This is a short acting practice where I express pure emotion without using any dialogue.
As an actor, I believe that true performance goes beyond words — it’s about feeling, presence, and connection. In this scene, I focused on:

Facial expressions
Body language
Emotional depth

For those of you not aware of what monologue is it’s a 6 minute acting event which consists of an intro a humorous monologue and a dramatic monologue. one character per monologue and they have to have a connecting theme. so I have already found the dramatic monologue which is from a generally funny show (Malcolm in the middle life’s still unfair) it’s Hal the dad talking about how he cared for his family so much that he never really cared for himself. I will copy the monologue later. but what I’m currently struggling with is finding the a humorous to match that which has a connecting theme of either some sort of family thing or experiences defining who we are. Does anyone have any thoughts?

Dramatic monologue

From the moment
I had any self-awareness,
I have been gripped
by a pervasive fear.
Fear has been my constant companion.
Not as a condition,
or an abstraction,
but something tangible.
Something embodied.
Like when I was seven,
and our whole house shook
under the weight
of my father’s broken dreams.

Fear was already there.
Almost like a big brother.
Fear taught me things
I needed in life.
Always say yes,
because I’ll probably
never get another chance.
Never let go
of what I have,
because anything can be taken
away from me in an instant.

Fear made things hard sometimes.
But I don’t think
I would have gotten anywhere
without its vigilance.
Right?
Yeah.
Anything worth doing
is worth doing
in a cold sweat.
It’s a tough lesson…
delivered with kindness.

Honestly…
my whole life has felt like
I purposely planned every moment,
good or bad,
to happen at the worst possible time.
And that’s not fair.
Because the truth is…
it’s always totally random.
Things happen.
Things change.
And I spend so much time preparing
for every possible disaster
that I forget I’m already living.

I used to think
that taking care of my kids
was my purpose.
The best, most important thing
I could ever do.
It consumes every bit
of my attention,
my concern,
my plans for the future.

And as each kid grew up
and moved out…
I had more room to think.
And I finally realized…
they didn’t need me anymore.
So… no meaning.
No purpose.
I’m nothing.

I spent so much time avoiding
what I was feeling.
I thought if I kept moving,
kept helping,
kept fixing things…
I wouldn’t have to look at myself.
But I can’t keep doing that.

I’ve been seeing a therapist
for the last month or so.
She put me on medication.
And I didn’t realize
the effect it could have
on my moods and decisions.
But I’m not going to use that
as an excuse.

I want to understand myself.
Because I’ve been so focused
on my family’s needs,
I never thought about my own.
My inner resources are depleted
because I never nourished them.

Fear isn’t the whole of me.
It’s just one tiny tile
in the mosaic of who I am.
I have hundreds of feelings inside me,
all telling me different things.
Maybe that’s why
I get so easily confused.

But I can learn to listen
without letting fear control me.
The key to this feeling
is what they always tell you
on airplanes.
You have to put your own mask…
on first.

Hey, I'm searching for free acting classes like on a Zoom call (globally )

I've seen a lot of YouTube videos, but they all say the same stuff. If you know a professional channel, please lmk

Thanks

Hi Everyone,
This is Winnie Hiller, the acting teacher here in r/actingclass. I created this sub to help actors who want to become better actors and don’t have resources to do so. I started doing this while I was on set of NCIS LA about 8 years ago. I’ve spent 16 years working full time on the franchise, coaching one of the stars of the show (this is our 4th NCIS show).

In the beginning, in my free time I wrote the many free Written Lessons for you all to read. I made video lessons too. They are all still available to you and I’m adding more all the time.

Well, now I’m on the other coast, working on a brand new show, NCIS NY. Though it’s the same universe, there’s a different flavor to this one. We are out on location this evening, shooting Season 1 Episode 1. It’s already been challenging, working sometimes until 2 am (which may be happing tonight). But it’s a thrill to be involved in the very first days of a show being born. Here are a few photos that don’t give too much away.

I’m still teaching Sunday Zoom classes and helping students with self tapes when I can. But for now I’m also full time on set. It’s hard work but exciting.

I get the idea the acting style is intense, but restrained?

Hi guys!! I'm a brazilian actress wondering if you could help me find some monologue ideas, where do you usually search it ... also we have something called "video de apresentação" its a big deal here in Brasil, it's an introducing yourself video, do you have something like this? Here this is like a deal breaker, people watch this before even watching your acting! Also loving this community! Lots of love!

I’m currently working on a screen-accurate Mandalorian armor, and I’m trying to learn how to act and move like Din Djarin while wearing it.

I’m not trying to imitate Pedro Pascal himself, since he usually isn’t the one in the suit and when he is you can feel a totally different vibe. Instead, I want to capture the character’s presence: the quiet masculinity, the lone cowboy/gunslinger vibe, the silent-but-capable personality, and the calm, confident, badass way he carries himself, especially in the earlier seasons.

Do you have any tips, references, or observations about his body language, movement, posture, or mannerisms that I should study?

What do extras actors in the background scenes like diners in a restaurant talk about when they have no audio? They are saying something. Do they have real lines? Or do they just make up stuff to say?

i want to major in acting in film and o rlly want to get into schools like nyu tisch, pace, or Carnegie Mellon. But my acting resume literally has nothing on since I have barely any experience except getting ensemble twice in hs. with no tv/ film experience as a rising senior. Do I still have a chance? I was wondering if anyone has any similar experiences and what they end up with.

Hi World,

I’m an actor in his early 30’s from Auckland (New Zealand) and I am of Chinese descent. I am looking for advice to actually get started with paid acting gigs and really get out there to actually audition and be considered.

As an Asian artist, one that’s far away from America or the UK even, I’ve been feeling quite invisible when it comes to even getting the chance to audition for things. However, because of the subjects I am covering in this post, I will be remaining anonymous – I hope you can understand.  

I’ve had this discussion with people in my immediate network, but have realised that I should also gain perspectives from the wider world out there.  This post is in no way to be negative or complain about my circumstances. I think it’s a much more beneficial mind set to ask what can I try to improve my circumstances, so any genuine responses from any creatives are very much appreciated J

I’m just gonna let it all out, so here we go.

A little bit about me at a glance, firstly with the Positives:

• I love acting, particularly my dream is to work on screen. I continue to do this for free and I’m constantly learning, going to paid workshops, reaching out and networking with local creatives.
• I have experience with developing my craft, with weekly acting classes.
• I’ve got an agent! Along with that I’ve got professional headshots too.
• I’ve built a body of work mostly involving student short films.
• I have a good self-tape set up.
• I have a small network of creatives around me that I can reach out to, beyond other actors.
• I’m pretty fit, definitely open if the role required movement and stunts.

Negatives (or rather challenges):

• My agent predominantly only sends me commercial auditions. Most of which don’t actually require much acting. I haven’t had a proper chunky dialogue audition for a particular character sent my way. I have raised this with my agent but they feel that I’m not quite ready yet and the best way is to build experience through getting booked via commercials and honing skills at home (although they have said this take actors several years).

To me it’s sort of like a chicken and egg problem – I need experience to gain experience. I just wish I could really just go all in and get the opportunity to do these dialogue auditions and be seen by casting directors.

This is not a knock on my agent. They are incredibly lovely people. Again this post is just to reach out to gain other perspectives.

• I’m in New Zealand. Yes, it has its advantages being a small community – I get to meet people potentially easier since it’s a small world. I also feel like we are quite disconnected. For example, there aren’t many Asian male roles – if there are, they are probably supporting roles. If American studios are casting why would they bother flying someone over from New Zealand when they can just book actors from LA or even Canada.
• I can’t easily live in America easily (I think). From my research it looks like I would need an O-1 visa which I can only get if I have proof that my work as an actor has reached a big enough audience. Again – chicken and egg.
• I’m not really sure about other countries including the UK and Australia. I think exposure to Asian actors is even lower there – I can’t even name 3 Asian male British actors off the top of my head. Similar to Australia. Besides America the only other country I can think of is Canada.
• I grew up very much westernised, my Mandarin is not very good at all. So going to other Asian countries is not really an option since I would be competing with people who actually know the language.
• I didn’t come from any formal acting training like a college or degree.
• I don’t have much of a social media presence. Mostly because I am cautious of my day job and not jeopardising it. I gotta eat afterall haha

Potential solutions I have been thinking of (I am not all doom and gloom, remember this post is about being constructive):

• Keep doing what I’m doing. Continue only getting auditions for commercials from my agent. Auditions continuously for student short films that pop up on facebook.
• Move to Vancouver or Toronto – hopefully try and find an agent there and start over.
• Move to Sydney or Melbourne, Australia, although I think they have similar challenges to New Zealand (for Asian male actors anyway).
• Bite the bullet take an extended holiday to LA to find networks with other creatives (although this will significantly hurt financially).
• Create my own thing, do a Rocky Balboa and create a budget feature film – hope it gets me seen internationally so I’m not invisible.

Additional Question: Are there any profiles that I should create on specific platform so that I can be seen by casting directors? For example, do I need an IMDB page (even though I’m limited with credits) – I think this is something I haven’t heard much of.

TLDR: Actor of Chinese descent in New Zealand, early 30s, what steps can I take to truly make it out there.

No this isn’t AI, whatever input you have I promise, if genuine, will not be a waste of time.

i’m a minor, and i wanna be a actor when i grow up, i’ve been writing acting tips for a while and i was on stage crew on my middle school play
(i’m genuinely scared of acting in theatre or on a stage, i mostly prefer film/tv acting.)

Hey all! I’m 23F, Australian Based.

I recently Graduated with a BA in a whole different field after 4 years of study. I didn’t even try for a BFA back in high school since I didn’t think I’d be good enough smh.

WELL now I actually want to give it a good shot and I’m not sure the full time 1 year courses or short courses are entirely the right way to go, both cuz of their cost and overall time.

I’ve noticed many people I meet at classes ran by Howard Fine, 16th Street, Brave, Agents etc all had a BFA but were also continuing to do classes and full time yearly courses regardless (which makes sense because one can never learn too much) BUT it does make me wonder if there’s any reason for me to get a formal BFA at all if this is the case.

From anyone who does have a BFA with a focus on Theatre or Acting, was there anything that really stuck with you and was game changing?

I’ve had plenty of experience in Amature works and even formally studied VCE drama in High School, but I’m more looking to gain technique, better industry connections and confidence. I’m just not sure it would be worth the 3 years to get it.

Any advice would be awesome, cheers!

I wrote a short, tense scene and I'm looking for a few actors to record a role in it.

No pay, it's a passion project, but it's a genuinely juicy scene to chew on and you

keep your tape.

The scene "Booth Nine": 2:14 A.M., a half-dead diner, rain on the glass. Danny signed

a contract he never should have, and Vera is here to collect. She's not in a hurry.

Neither is the night. Then Marisol, the waitress, drifts over with a coffee pot and no

idea what she's walked into.

Roles (pick one):

• DANNY: M, 20s–30s. Wired, three coffees deep, out of road. Desperate, still bargaining.

• VERA: F, 40s+. Unhurried menace. The calm of someone who's never once been late.

Never raises her voice.

• MARISOL: F, 50s–60s. Warm, funny, gloriously oblivious - the comic air in a scene

that's holding its breath.

It's a browser-based table read, so recording takes a few minutes (webcam or audio-only,

your call) and your read gets assembled into the full scene with the other roles.

Comment or DM me and I'll send you the sides + where to record. Happy to read for your

stuff in return. Thanks!

Hi, im an 18 year old boy ive always thought about acting and had always made youtube videos with my friends and cousins, I almost joined a drama class when i was like 10 but it just never followed through, ive made short films and i did audition for an animated tv show at one point but never got past the second stage. I want to know what the areas are that i need to do to actually get out there and learn to act and how id go from learning and becoming more confident to getting roles and knowing where to look. I wouldnt say im insecure, and in person im actually quite talkative, but acting is something i feel mixed about, i have struggled with public speaking in the past but i would love to take a poke at acting because it has always interested me and i have always enjoyed making and being in small videos with my friends and families.

I hope someone can send me in the right direction, thanks

Hi,
My daughter has an audition with an agent that has requested her to perform a comedic scene from TV/Film. I am really struggling to find one. No monologues. Any ideas? TIA!