion, CEO

Jason Tomlinson, Screen Actors Guild

Lolis E. Elie, writer for "Treme" and “Times Picayune”

* Limited Seats Available *

For details please visit:

www.NewOrleansActors.org

If you are interested participating in the vendor fair or volunteering,

please contact Shanda Quintal at shanda@neworleansactors.org.

NOARC 2009 Actors Expo Press Release

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 05:12:54 +0100

NOARC'S ACTORS EXPO COMING TO NEW ORLEANS DECEMBER 5, 2009

Film Industry Experts Share Their Knowledge About

Getting In And Staying In The Game.

New Orleans, LA, October, 09, 2009 -- New Orleans Actors Resource Center (NOARC) proudly announces the inaugural Actors Expo on December 5, 2009 from 9 AM - 5 PM at the Jazz & Heritage Center. Co-Sponsored by Sync Up: The Jazz & Heritage Talent Exchange, an economic development program of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, NOARC’s Actors Expo will provide actors the exciting opportunity to learn about career development from knowledgeable film industry professionals. The event will include in-depth panel discussions and Q and A’s with Talent Agents, Casting Directors and other respected film industry decision-makers, as well as an exhibit area featuring Louisiana businesses and organizations that provide actors with tools for their career.

Among the special guests that are slated to participate in NOARC's Actors Expo are CSA and Award-winning Casting Directors, well-established Talent Agencies, and writers from a highly anticipated Television series. Notables include Times Picayune reporter Lolis Elie, writer from the upcoming HBO series "Treme," Talent Agent Gail del Corral from del Corral Model and Talent, Casting Director Brent Cabellero of Caballero Casting, and Talent Agent Rebecca Hale, PhD, of Hale Talent. In addition, a representative from Actors Access, one of the most widely used online casting sites, will also take center stage and provide actors with useful information about online casting tools.

“The purpose of NOARC’s Actors Expo is to help raise the bar for actors by providing them with reliable information,” said NOARC Executive Director Shanda Quintal. “We can all afford to step up our game, no matter how talented we are. Louisiana is one of the toughest markets for film actors because competition is so fierce. There are only a handful of roles to be cast amongst so many talented actors and yet there is no place in the world that can claim to have as many lively ‘characters’ as Louisiana. Our love of life, our culture, and our customs make us intriguing to filmmakers. And film production companies are incented to hire talented local actors, but more importantly, they want to hire the best actors. By learning from the experts what is expected of a professional actor, on the business end of acting as well as the craft, actors at Actors Expo will undoubtedly position themselves as amongst the best Louisiana has to offer.”

Los Angeles and New York, and even smaller markets like Atlanta, Austin and Chicago, already have systems in place that assist actors in advancing their careers. In these markets, information is readily available to any actor who wants to learn more about either breaking into the business or furthering their career. NOARC’s Actors Expo will be the first organized effort in the state of Louisiana that will bring talent agents, casting directors, writers, producers, and others film industry professional together to help educate actors in the business of acting.

In addition, there will be an exhibit area where businesses and organizations can showcase the tools actors need to develop or further their career. Headshot photographers, acting coaches, demo reel producers and others will be on hand to answer questions and provide helpful information.

“Actors in Louisiana are gifted,” says Casting Director Brent Caballero of Caballero Casting, one of the Casting Director panelists. “Not only are they very insightful, but they have a different perspective on the world, which helps them create characters unlike actors in other markets. In addition, they are just really good people and a whole lot of fun!”

This year in July, the Louisiana legislature voted to increase the tax credits to 30%, with no sunsets, making Louisiana a top destination for film production. According to the Louisiana Economic Development Office of Film and Television, in 2008 over 80 major film and television projects were shot in Louisiana; an increase of almost 40% over 2007. With more and more projects slated for shooting in Louisiana, NOARC’s Actors Expo will provide actors with critical information and tools needed to be ready when opportunity comes knocking.

The Jazz & Heritage Center is located at 1225 N. Rampart St. To find out more about Actors Expo and the New Orleans Actors Resource Center, contact Shanda Quintal atshanda@neworleansactors.org.

NOARC’s Actors Expo is co-sponsored by Sync Up: The Jazz & Heritage Talent Exchange, an economic development program of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation. The Jazz & Heritage Foundation is the nonprofit organization that owns the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell, and uses the proceeds from Jazz Fest for year-round programming in the areas of education, economic development and cultural events

About New Orleans Actors Resource Center

New Orleans Actors Resource Center (NOARC) is a non-profit, membership-based organization comprised of four programs: The Actors Co-Op, which meets on Sundays at The Backyard Ballroom located at 3519 St. Claude, in the new Bywayter Arts District; The Workshop Series; and two other programs in development - an Actors Library and Acting Classes

NOARC is dedicated to the advancement, exposure, and education of actors in the New Orleans Metropolitan area, enhancing the good of the community through the dramatic arts.

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In Search of a Good Coach?

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 05:16:57 +0100

Someone has offered you a chance to make your dreams come true. And they are telling you that with a lot of hard work and dedication and persistence, you can be the actor you have always dreamed of being. And they're not just promising you the moon and the stars, or some swampland in the middle of Florida. They are being up front and direct and letting you know that you have a hard road ahead of you to travel to get to where you want to be. And they are assuring you that YOU can do it and that they will help you get there.

Doesn't sound like a bad proposition, now does it? But have you taken the time to see if they can really do what they say they can do? Like with anything else you decide to invest in, you need to take the time to research, research, research! There are numerous acting coaches popping up all over Louisiana these days. Some have actually been around for quite some time (meaning more than a couple of years) and some have just opened up shop. And just because someone has been around a long(er) time does not necessarily mean that they are better than the new acting coaches, nor vice versa! If you are serious about learning the craft of acting, you should research as many of these coaches as you possibly can to find the right one for you. See if any of them allow you to audit a class so that you can see how they work and what they teach before you hand over your hard earned money (not to mention your dreams) to them. And if nothing else, talk to them about their process of teaching as well as their process of acting.

It is a glorious feeling when you are finally making headway down the road to your dreams and it's amazing to finally find someone who believes in your dreams enough to help you get there. Just beware. You need to make sure that you are getting what you really need in order to become the finely tuned instrument that successful actors need to be.

If you are studying or want to study acting, it is because there is something you feel you should learn in order to become an actor. The same goes for any and all professions and crafts; if someone else can learn how to do it, you can, too. And once you've decided that you want to learn how to act, you need to start from the beginning like everyone else in every other profession does. You need a tool box. You need techniques that will help you "create believable behavior in imaginary circumstances," as acting coach Aaron Speiser so eloquently describes acting, BEFORE you go on to do scene work. Below are a few techniques. See if you recognize any of them. If you don't, then you are missing some of the tools in your tool box.

Fourth Wall

Sense Memory

Emotional Memory

Substitution

Endowment

Now, different schools of acting may give these five basic techniques different labels, so if you know what these are but refer to them by a different name, you are in good shape. If you don't know what these things are, you should find a coach who can teach these techniques to you.

They say once you know the rules, you can then go about breaking them. Well, here is where we can break the rules. Once a veteran actor has learned these techniques and knows how to apply them, oftentimes, he or she does not need to rely upon them anymore. Creating a fourth wall becomes second nature to them so they do not have to take the time to purposefully extend their imaginary world. They automatically do it. The same goes for endowment and some of the other techniques. The techniques are there to assist you and your imagination for when your imagination is either not ready or unable to go on autopilot.

In addition to finding out what a particular coach has to offer, you need to know what he or she has done, have they worked recently, do they understand what is required of actors in the film industry OR in theater these days, where they have trained, what working actors have studied with them, and what type of methodology they are teaching (and whether or not it is a fusion of various methodologies).

One last thought on acting: Acting is a physical and mental skill like any other physical and mental skill. Acting, like driving a car, requires that you learn the basic techniques and keep practicing until it feels like second nature. When you first started driving, do you remember how difficult it was to check all the mirrors, gauge your speed, pay attention to the cars around you AND figure out all the street signs, simply to get from one place to another? That is exactly how acting is. There are quite a few techniques that assist you in getting from the beginning of a scene to the end of a scene. And once you take complete ownership of all these techniques, you can forget about worrying about them. It’s like driving a car - you perform all those tasks without giving it a second thought. And with enough practice, that is how acting will be.

The Actors' Co-Op

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 05:18:06 +0100

Once a month, NOARC holds The Actors' Co-Op meeting, where novice and veteran actors come together to help each other develop their skills, hone their craft and receive career support.

Meetings are held at The Backyard Ballroom performance space at 3519 St. Claude in the Bywater. If you have a monologue prepared, we would love to see it, and if this is your first step into acting, we will be happy to find material that meets your skill level.

For more information about The Actors' Co-Op, please email us at shanda@neworleansactors.org.

Character Development

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 05:20:10 +0100

Taken from the Aaron Speiser Acting Workshop workbook

The following information should be used to assist you in your preparation for performance. The information you get out of the script will guide you in creating truthful, believable behavior. REMEMBER - read the script often (or at least read the entire script once and then the scene often). When in doubt, go back to the script for answers or get professional coaching. Base your acting choices on facts given in the script, research and life experience.

CHARACTER - Who am I? Take notes the second time you read the script. Try to read the script more than once. Read the scene many times. List all the facts given in the script about your character. Make three lists: what others say about you; what the author says about you; what you say about yourself. Because something is given, does not necessarily mean it’s true or that your character accepts what is said. For instance, your character might not feel she has a problem with alcohol even though everyone else knows she is an alcoholic. Write an autobiography based on the following facts:

• Full name, date and place of birth
• Family background (mother, father, siblings, etc.)
• Religious background - past and present
• Economic back ground - past and present
• Sexual background - past and present
• Educational background - past and present
• Hobbies, likes, loves, dislikes, hates,
• Habits, heroes
• Relationships with other people, events and things
• How do I feel about myself? Describe yourself.
• What do I find funny? Sense of humor
• What makes me nervous? Angry? Afraid? Etc.
• Who am I at this point of the script?
• How have I changed from earlier in the script?
• What are my dreams, needs, obsessions, desires?

An Autobiography should also include the following information:

What are my relationships? How do I feel towards all other people, places, events and things in the scene and script?

What are my problems? Sometimes these are clearly given and sometimes they’re not. Your character must have problems. BIG, IMPORTANT problems. If the problems are not clearly given in the script, then you must use your imagination and life experience to figure them out. Make sure you identify the problems and look at them from your character’s point of view (POV). For example, you are a man who beats his wife. “I beat her because she is so stupid and disrespectful. She also likes it because it lets her know who’s the boss.” Notice no judgment is made The character sees his problem from his point of view. Plus, he must have other problems.

What SECRETS do I have? (Make them personal)

Writing your autobiography is just the beginning. Things will change. You will come up with new ideas and choices. Don’t hesitate to throw out old ideas and go down new roads. You can always go back. You may also find that you need to do research.

BE SPECIFIC ON ALL THE ABOVE

Resources

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 06:02:14 +0100

FREE SCREENPLAYS

Drew's Script-O-Rama - http://script-o-rama.com/

Simply Scripts - http://www.simplyscripts.com/

The Script Source - http://www.thescriptsource.net/Scripts.html

The Daily Script - http://www.dailyscript.com/movie.html - also had the IMDB link attached to most scripts

Internet Movie Script Database - http://www.imsdb.com/ - Catagorizes script alphabetically, but also by genre

Screenplay 451 - http://www.pumpkinsoft.de/screenplay451/ - Has scripts available for download in a zipped format

MONOLOGUES FROM MOVIES

http://www.whysanity.net/monos/ - In order to fully understand a monologue, you must read the script first. Check for it on one of the Free Screenplays sites.

FREE PLAYS ONLINE

Classic Reader - http://www.classicreader.com/browse/7/title/ - Free classic plays to read online

Free Books Onine - http://www.freeonlinebooks.org/genre_books.php?genre=Drama - More classic plays

The EServer Drama Collection - http://drama.eserver.org/plays - Not a huge selections, but they have organized all of their plays by historical period, from the Greek and Roman classics to Modern and Contemporary plays.

Christian Musicals - http://www.christianmusicals.net/ - For those of you who are interested in spiritual plays (and musicals!)

PLAYS FOR PURCHASE

Samuel French bookstore - http://www.samuelfrench.com/store/index.php

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

FilmScriptCritique - http://filmscriptcritique.com/