Warning: Only for your personal use and education. Downloading and using it elsewhere is illegal Ambitious people are always striving for success and acting is no different. The question of how to be a successful actor has bothered thousands of actors and experts. There’s good news, and then there’s bad news. The good news is that there are 2 such a formulas on how to win auditions and be a successful actor. The bad news, however, is that these 2 formulas are not easy to crack. But if you stick with it, follow the rules, play the game, and give it all you’ve got, you might be a star in Bollywood or Hollywood or in TV.
Take control of your auditions and acting career by these 2 untold and hush-hush formulas
Formula 1.
Get selected in auditions
Caution!
Don't go for every audition. Check if it suits you
Before you apply and go for audition
Your Type = age range + jobs + attitude
Explanation
Your type
We are all born a certain way, with a certain “look” and unless we want to commit to drastic plastic surgery, then we will be cast as specific roles in our acting careers. It’s up to actors to be smart enough to identify that look, harness it, and use it to our advantage. Are you look and suitable for:
Examples
Leading man/woman
2nd man/woman
College student
Teacher, professor or principal
Village farmer
Good or a bad friend
Common street man/woman
Shopkeeper
Taxi driver
Businessman
Executive
Priest / Pujari
Crooked and sly
Comedian
Look belonging to a particular ethnicity like South Indian, North East etc
Short, Tall, Fat, Sickly
With a particular voice, accent and body language
How to conclude your 'Type'
Take a good hard look in the mirror. Pay attention to your face, your weight, your ethnicity, and your personality. Do you have a receding hairline? Do you have a thick accent? Listen to your voice. Do you sound smart and articulate when you talk, or do you sound uneducated? Be. Honest
Finally, ask your close friends, an acting coach, or anyone who will be honest with you. Your good friends will be honest with you.
Age range
For example, you look between 22-32. This is called as screen age range
Jobs
Audition requirements for a role eg. college student, hot, sexy, taxi driver, shopkeeper, professor, middle-aged father, character actor, businessman etc
Attitude
As an individual are you a positive, negative, shy, aggressive, introvert, smiling, argumentative, peaceful, brave etc?
Formula 2.
Be a Successful Actor
(P + HW + T) × L = S
Explanation
What is this, you ask? This is your equation of success. This is your formula towards succeeding in acting business. It’s
P: Perseverance
HW: Hard Work
T: Talent;
Then all of the above multiplied by
X: Multiply by luck
Equals to
Success!
If you want to implement the above 2 formulas, we would love to have youjoin us
Do you know what are the requirements to be an actor? Do you meet the requirement to be an actor? If not yet ready now, do you know what to do? Here is your solution
You must seek answers to these questions before you start. Therefore, it is essential that you analyze yourself- your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities as an actor and threats in this profession. (SWOT) So, let's start!
Take a piece of paper and start writing down: Are these your strengths or weaknesses? If they are your strengths, then put them under column 1 "strengths"; if not, then out them under column 2" weaknesses"
Maturity
Quick learner
High energy level
Communication
Financial resources
Creativity
Drive
Determination
Patience
Persuasion
Emotional make up
Acting skills
Professionalism
Industry knowledge
Contacts
Handsome or beautiful or not. Other physical traits
Now the 3rd column Now, you have the following "opportunities"
You can get trained
You can get acting skills
Learn marketing skills
You can be a good and successful actor
You can learn online marketing techniques and learn excellent public relation methods
4th column Identify threats to you, These are examples.
Not planning time
Not managing money
Not devoting sufficient time
Competition among actors
More handsome actors and actresses
NOW, SIMPLY MAKING A CHART AND KNOWING IS NOT THE END. YOU HAVE TO MAKE AN ACTION PLAN TO strengthen your strengths, overcome your weaknesses, grab opportunities and find solutions to overcome threats.
Set your life goal
Set time period eg 2 years or 10 years
If dreaming of being a top actor put this as goal No 1
However, if your dream, for example, is to be 1. Wealthiest man/woman 2. Marry the most beautiful woman 3. Have a private Island etc, then forget to dream to be an actor
Have sub-goals (not more than 3)
Set where you want to reach in 5 years, then the 4-3-2-next year and THIS YEAR.
Break down month wise, then in a week
Maintain a diary/ notebook, write down weekly and then objectives. Check in night your achievements
Set a fool proof TIME TABLE and must stick to it. OR YOU FAIL!
Because You Just Dreamt Without Knowing Requirements And How To Fulfill Them
Realities And Success Strategy
1. Dreaming of being an actor without knowing realities Ans: Do research on the internet before you leave your house
2. No knowledge of film |TV or commercial ad industry Ans:Do research on the internet. Meet industry people or theater in your place
3. Neither a good body or looks Ans:Build your body at home. Read this blog for home exercises
4. Poor in acting craft and no idea of a need to get self-trained Ans: Join a good school or an acting coach. If don't have enough money, get self-trained by reading and practicing 250+ posts from this blog in front of mirror or with friends
5. Poor in spoken Hindi and workable English Ans:Buy CDs, select YiouTube videos befriend actors with the mythological film background, join Hindi?English coaching classes
6. No knowledge of the need for portfolio, resume, show reel, video interview Ans: Research on the internet, ask other actors and industry crowd
7. Unaware of artist coordinators, casting directors, directors, producers or production houses Ans: Read relevant posts from this blog by keywords in the search box on the home page. Research on the internet, ask other actors and industry crowd.
8. No idea of a struggle of many years ahead before you get a break. Not studied the struggle stories of Bollywood stars Ans: There are some good posts in this blog on the struggle stories of Bollywood stars. Please read carefully and understand the struggle required
9. No financial planning and sufficient resource available to live, travel, get trained and struggle in Mumbai for a long period Ans: Know the expenses (read a post from this blog on living expense in Mumbai). Make an expense budget on yearly basis. If short of money, take up a job (night shift at airport, security officer, part-time jobs, internet survey and other related or join production dept, in a film-TV production company, channels etc) and be a working actor
10. Do does not know how to be a good public relations actor Ans: Search the internet for how to be and practice body language, voice, posture etc or join an acting coach
11. Do not know how to market and promote acting career as a business man | woman Ans: Search this blog (Put keywords in search box on home page and find relevant posts) or ask your acting coach
12. Impatience Ans: Practice Yoga, relaxation, and auto-suggestion techniques. Join classes or read from this blog
13. Can not accept repeated rejections at auditions Ans:Accept the 'rejection' as an unavoidable and necessary evil of 'an actor's life'.
14. No knowledge of time management Ans: If you fail to plan and manage 'time', it will manage and make you old and date expired in no time. You must schedule daily activities and stick to it.
15. Does not have "a thick skin" to accept neglect, mocked upon and criticism Ans: Whatever happens in your acting life, good or bad, take it as transient happening and as a fun. Develop other hobbies and skills like singing, dancing, martial arts, social service etc.
16. Do not know how to use social media for career development Ans: Open account with 'page' at least on FaceBook, Twitter, Linkedin Pinterest. Post daily relevant post. However (Warning), don't get carried away by 'likes'. None of those friends can help you in your acting career. Befriend casting directors, join acting related groups and post news, your activities, your current status, daily experiences etc.
So, You think I have a hope to be successful? Of Course, Yes!
Dear actor, The storms in your life Will be followed by rainbows For every time you've been down There are times when you Will shine and glow From every mistake that you've made You will learn and you will grow It's just a process we all go through And something we have to undergo So do not waste your time Going against your problems Just be like water and flow We are all just spiritual beings Having a human experience.....
"When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will walk safely and successfully" Come join and be with me. I will make you a successful actor -Kiran Pande, your acting coach
Do You Want To Be A Good Actor And Give Conceivable Performance To Stun Audience?
Situation In A Scene
Your script and the scene demands you are in a jungle near Manali Himachal, confined in a hut. It's snowing outside. The cold is terrible. There is no food or water and you are hungry. You have to act now and show how do you feel in extreme cold without food or water.
However, the fact is you are shooting in a studio in Mumbai where the temperature is 38 degree Celsius. Very very hot indeed!
How would you bring about feeling extremely cold and hungry?
A. The question is how to create memories? Which instruments to use? The answer is in recollecting and using all your 5 senses Touch, Hear, See, Listen and Taste B. In the above situation, if you have gone to a cold place in your life and experienced cold with all your senses and can recollect, you can do the scene. Because, in spite of studio being hot and humid, you will be able to detach and start feeling cold on your skin, the sound of wind and snow, fog, and snow outside seen from the window and mouth becoming dry
C. This is called re-calling "Sense Memory" However, to recall the different life situations, you must have them in your memory and this is only possible when you remember them using your senses.
Therefore, keep remembering your activities using your 5 senses and practice them regularly by just recollecting them For example
You should remember your blue shirt: It's texture, it's smell, buttons and so on. So, when you get a role of a blind girl or a boy, you pick up just by touching it.
Look at a tea cup. Feel it: color, smoothness, design, base, handle and it's circumference. Now you are sipping a hot tea. Remember the feeling of when hot tea touches your lips and tongue. Because in an actual shoot, there may not be any tea but just water and your expressions should be as if you are sipping hot tea.
The Reality
Now, what happens when you don't have any experience of a particular situation? Then you have use magic "IF"
The Power Of Imagination
IF I'm a police officer, IF I'm a beggar, IF I have consumed 5 large whiskey, IF I'm feeling sexually aroused..... how will I feel and behave? Start visualizing that situation or a person or an item
It's absolutely necessary for an actor to develop THE POWER OF IMAGINATION
Actor's success and failure: Confidence and lack of it- Sushant Singh Rajput and Imran Khan
Repeated Failure In Auditions In Spite Of Good Acting May Be Due To Poor Confidence
One of the greatest enemy of an actor dreaming of being successful and happy
“A poor image of your own self in your own eyes and mind”The best synonym for this common mental condition is "The Lack Of Confidence"
Check if are you a confident person or a doubtful person? Do you feel and behave Fearful, Afraid, Timid, Meek, Unsure, Pessimistic or Shy?
Signs Showing: Low Self Confidence
1. Your views are based on what other people think 2. Staying in your comfort zone 3. Cover up your mistakes 4. Dismissing your mistakes
High Self Confidence
1. Doing what you believe is right. Not bothered what others think 2. Willing to take risks 3. Admitting your mistakes and learning from them 4. Accepting complaints graciously
How An Actor To Build Confidence
To start with, do a SWOT Analysis of your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats and write down on a table.
1. Work Hard on:
Further strengthening your strengths;
On overcoming your weaknesses and turning them into your + points;
Develop a strategy to avoid threats, which means working hard on alternate options and solutions; probably threats are due to some of your weaknesses
Always thinks of opportunities you have and benefits you will have if you exploit opportunities!
2. Further work on:
On developing your skills, excellence, and knowledge. Join a coach, a school and attend workshop regularly.
Set Time bound Goals: ie in 2 years, 1 year, 6 months, This and next month. Then prepare an action plan starting from the achievement of long-term objectives narrowing it down to the current month. Then work on schedules ie weekly, daily and so on.
Only think of positives.
3. Always think of good things
Ask others what you can do for them. Don't expect too much and always from others.
Join Yoga, Gym, Dancing and music classes. These activities will help you to develop a positive and cheerful mind apart from adding in your acting craft.
Attend shows, theater, music shows and events.
4. Do what interests you
Identify your successes since childhood, even small ones. Recollect them offer and smile.
Don't worry about the outcome of your efforts: For example, go for an audition as an event to enjoy and as a part of your training. Do your best, come out and celebrate your effort with a cup of tea or a drink either with your friends or alone, thinking good and smiling. In another word- CELEBRATE every small effort, not only an achievement!
5. Be aggressive
Develop a habit of "Barging in" (Pushing in)
Meet strangers; Talk and interact with everybody. However, while talking, always talk what others may like;
Tell a person without hesitation if he/she offends or negates you. Be frank. Don't worry about the outcome!
6. STOP your wandering
By instructing your mind by saying "stop" or count backward from 10 to 1. Focus and concentrate
8. Analyze your day
Start writing down a day's activities before you go to bed. What you have achieved and what you couldn't. 9. Smile and smile Develop a habit of "Smiling" most of the time. Try this forcibly and consequently, it will become your habit. 10. Talk loudly
The world doesn't accept soft spoken people. They are considered as "Timid"
11. Must consider and do
11Make decisions every day and follow irrespective of consequences.
Always think of bright future ahead you
Learn to accept "You are wrong"
Mind your body language. To be confident walk and talk confidently even if you are shitting in your pants! After all, you are an actor. Just fake it!
Positive Mental Food To Be A Successful Actor And Happy In Life
Just as your body is healthy to the degree to which you eat healthy, nutritious foods, your mind is healthy to the degree to which you feed it with “mental protein” rather than “mental candy.”
Read books, magazines, and articles that are educational, inspirational, or motivational. Feed your mind with information and ideas that are uplifting and that make you feel happy and more confident about yourself and your world.
Listen to positive, constructive CDs and audio programs on your MP3 player, Mobile or iPod. Feed your mind continually with positive messages that help you think and act better and make you more capable and competent in your field.
Watch positive and educational DVDs, educational television programs, online courses, and other uplifting material that increases your knowledge and makes you feel good about yourself and your life.
How To Get Into Bollywood Film Industry? How To Become A Bollywood Actor/Actress? How Can I Be A Bollywood Star? I Want To Be A Bollywood Star
10 Learning Habits Which Made Them Bollywood Stars
1. Constantly Question Everything
When you’re taught something, don’t write it down, accept it as fact and vomit it out the same way later. Instead, as stars have done is to really dig it and turn upside down. If you don’t ask questions, are you really learning?
2. Allow your thoughts to wander
Today Bollywood stars knew and did some of their best thinking while day-dreaming and letting his thoughts drift. When you feel stuck, especially when thinking about what to and how to do, allow yourself to lose focus and let your mind go somewhere else.
3. Have varied interests
Many successful actors of films and TV dance, sing, play musical instruments, learned martial arts, kept a pretty fascinating social life and studied nonstop. For some of you, this may seem mind-blowing and difficult but remember it’s important to be versatile when it comes to your interests and hobbies. You learn so much just by being interested in a multitude of things. It’s also a great way to give yourself a break from one subject ie "acting" when it starts to overburden you. It can help and inspire you when you feel stuck or depressed because of prolonged struggle, financial instability and frequent rejections and criticism.
4. Figure out how you learn best
The Bollywood stars knew, to succeed a never ending training is absolutely essential to be on top. They identified the following major areas of learning:
Learning and updating acting craft
How to build body and look HOT
How to have an excellent proficiency in spoken Hindi and a reasonable English vocabulary.
How to market and promote their acting career with all the contemporary tools
How to be an excellent public relation guy
How to manage finances
How to have a thick skin
How to develop the ability to struggle for a long period
5. Surround yourself with brilliant, successful people
Like everything in life, it’s easiest to be inspired to do something when you surround yourself with people who are especially good at that thing. When it comes to education and learning, do as stars did and surround you with successful actors, good casting directors, directors or assist. directors of any age and hobbies or develop in you, their hobbies to help you to be in their friend circle. Also, develop a habit of reading. Pick up some good books not only on acting but on how to be successful and happy in life and on other self-development subjects.
6. Think for yourself
In today’s world, we get so caught up in other peoples’ opinions. We think everything we do, right down to the coffee we drink, is important and is under the scrutiny of others. The Bollywood stars do notice but don’t get caught up in what other people think or say. Don’t write or argue with people you are associated and make it a habit. Develop a habit of thinking for yourself and in the real world, not under imaginary situations, social media, and people. Make learning as your major interest and a second nature.
7. Don’t give in to life's dramatic situations
The film stars were never concerned with, well, any of the events going on around him! If they weren’t directly interesting to them, they would pretty much leave these events alone. Well, I’m not recommending you become a saint and only leave your house if it serves you in a selfish way, but I am saying to follow these star's example and not get caught up in the drama that can so often surround you.
8. Never doubt your intuition
What is an intuition? It's an ability to understand or know something immediately based on your feelings rather than facts Most of us have experienced the sense of knowing things before we know them, even if we can’t explain how. You hesitate at a green light and miss getting hit by a speeding truck. Intuition allows you to get the first warning signs when anything is not logical or off about yourself, interest or body so that you can address it. If you have a gut feeling about yourself- listen to it For example:
I feel something is wrong. Why are they offering a break in the film without the audition?
Why are they asking for an artist card? I'm and an actor, not in for a menial job!
Why asking for a security for Rs. 1.5 Lakhs for a hero's role in a big banner film?
I know I can display this varied and emotionally difficult script for audition
I'm not feeling well. Must do something
Most of the aspiring actors don't listen to their inner voice may be due to greed, excitement, impatience or overwhelming desire to be a star quickly.
However, most of the strars never neglect their intuition, irrespective of the outcome. The only real valuable thing is intuition.
9. Be open to failure and take initiative
When it comes to learning, you have to be open to, and expecting failure. It would be detrimental to assume everything in life will turn out perfectly. Your success in learning and acting is no different. Yes, sometimes you are going to fail and fail miserably, but it will make all the times you succeed greatly that much more rewarding. The possibility of failure shouldn’t keep you from taking initiative and making your own decisions.
10. You can be brilliant
Most of the Bollywood stars trusted themselves and knew they are brilliant. Have faith in you; the key to success. So, they continued their struggle, year after year; Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit to name few
If in doubt about self, contact usand get trained to be a Bollywood Star!
How to select a monolog? What monolog should I use for my audition? How to prepare Hindi monolog? How long should be a monolog? What precautions should I take for preparing monolog?
What Is a Monologue?
If you have a friend or relative who likes to hear himself talk, you already know what a monologue is. It is an uninterrupted, one-sided conversation in which a person — a college professor, your drunk friend at a wedding anniversary party— addresses a specific audience. Dating back to ancient Greek drama, where they played an essential role, monologues remain the main feature of plays and films.
Monologues provide character development, give an explanation, or identify key themes.
Nowadays it's a trend with casting directors to ask an actor appearing for audition to give a monolog
Follow these winning tips when choosing one
Finding good audition material seems to be a pain in the ass for many actors. I began to fully appreciate how actors kill selection chances. Many actors simply choose bad audition monologs for themselves. The reality is, if you are going to audition for films and TV (also especially for theater), monologs are going to be required of you fairly regularly. You can help yourself immensely if you follow some simple tips.
1. Know your "type" and be realistic about it.
A good way of discovering this to ask other actor friends, your acting coach and people in the industry. If you choose a piece that is something you’d "LIKE to do" as opposed to something that truly suits you, you are unlikely to stand out among the competition- there will be plenty of others who are type same casting type, better looking and more experienced or better prepared for the same audition
2. Know your age range
Again, be realistic about this and ask friends, your acting coach or people in the industry for honest opinions about your screen age then stick to that age range. For example, if your screen age is 23 to 30 and if you prepare or select a monolog spoken by 60 years old man, well then you know it would be absolutely out of the place and the casting directors would notice instantly.
3. Enter the room with confidence
If hands are offered, shake them. Look the auditors in the eyes during introductions i. Introduce yourself and let them know what piece you are doing and who the source/s. Remember to smile and show off your confidence.
4. Short And Sweet
A monolog that’s between 1 minute to 2 minutes is great. More than that is beginning to push it too much. A monolog audition should work to spark the auditor’s imagination, not be an attempt to cram everything you can do with a one piece of text.
5. Imagine
Simply put, your monolog should express as if you are talking something to your scene partner whether partner present to absent. In this way, every monolog is actually a dialogue, a give and take between you and a silent, invisible scene partner.
6. Don't tell just a story
This is related to #2. So often actors create monologs which simply tell a story or reflect on a memory. These pieces become inactive 99% of the time and highlight the matter rather than you.
7. Avoid pieces that are full of violence, sex or offensive language
Remember that an audition is, after all, a job interview. Often the casting director doesn't know anything about you apart from what we see in the audition. "A lot of offensive language or pieces that contain descriptions of graphic violent or sexual acts are just in bad taste at an audition
8. Entertain auditioners
No one in the industry wants to watch an actor working really hard to impress them with their "acting" especially if the piece is boring or mediocre. Choose a monolog you love doing so we will love watching you.
9. Great Monologs often start out as dialogue
When you are looking for pieces, don’t just assume that a perfectly crafted minute-long monolog right there is going to jump out at you. Some of the best monologs I have are ones that I’ve pieced together from one story or character’s dialogue in a scene. Perhaps, starting with a question, demanding something from an invisible person or asking an opinion and then proceeding
10. Avoid the monologs that are common and overdone
Many actors make a mistake of preparing a monolog from Bollywood classic films and TV serials like from Sholay, Pyaasa, Guide, Dil To Paagal Hai and so on whether or not it suits them or not. Most casting directors are tired of listening to these pieces repeatedly and they may suddenly lose interest in you. So, be careful.
11. Reflect your good taste
This is to say that choosing monolog for its giving "shock" value or for example too dramatic irritability, bursts of anger or sexually abuse can backfire if you bring it into an audition room. Content matters of course, but not everyone loves hearing 20 bombs in 60 seconds. Not everyone loves hearing pieces about being sexually abused. Not everyone loves watching an actor rage at the top of their lungs.Take the right risks, not the cheap ones.
12. Play to your strengths
It’s great to experiment and try a wide range of monologs to practice but when it comes to what you choose to use for auditions, play to your strengths and show yourself being the best that you can be. Choose a monolog with shifts in emotion I'm sure you must have been knowing how to portray at least 9 types of emotions and different attitudes (In acting class or by your acting coach). The most interesting monologs to watch are the ones with changes in emotion, rhythm, and tempo. This will make it more compelling to watch and will show more of what you are capable of.
13. Don’t be a magician and hide behind tricks
Hands down the biggest mistake I see in the audition room is actors hiding behind the tricks and gimmicks of their pieces. Being showy is the easiest choice and almost always the wrong one. Tossing props, exaggerated gestures, picking up things from the casting director's table are some of the examples.
14. Do not change your accent. Stick to your own accent
You’ve been invited to the audition because of who you are, and if you deliver your monolog in a different accent, you won’t be giving them what they wanted when they called you in- which is you! The exception to this, of course, is if you have been asked to do a different accent, and even then only go for it if you are flawless.
Here is one of the best monolog, I like from Bollywood movie "Khakee"
How to prepare the best monolog.
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