I get many emotional reactions to my post “The Seven Reasons Why Professional Acting Training Programs Simply Aren’t Worth It.” In fact, that one post alone gets about a thousand hits a month, and brings lots of traffic to this blog. That blows my mind. I never meant to be so controversial.

Heck, I have an MFA in Acting and there were many things I absolutely LOVED about my two year USC program. But after I got out of the program, I learned that I’d spent about $75,000 to go there, and I could have spent that much money putting a down payment on a house in LA, or even funded my own indie film. I could have taken ten years of private classes (on my own time and schedule) with the most famous acting coaches in the world! I’ve also received many angry comments …

I recently received a lovely email from a young actor/actress in the UK, wanting more advice and information about being a Christian actor, especially when you’re still in your teens and you want to “fit in.” Although I’ve tried to answer many of these questions in my previous posts: Being a Christian in the Acting Game (Parts 1 and 2) — I always feel there’s a need to repeat and update. Here is a summary of Jo’s beautifully written and thoughtful email:

“I have a topic and also a future post that would be very interesting for all Christian actors I’m sure; to know howWhat if it’s a really awful play that doesn’t hold any moral themes?far to go at college in your drama class and everything you might do involving drama. At school it’s really hard to stand up and say ‘I don’t wanna do …

I recently got an email from an actress named Candace. She has allowed me to post part of her email here, so that I can reply to her publicly. I always enjoy doing this since so many people who come to this site have the same questions. I’m taking acting, and thinking of moving to Los Angeles to really go for it. Am I making the right choice?They usually all boil down to: “Help, I want to be a professional actor, what do I do?” - or - “I’m taking acting, and thinking of moving to Los Angeles to really go for it. Am I making the right choice?” While many of the posts on this site try and answer these questions, I found that Candace had some other concerns, mainly, trying to act while being a mom and a wife, and wanting the best for …

I recently received a question from a young actor from the UK, asking me if it was possible to get a Christian Agent, and if it was necessary. Honestly, I don’t really know the answer. I would think that of course you could find a Christian Agent. But I would have no idea where to start, other than Googling, “Christian Acting Agents.” However, honestly, I think you’d be limiting your options by deciding you would only want to work with a Christian agent. That’s like saying you won’t buy food from a shop owner who’s not a Christian, and on and on. Many people in the film industry are not devout Christians, but that doesn’t mean these same folks won’t care for you, or empathize with you, or want to help you find a successful career. …

I’m writing these two part posts, in response to some fabulous comments to follow, but also because I receive so many questions regarding my post Seven Reasons Why Professional Acting Training Programs Are Simply Not Worth It. These are the basic questions I am always asked, and I wanted to explain my thoughts further: “I want to act or at least learn how to become professional actor or actress. Do I need to go to a College or University? If not, should I go to a professional acting program? If I do go to college, should I major in acting, or should I get a BFA in acting? Would that be wasting my time? And what about MFA Acting and Theater programs? What should I do?” Well, this post will try to …

Besides the obvious inspirational religious or faith-based books that most people read, such as the Bible, or the Upanishads, or the Bhagavad Gita, there are so many other books I’ve loved and read dozens of times, which I wanted to post as recommendations, for your reading pleasure! These are my favorite books that truly changed my life! I get so many people writing me asking me for advice about being an actor or artist who’s Christian, or just plain spiritual-minded, and I realize that some of the best advice I can offer, actually comes out of these books. In them is so much of what inspires ME, and I also admit that much of what’s in these books goes even way beyond my own personal faith.

The messages within each of these books are the same. They are …