Exit, Stage Left

I am a stage actor and a dramatic tenor. I have been in the business for over 20 years, and I have performed in lead roles in a number of musicals.

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The effects of fame on human psyche

Image Source: pauleannareid.com

One of the measures of an actor's success is his fame. Fame is what many (if not all) actors strive for. They want people to know their name and be recognized for their talent in playing leading roles. But is fame all that it's cracked up to be?

Fame is a catalyst for change. The moment you become popular, you have to learn to accept the changes that come with it. You will miss the privacy of being a stranger to the public's eye. Although the feeling of being recognized by other people is a gratifying experience, it also puts a toll on your personal life; especially if you become a big shot Hollywood star. Fans and critics alike will constantly scrutinize you and you will be hounded by the paparazzi.

Image Source: theguardian.com

Fame also comes with a huge responsibility. You are looked upon as a role model and a person to emulate. That's why some people say that fame is lonely and the root of many trust issues with both friends and family. Others also say it makes them feel like a caged animal or a toy in the display window at a toy store. Why then do people still want it?

Being rich and famous sounds like a pretty good deal but what many people don't know is that it's not as glamorous as they may think. It's hard to find people who like you for you and not for all the money you make or the influence you have as a popular artist.

Fame can be used in a variety of ways; an actor can either use it to create a positive change or he can succumb to the negative influence of fame like drug addiction and alcoholism. It's evident that not everyone handles fame the same way and overall, it depends on the actor and how he wants to use his fame.

Image Source: recomparison.com

Hi, I'm Louis P. Habash and I'm a musical theater actor. Like my Facebook page for more articles on acting and other related discussions.

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REPOST: 8 Tips for Applying to College Acting Programs

This Back Stage article shares some tips for prospective theater and musical theater majors to get you on the right path toward admission into a quality college program. Image Source: backstage.com So you’re a high school junior getting ready to apply to college theater programs. As…

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33 Tips From Established Actors in 2014

http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/33-tips-established-actors-2014/

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29 Signs You Have a Degree in Theater

http://www.backstage.com/news/29-signs-you-have-degree-theater/

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REPOST: 10 Audition Tips You Need to Know

Learn what an acting audition is and how to prepare for your next audition as an aspiring actor by reading this article below: 

Image Source: backstage.com

Last week I started casting a new feature film. It’s so thrilling to get to know new actors during auditions and put together the talent for the film!

I was largely impressed by everyone’s preparation. One scene has a three-page monologue, and about 90 percent of the actors were off-book. You could tell they’d put a lot of work into it—not just by learning the lines but by making bold and exciting choices for the character.

This stage always reminds me that there are still things that actors can learn when going through the audition process.

When we instruct you to bring your headshot and résumé to the audition, we actually mean it. It’s not just a suggestion. This is your calling card. You should bring it whether you’ve been instructed or not, just to be safe. I really don’t want to hear, “Oh, my agent-manager said they’d sent it over,” or “I haven’t done that for years.”

Unless you’re Angelina Jolie or Will Smith, you need to bring it! When I talk to you before your audition and get to know you, I want your résumé right in front of me so that I can see not only your film and TV credits, but your training and theater credits—neither of which are available on IMDb.

This seems like a no-brainer, but you need to bring your photo ID when you come on a studio lot. I’m amazed at how many people show up without their ID and can’t get on the lot.

The “h” is silent in “nihilism.” If there’s a word in your script you don’t know the meaning of or don’t know how to pronounce, look it up beforehand.

When I have prereads (when you work with me before going on to the next step with the director or filmmaking team), I want to see your personality. I want to see a part of you I won’t be seeing in the audition or haven’t seen yet in your work. For this movie, I’m looking for people with that extra “special sauce”—so help me get to know you. When I ask what you thought of the script, have something intelligent to say so that I can see how your brain works and I can hear how articulate you are. No one wants to hear, “I thought it was cute!” about their project.

Don’t use the director or producers who are in the room as the characters in the scene and look directly at them. It makes them wildly uncomfortable. They want to watch you, not be part of the scene. Just look directly over their heads or use the cameraperson and the reader to direct your looks.

When you are referencing a third person in the scene (other than your reader), don’t direct your looks way off-camera. Just adjust your eye-line to the other side of the camera.

Remember not to slap your sides on your thigh or crinkle them, which can make a lot of unnecessary and annoying noise.

I was very impressed by how the actors dressed for the part to show us how they’re thinking about the character. Wear something that’s indicative of the character—but not a costume.

If you come to the studio lot you may have to park 10 or 15 minutes away from the audition, so make sure you come early (as we suggest in our appointment request). And the ladies should make sure to bring a pair of flat shoes.

Before you come in you should know whether you’re going to sit or stand for your audition. When I ask whether you’d like to sit or stand, it shouldn’t take you a few minutes to decide!

Most of these may seem obvious, but you’d be very surprised by how many people make these mistakes. I’m here to help!

Hi there! I am Louis P. Habash, a professional actor in musical theater. Connect with me on Google+ to get more acting tips and tricks.

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From one stage to the next: Stage vs. on-screen acting

There's a huge difference between acting for a stage play and filming for a movie or a television show. Making the move from one stage to the other will require some adjustment. How is the stage di...

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Memorize this: How stage actors learn all their lines

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/news/ct-how-actors-memorize-lines-column.html#page=1

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The backup plan:  When actors forget their lines

Image Source: intentionalacting.com

Aside from learning the proper stage blocking and acting the part, stage actors wow the audience for their incredible ability to memorize pages upon pages of lines. But actors are human and there is no greater terror for them than forgetting their lines mid-monologue. What do great actors do when this happens? Here are a few key guidelines for wannabe theater actors:

Don't panic

The feeling that you don’t know what to say next can be overwhelming. But to panic in the middle of a scene is unprofessional and would ruin the play more than forgotten lines. It is usually your panic that makes you lose your focus and make you forget your dialogue. Keep calm and steady your breathing, try to remember the gist of what you're supposed to say and ad lib. Your co-actor can also be looked upon for support.

Stay in character

So you blanked out on your next line, but you should still stay in character. This will make it easier for you to improvise until you get back on track with your actual script. It helps if you know your role well because you know what he or she might do in the situation.

Image Source: acting-coach.co.uk

Let instincts take over

You know your lines, you've mastered them and can recite them on autopilot but when you step on stage, you draw up a complete blank and don't even remember who you are. This is why you shouldn't panic. Stage fright is normal and it can be remedied. Eventually you will remember what you've forgotten and your instincts will kick in. Before this happens you can do something, walk to the other side of the stage or have a stare down with your co-actor, so that it won't be obvious that you've forgotten your lines.

Other actors use prompters or earpieces on the off chance that they forget their lines so that a person from backstage can easily dictate their next lines. Although critics may frown upon this practice, this isn't such a bad thing if the audience expects consistency and loyalty to the original script.

Image Source: backstage.com

I am Louis P. Habash and I have been in musical theater for over twenty years. Subscribe to my blog to discover more about the life of an actor.

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Independence Never Tasted So Good

Within a timeframe that could arguably be squeezed into the last decade (or maybe a tad more), the idea of independent cinema has taken on a variety of characteristics that many would either shun or dismiss as under-the-radar gems that happened to be picked up by one of the big studios and put into the limelight with overfunded publicity that overshadows artistic integrity. A lot of critics might agree, but there is undoubtedly a trend happening in the filmmaking industry that seems to embrace unapologetic, unorthodox screenwriters, directors, and production teams in a way that might send reverberating shocks of anxiety into the blockbuster bleachers. Louis A. Habash, an actor and film critic based out of San Francisco, is undoubtedly in a prime location to feel the rippling effects independent cinema is having on the moviemaking industry, and in a way a lot of cinephiles are standing in the outermost regions of the business quietly applauding the accomplishments of an underdog who has waited far too long for their chance at the title.

Image Source: cbslocal.com

By the look of things so far, we are already in store for experimental filmmaking that no longer has to abide by overbearing budgets and big-name studio execs who care about nothing but overheads and ticket sales. Now, we have a new breed of filmmakers that are more than happy to snub their noses at the Hollywood elite and make the kinds of movies they themselves have always wanted to see. Quentin Tarantino is by and large one of the most influential figures in independent cinema, and that was etched in cinematic stone with finality upon winning the 1995 Best Screenplay Oscar for “Pulp Fiction.” Ever since, his movies are eagerly anticipated at the theatre and now cause rampant buzz on the internet with endless conversation on fantasy collaborations, possible retirement announcements, leaked screenplays, and other speculations that follow someone who is arguably the most successful, and most spearheading figure in independent cinema today. For someone like Louis P. Habash, the ability to stay inspired by the work of Tarantino is likely not that difficult, but following developments in his career and what could or could not be deemed as a rumor is never an easy task. Film critics are always on their toes no matter who they are covering, but with someone like Habash and a background in acting, the stakes are far more personal and tangible.

Follow Louis P. Habash on Facebook for more acting and filmmaking-related topics.

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Two Hats in Hollywood

They say making it onto the big screen is a dream that so many people want that the competition sends a lot of people packing things up and heading in the opposite direction of the glamorous Hollywood hills. There are countless actors trying to make a name for themselves in the moviemaking business, and yet massive shifts have taken place in the industry where aspiring actors, directors, screenwriters, and other film buffs are no longer subjected to just Los Angeles and the outlying tentacles of show business that surround it.

Independent cinema and DIY antics have made moviemaking something just about anyone can do with the right ideas and enough diligence to make their own unique mark on the landscape. Louis A. Habash, an actor and film critic based out of San Francisco, has combined his love for visual artistry into parallels examining life behind and in front of the camera, and getting this unique perspective can possibly explain a lot about where the industry is headed and what we, as viewers, are likely to see.

Image Source: wordandfilm.com

Arguably everyone loves a good movie, and over the last couple of decades we have seen household names take on new responsibilities, some we could never have possible imagined. Ron Howard, for instance, went from Opie Taylor on “The Andy Griffith Show” to an Academy Award-winning Director that has completely redefined moviemaking in new and exhilarating ways. Clint Eastwood, who became one of the most iconic figures of the spaghetti western and would go on to play other legendary roles like Dirty Harry, is now widely-regarded as another steadfast pioneer in the Director’s chair, making such acclaimed films as “Unforgiven,” “Bird,” “Mystic River,” and “American Sniper.”

Louis P. Habash, unlike most of us, is one of those individuals who can take his experience behind-the-scenes to give us an in-depth look at what such transitions mean within the industry, and how they have shaped the way filmmaking is being done today, and where it could likely go in the upcoming future. As many would point out, independent is quickly becoming one of the staple components to eye-catching movies these days, and as long as untethered scripts continue to fall into the laps of adventurous, unwavering directors and producers, then we are going to be on a whirlwind of a ride during our visits to theatre over the next few years.

To learn more about Louis A. Habash and his take on where filmmaking is potentially headed next, or for a sneak-peek at films he sees as paving new ground in the industry, visit his website for recommendations, insight, and information on the business. It never hurts to have someone on the inside, and with backstage access like this, we may finally get the whole picture.

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George Takei to make Broadway bow in musical

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/theater/2015/02/05/george-takei-to-make-broadway-bow-in-musical/22925531/

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Share in Louis P. Habash's passion for musical theater.

http://www.facebook.com/louis.habash.7

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The perils of fame: What are the best ways to handle rumors and gossip?

Image Source: forbes.com It's a given that actors and actresses' lives have become available to the public and they constantly have to put up model behavior to avoid gossip about them. They need to keep their reputations clean to maintain their marketability. Some celebrities live quietly, but others thrive in the spotlight and in gossip columns and blogs. Whether you as an actor will choose that kind of fame or the low-key one, here are some simple ways to handle rumors and gossip, which are standard features in all income levels in the industry: Speak up and be honest. Set the story straight. Rumors tend to be exaggerated and lost in context. To protect yourself from bad publicity, it's best to come forward with the truth. If the truth is that you've made a mistake, own up to it and apologize. People will appreciate your honesty and contrition.

Image Source: catosdomain.com Take negative feedback as constructive criticism. Don't take everything personally. Treat rumors and gossip as a venue for self-improvement and personal growth. If you are seen as a snobbish, unfriendly person, do something to change their view of you. Live morally. If you live without hurting anybody, people won't have any reason to bring you down. Although there will also be those who will be wary of your kindness and altruism, ignore them. They exist to bring you down but do not let them succeed in their malice.

Image Source: wikihow.com I'm Louis P. Habash, and I'm a musical theater actor with two decades of experience. Learn more about acting and and the life that goes with it by following me on Google+.

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New musicals are dying off on B’way, to the tune of $37 million and counting

http://nypost.com/2015/01/06/new-musicals-are-dying-off-on-bway-to-the-tune-of-37-million-and-counting/

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Welcome 2015!