All actors want to keep it fresh, as if every line we say has just come off the top of our heads, (like we do in real life), and hasn’t been something we’ve been thinking about during our scene partner’s previous line. Let’s face it. This is a basic element of good acting, and it’s one of the hardest things to do.

One of the main problems I always had, as an actor, was saying the lines exactly the same way, time after time. I found that once I’d memorized my lines in a particular rhythm, I had a hard time saying them any other way. It didn’t matter how the other actor delivered his or her lines to me, or even if they changed them, made their lines more angry, more sad, or said them more quickly, or softly – no matter how …

I keep having all sorts of people writing me privately, after reading my post about, “The Seven Reasons Why Professional Programs Simply Aren’t Worth It” — asking me, “Kirsten, if you had it to do over again, what would you do now?” Many of these actors tell me they’re already enrolled in expensive programs, and are now thinking, after reading this post, that they won’t go. They’re left feeling lost and confused. My advice to all of you is this. Get into a good Method Acting Class, based on Lee Strasberg, and learn to act in realistic ways, that will translate the best for Film and Television.

We’ve all heard about famous Method actors, like Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, and Marlon Brando, but why did they all have so much success? Because Lee Strasberg was their teacher! …

LA is one of the busiest most overpopulated cities in the world. As such, it’s really hard when you first move there — especially if you don’t know anyone. The first week you arrive in the city, one of the best things you can do for yourself, is to find some groups to join, and create a new family.

Joining an acting, improv, or cold reading class, will immediately help you learn the ins and outs of the LA professional acting scene. In these classes, you will meet folks who’ve lived in LA all their lives as well as actors of all ages and ethnicities, who’ve recently arrived, just like you! Joining an acting class, and maybe auditioning for a local LA theater production, are some of the quickest ways to make new acting friends.

Political Action groups, or …

Too many young actors and actresses who move to Hollywood, think it’s all a big party scene. They think their life will mirror TV shows like: The OC, Laguna Beach, Gossip Girl, or The Hills. It won’t. Life in LA is so much more difficult, expensive, urban, dirty, poverty-stricken, stressful, and oftentimes, just plain boring, than you can ever imagine. What we see every week on TV is nothing like the reality of the hard slog of being a professional actor. If this is a surprise to you, then maybe you’d better rethink your move to LA!

Because it’s so hard to live and work in LA, many acting professionals can get easily lured into a crazy kind of lifestyle, and many get quickly burnt out. How can you come to LA and be prepared for all the stress? …

When I first moved to LA, waaaayyy back in 1989, I came by myself. I was moving there to be part of the USC Masters in Acting program, so I knew I’d meet new people. But I have to tell you… it was a very lonely first year. I’d wake up alone in my cute little apartment, and look out the window into the (always) bright blue sky, and instead of saying, “Yeah! I’ve made it!” — I’d think, “God, not another boring cloudless day!” I felt so alone. I’d spend many hours crying myself to sleep, wondering what in the hell I’d done, running around the Fairfax High School track, to keep in shape, saying, “I think I can! I think I can! I think I can!” But I was pretty lonely.

For those of you …

Since no one walks anywhere in LA, and since everything is about 1/2 an hour to 45 minutes away from everything else in LA, you will need to own a car. Might I also add here that LA is hot as you know what in the summer. If your car doesn’t have air-conditioning, good luck arriving at meetings looking fresh!

As a working actor, you will be expected to drop what you are doing with one phone call from your agent, and head out the door 5 minutes later to go on an audition. This makes life a bit difficult if you have a full time job (which you will!) and if your job is at the Macy’s in the Valley, and your audition is in Santa Monica. That being said, if you have a reliable car, you won’t …