Best Acting Class in LA

[I do this cause I love ya'll.]

Billy O'Leary is awesome. I know this.

You know this too. You know how? Cause you've seen him in Bull Durham, Hot Shots, Miss Congeniality 2, the West Wing, 24, Big Love, and countless other movies and television shows.

Most acting coaches in LA don't act. Billy O'Leary does.

(In fact, you can see him on TV Land most nights because he played Tim Allen's brother on Home Improvement.)

And his students act all the time too.

You want to work? Sure you do.

You want a FREE AUDIT? Where you get to participate and get notes on your acting?

Now we're talking!

Check out his website and follow the instructions on how to sign up for a Free Audit. Please mention this blog when you do!

A free audit from one of my favorites and best acting coaches in LA? HECK YEAH!

Reel Advice and How to Memorize Lines

Hey Y'all!  So in the last few days I had EIGHT friends on Facebook announce that they're gonna be on tv! Eight!! It's pretty freaking wonderful. From Bones to NCIS, to Days of Our Lives to National Commercials, things are finally freaking happening.

Also - they've on average put in 6-10 years here in LA before that's happened. Reality, guys. It ain't easy.

But when the stars DO align, it's freaking fantastic!

I too have been working on projects; I'm writing spec scripts. And I am having a freaking great time at it too! Finished two roughs and am working on which show to target next. In the meantime, I'm answering questions over here:

Hi Lira! 

I was wondering if you could give me some advice on putting together a reel. I have a scene in mind that I want, but I'm looking for a comedic monologue and more scenes. Where would you recommend  I look for some? I don't know exactly how I should go about searching because I'm not sure whats completely acceptable. I would prefer something from an indie movie and something a little different. Thanks again and have a good one! 

Shery

Acting reels are a tricky business. Are filming scenes from famous movies a good idea? No. Indie movies...? Uh....Still not a great idea. Plays? Sometimes, but they're usually too harsh for film.

For acting reels, your best bet honestly, is to either write a scene yourself, or have a friend write one for you. Is that terrifying? Is that hugely daunting? "I'm not a writer!" you might protest.

Well then, here's the best advice - film whatever piece of writing you freaking love. It could be a scene from a play from a book called "Scenes for Actors." It could be a scene from an indie film. What is going to show YOU off best? What type of character are you an obvious casting choice for? Do that.

If you're going to do a monologue, keep in mind that a one minute monologue on film is almost excrutiatingly long. You could trim it down to 30 seconds and that's still long. Most films have people talking in dialogue, so long speeches are very unnatural. That doesn't mean you can't do it. Just be aware.

And I would absolutely recommend NOT filming it by yourself. You do NOT want it to look like you're doing a monologue and just happened to film it. Make it a scene. Get a friend who loves you very much, shoot a master of you talking to him/her, and get both your close ups. That way, your editor (possibly you!) can cut back to the other person's reaction now and then to break up all your camera time. It's now a real, legit scene where you just happen to be doing all the talking. 

And another question about memorizing lines (sort of):

Hello Lira!

I'm a new reader of your blog and I really really love it. You're one of the few acting blogs that make pretty frequent updates and your stories are very interesting to read.  

I am a smaller town Nova Scotian actress who is moving to Toronto in September. Living in a small film industry area, I've been extremely lucky to get the work I've gotten! But soon I will be moving to where the competition lives and the pressure is on. I was wondering if you had any personal advice on lines. I don't have a problem with memorizing lines per say.. but rather, I get so nervous on set that I am constantly more worried about forgetting my lines than being in character. One time I tried to memorize the lines SO hard that it came instantly, but then they changed the entire paragraph on me right before filming and I kept accidentally saying the old lines (of course -.-). I would much rather be focused on my scene and character, but forgetting the lines keep freaking me out!

Do you have any advice?

Rachael. 

Hey Rachael. Thanks for reading!

So you don't have memorization problems per se, you're just super nervous that you'll forget them once you're memorized.

This one's kinda tough, because it's almost akin to telling someone who's sad to snap out of it and choose to be happy. Easier said than done!

You know I still have to say it, though, right? Here it is: Stop being nervous.

I'm such an a-hole!

But Rachael, it's true. They auditioned you, they cast you, they love you. They know you can do it. And you know you can do it. So do your job.

Sometimes, all you might need, is to break down your script by emotions. You know in this beat you're happy, this beat, you're sad. This beat you're angry. And how do you remember those beats?

By really listening to your scene partner. Listen to what they're saying. You've already done your emotional beat homework, so when you are really listening to what the other characters are saying, the emotions will naturally flow, and you'll naturally remember your lines. And as much as I would love to say I came up with this brilliant idea, it's not mine. It's Meisner's. 

And if your script has been completely changed hours before you film, the ENTIRE crew is going to understand that you will slip back to the old stuff. They get it. It's not easy to memorize entire new pieces with only minutes of notice.

I also know you're like, Dude, Lira, it was a horrible situation and I was so embarrassed that I was letting the crew down and taking too long!

Tell you what you do.

If that or something similar ever happens on an indie shoot, it is perfectly okay to ask the director for a minute of their time. He or she will come up to you and you can be blunt with what your problem is. They'll talk to you. You don't have to be so afraid.

Go look up some Meisner technique classes in Toronto when you get there. It'll be really good for helping you allay your fears.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

So You Got Dumped By Your Agent

Tracy writes:

Dear Struggling Actress,

Hi there!

My name is Tracy, and I'm a big fan of your blog, as well as a big fan of YOU in real life (It feels like I've known you for years! Even feels like I went to college with you!). I think your advice to other actors is amazing, and I bet you give great advice about life in general too :)

So here's the situation: 

After being represented for eleven years by my commercial agent, I was emailed a drop notice that they are terminating their professional partnership with me and now I'm wondering how to go about a couple things:

1) Do you have any commercial agents to recommend? I'm thinking of putting together a list of about 10 agents and sending over headshots/resumes/cover letters.

2) How do I go about removing my reps from my online websites like AA and LA Casting? or do I just wait until I get new reps and they take over that account. I've never really done this before

3) How do I move past the part where it feels like my ego got kicked in the vagina? (And yes - my ego is so big, it has its own vagina.) 

I know they weren't doing much for me, and I know it's for the best, and I know I"m going to find commercial rep that will send me out more than six times a year, but it still really kinda fucking sucks. 

I've had a hard week, and it's only Tuesday.

So any help or advice you could offer - I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks so much, Struggling Actress. You're my hero in many, many ways.

Love,

your second-biggest fan (I think Anthony wins as your biggest-biggest fan. As he should.)

Tracy

Hey Tracy. Thanks for reading. AND thanks for all the compliments! You sure know how to make a gal blush!

So first things first: You got dumped. Well, my dear, take heart because it happens to Everybody. Yup! Even yours truly was with a manager once who sent out an "It's Not You, It's Me," email, but this manager was super effing kick ass because she made me feel more powerful because she was letting me go. This was years back, and I wish I could quote it, but oh nuts, I'm digressing. Sorry!

I'm gonna work backwards from your list.

3) How do you move past the part of being kicked in the ego vagina? Well, it takes a while. You gotta mourn this like you would anything else. The good news is, just like any other relationship, being out of this one allows you to find someone better suited for you. It doesn't feel that way now, but it is the absolute truth. Trust.

2) Since you were dropped, your ex agency might have already gone ahead and removed you from their roster. On AA it's easy enough to do. Log in, go to My Tools, Manage Reps, remove them, hit save. 

 

On LA Casting, they prefer you send an email:

 

You must send an email to change@castingnetworks.com.  Due to legal reasons, you will need to send in request in writing. You cannot change your representation over the phone.

The following information must be included:
-Your name and phone number
-The Agency you are moving from
-The Agency you are moving to (if you are.)

You might not need to bother. Go to your LA Casting profile and see if their name pops up when you look at your profile.

1) I don't personally have a list of commercial agents that might be good for you; I have a list of commercial agents I thought would be good for me. I researched online, went to a few casting offices and looked at the sign in sheet and took note of which agency had a ton of people out and about at auditions (in a totally non-creeper way, I swear!) and I googled, "Top ten commercial agencies," and found out other people totally did some sleuthing work for me. Awesome.

But - hey. You've been here a while. You have a ton of friends who are actors and have commercial rep. The easiest thing for you to do is to email a bunch of them asking if they would feel comfortable referring you to their agent. I know one friend of yours who would love to (ack, cough!) but doesn't feel she has enough clout to refer you since she hasn't booked anything with that agency yet. I also know you have a ton of other friends out there who do have clout and would recommend you in a heartbeat.

Also - keep in mind that most commercial agencies like to take on new talent in June and July, but commercial season is slow this year, so go ahead and start submitting now. They don't call you in? Resubmit with another photo in a few more weeks. And do go to the agency's websites. A lot of them prefer email submissions. Which saves a ton of time and money.

Remember, this is gonna feel like a huge sucking bummer until a few weeks after you sign with your new agency and you start hitting the commercial auditions again. But fear not, there IS an agency out there who needs exactly your type, and will be so incredibly thrilled that they found you. Cause you are the only you out there, and You. Are. Enough.

xoxo
Lira