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In Thailand, where there is no union and hardly any agents that will represent you or fight for you, it’s important to know your worth as an actor. Here are some pointers:

1) Minimum Wage

Think about what is the absolute minimum wage you want to work for. What is your minimum wage? Pick a number you’re comfortable to work with for one day on set and make that your minimum no matter what happens. Don’t go below that. This is one aspect of defining and knowing your worth as an actor.

2) Happy Rate

What is your happy rate? I call it the happy rate because it’s the rate you feel comfortable with. What’s the rate that makes you go on set and you really want to do your best? Think about your happy rate that’ll make you appreciate every minute you are on set. Everything you do, you do it happily and whatever they tell you to do, you just want to do it. Now that you have these two numbers, I want you to make your happy rate your minimum rate. Your happy rate is an indicator to know your worth as an actor.

And to do that, you need to invest in yourself. You need to invest time and maybe also money.

1. Work on student films

Working on student films is such a way to gain experience, get exposure, and get footage for your reel. Maybe you’ve done a few extra parts, featured extra, or done some supporting roles. But if you’re working on a student film, they’re desperate for actors. They need actors for their projects. Maybe you can get the main part or you can learn on set what it takes to get the main part because it’s very different from playing a featured extra or an extra.

2. Make your own projects

If you have time available, don’t waste your time sitting around and complaining that there’s are no jobs out there. Make your own project, write a script for yourself, and work with your friends. If you know some people who want to get into filmmaking, make a movie with them. Make short films. This is such a good way to build a reel and a good reputation. And to have something you can show is yours is a proud moment.

3. Join a theatre production

There’s a bank of community theatre out there that accept actors in their production. This is a great way to get experience as well as training because of the theatre productions that last several months. You get to know people and establish connections. It’s the first place I played when I came to Bangkok and the people I worked with back then are ones I’m still friends with. And we’re still in contact. They’ve been helping me out in business.

4. Workshops and acting classes

Join workshops and acting classes. When I first started out, I took so many workshops. There are free workshops out there, there are paid workshops out there and there’s so much to learn. Acting is a lifelong journey that you’re on. Be open, expand, don’t limit yourself. Learn new things. You have no idea where this journey is going to take you.

It all starts from knowing what you’re worth then upgrading yourself, investing in yourself, and getting better at what you’re doing. People will see your determination and they will appreciate it. It will benefit you. So don’t stop growing. Believe in yourself and know you’re worth it.

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More information on how to enter the acting industry in Thailand: How to become an actor in Thailand 

There is a lot of negativity that happens on set— whether it’s the food, the weather, working hours, or people. Here’s how to stay positive on a film set!

1) Identify people

To stay positive on a film set, you need to avoid people who are too negative. If you find someone who gossips all the time and spreads negativity, the thing to do is steer clear of them. Do that politely and just find a different spot to sit.

2) Find positive people

Find people are positive. There is always going to be someone who has a positive mindset. All you need to do is find them, then talk to them. It’ll make a difference because you can gain experience from them and also have your spirits lifted by their positivity. It’s a good start for when you have to get ready and film.

3) Make most of your time on set

On-set is such a good place to learn. You have so much time at hand and if you identify positive people who are willing to share their knowledge with you, that’s great. You can make most of your time by learning from others, whether it’s a new skill or making your acting reel or learning some new moves.

Another way to make most of your time on set is to take a book with you or a Kindle. Read and learn. There’s endless knowledge out there waiting to be leaned. Approach it. Embrace it. Consume it.

4) Think positive

Think about all the positive things that are going around you already. You’reon set. You’vemade it. This is what you really wanted. And so many people are working hard on set to make you shine. Appreciate them. See the A.D, the director, the cameraman. All the people behind that are doing their best to make you look good. And the best thing you can do is appreciate it, think positive, be positive, and let your light shine.

Auditions can be nervewracking and unpredictable at times. Here are some guidelines on how you can audition better and rock your audition!

1) Prepare the script

The simplest point of how to audition better is to prepare the script. Most of the time, you get the script in advance, so why not break your lines into beats and sequences and prepare it? Learn the lines, because you need to know what you’re going to say and how you’re going to say it.

2) Build your character

Building your character is another important aspect of how to audition better. Building character allows you to understand them hence be them. How does this character behave? What kind of job do they have? Who is this character? How do I become this person? You can write the character’s family background—what is their family like and what is their background. All of this helps you understand the character on a deeper level, helping you find out what is the motivation behind what they say and how they mean it.

3) Know your situation

Some casting directors will tell you what to do but others won’t. They will simply let you do what you want to do. I had a director once who just sat back and let people do what they wanted. They were shocked by it because they weren’t given any instructions. But you need to be ready for this. Having said this, you learned the lines, built your character and you got the situation which leads to the fourth point:

4) Know how to adapt

If the casting director or director gives you instructions, you need to be ready to adapt on the spot. You need to change what you’ve planned out and make it work for you. Be open and keep an open mind. Although you have your own thing down, be ready to adapt.

5) Use your time wisely

When you’re sitting in the waiting area for casting, you have some time at hand. Use that time wisely. Use it to warm up—warm up your body and your voice. Do whatever you have to do to get into the creative mode. Others may look at your weirdly, but you know why you’re doing this. You’re ready and you’re going to get the part!

6) Enjoy Yourself

Once you get there, enjoy yourself. Have fun with your audition. You’re there for a reason—you love acting and people want to see that. They don’t want to see you tensed up. They want to see you own this character, just going for it and enjoying what you’re doing. If you’re going to have fun with it, you’re going to rock it.

Now you’re ready for this casting. Good luck and enjoy yourself!

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Subscribe to my Youtube channel

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More information on how to enter the acting industry in Thailand:How to become an actor in Thailand 

Without training, you can still be decent at acting. But acting is a craft, you train to get better and therefore become a professional.

Imagine you get an acting job without training, and you’re ecstatic. But the moment you get on set, you’re a bit lost because you have no idea or experience on a film set—how to act in front of a camera or anything of such. That’s when training comes in. Acting is a craft and if you train, you get better. Hence, gaining tips and tricks that will navigate you through the experience of being on set.

Acting is a craft, which is why it can be learned. There are tons of techniques that you can learn and decide which suits you best. Or you can see which technique works best for a certain situation. Maybe you use Chekhov’s method, perhaps Stella Adler’s or viewpoints or Meisner to give you a few.

It’s a simple fact—the more you train, the better you get, and the more you know yourself. If you already have trained before, I’d recommend keep on training. For example, if you haven’t spoken a language for a couple of years, you’re not going to be fluent as you were before. Same way, with acting, you may get rusty if you haven’t trained in a while.

So simply put, with acting training you can learn about yourself, about what kind of tools you have inside, and how to get through these tools when needed. All of this is just to get you ready. When the time comes, you know what to do. By ready, I mean, physically, your body, your mind, and your imagination. You’ll know how to analyze texts, how to work with scripts, how to create the character, and how to work with your partner in that situation.

So get some training. Train with as many people as you can because they all have different techniques and views on acting that you can learn! Good luck and keep training!