LB Acting Studio Blog
by lewis baumander
Acting in the Age of Social Media
How social media affects actors’ attention, creativity, and emotional depth. A look at the impact of digital habits on film and television acting training, self-tapes, and performance.
Hard Work vs Talent vs Luck in — and the Myth of Manifesting
Hard work vs talent vs luck in acting explained by a veteran acting coach. Learn what actors can control, what they can’t, and how discipline builds real careers.
Why Actors Are Never the Same Twice
Actors often feel pressure to “lock in” a performance: hit the same beats, deliver the same energy, repeat what “worked” in rehearsal. But here’s the truth—you can’t ever repeat exactly. And that’s not a weakness. It’s your greatest strength. Every time you step into a scene, you are a different person than you were a moment […]
Chemical Conflict: Fueling Authentic Performance
For generations, actors have been trained to chase objectives, verbs, and intentions. What do you want? What’s in your way? What are you going to do to get it? This approach made sense when plays were written in neat cause-and-effect structures. But today’s writing—and today’s audience—demands something more layered, more relative, less predictable, especially in film […]
The Words You Use Are Directing You
How “Audition” Language Can Shut Down Creativity—or Generate It—Before You Ever Hit Record I’m going to make a claim that will sound overly simple until you test it in your own body: Most actors don’t do their best work because they lack ability. They don’t do their best work because the language they’re using turns […]
Breathing Through Transitions: The Actor’s Anchor
There’s a moment that unnerves almost every actor—not the big audition, not the table read, not even opening night. It’s the small, quiet transition between lines, between thoughts, between actions. That’s where doubt creeps in. That’s where fear whispers: What if the next thing I say sounds stupid? What if they laugh? What if I freeze? […]
The Three Faiths of Acting
Actors are told to “be truthful,” but that advice often fails in auditions. Learn how faith in self, partner, and script supports real work.
Should I Join the Union? (A Canadian Actor’s Perspective)
At some point in every Canadian actor’s journey, the question comes up: Should I join the union? In Canada, that usually means ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) for film, TV, and digital media, or Equity (Canadian Actors’ Equity Association) for stage and live performance. Joining is a milestone. It changes how […]
Youth Acting Classes for Film & TV: Why LB Acting Studio Is Different
At LB Acting Studio, we train young actors for the real demands of film and television, plain and simple. Whether your child is just starting out or already auditioning, our youth acting classes help build the skills they actually need: camera technique, script work, and how to be a professional on set. We offer both […]
How Do I Get an Agent?
One of the most common questions we get at LB Acting Studio is: “How do I get an agent?” Actors assume there’s some secret handshake, some magic formula, or that if they just “get good enough,” agents will appear out of thin air. Let’s clear that up. Getting an agent is about being ready, presenting […]
Acting Rewired – Event ➡️ Choice ➡️ Consequence.
Join Our Acting Rewired Class Preface “The actor’s goal has always been to disappear into the character, but the ways of doing so must evolve.” Acting is older than the written word. Around Ancient fires, shamans embodied gods and ancestors; by 5th-century BCE Athens, Thespis stepped from the chorus and invented the solo performer. Roman […]
Watch Movies and TV Shows with Others, Discuss, and Form Tribes
Do You Need to Be in an Acting Class to Get Better? Actors often ask: Do I need to be in an acting class to get better? An acting coach will always say yes, and with good reasons. Training in an acting class provides camaraderie, peer feedback, and valuable practice time on the mark, giving actors the […]
Understanding Shame
Part 1: Understanding Shame—An Overview Humans have a number of different emotions that we utilize in acting, and ‘shame’ is one that we need to understand deeply. Let’s be clear, shame is not just a social construct or a punishment handed down by society. Shame is an evolved, adaptive emotion that has helped people find […]
Part 3: Consistent Comic Devices, Timing & Techniques
Consistent, Main Comic Devices from Roman Times to Contemporary Comedy Below is a concise list of essential comic devices—tools or techniques that have recurred throughout comedic history, from ancient Roman stages to contemporary sketch shows and sitcoms.These comedic devices often overlap or reinforce each other, but each device plays a distinct role in generating laughter […]
Part 2: Commedia’s Echo In Contemporary Comedy—and Politics
Commedia dell’Arte and Warner Bros.: Character-by-Character Before we look at modern sketches and sitcoms, let’s take a look at the parallels between the Commedia’s stock characters and Looney Tunes: Arlecchino (Harlequin) → Bugs Bunny Arlecchino: Clever, resourceful, mischievous. Bugs Bunny: The ultimate trickster, outsmarting foes with wit and disguises. Brighella → Daffy Duck Brighella: A […]
Part 1: The History Of Comedy and Honoring The Past
Of the many fears actors have about auditioning, the obvious one is that they’re not good enough. However, the twin peaks of fear are, How do I cry on cue? And I’m not funny? We will deal with just the issue of comedy and not be funny and leave our tears for another day. One of […]
COLD READ AUDITION GUIDE
COLD READ AUDITION GUIDE How to Approach & Practice Cold Reads with Confidence and Skill For Aspiring & Working Actors PART 1: MINDSET & COMMITMENT Own the Script – No Shame If you’re holding the script in a cold read audition, hold it with confidence. Don’t pretend you’re not using it. It’s not cheating—it’s the job. […]
A Hand on Your Shoulder: Community and the Creative Journey
One of the things I often say in classes is that the elephant in the room—the unspoken truth—is that we are all preparing for something that might never happen, yet we must be dressed for the prom, waiting for the prince to knock on our door or ring the bell. You can’t be found sitting […]