10 Ways to be a Bollywood Actor Without Experience | Money

Dreams and Realities

Dreams and Realities of aspiring actors

"It was my dream to be a Bollywood and TV Serial Actor. I'm handsome and tall, beautiful and  hot. So, I forced my parents to give me money, came to Mumbai. It's 2 years now. I'm totally depressed. I have lost all money, living place, friends deserted me. Nobody here in Mumbai to help me. ?? Mujhe ??? Karo ????? Sir, please help... Help... Please... Please sir!!!"
This is a common email request I receive. I understand their situation and try to help them as far as possible. However, what's the final solution?
Many aspiring actors who are just about to start a career in Bollywood, TV serials or Commercial ads are confused how to get a break
-When you don�t have anything on your acting resume like experience, monologue or show reel of clips of your films.
-With a middle or lower middle class background

I can see how this tricky situation can be confusing to many, particularly to those who just dream and have an attitude of-
Actor Banne Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega

And go out paying for portfolio Rs. 25,000, join some famous acting school Paying Rs 2 Lakhs with no �post training� help from that �Famous School �and jump straight into the industry without knowing the rules and requirements to be a successful actor.

For those dreamers who have financial constraints and have come from a smaller place to Mumbai, trying to fulfill their dreams is a shocking experience resulting into going back home as a broken man/ woman or those who manage to stay in Mumbai, land up doing menial jobs or forced to take up dubious or even illegal activities

Well, I�m not here to discourage you. Get this straight. On the contrary, to tell you how to make success without any experience and small money.

First, the good news: obviously you CAN become an actor with no experience. Everybody has to start somewhere. The key is actually taking action and doing something in order to get that experience.

�You don�t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.�

Here are some sure ways how to become an actor with no experience, when and where to start your acting career.
Once you�ve decided that you want to pursue a career in acting, you�ll need a good plan of action on how to become an actor with no experience.

1. Planning the Top Pririty

To plan you MUST have a solid knowledge and information on Cine, TV and commercial industry in our country. Remember, to be an actor is a �Business�. Get this into your head once for all.

Requirements to be a successful actor in Bollywood, TV or in Commercial ads

•  Self-analysis (SWOT) to judge whether you meet the requirements and what you have to do if you lack in any of the requirements
• 
  

How to get knowledge and information?

• Online from Internet: Just research, research and research for hours, days and months before you jump or leave your town for �Mayanagri�-Mumbai!
• If you do not know how to use computer to surf and find out information, either you learn NOW or forget to be an actor
• Read acting blogs (For example, this blog which has more than 200 posts). I strongly suggest reading good international acting resource websites like http://www.backstage.com/ and others.
• Check and learn from free acting videos from YouTube

2. Set your goal

For example, to be a successful TV or Bollywood or a model cum actor in 3 or 5 years with monthly earnings of  Rs. 50,000

Plan of Action and Sub goals:

Money required monthly to maintain you in Mumbai during the struggle period (for portfolio registration+ housing+ transport+ food etc.)
If you can�t arrange money, no problem. There are ways to become a successful actor without a lot of money.
Firstly, don�t move from your town to Mumbai. Get the experience of plays, theater road shows or write your own 2 to 5 minute story script, shoot films on mobile with your friends near your house, garden, road and upload them on YouTube or Vimeo. That�s it! You have experience NOW!

In Mumbai, go to industry hang out places (Read our relevant post) in Andheri West, Goregaon and other nearby places and contact people. You got to be a great go getter and a true extrovert. Get the necessary information from other actors hanging around there.

3. How to  Get Experience?

Go to film training institutes like ZIMA, Digital Academy in Mumbai and contact student directors who would need aspiring actors for their diploma films. They welcome any actor who meets the character of their film. And wow! You have an experience without spending a Rupee!
Try theater in Mumbai. Make a habit of hanging around in the coffee shop of  Prithvi Theatre in Juhu or regularly read a Mumbai Theater guide or shows, acting workshops and other activities at NCPA Nariman Point (Check their website regularly). Be ready to act in any of the plays held at NCPA. There are other places apart these. Search, search and move your feet!
One of the quickest ways is to find out where the different serials on TV are being filmed. For example, start visiting studios like Gemini, Mahboob studio in Bandra or where CID, Savdhan India episodes are being filmed. Get the list of studios and production houses through this blog or on
http://www.justdial.com/Mumbai/Casting-Directors/ct-1061732536.
While on a shoot, contact someone from the production dept. And tell him you are an actor and need a role, even a small one.

4. Read and study

First of all, you need to familiarize yourself with the industry. Know the ins and outs of this business, how it works and what people are involved in it. Reading relevant posts from this blog, talent coordinators and so forth will give you the confidence and understanding of where you want to be, and how you�re going to get there.
Not only that, but reading a lot will benefit any actor�s craft as well. Read books mentioned in the left side bar of this blog. Just click on a book, go to amazon. in and buy books one by one through your credit/ debit card. Don�t have a debit/credit card? Must have if you want to be an actor, maybe with only Rs. 5000 in a bank!

When you�re trying to find the best ways on how to become an actor with no experience and little money, self-education is priceless.

5. Don�t leave your city right away to Mumbai

As an aspiring actor who�s just starting out, your town will probably have small-time theater, plays, social and religious functions where you can create your own small group of performing arts, create plays and perform, including road shows on social issues like-
Public health, adult education, saving water and electricity.
However, remember, your every such activity MUST be filmed on video / mobile camera and promoted on YouTube or similar ones. This would be absolutely GREAT for getting experience, because this could be possible and easier.

Bollywood and TV serials in Mumbai not only very competitive, but  also very expensive.

Don�t move to a big city as soon as you decided you want to be an actor. You need to check whether this is simply an impulsive decision, or you actually enjoy the craft and have the resources to do this for a long period of time. Try to bite off as much as possible in your small town and start building your experience and acting resume.

6. Move slowly

Continuing my point from the above, your goal must be to move slowly, rather than rush into anything. Remember the famous phrase:

Acting is a marathon, not a sprint. 

This cannot be more true. Anybody who rushes into this profession will burn out very quickly. It�s not a smart way to approach this business.

7. Work on your special skills

Being a good actor should always be your main priority. But that doesn�t mean you can�t learn any �accessory� skills that will help you GRAB more acting opportunities. 

Many actors completely ignore this part, and therefore take themselves out of running the race.

Many a times a selection of an actor may depend on additional skills he/she possesses, when many actors are initially shortlisted for a role.
For example, singing and lip-sync, playing some musical instrument, dancing, martial arts, miming, horse riding, biking stunts to name some of the few. It�s always helpful to be able to do something more than acting that a director can use in the film. 

Perfect! Develop  those skills, put them on the resume and see how this can help you with gaining that acting experience.

What more should you be learning? Anything, really.

Juggling, Languages and different accents of Indian languages, different types of walks, postures, laughs, crying,  magic and whatnot.

Try some of the unusual things and put those on your resume, particularly if you already do them. Special skills aren�t the focal point of your resume (which is why they�re usually at the very bottom), but who knows, one day, one of those skills may win you a significant role in a big production.

8. Start working on your marketing

When you have no acting experience  and not running around for auditions, you have time.
I suggest to start working on your marketing and creating your brand as �Mr. Best Actor�. Initially perhaps it may not do good but once you have that acting experience, you can update periodically will be ahead of many other actors who are just catching up with their actor marketing goals.

So what can you do to start building a brand around yourself?

Build your own personal acting website (or you can pay someone to do it for you, but it�s not worth it). Try building it on free http://weebly.com
Learn to promote this website vigorously online.
-Create social media profiles: Facebook (page and not only profile), Twitter, Instragram and whatever else is out there. Make connections online with other actors, directors, producers, screenwriters and industry people.

9. Welcome  Rejections

Rejection is a part of this business. A big part, actually. Many budding artists do not expect this, but unfortunately, that�s the reality of show business � everybody gets rejected.
Unlike in other walks of life, you have to accept that Rejection (with capital �R�) is completely normal.

�Actors search for rejection. If they don�t get it, they reject themselves.�  

Charlie Chaplin

At this point, don�t go out there to win. Go out there to FAIL. Do your best, experiment, play and enjoy the process. As an actor, you cannot try to avoid failure, ever.

10. Be Patient and Consistent

For months and years! Many top Bollywood stars have worked patients for years and years before they had a success.

Their success mantra? "I never give up"

Read More

Is an Acting Coach Bogus? And a school? Review

Aspiring actor under private coaching

Why You May Need a Private Acting Coach

Here are some of the reasons why actors can choose to hire/ join a private acting coach. The private coaching sessions may be justified  in the following situations and needs of an actor:

1. When you are likely to feel confident in learning privately and not in a group, working men and women and  want to learn according to your convenient fixed days, Or in the comfort of your home eg child actors, aspiring elderly male and female actors, young girls shy of crowds.

2. Or you have apprehensions of being in a group and have a doubt that if others learn faster and better, it may frustrate and demotivate you

3. You need more time individually

4. To get ready before joining to an acting school
5. Want to work specifically on audition techniques to improve your selection chances

6. Trying know and to fix specific mistakes or bad habits you may have as an actor

7. You have some personality deficit like lack of confidence, nervousness, inferiority complex, shyness, inability to imagine and create characters, lack of aggressiveness etc

8. Learning a particular acting skill like playing different emotions, attitudes, voice improvements

9. Want to Learn how to set goals

10. How to market and promote your career- your individual plan and how to monitor
11. How to be an excellent public relation actor

12. Some actors also go to private coaching when they need a long term development and an extra motivation and mentoring to continue on this road

13. Or when you like to get back and reignite the flame of their belief in their ability to act. Experienced acting coaches are good at that.

When Private Coaching doesn't help

This is also true that new aspiring actors must learn in groups, where they get to work off their partners and observe others� work. Also, the fact is true acting is about listening and reacting. You don�t get this opportunity in a private session.

Recommendations

1. Hire/ join an acting coach, initially. This could be economical also compared to a renowned acting institute in India
2. Then, join a good school to continue learning in a group

Once you understand how acting works and you have something specific on your mind, you can give private  coaching a shot.

Read More

How Actors to Beat 12 Physical and Mental Blocks to Success

Bad career destroying habits of actors

This Could be Your Physical and Mental Blocks in Becoming a Good Actor

Correct them before it's too late!

1. Insensitive Face (Poker Face; ?????? ?????)

You have a blank face to reactions to emotional stimuli
This could either be natural due to insensitivity or deliberate. The other person may feel bad if you are not agreeing, sympathizing or appreciating through facial expressions. Meeting another person, nobody likes a blank face. For an actor, a sensitive and expressive face, sending positive vibes are an asset.
Learn to show your feeling to others with an expressive face, but don�t exaggerate deliberately. It may look fake. The first step in improving this is being aware of your type and how your face responds to what you hear. Ask friends, other co-actors, your acting coach.  Develop your power of imagination and feel the world around you.

2. You drum or tap your fingers or shake your legs

Either just a bad habit or a sign of nervousness or lack of confidence.
What it conveys to the other person in front of you? A nervous, insecure or a  hesitant guy. This may put off the other person.
Be aware of what you do while having a discussion with the other person. The moment you become aware of this, just say in your mind �Stop�; count 1 to 10 and continue responding normally

3. You slouch when you walk, stand on one foot or move like a pendulum

Researchers found that when you slouch while walking, sitting or stand awkwardly they experienced worse moods than those who had more pep in their steps. What�s more, participants who walked, sit or stand in the slouchy style remembered more negative things rather than positive things.
Ideally, by adulthood a person will have a normal walking, sitting or standing pose and gesture.
Unfortunately, few of us achieve the ideal gait, and fewer still maintain it. Over time, we may lower our heads and thrust our trunks forward. Instead of swinging, our arms may dangle listlessly at our sides.
Bad habits aren�t the only reason our gaits go awry. A variety of health conditions can throw us off stride, too. Obesity, Arthritis, Asthma or  Orthopedic operations are some of the few reasons.

Here are some tips to correct bad walking and posture habits:

A. Look ahead. Train your sights 10 to 20 feet ahead of you. If you need to check the ground to avoid obstacles, lower your eyes, not your head.
B. Stretch your spine. Your shoulders should be level and square. Tuck your buttocks in.
C. Bend your arms. Flex your elbows at close to 90-degree angles and let your arms swing at waist level.
D. Take measured steps. Too long a stride throws you off balance. Concentrate on taking shorter steps, but more of them.

3. Nose/mouth, picking

This annoying and silly habit of 'digging gold from nose' is one of the worst habits that go un-questioned. This habit is not only bad for common social etiquette, but could be bad for your health. After touching several things and then taking the same finger into your nose, you will land at the doctor's clinic. Hence, stop this awkward habit of pulling sticky substance from your nose, or fetching left over food strands from your mouth.

4. You love alcohol, love to drink quickly and must have every night

Binge drinking (the consumption of an excessive amount of alcohol in a short period of time) in actors, causes many serious problems.
I have seen many actors whose drinking habits leading to addiction, have destroyed their career, love and family life and unfortunately are on Mumbai roads almost begging to live.

There could be health problems like Cirrhosis of the liver, weight gain and consequent hypertension, heart diseases, dizziness, memory loss, puffy eyes and face, bloody or yellow eyes, behavior changes like becoming an angry man or a woman, over sensitiveness with swings in moods like suddenly crying etc.
Tell me which casting director will approve such an actor for a film or TV serial? No way!

To save you from such damage, the key is just STOP! Develop a strong determination and STOP.
If you can�t then the 2nd key is �limitation�! Learn to have "no alcohol days" and just push the bottle or turn the empty glass on the table after a small one or two.

5. An 'Owl' at night

As an actor if every night is a late night, leading to late mornings or in some cases your morning turns into afternoon, you are screwed! You are killing your own acting career, for sure. Though being in the entertainment business, it�s okay once a while, but if this becomes routine, you will damage apart from career, your body as well in the long run.
For your career, �a late night, actor� presents a lethargic man or a woman with poor energy which is so essential in auditions and for a shoot. As the time passes, you look older than what you are and in films or TV, good looks and a high level of energy is your gate pass to stardom.
The solution is simple:
A. At least get a minimum of 7-8 hours of good sleep on most nights of the week. A good night's sleep also helps you stay awake and fresh throughout the day.
B. Irrespective of when you sleep, your waking time in the morning MUST be fixed. The best time for actors is around 5 AM in the morning.

6. Feel 'lonely'

Though occasional  loneliness may inspire creativity and there is nothing wrong being alone for �Observation� and �Imagination� to create your �characters�, developing a guilty feeling of loneliness can be damaging to your mind leading to depressive moods and negativity.
Be friendly with positive people, who inspire you and from whom you learn an acting craft, industry happenings and know about how they succeed. Don�t join a company of people who all the time discusses when and how they have failed.

7. Carrying a heavy backpack

As actors we love to carry our world wherever we go, because we can't afford to miss a single thing. This habit of hauling the world on the back or shoulder causes lots of harm to our health. Carrying heavy bags can cause various long term effects like serious back, neck pain and poor posture.
The solution is to fill your bag only with minimum required

8. Munching snacks and junk food too often a day and even in the nights

The major consequence of this habit is increase in weight and getting deshaped.
If you disrupt your regular eating pattern, this extra eating can flood your body with extra calories and unhealthy ingredients, which can further cause serious chronic health problems like diabetes, heart problems and acidity.
Though you  may carry small healthy snacks in your bag for long hours of auditions and film or TV shoots, the solution to this addictive habit is to have "time fixed" for your 3 to 5 meals a day and NOTHING in between!

9. Lying constantly

In order to get quick success, some develop the habit of lying. The worst consequences of such habit are
A. Exposure of a lie
B. Living in a constant fear and anxiety that  someday they may be exposed.

Now you how detrimental this habit could be?

The solution is: Remember, when we define an actor, he /she is a person who lives truthfully under Imaginary circumstances. Then why not to be truthful in real life?
Acting is a business and an actor in the long term can only be successful with truthfulness and honesty.

10. Skipping breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and especially for actors, who require a lot of energy in running around for auditions and shoot. Your performance in a scene also require a lot of energy. If your entire breakfast comprises one cup of rushed tea or coffee and a toast , then you're setting yourself up for an unhealthy future. This will affect your energy reserves and negatively affect your metabolism. If you skip your breakfast, you are likely to eat more during the other meals and this can lead to weight gain.
The best way is to have sumptuous breakfast comprising of nutritious food to keep on toes with a positive mood

11. Nail biting

A sign of nervousness, which can be easily caught by people you meet. This habit could be responsible for your rejection in auditions as nobody likes to hire a nervous guy. The nervousness depicts a poor confidence and a sign that a person couldn't be depended upon.
So, stop this dirty habit right away!

12. Bad Speaking habits and voice culture

A. Repeatedly using the word �I� (In Hindi �Main�) for example �I like this" and that etc. (Main ja raha hun, Mujhe ye acchha lagta hai, mera ghar etc.)
Instead, learn to speak �We, Us, You� (In Hindi Hum, Aap)
B. Speaking with a heavy accent of a regional language
C. Wrongly pronouncing some words like Shaaa to Sa or Sa to Shaaa
D. Speaking too fast, thus mixing words
E. Speaking in a low volume. The listener has to exert a lot to hear what is being said
F. Speaking with effort or haltingly or with a slight stammer
G. Saying �I think� too often (In Hindi- Mere vichar se or Main sochta haun ki�or Mujhe lagta hai ki�). This shows lack of confidence and that you are unsure
H. Giggling or laughing too often unnecessary.
An actor must be trained in speaking and voice culture.  He/She must have good speaking habits and a good voice. This means quality, clarity, pronunciation, diction, different accents of speaking Hindi like: Punjabi, Haiyanvi, Rajasthani, Bhojpuri, South Indian, Bangali etc, volume, speed, pitch etc.

This training can be provided by your acting coach or a good school which spends sufficient time with individual students.

Read More

Struggling Actor No Luck? Follow 4 Easy Astrological Steps

Astrology for an actor's success

Actors looking up at stars for success

This is not related to any religion,  but recommendations from a predictive science-Astrology. If you believe, read and try to follow as this may accelerate fulfilling your dream to a great actor. If not, then either forget or follow what's possible. You may improve your LUCK if nothing else!

What to do Astrologically to be a Successful Actor?

If you believe in astrology or if even not, follow these simple solutions to be a successful Bollywood actor in a short time

Do's and Don'ts

1. Avoid using Red Color in any way

2. Wear Opal and Pearl (Ask how to wear from the you buy. Usually they know)

3. The Worship Lord Shiva�s idol of dancing Natraj (Not  �Tandav Nitrya� angry  one) by chanting simple Mantra �Om Namah Shivaya� (? ??? ?????)-  9, 18, 27 or 108 times daily after bath, as per your convenience or, buy a small "Shivlinga" (???????) of mercury (????) and worship daily with above mantra

4. Preferable:  Get your horoscope checked by an astrologer if your �Venus� (Planet Shukra) is strong. If it is strong, then astrologically, to be an actor will be easy for you. If not, then an astrologer can suggest you how to make it strong.

Good Luck!

||Om Nanah Shivaya||

Read More

6 Lies you are told on Film Acting to make you Fail

The lies and truth of acting in films

The lies 

1. You should have a close relative in the cine industry or to know the right people

This may be sort of true, but not necessary.
So, what�s the key?

Networking and public relation skills!

You can learn the skill of networking the same way you can learn anything else The saying should be, �you have to meet and make sure the right people get to know you.�

Just start visiting production houses, producers, directors and casting directors, TV channels and other important people. Yes, it�s a hard work and got to have a thick skin to face refusals. Have website, show-reel or a 2 minute monologue and promote aggressively online and on social media.

2. Getting trained by an acting school with a big name behind is necessary

This is not true. There are many successful actors without any formal training from a big name school. I personally know actors who are a passionate reader of this blog who practiced with their friends and now are on TV serials and films. 
However, this is not to undermine the importance of learning the acting craft professionally in a good school.
Perhaps for beginners, it would be better to engage a private acting coach who either works on one on one basis or have a small group of 2 or 3 students only. This way you may get personal attention in a COST EFFECTIVE WAY  compared to an expensive school with a large group.

3. The director is there to help you act on the set

No way. He/she is there to take care manage numerous activities of a shoot under terrible time constraints. He/she is there to supervise the story and photography. On the focused platform, directors are there to capture their vision, but the reality is that nine times out of 10 they have nothing to say that will be of any real help to your performance. They may be inclined to hold your hand or praise you, if you still have such needs, but they will not like it. They are too busy for your needs. Come to set with a polished performance ready to roll. If directors have time (or the ability) to direct actors, then that is just a bonus for you.

4. Just ignore the camera. Let it find you

Wrong. For example, you can move freely the way you want in a wide shot or use exaggerated gestures or facial expressions and look wherever you want in a close shot!
Remember, a camera has limitations of width and has a fixed path length,  especially in a mid shot or in a close up. Secondly, it can catch and will magnify most subtle movements, emotions, expressions and your look. If you ignore the camera, this could be tricky and it usually costs, additional screen time and retakes which nobody likes.
I always suggest to locate the camera the moment you are ready for a shot and play for the camera apart from moving into a character.
Therefore, learning acting for a camera is of paramount importance if want to get roles in films, TV serials or commercial ads.

5.  You should speak softly on camera 

You should speak exactly in the way that you would, so that the person in front of you can hear you correctly. This means no mumbling, proper diction, and volume. You will not need to go as far as you do in theater (loudness and clarity of voice and gestures); only speak as much as you would in an actual conversation. Do as you would in reality. Don�t be too cool or deep or project in a subtle voice. Most movie stars clearly understand this and they use their own voices and dialect unless the a particular role demands differ.

6. The theater is a strong foundation for film acting

A film actor should get on the fast track. In today�s youth-driven, highly competitive market with thousands of struggling actors, you should come to Mumbai and get into a school which has great on-camera class. Or join a good professional acting coach who had been a good film / TV actor in the past. Once you have a name in the film, you can get a good role in a play / theater.

Read More

4 Best Tips to Play Strong Emotions Quickly for Success

Bringing strong emotions quickly

Secret of How to Play Strong Emotions Quickly for Winning Auditions | On a Set 

Sometimes you need to cry, be angry, be threatening, or play a powerful villain and that too, quickly as in auditions or on a set due to time constraint.
If you are not an experienced actor or are uncomfortable showing strong emotions in real life, you may feel uneasy acting with the kind of power or intensity called for in emotional scenes.

The basic approach

Perhaps you are afraid to get out of control, but the willingness to lose control will actually allow you to be more in control of the scene. When you lose control, you find freedom. You start to get lost in the character and their reality. Once you get out of your own thoughts (and your own mental blocks) and get into the body and the thoughts of the character, you begin to operate from inside which is connected to the emotions of the character.
I suggest these tips for beginners, based on the successes of very experienced actors. I use it in classes (kids, too) These tips work fast.

The Master Key

The most important for an actor to play strong emotions is a highly developed power of imagination to see and feel as a character a strong emotional situation. Develop it by practice. Take help from your acting coach.

Before the audition or a shot

Sometimes when you find difficult to bring strong emotions quickly (especially if you are a beginner) and are short of time, using your body as a whole, individual body parts like face, hands and gestures to bring emotions triggering from outside to inside may be the answer to a tricky situation. This is my experience and personal opinion though may not be in line of �Method Acting�.

Just physicalize! 

Pump yourself up to get your blood surging... big time. You are trying to get yourself into the exact physical state that you are in when you actually feel the emotion in your own life.

1. Anger

Do pushups or agitate you. I, personally, stomp around, pound my fists and yell and curse to pump my emotions up to get angry. Gets your adrenaline pulsing through your body any way you can. No one cares that you are doing this. They know you need to push your buttons for an emotional scene and are thrilled you can do it quickly so they can get the shot.

2. Crying with tears

Slump or hold onto your body in a defeated or protective way. Perhaps even collapse a bit. I suggest audible breathing as if you can�t catch your breath. Make the ugly sounds you make when you cry. Let your voice be ugly and broken. Let your face become ugly. Be willing to be unattractive.
(Make sure you watch the accompanying video to see how insane I actually get!)

3. Passion 

(A state or outburst of strong emotion)
Generating a strong emotion could be applicable to many situations, when you speak passionately about something. These are great in improvisations, for building characters quickly, and for strong emotions.
For example intense love, desire, longing, frenzy, hero worship, craze, obsession etc. 

Intense Love or sex

To express a strong emotion of love, visualize someone you love deeply and replace your scene co actor with this person you love so deeply and practice your dialogs. Try to make your voice husky and breathless.

For anger

Pick up what your character in the script hates most and do a few minutes� worth of a wild, passionate, angry outburst about it. Pick what is really irritating your character in the scene or the straw that broke the camel�s back that set you off. What drives you crazy? Get madder and madder as you go. Get insane!

For tears

Choose what you fear, what broke your heart, or whatever situation in the actual scene is making you sad and just rant. Get more and more upset as you go until you are sobbing. This will help you to find the buttons to push when you need to call upon those tears again.

4. Scream

This works especially well if you are playing an extremely angry or powerful villain. Just scream bloody murder. Often, if I am taping someone for an audition, I will have them scream and go right into the scene and I just edit out the scream.
For tears, this will get you so out of control that it is easy to break into tears very quickly. Just keep screaming until you are totally broken.

Now go go go forth and freak out! 

Based on

Read More

Learn 6 Ways of Smart Actors to Market Career FREE

A cut-throat competition in actor's market for Bollywood and TV serials

How to Market yourself as an actor FREE

Yes, they are Smart and Successful Actors! Why? 

A. Because they listened 
B. They focused on a single factor; "how to get chances" rather than dreaming foolishly to be an actor and running from pillar to post without a solid strategy
C. They realized apart from an excellence in acting craft,  the success of this factor depends on their marketing strategies and promotion being acting a "Business"
D. They knew they didn't have lots of money and time enough and wait till eternity.

To be an actor is a business and any actor who doesn't realize this, irrespective of an excellence in the acting craft, will surely fail!

So, smart actors, when think about marketing, they usually see a most important sign 

Or rather how to save it!

Sure, an essential tool like your headshots can be expensive, but once you have them, there�s plenty of ways to improve your actor marketing without spending a dime.
Actor marketing is defining who you are, building relationships with people interested in you, and convincing them you are the one they need.
If you�re dreaming and desperately want to be a Bollywood or a TV serial actor, and short of money, here are some inexpensive ways you can work on your actor marketing!

1. Be sure your portfolio photos are working for you, not against you.
Cost: Rs.0 to Rs. 5000 for 10

Many of aspiring actors spend a lot of money on headshots (Portfolio) where unfortunately though they look glamorous but not what truly they are. The result is obvious- they are selected for an initial audition based on the headshot, they are rejected because when they enter into the audition room, the casting director finds a different person than what he/she had seen in the photograph. It may be your face, hair style, profile, looks which probably had been altered in your headshot by a photographer to give you a glamorous look. The cost of such portfolio could be around Rs. 10,000. This is a waste of your money and definitely works against you
The solution: Get your pictures clicked to look what you exactly are-neat and simple and of good quality. Don�t give a shock to a casting director by looking different than your headshots. You even use your own cell phone which has a good camera.
Choosing your best looking shot is great if you want to get a date but, if you want to get a role in a film, choose a shot that reflects the roles you�re most castable as.

2.  Your r�sum� (Online and others)
Cost: Rs.0

Your r�sum� works for you to show people whether you have experience, do you have other talents like swimming, dancing, singing, martial arts, languages, accents etc. and whether you will fit into to be auditioned role.If your r�sum� looks sloppy and unprofessional� so do you! Check for typing errors, have a friend proofread it for you! Be sure to update your hard copy for auditions, the PDF on your website, and any casting sites you�re on!

3. Start a website!
Cost: Rs.0

Actors need a website that shows their marketing materials and links to all of their social media accounts. Don�t put off building your website because you can�t afford one.

You can set up a free on the following sites right NOW:

https://about.me/  https://www.yola.com/  http://www.wix.com/  http://www.weebly.com/

4. Market and promote yourself on social media accounts.
Cost: Rs.0

Do you have social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, about.me  and looks professional?
Do they feature one headshot you chose to consistently promote your brand across platforms?
Do you have professional social media headers?
A compelling bio with keywords?
These things cost nothing and are necessary to effectively use social media to advance your career.
(Warning for Facebook: Don�t get fooled by �likes� by your friends. They are not casting people. You may get wrong signals and may get addicted to wasting your precious time on chatting and get foolishly self-elated. Instead a "profile", start a business �page�)

5. Build and Track your relationships.
Cost: Rs.0 (Except travel)

Remember, marketing is about building and nurturing relationships!

• Identifying production houses, TV channels like sonny, star plus, casting directors, cinematographers and others related to the industry and running after them to submit your resume and headshots is a MUST. Read relevant posts on this subject from this blog
• A follow up with a thank you mail, card, birthday or anniversary wish is always welcomed and help people to remember you among the countless crowd of aspiring actors. For email, it�s necessary that your email page is properly designed with your headshot and a great header which should remain constant.  You don�t need relationships with thousands of people for your career take off. Focus your marketing efforts of these people!

6. Expand your network of contacts.
Cost: Rs.0

Get off the couch or gossip corner and find a group of actor�s, casting directors, director�s hang out places in Mumbai or in your town and gate crash to network with! Become extrovert and aggressive if you want to be an actor! Read this post at: hangout places in Mumbai
Do you require lots of money for the above? NO
So, that money is no longer an excuse, get started!

Still confused?

• Read relevant posts from this blog or
• Join us and become an actor cum marketing expert

(Author; Had been a marketing wizard for 30 years apart from an award winning actor, an acting coach and a short film maker)
Inspired by

Read More

Why "Continuity" is No 1 Acting for Camera Learning Skill

Mira Nair directs an actor in a scene pointing a mismatch

Unlike in Theater Learning �Continuity� is Must in Acting for Camera 

When shooting on set, do you ever wonder what the editor needs to keep you in the film? Or if you are unintentionally causing problems for the director or for an editor? You�re not alone.

Who is an editor?

Film editing is part of the creative post-production process of filmmaking in which an editor selects shots and puts them in an orderly, logical, and aesthetically consistent sequence. Film editing is often referred to as the "invisible art" because when it is well-practiced by an editor, the viewer can become so engaged that he or she is not even aware of the editor's work. Thus an editor�s work becomes a key factor in a film�s success.

What�s the difference between a SHOT and a TAKE?

SHOT
The section of unedited film from the time the camera starts to the time it stops.

TAKE 
In cinematography, a take refers to each filmed "version" of a particular shot. �Takes� of each shot are generally numbered starting with "take one" and the number of each successive take is increased (with the director calling for "take two" or "take eighteen") until the filming of the shot is completed
From an editor�s viewpoint, one of the most important technical skills for an actor to master is continuity.

Irrelevant in theater, but critical to on-camera acting, continuity means performing the same physical actions identically in every take. This may happen when multiple takes are taken (filmed) of the same shot. For example: It�s which point in the dialogue you turn around to face someone, which hand you use to pass your scene partner a folder, when you lean back in your chair or touch your face.
Continuity is when you move, how you move, when you stop moving, and matching that action in every take.

If you reached for your water before saying, �Bahut pyas lagi hai� (�I�m thirsty�) in �take one�, then you have to match this movement and action in every other take for a shot. You must always do it in the same order because an editor is editing the scene together using multiple angles and takes, and the action in all of them needs to match. You can�t change the sequence of events in �take three� by reaching for the water after saying, �Bahut pyas lagi hai� That�s not going to cut together with your other "takes" or your scene partner�s "takes". The other actors are reacting to your actions, so if you move at the wrong time, their eyes will be looking in the wrong place. It�s extremely important to be consistent and doing the same and same, whether the camera is on you or on someone else. Then an editor always has the option to keep your good work in the scene.

Sometimes it�s human not to notice mismatching movements and actors are no different, so editors work hard to avoid them. The directors or editors don�t want the audience to become distracted by an actor�s wrong movement or looks. For the illusion of a film�s fictional world, you need to maintain continuity.

Here�s an example of bad continuity

Two characters are talking at a diner. The Drinker has a coffee cup in his left hand. In his coverage, he says his line and then drinks the coffee. But what if he doesn�t maintain continuity when the camera moves behind him to get coverage of the Listener?

Correct continuity:

 The correct continuity by an actor while filming. See the arrow on the right holding cup in his left hand in both the pictures (Picture courtesy http://www.backstage.com)

Incorrect continuity:

The incorrect continuity by an actor. On the left, holding  the cup in his left hand Now, see the arrow on the right where the man is holding the cup in his right hand (Picture courtesy http://www.backstage.com)

See how his coffee cup jumped his own hands? So did the audience.
The woman performed exceptionally well in this shot, but for a bungling of a mismatch by her co-star Therefore hoping that she would perform well again, the director had to go for another �take� to correct the mismatch in �continuity�. Unfortunately, the female actor in the next �take� didn�t do that well.

An editor speaks:

"I want to cut every scene for the best performances, but when there are continuity problems, I�ll have to use inferior takes just to hide the physical mismatch. So your worst performance might wind up on screen because that was the only "take" where continuity matched. Or I might have to cut away from you entirely until the mismatching action is over. That�s how you end up on the cutting room floor".

Now, is it clear to you how important is �continuity� for an actor?

Criticism

Some actors complain that continuity is a too rigid thing; that it prevents them from being in a character�s moment and thus produces an unreal performance. �I can�t be in the character if I�m worrying about whether my glass is up or down!�

My answer

It is simply that you have to learn this skill and make it part of your acting craft. If you give the most incredible performance, but your continuity is a disaster, an editor probably can�t use it. So the performance will be useless after all. Keeping your continuity consistent lets the audience focus on the important things.
The greatest actors have the ability to portray rich emotional moments on demand, but even in the midst of those moments, there�s a still a part of their brain that can focus on technical things like continuity without diminishing their emotional performance. The examples of such Bollywood actors are many. I find that truly incredible.

How to learn continuity?

1. Be aware of what you are doing in each �take�
2. Keep a small diary with you and as you sit down (If possible), note down every movement, gestures, looks etc. If there is an immediate next take with no time to sit, run in your mind what you did earlier.
3. However, remain in the character. Don�t chat with co-stars in between a take or a shot or till it�s a � pack up� or �wrap up� call
4. Practice continuously �switch on and off�� between a �character� and �yourself� becoming aware of the technical requirements of an acting for camera. 
5. Remember, it's a balance between your mind and imagination

I�m confident you can learn this too.
Based on

Or join us to learn

Read More

4 Red Flag Warning in Selecting Acting Schools

Choosing to engage in a relationship with an acting class/coach is like dating a girl or a boy. You�re entering into a potential long-term (few months to years) relationship that must be mutually beneficial, healthy, and free of mental and emotional trauma.
The No. 1 factor when considering joining is the results of a school / coach's work: launched careers (even in short films), helping in booking roles etc.
The following are basic assessments I encourage all actors to employ when selecting an acting class.

Red Flag #1

Too many students

In addition to the teacher not know about you like your strengths, weaknesses and even not remembering your name, you will be lost in a group of students, forced to work with a scene partner, either for better or too poor compared to you, and may only be able to practice scenes or emotions  once every 2 or 3 weeks... if you�re lucky! I describe my classes as �private coaching in a class setting.� Because our classes are small either one on one or in a small group of or 2 or 3 students.
I would recommend an acting school with a class of not more than 7 to 10 students

Red Flag #2

Teachers who hate some actors in a class

Unfortunately, I see many actors who arrive at my private coaching program very damaged. They have been completely flattened by a sarcastic teacher/class who due to some whimsical reasons hates them. They may not be abusive, but behave negatively with a particular student.

How to spot such demotivating teachers? 

• These teachers who bully or are sarcastic to the students; allow ask some of their favorite students to directly comment on the performance of others actors they don�t like (may be due his/ her face, language or accent, body language etc.) or require more time to learn an emotion/ attitude. I remember one of my coaching students telling me that her teacher uses to ridicule her because she was poor in English. She got terribly upset as the teacher deliberately will encourage other students in a session to comment on her performance or talk to her in English, embarrassing her as she could not reply in a fluent English back.
• A good practice to be followed by a teacher in a class should be that all comments from students should be directed to the teacher only, as actors should never criticize their fellow actors, both in a class or even on a film set.

Red Flag # 3.

Whether you have learned or not, there is no time for training individually.

Suppose an actor can�t display a particular emotion or attitude like crying or laughing instantly or failing to develop �improvisation� in a scene, they don�t wait for you. Why? The reason is simple-how can they hold a class of 20 for maybe an hour or more only because of you? They don�t.
This is a no-win situation for you as an actor. The biggest problem with these types of teachers is that though many of them are good there are limitations of time and may be their own reasons as a paid employee of a school with a fixed syllabus which defeats the basic objective of an acting class.
The �acting� is a delicate art and a fine craft. It cannot be taught as a subject of chemistry or history to 40 to 50 students with few practical in a lab.
However, few lucky ones who get attention and favor may be because of �like� grab more benefit in a class though large. Thus, all craft development gets cast aside and the entire class�s focus diverts and revolves around fun and networking with co-actors.
This is a major red flag.

Red Flag #4: 

No results in sight.

Unfortunately, due to time constraints and fixed schedules of the subsequent classes, post training help is limited.
After training is over, most of the students do not know what to do, where to, whom to meet and how they can get roles in films, TV seials, commercial ads and print. Even in a class, sufficient time may not be devoted to how to be successful in auditions. This may not be deliberate or due to neglect, but again, may be due to time factor as a major time may be devoted for like �acting techniques�, �improvisation� and � scene enacting�
However, from an aspiring actor�s point of view who has paid a fee of few Lakhs of rupees, it may be a frustrating experience of not getting a job and to get lost in this ruthless cine industry after passing out a successful training.

How to find the red signals?

Before you decide to join an acting school or an acting coach, visit personally and find out: 

• Who are the teachers?
• Are they actors, directors, or from other cine stream?  What is their background-pictures released, work done etc. (Some of the existing actors may be teachers who join acting classes as teachers due to financial reasons, but are they good teachers?)
• Check their references on the internet
• What is the duration of each class eg 60 minutes or more or less?
• How many students are in each batch?
• Names and details (contact no, address, email) of the ex-students who got a break in films, TV serials or in commercial ads? You must make an extra-ordinary effort to contact them and seek their opinion.
• Also, try to contact other ex-students randomly on the phone even if they didn�t book any roles to seek their opinion of their school
• Remember, listen but do not believe what they say. Some of their talks may be their marketing gimmick.
• Does a school accept a fee in installments? If yes, then be cautious. Sometimes, their main objective may be financial benefits rather than an excellence in quality of training and would welcome students by paying full fees or a part of a total fee.
• Finally, most important-don�t fall to big industry names behind a school. The big names behind running a school seldom get sufficient time to devote to teaching to students and usually have employee teachers to do the job and big name, job get confined to �inauguration�, once a while 'pep-up' talks and prize/ certificate distribution ceremonies.

Just check the above red flags and points before you decide. Also, if already joined, never walk into a class with your tail tucked between your legs. Don�t be afraid to ask for results. It�s your right and responsibility. Raise your hand and inquire what sort of roles his/her students have acquired of late, or in the last year. Any reputable teacher or a school should be able to handle this question with aplomb and with hard numbers.
Acting class is also about creating offering predictable results for their students. Defensive or vague answers should give you a glimpse into this person�s or school�s soul. No reputable teacher/ coach or a school should feel good about taking hard-earned money from aspiring actors unless he/she knew they were getting the best guns they need to fight forward in their careers.

Special author's note:

However, please note that there are exceptions to what I have mentioned above. Some of the schools in Mumbai at least, are really good and their efforts in developing students into a good actor are commendable, indeed! There are teachers in these schools who truly love teaching and can�t help but inspire their students with their own energy and passion. This is a true spirit. Teachers and coaches should be pushing their students forward with respect and helping them succeed along their career path. Encouraged by

Read this post on schools 

Read More