Hot Acting How-Tos « Acting

How To: Fake shooting a person with a gun for film

Adam from Chemical Reaction wants to show you a little movie magic. This video tutorial will show you how to fake shooting a person with a gun for your homemade film. If you really want to make it look real, get the most real prop gun you can get, but don't use a real handgun. Fake blood is a good thing to get from a Halloween store. Acting skill is the most needed part here... because you can't look like you're being shot unless you can act properly.

How To: Join a theater group

As Shakespeare said, "All the world’s a stage" – step on up and play your part! You Will Need

How To: Impersonate Christopher Walken

One of my longest videos to date, but well worth it if you have half an hour to kill. This is to thank you all for putting up with me until now what with the voices and poetry and secrecy of my real voice and all.

How To: Project your voice on stage

Theater acting is a fun and creative art form but it can be difficult to project your voice loud enough for the audience to hear if you are use to speaking softly. With a few exercises and practice anyone can have a booming voice.

How To: Keep strong morals as an actor in Los Angeles

In this video, actress and producer Kathleen Cooke talks to you about how to keep your moral ground in Los Angeles. As a struggling actor you will be offered jobs that may challenge your morals, and by following Kathleen's tips you will know how to deal with them and establish boundaries.

How To: Boffer sword fight with thrusts

Thrusting, thrusting, thrusting... No, we're not talking about sex here, we're talking about LARPing. To be specific, boffer sword fighting.

How To: Talk like a pirate

Impress your friends and neighbors by learning how to speak with an authentic pirate accent. Also included are pirate grammar and vocabulary. Practice hard enough and you should be ready for September 19th (International Talk Like a Pirate Day)!

How To: Audition for the Disney Channel

Are you a young aspiring actress? A triple threat? Many top singers and entertainers today got their start on the Disney Channel. In this video, learn how to get that audition with the Disney Channel... Who knows, it could be your big break!

How To: Sound Like a Biological Woman When Speaking

In this tutorial, we learn how to sound like a biological woman while speaking. There are many different techniques to help you speak like a woman, including going into falsetto. This isn't about getting the sound, it's about learning how to not speak with resonance. You want to focus your voice up in your throat instead of deep down. You probably haven't used the muscles for this voice, so using falsetto is a great way to practice. You may be able to speak a few minutes and feel yourself fal...

How To: Change Your Voice from Male to Female

This sequence of instructional videos provides a near comprehensive lesson on how you can change your voice from that of a male to that of a female. This video series is aimed at aiding transgender individuals, but is also useful for people who want to learn to do really great voice exercises and impersonations.

How To: Be Amazing at Improv Acting

Have you ever seen Whose Line Is It Anyway? Many people enjoy watching this show, where they can see people do comedy off the top of their heads. There's no prior thought involved and it can be a lot of fun to participate in.

How To: Speak with a British accent

Interested in having a convincing British dialect? Learn how to speak with a British accent in this free entertainment video series.

How To: Boffer sword fight with two-handed long weapons

Boffer. You've heard it, you've used it, you've died by it, but have you done it well? The Knights of Gray teach you in this video tutorial, how to use a boffer weapon that needs two hands. So, if you're a LARPing wannabe, or a LARP professional, then you need to watch this. You will see what three pivot points for striking with a two-handed foam boffer sword.

How To: Find the right agent or manager for your acting career

In this tutorial, learn how to find a successful agent that can advocate well for you and truly believe in you as an actor. Learn how to choose the right agency, agent and team to help your career. Hosted by a successful manager, this tutorial will help you know exactly what to look for when making this important decision.

How To: Find a roommate when you first move to Los Angeles

As an actor, finding a roommate is important. Chances are, you will not be making much money right away and will need to save on the rent and bills. Also, having a roommate means you will have a built-in friend when you first move, as well as an (often) already furnished house to live in.

How To: Practice improv with the Alphabet Circle exercise

Practice playing "Alphabet Circle" improv games. Learn how to practice improv with games, warm ups, and exercises in this free acting video. Practice improv with the Alphabet Circle exercise - Part 1 of 15.

How To: Boffer sword fight, after learning about boffers

Okay, you're ready to go out and kick some serious ass with you boffer? But wait... you don't even know what a boffer is?

How To: Fake cry

This is a very quick tutorial on fake crying. Make your eyes well with tears by concentrating your vision above a point of interest and not blinking. It's a super easy way to the real tears effect.

How To: Cry convincingly on stage

Knowing a few tricks of the trade will help you cry at the drop of a hat. You Will Need:

How To: Speak in a New York dialect

Who doesn't want to be able to speak like a New Yorker? Whether for acting, comedy or impressing your friends and family, speaking in a New York dialect will provide you with hours of entertainment. Learn how to speak in a New York dialect in this free video series from communications and public speaking expert, Tracy Goodwin.

How To: Perform popular mime routines

Without light, the Mimeans became very pale, and without possessions they were forced to interact with imaginary objects and play with imaginary toys. In this series Mark Wenzel shows you how to perform popular mime routines.

How To: Nail the cold script reading at an audition

Cold readings are the toughest parts of many acting auditions. Having to act a script you've never seen before convincingly is key to you getting the part. This video will give you some tips for nailing your next cold reading and wowing the casting directors.

How To: Be a funny clown

Want to be a funny clown? Learn how to use costumes, makeup, props, musical instruments, acrobatics, balloon making and more to make your clown routine entertaining and funny in this free educational video series on how to be a clown.

How To: Boffer sword fight with speed tactics

The Knights of Gray brings you this video tutorial on how to boffer sword fight with speed tactics. Yes, that means being super fast for LARPing. Live action role-playing doesn't get much better than this.

How To: Perform your own one-man show

Talent show or theater audition coming up? Want to improve your street performance techniques? Looking to impress your friends and family by performing alone? A one-man show might be intimidating, but putting on a good performance isn't that hard!

How To: Boffer sword fight with one-handed strike drills

The Knights of Gray are back, and they're are here to teach you some boffer sword fighting drills to practice with for your upcoming LARP events.

How To: Shamble convincingly and act like a zombie

No matter how good your zombie costume is, you're going to need to get your zombie walk down to convince people you're trying to eat their brains. Walk, talk and act like an extra on Night of the Living Dead!

How To: Take a great headshot that will get your acting roles

If you're an aspiring actor, your headshot is a vital part of your arsenal. It is the first thing that most casting agents will see, so it has to be perfect. This video will give you tips for getting the heashot you want, the one that will get you your big break!

How To: Ace an acting audition for a film

Acting auditions are stressful, and are different depending on what type of project you are trying out for. In this tutorial, get tips from working actors on how to audition for a film or TV show. Learn how to work the camera, emote, and read your lines the way casting directors want you to. Follow these tips and break a leg! See you on the silver screen!

How To: Get yourself an agent in Los Angeles

In this video, producer and actress Kathleen Cooke, offers advice on how to find a fantastic agent in LA. You won't find much success in Hollywood without representation, so listen to Kathleen's advice and make sure you choose the right one and how to impress them so that they sign you.

How To: Do theatrical improv

Watch this instructional video for some theatrical improv tips and techniques. Learn about improv for the theater in this free video series on acting performance.

How To: Cry on cue

Crying on stage, crying at films, crying at funerals. All can be tricky if you aren't genuinely sad and emotional. Fake crying though could be your answer. Tears can be produced with lots of techniques, from onions, to Stanislavkian theory. Learn how to cry on cue, and you could be earning plenty of brownie points for your display of emotion. Cry on cue.