It’s easy to think that actors are only acting when we see them on screen or stage. But what about when they’re not? What do they do backstage, in between takes and after the show has ended? The answer is: a lot.
Actors spend most of their time working on the show itself—a minimum of thirty minutes, sometimes as much as three hours, every day. They might be rehearsing with other cast members, doing interviews or watching other performers perform. Actors also spend a lot of time reading scripts—sometimes up to six months before shooting begins! Actors often have to write their own lines too; this can take anywhere from one hour to a whole week depending on how much dialogue needs writing.
But it’s not just a matter of memorizing scripts either; actors must also learn how to act. That means studying acting techniques like improvisation and method acting (which involves getting into character by pretending you’re someone else). It also means learning about film production so that when they’re filming scenes with other cast members, they know what shots will look like afterwards. They may even need training in special effects make-up if their character has an unusual appearance such as blue skin or point
I’ve been acting for 23 years, and I’ve worked on a lot of different types of productions. I’ve done everything from film, to TV, to commercials and music videos. I’d like to tell you what it is an actor actually does on a television show.
First off… let me say that an actor’s job doesn’t end when the camera stops rolling. In fact… it only begins there.
The way most TV shows work is that they shoot one episode at a time. So if the show is 22 episodes long (like Modern Family) then every week they shoot one episode until they have shot all 22 episodes. Each episode takes about 7 days to shoot. So for 7 of those days (sometimes more) we are working 12-14 hour days. It can be pretty exhausting and grueling work but it can also be really fun!
The thing about television shows is that usually you don’t get the whole script at once like you do with movies or plays. You get each episode one at a time because they are written and rewritten as they go along. Sometimes even as they are shooting! This means that each actor has to
Actors’ lives are often misunderstood and mysterious. We see them on screen, but we don’t know how they got there. And in the case of a TV show, there’s so much more that happens behind-the-scenes than what meets the eye.
So what does an actor actually do? It depends on their role, their rank, and their experience. Generally speaking, though, actors participate in several processes that ultimately lead to the story being told and characters being realized on screen. Of course, actors are only part of the equation; others such as writers, directors, producers, production designers/set decorators, costume designers/costumers/dressers, lighting technicians, sound technicians/boomers/utility sound technicians/sound mixers/sound recordists, cinematographers/directors of photography (DPs), editors, special effects artists and supervisors (SFX), visual effects artists (VFX), among many others play roles in creating a television show.
In this blog post I’ll focus on a few aspects of the actors’ job: auditions and casting; table reading; rehearsal; filming; reshoots; pick-ups; wrap party; and press interviews.
I have been an actor in many TV shows and movies. I have worked with some of the best actors, actresses, directors, producers, and crew in the business. Many people have no idea what goes into making a show or film. This blog will hopefully give you a window into our world as actors and all that entails.
I am writing this blog to help dispel the myths about acting and what we do as actors. Every time I tell someone I’m an actor their first reaction is usually “that must be so fun!” And while I love what I do, it can also be very challenging, stressful and hard work.
In my experience, when most people think of actors they imagine us hanging around a fancy set all day with free food, massages and perks waiting for someone to tell us to say our lines while we are getting paid a ridiculous amount of money. And then when the director yells “cut!” it’s time to party! That is not reality at all!
The truth is being an actor is a lot of work. Sure there are days where you don’t have that much to do on set but more often than not you are scheduled for 12–15 hour days (sometimes longer
Now, I am by no means an expert on what actors do in television shows. However, I have been lucky enough to work with some incredibly talented people in my career as a production sound mixer and have therefore gained some insight into the huge responsibilities that these actors take on every day.
When I say “actors”, I am referring to all of the stars of a show. That includes the cast — the main characters who get top billing and are the faces we most often see on the posters and in the promotional materials — but it also includes those who play smaller parts or guest star. Because while they may not be up there onscreen as much or get as much focus from the audience or media, their roles are still incredibly important and require a lot of dedication and diligence.
So, let’s take a look at what goes into being a television actor.
In the last year I’ve learned that acting isn’t just acting.
I’ve learned that in TV, actors are also producers and writers and even directors of their shows — and they do it all at the same time.
As an actor, you’re not just acting in a show; you’re creating a show. And you’re doing it on someone else’s dime.
That means you have to really think about everything that goes into the show: you need to think about how each episode fits into the overall arc of the season, and what each episode needs to accomplish for the series as a whole. You need to think about what kind of story you want to tell each episode, and how best to tell it.
You need to think about who you should bring onto your team, from writers and directors to production assistants. You need to think about how much money you need for each episode, and where it will come from (if it isn’t coming from Netflix or Amazon). And most importantly, you need to think about what kind of show do you want to make: do you want to make something like “Breaking Bad?” Or do you want to
Let’s start with the question I get asked most often: “Is it hard to get an audition?” The answer is yes. Yes, it is hard.
When you arrive at a studio, you’re often greeted by a casting assistant who has spent all day in the same room listening to people read the same lines. You are then guided into a waiting area, where you will sit for 5-15 minutes. Some people will be late and some people will be early, and some people will be on time but not early enough to avoid the wait. Once you’re called in, you’re probably going to read the same lines everyone else has read that day, which may range from 5-30 pages.
The reality of auditioning is that there are a lot of other actors out there who are just as talented as you and just as eager to get the job. That being said, persistence pays off. The more auditions you go on, the better your chances of getting one. If you can handle rejection — or at least put on a brave face — then you might have what it takes to succeed!
