I hope everyone’s safe and healthy out there! With the whole quarantine happening right now, a lot of people have expressed how bored they are. Here are some ideas of things to do if you’re a bored actor!
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1.) Write and shoot a monologue!
What really inspires you? Is it vampires? How about true love? Whatever it is, get your inner diva on and write a monologue about it! It can be whatever you want it to be.
Then, once you’ve practiced it and really gotten into it, set your phone up on a tripod (or a dresser!) and film yourself! You could even film yourself from multiple angles for that dramatic effect and edit them together. Add some copyright-free music from the YouTube studio, and you’ve got yourself some content!
2.) Write and shoot a scene!
Do you live with someone? Ask them if they’d like to be in a scene with you! You’re already sharing the space, might as well have fun while you’re at it.
3.) Livestream a monologue or song!
Craving live theater? Practice your little heart out on a monologue or song and livestream it for the world to see! Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube all have livestreaming options.
4.) Livestream an improv monologue!
Is there a character that you just want to be? Improv a whole monologue while livestreaming it! What are they thinking about right now? When people message you in-video, how do they respond? It could be really fun.
5.) Make blooper videos of past selftapes!
Do you have tons of previous selftapes just waiting to be blooped? Do you say funny things in the sidelines? Compile them together for a fun little blooper video!
6.) Write a short, a scene, or a feature!
Just for fun! If you really fall in love with it, you could go down that path and shop around for literary agents further down the line. (Or now since they’ve got loads of time to read?!) Also, you could plan to actually produce your script in the future!
7.) Finally film your skills!
If you’ve got a skill, film it and show casting directors that you ain’t no liar! Then, post it on Actors Access!
8.) Listen to casting director interviews!
And take notes! Now is a good time to learn from the casting directors we really want to get in front of! (And then send a postcard telling them you listened to their interview with so-and-so and loved it!)
9.) Learn that language you’ve been wanting to learn!
You know the one. The one that you keep saying, I should learn this language because I’m always called in for… (For me, it’s French!) I like Duolingo, I know people have an issue with it, but I like it!
10.) Write and shoot a scene online!
Get on one of those video conference call apps with an actor friend and make a scene together! Screen record it, and you have yourself a scene! It’ll be found-footage-esque.
11.) Read some of your favorite movies!
Yes, I said read! Find the script online and learn from your favorite writers! You’ll get to see exactly what the actors saw before it got on the screen. And before they even got cast!
12.) Recreate your favorite TV/Film monologue!
Did you know that a recreation of a scene from television or film can go on your reel? Mmhmm.
13.) Learn some accents!
Because they’re fun and you can use them in selftapes further down the line! Extra credit: film little clips of them to submit to breakdowns later!
14.) Rewrite and film Shakespeare!
Find a Shakespearean monologue and perform it in modern language! Post it everywhere! Even your reel!
Obviously you can still film Shakespeare without rewriting it, so it’s your preference!
15.) Update your acting website!
If you’ve got an acting website, it’s a good time to make sure everything’s up-to-date!
16.) Make an inspiration board!
Gather pictures of all the things that inspire you, like certain movies, forests, pretty things, art, whatever floats your boat! Things that make you go, “LET ME AT THAT SCRIPT!”
17.) Watch the classics!
I mean the absolute classics. The ones that when someone asks if you’ve seen them, you’re a little embarrassed to say you haven’t. For me, that’s The Titanic. (I know, I have to watch it!)
18.) Make a commercial!
Because why not? If it’s good enough, you could put it on your commercial reel and start submitting for commercials! Get something from around the house and SELL IT!
19.) Vlog!
If you’ve got something to say, you better say it! And your friends and relatives might like seeing your face again.
20.) Make your household read a short script with you in character!
Everyone gets a role or two and GO AT IT! It’s super fun. Get your household involved!
Have fun while you get stuff done!
Or just have fun. 🙂
I hope you liked this article, I certainly liked writing it! Brainstorming ideas of things to do that are unique to you could also be on this list, but I like the number 20! Comment below what you’ve been doing in this quarantine, make sure to email subscribe to always get our new articles, and check out our Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!
Have a wonderful week!
