Why Actors Need a Reader

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Why Actors Need a Reader

Do you really need a Reader for your taped audition?

If you’re new to film and television acting, auditions might be something that has been on your mind lately.

Whether you’re new to auditioning or you’re trying to learn more about the industry before starting to self-submit, learning the proper terms and different aspects of audition etiquette is a MUST. We want to spend a little time talking about an important audition element called a Reader.

So first of all, what is a Reader?

A Reader is the term used for someone who is reading the other person in your scene’s lines off-camera, whether they are helping you physically tape your audition or you’ve phoned them in through a service like FaceTime or Zoom. There are many reasons that casting directors and decision makers in the casting process definitely want you to have one. (So in short, yes, you do really need a Reader)

Let’s take some time looking at the various benefits a Reader brings to your scene.

#1: A Reader helps with the TIMING of the scene.

Here’s what you don’t want to do: intentionally mess with the writer’s directions for a scene. For example, if it is a two-person scene, we cannot go in and turn it into a one-person monologue. If there are two characters, we should be hearing someone read the other person’s lines. The main focus will still be on the actor (auditioner), but the second character will be voiced by someone off-screen. Another thing we don’t want to do is record ourselves saying the other character’s lines and playing it back over the audition recording. Number one, it’s unprofessional. The better route would be to have a friend read the lines to you virtually. Number two, it is distracting and messes with the timing of your scene. This leads to a product that can look really awkward and over-rehearsed. We want you to be focused on your PERFORMANCE, not nailing down the timing so that your fake reader can be on-track. Our goal in an audition setting is to show the decision makers that we can carry this character and this scene with authenticity to the source material. So, don’t change up the script or try to get around having a real life reader.

#2: A Reader helps with your REACTIONS and your character’s RELATIONSHIP.

Having a Reader there to say the other character’s lines is a perfect stand-in for that other character. If you know what your relationship to the other character in the scene is (which you should ALWAYS know before taping!), you can use that to inform the way that you and that character would talk to each other, and the emotions that you each might have going into this particular scene. Having a real person to play off of is so important for your reactions and really selling the idea of this character’s relationship with your scene partner. If you can, read with a fellow actor! Whether that is through booking a professional taping service with us (LINK) or by asking a friend from your acting class to help at your home setup, having another actor as your Reader is one way to help level up your auditions. This is because another actor is going to give you something to go off of! You can rehearse together and chat through it before turning the camera on and recording.

*While your Reader doesn’t NEED to be an actor, make sure that they understand what their role is. The reader should be quieter than the actor auditioning, but still able to be understood by the people watching your tape.

#3: A Reader helps with your EYELINE.

What is an eyeline, you might ask? Your eyeline is just where you are looking during your audition. It’s important that, unless stated otherwise, you aren’t looking directly into the camera for your audition. On the flip side, we also don’t want to see you in profile for your whole performance, so you want to split the difference and put the other person just a few inches away from the camera on either side. This will help casting to be able to see your whole face and all of your lovely reactions throughout your audition. Having a Reader in the taping room (or at-home setup, if you have one) is one good way to have a consistent eyeline throughout your scene.

Here is an example clip from TAS Private Student Jace Marsh, where you can hear the volumes of him and his Reader and see how his eyeline is to the side of the camera! You can follow Jace on Instagram HERE, or view his Actor’s Access profile HERE.

#4: Having a Reader is PROFESSIONAL, and improves the QUALITY of your self tape.

The Atlanta market has always been a self tape market, but now the industry as a whole is converting to primarily utilizing self tapes for the beginning of the casting process. This mainly started in 2020, when the world shifted virtually; but it has continued because self tapes and virtual callbacks through platforms (like Zoom or Actors Access’s EcoCast Live) save casting directors a lot of time and money in comparison to the former in-person editions of initial reads and callbacks. You want to make sure that your audition is up to par with other actors who have been self taping for a long time!

So, in addition to a Reader, what all do I need to ensure the quality of my self tape?

First thing’s first. You need a camera and tripod. In this day and age, there isn’t a need to purchase an expensive DSLR camera just to record your auditions if you have a smartphone that shoots in HD. What is a non-negotiable, however, is the tripod. This is because we don’t want a shaky audition tape that’s going to distract from our acting performance. So if you are shooting on your phone, make sure to snag a phone-specific tripod, like this one from AMAZON. 

Next, make sure you’re shooting on a PLAIN BACKGROUND, like a nice neutral gray. We don’t want casting focusing on the art behind you or your messy bedroom, so keep it plain and simple.


We also want to make sure that the people viewing your tape can SEE and HEAR you. So whether you’re using natural lighting in a quiet room or investing in lighting and audio equipment, be sure to watch your tape back and make sure that your recording quality isn’t detracting from your acting!

 

If you’re looking to develop your own at-home self tape studio and don’t know where to start, schedule an in-person or virtual CAREER COACHING session with a TAS Coach! We can help you figure out how to best set up your space and teach you the ins and outs of self taping at home.

If you’re looking for an audition Reader and a space to tape in, we have a professional taping studio right in our Buford, GA location! Click HERE to schedule an audition taping service where we will:

  • Be your Reader!
  • Provide coaching (depending on the length of your audition and how much time you book)!
  • Film your audition in our high-quality setup!
  • Edit it for you!
  • Submit your audition during your time slot!
  • And even send you a copy at the end!

For more information on our taping services, check out that portion of our website HERE. Happy auditioning!

Ready to get started? Reach out today!

TASFRONTDESK@GMAIL.COM

678-313-7798

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR CLASSES
SIGN UP TO AUDIT A CLASS FOR FREE
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR CLASSES

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About The Author

Molly Pass

Molly Pass is an Atlanta-local actress, acting coach, and wedding videographer who loves to help new and seasoned actors alike find their purpose and passion through performance. She holds her bachelor’s degree in Film and Media Studies from Georgia State University and enjoys discussing movies, shows, and all things new media. Her favorite part of working at The Actor’s Scene is being able to inspire folks to pursue their dreams and helping them to gain confidence in themselves along the way. When she is not acting or working in the digital media realm, she enjoys reading murder mysteries and desperately trying to keep a garden alive. 

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Get to know TAS Coach: John Castle

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Get to know TAS Coach: John Castle

All of our acting coaches are highly qualified working actors who participate in the Film/TV industry in a variety of ways, in addition to coaching acting classes. But we want to give you a more in-depth look at who they are as people. 
 
This month we are sharing some insights that will help answer the question, 
“Who Is John Castle?” Read on to find out!

How did you first get into acting?

So I was into acting as a kid and on stage a lot. Going into 9th grade I was really good, but always at a new school; so there was no consistency. There was no growing with a set group of people.  Then my parents got divorced and my world completely changed. Acting was a lost thought- a glimmer that I wouldn’t rediscover for the next 24 years. I stumbled upon community theater while I was running my landscape company. The players guild needed help moving into the new 400 seat theater the city had just built for them. I had a truck and trailer so I offered to help. That started off a chain of events that- in the span of one year- would have me sell my landscape business, land me in acting classes, and on a Marvel Studio set painted as Vision while standing in and doubling Paul Bettany in WandaVision for six months. Then Covid….. This story is still developing.

Your story is so interesting because you came to TAS as a student in our adult classes before you began coaching. Tell us what that was like.

Joining acting classes as an adult student was exciting and scary. I had been a successful business owner for a long time. I was comfortable. This was going to be uncomfortable and I was putting myself out there to be judged. I wasn’t sure how I would handle that. What if I wasn’t any good? What if I couldn’t remember my lines? I despised the thought of being embarrassed like that. But I knew that there were things that I needed to learn- techniques and tricks and such. I was thirsty for the knowledge that would help me be successful. So I took the leap. What I found was a group of people that encouraged me to mess up! I even played some improv games that encouraged the group to celebrate failure. What a concept right?? I stay in class now. There’s always someone to learn from. An approach that I haven’t thought of. A new trick to a technique, or maybe even a new technique all together! I’ve done 35 commercials/industrials, 2 movies and 6 television shows in the past three years. I’ve only had that success because I stay in class. I exercise my acting muscles. I consider classes the best investment you can make as an artist. It’s easy to do your job when you’re educated!

What has been your biggest struggle in the industry?

My biggest struggle has been Covid but that was uncontrollable. I guess that my biggest controllable struggle would be finding that fine line between being “boring” and being “intriguing” without “acting”.

How have you worked to tackle that 'fine line'?

I’m still tackling it. I think that’s the “secret ingredient” that we, as performers, search for anytime we get our minds on a new character. How can I make this a dynamic character within the limits of the written words? Because I have to “fit” the story. 

Preparation + Mindset = Confidence

-Coach John Castle

Besides acting, do you pursue any other interests in the entertainment industry?

I love Standing-In on different productions. I still do it when an intriguing gig pops up. I’ve worked with and learned from some pretty incredible people while “Standing-In”. I view it more as getting paid to go to film school. I get to watch how every single department works from the perspective of the principal actor. I credit “Standing-In” with creating a confident mindset and a level of extreme comfort on set. I’ve learned so much about movement in frame and how different people approach the craft while the cameras are rolling. It’s an experience that I recommend to everyone interested in the craft.

Why did you get into coaching?

I was led here. I had no expectations or particular goals. I knew I would have fun. Fundamentals is an early level career building class and I’m early in my career and somewhat successful so far. I felt that I could help others walking my same path right now. Acting is a study of self and of human behavior. I had no idea the wealth of knowledge accessible from observing and redirecting so many different people from different walks of life in different circumstances. It’s life changing for me and I hope to find more balance in the future to coach a few more classes. I’d love to coach a weekly scene study class.

What is one important bit of advice you always give the students in your class?

One piece of advice. Submit your best work and forget. The job is auditioning. Have fun. Two takes. One for the grownups and one for you!

What is your proudest coaching moment?

Watching real people emerge from the representative that came to the first few classes. Watching walls fall. Confidence and abandon creep into the minds. The freer the spirit the more fulfilling.

What do you hope that your artistic legacy will be?

What do I hope my legacy will be? Wow. Deep. Um. Dag. Um. I hope that a lesson learned from me plays a part in changing the life of someone for the better. Even if they don’t realize it. I hope they do though and they are like, “Man! That lesson that John taught me on that Wednesday night has made my life so much better!! I really am grateful that that dude was in my life. He’s super cool.” That’s what I hope my legacy is. Life changing.

John Castle Bio:

Born at the baby factory in Atlanta, GA. Northside Hospital in 1981. I was a water baby. Shoeless and shirtless running the banks of Lake Lanier. I had white hair, crystal blue eyes and the tannest skin of any under six year old caucasian kid out there!! My first 5 years of life were perfect. Then my family started moving. A lot. I went to 13 different schools throughout my public school career. That’s a new school for every year of public education. I learned a lot about people during this time but never really learned about myself. I became a different person at every school because the people were different. I had to be like them. I learned how to fit in and make friends quickly because I knew I only had a short time in my new place. Little did I know about how much this experience was preparing me for a career choice that I would make 20 years later. I spent my teenage years in trouble. Lots of trouble. Bad trouble. I knew people, but myself? I was lost. Acting out. Struggling to find out which of the persona’s that I had created to cope was actually me. Who am I???? Why can I fit in everywhere, with anyone but I never feel like I belong. I’ll tell you more in class. Because I’m a storyteller. Not a writer. See you in class!! 

Would you like to take classes or private lessons with Coach John?

Coach John teaches Foundations classes for ages 9+. To sign up for classes, click HERE. You can also call our Front Desk and request John’s current roster at 770-904-6646.

To sign up for a private lesson with Coach John, click HERE. 

Want to keep up with Coach John? You can follow him on Instagram,

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Actors Are Flocking to Georgia

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Actors Are Flocking to Georgia

Read on to find out why…

You may have heard of Atlanta being referred to as the “Hollywood of the South”, but did you know that many actors are actually leaving Los Angeles and New York to move to the Georgia market?

According to Culture Trip, “The Southern state of Georgia is famous for peaches, Coca-Cola, and the city of Atlanta, which has the busiest international airport on the planet. But now it’s overtaken Hollywood to become the biggest film-producing market in the world”.

Credit Article: How Georgia Overtook Hollywood to Become the Film Capitol.

Operations Director, Elizabeth Alcaraz, and Coaches Kirsten Krehbiel and Jeanne Morales at Woodruff Park. Filming Locations include Zombieland and Black Lightning. 

Location, Location, Location...

But why is that? How did Georgia create a booming filmmaking market that overtook the two existing major markets, LA and New York?

 

There are MANY reasons that productions and creatives are moving to Georgia from the other markets, but let’s start with LOCATION.

 

According to AceYourAudition.com’s article on whether or not actors should move to Georgia for their career (Spoiler Alert: The Answer Is Yes), “the state of Georgia gives out more film tax credits than anywhere else in the world, except for the United Kingdom” (LINK).

 

Georgia has a variety of beautiful and diverse landscapes and cities, meaning that production crews can make it look like almost anywhere in the world with the right setup. Atlanta’s skyline is often a stand-in for the skylines of major cities like Los Angeles and New York. 

 

You can spot Atlanta standing in for New York in projects like Hawkeye and Spiderman: No Way Home, or Atlanta being ‘California’ in projects like Venom and Zombieland.

 

Not only can it look like almost any state (or other countries, as Netflix’s Ozark also shows Braselton, Georgia as a stand-in for Mexico), it is so easy for travelers from different locations to come to Georgia, since we have the #1 busiest airport in the world, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (Airports Council International).



Coach Jeanne Morales at The Marriot Marquis. Filming location of The Hunger Games.

In addition to taking the place of other major cities when it comes to shooting on-location, Atlanta also has HUGE sound stages due to the many amazing film studios that make their home here. To read more about some of the different awesome studios in Georgia, check out our previous blog on that HERE. Did you know that the neighborhood in WandaVision was actually all constructed within a soundstage at Trilith Studios (formerly Pinewood Studios)?

Georgia is such an amazing choice for filming locations due to the assortment of options offered by our various nature and city landscapes. If you need a beach, we’ve got Jekyll Island, Tybee Island, St. Simons Island, and more! If you need mountains, Stone Mountain is right near our capital city of Atlanta. Want a lake? Try Lake Lanier, Allatoona, Oconee, or one of many others! As far as cities go, Georgia is home to historic towns like Savannah and Augusta, as well as more modern/metropolitan cityscapes like Atlanta and Athens, which have amazing college campus locations! With multiple different city feels and diverse physical landscapes from farms to wetlands to forests, we’ve got any film crew covered.

 

For a comprehensive list of Georgia’s filming locations and projects you may have seen filmed here, check out Explore Georgia’s “Guide to Georgia Film Locations”!

Coach Kirsten Krehbiel and TAS Front Desk Assistant, Sadeja Carter at The Hub at Peachtree Center. Near filming location of Hawkeye and The Tomorrow War.

Show Me the Money....

Next up, any producer’s favorite part: MONEY.

It is well-known that Georgia expanded its tax credits for film productions in 2008, which became a financial incentive for studios and production overall to relocate here. The minimum expenditure threshold for projects to meet the tax credit is $500,000, which can be spent either on one project or over the entire 12 months of a particular tax year (Georgia.Org). While that sounds like a ton of money to the average Joe, for most projects in the film industry, that’s a rather small amount of budget, which makes it easy to qualify for our tax breaks. And, there are no limits or caps to the amount a production can spend in Georgia, meaning that a lot of projects will find a way to shoot as much as they can in Georgia to save money, whether that’s on-location or on a studio’s soundstage. 

Our favorite part at The Actor’s Scene is that the Georgia market is home to a lot of really amazing PEOPLE. One of the amazing people we’re talking about is TAS Coach Kristi Taylor, who finds her home in Atlanta after working in multiple other markets. We sat down with Coach Kristi to talk about how she ended up in Georgia!

So, Kristi, tell us about what made you want to come to Georgia for your acting career!

“What attracted me to the ATL acting/filming/music/theatre market, was that it is so different from the Texas, Oklahoma, Los Angeles, and New York markets in my opinion.  We literally have everything here in GA for filming, music, theatre and so forth.  The amount of talent, professionalism, and sheer determination to make a top notch product is present everywhere you turn.”

We agree! It's awesome that you mention the variety of projects taking place here in Georgia, can you tell us more about what actors should expect in terms of what types of projects they can be considered for?

“I think it’s important to keep in mind that there are plenty of Union and Non-Union productions that are constantly being filmed in Georgia, especially in the metro ATL area.  We do things by the book here and in return make great connections, set ourselves up for future work, and create awesome material.”

Amazing! We love hearing about how Atlanta can hold its own when it comes to the quality of productions in addition to the large quantity of projects! Do you have anything else to say to someone who might be considering moving to Georgia for their film career?

“I also feel that GA is a little more welcoming to those who may be a tad newer to the industry as well.  Not only do GA productions break the barriers by offering tax incentives, but they also tend to use local talent before reaching out abroad.  This is great for those who are seasoned and green to the industry.  There is also an abundance of acting jobs ranging from background to Lead/first team talent with a smaller pool of population to pull from. And not to mention, the amount of crew positions!”

Thank you so much for your time, Coach Kristi.

Coach Sanna Erica chilling out at the Fountain of Woodruff Park. Filming location of Avengers: Infinity War and The Change Up.

Many actors are worried about the Atlanta market being “too small” or “not having enough opportunity” in comparison to the other markets, but Acting Career Center’s Kurt Yue shuts those ideas down with this quote: 

 

“First of all, if you’re still worried that Atlanta is too small of a market compared to say, New York or LA, even though I just gave you that huge list of movies and shows shot here, if you’re still worried that Atlanta doesn’t have enough opportunities for actors, let me put that to rest right now. 

The amount of opportunity here is not just good, it’s actually kind of mind blowing. The sheer volume of auditions I started getting when I first moved here was… it was actually a bit overwhelming at first” (Should You Move To Atlanta For Your Acting Career?)

With an exciting amount of productions, whether they came to Georgia for tax reasons, our beautiful locations, or for the new amazing market we’ve created, comes an exciting amount of opportunity for actors, new and seasoned alike!


We hope that this article helped you see that not only is Georgia competing with LA and New York (and holding our ground!), but we are making a market all our own. So instead of referring to Atlanta as “The Hollywood of the South”, make sure you just call it Atlanta. Film is here. Start your acting career with us! For more information on our offerings, click HERE. To get started with a private or career coach to launch your acting journey, click HERE.

You’ve got this!

Ready to get started? Reach out today!

TASFRONTDESK@GMAIL.COM

678-313-7798

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR CLASSES
SIGN UP TO AUDIT A CLASS FOR FREE
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR CLASSES

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About The Author

Molly Pass

Molly Pass is an Atlanta-local actress, acting coach, and wedding videographer who loves to help new and seasoned actors alike find their purpose and passion through performance. She holds her bachelor’s degree in Film and Media Studies from Georgia State University and enjoys discussing movies, shows, and all things new media. Her favorite part of working at The Actor’s Scene is being able to inspire folks to pursue their dreams and helping them to gain confidence in themselves along the way. When she is not acting or working in the digital media realm, she enjoys reading murder mysteries and desperately trying to keep a garden alive. 

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The Actor’s Scene: 2022 Recap

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The Actor’s Scene: 2022 Recap

January 2023

2022... What a year!

The Actor’s Scene has so much to be thankful for. 2022 was a major success thanks to the endless dedication of our team, coaches, students and families. Join us as we celebrate the highlights of 2022! 

What do we consider 'Success'?

Before we get into specifics, let us be clear on how we define ‘success’. Since we opened our doors in 2003, The Actor’s Scene has been blessed to witness thousands of students go through our award winning programs. We have seen students of all ages place with agencies and management, then go on to book work in film, TV, and commercial for major networks and production companies, walk the red carpet at premier events, and even work on projects internationally. 

While we strive to provide these opportunities for our students, and work tirelessly to give up-to-date information and real world training- this is actually NOT how we define success. 

At TAS, we are CONFIDENCE MAKERS. We believe that success is a byproduct of confidence. We know that actors need more than knowledge and to-do lists; they need someone to believe in them. A community of like-minded individuals to go on the journey together. They need opportunities to test their wings, and a safety net to walk them through every experience. We don’t believe in stereotypes and competitive based learning; we teach that it is your unique traits that make you stand out in this industry. 

And when we hear that a student is meeting their goals- whatever those goals may be- THAT is what gets us excited. So read on! We are proud to share our highlights and figures with you, but know that every person who invited us into their story this year was a success to us. We believe that confident actors are successful actors.

2022 TAS Showcase:

Showcase is always a highlight of our classes. It is when all of our students get to take the knowledge and skills they have been building through the year to perform in front of real Industry Professionals. While we do not guarantee results, our students commonly go on to sign with top agents and book work in TV, film, commercials, and more from this event.

This past year The Actor’s Scene featured a virtual showcase, and the results were fantastic!

The 2022 Showcase included:

-214 performers!

-A panel of the top Casting Professionals, Agents, Directors, Managers, and more from all over the country!

-A 98% callback rate!

Student Success 2022

This is just a small look at our overall student and alumni success stories. We are super proud of all of our student WINS throughout the year!

TAS Givesback: 2022 Charity:

We, at The Actor’s Scene, make giving our priority. We want to give back to the community who has given us so much. This year, we supported 3 charities, and we could not have done it without your generous contributions:

The Joy House: Supporting restoration for Georgia families and loving care to struggling teens.

Compassion International: This year we provided African families in need with the lifegiving gifts of a pig, a chicken and a fruit tree! 

The Salvation Army: Angel Tree. This year we sponsored 8 local children and 2 elderly with Christmas wishes. We were even able to provide additional items, thanks to your generous giving. Look at how our Christmas donation bin was overflowing!

Thank you for helping us make a difference throughout the year!

Social Media Success:

Did you know that The Actor’s Scene is on TikTok? You should check us out by clicking HERE and join our community of over 2000 followers. 

We are proud to have built up our following, and even created some viral videos with almost 50k likes and over 400k views this past year. Why so many? Because our media team work together to create content that is educational and relatable for today’s working actor! 

You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram.

New in 2022- TAS Blog!

This year The Actor’s Scene was proud to launch a new tool for actors, the TAS blog!

Each month we offer an article with relevant advice for working actors, highlights of student success, and an in-depth look at our acting coaches. 

Some examples of blogs you will find are:

  • Healthy mindsets for actors
  • The film studios of GA
  • Updates on GA’s film industry
  • How to become film-literate
  • And more! 

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for alerts on our latest blog articles and highlights!

These students celebrated the end of our classes with personalized awards highlighting their strength and growth through the 2021-2022 class year!

Here is what you can look forward to in 2023:

Guess what? In August of 2023, we will celebrate 20 YEARS of business! And we are the kind of people that like to celebrate all. year. long... Our staff has been busy at work planning special events, promotions, and industry opportunities of all kinds. Make sure that you follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with the latest news! 

We are taking our coaches on a cruise! That’s right! We couldn’t fully celebrate 20 years of success without rewarding our TAS family for their hard work!

The film industry is growing in 2023, and we want to help you be a part of it. But hurry! Deadline to register is January 27th.

Ready to jump into the action? Now is the perfect time. Zig Ziglar famously said, “Success occurs when opportunity meets preparation” So what are you doing to prepare?

Now is the time to sign up classes. Acting students spend their time:

  • Working on scripts, and tapings. Each student receives personalized feedback every month along with quarterly assessments.
  • Building audition proficiency. 
  • Learning about the latest news and expectations of the film industry.
  • Find out what casting looks for in an audition, and how to stand out from the crowd. 
  • How to get an agent and maintain good agent relations.
  • How to be proactive in your acting career to build your resume and skills.
  • On-set etiquette.

And much, much more! You do not have to go on this journey alone. Make sure that you partner with a team that will provide you with knowledge, training, and ongoing feedback to help you identify and achieve your dreams.

Face it, there has never been a better time to be an actor in GA. The whole world is coming to us to make the most talked-about productions. Don’t get left behind!

Ready to get started? Reach out today!

TASFRONTDESK@GMAIL.COM

678-313-7798

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR CLASSES
SIGN UP TO AUDIT A CLASS FOR FREE

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About The Author

Elizabeth Alcaraz

Elizabeth has been a member of the TAS family since 2004. She is honored to have served in many roles at TAS; including: Acting Coach, Marketing Director, Syllabus Coordinator, and now TAS Operations Director. She has a passion for building confidence and purpose through the arts, and is grateful to be a part of a team of Confidence Makers. Elizabeth finds her greatest joy in her faith, her husband, and her daughter (and to be honest- a bowl of creamy mac and cheese). She lives by a simple motto which has served her well over the years: Aim for Excellence, Work with Flexibility, Reflect with Grace. 

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Get to know TAS Coach: Joe Veale

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Get to know TAS Coach: Joe Veale

All of our acting coaches are highly qualified working actors who participate in the Film/TV industry in a variety of ways, in addition to coaching acting classes. But we want to give you a more in-depth look at who they are as people. 
 
This month we are sharing some insights that will help answer the question, 
“Who Is Joe Veale?” Read on to find out!

What Makes You Feel Confident?

I feel confident when I am doing the work. The slow agonizing daily work, the little invisible steps that add up on the journey to a dream. When you’re doing that work, nobody and nothing can take that away from you. Because you are doing something. You are an artist and you are on your way. 

How did you first get into acting?

When I was about 6 or 7, my siblings and I put on a production of Little Red Riding hood in our backyard. We used our garage door as a show curtain. Ever since then I’ve had an inseparable love for creating characters and art. When I was in 9th grade, while nervously completing a quick change during a highschool production of Beauty and the Beast, a backstage dresser told me ‘You’ll have to learn to calm down if you ever want to do this professionally!’ I never realized you could be a professional actor. From there on my path was set. I went to university, studied hard, and never gave up on my dream.

Tara with her daughters 

What has been your biggest struggle in the industry?

Laziness. This industry rewards the hard workers. One of the biggest lessons an artist has to learn is that after a certain point the responsibility for their continued artistic growth and development is in their own hands. As you get on in the industry, it’s easy to slip into complacency, and from complacency to laziness. It’s a constant battle to stay on top of your skills, and then to also make sure those skills are sharp. 

What is a tip that you use to stay motivated?

For personal use, I developed a Full Time Working Actor Worksheet to champion my artic growth and keep me actively working on practical steps to achieve my goals 356 Days a year. It’s my own system to keep me a working actor so that no matter what I have going on in my life, I am always on my way to something. If you want to check it out, let me know! 

Good art is built on a house of risk. The best artists know this, and they are unflinchingly brave. Be brave, today. Right now. In this moment, dare to risk more and see what you are really capable of when you let go of control and jump bravely into the unknown.

-Coach Joe Veale

Besides acting, do you pursue any other interests in the entertainment industry?

 I am a director, a writer, and a choreographer. Collaboration is one of my favorite aspects of being an artist. I am always hungry for creation, and any way I can champion that in myself and others I will actively explore. I have recently taken an interest in producing, and went so far as to become a fundraising and development coordinator to learn how to generate money for projects. To that end,  I am interested in starting a Production Company to change the world with art. 

Why did you get into coaching?

Being able to champion and enable other artists to not only pursue their dreams, but become more wholesome artists is immensely rewarding because every time you do so, the world becomes a better place. The drive to populate the world with brave artists called to me, and I followed it. It’s a beautiful thing. I enjoy seeing someone realize in the flash of a moment that they are capable of life changing acting, that the life they always dreamed is not impossible, but in fact plausible.

What is one important bit of advice you always give the students in your class?

Good art is built on a house of risk. The best artists know this, and they are unflinchingly brave. Be brave, today. Right now. In this moment, dare to risk more and see what you are really capable of when you let go of control and jump bravely into the unknown. 

What is your proudest coaching moment?

I recently had a student tell me they never knew how to show up fully, that they didn’t know they had permission in their life to do so. They told me that they are typically reserved, quiet, and not the type of person to even speak loudly when spoken to, but that in my acting class they found the courage to fully be themself in the world. That was very meaningful, and something I won’t forget.

What do you hope that your artistic legacy will be?

I hope my acting career as well as my coaching career will leave a legacy of brave artists ready to change the world with their art.  I hope the artists I work with and impact will feel empowered to charge into unknown circumstances and find that they can thrive there.

Joe Veale Bio:

Joe Veale (@therealjoeveale) is an Atlanta and NYC based actor with a fondness for dogs, and 4 Leaf clovers. He is Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Nerve Project Theatre Co (@nerveprojecttheatrecompany), a performance company dedicated to awakening bravery through evocative theatrical experiences. He has worked extensively regionally as a member of the Resident Acting Company at the Historic Barter Theatre. Recent Off-BroadwayCredits include; Enter Laughing (Marvin, U.S David, and Dance Captain-York Theatre), Great Expectations (Pip-Hudson Guild Theatre), and The Wrong Box (Wickham-Theatre for a New City). He was also in the Pre Broadway Production of The Rivals, starring Tony Winner Harriet Harris. Fav regional credits include: Peter and The Starcatcher, Altar Boys, 42nd Street, Mamma Mia, Footloose, and The Three Musketeers. You can find Joe on Season 3 of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, as well as on Amazon Prime in the films Nocturne, and Turn Back Night. Joe received a B.F.A. in Theatre Arts with concentrations in Musical Theatre and Professional Acting from East Carolina University, and received his Meisner Training and certification from Greg Funaro. He is currently represented by Bret Adams Ltd Artists Agency. Joe is an endurance athlete and finished his first Ironman 70.3 Triathlon in June of 2022. www.joeveale.com www.nerveproject.org

Would you like to take classes or private lessons with Coach Joe?

Coach Joe teaches classes in: Foundations, Working Year 1, and Improv. To sign up for classes, click HERE. You can also call our Front Desk and request Joe’s current roster at 770-904-6646.

Coach Joe also offers private lessons, such as the following: Business of Show, Advanced Acting Techniques, Advanced Audition Techniques, Professional Prep, Musical Theatre Book Building, Creative Alignment for Project Incubation.

To sign up for a private lesson with Coach Joe, click HERE. 

Want to keep up with Coach Joe? You can follow him on Instagram, check out his personal Website, or look into his theatre company, nerveproject.org

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The Film Studios of Georgia

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The Film Studios of Georgia

December 2022

Have you heard the news?

Georgia is getting a new film studio in 2023! Blue Star Studios, located in Forest Park (just 10 minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport) is the former location of Fort Gillem Military Base. According to Variety.com, the 53 acre site will offer 18 purpose-built stages and a collective of more than 600,000 square feet. While development is set to complete in stages through 2024, we do know that the location will feature many added benefits for production teams; such as: original 1940’s architecture, offices for production home base, top of the line technology, as well as amenities like nature trails, an on-site café, and a dog run.

Developers are currently working with the Historic Preservation Division of Georgia’s Department of Community Affairs to uphold the integrity of its six historic buildings that are being repurposed, ensuring the preservation of the former Army base’s architectural legacy. And the company is currently scouting GA schools and institutions to offer in-depth training in the cinematic arts.

How does this benefit GA actors?

Since the initial Georgia film industry boom, back in 2009, we have seen a steady increase of GA film activity…leading to our beautiful state being dubbed the “Hollywood of the South”. And there is no slowing down in sight. Back in August, GA Governor, Brian Kemp, announced that the state had broken yet another record by topping $4.4 billion (yes, with a B) revenue during the 2022 fiscal year. In that time, Georgia hosted 412 productions; represented by 32 feature films, 36 independent films, 269 episodic productions, 42 commercials, and 33 music videos.

Governor Kemp had this to say, “When the pandemic struck, we worked hard in Georgia to communicate with our partners in the Georgia film, TV, and streaming industries. Together, we forged a safe and appropriate path to allow the film industry to return to operations and deliver Georgia Made productions to eager consumers all around the world – even when some states continued to stay shut down and stifle the industry’s return to normalcy.”

The article, from GPB News, goes on to state: Movies filmed in Georgia claimed four of the top six spots for highest domestic-grossing movies: Avengers: Endgame (No. 2), Spider-Man: No Way Home (3), Black Panther (5), and Avengers: Infinity War (6). Streaming episodic and limited-series programming continued to choose Georgia for hit programming, including Season Four of Netflix’s Stranger Things, Netflix hit Ozark, HBO Max’s The Staircase, Disney+’s “Loki” and FX’s “Atlanta.”

But that is not all. Just this year, Georgia made waves when the nation’s first Latino-owned studio was opened in southwest Atlanta. Ozzie Areu, a Burbank native and the son of Cuban immigrants, chose Georgia to launch this groundbreaking project, Areu Bros Studios. The 150,000 square foot lot is attached to the well known Tyler Perry Studios. That is because Ozzie used to work for Perry and considers him a mentor in the industry. Areu, as well as Perry, continues to create opportunities for minorities in the film industry to tell their stories; providing top of the line locations and technology to do so with excellence. 

And if that is not exciting enough, we are excited to share that major names (such as Ron Howard and Brian Grazer) are collaborating to launch a groundbreaking social app that will change the face of production hiring, and they started it right here in Atlanta.

According to GPB.com, “Impact has launched their service in Atlanta, which has made waves in the past decade as a popular city for filming television series and movies — including popular Marvel Studios titles and shows like Netflix’s Stranger Things. Mitchell said the team behind Impact saw technology and modern social networking as an important tool for the future of jobs in film — and possibly a disruptor for the current status quo.

“We started, in fact, because we wanted to create technology that could help solve challenges in the entertainment industry and empower the people who bring stories to life,” he said. “And while there’s been tremendous innovations in filmmaking and television with things like digital effects and streaming, the actual mounting and producing of a show hasn’t changed much in the 20 years that I’ve been in the in the business.”

The change that Impact hopes to bring to film is a better medium for workers — set builders, production assistants, camera operators — to connect with productions looking to hire them. Mitchell said Impact seeks to be the one to bridge the gap. Mitchell said the network currently has 21,000 users, with roughly 4,000 in Atlanta. He said Impact’s hope is to use technology to unite the film industry.”

In a recent interview with the AJC, Blue Star Studios CEO, Rich Goldberg, talks about why another studio is needed: 

“Currently, the state has more than 60 purpose-built soundstages available for use and dozens of repurposed ones. The planned new studios could more than double stage capacity in Georgia over the next 24 months.

Goldberg said he isn’t fazed by the influx of new soundstages.

“I think there’s tremendous demand,” Goldberg said, noting that it’s still cheaper for film and TV shows to work in Atlanta than Vancouver, New York or Los Angeles. And even though New Mexico is vying for business as well, he believes the crew base here is far deeper.

On top of that, he promises that his soundstages will be “state of the art with an emphasis on technology,” especially virtual reality.”

Content Credit: The Atlanta Journal Constitution

““The film and TV industry is providing opportunities that I’m sure people in Georgia were originally skeptical about, but the proof is in the pudding. The most important thing is that people take advantage of the opportunity that has presented itself. It’s the perfect time to learn a new skill if you’re not happy with what you’re doing and to develop other passions. As there is so much room to grow with high amounts of inward state investment.”,”

Angie Callen, Career Benders Inc

The TAS crew had fun touring famous Atlanta film locations, such as the Marriott Marquis!

Here are a list of the GA Film Studios:

This is the most current list of major motion production studios, according to studiobinder.com

 

Tyler Perry Studios

Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia

Founded: 2006

Tyler Perry’s 300-acre movie studio has everything. A military compound? Check. A replica White House? Check. Restaurants, bars, hotels? Check. There’s no doubt about it: Tyler Perry is a titan of the film industry – and he should be credited as a pioneer behind the Atlanta renaissance.

Productions shot at Tyler Perry Studios include Madea’s Family Reunion, Good Deeds, and House of Payne.

 

Turner Studios

Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia

Founded: 1986

Sports fans surely know Turner Studios as the home of Inside the NBA, featuring Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley – but did you know the Studio also hosts productions for Major League Baseball, NBA TV, eSports Leagues, and Turner Animation?

Turner Studios is one of the most important sports studios in the world – and its lasting legacy is a testament to the Atlanta film industry.

 

Trillith Studios

Headquarters: Fayette County, Georgia

Founded: 2013

Trillith Studios – formerly known as Pinewood Studios Atlanta – has become one of the most star-studded studio lots in the world over the past few years. That simple fact can be attributed to one thing: Marvel. Here are just a few Marvel productions that have shot at Trilith since 2015: Ant-Man, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, and Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Crazy enough, there’s an entire town across the street from the studio lot! Houses aren’t cheap – but I suppose that’s a price to pay to live a hop, skip, and jump away from the stars.

 

Blackhall Studios

Headquarters: DeKalb County, Georgia

Founded: 2017

Blackhall Studios has only been around for a few years – but it’s already making big waves in the Atlanta film industry. In 2021, Blackhall Studios’ Founder and CEO Ryan Millsap announced plans to expand the complex with 18 new soundstages; which would potentially make it the biggest film studio in Atlanta’s greater area.

Films shot at Blackhall Studios include Godzilla: King of Monsters, Jumanji: The Next Level, and Jungle Cruise.

***Content Credit: studiobinder.com

Some of your favorite movie moments have been captured on an Atlanta film set.

The film industry is growing in 2023, read on if you want to be a part of it...

Ready to jump into the action? Now is the perfect time. Zig Ziglar famously said, “Success occurs when opportunity meets preparation” So what are you doing to prepare?

Now is the time to jump into classes. Acting students spend their time:

  • Learning about the latest news and expectations of the film industry.
  • Find out what casting looks for in an audition, and how to stand out from the crowd. 
  • How to get an agent and maintain good agent relations.
  • How to be proactive in your acting career to build your resume and skills.
  • On-set etiquette.

And much, much more! You do not have to go on this journey alone. Make sure that you partner with a team that will provide you with knowledge, training, and ongoing feedback to help you identify and achieve your dreams.

Face it, there has never been a better time to be an actor in GA. The whole world is coming to us to make the most talked-about productions. Don’t get left behind!

Ready to get started? Reach out today!

TASFRONTDESK@GMAIL.COM

678-313-7798

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR CLASSES
SIGN UP TO AUDIT A CLASS FOR FREE

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About The Author

Elizabeth Alcaraz

Elizabeth has been a member of the TAS family since 2004. She is honored to have served in many roles at TAS; including: Acting Coach, Marketing Director, Syllabus Coordinator, and now TAS Operations Director. She has a passion for building confidence and purpose through the arts, and is grateful to be a part of a team of Confidence Makers. Elizabeth finds her greatest joy in her faith, her husband, and her daughter (and to be honest- a bowl of creamy mac and cheese). She lives by a simple motto which has served her well over the years: Aim for Excellence, Work with Flexibility, Reflect with Grace. 

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Are you ‘Film-Literate’?

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Are you ‘Film-Literate’?

It’s worth putting the work in.

Hot Take: More actors need to be film-literate. But what does that practically mean?

Smith College said it best- “the aim of Film Studies is to understand the moving image — something that, in its totality, we are very familiar with, and engage with, use to communicate, and are entertained by almost every day. Knowing how to use film is not the same as knowing how it works, and how it works on us — as individuals and as a culture”

Credit: Smith College

So how do we go about “knowing how it works”? This is 3-fold. We need to be:

consuming media, discussing media, and creating media.  

What does it mean to “consume media”? Consumption is simply taking something in, which in this case refers to literally watching TV shows and movies. If you’ve never given much thought to the history of American cinema, it might be a good idea to start with the American Film Institute’s “100 Greatest American Movies of All Time” list. This might give you a better understanding of American Film History and how cinema has evolved throughout the years into what it is today!

Coach Sanna at The Actor’s Scene is super big on actors learning from films that have come before them. Check out this awesome quote from her regarding the importance of film literacy for actors!

"Becoming educated in film and film history is quite important for actors. Knowing which films shaped our industry can be a great tool in your artistic tool belt, as inspiration from prior works influences tone, style, and inevitably, performance in contemporary work. If you have an opportunity to take a film theory class, do it. If not, start with the AFI (American Film Institute) 100 - you can begin your education by watching the greats right in your living room." — Sanna Erica

-Coach Sanna Erica

In addition to being educated on film history and how movies and TV have evolved into what we see today, it is especially important for actors to be aware of what is filming in their market. In the United States, the three main filming markets are New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. For Atlanta actors, this means knowing (and watching!) what is filming in the Southeast! From Tyler Perry Studios to Marvel, there are a LOT of projects going on right now. Georgia.org has an ongoing resource you can check out to always know what’s filming in the peach state:

Now Filming in Georgia by Georgia.org

In addition to watching TV and movies, we need to discuss them! That’s why we sat down with TAS student extraordinaire Ashely Baker to discuss her ongoing quest for film knowledge to help her in her acting. To preface this chat, Ashely has taken Coach Sanna’s words to heart, and is working her way through the AFI Top 100 Movies List!

Hey Ashely! We are SO EXCITED that you are taking your acting journey one step further by trying to learn more about film history! What made you decide to take on the challenge of finding and watching these older movies? Why is it important to you?

A. Being an actor I feel like having knowledge about film is important. It adds more to your creative palate and you are able to pull aspects from different characters whether it’s from tv or film. You also can interpret a script better because a lot of movies and shows still incorporate scenes and dialogue from classics.

We totally agree! So what have you learned so far from the movies you’ve watched recently?

A. So far I have learned that a lot of films today are influenced by classic films. You can also see similarities between storylines from movies now and the classics. It’s quite intriguing and it made me dive deep and start comparing movies I’ve watched recently to the classics and it’s so cool being able to pinpoint the similarities.

You’re a rockstar, Ashely! Thank you for your time.

Thank you for allowing me to shed light on this topic and give my insight. I really am finding that I enjoy analyzing film.

My advice for actors seeking to learn more about film history is to do the same thing I did. Go through those movies on the American Film Institute's list and check them off as you watch them. You will learn so much and you might see something that you can add to your creative toolbox. Also being knowledgeable about film history can make you more confident as an actor.

-Ashely Baker

We are so excited for Ashely as she continues her journey into film literacy! It is very helpful to have a place to put your thoughts about what you’ve been loving on film and in TV lately, whether you’re watching the greatest films of all time or catching up with what’s currently filming in Georgia! Letterboxd is a great platform to publish your thoughts, and share with other film enthusiasts! It is “the social network for film lovers”

Check out Letterboxd.com

In addition to letterboxd, it’s helpful to use all of the resources you’re already using for online community (in addition to chatting with real-life friends and family, of course)! Here are some social media communities we think might help you out on your quest for learning more about film and what’s current in Georgia:

Atlanta Actors Collective

Actors Helping Actors

Acting in Atlanta

(Disclaimer: Social media websites like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Letterboxd might have inappropriate content for those under the age of 18. Please proceed with parental guidance if you’re a minor, and general caution if you’re an adult!)

Once you’re discussing and consuming media, you might as well start creating it too! YouTube and TikTok are wonderful platforms (with parental guidance, of course) to start playing around with making skits and films of your own! As actors, we can’t control how much we’ll be on-set, so creating our own content is a fun way to stay acting outside of class in-between bookings! If content creation is something you want to work towards, see about scheduling private and/or career coaching with a TAS Coach to talk about how to get started!

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT PRIVATE COACHING

Ready to get started? Reach out today!

TASFRONTDESK@GMAIL.COM

678-313-7798

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR CLASSES
SIGN UP TO AUDIT A CLASS FOR FREE

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About The Author

Molly Pass

Molly Pass is an Atlanta-local actress, acting coach, and wedding videographer who loves to help new and seasoned actors alike find their purpose and passion through performance. She holds her bachelor’s degree in Film and Media Studies from Georgia State University and enjoys discussing movies, shows, and all things new media. Her favorite part of working at The Actor’s Scene is being able to inspire folks to pursue their dreams and helping them to gain confidence in themselves along the way. When she is not acting or working in the digital media realm, she enjoys reading murder mysteries and desperately trying to keep a garden alive. 

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Halloween: The Actor’s Ultimate Holiday!

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Halloween: The Actor’s Ultimate Holiday!

Finding Purpose in the Fun.

Double, double, toil and trouble… It’s that time of year once again! Now that we’re in October, it’s easy to find ourselves planning ahead for Halloween.

It’s the one night of the year where you get to pretend to be anyone in the world, and nobody bats an eye! Whether you choose to be a real person, a celebrity that you admire, or a fictional character that you’ve always wanted to be, Halloween is the perfect time to go all out and make some fun memories! The holiday can be an adventure for anybody- but it’s especially great for actors and artists.

There are plenty of reasons that Halloween is an actor’s dream holiday, but in this blog we’ll be focusing on the 3 Cs:

Creativity, Characterization, and Costumes. 

First and foremost, Halloween is a time where we get to use our creativity and talent to put together an idea for what we should dress up as; whether our plans include a Halloween party, trick-or-treating, or just doing the Monster Mash at home by ourselves! On a day where you can be ANYTHING, there’s sometimes a pressure to try and create the best, most impressive costume ever. Rather than focusing on winning the costume contest, we encourage you to find a character or figure that would be super fun to pretend to be for the day. Maybe think about your very favorite character from media and pop culture, or create your very own! Here’s a photo of TAS Coach Rick Goins and his family as the Belcher family from Bob’s Burgers, along with a quote on why he loves Halloween:

“Halloween was always a great holiday for me because of the creativity. Movie magic is ultimately what got me into acting. I love special effects and playing make believe. I was always big into making my own costumes, I don't think I have ever bought a costume, and that was always the fun part. “

-Coach Rick Goins

There is this idea that people can be “too old” for Halloween once you reach a certain point, but we think that creativity and fun costumes are for everybody! It isn’t often that adults feel free to engage their creative side, between work and life responsibilities, so why not take this opportunity to feel like a kid again, even just for one night a year! Believe it or not, Forbes.com says that “engaging in creative behaviors (even just coloring in those trendy adult coloring books) improves brain function, mental health, and physical health”* It’s amazing how letting yourself be creative can benefit your overall health and quality of life! Even if you’re regularly acting or in an acting class (which, if you’re not, check out our class info HERE), having hobbies or preparing for fun creative outlets, such as dressing up for Halloween, can help you level up your craft even more by providing another avenue for your creativity to shine! 

*Here’s How Creativity Actually Improves Your Health (forbes.com)

“How fun is Halloween for us actors? We get to use all our creativity to create a character from the ground up.”

-Coach Kristi Taylor

Characterization is one of the most fun parts of script analysis for many actors, whether it be building original characters or expanding on existing characters to make them more your own or adding a fun twist! When attempting to create a character, we can start by asking ourselves some questions:

  • Is my character an introvert or an extrovert? Meaning, do they prefer to keep to themselves until you get to know them better or do they love being the life of the party?
  • How expressive are they with their emotions? People are dynamic beings who process and show emotions differently. A shy person might hold their emotions more internally, while someone who is super outgoing might let their feelings show for everyone to see!
  • How does this character move their body? Is it similar to the way you move, or is it different? Faster? Slower? More graceful? More clumsy?
  • Do they sound different than you? It may feel a bit silly to walk around trying out different accents on a normal weekday, but Halloween is the perfect time to give that daring dialect a test run. At the end of the night, ask your friends for their feedback! 

Play around with these questions and see if you can come up with a new character for this year’s Halloween!

If you’d like some personalized help creating or adapting characters for a project or audition you’re working on, you can always schedule a Private Lesson or Audition Taping service with one of our awesome industry-professional coaches HERE.

Halloween allows us to play around with characters and costumes vastly different from us. I love not only dressing up, but trying to match my mannerisms, my walk, and my speech to the character as well. This is a huge reason why I've begun the tradition of a "Halloween Class" the past 2 years I've coached at TAS. I encourage my students to come in costume and we play around with improvising as our characters. It's an awesome day to let your imagination run wild!”

-Coach Leah Merritt

If you’re looking for some ideas of characters that you can make your own, we have a few suggestions!

  1. Superhero. With how many awesome Marvel and DC projects filming in the Atlanta area, it’s easy to be a superhero fan! You can channel one of the awesome existing characters like Black Panther, The Flash, Wonder Woman, or Wanda, but wouldn’t it be cool to create a superhero of your own? Think about what super power you would like to have if you could choose, and then come up with a cool name for yourself based on those powers! All you need next is a mask and a cape, which you can totally make at home!
  2. Witch/Wizard. If you’re a Hocus Pocus fan, you may have seen TAS Alum Nina Kitchen in Hocus Pocus 2 as Young Mary Sanderson! A witch or wizard is a CLASSIC Halloween choice, and what better witch inspiration than the Sanderson Sisters themselves! All you need is a witch or wizard hat, cloak, and broom (although Roombas and Swiffers might also do the trick). Bonus points if you have a black cat!
  3. Zombie. With The Walking Dead ending its 12-year run this November, what better way to pay tribute to an iconic piece of Atlanta film history? You can totally DIY your zombie getup by cutting and dirtying up some old clothes and getting creative with makeup! Fun fact, the first episode of The Walking Dead aired on October 31st, 2010!

 

Whatever you decide to do to celebrate the last day of October this year, we hope that you have a safe, fun holiday! Remember, if you’d like to work on fun characters year-round, we offer classes in-person, virtually, and even one-on-one with our personalized private lessons! For more info on classes, click HERE. For more info on private lessons, click HERE. Stay spooky, ATL!



Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Tik Tok for more Halloween content, 

contests with PRIZES, and MORE! 

Ready to get started? Reach out today!

TASFRONTDESK@GMAIL.COM

678-313-7798

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR CLASSES
SIGN UP TO AUDIT A CLASS FOR FREE

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About The Author

Molly Pass

Molly Pass is an Atlanta-local actress, acting coach, and wedding videographer who loves to help new and seasoned actors alike find their purpose and passion through performance. She holds her bachelor’s degree in Film and Media Studies from Georgia State University and enjoys discussing movies, shows, and all things new media. Her favorite part of working at The Actor’s Scene is being able to inspire folks to pursue their dreams and helping them to gain confidence in themselves along the way. When she is not acting or working in the digital media realm, she enjoys reading murder mysteries and desperately trying to keep a garden alive. 

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Get to know TAS Coach: Tara Jones

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Get to know TAS Coach: Tara Jones

All of our acting coaches are highly qualified working actors who participate in the Film/TV industry in a variety of ways, in addition to coaching acting classes. But we want to give you a more in-depth look at who they are as people. 
 
This month we are sharing some insights that will help answer the question, 
“Who Is Tara Jones?” Read on to find out!

What Makes You Feel Confident?

AUTHENTICITY makes me confident! Being the best version of who I can be puts me in a space of certainty which creates confidence. And if I’m authentically myself, I know that I will mess up! So I give myself grace and patience through the acting process when I don’t get something “right,” or am having difficulty with a script. 

Knowing that I am actively working on my craft every chance I get, also evokes confidence in that I feel free to experiment and take chances with my auditions. Always remembering the love and passion for the art brings me back to why I do this crazy industry, and that is empowering. 

How did you first get into acting?

I was a former broadcast journalist, working all over the country as a reporter and anchor. Once I had my first daughter, I decided to retire from the news world, as it was not very conducive to raising a family. My colleague from WSB-TV told me to go to a local talent agency because I knew how to read a teleprompter, and I could likely get some hosting gigs. I knocked on People Store’s door, and thankfully, they signed me!

I slowly started training as an actor, and moving from hosting, to commercials, to TV/film. I am a story teller at heart, so I fell in love with this new format to tell stories that mattered and could potentially make a difference in our world.

Tara with her daughters 

What has been your biggest struggle in the industry?

Keeping the right mind set! For years I struggled with my self worth being tied to my bookings. It took a lot of mental work to know that I am enough just as I am, and I do not need the industry to validate me for any reason. Once I figured out the formula for that, I was inspired to share it with others, especially acting children and their parents, which is why I started United Child Actors Network. 

How did you tackle it?

Through consistent mind work. Waking up every day and being TRULY grateful for what I have, and not focusing on what I want or don’t have. Creating a world of gratitude transforms your reality, and shifts your thinking from, “I hope I book it!!!”…to “I am so thankful I had the opportunity to show that casting director my talent.” 

I teach and preach authenticity. The more authentic you are, the happier you’ll be, and the bonus is, you’ll likely book more because your auditions become real and grounded…which is exactly what the casting director is looking for! 

You have no control over your audition; all you have is control over is how you prepare and perform. So why would you ever stress over a result you can’t control? 

This industry is a journey. You can act until the day you die. There’s no race to the finish line because there is no finish line. Once you learn to love the craft, and take the stress away from the auditions, and potential outcome of those auditions, is the moment you build a FULFILLED life-long actor. 

I ADORE being able to use my talent to help tell stories, and ultimately make a difference. The world of acting and storytelling is beyond powerful. As I continue my journey through the industry, I hope my passion is felt by each and every person I come in contact with. Because without the passion, what’s the point? If you don’t LOVE acting, you should do something else…anything else, because it will just feel like a lot of work, sacrifice and heartache. But if you LOVE acting, arm yourself with the right mindset and training, then buckle up and enjoy the ride!

-Tara Jones

Besides acting, do you pursue any other interests in the entertainment industry?

I created United Child Actors Network because I felt a passion to help other parents and children after my own two girls got involved in the industry. I was shocked at the amount of animosity between parents, the jealousy, comparison and competition. I truly believed that these other children were not “competition” for my kids because we’re all different human beings, who bring something unique to the table. 

My girls often got auditions for the same roles, and I used to tell them, “If one of you books over the other, that means the other person didn’t even have a chance because you’re different humans with different essences. Whichever person exemplifies the character more NATURALLY, is the one that will likely book.” That resonated with them and created zero jealousy in our household, even when one sister booked over the other. It also allowed my children to understand authenticity in who they were, and how to see it in other people. This is what I teach to kids and parents through UCAN (United Child Actors Network.) 

Why did you get into coaching?

I started coaching my own children, and they did really well from the on-set, mainly because I was teaching them to be authentic actors. Friends with children in the industry then started asking me to teach and self-tape their kids, too. Once they started booking as well, I realized there must be validity in what I’m teaching.

Moreover, I LOVE instilling confidence in my students. There is nothing better than showing a child that they are enough…and what God/the universe gave them is so uniquely special and needed in this world.

Creatives can be very sensitive and sometimes don’t fit into society’s box. I hope that my teachings can help give young creatives the strength and confidence they need to stand up to anyone that may try to push their uniqueness and talent away.

What is one important bit of advice you always give the students in your class?

Be authentic! There is no one in this world who can play ‘you’ better than ‘you!’ 

You will hear casting directors say over and over again that they are looking for “real and grounded” performances. The more a student can understand who they are and how to lean in to their own natural essences, the more they will book. 

I love giving students an adjective unique to them (like “intellectual”) and then tell them to prepare a script leaning into that adjective/essence. After assigning a different adjective to each student in class, I then have them read the same script to demonstrate the different deliveries from each person. It allows the students to see how unique each audition can be, and how the script can take on a whole new meaning just based on who is reading it. It also provides them insight into what casting director’s see through auditions, and it solidifies that the BEST actor doesn’t always get the job, the most APPROPRIATE actor gets the job. 

What is your proudest coaching moment?

My proudest moments come when one of my students has a breakthrough. I love watching hard work turn into growth. And then watching that growth turn into signings with major agencies, bookings in the form of Marvel movies, series regulars on network TV shows, and leads in movies! It makes me tremendously proud and fulfilled knowing that I had a small part in making that success happen, and their dreams come true. 

Tara teaching classes at TAS!

What do you hope that your coaching legacy will be?

That people use what God/the universe gave them in this world to make it a better place. I consistently tell my students that the world needs what they have been given, so don’t hide it, embrace it and use it for good…especially in the world of acting. If anyone has taken my class, they know I say all the time, “The better the human, the better the actor can be.” 

Tara Jones Bio:

Tara Jones is an Emmy Award winning journalist turned actor. Her deep appreciation and knowledge for the art of television production led her to be a part of countless commercial productions, industrials, network TV shows, and blockbuster films. She has also served as a spokesperson for several Fortune 500 companies and participated in their brand management as a company. 

Tara’s knowledge of both being in front of the camera and behind the scenes has benefited her deep understanding of the “big picture” when it comes to the industry as a whole. Her company, Green Sky Productions, produced numerous commercials and marketing videos, as well as the award winning independent film, “iGirl,” in which Tara was awarded ‘Best Female Filmmaker’ and her daughter, Skylar, was awarded the “Rising Star” award from the New York Independent Film Festival. You can see Tara’s work as an actor on shows such as “MacGyver,” “The Resident,” and movies such as “Need for Speed,” “My Dad’s A Soccer Mom,” “Almost Christmas,” and a new DC Comics movie coming out in 2023!  

Tara has two daughters, both of which are actors. Skylar Morgan Jones has appeared in “Dynasty,” “The Vampire Diaries,” Lifetime’s “Terror in the Woods,” and as the lead in the upcoming movie, “Blood” (Release fall of 2022.) Ariel Jones starred alongside her mother in “The Resident,” and can also be seen in “Your Worst Nightmare,” as well as numerous national commercials, national voiceovers, and a prior YouTube series called “Smooshie Mushies,” with her sister.

Tara loves sharing her knowledge of the industry with those who are just starting out, or simply looking to get ahead. She believes in the power of positivity and preaches that other actors are not competition…the only competition lies within the artist to be the best version of themselves, as a human, and as an actor.  

Would you like to take private lessons with Coach Tara?

Coach Tara teaches private lessons for beginning actors through advanced.

To sign up for a private lesson with Coach Tara, click HERE. 

Want to keep up with Coach Tara’s latest bookings? Check out her IMDb HERE.

If you would like more information on her organizations: United Child Actor’s Network (UCAN), click HERE.

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Healthy Mindsets for Actors

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Healthy Mindsets for Actors

The Power of Positive Thinking.

The film industry is not for the faint of heart, especially when it comes to being an actor.

Taking care of one’s physical, mental, and spiritual health is of the utmost importance in a field like acting that requires so much of each individual. But how can we, practically, take care of ourselves?

A big struggle for many actors is self-doubt.

In this industry, it’s really easy to fall into the comparison game and feel like every other actor around you is doing better than you are at “making it”, so to speak. Social media is a tool to help us promote ourselves, and because of that we are only seeing other people’s highlight reels. It’s easy to look at someone’s page and say “wow, they seem to be working a lot more than I am” without seeing all the hard work they’re doing behind the scenes. We don’t see the bad days that other people have, or the countless times that they auditioned and didn’t book, or even self-submitted never to get the opportunity to audition in the first place. One of the first steps to developing a healthy mindset is removing any obstacles that are preventing you from believing in yourself. Watching how much time you spend online and who you follow is an amazing place to start. When it comes to other actors and online communities, make sure that you’re following only people who encourage you, help you better yourself and your craft, and make you smile with what they’re posting. And remember, if you don’t want to fully unfollow someone to make sure there’s no hard feelings, there is always the “mute” button.

One of our coaches at The Actor’s Scene has opened up about struggling with negative mindsets and comparison in her own practice. Let’s see what Coach Leah Merritt had to say about overcoming those obstacles in her acting career:

“It’s no secret that the acting industry alone can breed some pretty unhealthy mindsets- if left unchecked. There’s a lot of rejection, comparison, and pressure to look/be a certain way that can be really hard to manage for adults, let alone young actors. But at the same time, I’m thankful that I dealt with these challenges early in my life, because it forced me to find my worth and happiness outside of achievements. I learned to talk kindly to myself and have a perspective of joy and gratitude, rather than stress and dejection. Once those unhealthy mindsets faded away, I started having a lot more fun! Not only in acting, but in life. It’s a whole new world when you realize that no one is your competition. We can all be uniquely talented and beautiful and accomplished in whatever way makes US happy!

Also, there can be a lot of comparison and competitive natures in this industry. I think the biggest thing that helped me through those mindsets was actually becoming friends with the actors I thought I was competing with. I realized instead of judgment, I found a welcoming community of artists that just want to be able to share our common struggles and accomplishments.”

Do you have people to encourage you on the hard days and celebrate with you on the good days?

Community is a MUST for actors. Find your tribe and love them hard! 

Each actor is a completely unique and distinctive person, so what works for other people might not work for you. Try out these methods and see if any of them help you find a more healthy mindset and positive outlook!

Dr. Caroline Leaf is a communication pathologist and cognitive neuroscientist, as well as an author and podcaster, and in a September 2021 podcast titled “The One Mindset That Can Help You Through Any Problem” (LINK), she shares some tips for creating a more powerful mindset.

These are just a few of her awesome ideas from the episode, so be sure to check out her podcast for more tips!

  1. A Sense of Community. As Dr. Leaf says in the episode, “A sense of community helps build hope into the brain and body!”. In a recent TAS TikTok (which you can follow HERE), Coach Kirsten Krehbiel said that her best piece of advice for new actors is to find community. She said “One of the best things that I did and that I think everyone should do is to find an acting family, or an acting community. That way you’re with likeminded people, people who are going to inspire you, help you, support you, and understand. Because even if your family supports you, it’s a very bizarre industry and the more people that can help you, the better it’s going to be.” Here’s a link to that video: TIKTOK 
  2. Living Outside of Social Labels. As actors, it’s easy to feel stuck in your typecast, or the way that casting typically sees you. Don’t feel restricted by your type, just be aware of it. Dr. Leaf says that “People who do not get stuck in labels or the way society tries to define them often have more hope”. In addition to comparison with the types or frequency of roles that we get, there is also a lot of comparison between actors about the amount of training they have had, how their headshots look, how many followers they have, the list goes on. Let’s be clear: there is no “right way” to start or maintain your acting career. As long as you are continuing training, updating your materials to reflect your current career credits and physical appearance, and working to improve your craft individually, you are in the right place.
  3. Knowing What Can Be Controlled. The film industry is unpredictable. Actors have no direct hand in the casting process, which means that there are a lot of factors about auditioning and booking that we cannot control. Instead of fretting over your ratio of auditions to bookings, or comparing your success to other people with similar experience, focus on what you can control. We had a section on our blog, “How Do I Get My Child On Nickelodeon/Disney?” where we talked about goal-setting for actors, and how to focus on goals within an actor’s control. If you’d like to check out that article, you can click HERE. We also had a helpful TikTok on this subject, which you can find HERE. Basically, make your goals tangible. Instead of having goals centered on auditions or booking, which is out of your control, focus on the aspects that you can control! Maybe a goal can be self-submitting for a certain number of projects, trying to hone a new skill like singing (which you can start with the lovely Coach Kate Leek, whose information to book is HERE), or even scheduling a career coaching to evaluate and elevate your submission materials like your headshot, resume, reel, etc! To find a private career coach and schedule a session like that, click HERE. In addition to tangible goals, we also want to focus on our wins along the way! Taking a new class is a win. Getting those headshots or materials updated is a win. Getting the audition is a win. Take the pressure off of yourself to achieve grand career steps that are out of your hands, and focus instead on what you’re actively doing to improve your craft and your skillset. 

You have power over your mind-not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.

-Marcus Aurelius

We begin the mental health process early; teaching young actors the beauty of their unique quality and appreciation for each other! 

“Here's what I've learned: first, you have to identify the things you can control- keep taking classes and workshops, network at industry events, audition for as many roles as you can. Give 110% to those things. Then, let go of the parts that are out of your control. Once a taping is submitted it's out of your hands- so let go of the anxiety, too!”

-Coach Dina Karl

Overall, mindset is everything when it comes to acting. Focus on taking care of yourself as a whole person (mind, body, spirit), and your acting will improve with that self care. Make sure you are actively training, whether that be in an in-person class, a virtual class, or a one-on-one private coaching rhythm. To find a place to get plugged in, check out our class offerings HERE, and our private coaching offerings HERE. 

 

We’ll leave you with this awesome quote from Dale Carnegie: “Find yourself and be yourself: remember there is no one else on Earth like you.” Take care of yourselves, actors!

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Ready to get started? Reach out today!

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About The Author

Molly Pass

Molly Pass is an Atlanta-local actress, acting coach, and wedding videographer who loves to help new and seasoned actors alike find their purpose and passion through performance. She holds her bachelor’s degree in Film and Media Studies from Georgia State University and enjoys discussing movies, shows, and all things new media. Her favorite part of working at The Actor’s Scene is being able to inspire folks to pursue their dreams and helping them to gain confidence in themselves along the way. When she is not acting or working in the digital media realm, she enjoys reading murder mysteries and desperately trying to keep a garden alive. 

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