Doug Warhit's Acting Blog

“Quit now, you’ll never make it. If you disregard this advice, you’ll be halfway to success.”
-David Zucker

Everyday ask yourself: What is my two-fold agenda for today regarding:
A.improving my skills as an actor
B. self-promotion to generate work

If you’re auditioning for an agent or manager and they want to see a monologue or a scene, try not to pick popular material they are likely to be familiar with. Otherwise their evaluation of your talent will include a comparison to other actors interpretations of the material. Its best to present a clean slate of your talent so you can be evaluated on your own merit.

“There are always goals. If you don’t have a mountain, build one, and then climb it. And after you climb it, build another one; otherwise you start to flatline in your life. People think retiring is fun. Well, maybe, but if you have a certain kind of fire inside, there is no end in sight.”
-Sylvestor Stallone

There is an energy of confidence an actor must have upon entering the audition. “I belong in this space. I am here to help tell a story. I have done my homework and I am relaxed and ready to play.”

When musician Bruce Springsteen was starting out, his father was very discouraging. He kept telling Bruce to get a real job. When Bruce won the academy award for composing music for the film, “Philadelphia” and brought the award to his dad’s house, his father said, “I guess its a good thing you didn’t take my advice.”

What do the actors you admire have in common? Sense of humor? Vulnerability? Likability? Surprising choices? Lack of vanity? Playfulness? Really connecting with who they’re talking to? Play moment to moment? Perhaps all of these things?

Don’t forget to have a strong moment before each scene. Very simple and very important.

“Its ok to fall down, because when you do you learn something. It’s how you figure out who you are.”
-Ryan Murphy Creator of Glee and Nip Tuck