In a world of crowded streaming services and a glut of content, it’s never been harder to pick what to watch of a night. New or old? Good or bad? Comedy or six hour documentary on frogs? Sometimes, you’re in the mood to see yourself represented on the screen—to experience the stories of actors going through the same trials as you. You might even learn something! That’s why we’ve compiled this list of essential films for actors to watch. Have a watch, have a laugh, have a cry, see your ups and downs laid out before you… This article contains a list of essential films for actors to watch. These ..read more

Does anyone else feel exhausted already this year? I always make the same mistake of going too hard, too fast at the start of a new year and end up riding the edge of burnout by April. I’ve got a lot of friends who are passionate, talented actors and artists who love what they do. But like me, they hit the same brick wall. Let’s talk about how to stay inspired as an actor. Learning how to stay inspired as an actor will help you navigate the ‘down times’, when your career is quiet or when you find yourself exhausted from the hustle. The answer doesn’t lie in avoiding feeling tired altogether, b ..read more

A strange monologue about a murdered teddy bear. The tense exchange between a faded rockstar and a super-fan. A screwball three-hander set at a bloody crime scene. Here at StageMilk, we’ve provided a wealth of original scenes for actors to tackle these last few years—and tackle you have, all over the world! Today, we’re releasing a new collection of characters and stories for you to tear into: scenes for four actors. This article contains a collection of royalty-free, original scenes for four actors. There is a range of genres and styles, and some performance notes to aid in quick script ..read more

If you’ve kept an eye on the articles I write, I’m sure you know by now that I’m a certified nerd. And being a certified nerd, I can tell you for certain that the video game industry is turning into a hotspot for acting opportunities. The HBO adaption of The Last of Us, originally a video game created by American game studio Naughty Dog, has proven that video games have huge potential to touch the hearts of the masses. This has resulted in a trend towards character-driven video games—meaning there is a growing demand for proficient actors to bring digital characters to life. So, let’s talk abo ..read more

If I was a gambling man, I’d be willing to wager that most actors realised they wanted to be actors by watching movies. They were early points of inspiration for me, and since then I’ve been lucky enough to act in some: some of them very bad, some of them very good. As actors we all want our shot at the silver screen, so here’s some acting advice on how to audition for movies: so you can get that much-coveted shot! If you want to audition for movies, your best bet is to secure an audition through an agent, and to prep yourself as best as you possibly can. You can look for freelance opportuniti ..read more

Scenario: you’ve just been handed a brand new scene—a two-hander set in an empty room. One character wants to borrow some money, the other wishes the last loan they gave to be paid back in full. Simple enough, right? Goals are clear, the conflict is direct. But … there are little things about this scene that don’t quite add up. Both characters wear matching wedding rings, and yet speak coldly to one another. One character is dressed in an expensive suit, the other a fast food uniform. One seems frustrated with their scene partner, who seems to pity them in return… How can we begin to unpack th ..read more

The Academy Awards are almost upon us! Are you excited? Have you got your viewing party planned and your personal picks ready to cheer or defend? Awards season is a big fixture on any entertainer’s calendar—whether you’re nominated yourself or a devoted fan watching on. But do these awards really matter? Why do we make such a fuss? What is the importance of award season? Awards season allows us to check in with the entertainment industry. It grants a broad understanding of what audiences and critics are responding to, which allows us to identify trends and recognise where our industry might be ..read more

Poor Things was one of the strangest, most original films to come out of 2023. A sharp-as-hell script, unmatched production design and all brought together by one of the best directors working in the business. The acting was superb to a tee: Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef, the delightful rakish oddity that was Mark Ruffalo. Even now, months later, it continues to astound as it hoovers up awards around the world. In this article, we’ll examine acting lessons you can learn from the 2023 film Poor Things, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo and Willem Dafoe ..read more

At the climax of Arthur Miller‘s play The Crucible, protagonist John Proctor is given a chance to save himself from hanging. All he has to do is sign his name to a false confession of witchcraft, something, ultimately, he refuses to do. “Because it is my name!” he screams at the corrupt judges: “Because I cannot have another in my life!” In acting, such as in life (and in witch-trials) reputation is everything. In this article, we’re looking at how to build a good reputation as an actor. An actor can build a good reputation by being gracious and uncomplicated. With so much uncertainty facing a ..read more

Today we’re going to do a little breakdown of Queen Margaret’s monologue to the nobles at court in the third scene of ‘King Richard III’. This character is truly one of Shakespeare’s greats and it cannot be understated the depths and highs she goes through throughout the Henriad. But before we do that, let’s figure out what’s going on shall we? Context So through a series of bloody civil wars between the Lancasters and the Yorks, otherise known as the war of the roses, one man has come out on top: a man who goes by Richard. We’ve watched him fight nobly and not so nobly for the past two plays ..read more