ACTING RESOURCES

Here are some resources* that I compiled throughout my endless hours of researches on the internet oblivion to help you ace your acting career. Some are free, others you have to invest a bit, but for good results.

*Please note that some links are affiliate links which means whenever a purchase is made, I might earn a small commission, to keep the business rolling!

Self-tapes tools

First, and foremost, we need to capture the beauty of the movement with THE IMAGE. The main tech tool for an actor is a camera device (obviously). Now, here me out, you don’t need a fancy billion euros, dollars, pounds - you name it - camera. You might already have the one in your pocket and that is… your smartphone.

BUT. Once in a while, if you want a top-notch quality selftape, or if you’re into creating your own higher acting quality content, then I suggest investing in a camera device. The camera doesn’t have to be expensive either. You have some great examples such as the one I use for filming as well as photography.

Ever heard ‘ The best camera is the one you master’? Truth is, it requires some practice and basics but it’s no sorcery trust me ;)

Coming soon!

Great! Now what? Do I need a friend or my partner to hold the camera or smartphone whilst I’m acting and making my selftape, or will it just hold by itself thanks to some miracle?

I’ve got you covered, you’ve guessed it, the next tool is: a tripod. Again, we love budgeting whether we’re starting out, or if we just want to be actors and not directors trying to have a 4K big screen film tomorrow yet. But if you are a director, this can be your best friend from the beginning too! So here is a great suggestion for a classic retractable tripod begin with (and to save you from the trouble of pilling up tables, chairs, cardboard boxes, books together in order to have the camera to your eyes level, though it stays a good option when travelling).

Talking about travelling, I came across other tripod options which are a perfect fit when you are on the go as an actor - and you will need it, soon or later! When you can invest a bit further, I highly recommend you to grab a small retractable tripod and / or a small twisting tripod for your acting selftapes and film projects. Why? Say no more, because they are super versatile, they can fit in your backpack or suitcase and are easy to set up when you are away from home, for business, on holiday, or on set (who knows!).

Now, second ingredient is THE SOUND. There are two options to begin with for your acting selftapes or your low budget film.

Number one, the microphone that you put on the camera or on a boomer. I’m not going to dive deeper in the super tech savvy microphones world here but just know that you better need a directional microphone. This will record the sound coming straight in front of it and leave aside all other noises at its best. But, note that you have to be in a fairly quiet space and at a “reasonable” distance for it to capture the sound of your voice (and the one from your reader, if you’re making a selftape). This microphone is affordable and does a great job.

To fix it on top of your camera, you will need a specific tool that will hold your smartphone AND your external microphone.

Number two, the microphone that you attach on yourself whether it’s below your shirt with special tape, or on your shirt (but outside of the frame please, we don’t want to be distracted by this when watching you act, right? This one captures all the sounds of your voice even if you are turning your head or being at a far distance. Some are connected to your recording device (aka camera or an audio recording device) by or by bluetooth. This one is a perfect option.

Also, be careful, as these microphones won’t work straight away if you plug them on your smartphone. Why? Because someone has decided that the plug-in wasn’t the same between a camera (TRS) and a smartphone (TRRS) thus, you will be happy to not forget your adapter (from TRS to TRRS) when you plug your brand new microphone on your smartphone. It would be a pity to have wasted a great take with no sound…

Third ingredient: to see you we need some LIGHTS. For ecological reasons and sustainability, you should get Led lights instead of bulbs.

Investing in two light sources from the get-go is, in my opinion, a must that you won’t regret. You can find a pair of Led lights with softboxes for a few hundred bucks and they are worth their price. Of course these are not hight professional quality materials so be mindful when setting the lights up, depending on how often you will use them and how much space you have at home.

Otherwise, you can also opt for Led pannels and their softboxes which is exactly the same. They take a bit less space but the softboxes are smaller. If the lightboxes are not included and you get them separately, make sure to check the right size.

As a last option, and if you are travelling, having a ringlight is also a must in your tools as an actor for you can also use it as a third light source or an emergency source. You might have come across the dilemma whether having a ringlight as the main light source or not is a good idea for your selftapes. Personnally, I do not recommend this as your first option, unless you are on a very tight budget or you are travelling. The main reason for this reluctance being the circle light that appears in your eyes when you are shooting your selftape. It can be quite distracting for the viewers, and we do not want your lighting set up to dim your acting light for sure! You must remain the main focus of casting directors and other Youtube viewers for example.

Last but not least, the must for any acting selftape, the cherry on top, is A NEUTRAL BACKGROUND. Again, everything comes to not getting distracted and help the casting director or other viewer to focus solely on YOU.

The classic plain colour wall is the number one option. But if you do not have an allocated space at home, or if you are always travelling, or searching for natural light, or you house is messy (I mean whose is not?), then having a removable background is the right option for you.

You can choose a foldable background. It’s my favourite for tiny tiny spaces. I suggest you pick one that has at least a blue or grey side for these colours usually fit with almost every skin tone and are quite neutral for drama and comedy.

Another option is to go for rolling backgrounds. These take a bit more space and are less easily movable. But if you know you can fix them on a ceiling or wall on a dedicated space, then 100% go for it. You’ll have more colours options and less damages keeping a clean plain surface for ages.

Pictures credits: Amazon, associates, their sellers and resellers.

Free monologues and dialogues for your auditions or trainings

Have you ever struggled to find free material for your auditions, castings or trainings without wasting hours looking for that perfect fit? Or trying to find a screenplay to analyse it or simply read it? Well, I’ve been there - throughout the years I’ve come across several websites and found some great gems.

It’s your lucky day, here are some of the best resources in my opinion to find a great monologue, dialogue, script for free!

Small tip : most of these resources are written in English, but feel free to translate the scripts in another language, be it a skill of yours. Get creative and versatile :)

Books on Acting and the Entertainment Industry

Coming soon!