5 THINGS ACTORS CAN DO DURING SELF-ISOLATION
4 min readApr 1, 2020
- Create a TikTok Account and Make Sketch Videos: Auditions are done. Background work is over. Anything that involves entertainment has paused until further notice. These are not excuses to bolt your windows, lock your doors, and cry at the world. We must stay active. We must be creatives. So, let me be frank: I wasn’t crazy about starting a TikTok account. Seemed only like an app for sharing random stuff that ranges from 15 seconds to 1 minute. Whoop-dee-doo. When I finally caved in, I saw a lot of hilarious content, especially stuff relevant to COVID-19. Humor is the best medicine. It’s a higher energy frequency. So why not make something funny (it doesn’t have to be scripted) and enjoy the process with your own creativity? Comedy is my roots, despite being typecast as a dramatic jerk. So if you share a knack for sketch comedy or improv, shoot something really quick. Try playing multiple characters, which is trending right now. Let your personality shine through these dark moments. And, if you want to grow your audience, research trending hashtags and videos. One trending video trope is ‘Normal People Versus Psychopaths’ (mine involved Stephen King and his novel, The Stand, which hits pretty close to home right now). Follow me on TikTok at @russellbradleyfenton.
- Practice Scenes on Your Phone: First Step: use your Showfax account (www.showfax.com, part of Actors Access, an online website listing TV/Film/Commercial projects) to look up sides (script excerpts for audition purposes). You can scan current projects (features, television, etc.) to find audition scenes. If you don’t have an Actors Access account (why not?), look up screenplays online. Find a scene, preferably with two people rather than a monologue — unless you are a theatre actor and feel more comfortable with those. It’s best to align your type/brand with the current content being produced. Second Step: record yourself doing a scene! At home alone? Skype/WhatsApp/FaceTime with a friend who can be your reader. The beauty of self-tapes? You can do as many takes as you like! But always send your best take. Some casting directors are hosting self-tape challenges and general virtual calls this month. Surf Twitter and check out CD’s (that’s casting directors) to see what they post. You should follow them too in order to get their latest notifications. Now why do this? Easy. So you can sharpen your audition/self-tape skills. We will be seeing more and more self-tape requests from CD’s. Start dates for productions are being postponed, but the sooner you can get on CD’s radars (through practice and networking), the better off you will be. I know, everything is on hold, BUT don’t let excuses hold you down.
- Exercise: Our bodies are our most essential instruments. Without self-care, (yes, self-isolating and social distancing are good), we run the risk of getting sick. That costs us time. And possible future work. Take walks. Ride a bike. Lift weights. Do yoga or Pilates to strengthen your core. I roll out my mats and do a lot of back stretching. I also love checking out rails-to-trails for bicycling near my home. And for more athletic folks who miss the gym, try work-out or dance videos on YouTube. There are millions. Or perhaps start a garden, which requires digging, shoveling, weed-pulling, etc. You may even thank yourself later if there’s a food shortage in the world.
- Contact Your Fellow Actors: You are not alone. We are all feeling the impact of this pandemic: socially, economically, and spiritually. But seriously, we still have the internet. We still have our phones. We can actually call or text or FaceTime other people. Other friends. Other family members. To let them know that you’re okay. And to see if they’re okay. Bringing everyone together to stay positive is stronger than any vaccine or pharmaceutical. There are actor groups on Facebook. I’ve mentioned TikTok for creating content, but Twitter and Instagram are great resources for finding like-minded creatives, especially actors and writers connected to Hollywood. Don’t be shy. You’re social distancing anyways.
- Meditation: This last one may seem like a complete time-waster for some. It may even seem hopelessly optimistic for others. But taking a moment, closing your eyes, and shutting out all outside noise, distractions, fears, anxiety — what are essentially ‘externals’ — and learning to quiet your mind may be the most empowering ability of the human mind. I am not an expert or master. I practice it when I can. When I can remember the importance of certain routines. When I feel overpowered, helpless, stressed, worried about tomorrow, uncertain about my career and supporting loved ones — all fear-based things — I pause. I take a time out. I let it all go for a moment. It takes practice. You will get distracted. You will think thoughts that try to steer you away from concentration. But practice and focus will allow this method of balance to retool your mind and body. You are more than just an actor. You are others things too. You have life experiences. And part of your responsibility as an actor is to channel those moments. Plus, there are people who love you and what you have to offer in this world. We all need storytellers in this lifetime, so banish any thoughts that your career is frivolous and non-essential. This time of reflection will help you and others to release your attachments to desired outcomes. We all must dream. And we all must have the power to let go at the same time.
