Saturday, September 11, 2010

Acting Auditions Tips

Acting Auditions Tips

If your looking for acting audition tips this is a good place to start, It’ll give you a few things to consider though because of space its not totally exhaustive, so just consider this a starting point.

Acting auditions can broken down into roughly three sections, The Preparation, The Performance and The Result. We’ll look at all three which will give you enough ideas to make you a little more relaxed about the whole process.


THE PREPARATION

Preparation, as any job interview book will tell you, is essential.
Firstly, do as much research as you can, be it the character you going to play, the director, the company or even the writer. It will show thoroughness and dedication that could be the deciding factor in your favor.
Secondly, make sure you know your monologues, you should have practiced them out loud in front of a variety of people to get as any opinions as possible, if you can’t get a wide range of opinions you may find it useful to record yourself(video or audio), this gives you the chance to evaluate your own performance from a slightly different perspective.
Thirdly, know exactly where the location of the interview is, how long it takes to get there and arrive early. This allows you to relax and find some where to warm up.
You could be hanging around for a long time so take a book, some water and food or something like an ipod to keep you relaxed and occupied.
When in the audition environment it pays dividends to be nice to everyone, remember, todays rival actor could be tomorrows hot new director. This Don't be intimidated by the other actors auditioning with you, they will be just as nervous as you are. even if they appear cocky that doesn't make them a better actor than you!


THE PERFORMANCE

First impressions count, so upon entering the acting audition room be confident, positive and friendly. It may be helpful to remind yourself that these people in front of you are on your side, they actually want you to be great! Its good to be as open and personable as possible because you want the director to want to work with you personally as well as professionally and any advantage is an advantage.
Try to keep any questions you may have to a minimum, these are busy people and too many questions can seem overly ingratiating.
Your initial monologue should not really be more than two minutes long, have others prepared, these should show your range and diversity, and also have a longer monologue prepared, just in case the Director requests it.
The director may ask you to reread after direction, so good listening skills are important, at this point its better to ask questions than to assume that you know what the director wants, accepting direction also requires flexibility, so don’t stick too tightly to the same old way you’ve done the reading in the past.


THE RESULT

No article on acting audition tips would be complete without a word or two about rejection.
As you have read there are many ways that you can improve your chances of getting a role, but most actors will get turned down for most jobs most of the time. You could do all of the above and more and still be overlooked, but you should not take this as a comment on your ability. It just indicates that the casting panel thought that someone else was more suitable to that particular role at that particular time.
If you do get called back for a second audition then well done. The same basic rules apply with a few subtle tweaks that will have to wait for another article.

Thanks for taking the time to read my acting audition tips and I hope it gave you a few things to think about.

Acting Courses

Acting Courses, What You Need To Know

Acting courses come in various shapes, sizes and most importantly costs. How do you know which is a good one? What I have below is a list of requirements, some obvious, some not, so when you are looking for a course the more of these boxes they tick the better. Some points may not be as relevant as others, but all are, to some degree, valid and worth considering. The order is no indication of importance - thats up to you.

A good acting course will give you a thorough appreciation of the filmmaking process. This will allow you to access and develop so many vital tools. It will give you understanding of how to create a character which is rounded and believable on screen. Understanding the technical process will hopefully help develop your confidence in front of the camera, if you know what a director wants, it should be easier to give it to them. Therefor any knowledge regarding the technical aspects of filmmaking will be to your advantage.

Any acting course should have be a positive learning environment. The classroom should be a forum for ideas and criticism, where no one is afraid to open up and enthusiasm encouraged. Large class sizes are not always a bad thing they give you the opportunity to network and make a few friends too.

Look for acting courses that provide script analysis and understanding as part of the curriculum. The script is your starting point and being able to see which characters work better than others or are more believable and three-dimensional, will enable you to work more efficiently with the director or writer.
The course should also highlight the difference between stage and film scripts, being good at understanding one doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be as competent with the other.

Even a film acting course can contain information and techniques for stage acting, they are quite different, but some aspects of stage craft can prove useful in front of the camera.

All of the above training and coaching will hopefully be provided by industry veterans or experienced professionals. Most courses will provide a resume for their instructors, but if no information is provided about the people who will be coaching you then the internet can provide quick and easy access to a persons professional background.

A good acting course will be able to supply you with plenty of testimonials from previous students to help you decide if its the right one for you. Don’t be blinded by one famous alumni, better a school produces a lot of good working actors than one superstar.

If you are to get a thorough understanding of the life of an actor your course should give guidance on auditions, including such aspects as monologues, casting call requirements and even details on agents. Lets not forget that they should be realistic and give you an incite into how to survive the arduous life of an actor.

Acting Extras

Acting Extras

Would you like to be rich and famous? Most of us would be happy with just one of these, but acting extras usually end up neither! Having said that it can be fun and also a foot in the door of the film and TV world. Here are a few things to bear in mind.

Be Aware Of The Con Tricks.

There are many scams and cons that take advantage of peoples desire to be acting extras. The most cons common usually involve very high fees to sign up to an acting extras agency. These fees can be in $100s and usually entitle you to composites or head shots that are at best pointless and at worst misleading, or the promise a series of acting classes which, if they materialize, are of no real benefit.
To avoid these traps, look for a well established reputable agency. There will be a one off registration fee $20 or $30 to pay for the initial admin. But after that they make money when you do - thats their job! They will work to find you auditions that suit your skills and physical type.If you have a specific skill or physical attribute you may get paid more. Its worth pointing out that if you have an agent and get a job yourself, without their input, you still have to pay them. If you are with an agent and they don’t get you any work at all you can move to another by giving them 30 days notice of the cancelation of the contract in writing.

Behave On Set.

As an acting extra bad on-set behavior can have a massive affect how much work you get.
Some good rules are;
Arrive early,
If you are new, watch and learn from your more experienced colleagues,
It’s worth bringing a book because you can be on set with nothing to do for hours, be patient. But when you are asked to do something do it straight away.
Treat the cast and crew with courtesy and respect,
Food is provided, but know your place in the pecking order - the bottom,
Never bother to the stars! If they initiate a conversation then reply, but you are there to do a job, you are not being paid to be a fan or to fill up your autograph book.

On set misbehavior will endanger your chances of being asked back or even sent from set there and then.

Keep Your Eyes And Ears Open.

This not only applies to taking advice from more experienced extras on set as mentioned above, but it also applies to finding work. Adverts, films and TV shows are filmed all over the country and when an outdoor scene is shot then locals can get work as extras. The adverts for these jobs can be found in the local press and though they are at the lower end of the pay-scale, they could be the start of something bigger or just a good experience.

Get A SAG Card.

There are two types of extras, those with a Screen Actors Guild card (SAG) and those without. The Screen Actors Guild was set up to improve the working condition of actors. A SAG card means you get paid more and hopefully your career develops more quickly. Every extra starts without the card then as they do more and more work their chances of getting one improve. The basic rule is the more work you get the more more likely it is you'll get the card, once you get the card the more money you get paid. Easy!

I hope that this brief article has helped. Acting as an extra can be fun, it probably won’t make you rich and famous, but you might make some good friends and have some excellent diner party stories!

Friday, September 10, 2010

Online Forensic Nursing

The Benefits Of Online Forensic Nursing Education Programs

There are a few different ways to get certified in forensic nursing. One of these ways is to enroll in an online distance learning program from one of several colleges around the country, but if you can find one close to you, it could work to your advantage. These programs are becoming very popular and would give you a great opportunity to get certified at your convenience.

Forensic nursing offers exclusive challenges to registered nurses looking for exciting health care careers. Many colleges offer online nursing certification courses that help nurses earn the qualifications they need for a rewarding career in forensic nursing.

These programs are becoming more and more popular because you can study at your convenience and not miss any time away from your present job or other responsibilities you may have.

The internet is helping improve the availability and attractiveness of distance learning programs. There are over two million students involved in online programs with over 80% of all colleges offering a form of distance education programs.

While you should consider the popularity and effectiveness in your decision, the particulars about the online classroom experience may surprise you. It actually works in the same way that traditional classrooms work. You will have lectures although not in person. You’ll have assignments although you won’t be handing them in. And, of course, you’ll have exams although you won’t be using a pencil or paper.

Classes begin at certain times, but you won’t have to attend in person. You’ll be communicating with an instructor via email, bulletin boards, instant messenger , and chat rooms. Special software programs simulate your classroom and you’ll have the ability of having virtual workgroups with other students in the program and also work individually with quizzes that may be assigned.

The software gives you access to text files as well as chat functions and bulletin boards. Either streaming audio or recorded video gives you access to the lectures. Most instructors will respond to email on a regular basis usually within 48 hours and offer live class sessions or prerecorded sessions.

With this type of computer assisted environment, these programs are highly effective.

The simple convenience of this type of environment will no doubt make these programs more popular. While weighing your decision about how to get certified, you should keep this option in mind.

Online Nursing Degree

Do you know what you want to be when you grow up? This is a concern that rides the minds of many high school and college graduates alike. It can be difficult deciding on a future career. After all, we figure we're going to have this position for years to come.

This is why it's imperative to choose the right one that makes us happy and pays the bills. One of the more prominent and desirable fields to pursue these days is nursing. Have you considered a career in the medical field? While nursing degrees have always been well known for their reliability and benefits, more recently they've become even simpler to attain. Yes indeed, now days you can acquire an online nursing degree from the comfort of your own home.

Ever since I can remember, my mother has been a registered nurse. I recall her telling me about the time she earned her nursing degree. Of course it wasn't an online nursing degree back then, but who had Internet access in the 60s? She enjoys the working in the medical field and helping those in need of constant care. There is always a certain gratification involved when you strive to make others feel better and live longer. By the time I reached high school, it was clear to me that my mother made a decent income as a registered nurse. She was taking care of three boys on her own, but we always lived well. Not to mention the insurance benefits were ideal. That is something to consider if you're looking into a medical degree. When you work for the state, there are many perks. After twenty years at the same hospital, my mother was able to retire with great benefits.

Are you looking into an online nursing degree? You have to admit, it's great to have access to so much from home. Never before could we accomplish so much learning and education from our homes. With a nursing career, you will soon learn that there are many benefits and shifts available. I watched my mother only work on weekends the entire time I was growing up. How can you beat that schedule? If you are interested in acquiring an online nursing degree, get online today and sort through your options. This very well may be the career choice for you. Cyberspace can give you the rundown on everything the online nursing degree has to offer.

Determine the Quality of an Online Nursing Program

Accreditation

The process of accreditation is not mandatory for nursing programs, but it is desirable. Accreditation is a voluntary program that schools can use to make sure that their program is on par with other schools across the country. While there may be many fine schools that are not accredited, accreditation should give you confidence in an online nursing program. Another reason to choose a school with a valid accreditation is that many schools will not take transfers or allow continuing education from a school that is not accredited.

There are two groups that accredit nursing programs in the United States. They are the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission, or NLNAC, and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, or CCNE. By choosing a school that has the seal of approval from one of these agencies, you should feel confident that you are enrolling in a quality program.

Styles of Learning

Once you are comfortable that your school meets national standards, you must determine whether it will work for you. Online classes are becoming increasingly popular, which is both good and bad. The rapid growth in popularity of online classes has made it difficult for some schools to turn away students. Consider it from the schools point of view. An online course normally costs the same as a regular course. However, the online student does not need a seat in the classroom, does not need to fit into a class. Many colleges do not restrict the class size for online classes. While this may not be a problem if you really understand the coursework and are able to work well independently, it can cause a problem if you need extra help or find yourself falling behind.

One way that many online classes work is by collaborative learning. It is not unusual for the instructor to divide the class into smaller groups and provide assignment for each small group to work together on. Depending on your group you may find yourself spending a good deal of time in online discussions that you had not counted on when planning your time.

Other classes provide little to no interaction between yourself and other students. You will check a class message board for assignments and receive your grades in an email and have little interaction with anything other than the text book.

While it is helpful to discuss the styles of classes before you settle on a school, most teachers within a school have their own style of teaching, and you will have to adapt to each method. The most important factor when considering an online nursing program is the availability of the teachers. In even the smallest classes, if the teacher is unavailable or less than timely in returning graded assignments it will be hard to get the most from your classes.

Hands on Training

In a nursing profession it is important to receive hands on training. You will have to count on a certain number of class hours to be clinical, or hands on. The number of hours and how they are accumulated will vary by school and degree program. Someone studying for the registered nurse, or RN, degree will spend a great deal of time doing clinical work, while a student completing their Bachelor's of Science in Nursing that already is an RN and has worked as a nurse will require few, if any, clinical hours.

Getting Your Questions Answered

An online nursing program, like any other online degree program, is only as good as the people running it. It can be more difficult to determine the quality of the teaching in an online setting, but by paying attention and doing your research you may have find some clues. When you contact the school initially, how are you treated? Are your calls and emails returned promptly? Are your questions answered in a clear manner? The treatment you receive before you are a registered student can be indicative of the treatment you will receive through your time at the school.

Does the staff seem generally knowledgeable and available to answer your questions about financial aid, transferring credits, and other factors that you must consider before committing to one school? While everyone is an individual, you may discover that a helpful and administrative staff often works in the same places as supportive teachers.

The bottom line when shopping for an online nursing program is straightforward. Check that the program is accredited, make sure that there is a system in place for you to receive your clinical hours, and consider the attitude of the staff before you enroll as a student.

Advance Your Nursing Career with Online Nursing Degree

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing is one of the fastest growing occupations in our economy with over a 27% spike in employment projected over the next 5 years. Qualified nurses are in highly demand in the health care market, earning a nursing degree will definitely lead you to a brighter future.

If you already in the health care market as a RN, it time for you to advance your nursing career by earning a bachelor or master nursing degree. With a higher degree you are more employable, you will earn a higher salary, and you will have much more freedom to chart your own career path.

Today, there are many prestige online universities offering RN-to-BSN online degree programs, and now you can earn your nursing degree online. The major benefit of pursuing the nursing degree online is convenience. Like most of prospective online nursing students, you have jobs that you cannot afford to give up in order to return to traditional campus based schools to pursue a higher degree. Having the ability to "attend" class online from anywhere internet access is available at any time that works for your schedule; online nursing degree enable you to achieve your nursing career goal while allowing you to continue your current job.

The Bachelor's degree in Nursing is the basic degree at the professional level of the nursing profession. By earning an online bachelor degree in nursing, you may go on to have successful careers in specialized fields such a:

  • Emergency Room Care

  • Home Health Care

  • Mental Health Care

  • Critical Care

  • Oncology

  • Geriatrics

  • Pediatrics

  • Pulmonary

  • Obstetrics


Master Science in Nursing is one of the hottest degrees and students with master degree in nursing are highly demand in health care job market. Most often, students who choose to pursue a graduate degree in nursing have already gained experience working in the nursing field. The graduate degree will enable you to advance your career to a higher pay position, most often at the managerial level. You can also earn a graduate degree in nursing through online nursing program. Most often, as a master degree student, you will need to choose a specialization to focus in your study. Among the common specialization for graduate degree in nursing are:

  • Community Health Systems

  • Elderly Nursing

  • Psychological Nursing

  • Health Care Systems Administration

  • Family Nursing


After you complete the graduate degree program, you will be specially trained to be successful in the field of your focus of study.

In Summary

Nursing is one of the fastest growing occupations as projected in next 5 years. Qualified nurse with bachelor and master degree are highly demand in the health care job market, getting start now to earn your nursing degree will lead you to a brighter career future. Online nursing degree enables you to earn your degree from anywhere and at your own schedule while preparing you to compete in this booming health care sector.