Backstage Experts

3 Ways to Become a Lead Actor

Booking a lead role in any project brings responsibility to the project itself and to the people in it—which essentially describes leadership.

6 Tips for a Successful Self-Taped Audition

Marci Phillips, executive director of ABC Casting, shares advice for how to create the best self-taped audition.

3 Common Audition Attitudes and How To Change Them

Showing up is taking action for your career. It’s the physical presence at the appointment coupled with the emotional presence in the room. It’s being prepared to do your part of the job.

12 Steps to Success When Auditioning for Commercials

Take a look at my 12 simple commercial guideposts to see what may be missing so you can nail your next audition.

The Secret About Demo Reels That Nobody Told You

The secret about demo reels. The SECRET. It just evokes an air of mystery, doesn’t it? But a secret is just a piece of information that YOU don’t know yet. So I’m gonna just spill it. And then you’ll know it and that will be that.

Want To Book a TV Pilot? Here's How.

In my acting, I’d try to pretend to be someone else being the “character.” So I’d play ideas or mimic famous people or show caricatures because how could I ever believe that someone would ever be interested in merely watching me? That could never be enough, could it?

The Secret To Great Film Acting

Theater-trained actors, with limited or no on-camera experience, tend to reveal too much of their work externally. “Less is more” is never truer than when it comes to acting for film.

Top 10 Worst Pieces of Advice for Networking

Therapists often say that in order to face your fears, you need to deal with the worst case scenarios and the “what ifs?" So, here are the top 10 worst pieces of advice for networking.

15 Ways to Be Happy in 2013

In the tradition of New Year’s resolutions, here are a few things that might just make it a little easier, even a little more fun, as you create your practice.

How To Keep Your Balance in the Audition Room

Casting Director Marci Liroff shares advice for how to stay focused and balanced in the audition room.