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MY FAVORITE THINGSHere's a running list of products I use and love that I would recommend to you in a face-to-face convo. Most of these are affiliate links, which means at no extra charge to you, I'll receive a commission if you purchase through my link. I made the decision to add affiliates to keep this blog active, but I highly recommend these products whether or not you buy them through me. I hope you like them as much as I do.
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SELF-TAPING STUDIO
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Audition Self-Taping StudioI came into the acting game right after self-taping became a thing, so my entire Christmas that year was everything I needed to get started. I've listed what I've been using since 2016 that's been worth every penny.
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Cowboy Studio Box LightsThese box lights are a steal for everything that's included! I've had mine for a few years now, and the original light bulbs still work.
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Amazon Basics TripodThis tripod comes with a built-in level so you'll always know that the legs are even. I also love that every part has a knob that allows me to move or swivel it however I need. The movement catches and sticks too much, but I've never needed to move it for self-taping. For the price, it's exactly what I needed to hold my camera.
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Cell Phone MountIf you're self-taping on your smartphone, then you'll need a cell phone mount for the top of your tripod, This one is super cheap and does the job. The piece of foam that cushions my phone just recently popped off after a few years, but it's so cheap that I don't care. It's also easy enough to glue it back onto the mount. The mount itself has held up great.
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Wire Storage ShelvesBesides holding some of my stuff, these shelves allow me to put my laptop at eye level so I can see my reader if I need to FaceTime for an audition. You'll need to buy the right size for your height. Full disclosure, I purchased 3-tier sets at Lowe's and stacked them, but that cost me a whopping $70. This one from Amazon is much cheaper.
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Spike TapeWe used spike tape to mark everything when I was a theatre major in college. One day my reader saw how long it took me to move everything in my studio and said, "Why don't you just tape your floor?" Duh! Spike tape is tried-and-true stuff that won't jack up your flooring. It also comes in different colors so you can tape each setup (i.e. full body in blue, closeups in green, medium shots in orange).
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ACTOR BAG & CAR KIT
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Be PreparedBefore I became a working actor, I always heard other actors talk about how much stuff they keep in their car. Your acting kit is a real thing, though. There's nothing worse than reaching back to grab something you need for an audition only to feel that pit in your stomach because you know you're going to look like an unprepared actor.
From the blog post: Does Your Actor Kit Include Cardboard? |
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Q-Tips Travel PackThese are the best way to clean your nose when you've already applied your camera makeup!
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Joy Huggable HangersI can't say enough about these. Straight up--these are cheaper at Target, but if you're in a pinch, you can order them on Amazon. I suggest getting the full hanger so you can hang pants, too.
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Peppermint OilYou can use a drop or two of peppermint essential oils to freshen your breath in lieu of gum or mints, which will be a distraction when you're saying your lines. Please only use therapeutic grade oils that are certified for internal use.
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SmartMouth Travel PacksI keep a big bottle of this at home, and just found out they have travel packs! The regular bottles are not airtight, so be sure to use the travel packs if you don't want it to spill everywhere. SmartMouth is unique in that they claim guaranteed 24-hour fresh breath if you use it according to the instructions.
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ACTING & DEVELOPMENT BOOKS
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Insider KnowledgeI'm so thankful to the following authors for sharing their experiences that I would never otherwise hear as an actor. If you want to the nitty gritty details of what everyone else is thinking, especially about you as an actor, then these are the books you need to read to make you the most impressive actor on set.
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Adventures in the Screen Trade by William GoldmanIf I could only ever recommend one book to you as an aspiring film actor, it wouldn't be a technique book--it would be this one. You desperately need to know how the film industry got to where it is today, especially for actors. Don't be fooled by the subtitle: this book is about way more than screenwriting. Goldman's insider knowledge of this business is the punch-in-the-gut reality check you need as an actor to learn how to navigate your career like a pro.
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Movie Speak by Tony BillIf you can't read Steven Spielberg's quote on the front of this book, it says, "...having a knowledge of the industry terms will fool everyone into thinking you own the place." You want to be that actor.
I once had a casting director tell me to walk in on a curve, to which I responded, "Oh you mean walk in on a banana?" She was so proud that I knew what that meant, and it instantly built trust with her that I would look like a pro on set. |
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Audition by Michael ShurtleffThis book is such a classic that I will be surprised if you haven't heard of it already, but I wanted to include it just in case. Shurtleff's personal stories about seeing Barbara Streisand and Dustin Hoffman for the first time are memorable. My biggest takeaways were all about how directors think of actors, which you don't want to miss.
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