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1 week ago | 
backstage.com | Rex Provost
If you’ve been on YouTube lately (who hasn’t?), you’ve probably noticed that Shorts are taking up more and more space on the site. YouTube Shorts have become enormously popular and are now a great way to reach wider audiences and encourage engagement with your own channel. But in order to maximize your view count, you need to know when to post. When is the best time to post YouTube Shorts?
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1 week ago | 
backstage.com | Rex Provost
As the calamitous inferno that was Fyre Festival demonstrates, influencers can fall victim to fraud just like anybody else (and sometimes even unwillingly help the scammers!). Influencer scams come in many shapes and sizes, with some that are easy to spot and others that are much more elaborate. The reality is that to become a successful influencer, you’ll need to be able to decipher which offers in your inbox are legit and which aren’t—here’s how.
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2 months ago | 
backstage.com | Rex Provost
A great audiobook like “Dune” or “You” grabs your attention with an intriguing story, fascinating characters, and compelling themes. But perhaps most importantly (after all, there’s a reason you’re listening instead of reading), the best audiobooks are narrated by voices that make you want to keep tuning in, chapter after chapter. Audiobook narrators must walk a fine line of bringing personality to prose but keeping the focus on the text itself; here are some of the best to do it.
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2 months ago | 
backstage.com | Rex Provost
If the debate over Tolkien’s Great Eagles is any indication, few literary devices are more maligned than the deus ex machina. At its worst, it can feel contrived, overly convenient, and anticlimactic—but that doesn’t mean that it should be relegated to the storytelling trash can. Used well, the deus ex machina can create a powerful moment of providence that stays with audiences for a long time.
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Jan 23, 2025 | 
backstage.com | Rex Provost
What do the “most trusted man in America” Walter Cronkite and trailblazing sports announcer Beth Mowins have in common? It’s all in the announcer voice! These broadcasting beacons mastered the ability to command universal trust—simply with the power of their instrument. Here’s what you need to know about the announcer voice and why it matters for all actors. What is an announcer voice?
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Nov 14, 2024 | 
backstage.com | Rex Provost
“We tell ourselves stories in order to live,” wrote the iconic journalist-essayist Joan Didion, and her statement is no exaggeration. Sharing stories is an integral component of the human experience, allowing us to better relate to one another and understand the world around us. The form a story takes influences the story itself, how audiences receive it, and its ongoing legacy. Here’s what you need to know about the four main types of storytelling.
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Nov 13, 2024 | 
backstage.com | Rex Provost
Beyond having the confidence, acting ability, and charisma of Tituss Burgess or Tilda Swinton, getting cast in your dream role also means connecting with the casting director. This industry gatekeeper wants to get a sense of who you are, which they achieve by asking questions that go beyond the scope of the specific project. Let’s dive into what CDs really want to know about you and how to let your best self shine in casting interviews. What is a casting interview?
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Oct 18, 2024 | 
backstage.com | Rex Provost
Headshot backgrounds can range from the highly comical (’80s glamour shots, we’re side-eyeing you) to the accidentally discrediting (blending into the wallpaper isn’t a good look). We’re all told not to judge a book by its cover, but when it comes to casting, this adage is often thrown out the window. As such, a headshot can make or break an actor’s ability to get a gig. For actors, these photos are your first impression, and so every element of them should be considered—including their background.
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Oct 15, 2024 | 
backstage.com | Rex Provost
The most delectable villains find joy in their nefarious plots. They relish in other characters’ anguish, delighted by the destruction they’ve wrought. And if they’re really twisted, they find it funny. Mastering a good evil laugh is paramount for any actor hoping to play a character audiences love to hate. Ready to get diabolical? Join us as we laugh our way to world domination. Muahahaha! An evil laugh is the maniacal laughter let loose by a fictional villain.
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Oct 7, 2024 | 
backstage.com | Rex Provost
From Macbeth’s post-decapitation drippings to the gratuitous goriness of a slasher film, fake blood runs through the veins of many productions, both onstage and onscreen. Whether you’re going for a subtle trickle or a full-blown Carrie-at-prom experience, mastering the art and science of making fake blood is a must. Ready for a bloody good time? Let’s explore the best ways to paint the town (or at least the set) red.
