Best 6+20 Portfolio Studios to Get Audition Calls

Good headshots of actors

How do casting directors call you for an audition?
Of course, first by looking at your Headshots!

Actor�s portfolio photos! It�s the single most important promotional tool for an actor, and it�s amazing how many people do it wrong. Take my advice; it�s time to take it more seriously. When your headshots pops up on a casting director�s computer, you want them to say, �Yes, bring that person in!� and not just deleting it with a dislike on their faces.

Portfolio photograph tips for actors and talent

Most Important

1. Your headshot and other profile pictures  should look like you - exactly how you would show up for an audition
2. Remember your photo has to sell your looks and personality
3. Go to a professional portfolio photographer. Don�t be stingy or if you are financially tight, get fewer looks rather than multiple ones. A good studio or a The good photographer in Mumbai may cost you anywhere from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 50,000 (inclusive of makeup and wardrobe?), though there are plenty of cheaper ones also looking for a kill.

Your eyes

Just like with on-camera acting, it�s all about the eyes, and what�s happening behind them. It�s your close-up, your moment. Your eyes should be perfectly in focus, alive, and energized, and not dead. There should be strong inner thoughts, implying a backstory and a life behind the eyes. A strong piercing eyes will bring a picture to life and help it stand out among hundreds. This can be done by your �imagination� to be in a particular imaginary or observed character.
Warning: Never, never and never hide your eyes with dark glasses. This is most irritating to the casting directors.

Outdoor vs. Studio

Some photographers do both, as they offer a different look and feel. Natural light gives a very real, a �film� look, which I prefer. Studio lighting tends to be a little more polished, with a more neutral backdrop. Both can be wonderful. What I would suggest is to have a combination of few outdoor and studio looks, if possible.

General Tips

• Tell photographer your expectations and intentions. Let them know what kind of look you want
• Drink lots of water and be well rested (so your eyes will not have dark circles)
• Your skin might not look best after drug/alcohol use. Try to abstain from these before your shoot
• Arrive on time. 

Top Portfolio Photo Studio 

1. A.Rrajani Photography*

Phone:070453 60660
Address: A-1 SURYA KIRAN MODEL TOWN, NEAR GYAN KENDRA SCHOOL 4 BUNGLOWS,ANDHERI(WEST), Mumbai, Maharashtra 400053
Website: http://a-rrajani.com/

2. Sandesh Jayakar Photography

Phone:022 4021 1956
Address: Off Aarey Rd, Vishveshwar Nagar, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400063
Website: http://www.sandeshjayakar.com/

3. Studio 999

Phone:098219 25888
Address: Goregaon West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400104
Website: http://www.luvisrani.com

4. Sameer Belvalkar Photography

Phone:098505 33300
Address: 505 Menka, Nalanda Menka Society,, Off J.P Road, 7 Bungalows, Andheri W, Mumbai, Maharashtra 411053
Website: http://sameerbelvalkar.com/

5. Luv Israni Photography (Branch of Studio 999?)

Phone:098212 97666
Address: New Link Road, Goregaon West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400102
Website: http://www.luvisrani.com/

6. Photography Institute

This is a photography institute where you can get some good portfolio done by few bright students/ experienced photographers attached, at an economical rate or the faculty can suggest and guide you where to go. Contact them
Details:
National Institute of Photography*
11/2, Ghamat Terrace, 2nd Floor,
Above Shagun Hotel,
Op. Dadar (WR) Station Middle Bridge,
Senapati Bapat Road, Dadar(West),
Mumbai-400028.
Phone: 022 24306502 , 022 65203364
Mobile: +91 9820109479
Email: info@focusnip.com

Note
You can try top fashion/ model photographers also

Other reviewed and select photo studios for aspiring actors

1. Studio Favourite*
+ (91)-22-38575149  Shop 142, 29th Road, Off Waterfield Road, Bandra West, Mumbai - 400050, Opposite Chemistry Boutique, Chinchwadi

2. Guri Photography
 + (91)-22-38535527  D Wing, J B Nagar, Andheri East, Mumbai - 400059, Opposite Kohinoor Hotel

3. Arya Studio
+ (91)-22-38523052  14, Ram Niwas Building, RRT Road, Mulund West, Mumbai - 400080, Near Railway Station

4. Alive Kraft Photography
+ (91)-7303707770, +(91)-9167252520  B 1703, Garden Estate, Link Road, Goregaon West, Mumbai - 400104, Behind Kancha Restaurant

5. Fine Arts Studio
 +(91)-22-38566873  E/40, Sahar Rd, Andheri East, Mumbai - 400069, Koteshwar Nagar,Opp Garware House & HDFC Bank

6. Shree Vireshwar Digital Studio & Colour Lab
 + (91)-22-39622369  Shop No 10, Premavati Chawl, Marol Military Road, Andheri East, Mumbai - 400059, Opposite Seven Hills Hospital

7. Sana Chhabra Photography
 + (91)-22-38535809  601, 6th Floor, Landmark Platinum, S V Road, Bandra West, Mumbai - 400050, Opposite Khar Mosque, Behind National College

8. Vilas Photo Services
+ (91)-22-38596171  Shop No 7, Flower Queen Building, Veera Desai Road, Andheri West, Mumbai - 400058, Opposite ICICI Bank And Dominoz

9. Snapshot*
+ (91)-22-38517366  29/232 Motilal Nagar 1, Imperial Heights, Andheri West, Mumbai - 400058, BEST Nagar, Near Fire Brigade

10. Midastouch Productions and Events
 + (91)-22-38524917  303 Elavia Manor, Chincholi Bunder Road, Malad West, Mumbai - 400064

11. DYT*
+(91)-22-39930267  +(91)-22-26465322, 26465323; 3 Sethi Terraces, 1st Floor, P D Hinduja Marg, Khar West, Mumbai - 400052, Opposite Canera Bank

12. X Pose Studio & Color Lab
 + (91)-22-38562109  Shop No 7, Ground Floor, Amina Manzil, Kishore Kumar Lane, Juhu, Mumbai - 400049, Opposite Ram Mandir

13. Studio Patidar
 + (91)-22-39370950  Unit No A/25, Oshiwara Industrial Estate, New Link Road, Goregaon West, Mumbai - 400104, Opposite Goregaon Bus Depot

14 . Elite Images Studio & Colour Lab
 + (91)-22-38586908  Shop No 1, Imperial Plaza, Linking Road And 30th Road, Bandra West, Mumbai - 400050, Opposite Amarsons Collections

15. Fotoscenic*
 + (91)-22-38579395  A 1, Sun And Sea Apartment, Royal Lane, Juhu Tara Road, Juhu, Mumbai - 400049, Near Sea Princess Hotel, Opposite Royal Hotel

16.  Priyanka Photo Studio
 + (91)-22-38564961  Shop No 31,Heera Panna Shopping Centre, Adi Shankaracharya Marg, Powai, Mumbai - 400076, Near Jal Vayu,Hiranandani Gardens

17. Starlight Model And Talent Management Pvt Ltd
 + (91)-22-38559246  Shop No. 25, Ground Floor, Om Heera Panna Premises Co-operative Society Ltd., Andheri West, Mumbai - 400053, Behind Oshiwara Police Station

18. Ajay Kaustubh
 + (91)-22-38526959  Shikhar Society, Plot No 104, Room No 16, Sector No 1, Kandivali West, Mumbai - 400067, Near Muncipal School, Charkop

19. Star Color Lab and Photo Studio
 + (91)-22-38585959  Shop No 12 Gren Ville, Lokhandwala Complex, Millat Nagar Circle, Andheri West, Mumbai - 400053, Next To Samarth Vaibhav Shopping, Next To Shiva`s Stylo Salon

20. Ridham Creation
 + (91) -22-38515180  R3/303, Asmi Complex, Ram Mandir Road, Goregaon West, Mumbai - 400104, Near Movie Star Cinema

Caution 

• Though the above details are best to our knowledge, you are strongly recommended to check the quality of their work (Portfolio albums) and other credentials, as over the time, a good may become bad and a bad, good 
• Also check what they are offering in a portfolio package like make-up, costumes, no of looks, indoor/ outdoor, etc. 

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Unless You Follow These 4 Tips You Fail in Auditions

Aspiring actors preparing for Bollywood audition

It�s always your fault for audition failures. So stop making excuses! Follow these 4 tips, give a "Star Performance" and grab your dream role

When you walk into an audition, it�s all about confidence. It�s about owning the room, and believing in yourself, your technique, and your skill. After all, if you don�t believe in yourself, nobody else will.
Confidence is an attractive quality that gets buyers (casting directors, producers, show runners, directors) to trust you so that they can put you on set and you won�t crack under all the pressure. You can be an amazing actor, but if you can�t walk into an audition with confidence, you will lose the role. Remember, your confidence level can play a major role in grabbing or losing the chance

Here are my four tips for developing unshakeable confidence in auditions:

1. How to get rid of the pressure

Outside in the waiting room, sit comfortably, don�t think of the crowd sitting or strolling around. Take a deep breath and relax.
Give auto-suggestion to yourself that you are relaxed and would give the best performance. You are good. And then focus on the script, the character and imagine the scene.

The trick here is to divert your mind immediately towards positive things, before the crowd or the scene in the waiting room makes you tense and nervous.

Remember, this audition is a simply a chance to play. So much of it is out of your hands (type, eye color, hair color, height, etc.). Forget the need to be perfect, allow for mistakes, and remind yourself that there will always be more auditions. Think of this as a fun chance to show your work and give them your take on the character. The casting director is your friend, on your side, and genuinely wants you to be right for the part. Don�t worry about the need to get the role. Thinking this way will free you from unnecessary tension and you will feel and appear more confident.
And your audition will be just great!

2. �Act� as a confident person 

You�re an actor, right? It�s all about perception. Even if you are feeling terribly tense inside out, repeat in your mind �I�m feeling good� and act like someone who is very confident, and you will actually become �Confident�. Some actors walk into the room with body language that says, �I�m sorry, don�t expect much from me�.� 
Act like you are fully in control and have been doing these �auditions� since ages. Take a deep breath, smile (One of the most important �acts� by an actor), walk into the room with purpose, make eye contact, hold your head up, act like you already have this role in your pocket.
Before you start your lines and looking at the auditioners, boost your confidence by saying to yourself, �Ok, ladies and gentlemen, watch this performance�. Just fake it. It puts the casting director at ease, and lets them know that you are in control.

3.  Know your lines, backwards and forwards

Being unprepared is the quickest way to feel nervous and insecure when you walk into a room. Knowing your lines is one of the few things you can control, and will help you feel sure of yourself and confident in your audition. Read the whole script if possible, understand the circumstances of the scene, know the techniques of quick memorization (If you don�t know how to memorize instantly, ask your coach) and learn them so well that you can just focus on the camera and the scene in the audition room. A prepared audition is a confident audition, and allows you to be present without panicking.

4. Wear comfortable clothes that make you feel good 

Unless, you are asked to wear specific clothes, otherwise this is my best tip. Unfortunately a lot of actors forget.
For on-camera auditions, I always feel that actors should wear something that makes them feel good, that fits them well, and that brings out their eyes and face. Wear something that makes you feel comfortable in your own skin, not something you just bought and have never worn before. All actors should have their own audition outfits. When you walk into a room and feel good about yourself, it radiates from you and makes people want to watch you.
After all, the game of audition  is about "Feeling" and "Delivering"
Source

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Which is the best acting technique for Bollywood and TV?

Method Acting

These are the teachings and concepts developed by Constantin Stanislavski, the father of acting started around 1911.
In the dramatic arts, the objective of 'Method Acting' is how actors should create in themselves the thoughts and feelings of their characters (of the script/story), so as to develop lifelike performances. This is done by a group of specific techniques.
Among Bollywood actor who learnt Method acting techniques are Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Varun Dhawan.
�I learnt a lot working with Nawazuddin. He�s a method actor and I enjoyed working it him. It�s always great to work with such talented people,� Varun told IANS (Indianexpress.com).  Another actor is Sidharth Malhotra to name a few. Of course, there are others who periodically attend method acting workshops in USA or UK

There are 3 main versions of 'Method Acting' developed later

Strasberg, Adler, and Meisner. 

1. Strasberg 

He was an advocate of what's called affective memory and substitution. This is using past emotions or your own experiences to generate current emotions. Some famous Hollywood stars who studied this version of Method were/are James Dean, Marilynn Monroe, Al Pacino, Paul Newman.

2. Stella Adler 

She was Stanislavski disciple who studied alongside Strasberg at the Group Theatre in NY and later went to Europe to study with Stanislavski. Stella went back to the U.S. and formed her branch of American Method. Her version focuses more on imagination and doesn't use affective memory or substitution. You use your imagination to be the character and create the environment. Top Hollywood stars  Robert DeNiro and Marlon Brando were from this school.

3. Sanford Meisner 

He also studied at the Group Theatre in US and  also wasn't a fan �affective memory and substitution� so he formed his own version which focuses more on instincts and reacting to the moment based on a simple technique of �Listening�. He defined acting as "living in imaginary circumstances." Some big Hollywood celebrities who use Meisner are/were Gregory Peck, Robert Duvall, Steven McQueen, Jon Voight, Jeff Goldblum, just to name a few.
Study and get yourself coached on all three major branches and find out which one suits you.

I�m not a big fan of the popular concepts of Method Acting. I don�t believe that an actor can become a character. If you become totally the character (say Emperor Akbar), you may mess up! In fact, it will be dangerous if the actors start becoming the character. Why? Because if you struggle to be or copying a character in you with the traits which not a part of you, it may look as if you are trying to fake it and the camera will catch and so the audience

• I'm an Adler and Meisner guy with due regards to �Method Acting�. 
• You would love Adler if you are good at using your imagination and thus, feel yourself at the best for when a director wants you to offer options or to improvise a scene or a character. Please remember, 'the power of imagination' can be learnt
• I find Meisner effective for creating a scene with my partner if my partner is really a good actor. I didn't have in my memory a messed up past life from where I can recollect sadness and crying instances, intense happiness with different types of laughter, anger, distaste, different types of love, chivalry and so on. I agree with Stella Adler and Meisner that emotional memory and substitution aren't honest enough. 
• I believe and that�s the way I coach my students that  Before they were exposed to any technique, their acting programs included a limited number of generalized improvisational exercises. (Playing a scene without a written script)

My Conclusions 

1. Finally, my suggestion would be to learn at least 3 acting techniques mentioned above. Then create your own method and style to play a character after you have done a character analysis of the script and created a new human.  
2. Don�t forget yourself. Bring to the role (You intend playing), that part of yourself that are coinciding with what is written and shelve (drop) those parts of you that are wrong for the role. Use only those parts of you which you can use comfortably without struggling too hard to make you tense or just faking it.
3. My simple logic is you are acting for the camera and not giving a live show. You have to be in a character as well as in yourself. You cannot submerge yourself totally in a character because of technical aspects of filming like various limitations of multiple shots and camera angles to name a few. A good cine actor should be like an electric switch to be instantly �On� and �Off� between a character and self. Therefore, create your acting method after taking the best of the above explained methods.

To You, the Best

COACH
Kiran Pande is the chief coach at Bollywood Best Actor Academy, Mumbai

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9 ways to become a charismatic actor and grab roles

Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan. Who is more charismatic?

What do you mean by an actor being "Charismatic"?

Actors with a ?special ?power that makes them ?able to ?influence other ?people, ?attract ?their ?attention, ?admiration and thus become a successful actor

Here are 9 ways you can become a more charismatic actor and get success in film and TV industry. 

1. Casting directors, directors, producers and artist-coordinators tend to consider actors they like. So behave in a way that makes you likable. Be polite and patient. Avoid being crude, rude, gruff, or impatient.

2. People are attracted to people who keep their word. That means when you make a promise to do exactly what you promised. Do it by the deadline, you promised - or sooner.

3. The cine industry trust actors who have their best interests at heart. You exhibit utmost devotion not only to do your best to portray a character, but is willing to do anything to make the project successful. You really are a sincere team worker rather than thinking only about self. So, get truly involved in a project, its problems, and people in the project with your mind and soul. If asked, give them advice that benefits them more than it benefits you.

4. People want to deal with actors who are professional. So first, you need to actually become an expert in your field through practice, research, continuous training, education, and study.

5. You as an actor is in show business. The industry people are attracted to actors who are physically attractive or at least not physically repulsive. So eat right. Exercise. Stay fit. Be well-groomed. Dress well. And pay attention to your personal hygiene.

6. People feel better with actors who are pleasant and "real." They would love to talk to those actors who smile. The best way to show that you're good and real is to be cordial, friendly, and genuinely interested in others. Instead of talking about yourself, ask about them. Ask about their business, the film project, their job, their industry, even their family and hobbies. People respond to people who listen and pay attention to what they are saying. Remember the old clich�: You have two ears and one mouth because you should listen twice as much as you talk.

7. The industry people feel comfortable with those who are like them. The trick here is to identify one thing you have in common with the other person. It could be hobby, movies and celebrities, share market, or anything else. Then, use that to cement a bond between you.

8. People are attracted to actors who are humble. The examples in cine industry are Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra to name a few of them. So don't boast about you, your qualities, money you make. They also prefer to deal with people who are flexible and accommodating, not rigid and difficult

9. People are impressed by people who seem busy. That's why you should never beg for a role to a director or a producer in film or television. Don�t ever say this, even if you need a job badly. Think about doctors. How would you feel if you walked into a doctor's office and you were the only patient? Wouldn't you wonder how good he was? As much as you hate it when you have to sit there and wait, don't you feel more assured when a doctor's waiting room is packed

Which of these �people-pleasing� skills do you have already? Analyze, develop and practice. In case of any difficulty, ask your acting coach.
Based on an article written by Nikhat Shaikh, Client Coordinator at Lakme Lever

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