We almost didn’t have a dream…
On this day where we celebrate one of the most influential humans in our history, I want to highlight an interesting story about Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech, and how it relates to the artistry of acting. A few years ago I was talking with a friend about how we could […]
Life begins at the end of your comfort zone
Well, here we are again. Nearing the end of one rotation…and on the precipice of another. There’s no denying things have been as weird and wacky as ever. I’m not sure there’s been a time in my life, and maybe yours, where this quote from NDW (which many of you know from our Catapult […]
3 Steps to Help You Break More Rules
BY ERIK LINGVALL | NOVEMBER 12, 2021 3:00 PM Originally posted to https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/steps-help-break-rules-2386/ Dacre Montgomery’s audition for “Stranger Things” recently caught fire on the internet. I had many clients bring it up, saying things like, “It was crazy!” or “It’s unlike any audition I’ve ever seen!” To Montgomery’s credit, he’s a great actor and his commitment in that […]
PILOT PREP-WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU?
Pilot season. You’ve heard the term. But what does it actually mean for you and your acting journey? It’s a great time for actors to get cast in an upcoming series. But when is pilot season? When should you be prepared? What is more important – network or digital platforms? Why should you care about […]
Commercial Auditions During Quarantine
It’s no secret that social distancing has turned everything upside down, especially with all auditions having to be filmed at home. But how is the pandemic impacting the world of commercials? We’ve all seen the ads that are addressing Covid-19 and the way their company (Facebook and Walmart, for example) is operating during this time. […]
Similarities + Differences Between Booking a Commercial or TV Role
BY ERIK LINGVALL | MAY 27, 2020 Q: What are the major differences between casting and booking for commercials versus television shows? —@LittleButFierce* As an acting coach, I’m an amalgam of all the perspectives I’ve acquired over the years. That’s also the case with this question, for which I consulted one of my busiest working actors in commercials and TV, […]
Artistry Has No Limits
We’ve all heard the phrase “think outside of the box” but have you ever thought about how you can be put into a box as an actor? An actor should always feel as if they have no limits to what they can create + to take risks, regardless of what casting or an agency might […]
Monologues & Scenes: Picking the Right One
So you’ve signed up for a workshop and one of the requirements is to provide your own scene or monologue. Where do you start? Many actors will have a few if not more pieces of material to showcase in their portfolio, ready to perform at any given time for the sake of workshops or classes. […]
Either you take the room, or the room takes you
Nerves. They’re inevitable. Doesn’t matter how long an actor has been in the business or how many times they may have auditioned, nerves will always be around, no matter what. What will set an actor apart though from everyone else that’s auditioning and nervous, is how they can channel those nerves and overcome them in […]
Building a Backstory: The Author
Who is the author? It’s time to get inside the writer’s head. Where did they come from? What inspirations impacted their writing? What other pieces or scripts have they written? Having a clear understanding of who the author is ties the whole bow together of what they’re trying to fully express in their script and […]