Amateur radioplays - viable beginning acting experience?

erichamion · 10-06-2008, 09:09 PM

Among many other skills, I need to learn and practice acting. If I can get cast (I don't know how big that "if" is), are online amateur radioplay-style productions a reasonable way to get acting experience and to learn by doing? Is that a viable plan at my level - essentially zero training? Such a production wouldn't have the same environment or dynamics as a classroom or a stage performance, but it would be convenient around a full-time job, budget-friendly, and comparatively anonymous.

If the answer is yes, here's a follow-up question. Of the groups I've found for this sort of thing, most of the amateur groups produce fan fiction based on copywritten characters, trademarked names, and worlds imagined by somebody else, used without license. That may not be all the groups do, but it's at least part. With the peculiar legal status of fan fiction, could it be harmful to be associated with a group that produces it - or even to be in a fan work directly?

JoeActor · 10-07-2008, 10:39 AM

Hi Eric,

Great questions.

I work with a couple of Radio Dramas, and there are definitely some plusses and minuses.

On the plus side, it will give you some practice reading, using the mike, editing, dropping to mp3, and possibly using FTP. Depending on the role and production, it may give you some chances to test the acting waters. If your time and money are limited, it's an ok way to play around.

On the "not-so-plus" side, it is not the quickest or best route (IMHO) to gain the acting skills you need to excell in this business. Live Theatre and Improv will get you there much faster. Ideally, you'll also need to be playing with people who are above your current level. Don't wanna end up in a blind-leading-the-blind scenario. A good coach or director is a much better option.

On the second question, yes, a lot of these groups operate in the grey area legally. They basically get away with it because they are too small to make a dent. But make no mistake about it: the productions that use copyrighted characters are not on solid footing legally.

As an alternative, there are a number of groups with completely original productions being made all the time. Two that I work with are Wormwood (www.wormwoodshow.com) and Dream Realm (www.dregold.net). There's also Pendant Audio - they do a fair number of original productions as well.

Hope this helps a bit,
Joe J Thomas
www.JoeActor.com

erichamion · 10-07-2008, 07:07 PM

Thanks for the reply. It's helpful.

10-06-2008, 09:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
erichamion Wannabe Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Gateway to the West Posts: 19	Amateur radioplays - viable beginning acting experience? Among many other skills, I need to learn and practice acting. If I can get cast (I don't know how big that "if" is), are online amateur radioplay-style productions a reasonable way to get acting experience and to learn by doing? Is that a viable plan at my level - essentially zero training? Such a production wouldn't have the same environment or dynamics as a classroom or a stage performance, but it would be convenient around a full-time job, budget-friendly, and comparatively anonymous. If the answer is yes, here's a follow-up question. Of the groups I've found for this sort of thing, most of the amateur groups produce fan fiction based on copywritten characters, trademarked names, and worlds imagined by somebody else, used without license. That may not be all the groups do, but it's at least part. With the peculiar legal status of fan fiction, could it be harmful to be associated with a group that produces it - or even to be in a fan work directly?

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10-07-2008, 10:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
JoeActor Administrator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,529	Hi Eric, Great questions. I work with a couple of Radio Dramas, and there are definitely some plusses and minuses. On the plus side, it will give you some practice reading, using the mike, editing, dropping to mp3, and possibly using FTP. Depending on the role and production, it may give you some chances to test the acting waters. If your time and money are limited, it's an ok way to play around. On the "not-so-plus" side, it is not the quickest or best route (IMHO) to gain the acting skills you need to excell in this business. Live Theatre and Improv will get you there much faster. Ideally, you'll also need to be playing with people who are above your current level. Don't wanna end up in a blind-leading-the-blind scenario. A good coach or director is a much better option. On the second question, yes, a lot of these groups operate in the grey area legally. They basically get away with it because they are too small to make a dent. But make no mistake about it: the productions that use copyrighted characters are not on solid footing legally. As an alternative, there are a number of groups with completely original productions being made all the time. Two that I work with are Wormwood (www.wormwoodshow.com) and Dream Realm (www.dregold.net). There's also Pendant Audio - they do a fair number of original productions as well. Hope this helps a bit, Joe J Thomas www.JoeActor.com

10-07-2008, 07:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
erichamion Wannabe Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Gateway to the West Posts: 19	Thanks for the reply. It's helpful.