Acting

Acting

Whether you’re an actor, voice actor, casting director or anyone else related to the profession of acting, this is the place to discuss, share content and offer advice and tips on technique, audition strategies, headshots and all other topics related to the sweet science of acting

Expand post

Before a casting director ever hears you read a line, they meet your headshot. It is your handshake, your first impression, and in a stack of hundreds of submissions, it is the single image deciding whether your name gets clicked. A great headshot does one job above all: it looks like you on your best day. Not a glamour shot, not a heavily retouched version of you from five years ago — you, walking into the room. Casting directors book actors who match their photo, and nothing sours a first audition faster than a headshot that oversold or undersold the person who shows up. Invest in a photographer who shoots actors specifically, because they understand what the industry looks for: sharp focus on the eyes, natural light or clean studio light, and a frame that puts your face and your presence front and center.

The strongest headshots also know what they are selling. Look at your castable range honestly, the roles you are being called in for now, not the ones you hope to grow into someday, and make sure your shots support them. Most working actors carry at least two looks: a commercial shot that is warm, open, and approachable, and a theatrical shot with more depth and story behind the eyes. Wardrobe should suggest a type without costuming it; a henley says blue-collar drama, a blazer says attorney or executive, and solid colors near the face keep the attention where it belongs. And above all, your eyes have to be alive. A headshot with genuine thought behind the eyes reads as a person; one without reads as a picture. That difference is what makes a casting director stop scrolling.

Finally, treat your headshot like the living marketing material it is. Update it every couple of years, or immediately after any significant change: new hair, new age range, new physique. Make sure the photo on every casting platform, your website, and your Stage 32 profile is the same current shot, because consistency builds recognition. So we want to hear from you: What has your headshot experience taught you? Did a new shot change the roles you were called in for? Share your story, and your best headshot tips, in the comments. Your fellow actors in this community are building their marketing materials right now, and your experience could save them a costly mistake.

Hello, Stage 32!

I’m excited to be hosting an AMA here in the Acting Lounge from Wednesday, August 5 through Thursday, August 6. You can start leaving your questions below now, and I’ll begin answering them Wednesday morning.

I’ve spent much of my career moving between different sides of the industry...

Expand post

Hello, Stage 32!

I’ve spent much of my career moving between different sides of the industry as an actor, acting coach, writer, director, editor, and producer. As an actor, my credits include SURREALESTATE, UNWRAPPING CHRISTMAS, DIGGSTOWN, and the CBS movie BLUEMOON, along with commercial and voice work for brands such as McDonald’s and Molson.

When I worked full-time as an acting coach, I trained up to 200 actors a year, from beginners to award-winning performers. My focus was teaching actors how to connect to their instincts, make stronger choices, build incredible performances, and let go of outdated ideas about line memorization.

Outside of acting, I’ve directed television and award-winning films, edited more than 300 broadcast episodes for networks and platforms including Netflix, PBS, Nickelodeon, CBC, and Prime Video, and earned more than 40 awards for my screenwriting. I’m also a Stage 32 Thought Leader and an AI Specialist focused on the ethical integration of AI into creative work. My slogan is Tools NOT Terminators.

You can ask me about acting techniques, auditions, self-tapes, character choices, building a sustainable career, working across multiple areas of the industry, dealing with rejection, staying creative during slower periods, or adapting to changes in the business. I’m also happy to answer questions about writing, directing, editing, voice acting, coaching, or how AI can be integrated into creative work ethically and practically.

Bring me your questions, whether you’re just beginning or have been doing this for years. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and having a great conversation!

Ashley Renée Smith

Head of Community at Stage 32 ♦ Creative Executive, Writer, Author, Director of Development

September 2026 Open House Webcast

Bring Your Questions: Join Us for the FREE Stage 32 Community Open House

Wednesday, September 23rd at 12:00pm PT

You have questions. You're curious about how to actually make the most of your time on Stage 32, how to use the resources here successfully, how to build genuine relationships that lead somewhere meaningful, and how to move forward with real intention. How to find the right collaborators, producers, financiers, reps, distributors, etc.

That's exactly what this FREE event is designed for.

Our Community Open House is a live, fully interactive conversation hosted by me, Ashley Smith, Head of Community here at Stage 32. It's a genuine gathering where you get to show up, share what you're working on, ask the questions that have been on your mind, and get direct guidance tailored to where you actually are in your journey.

Whether you've attended one before or this is your first, the conversation is different every single time. It's shaped by the members who take the time to join, be present, and bring their real questions to the table. Your voice, your goals, and your curiosity make each Open House uniquely valuable.

Free Registration: https://www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32s-september-2026-community-open-house-webcast

We'll cover the tools and features on Stage 32 that most consistently create momentum for members, and we'll talk about what's happening on the platform that you don't want to miss out on. September lands us in a genuinely exciting stretch of the year. We're coming off Venice and Toronto International, in the middle of New York Film Festival, heading into Austin Film Festival, and gearing up for our annual November Write Club campaign. There's real opportunity to position yourself for what's ahead, and we'll talk about how to do exactly that.

We'll close with a live Q&A focused entirely on you, your questions, your projects, and your next steps. And if you can't join us live, don't worry! Registering guarantees you the full recording so you can watch it anytime, from anywhere.

Come as you are. Bring your questions. Let's have a real conversation.

Click HERE to Register for FREE!

Krenda Alice

2
2 people like this
- Maurice Vaughan
- Suzanne Bronson
1 day ago

Really interesting approach, Gregory Barone I think trying acting could genuinely help, physically embodying a character often reveals things you wouldn't catch just writing them on the page. I don't...

Expand comment

Suzanne Bronson

1
1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
1 day ago

I think an acting class would be highly beneficial to any screenwriter Gregory Barone I did actually minor in psychology along with my major in theater. My job as an actor, is act as if it is actually...

Gregory Barone

3
3 people like this
22 hours ago

Krenda Alice Well, sometimes its dialogue and how two characters interact with each other, being its just me and my point of view it sounds the same in tone and the issue is how to get in the mind of...

2
2 people like this
- Suzanne Bronson
- Maurice Vaughan
22 hours ago

Suzanne Bronson thanks for that bit on how would I react if it was me, but one issue is the female characters! being I'm a guy.

1
1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
13 hours ago

Gregory Barone Such a common trap, voice bleeding into every character. Try leaning into status: the princess speaks composed and measured, the tailor more direct and practical. Posting excerpts here...

View all All comments

Jay Beacham

3
3 people like this
2 days ago

In Mythica 1, No one auditioned, They just asked us to be in it.

In Liquid Desert 1, I went to audition for one part, was asked to read for another part, was chosen more for my look than for the read because the director could see me. Much more effective than online auditions.

Peta Meredith Williams

2
2 people like this
- Jackie Letkowski
- Maurice Vaughan
2 days ago

Hi Jackie,

Mostly in Australia we have In Person auditions. Except when it was pandemic.

Ben Script

Jackie Letkowski Exactly, I think that personal interaction can reveal things you simply can't pick up through a video audition. Chemistry and professionalism matter just as much as talent sometimes....

Haley Mary

I miss being in a room of people when performing my stand up comedy routine because sometimes something unexpected happens where the audience will be really listening and reacting to a joke. There are...

Maureen Andrew

OMG. 50+ years in the industry and It is so barren now. In the majority I haven't done an in person audition for film or Tv since Covid. No reactions or chats or getting even a limited verbal understanding of what is actually needed. Ah well!!!

3 days ago

That’s an interesting perspective, especially when the decision isn’t really about the immediate paycheck but about where the opportunity could lead. Sometimes the experience, relationships, or future...

Aaron Marcus

Thanks for sharing your thoughts here, Ben. I have always used that business model throughout my 40 years as an actor. At the beginning of my career, I remember doing a promo commercial modeling shot...

Sydney S

2
2 people like this
- Suzanne Bronson
- Maurice Vaughan
1 week ago

Great post Suzanne!

Jason Raymaker

2
2 people like this
- Suzanne Bronson
- Maurice Vaughan
6 days ago

I have been working on some monologues lately. Just to help with my memorization skills and to keep active with studying lines.

1
1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
5 days ago

That's great Jason Raymaker Where do you select your monologues from? Do you read plays or do you have a book?

2
2 people like this
- Suzanne Bronson
- Maurice Vaughan
5 days ago

I had the rainy blues today because I got caught in the rain on my bike ride and had to cut my ride short. As I haven't been able to perform my comedy at open mic nights for quite some time now, I kee...

1
1 person likes this
- Maurice Vaughan
4 days ago

Why not put your routine on TikTok or YouTube Haley Mary

Myranda Peterson

3
3 people like this
6 days ago

Both! I'm an indie writer and animator, and I constantly see my voice actors listing their work on social media, both as proof that they're active and as a showcase of what their range is. You can bui...

Joshua Young

3
3 people like this
3 weeks ago

Dwayne Williams Great question. There's a TON of misinformation floating around. Even people who seem like informed content creators are exaggerating a lot of AI claims. The restrictions haven’t stopped studios from using AI, but they have made everyone more careful about consent, copyright, ownership, security, and how someone’s face, voice, writing, or performance can be used. So AI is still moving forward, but there are more lawyers and contracts standing around it now. Some think it's almost at a point where it's not worth it to bother with AI in some situations, which is good for artists.

A lot of the AI tools being used professionally in studios, though, aren’t even separate programs. AI is consistently being embedded into software the industry already uses, such as Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Avid, DaVinci, and After Effects. For many people, learning AI will really mean learning how the new features fit into their existing workflow.

Prompting is helpful, but I don’t think prompting alone is the most valuable skill. The industry needs people who know what the tool should do, whether the result is actually good, when it saves time, and when it creates a legal, ethical, or creative problem. Quality control, confidentiality, disclosure, and knowing where the human contribution begins and ends are becoming increasingly important.

For example, I have clients who want me to use some AI imagery when creating their pitch deck material. I can make it way more realistic than most I've seen, but even with my advanced skills, I need to use photoshop to perfect the images. It still saves a ton of time, but knowing how to use other software to improve your results is the key.

For writers, actors, directors, editors, and producers, I’d focus on AI literacy rather than trying to become an engineer. Understand the tools in your area, test them, know their limitations, and don’t upload confidential material without knowing where it may go. The easy part is getting AI to generate something. The valuable skill is knowing whether it should be used at all and whether it actually makes the work better.

That’s really the heart of Tools NOT Terminators. Use AI to strengthen your skills and workflow, not as an excuse to stop developing the judgment the industry is actually hiring you for.

Dwayne Williams

Thank you, Joshua Young. Fantastic answers! Exactly what I was looking for, and beyond helpful. I’m looking forward to learning more from you and applying all the great advice!...

4
4 people like this
3 weeks ago

Joshua is the best!! We love having him as a Stage 32 educator :)

Thank you so much, Sydney! That means a lot!

:-)

Bring Your Questions: Join Us for the FREE Stage 32 Community Open House

Wednesday, September 23rd at 12:00pm PT

125 people like this

Liked by David Gordon and 3 others

4 people like this

2 people like this

1 person likes this

3 people like this

2 people like this

1 person likes this

Liked by Maurice Vaughan

1 person likes this

7 people like this

3 people like this

2 people like this

2 people like this

3 people like this

2 people like this

2 people like this

1 person likes this

2 people like this

1 person likes this

6 people like this

2 people like this

2 people like this

1 person likes this

2 people like this

1 person likes this

3 people like this

3 people like this

2 people like this

20 people like this

3 people like this

3 people like this

4 people like this

4 people like this

2 people like this

Top Contributors

CRAFT AND BUSINESS

GENERAL DISCUSSION

PROMOTION