Acting Tips

Movie actor Matt Damon shares his advice on auditioning learnt from being both an actor at a casting, and from casting actors himself.

Guest Post from Actor and Director Ben Hodge – I wanted to pull together a few audition DON’Ts that I’ve seen over the years and share them with you. Here is Part Two

Playing drunk on stage is very difficult, you might have to appear completely legless one minute and then the very next scene you are stone cold sober. It takes skill and technique. Here are some acting tips:

Auditions can be daunting affairs and the nerves can pile on, especially if you are doing it for someone else: the director, your agent, your parents, your peers. Next time do it for you, have a go at ‘trying on’ the role.

Guest Post from Actor and Director Ben Hodge – I am shocked at how much my children can teach me. They move, they laugh, create, explore, destroy and dance around the space with a freedom that is palatable.

It’s not everyday you get a legend in the back of your car, so why not interview him whilst he is sitting there. This is just what Will Rubio did when he drove Mandy Patinkin to the airport.

If you have been asked to attend your first pantomime audition, here are Actor Hub’s top tips to help you get that part!

Sometimes it is the smaller roles and cameos which really stand out in movies. Here are a few of my favourite performances of small roles which steal the scene and sometimes steal the film!

From Guest Author Josh McHugh – “Have a secret.” This was the easiest piece of advice I have received in an actor’s studio. These words (highly paraphrased) came from the mouth of perhaps one of the finest actors of our generation, Meryl Streep.

It is not only theatre which uses monologues – very often you will find a truly powerful moment in the movies is created through a solo speech. Here are some great ones for women:

There is such a thing as audition etiquette and it isn’t taught at drama school. Here are ten tips which I have learnt from experience and from talking with Casting Directors.

Often making the chnage from theatre acting to screen acting isn’t as easy as just telling your agent! You need to learn the skills of a screen actor and chnage your style. Here’s how to start the journey at home.

Your headshot is always going to be the ‘first stage’ of any casting process. Here are some tips from Actor Hub on getting that perfect headshot.

From Guest Author – Marci Liroff – Many of you ask me if we expect you to be off-book. As you know, competition is SO stiff, and if the next guy is more prepared than you, then it doesn’t make you look very good.

Here is our run down of the best books about theatre and acting from 2013. These are all must read books for anyone with an interest in acting and all deserve to fill a gap on your book shelf or some space on your kindle!

From Guest Author – Marci Liroff – Do you ever flub a line or get lost when you’re auditioning for a role? It’s a horrifying feeling when that happens and I’m going to tell you how to win over the room when this happens.

Comedy acting is not easy, it takes time and dedication to become a successful comedy actor. Here are our top tips for starting you on the path to being a sitcom success.

James Gandolfini 1961 -2013 – a wonderful actor who will be missed. Here is his advice from his appearance on Inside The Actors Studio in 2009

Sometimes it pays off when you are allowed creative freedom and you take a risk during a scene. At times actor’s ad-libs have become iconic movie moments, here are my favourites:

From Guest Author – Marci Liroff – I strongly suggest you learn a scene or a monologue once a week to keep yourself sharp and in tune as an actor. Here’s where to find FREE material.

Theatre is not the only place where you will find terrific monologues. Movie scripts are full of some of the best speeches written in recent years. Here are five of my favourites.

As an actor you need to really start to think about taking care of your voice. It is your main tool and so many actors treat it badly. A good warm-up should be part of your routine. Here is a quick and simple one for you to follow.

Ever wanted to throw around some insults to your fellow cast in a Shakespeare play? If you have been at a loss to find the right quip then use our handy cut out and keep Shakespearean Insult Kit.

Making a safe choice at a casting will make you a competent actor but will it get you remembered? Why not take a chance and make a more interesting choice.

Watching great actors at work is always a good way to improve your own technique, here are a few scenes I have picked out as great examples of screen acting.

From Guest Author – voiceover actress and comedian Nicola Redman – So, here are my favourite tongue twisters that I use every day. Picked up from various eccentric voice teachers and acting coaches over the years – “Ah hmmmmmm ma ma”… and other classics.

It’s behind you! Oh no it isn’t! If your first panto audition is looming, here is Actor Hub’s advice on the basics of pantomime and the type of roles on offer.

Auditioning for a commercial requires a different mindset than other auditions. Here is how to best behave at an advert casting so that you make all the right impressions.

Working as an actor on a filming job is a completely different kettle of fish to acting on a theatre job. Here are our top tips for surviving your first day as an actor on a film set.

Often drama is based on a conflict of emotions and very often this is internal. Here is a simple trick to make sure you hide an emotion whilst playing the other in any acting scene.

Guest Post from Actor and Director Ben Hodge – I wanted to pull together a few audition DON’Ts that I’ve seen over the years and share them with you. Here is Part One

Auditions can be difficult situations – the pressure is on! Try this tip which I was taught by a casting director and you can release all the casting nerves and pressure …

Actors can be frightened by Shakespeare. We can approach it with caution and our caution leads us to deliver it in an unnatural way. A way which we think adds to its gravitas. Here are some tips on making it sound modern.

Silent movies were by definition full of silent acting but sometimes in modern cinema we get silent moments where wonderful acting happens with no dialogue. Here are some of my favourites …

As an actor you will often get asked to work in an accent that is not your own. It can be daunting knowing where to start when approaching a new dialect. Here are our top tips.

More and more young actors seem to be coming to auditions overacting, their delivery and expressions are far from naturalistic. Here is why

Here is my run down of my favourite books about theatre and acting from 2014. These are all must read books for anyone with an interest in acting and all deserve to fill a gap on your book shelf or some space on your kindle!

From Guest Author – Actor Josh McHugh – “Yes, and…” The most important building block of improvisation is also perhaps the most powerful tool in my life and career.

Guest Post from Actor and Director Ben Hodge – In all auditions, whether singing, theatre, or film there are things that can really help make you stand out (both in a good and bad way)