Escape from L.A.

Actors, especially new ones, often believe that they need to run off to Los Angeles. Yes, there is work in Los Angeles, but there are many reasons not to take the next bus.

I won’t be going into all of the reasons in this blog (look for the other reasons in my upcoming book and classes), but I will tell you an interesting observation from Mr. Ashton Kutcher. According to Reality Blurred, Ashton Kutcher believes that “without reality television, the city of Los Angeles would be a pretty barren zone.”

He goes on to say: “With all the films moving out of Los Angeles, television and reality television supports a lot of people who make film, make television.”

What does this mean for the actor? Well, it’s just another reason not to run off to Hollywood right away.

Genre is King at Box Office

Last summer it was sequel mania and this summer it’s genre films that rule the land, specifically sci-fi, fantasy, action genre features.  From Hellboy to Iron Man to Dark Knight, superheroes are outperforming all other box office entries.

What does this mean for the actor? Well, look for more genre projects and for indie filmmakers to try to satiate what is obviously a large desire for these type of films. Unfortunately, the special effects nature of these type of films make it hard for the indie filmmaker to compete. But, new and lower priced technologies are making it easier and more affordable for the average person to make a genre picture.

For more information, visit Newsarama — they’ve got a terrific article that details the specific performance of this summer’s films.

Make-Up vs. High Definition

High definition shows every wrinkle, pore, and furrow, so how can we as actors look our best in an increasingly magnifying medium? With HD make-up of course! Well, maybe. I have yet to try it out, but I figured you’d all want to know it’s out there. This information comes from a highly recommended online newsletter known as Trend Central – I recommend subscribing — it’s free!

Here’s what they had to say about HD make-up:

While the advent of high-definition video is great for consumers, it’s made life more difficult for the actors/actresses on the flipside of the screen. Enter high-definition makeup, a new cosmetics category that’s been developed to hide the most minuscule imperfections, even under the most fine-tuned lens. Although the concept was created to help working actors better prepare for their close-ups, a growing number of consumer beauty brands, including Christian Dior, Smashbox, and Cargo, are peddling HD skin care products intended for everyday wear.

Student Work – Stephen Moon

One of my students, the naturally talented Stephen Moon, appears in this fan film. He gets to do what I’ve always wanted to do — play a superhero character! In this case, he’s DC Comics’ The Flash . . .

Beauty is in the Hand of the Photoshopper part 2

Well, if you can’t beat them, join them! Rather than lament the “perfectness” that Photoshop provides and spend a fortune on photography retouching, why not do it yourself?

To that end, here is an article that offers 70 free beauty-related retouching Photoshop tutorials . . .

Beauty is in the Hand of the Photoshopper

Photoshopping is becoming standard for the images that pervade our society. As actors, it’s tempting to compare ourselves to the finished product, but it’s important to recognize that no one looks as good in real life as they do post-Photoshop.

Here’s a short video with a perfect example of what I’m talking about . . .

Improv can make a difference

There are many uses for improvisation. One of my favorite improv troupes is Improv Everywhere. In this clip, the group makes a difference in the lives of kids using improv . . .

What does a Broadway producer do?

The term “producer” gets thrown around quite a lot in all fields where acting occurs. So what does a producer do? Well, here’s a short clip that explains what a Broadway producer does . . .

The Broadway Producer

Live via Satellite . . . Your Audition?

Every audition is different and actors definitely must be prepared for that. Well, now, according to Backstage, there’s a new way to share your performance with the decision makers — teleconferencing. The director is in 1 market, NY for instance, watching your performance in another, LA for example.

Perhaps, long-term, this method will allow actors who aren’t in a “hot” market a chance to show what they’ve got.

Regardless the educated actor must be prepared for this type of audition. To learn more, read Backstage’s article on the subject.