Whether you are stepping onto your first student film or onto your hundredth studio production, these seven actor rules remain a constant. They’re the difference between you being remembered as “that professional actor” versus “that difficult talent.” If you master these basic rules of Actor Etiquette, then you will build a positive reputation that could open acting opportunity doors for you in the near future.
1. Be Early to Your Call Time
Call time is not your arrival time. This is when you should be ready to perform your work. Arrive at least 15 minutes early as a minimum. Use that buffer to grab a coffee, find your trailer, and/or mentally prepare. Being late, even once, gets you labeled as sometimes unreliable. There are no excuses here. Traffic, a parking problem, and GPS failures, those are all your responsibility. These are not valid excuses. Production schedules could impact up to hundreds of people around your availability. Respect other people’s time as you would your own time.
2. Know Your Sides Before You Arrive On Set
Changes do happen on a set, but if you walk in unprepared, that is inexcusable. Know your lines, understand the context of the particular scene, and have choices that you have already made with your character in mind. If you received last-minute rewrites, then alert the AD and ask for rehearsal time. But, never use “just got the pages” as an excuse for your own sloppy work. Preparation is your job. Own it. This is being a professional it is not a courtesy that you offer.
3. Stay Off Your Phone in Active Filming Zones
Nothing screams you are an “amateur” louder than seeing you scrolling on your phone’s Instagram between takes. When you’re on set (not in your trailer), your phone should be silent and invisible. I had a job where we were required to leave our phones in our locker. Also at this job, if anyone saw us outside with our phone they were required to report us. This includes the video village, any makeup chairs, and at craft services. You are being paid to be present and to be ready. That notification can wait until your lunch time.
4. Never Direct Other Actors or Crew
You have ideas about lighting? Think your scene partner should play it differently? Keep it to yourself unless you are explicitly asked for your opinion. Give notes only to the director, privately, not in front of anyone, and only about your own performance needs. If you have to say something, the phrases like “What if I tried” might work better than “We should do this or that.” Your job is to act, not to direct, you’re not the director, produce, you’re not the producer, or cinematograph, you’re not the cinematographer. Know your role.
5. Treat Every Crew Member with An Equal Amount of Respect
The PA holding the parking cone deserves the same respect that you give to the director. Learn their names. Say a courteous please and thank you. And, never assume that anyone is “below” you. That script supervisor you ignored might be tomorrow’s hot showrunner. That grip you snapped at definitely has friends on other crews. This industry runs on relationships and reputation.
6. Match Your Energy to the Set’s Temperature
Read the room. Don’t be obtuse. Some sets will run loose and jokey. Okey, dokey. Other sets will command and maintain a cathedral-quiet still focus. Don’t be the class clown on a serious drama or the sullen artist juxtaposed into a comedy. Watch how the director interacts with your department heads. That is going to be your behavioral compass on the set. Adapt without losing any authenticity. You behavioral energy should fit in.
7. Save Problems for the Proper Channels
What if your costume doesn’t fit? Tell wardrobe, do not complain and make snide remarks in makeup. Concerned about a stunt? Talk to the stunt coordinator. Do not make it a topic of conversation with the other actors. Do you have a serious issue with craft services? Find the AD, don’t go straight to social media. Every on set complaint will have a proper channel that contains a proper recipient. Complaining is a red flag. If you broadcast problems publicly, then you likely are “the problem.”
The Bottom Line
These rules are not about hierarchy or anyone’s ego. These rules are about your ongoing professionalism in a collaborative art form. Follow these rules consistently, and they might help you to become the actor productions request by name, even for some smaller roles. Break these rules, and you’ll find yourself “mysteriously” unavailable for any callbacks, regardless of your talent level or experience.
