The On Location Education Blog

Acting 101: A Glossary of Terms

Acting 101: A Glossary of Terms

If you’re just starting out in professional acting, the learning curve may be steep. The world of entertainment is broad and full of details, many of which you will have to master to perform your job effectively. Whether you are just auditioning or you’ve landed your first role, chances are you’ll come face-to-face with some terminology you don’t quite understand.

We’ve compiled a list of important terms for beginners to understand, so you can hit the ground running in your acting career. While this is not a comprehensive list, it should help you become acclimated to your new surroundings.

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3 Tips for Working with Young Performers

3 Tips for Working with Young Performers

Filmmakers are sometimes warned to avoid working with animals or children. Both of these situations offer unique challenges, but that doesn’t mean they don’t also create rewarding experiences too.

Child actors are taking show business by storm, and they often deliver performances as incredible and skilled as any of the top adult actors on the scene. For professionals in the entertainment industry, knowing how to interact effectively with young performers is a must. Here are three key tips to help ensure the child actors on your set feel comfortable and are able to produce their best work.

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Set Life Set Life

What Does a Film Commission Do?

What Does a Film Commission Do?

In the world of show business, you may have come into contact with the concept of film commissions. These entities may seem mysterious, but in reality, they can be found all over the world, and do incredible work to sustain and nurture the acting, film, and video industries in their communities. Globally, there are 300+ film commissions, and they span across more than 40 countries. If you’ve ever considered working with a film commission or are just interested in understanding the work they do for communities and actors, here are the details.

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3 Time Management Tips for Child Actors

3 Time Management Tips for Child Actors

A young actor or actress has a lot on their plate. From filming to auditions to acting lessons and more, throwing schoolwork into the mix may seem nearly insurmountable. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Juggling so many obligations is taxing on any actor, but for child actors who still have to make time for their schooling, it may seem like there aren’t enough hours in the day. Combining work with studying without proper time management skills can harm an actor’s career and their education. This stress is completely unnecessary and can be conquered with some reflection and careful planning.

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Set Life Set Life

Life Lessons from the Marvel Cinematic Universe

“Heroes Aren't Born. They’re Built.” Four Life Lessons from the Marvel Cinematic Universe

When it comes to movies, there’s no such thing as a ‘sure thing.’ There are, however, juggernaut franchises that are more likely to produce a solid-performing film than not. Marvel and its cinematic universe is one of those franchises. As we write this, the MCU marketing machine is preparing for both the DVD/Blu-ray release of Spiderman: Homecoming and the theater roll-out of Thor: Ragnarok. As fans anticipate both, wallets at the ready, they buzz about next year’s Avengers: Infinity War, Black Panther, and Ant-Man and The Wasp.

MCU fans, perhaps yourself included, are reaching for their collection of DVDs with plans to binge watch their way from Iron Man to Spiderman ahead of the next wave of films. Forget the debate over the proper viewing order. (Should we watch by release date or place in the story line? Do we watch Capt. America’s origin story before Tony Stark’s and where does Agents of Shield fit in anyway?) As you sit back and revisit Marvel’s heroes, watch for the life lessons imbedded in each story. Remember, as the marketing tag for Iron Man said, “Heroes aren’t born. They’re Built.” Catch these four life lessons to be your own kind of hero:

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Set Life Set Life

A Post-Pilot Season Survival Guide: No Part. Now What?

Whether your child is a veteran in the entertainment industry or she’s just dipping her toe in the water for the first time, you’ve heard of that bustling time of year known as “Pilot Season.” In a span of time that traditionally runs from January to April, there’s a flurry of casting, production, and screening activity as networks make decisions about which programs will hit their airwaves in the fall. 

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Set Life Set Life

Four Can’t-Miss, On-Set Boredom Busters for Young Performers

People who work in the film and television industry know that there can be a lot of waiting around during production. This can be particularly challenging for a young actor. The good news, however, is that with a little planning, on-set downtime can be productive and enjoyable. Here are four ways young performers can combat boredom between takes.

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Industry Voices: An Interview with On-Set Teacher Sally Rusk

It used to be said that school was about the three “Rs”: reading, writing, and arithmetic. Today’s students delve deeper into a wider range of subjects, of course, with additional studies in the areas of history, science, technology, and more. But when your classroom is on a set and your schoolwork happens between takes, your teacher’s responsibility goes even further than that.

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Set Life Set Life

Extended Travel with Kids in Tow? Pack a Bag (and a Teacher)

“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” ~ Mark Twain

Thinking about embarking on a memorable, long-term vacation with your family? Whether you’re dreaming of winding your way around the world or trekking cross-country, extended travel offers a long list of benefits for the entire family. For one thing, nationwide or global exploration provides hands-on learning experiences for your children that no classroom can rival. But before you pack your bags and hit the road, there are a few school-related preparations you will need to make.

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Set Life Set Life

Modesty is the Best Policy

Just tune into any news channel and you’ll see that it’s a challenging world out there for responsible people of modest means. And while many might think famous Hollywood-types have it all, life isn’t always rosy for successful child actors. The pressures and demands of work, parents, education, and leisure pull them in several directions at once, making it easy for the young performer to get lost in the trappings of success rather than enjoy the simple (yet lasting) rewards it brings. These celebrities remind us that true success is about the work you do, not the stuff you have.

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Set Life Set Life

Rules of the Road for Young Performers in New York (Part 1)

If your child actor is in a New York state of mind, understand that there are laws in place that govern minors working in the entertainment industry. Before your young performer takes a bite of the Big Apple, let’s brush up on some of the unique laws designed to protect them in the state that’s home to the entertainment capital of the East Coast. It starts in somewhat unglamorous fashion with paperwork.

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