Brian Timoney, Author at Brian Timoney Acting

For many aspiring professional actors, moving to LA and getting your big break is the ultimate dream. For others, it’s just another potential opportunity worth being open to. Either way, if you are planning on heading to LA for your acting career, it’s important to understand how LA casting works, including all the ways it is different to UK casting.

Same fish, bigger pond

Perhaps the biggest thing you need to understand about being an actor in LA is just how much competition there is. There are way more actors in LA than anywhere else in the world, which means far more competition.

However, the other thing worth bearing in mind is that a far higher percentage of actors in LA are no good. This is perhaps inevitable with a city known as the place to go if you want to be an actor – it is absolutely stuffed full of people who just woke up one morning, decided they wanted to be an actor and headed for Hollywood.

This means if you have genuine acting ability and are willing to work hard, be persistent and understand how things work, you have a really good chance of standing out from the crowd. This is what happened to past Ultimate Acting Programme student Damien Gerard:

“Thanks to Brian’s help, I secured the lead role in a US-funded feature film called Culture Shock purely by approaching the audition differently from everyone else and standing out to the casting director.”

The difference between agents and managers

In the UK, you probably have an agent (if you’re lucky!) who manages your whole career for you. In LA, most actors have both an agent and a manager and it’s important to understand the difference between the two.

In general, successful LA casting begins with an LA acting agent who will find you auditions, submit your name to casting directors and handle the general day-to-day business of your career, such as dealing with contracts. A manager will take care of your career on a more long-term basis and will usually ask you to sign a three-year contract with them.

By law, an LA talent agent is only allowed to take a 10% share of the money you earn. A manager will take anywhere from 10-15%. Although you can choose to represent yourself, you are unlikely to get access to the best roles or get the best possible deal for the work you do get (unless you’re Bill Murray).

Past Ultimate Acting Programme graduate Kamilla Alnes was successful in securing an LA based manager;

“After taking the one-year program, I decided to move to LA to pursue acting over there. I still live in LA, and have a wonderful manager and a great agency!”

Everyone has a shot

One thing people often complain about with acting in the UK is that it is something of a closed shop. People who didn’t go to the right private school, drama school or university can find it hard to break into the industry for these reasons.

However, it’s important to remember that it’s still perfectly possible for anyone to make it as an actor in the UK, as long as they have passion, tenacity, a willingness to learn and improve and of course, the right coaching. LA, on the other hand, does tend to be more meritocratic. But, if you have acting ability and can capture the interest of the right people, you have a shot in Hollywood, no matter what school you went to.

Being from the UK is an advantage

It’s a bit of a cliché that Americans love a British accent, but it can definitely be an advantage when heading to LA for your acting career. Popular US shows like The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones and Homeland all have their fair share of British actors in lead roles. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a major US TV series right now without at least one British actor in the cast!

There are a number of reasons why British actors are so popular in Hollywood, with British actor training often considered superior to the US variety. As top LA casting director Lucinda Syson (Syriana, Batman Begins, X-Men: First Class) puts it:

“In Britain, acting is very theater-based — they perform the character every night in front of a live audience, which as an exercise is very scary, but it builds up muscles in all the right places.”

Syson also points out that British actors tend to be very accomplished at performing in American accents because of how much US TV and film we are exposed to. There is also the perception that British actors are often cheaper than their US counterparts.

Know the etiquette

Although good (and bad) acting is the same all around the world, there are some key things you will need to change about your approach in LA.

The first is that you will likely need new headshots, as the style of headshots used in LA tends to be different to those used in the UK and much of the rest of the world. If you want to make the right first impression, your headshots will need to look the part.

You are also likely to be taped for all your auditions, so make sure you are prepared. LA auditions tend to last around five minutes with no time for standing around chatting. If you are using a US accent, it is best to stick with it from the moment you enter the room to avoid drawing focus to your own accent.

It’s also worth remembering that it is fine to read from a script for most LA auditions, so you don’t normally need to memorise your lines. However, you still need to make sure you are properly performing the lines e.g. looking up regularly and making eye contact, not just reading mechanically off the script!

Top US casting director Carol Dudley says:

“The US motto is if you don’t flaunt it, you haven’t got it. Second motto: Cut to the chase. These should be your guiding principles.”

Master the business of professional acting including LA casting and more

At the Brian Timoney Actors’ Studio, we understand that to make it as a professional actor, you need much more than just pure acting ability. You need to understand how the business works. That’s why we don’t just teach you how to become a world-class actor, we also teach you everything you need to know to get out there and start getting paid acting work.

From how LA casting work to helping you create your own professional-quality acting showreel, we give you all the knowledge and tools you need to succeed. That’s why our One-Year Ultimate Acting Programme really is the best choice for anyone wanting to break into professional acting.

Places on the Ultimate Acting Programme are strictly limited and by audition only. Spaces fill up fast, so if you want to get your professional acting career off the ground in just one year, make sure to apply and audition today!

Click here for more details on the Ultimate Acting Programme >

A professional actor’s showreel is one of their most powerful tools for landing auditions and getting work. Alongside your actor’s CV and your headshots, a well put together acting showreel is absolutely indispensable and if you haven’t got one yet, you need to make sure you get one as soon as possible.

While your CV and headshots might get an agent’s or casting director’s attention, it is your showreel that actually shows what you can do as an actor. A good showreel will lead to people giving you a chance, a bad showreel will see you dismissed within seconds. And remember, you only have one chance to make a good first impression!

So what exactly distinguishes a good acting showreel from a bad one? I’ve seen hundreds of showreels over the year and have also spoken to many top casting directors who’ve told me what they look for when viewing a showreel. I also work with the actors I teach to help them create their own acting showreels, so have plenty of experience from both sides of the process.

With that in mind, these are the lessons I’ve learned about what makes a great acting showreel and how to avoid the common mistakes.

What to put in your acting showreel

In an ideal world, you will have a load of professional work to choose from when creating your showreel. However, for most people starting out that won’t be the case. You therefore need to look at creating your own showreel from scratch. This means filming scenes specifically to edit together into a showreel that shows the range and depth of your acting.

Make sure the footage you produce is filmed by an experienced director and crew and put together by a professional editor. Your showreel needs to look professional and the best way to achieve this is to have it managed by professionals. Agents and casting directors will instantly be able to recognise the difference and high production values can really help you stand out.

As you start getting professional work, you will need to re-edit your showreel to include examples of your paid acting gigs. Just make sure you are always showing your best possible work – don’t cram stuff in for the sake of showing how much you’ve done. Remember, it’s quality over quantity!

Get the basics right

When creating your acting showreel, the same rules apply as for any acting gig. Even if you are paying a director and actors to work with you, you still need to be professional and treat the process with respect.

That means you turn up early, knowing your lines and ready to work hard. The easier you make the process for the director, the more energy they can put into getting a great performance out of you and the other actors. If you don’t know your lines, the director is likely to deal with it by simply breaking the shoot up into short segments they can edit together later. This will harm the overall quality of the performance.

You should also remember to be polite and pleasant to everyone you work with. You never know when they might turn up again at a later date in your career or who they might end up talking to you about. Always act in a way you would want top industry gatekeepers to remember you for.

Listen and be present

One of the most important skills you have to develop as an actor is the ability to listen, and listen well. If you are having an acting showreel created from scratch, this may be your first time working with a professional director. Remember that their word is the law. It’s fine to have your own ideas, but ultimately you need to trust the director to do their job and to help you do yours.

You will need to be adaptable during the filming process and understand that the director may need to film something in a different way or at different location to how it was originally envisaged. This is a standard part of the filming process and something you need to get used to dealing with.

You also need to listen and respond in the moment to your fellow actors. It’s not enough to simply recite lines, you have to mean them. Being on film can be off-putting for actors at first, but you have to get over that and learn to live in the moment. The camera will pick up on this and so will people watching your finished showreel.

Understand the technical aspects of filming

Acting on film is very different to acting on stage, so there are a number of technical elements of the process you should familiarise yourself with if you want your acting showreel to look professional.

One of the key things to get a grip on is your camera angles. Whether a particular moment is being filmed mid shot, close up, over the shoulder or wide will affect how you need to perform. The type of shot you are in dictates the level of performance you need to give. This means you need to be clear on exactly what the requirements of each shot are so you don’t end up appearing to over or under act in the finished film.

You also need to be up to speed with the demands of continuity. Any actions you take in a scene will need to be repeated in every other take. It’s also important to bear in mind that the director may film a scene 10-12 times from different angles. This means any actions you make (even small ones like fixing your hair or playing with your hands) need to be repeated in exactly the same way in every take so they can all be seamlessly stitched together in the edit.

Avoid big emotions

There is a temptation to be lured by the idea that in order to make an impression, you need to go big. However, chances are, you will make the wrong sort of impression. Film acting is generally more about subtly conveying emotions rather than feasting on the scenery. For an acting showreel, it is best to show real and subtle thought rather than big emotions.

Agents and casting directors know if someone can really act on film. They are looking for the subtlety rather than the big obvious emotions. If you do need to go big emotionally you need to be sure that it’s 100% authentic and real, otherwise it will almost certainly look terrible.

Get your professional acting career off the ground in just one year

Understanding the importance of acting showreels and how to get them right is just one of the things actors need to know to break into the industry. On our One-Year Ultimate Acting Programme, we teach you both the art of acting and also the business side of the industry. That means when you finish studying with us, you can go straight out and start getting paid acting work.

As part of the course, we will help you create a high quality acting showreel using professional equipment and crew, so you have something to show to agents and casting directors at the end of the process. We also hold an end of term ‘Champagne Showcase’ at the exclusive Industry Private Members’ Club, The Century Club, Soho in London. This event is attended by top agents and casting directors to help you show off your talents and get your foot in the door of the industry.

Ever since she first burst on to our screens as Anthony’s girlfriend in the Royle Family in 1998, Sheridan Smith has been captivating audiences with her endearingly believable performances.

Sheridan’s career has gone from strength to strength over the past 18 years, with high critical praise being poured upon just about every role she has taken on. Whether she’s making us roar with laughter in a touching comedy or cry in a hard-hitting drama, the 35 year old actress displays her incredible range with charm and affability.

I’m not sure if Sheridan Smith would describe herself as a ‘method actor’. However, considering that every performance by Sheridan, both on stage and screen, is commended for its raw realness, it follows that her performances must draw on some of The Method’s core principles.

How She Got to Where She is Now

In 2013 Sheridan won a BAFTA for her portrayal of Mrs Charmian Biggs; the wife of the Great Train Robber, Ronnie Biggs. Later that same year, she also landed the titular role on stage in Hedda Gabler. This 19th century Norwegian play has long been considered the ultimate role for actresses, even being referred to as ‘the female Hamlet’. Before that, however, Sheridan did not undergo the sort of formal training you might expect from a BAFTA winning actress.

Part of the reason Sheridan resonates with so many people around the country is just how relatable and down to earth she seems in every part she plays. This could be, in part, down to the fact that she is an ordinary working class girl. In fact, her first move after leaving school was selling burgers from a van on the motorway in Lincolnshire. She first learnt method acting during her time at the National Youth Theatre, which she joined at the age of 16, and it was her training there which helped to make Sheridan the acclaimed actor she is today.

One of Britain’s Most Beloved Actors

Sheridan got her first big break in comedy TV, when she was cast as Emma in the groundbreaking, hugely popular comedy, The Royle Family. She then enjoyed a more central role in the BBC 3 comedy, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps. These parts gained Sheridan a loyal following of fans and caused her to catch the eye of plenty of impressed critics. However, it was primetime hits such as The C Word and Cilla which really made her a household name.

After all, what could be a better confirmation of becoming a household name than landing the starring role in a biopic of one of the nation’s sweethearts? Stepping into the shoes of Cilla Black was always going to be a huge undertaking for any actor. Millions of viewers waited with baited breath back in 2014 to see whether Sheridan would do justice to the star whose career spanned more than five decades. She did not let them down.

Reviews for Cilla were overwhelmingly positive, with most critics citing Sheridan Smith’s extraordinary performance as the highlight of the show. Anna Pukas of The Daily Express praised Sheridan for her ability to capture both Cilla’s ambition and her vulnerability. The Guardian critic Sam Wollaston described how Sheridan became the character so much that it was difficult for the viewer to believe that they were not actually watching a young Cilla Black.

As if bringing a genuinely realistic portrayal of Cilla to the small screen wasn’t enough for Sheridan, she even sang all of the musical scenes live on film. This is unusual, as many actors prefer to record musical sequences in a studio and lip-sync the songs in front of the camera.

Triple Threat

Triple threat is a term we tend to associate with stars from the golden age of musical Hollywood; ‘all singing, all dancing’ actors like Ginger Rogers or Judy Garland. Sheridan Smith’s past performances on stage (and on screen, as seen in Cilla) have propelled Sheridan into this league of all-rounders.

From daytime soaps to Shakespeare on stage, there really is no genre that Sheridan hasn’t applied her method acting abilities to and that includes musical theatre. Her starring role as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde: The Musical earned her high critical acclaim and an Olivier Award in 2011.

She then went on to star as Fanny Bryce in the 2015 West End rendition of Funny Girl. For this part, critics raved about Sheridan’s “unforced lovability” as well as her impeccable comic timing, mischievous facial expressions and charming mannerisms. Of course, her singing ability stood out as well, with particular attention being paid to her roof-raising closing song; Don’t Rain on My Parade.

How Sheridan Brings Herself to Every Role

When Sheridan performed on stage as Hedda Gabler, an unprecedented amount of young people packed out the theatre. This is because, whether she’s playing a lairy 19-year-old in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps or a newlywed in 19th century Norway, Sheridan Smith brings her own youthful, down to earth energy. In other words – she always brings herself to the roles. The Guardian theatre critic applauded Sheridan for the “commendable ease and agility” with which she portrayed Hedda Gabler.

All of the most successful actors understand that they give their most convincing performances when they bring as much of themselves to the role as possible. The mistaken belief that actors should fake emotions often leads to over-acting which the audience can see straight through. Getting to know your authentic self and how to stop faking it are among some of the first things you’ll learn when actors start training at Brian Timoney’s Actors’ Studio.

Draw on Personal Memory

The idea that actors like Sheridan can ‘be themselves’ while portraying such diverse characters that they have nothing in common with might sound slightly confusing. But it is much simpler than it seems. This is because it is not the character back story, words or even wardrobe that Sheridan connects with when she inhibits a character – it is the emotions. Even when you can’t relate to what the character is experiencing, you are almost certain to be able to relate to the emotion they are feeling.

For her audition for the ITV drama, Mrs Biggs, Sheridan was asked to portray the scene in which Charmian Biggs discovers that her 10 year old son has died in a car crash. The raw and real emotion she displayed in this audition is said to have blown the producers away and guaranteed her the role. While Sheridan has never gone through this event herself, she did suffer the tragic loss of her brother Julian when she was just eight years old. In order to tap into the emotions that her character was feeling, Sheridan drew on this memory, which is how she was able to genuinely feel Charmian Bigg’s grief and sorrow.

Top Class Comedy Actor

When many people think of Sheridan Smith, the first thing that come to mind are her hilarious roles in sitcoms like Gavin and Stacey and Two Pints. When she took on the starring role in Funny Girl, critics and audiences alike were left in stitches at her memorably funny take on the character. Theatre critic, Cariad Lloyd, said that she had never seen an actor in a musical so committed to comedy or determined to get a laugh out of every line. She even compared Sheridan to a cross between Lucille Ball and Les Dawson.

So don’t be fooled into thinking that method acting techniques can only be utilised in deep, dark and dramatic roles. Method acting has had a profound influence on many good comedy performances – making them both believable and relatable for the audience. Sheridan’s ability to draw upon method acting techniques in many of her comedy roles have played a large part in placing Sheridan as one of the top stand-out comedy actors of her generation.

Act Like Sheridan Smith

It is Sheridan’s understanding of how to get underneath the skin of a character and bring her own memory, experience and emotion to a role that led Dustin Hoffman to tell her that she truly acts from the heart, offering her a role in his directorial debut, Quartet.

What do you think? Would you describe Sheridan Smith as a method actor?

To learn these techniques and bring your own raw emotions to your acting, you can apply for one of our method acting courses. The three-day method acting boot camp is an intense introduction to method acting, while the one year ultimate acting course delves deeper into the skills you’ll really need as an actor to kickstart your acting career. Do you think you’ve got enough acting potential? Get in touch today to find out more.

From casting directors to big-time movie directors, all of them hold your fate in their hands, and all of them need impressing.

But how do you make an impact when there are already so many actors out there whose sister’s husband’s cousin is best friends with the guy in charge? Well, the good news is there are many right moves you can make to get in the director’s good books. However, there are also a number of disastrous ways you could get their attention too. From glitter-bombing to bad conversation: here are a few things you should NEVER do when meeting a director.

Ask for a part

So you’re at a party, things are going well, and suddenly you spot a huge movie director. Walking through the crowd up to him in disbelief you grab his arm, smile and say, “I’m such a huge fan, do you have any roles you think I’d be good for?” and flash another smile. He turns to you and politely asks you to leave him alone. Congratulations: you just wasted an incredible opportunity.

Approaching directors as if they are mere stepping stones is a fatal mistake. Treating them in this way and failing to recognise them as human beings with lives outside of the studio will only make them look at you like one of a thousand desperate actors, barely worth talking to.

Unsurprisingly, if you want to give yourself a better shot, you only need to strike up a genuine conversation. Ask them questions, find out about their interests and talk to them about any shared interests you learn about along the way. Just make sure it’s something unrelated to the industry, at least at first. If you get on well and strike up a rapport, then you never know where things might lead. When a role next comes up, you might be the one that springs to mind.

I recently talked about how this really happened for a lucky actress, who bumped into Quentin Tarantino and managed to strike up a conversation about politics with him. They got on so well he ended up casting her multiple times later down the line. Good and lasting relationships are what makes things happen in this industry, and it could all start with, “so, where do you stand on the election results?”.

Send annoying gifts

Trying to get the attention of casting directors can seem almost impossible at times. So much so, that is has led some actors to resorting to rather unconventional methods to try and win them round. One such story involved sending a casting director a card filled with glitter! However, there’s a thin line with this sort of thing. Doing something to get their attention like writing a funny note or sending in impressive references is fine, and may even be beneficial to you. Sending them something that will distress them or result in their office being covered in tiny little shiny stars, as in the example above, will only result in them never wanting to see your face again.

Casting directors actively seek new talent by attending numerous performances, so your best bet at getting cast in something bigger is to keep working wherever you can – even if it’s something you don’t want to do. If you get yourself out there you will be seen and your CV will go right to the top of the list- no confetti needed.

Let them sleep through your audition

OK, of course they won’t actually be asleep, but they might be on standby. With so many actors to get through, anyone could be forgiven for starting to get a little bored and disinterested. It’s up to you to switch them back on and ensure they pay attention to you – this is your only chance after all. Slam the door as you come in, apologising of course, and speak slightly louder than what you might deem appropriate under normal circumstances. A nice loud vocal warm up will sharpen their senses. Engage them in conversation and if you get it right, not only will you be the ‘wake up call’ they’ve been waiting for, but you’ll leave a lasting impression and as more as is likely – you’ll get the part.

Be afraid to use your words

Rudyard Kipling once said

“Words are the most powerful drug used by mankind.”

You should never underestimate the power of words and the importance of using them well. In an incredible clip featuring hypnotist Derren Brown and actor Simon Pegg, this is demonstrated with the use of hypnotism. In a ploy to get Simon to like a gift Derren has bought, Derren makes Simon want it desperately, through a series of suggestive words and reinforcement. Now while it would be ridiculous to state that you need to go out and become a hypnotist to get a director to want to cast you (although apparently, that might help), what you can do is use a few hypnotist tricks to improve your chances.

Smuggler phrases are words you can sneak into a conversation to subconsciously persuade a casting director to hire you. When you go into an audition and state your name, instead of saying “reading for the role of…” say “I am (the character)”. You can even try something a little more intense: if the director says, “could we ask you to try…” jump in and say “you can cast me anything”, substituting ask for cast, and so on. It may seem strange, or a little unconventional, but risks and tricks such as smuggler phrases do have a tendency to make you stand out, which is often a good thing.

Neglect to practice the art of conversation

Whether you’re meeting big players in the industry or trying to get an agent, you should never underestimate the importance of being a great conversationalist. No director will be interested in you if you rarely have anything interesting to say or contribute, even if you could be suitable for a role.

Practice speaking clearly in a pleasant voice people will like listening to. Keep up to date with the news and goings on in politics, as well as industry-specific events and news. To build up those relationships with directors you need to be able to get them interested in you and who you are as a person. Ultimately at the end of the day if you can be charming and craft your conversation carefully- it may very well get you a job.

Miss the chance to build contacts

Attending the right parties, having friends in the know or being a descendant of an acting dynasty are all legitimate ways you can build relationships with directors. But for those of us who haven’t yet made these connections or who need to make an impression, trying to meet directors after a showcase or a performance can work wonders. With my One Year Ultimate Acting Programme, students have the chance to meet and network with Hollywood casting directors as well as agents, previous students, and many more big names in the industry. You never get a second chance at a first impression, and with our programme, you can help yourself to make the right kind of impact.