We are coming up on the holiday season, a time when many actors experience a “slow” period and a lull in the audition circuit. Here at 3-2-1- Acting School in Los Angeles, we encourage actors to embrace the pockets of down time that they will inevitably have in their careers. Even stars on TV shows have several months when they are not filming!
As such, we have a fun list of activities that you, the talented, creative actor that you are, can do to balance your creative life and advance your career. Here they are:
1. Make a short film or video. Get creative! Gather a group of your friends, write a short scene or sketch, and film it! What better way to improve and enhance your on-camera skills than to experiment with technology yourself.
This could be something as simple as a scene in front of a green screen with a friend from acting class or as complex as a standalone short film that you make with friends and submit to festivals. There are so many low-cost options for generating your own content. Get inspired and create!
2. Do a play! Guess what many successful TV and film stars do when they are not working on sets? They act on stages! The stage is the birthplace of all acting, so why not join a theater company and exercise your talents on stage!
Many actors find stage work to be the most creative and fulfilling work of their careers. Doing theater is also a great way to make friends, and having a community of like-minded friends in Los Angeles is perhaps the most essential part of having a successful film career here.
3. Work on a special skill. Remember that instrument that you dabbled in as a young child? Or that dance style that you’ve always wanted to learn? Or that accent that you’ve wanted to perfect?
This is a great time to perfect special skills. The more skills you have as an actor, the more marketable you are. Also, performance skills can be very fun and gratifying outlets for actors. Who knows, you might find yourself a new, special hobby.
4. Read a good book on acting. When is the last time you sat down and read a good book about your craft? There is always room for growth in your acting technique, so why not grab a cup of hot cocoa, a good acting book, and learn something new.
For kids, teens, and young adults, I always recommend acting books by Chambers Stevens.
5. Take a class or workshop. There are so many fabulous acting classes and workshops, especially in Los Angeles. What’s important is that you find a teacher that challenges you and uplifts and inspires you to be the very best that you can be.
Not living in L.A. or a major city? You can also take an online acting class! We just launched ours called, “10 Lessons to Great Film Acting.”
In an actor’s life, there is really no such thing as a slow period. It’s an actor’s job to be curious and creative and to always be learning and growing—both personally and professionally. Embrace the periods between jobs and auditions, and explore new territories and ideas. As you can see, there are countless activities that you can engage in.
We wish you all the very best during the holiday season and beyond!
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and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Backstage or its staff.
