As summer approaches, virtual auditions look like they are here to stay.  Even though we miss face-to-face auditions, a silver-lining to auditioning from home is that we feel comfortable in our space, making our auditions feel more authentic and grounded. (If you haven’t already, check out our Self Tape Habits blog for resources on how to self tape from home!) In this blog, we want to address the elephant in the casting room… Zoom auditions.  It seems simple enough right?  Wrong.  We highly suggest spending time experimenting so when a last minute callback happens, you aren ..read more

"You should cut out pasta"- Was what a male ballet instructor said to a room of 13-year-old girls. Girls who were already insecure about their changing bodies and did not need further embarrassment from a male teacher who was supposed to protect their best interests. A mentor that they trusted.   And when they stood up for themselves, they were immediately countered with "it wasn't meant like that" and "here is a nutritional guide".  This was 2004. This moment led to my struggle with weight and body image.  Reflecting back on my life this past year, I have had many revelations a ..read more

    I turned 41 last year. An event which definitively placed me in the “Over 40” category; something that seemed so far away until it happened.  But here I am. Officially Middle Aged.  Saying it out loud honestly makes me want to throw up. And while all of those clichés – “you’re only as old as you feel”, “it’s just another number”, “life begins at 40” – have a ring of truth to them, I can’t help but feel a sense of doom as I watch time ruthlessly march on in spite of my unreadiness to enter this phase of my life.  It’s not so much ageing itself that scares me.  ..read more

Podcasts are life! They can be entertaining, but also educational. The time you'd normally spend doing mundane activities or exercising can be used to meditate on your life and career. I listen to them when I’m working out or out for a stroll. They are easy to pop on and make boring tasks bearable. I personally hate working out, but it’s become a necessary part of my life, especially after a life changing surgery. I used to only listen to music, but what got me on the podcast train is hearing the familiar voices of my favourite hosts. It somehow makes me feel less…lonely? Relatable?  Beli ..read more

Have you ever hesitated when someone asks what you do for a living?  Ever felt weird or insecure about saying that you’re an actor? Because of the societal stigma that comes with choosing a career path as an actor – or any artist for that matter – it can take a long time to find the courage to declare it with confidence.  Let’s face it, it’s draining to dodge the inevitable follow up questions such as “Ok, but what do you really do” or “Can you really make a living doing that?  Or even the well-meaning “What have I seen you in?”, “Are you on TV?” etc., etc. It’s almost easier to ..read more

6 years ago I moved out of my childhood home and into a 1 bedroom apartment located in the Annex. If you don't know, the Annex is a vibrant, wonderful hub located in the heart of Toronto. It was both exhilarating and scary, since it was the first time I was living away from home (I never got the college experience, choosing to stay local in pursuit of my acting career).  The initial weeks out on my own sucked hard. How much was rent??  There were a lot of tears and learning how to pay bills, but I promised myself I would never move back home... Fast forward to being almost 30 and I'm ..read more

Auditions.  We agonize about them, watch wistfully as our peers do them, and then absolutely freak out and panic when we get one.  Wash, rinse, repeat. It’s a nerve-wracking cycle. There’s been so much advice dispensed on how to audition; how to prepare, how to find your way into the text, how to be technically precise, etc.  We could literally fill a library with all the approaches written to help actors achieve their best audition.  And a lot of it is good, practical advice.  But as with all acting techniques – and there are hundreds – there is no one solution o ..read more

“Because you can’t be the authentic you without a little self care” This industry can wear you the f*** down. I have experienced a lot of rejection, self doubt and fear. I have even experienced what I like to call “feeling like a fraud and thinking everything I have been doing is wrong”. BREATHE SAM! What some schools failed to mention is one of the most important lessons for actors - self care. Sure it’s great to learn how to act and get your technique near perfect (as perfection doesn’t exist in my opinion), but having a strong foundation in who I am has kept my drive for acting alive.  ..read more

So you’ve booked a gig – congratulations!! – and you’re heading to set in a few days. We couldn’t be more happy and proud of you! But maybe you’re feeling anxious because it’s your first time on set (or your first time on a set that isn’t made up of film students or your friends).  You don’t know what to expect and you don’t want your nerves to get the better of you while you’re trying to make a good impression. To help calm those nerves, we’ve compiled a few guidelines to help you navigate that first exhilarating step into the world of professional on-camera work.    On set fo ..read more

Ok guys, let’s start this conversation by defining what is meant by your “look”. Your look is the visual way that you present yourself to casting.  It’s the visual representation that will give casting directors (and agents) certain ideas about what characters you look like you can play.  Note the phrase “look like”:  you’re no doubt an amazing and versatile actor who would be up for any role and knock it out of the park.  But as soon as you walk through the door of the audition room, casting will have an impression of you right off the bat and decide what type of character ..read more