Acting

Creativity for actors is the ability to let your heart, mind and intuition guide you, as your body and voice bring words to life. [vertical_spacing height=”10″] Actors need to be ready to do their best work whenever opportunity knocks. Keeping your creative juices flowing keeps you sharp and will help you reach your career goals faster. [vertical_spacing height=”10″] Here are 10 ways to stay in top creative shape. [vertical_spacing height=”10″] Make a creative work space. Select a space in your home as your “creative place” where all of your projects, dreams inspirations and goals come together. We’re creatures of habit. A space where we’re used to being creative prompts us to be creative whenever we enter it. [vertical_spacing height=”10″] Start writing Understanding the writer’s intent and how they achieve it is central to the actor’s craft. The more you learn about storytelling the more creative (and effective) your storytelling becomes. […]

10 Ways Actors Can Increase Their Creativity

Is your body keeping you from booking auditions
[images style=”1″ image=”http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philiphernandez.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FIs-your-body-keeping-you-from-booking-auditions.png” width=”560″ align=”center” top_margin=”0″ alt_text=”booking%20auditions” full_width=”Y”] [vertical_spacing height=”10″] As actors, behavior is our business. But when you say one thing and your body communicates something else we believe what we see, not what you say. The non-verbal signals we send speak louder than words. [vertical_spacing height=”10″] Actors need to be aware of how the things they do may be perceived by others. Your body language reflects the truth of your inner life through your posture, gestures, facial expressions and voice. Master it and your work, relationships and career will improve. Here are 10 things you may be doing that are keeping you from booking auditions. [vertical_spacing height=”10″] Playing small Confidence is attractive.  Don’t be a wallflower at your audition. Own the space you occupy. Sitting (or standing) with your legs slightly apart gives you a base that makes you look and feel more confident. [vertical_spacing height=”10″] Wandering Hands […]

Is your body keeping you from booking auditions?

[images style=”1″ image=”http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philiphernandez.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fthe-difference-between-acting-on-camera-and-acting-onstage.png” width=”560″ align=”center” top_margin=”0″ alt_text=”The%20Difference%20Between%20Acting%20Onstage%20and%20Acting%20on%20Camera” full_width=”Y”] [vertical_spacing height=”10″] Because I work regularly in both, I’m often asked how acting onstage and acting on camera are different. This week I was on set shooting episodes of The Path (HULU), Law and Order: SVU (NBC) and BULL (CBS) so, between costume fittings, makeup, hair, camera setups and craft services (YUM), I pondered that question and wrote down my thoughts for you. [vertical_spacing height=”10″] First, the good news is whether you’re a stage or on camera your internal work is the same. You still have to know who you are – physically and emotionally. What you need and what you’re willing to do to get it. And you have to know how you feel about everything you talk about and everyone you talk to. There’s more than that, of course, but that’s a good start. [vertical_spacing height=”10″] The big difference between […]

The Difference Between Acting on Camera and Acting Onstage

10 steps to building your acting career
Building a successful acting career takes time. But it doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Do at least one thing for your business and one thing for your art every day you’ll make steady progress toward your goals. Not sure what to do? These 10 steps will focus your efforts in a productive way. [vertical_spacing height=”10″] [images style=”1″ image=”http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philiphernandez.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F10-steps-to-building-your-acting-career.png” width=”560″ align=”center” top_margin=”0″ alt_text=”build%20your%20acting%20career” full_width=”Y”] [vertical_spacing height=”10″]   Build Relationships Let your industry contacts know when you’ve booked a job, are in a show or achieved a career milestone. See shows. Introduce yourself. Talk with people about what they do. If you’re not using social media to build relationships you’re missing out. Social media makes it easy to stay in touch with people you know, connect with people you want to know and build your audience – if you know how. This class will show you how to build real relationships using social […]

10 Steps to Building your Acting Career

acting on camera
We are all very good at reading subtle shades of meaning on people’s faces. We instinctively know, for instance, if someone is truly engaged, distracted or thinking about something else entirely. [vertical_spacing height=”10″] On stage, when you’re momentarily distracted by a technical issue or a lapse in concentration, the audience may not notice because they’re sitting many feet from the stage. But, on set, the camera records your thoughts as they flash across your face “up close and personal.” This is great if you’re prepared but if you’re busy hitting your mark or thinking about what your next line is, the camera will record the actor’s thoughts instead of the character’s. Stage actors are often unprepared for that kind of scrutiny and for the preparation and focus acting on set requires. [vertical_spacing height=”10″] Many stage actors I work with are preoccupied with their lines and how they will say them […]

Acting On Camera Isn’t About The Lines

are you ever too old to start acting-
Recently an actress names Brandy asked: “Is there an age that is too old to start acting? I’m 42 and I just now have the courage and time to attend acting classes.” [vertical_spacing height=”10″] You are not too old to start acting. Having the time and the courage (and probably the funds) to pursue your passion is an enviable position for a beginning actor to be in. The years of life experience you have to draw upon will be a distinct advantage and an immeasurable gift as you begin your new adventure. [vertical_spacing height=”10″] At 42, you’re probably more self-aware than someone with fewer years under their belt. By now you know you’re not the center of the universe. You know the joy of falling in love and the pain of falling in love with the wrong person. You’ve mourned the death of a loved one. You’ve been the hero, […]

Are You Ever Too Old to Start Acting?

My biggest challenge as a young actor
A young actor on Twitter recently asked me: “When you set out to pursue acting what was the most challenging thing for you?” Rather than tweet a response in 140 characters or less I’ll blog my answer and hope that if you’re starting out might see yourself in my story and be able to progress faster than I did. . . As a young actor I was not the most naturally gifted among my peers. I had been an athlete, a soccer player, so I had some awareness of my body but I certainly didn’t have a keen awareness of my inner life nor had I been much of a student of others. Despite these shortcomings, I knew I wanted to act. . I soon discovered two bigger challenges: 1. I was afraid of making choices and 2. I was easily distracted . In my first real acting class I was […]

My Biggest Challenge as a Young Actor

Most casting for new series takes place during pilot season. Pilot season runs from approximately January through April, ending with the network’s annual upfronts in May, where network executives unveil their new fall and midseason shows to potential advertisers and the press. A pilot that gets picked up can quickly skyrocket your career! Here are 12 ways to get ready for the coming pilot season. [vertical_spacing height=”10″] [vertical_spacing height=”10″]   Update your tools Headshots should capture the essence of who you are, the kinds of roles you’re castable in and should look like you will when you arrive at the audition. Resumes should be organized, easy to read and up-to-date. Have your current reel available online in single clips and labeled so casting can watch your 12 second ‘comedy’ clip without having to watch your entire reel. [vertical_spacing height=”10″]   Get your social media together When casting Googles you, what […]

12 Ways To Get Ready For Pilot Season