Many actors want to know how to gain acting experience, especially those who are just starting out and don't have an agent.

Whether you are just starting out or looking to expand your opportunities, these eight ways will definitely come in handy! 

1. Local Facebook groups
   Discover acting and filmmaking groups for your city or region on Facebook. Join these groups to stay informed of audition opportunities and get valuable insights from fellow actors. Some interesting groups include:
   https://www.facebook.com/groups/3030455353945472/

   https://www.facebook.com/groups/acteursgezocht/ 

2. Follow agents and casting directors on social media
   By following agents and casting directors on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, you can stay informed when they publicly post casting calls or seek actors with specific skills or traits.

   Be sure to follow Sien Josephine. She regularly posts castings on her Instagram page.  

3. View public casting websites
   e-TALENTA & enCAST are popular casting websites in Europe and North America. Create a profile, upload your headshots and search the public casting boards for roles that suit you. Set up e-mail alerts to receive notifications for new roles.
   
   
4. Join an amateur theatre company

   In just about every town in Flanders, you will find some theatre companies you can sign up with.

5. Enter film competitions
   The 48 Hour Film Project offers a time-bound challenge to finish a short film from A to Z within 48 hours. Taking part in these competitions can help you gain experience acting in front of the camera.

   Check out the short film via the link below The Passengers. A few years ago, I participated in the short-film competition with some acting friends. We had to abide by some rules. For instance, we had drawn the genre "thriller". This is the result after 48 hours of writing, filming and editing 😊 Enjoy!
   The Passengers 

6. Work on your own monologues or dialogues with friends
   Via the app Scenebot you can participate daily in several self-tape competitions for free. You can ask for feedback and it is an interesting place to get to know other actors and international casting directors.
   
   
7. Create your own (short) film
   By creating your own scripts or short films, you can take charge of casting yourself. Are you satisfied with the result? Then forward it to casting directors and film festivals. It is an efficient way to get noticed.

   Today, you can simply use tools like smartphones with HD cameras to make your short film.
   You can collaborate with other actors from your acting class. So you can make great films together and gain camera experience. 

8. Take an acting course
   Start looking for acting workshops such as those run by TAPA.
   At TAPA, you will learn to create three-dimensional characters by working with the acting techniques of Meisner and Chubbuck. We also dive deeper into audition preparation and other practical issues such as dealing with stage fright.

   The next introductory courses start on Monday 21 August and Wednesday 30 August 2023. More info can be found via the link. 

I wish you all the best in achieving your acting ambitions!

Best regards,
Nicolas