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Question:

I am based in the UK and I am after info on how do go about gaining work as an extra. I have written to many newspaper ads but they all seem a bit of a con….. Is there a reputable agency anyone knows about? Thanks for your help.

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I am extremely interested in acting and singing. I have had no actual experience except for a High School play and the chuch choir for seven years. I have no clue on how to get started. If anyone is out there and can help me, I’d really appricieate it.

Response:

1. Read Books: An actor Prepares – Stanislavski Impro – Keith Johnson Any others: Meisner, Adler, Grotalski,…. 2. Go to acting classes….meet other actors. 3. Get into a drama School. 4. Join a local Drama group. 5. Download all posts off this group until you get the gist of things. — http://www.pippin.dircon.co.uk/ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am extremely interested in acting and singing. I have had no actual experience except for a High School play and the chuch choir for seven years. I have no clue on how to get started. If anyone is out there and can help me, I’d really appricieate it.

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HI, my name is Danielle and I am about to graduate with a BA in Theatre. I need help finding an agent.  Any suggestions?? Thanks!

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Where are you located about, Dani? — Carl I change my underwear as often as I change my newsreaders – CASalonen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – HI, my name is Danielle and I am about to graduate with a BA in Theatre. I need help finding an agent.  Any suggestions?? Thanks!

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Thanks Carl for writing back…I am in Long Island 1/2 hour by train into NYC.     -Dani

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Thanks Carl for writing back…I am in Long Island 1/2 hour by train into NYC.    -Dani

No problem, Dani. How old did you say you were again? And what do you think your next step should be? — Carl I change my underwear as often as I change my newsreaders – CASalonen

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I desperately need help by 4pm tomorrow!  I’m 16 and I’m going to a open casting which I only found out about today.  I need a short piece to perform.  I’ve never had to have a prepared performance piece and haven’t got a clue what to use.  I’ve already picked a song to sing but I really need help on this one.  Any suggestions? Scarlett

Response:

You might try Edgar Lee Masters’ "Spoon River Anthology", a series of short but very dramatic monologues by each of the inhabitants of the mythical town of Spoon River, all ages and types. If I remember right, there’s a powerful piece by a young woman who dies in childbirth, among others. Also, not to be negative, but:  it might be hard to put together a brand new piece overnight and feel that you’re doing your best work.   I would say, prepare the monologue, and when it gets close to the audition time, evaluate how you feel about it.  Be very honest with yourself.  If you’re satisfied that you’re ready to fly with it, knock ‘em dead. If it’s not up to your standards, or you’re not completely off book – don’t put pressure on yourself to go ahead and do the audition anyway.  There’ll be other auditions. And, if you do decide to pass on this one, you can continue to work on the piece and have it super-polished and ready at the drop of a hat for the next call.

Response:

Congrats on taking that first step! You need to prepare about a 1-2 minute monologue. Since time is so short I suggest you try a cutting from something you are familiar with.  It doesn’t have to be a play, you could adapt something from a book you really like!  Be sure that it is something that you can realistically play, no 80 year old men for example. Also, it is considered un-cool to perform something from a show that you have been in.  For example I wouldn’t want to try performing the Countess from Madwoman of Chaliot because I was cast in that show, albeit in a different role. Break legs!!! A J – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I desperately need help by 4pm tomorrow!  I’m 16 and I’m going to a open casting which I only found out about today.  I need a short piece to perform.  I’ve never had to have a prepared performance piece and haven’t got a clue what to use.  I’ve already picked a song to sing but I really need help on this one.  Any suggestions? Scarlett

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ie, Romeo and Juliet – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I desperately need help by 4pm tomorrow!  I’m 16 and I’m going to a open casting which I only found out about today.  I need a short piece to perform.  I’ve never had to have a prepared performance piece and haven’t got a clue what to use.  I’ve already picked a song to sing but I really need help on this one.  Any suggestions? Scarlett

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also, it’s not a monolog, she says it to Romeo.

I think you might be confusing monologue and soliloquy. It is a soliloquy when the performer delivers his lines to a seemingly empty stage- In practice, the performer must determine just who the character is speaking to when he appears to be alone- the heavens? God? His dead father? etc. etc. A monologue is delivered to another character(s)- even though the performer will be alone on stage at the audition.In which case. . . well y’all know. — "Gentlemen! You can’t fight in HERE! This is the war room!" -President Merkin Muffley

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How bout a Julliette monolog?  9 lines, Act II, Scene ii, 120.  If 9’s to much to learn, try 4. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I desperately need help by 4pm tomorrow!  I’m 16 and I’m going to a open casting which I only found out about today.  I need a short piece to perform.  I’ve never had to have a prepared performance piece and haven’t got a clue what to use.  I’ve already picked a song to sing but I really need help on this one.  Any suggestions? Scarlett

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also, it’s not a monolog, she says it to Romeo. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I desperately need help by 4pm tomorrow!  I’m 16 and I’m going to a open casting which I only found out about today.  I need a short piece to perform.  I’ve never had to have a prepared performance piece and haven’t got a clue what to use.  I’ve already picked a song to sing but I really need help on this one.  Any suggestions? Scarlett

Response:

Has anyone ever heard of Madeline Burns’s Casting?  What do they film?? Thanks-D

Response:

Has anyone ever heard of Madeline Burns’s Casting?  What do they film?? Thanks-D

Yes!  She was one of my first so called "auditions" in NYC (if you can call it that!)   She supposedly casts commercials. (although I asked her & she couldn’t name one actual project she’d cast that year) Here’s what happened in my "audition" (as well as at least a dozen other people I know): 1) You go in to her studio- there’s no placard of the product’s name, storyboard, sign-in sheet- nothing. 2) Your commercial copy is well worn (mine was of a commercial I’d actually remembered from years before?!) Every other person in the waiting room (all completely different types) has a different piece of copy for a completely different product. 3) During your "audition", Madeline will, "have mercy on you & decide not to even send in the tape" but suggest that "after you take her commercial class, you’ll be a star-booker!"  She’ll then proceed to sell you her class on the spot! Now she may teach a very good class- I have no idea.  I just had a real problem with her holding a phony audition for the purpose of selling the class to random suckers.  She might have cleaned up her act- you never know. But whatever you do, go in without your checkbook!

Response:

http://home.att.net/~CyberFilms/Journel10.html

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Has anyone ever heard of Madeline Burns’s Casting?  What do they film?? Thanks-D Yes!  She was one of my first so called "auditions" in NYC (if you can call it that!) She supposedly casts commercials. (although I asked her & she couldn’t name one actual project she’d cast that year) Here’s what happened in my "audition" (as well as at least a dozen other people I know): 1) You go in to her studio- there’s no placard of the product’s name, storyboard, sign-in sheet- nothing. 2) Your commercial copy is well worn (mine was of a commercial I’d actually remembered from years before?!) Every other person in the waiting room (all completely different types) has a different piece of copy for a completely different product. 3) During your "audition", Madeline will, "have mercy on you & decide not to even send in the tape" but suggest that "after you take her commercial class, you’ll be a star-booker!"  She’ll then proceed to sell you her class on the spot! Now she may teach a very good class- I have no idea.  I just had a real problem with her holding a phony audition for the purpose of selling the class to random suckers.  She might have cleaned up her act- you never know. But whatever you do, go in without your checkbook!

Response:

     I came here with some good information that turned out to be

true. In a word: bullshit. From the very first post, you’ve been a troll, Vickie. You have never, EVER posted anything remotely related to the biz that would be found even the slightest bit useful to anyone else. What a Cumslut! Carl — I promise to change my sig lines as often as I change my underwear. – CASalonen

Response:

Cumslut came in a-trollin’, Bobby. She got what she earned. So here’s a serious question, Carl.  Since you consider yourself the gatekeeper of this newsgroup why do you continue to troll yourself.  why not just ignore victoria and me?

If you’ll notice, you I was, the second you stopped your fascination with my posts. Should you decide to go un-troll, I’ll be happy to return to that place myself. You picked up the trolling again, so did I. Stop referring to me in your posts, and I can guaran-damn-tee you I will ignore you. I’m not here to stop anyone from posting. I only act to stop them from annoying me. Vickie, I asked weeks ago to stay over on her side of things, a truce she hasn’t respected. Funny you direct this at me, and not her, particularly since she’s posted time and time again how her only raison d’etre in this group is to harass me… Carl — I promise to change my sig lines as often as I change my underwear. – CASalonen

Response:

     I came here with some good information that turned out to be true. You know that. You couldn’t stand it that someone may be more in the know than you sitting there in New York. You freaked out and you and your little "friends" harassed me without mercy. I will never share a damn thing with any of you anymore and I know plenty. I am only going to call you on all your BS and make sure any new people know just what you and some others here are. You started it and I am here to finish it. As long as it takes.      Better what you call me than a sh**dick like you. And where you go this morning after you were so busy in here? Ohhhhhh yeah church is over so you have toput the set back up. Just haul a bench out and do waiting for godot for the millionth unnecessary time. I enjoy being a girl! Marilyn Monroe Victoria SAG/AFTRA – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My girlfriend came here much like you, but with good information. Cumslut came in a-trollin’, Bobby. She got what she earned. Carl — I promise to change my sig lines as often as I change my underwear. – CASalonen

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Response:

Cumslut came in a-trollin’, Bobby. She got what she earned.

So here’s a serious question, Carl.  Since you consider yourself the gatekeeper of this newsgroup why do you continue to troll yourself.  why not just ignore victoria and me?  is it because you have this need to be the cock of the walk? why not set an example of how people are supposed to act in here.  you know if you treated people with more respect…or at least with decency…all my comments about you would stop (and I’m speaking for the other dozen personalities I’m using in this newsgroup, too) — Michelle

Response:

— I am just starting out and would appreciate any advice that anyone can give me. Thanks

Well you came to the wrong place. Nothing here but narcissists and socicopaths pretty much. This is a newsgroup dominated by two individuals with not a whit of sense between them. Scummaker and Carl. Very sick people. From what I can gather they have chased off any but the most desperate for attention, their alter egos and surrogates, the deranged and those who enable them. My girlfriend came here much like you, but with good information. She was mercilessly hounded, traced, threatened with stalking and rape and they attempted to humiliate her. She is stronger than that and now she comes here simply to give them the same grief back. It amuses us. Nice people! Just my opinion, but take with a grain of salt, a very large one, any advice you get here. These people are not professional in any sense of the word with a couple of notable exceptions, Ed Hooks, his word is gold, and. . .  _thinking_ . . . and. . .   well Ed is great. Now, if you want to be a witch, or a whore, or a complete headcase, you’ve come to the right place! Enjoy!

Response:

I am just starting out and would appreciate any advice that anyone can give me.

Give us a little more info about yourself, Donna. How old are you, what region do you live or what country, that sort of stuff…guarantee you’ll get a serious discussion of your questions. Carl — I promise to change my sig lines as often as I change my underwear. – CASalonen

Response:

    Don’t do it Donna, this man is very very sick and knows nothing that will help you. Just do a search on his history on alt.acting and you will see a sick sick person with too much time on his hands. Anyone who has all the time to spend as he does in here offering nothing but hateful tantrums has no time to be an actor. Just watch how he replies to this. — I enjoy being a girl! Marilyn Monroe Victoria SAG/AFTRA – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am just starting out and would appreciate any advice that anyone can give me. Give us a little more info about yourself, Donna. How old are you, what region do you live or what country, that sort of stuff…guarantee you’ll get a serious discussion of your questions. Carl — I promise to change my sig lines as often as I change my underwear. – CASalonen

Response:

My girlfriend came here much like you, but with good information.

Cumslut came in a-trollin’, Bobby. She got what she earned. Carl — I promise to change my sig lines as often as I change my underwear. – CASalonen

Response:

— I am just starting out and would appreciate any advice that anyone can give me. Thanks

Hi Donna, Your request is rather vague. Starting out in what? Film Television, Theatre, professionally or as a hobby etc. It’s hard to what kind of advice you are specifically seeking. As well, not knowing which market you are in complicates things further. I myself am in the Canadian market and have found that while some of the rules differ from region to region, some of the basics remain the same. In addition to the sites Kelly mentioned, you may find some things of interest at Canadian Actors Online (CAO) at http://www.canadianactor.com. There are a tremendous amount of links within that site that could keep you busy for weeks. As well there is the site for the Canadian actors union ACTRA located at http://www.actra.com. Simply reading this newsgroup will provide you with information. Other places to find good information are various list servers such as: ACTING-PRO at http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/acting-pro.html, The GreenRoom at http://www.gogreenroom.com Stage & Screen at http://www.aviar.com. Between discussion lists and this newsgroup, I’m sure you should find advise and discussion that is at your speed. Like this newsgroup however, listservers will mean weeding through a bunch of information, not necessarily applicable to you or of much interest to you. Hope That Helps, Drama Queen

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– I am just starting out and would appreciate any advice that anyone can give me. Thanks

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!– ! !I am just starting out and would appreciate any advice that anyone can give !me. ! !Thanks ! You may wish to checkout these links for information: since we don’t know in what area of the US, or the World for that, these will of necessity be rather general These are links I have collected. They are rather Ameri-Centric, particularly the union sites, but the rest will give you some good info.  GENERAL RESOURCES: http://www.americantheaterweb.com/ http://www.showbusinessweekly.com/links/links.html http://www.workingactors.com/                  (For the L.A. based actor) http://www.BACKSTAGE.COM/ http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ http://www.variety.com/ http://www1.playbill.com/ PLAYSCRIPT RESOURCES: http://www.stageplays.com http://www.rareplays.com CHILDREN: http://www.minorcon.org/gettingstarted.html for parents interested in getting their children into  the biz http://www.provoice.com/ UNIONS http://www.aftra.org/ http://www.sag.org/ I know others will point in you in the proper direction if you are not Stateside Right Eric? DQ?

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