Stuart Maxheimer knew from a very young age that he wanted to be an actor. Since then, he’s used any means necessary to stick to his dream.
Charisma will get you halfway there.
“I’ve been a performer my whole life, making my friends laugh, being outgoing and outspoken to anyone and everyone. I just love the idea of being able to portray another person and learn what makes them tick.”
Do all your audition prep in advance so that you can be present when you walk into the room.
“I’ll start by reading over and memorizing the sides. I like to look at where different emotional beats are during this time, too. Then I’ll really dissect the dialogue and figure out [the character’s] motivation, relationships, mindsets, etc. I’ll take those mindsets and emotionally prepare for all of them. Finally, when the camera is rolling, I’ll incorporate everything and just live moment to moment.”
The most tried and true advice? Persevere!
“Even when you don’t believe in yourself or things are looking down, keep on going. Things will get better. Every day is a gift.”
Play around with editing your reel to showcase your range of talent.
“I try to find clips that I like, obviously, but I put them next to completely different scenes and talents to really highlight my range. Plus, I like to keep it updated. Almost every time I have a new project come out, I make sure to update!”
Stay in tune with the industry.
“I follow a ton of different industry groups (local and national) on various social media. I keep up with all my connections and what they have going on. On set, I just try to not act like too big of a jerk, and usually [I] make friends.”
Learn what’s available in your market.
“I live in the southeast, and it can be tough out here. I’m in Florida, so if you’re out here too, just prepare for a ton of commercial auditions and get into a great commercial audition technique class. Those are the main jobs out here if you’re an actor. If you want bigger TV or film roles, you’re most likely going to have to travel.”
This story originally appeared in the Feb. 9 issue of Backstage Magazine.