Gunnar Rohrbacher

A lot more than you might think! When fleshing out relationships in a scene, every actor will tackle the most prominent one. Most actors will develop relationships with secondary or ensemble characters in the scene. However, not many actors take a true tally of all the relationships that are in any given scene and take […]

Over the last 40 years, improv has evolved from an elevated art form practiced by a tiny percentage of actors with extensive performance experience and training to the near replacement of basic acting training for most actors eyeing a career in comedy. This is unfortunate and problematic, nowhere more so than Hollywood. I am an

This is an important question that beguiles many actors and has prompted many lengthy discussions. The quest for a certain answer is understandable since one-liners, or co-star roles, are how most actors start acquiring credits and building a résumé. The answer is ultimately the same as approaching any role of any size, but somehow that

Many actors auditioning for comedy have a fear of going “too big.” The result very often is an audition that is lackluster and not dynamic enough to make an impression. By and large, casting offices are not inundated with actors chewing up the scenery and doing way too much. If anything, it’s the opposite; actors

The want statement you create for yourself and the arc of the scene are like the starting and stopping points. You need to be as clear and specific as possible regarding what your character is working toward, how much energy it takes to get it and exactly when they realize they achieved their goal or

Here’s a big secret about comedy auditions: You don’t have to prove that you’re funny. It may seem obvious, but for a lot of actors, it isn’t. In the context of auditioning for a television show or film, “comedy” is a very broad label. Obviously, a comedic production should produce humor, but that does not

The reasons actors book work or don’t go way past assessing whether they are good or bad, talented or not. That’s rarely the discussion. The vast majority of actors asked to audition are good, well-trained, experienced performers. So, if the actors called to audition for a role are more or less equally qualified, it’s fair

To be great at anything, you need to train yourself. That means taking classes and studying, learning via books, practice and research, watching others who are great at what you want to do, and being patient with yourself while you try. You might succeed and you might fail. You may have a fear of either