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Winniehiller

HOW TO GET STARTED - READ THIS POST FIRST!

PinnedClass Teacher 🎬

Since I’m still getting messages asking how to get started in the acting business, I decided to make a new introductory pinned post. All the most important information you need for getting started as an actor, as well as learning to be a more skilled actor, is accessible in the list of links below. Please read this whole post and all the posts linked here. Feel free to ask questions along the way. If you have already done this, let me know, with a comment and an upvote. I like to keep track of who is active here. Leave me a comment below if you are!

This is a class! I am the teacher. I am an acting coach in Hollywood. You can read all about me in the previous pinned post. I normally work on set of a tv show daily coaching the star of the show. But I interact with the students here regularly. I give very personal and detailed feedback to everyone actively involved. I also give private lessons in LA and throughout the world on Skype or FaceTime.

I know you are all anxious to post monologues so you can hear what I have to say.... But DO NOT POST YOUR MONOLOGUE UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THE LESSONS AND READ MY FEEDBACK TO OTHERS. When and if you have already read the information here, mark it with an up arrow.

There is specific work you must do to prepare your monologue. All my required lessons are listed at the bottom of this post. Here is an easy to understand description of what you must do. Come back to this page once you’ve taken note of what is required:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/bxvugg/before_posting_your_monologue_new_students_and/?st=jxjassc9&sh=348bf3cf

So, you want to be an actor but you don’t know how to start? The very first thing you need to do to have an acting career is to become a highly skilled actor at the competitive level. Acting is one of the most competitive careers in existence. And so many people think they can get started without really knowing what they are doing. Could you start a career as a cabinet maker if you had never learned to hold a hammer or saw a piece of wood? Could someone trust you to build beautiful kitchen cabinets? You not only need to know the basics, you need to be extraordinary. Good enough to make people notice you, hire you or sign you to their agency.

Some people will say you can learn on the job...but that is not the case in the professional world. You only have one chance to make a first impression. Whenever you do any acting, you are creating a reputation for yourself. You do not want to be seen floundering. You want to always appear professional, confident and highly skilled.

You can get experience in community theater and acting class. But do not try to meet agents in the professional world until you are ready. That’s why I started this class...for those who need more help in gaining the skills you need. Here’s how:

First read all the posts listed below. You’ll find links to lessons about every aspect of acting as well as some about starting a successful acting career. It will take some time but it will all be helpful.

As you are working through the almost fifty lessons linked at the bottom of this post, learn from other student’s successes and struggles. Watch all the video submissions on this sub and read all of my comments found beneath them. Some of my best lessons are there as well. Though I give very personal and individual instruction, what I have said to other actors applies to you too. And you could learn something new, even if you feel you are more advanced than the actor in the video. Here’s more on that:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/d01znf/getting_the_most_out_of_ractingclass/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app

This is a beginner/intermediate/advanced class. There are no prerequisites and no auditions in order to be accepted. (Except reading my posts, watching others and doing the work I describe here) It doesn’t matter if you are just starting out or if you have been at it a while and are just not getting the response you were hoping for. If you have the initiative to do the work, I want to help you. And I know this class WILL help you no matter what. All you need is an open mind and the desire to learn. Best of all - It is free. This class is my gift to you, so you won’t need to take an extra shift to pay for it!

Whenever you have read a post or one of my comments, let me know you have been there with an up arrow or a comment. Some older posts don’t allow this, but when possible, let me know that you were there. When you have finished reading the posts and comments, you will then be ready to prepare your own monologue. Here are the steps you must take to produce a good result the first time. Doing this work is required! Here is something you can do as you read:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/df26ot/something_to_do_as_you_read_the_lessons/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

But do NOT post your video until you have prepared in this way:

•. Find an appropriate monologue for your type. (If you don’t know what to choose, send me a link to a photo of yourself, age and a description of the types of roles you think you are right for and I will assign you a monologue.)

•. Then analyze the script (as explained in Lesson #2) choosing a strong objective.

•. Divide it into tactics and write it out as a dialogue.

•. Then figure out what the conversation was leading to your first line. Continue writing the whole piece as a back and forth dialogue between you and the other character. There should be an answer to almost every one of your lines that makes your line an answer to theirs. This applies even if you are alone on stage.

•. Do a video of your monologue, imagining you are looking into the eyes of the person you are speaking to...just to the side of the lens so I can see into your eyes. Responding to their responses, making contact and creating relationship and purpose in your performance is your goal.

If you have read all the posts here and all of my comments, you will know exactly how to do all these things. I demonstrate over and over what must be done. In fact...you might not be able to say you are just a beginner anymore, because you will know a lot. Please don’t think you can read just a couple lessons and skip right to posting. I WILL know and I will end up just telling you to go back to the lessons. Here’s more on that:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/d6gjk0/before_you_post_what_is_necessary_for_any_decent/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

Once you have really done the work - all you need is some feedback. You can get that here too, because you can post your video of you performing and get specific, detailed comments on how you did and how you can make it better. Then you can try again. This is the best process for growth as an actor.

If you feel you need some additional help, I am available for private lessons, either in person, in Los Angeles or on Skype or FaceTime for a fee. Direct message me for more information.

DO NOT DELETE YOUR MONOLOGUE AFTER POSTING IT!!! If I have spent the time to write feedback on your performance, I want others to be able to learn from it to. You will not be as good as you will be. But being able to look back and see your progress is helpful to everyone...especially you.

When you have done all that, I will give you another assignment. There is lots more to come and I will make sure you will be challenged and constantly learning new things. I post new lessons and reminders almost every day. Visit this sub daily. Schedule it in to your daily routine. You can learn so much here if you are dedicated.

If you decide to join a class in your area, you will be decidedly more prepared than if you hadn’t joined this group. I think even with this class alone, your skills will steadily improve and you will soon be ready to audition, create a reel, get some headshots taken and start to audition professionally. If you are already doing this, you will probably be getting more callbacks and bookings in the near future. If you aren’t getting auditions you might be ready to get a better agent or start creating your own opportunities.

Wherever you are on the journey, there is something for you here. Even if you think you know it all, I bet there is something on this sub that will click with you and help you understand acting technique in a way you never have before. It’s already happened to several people, and we are just getting started.

So don’t wait any longer. Start. Right. Now. No...not later...NOW!

————-

Read these posts and the comments beneath them!!!! There is information everywhere that you need. People ask questions that I answer, and what I say to others is for you too! Take notes as you go. Like this:

Take Notes!

https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/bxxsa0/take_notes_as_you_read_the_lessons_here_make_sure/?st=jx7ku1uu&sh=02d34a26

START HERE...

• HOW DO I KNOW ACTING IS FOR ME? https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/fn2ph3/how_do_i_know_if_acting_is_for_me/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

• WRITING YOUR MONOLOGUE AS A CONVERSATION https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/bvaiyf/writing_your_monologue_as_a_conversation/?st=jwck69c9&sh=a8053c34

• MONOLOGUE TO DIALOGUE- ANOTHER EXAMPLE https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/c1vvsx/writing_your_monologue_as_a_dialogue_an_example/?st=jx7y34g6&sh=f2c43660

•ANOTHER LESSON IN TACTICS https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/ca9m1q/another_lesson_in_tactics/?st=jxupd91x&sh=b0dc2c03

•TRANSITIONS BETWEEN TACTICS

https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/f5taag/transitions_tactics_are_different_ways_to_achieve/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

•. USING YOUR DIALOGUE TO TRIGGER THOUGHT REACTIONS - THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK!

https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/fzvz5x/using_dialogue_to_trigger_thought_reactions_think/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

• BRINGING WORDS TO LIFE

https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/fgwuzh/bringing_words_to_life_the_answers_to_yesterdays/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

• “THE WRITER - THE ACTOR - THE CHARACTER - THE LEGACY” https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/dp83o1/the_writer_the_actor_the_character_the_legacy/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

• MULTIPLE OBJECTIVES - MULTIPLE CHARACTERS https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/ceco9f/objectives_in_a_scene_with_multiple_characters/?st=jy79pare&sh=5e862881

• PAUSING - LISTENING - THINKING https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/cant9c/pausing_listening_thinking_never_stop_being_your/?st=jxunfvwq&sh=6b963498

• SUBTEXT https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/c3g7wu/subtext_the_truth_that_lies_beneath_and_between/?st=jx7xye92&sh=75c95a48

• MAKING THEIR WORDS, YOUR WORDS https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/d0h2th/their_words_your_words/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app

• WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO MAKE STRONG CHOICES? https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/fmidnz/what_does_it_mean_to_make_strong_choices/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

• WRITTEN WORK -HOW TO DO IT RIGHT...THE FIRST TIME!

https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/g18kel/written_work_the_right_way_to_do_itthe_first_time/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

• EXPERIENCE AS RESOURCE - EXPLORING AND REMEMBERING https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/cyn05u/experience_as_a_resource_exploring_and_remembering/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app

• DON’T TALK “AT” THEM - TALK “WITH” THEM https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/c06f4w/dont_talk_at_them_talk_with_them/?st=jxe19hcm&sh=9eb71089

• FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/cxd04a/about_vs_as_at_vs_to_what_we_have_here_is_a/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app

• THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ACTING ON STAGE OR ON CAMERA https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/c9u777/the_difference_between_acting_on_stage_and_on/?st=jxuq0p0g&sh=03daa2aa

• DON’T JUDGE YOUR CHARACTER https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/c9kcpf/dont_judge_your_character/?st=jxuq8m0d&sh=9fcf6a3d

• COLD READING https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/ch0fr2/cold_reading/?st=jyk8ml1n&sh=9f79594c

• LISTENING ! https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/ciaftv/listening/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app

•DON’T DO NOTHING https://reddit.app.link/hsa6X2YwR3

• WHEN YOU CAN POST YOUR VIDEO AND WHEN YOU SHOULD REPOST https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/fsdnxl/when_you_can_post_and_when_you_should_repost_and/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

• AM I READY TO POST? ASK YOUR CHARACTER https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/ft1dc1/ask_your_character/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

—————

Here are some additional posts about getting started in an acting career. They are not required before posting your monologue, but they will be very helpful in getting started as a professional actor: make sure to come back and read them all!

POSTS ON THE BUSINESS OF SHOW BUSINESS

AUDITIONS! https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/csv7d4/auditions/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app

DREAMS VS REALITY https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/97dq9j/acting_career_dreams_vs_reality/?st=jx7lznf2&sh=e63a97e1

CHOOSING MONOLOGUES AND GETTING GREAT HEADSHOTS

https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/bwu7sw/choosing_monologues_and_getting_great_photos_for/?st=jx7kw8st&sh=9b0da9b1

FINDING SCRIPTS AND MONOLOGUE FOR PRACTICE AND AUDITIONS

https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/f70zen/finding_scripts_and_monologues_for_practice_and/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

OVERCOMING YOUR PHYSICAL INSECURITIES https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/9n3fb4/overcoming_your_physical_insecurities/?st=jx7lcmka&sh=e34331db

IS HOLLYWOOD AS BAD AS THEY SAY IT IS? https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/bw1nkp/is_hollywood_as_bad_as_they_say_it_is/?st=jx7l1jsp&sh=d44c97e3

ITS NEVER TOO LATE https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/99oosw/its_never_too_late/?st=jx7lol32&sh=fe60be32

WHAT IS TALENT? https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/98wvja/acting_what_is_talent/?st=jx7lt8ab&sh=e2d9156a

GETTING A GREAT HEADSHOT https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/97v8aa/getting_a_great_headshot/?st=jx7lvjbp&sh=624a6c8d

FINDING YOUR TYPE https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/97wdg9/finding_your_type_and_why_its_important/?st=jx7lwt6n&sh=6dcef404

SHOW/DEMO REELS https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/9jehaa/show_reels_something_you_can_do/?st=jx7n2cc1&sh=dfa9089e

AGENTS AND WHAT IS REQUIRED OF YOUR REAL CHARACTER https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/9gug4a/being_an_actor_what_is_required_of_your_real/?st=jx7n3sxd&sh=83cb88ea

CHOOSING AND PREPARING AUDITION MATERIAL https://www.reddit.com/r/Actingclass/comments/coy4k3/choosing_and_preparing_material_for_auditions/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app

Posted Mar 14, 2020, 4:27 PM UTC · edited

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