The On Location Education Blog
7 Helpful Apps for Young Actors
7 Helpful Apps for Young Actors
Actors of every age always need to hone their craft and work on their skills, no matter who they are and how long they’ve been in the business. There are many different ways for actors to continue to learn, some are more expensive and time-consuming than others. For younger actors embroiled in the digital age, apps can present a unique learning opportunity.
Career Advice Every Young Actor Should Know
Career Advice Every Young Actor Should Know
Many child actors are inundated with well-meaning advice. There is no shortage of people telling them how to do their jobs and build their careers. But with so much conflicting and confusing information, what’s a young performer to believe?
How to Prepare for Your First Audition
How to Prepare for Your First Audition
Congratulations—you've landed your very first audition! This is a big accomplishment for any actor. It’s your first taste of the professional acting world and can lead to many future opportunities. But because this is your first time auditioning for a part, there’s probably a lot on your mind. Though the audition is just the first step toward earning a role, it is the first time you will be exposing your skills to industry professionals, and it should be taken seriously. The trick with auditions is not taking them so seriously that you sabotage your chances of success.
Lessons From Ancient Greek Theater
Lessons from Ancient Greek Theater
Modern-day entertainment is quite accessible to the masses. Consider: Netflix is available 24/7, there are movie theaters in most counties across America, and local theatrical productions are just a short drive away for most of us. In the early days of theater, however, this was not the case.
On-Set Etiquette for Young Actors
On-Set Etiquette for Young Actors
If you’re new to professional acting, the rules and expectations on set may at first seem overwhelming. You don’t want to commit a faux pas and upset any castmates, or worse, the director. You will have parents or guardians there to support and encourage you, but it’s important to remember your own role, and the best way to interact with the other professionals on set.
Despite how challenging it may seem, if you focus on a few simple rules regarding behavior, you’ll likely steer clear of any trouble. Keep the following simple rules of thumb in mind, and you’ll be regarded as a professional, even if it’s your first time on set.
What Special Skills are Casting Directors Seeking?
What Special Skills are Casting Directors Seeking?
In previous article, we’ve discussed the importance of including “special skills” on your acting resume. Sometimes, these skills can be your ticket to standing out to a casting director, especially if you don’t have a lot of professional experience. When a casting director has hundreds of resumes and headshots to review, your special skills can tip the scales and land an audition. But actors should be aware that not all special skills are created equal.
3 Ways to Strengthen Acting Talents Without Practice or Training
3 Ways to Strengthen Acting Talents Without Practice or Training
Actors of all ages grow in their craft through professional training, steady rehearsals, and practice, but learning and growing can also take place in a more casual way. By exposing themselves to new ideas and habits, young performers can supplement their professional training by developing skills that are not typically learned through traditional training. Acting incorporates many different abilities, and these talents can be developed through countless other avenues, which are often encountered through hobbies and activities in daily life.
Here are three simple activities that young performers can inject into their routines to become better actors that do not involve professional training.
So, Your Child Wants to Be an Actor
So, Your Child Wants to Be an Actor
Has your child recently expressed an interest in show business? Perhaps he’s been involved in musical theater at her school for a while, or has a knack for storytelling and doing voices, or maybe he’s walked right up to you and said, “I want to be an actor.” Whatever the circumstances, acting, like any creative field, comes with its own challenges and rewards. As parents and guardians, it’s important to be able to weigh the pros and cons of your children’s aspirations to better help them achieve their dreams.
If you aren’t an actor yourself, it is very likely that you will have questions regarding your child’s options, or how to start. There are some important details to clarify before you begin to ensure that you and your child have all the bases covered before jumping into any commitments.
Common Audition Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
4 Common Audition Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Regardless of your experience level, auditions can be nerve-wracking. Everyone makes mistakes, but knowing what to expect and what is expected of you are the keys to making a stellar first impression. Newer actors may struggle with anxiety as they prepare for their first audition and need to be reminded of how to keep their cool and rely on their skills.
How to Be an Extra
How to Be an Extra
Extras, or background actors as they are also called, are a vital part of film and television, despite often being limited to the sidelines of a scene. The truth is, a lack of extras can completely ruin a scene, since they help to give sets a “real world” feeling. Extras are needed to make places feel populated, busy, and generally normal. Most television shows heavily feature public, densely populated areas—hospitals, schools, restaurants, cafes. Not having extras to fill in those spaces would severely alienate the viewer from believing the story and setting.
From Child Actor to Stand-up Comedian
From Child Actor to Stand-Up Comedian
Is your young performer interested in stand-up comedy? If they have a great sense of humor or a knack for making their co-stars laugh frequently on set, then they may have what it takes to thrive as a comedian.
While it may seem like kids exist on a different wavelength than the rest of the world, their sometimes-wacky viewpoints can bring a new light to many common topics, and that is a tremendous asset in stand-up comedy. A child’s humor is suitable for all or a wide variety of audiences, as everyone was a child once and can relate to the experiences from which a child comedian may draw.
Introducing Your Child to Voice Acting
Introducing Your Child to Voice Acting
Acting is a broad category, full of many different avenues to pursue. If your child has acting aspirations, chances are they may not be clear on all the options open to them. One of these possible areas of focus, with its own ups and downs, is voice acting. Though it may seem that voice acting is a simpler alternative to theater or film, it requires character, focus, hard work, and skills, just like any other form of acting.