Looking to Man-Up for Acting

[GentlemanRDP]

Alright, so here goes. Another of my haunting rants...well, more like a desperate plea for help actually. At any rate, this is what's happening. I desperately want to act (Quite frankly, I'd like to get on the big screen someday, though I know that it's highly unlikely – I want nothing more than to serve as a positive rolemodel for the trans community, because I am utterly sick of the only trans actors that are 'out' all seem to work in porn) I took three years of drama during Middle School and High School. I took beginning acting once, and then intermediate acting twice (Because I moved, and I didn't want to go to the advanced acting class, just in case the curriculum was different. I was worried that I would be behind) During my second year of acting, the entire class participated in auditions and were involved in three full-length plays throughout the year. At the time that I was involved in all of this, I didn't realize that I was trans, and I was suffering severe social anxiety and depression. Eventually, I gave up on acting because my last teacher told me that I belonged in the beginning class, even though I technically should have been in the advanced class. My hopes were dashed, and I didn't think about acting any further.

But lately, I've gotten the acting bug again. I'll be taking a theatre class next semester in college, and I've planned out all of the other acting (Stage and Film) that I want to take throughout my college years. Unfortunately, my college does not offer any degrees in theatre, so I'm just taking these classes in addition to the degree that I'm really going for (Illustration)

The real point of this post however is to express my fear of doing this. I'm worried that I won't be read constantly as a male. At this point, I pass about 75% of the time in public. It's unusual when someone refers to me as 'Miss,' or 'Ma'am,' and even if they don't use pronouns around me, people usually talk to me the right way. I don't know how exactly to explain it; but men talk to young guys a certain way, and women also talk to young guys in a certain way. I'm worried that I will be read as a woman when I go into class, and I don't want to be cast in female roles or given female parts. I'm dreadfully worried about this. I've already considered informing my teacher about my transition so that she won't 'mess up' and call me the wrong gender. But I don't know if that would be pushing it. I don't want to receive any 'special' treatment, or any 'discrimination' should I mention this to her. Not that I don't have a thick skin, because I do, but I still don't want mass humiliation in front of a class of my peers.

I figure that the best way to fix any confusion in not only this class, but further on during my acting education, and possible auditions, and roles, is to tilt myself to a more...manly-ish denomination. Mind you, I know that I'll never be a manly man, it's just not going to happen, and I'm fine with that. I don't aspire to be a lumber-jack. I do however want to pass more as a man. My arms are very slender and weak, and have no six pack whatsoever, my back muscles don't exist, and I've got myself a rockin' set of thighs and hips.

I am however on T, I bind, and I pack. I'm also growing out my facial hair. I wear my pants low on my hips. I layer wifebeaters and t-shirts like crazy, and wear open button-up shirts. I'm considering a hair-cut, and I need to get my sideburns flattened out again.

In short, I'm looking for any tips that I can get to pass further, along with any links to exercises that you guys have tried. I'm very weak, and I have a ligament condition; my ligaments are too loose to hold onto my bones, so most of the joints in my body pop out (especially my shoulders, and my hips) doing heavy exercises causes my arms to partially dislocate. I'm looking for ways to strengthen up my arms, and to lose a bit of weight. And I have no idea whatsoever of how to exercise. So I'd like to know, what are your guys' secrets for exercise and passing and how might I be able to make a more convincing male on stage? I'm looking for tips about my voice (Which is still high) tips on clothing, on hygiene and personal upkeep, on mannerisms, on exercising, on anything that you've got.

Also, I'm very curious to know if we have any other actors on the forum!

Thank you!


Purely as an after-thought.
Here are some styles that I'm thinking about.
I'd love any opinions or suggestions!
(Hoping to get a haircut before the 14th of January,
since that's when classes start again, and I wanna give it a few days,
cus haircuts always seem to look silly the first day or so...Or that might just be me)
These are in no particular order, by the way.

http://www.haircutsformen.org/buzz/haircuts/buzz41.jpg

http://www.haircutsformen.org/buzz/haircuts/buzz22.jpg

http://www.haircutsformen.org/buzz/haircuts/buzz52.jpg

http://www.haircutsformen.org/buzz/haircuts/buzz109.jpg

http://www.haircutsformen.org/buzz/haircuts/buzz222.jpg

http://www.haircutsformen.org/buzz/haircuts/buzz73.jpg

http://www.haircutsformen.org/buzz/celebs/photos/crawford.jpg

http://www.haircutsformen.org/buzz/celebs/photos/grabeel.jpg

http://www.haircutsformen.org/buzz/haircuts/buzz33.jpg

http://www.haircutsformen.org/buzz/haircuts/buzz43.jpg

http://www.haircutsformen.org/buzz/haircuts/buzz66.jpg

http://www.haircutsformen.org/buzz/haircuts/buzz09.jpg

[wheat thins are delicious]

Based only on your avatar, you could benefit from a more masculine hair cut, style of dress, and stance.  If you usually dress and look significantly different than you do in your avatar, sorry.

[GentlemanRDP]

Based only on your avatar, you could benefit from a more masculine hair cut, style of dress, and stance.  If you usually dress and look significantly different than you do in your avatar, sorry.

That was definitely on one of my lazy days. I usually bind a lot more and that's a shirt that I typically wear a loose jacket over, so that you can't really see the definition of my torso or my curves. And I've been considering a haircut, I'm just afraid to get it done because I always end up looking even more feminine until it grows out more. I've even told my hairdressers that I'm trans and that I don't want a girly cut. I've gone to several, and I can't seem to find anyone who will give me want - I've considered a barber, but I don't know what kind of lingo to use - I really just what a 'normal' guy haircut. Wow, I'm chatty tonight. S'cuse me for that.

[wheat thins are delicious]

Definitely a barber.  I've never been to one before though so I don't know if they have books with cuts in them like they do at a hairdressers.

[GentlemanRDP]

I haven't either.
I'm not even sure where one is nearby.
There's one REALLY old one, but my father in law and half brother get their cuts there and they look bloody awful. They come out super choppy and uneven, and they say that guy who does it is like 70 years old and has Parkinsons. So I'd rather not trust my hair to him.

I do however know that I've been looking at something like this...

Front-Sorta

Three-Fourths-Ish

Side
((I can't seem to find a back view))
I like how the front is just a touch longer than the rest, and I like how the sides are sort of combed back.
I'm just worried that It wouldn't be a good match for my face shape, and hate how the only way to find out is to do it.

...Also, if anyone knows if this cut has a name, I'd appreciate it!

[supremecatoverlord]

The one problem I have with the cut you just posted is that it is only masculine looking if you look masculine and by your display picture, you really don't (sorry) and you actually look more androgynous to me. I can't see this particular cut making you look much more masculine than you already do.

[GentlemanRDP]

The one problem I have with the cut you just posted is that it is only masculine looking if you look masculine and by your display picture, you really don't (sorry) and you actually look more androgynous to me. I can't see this particular cut making you look much more masculine than you already do.

Thanks for your opinion, I'll definitely have to look at some other options

[Michael Joseph]

most barber shops dont have a book of haircuts but you could always show them a pic. i get a fade so i just tell them 0 on the sides and 2 on top or whatever length i want. i've heard guys explain what they wanted before without using barber shop lingo, as well as show the barber a pic. i personally would never go to a hairdresser, because cutting female haircuts is what they were trained for reguardless if its "unisex".

as for mannerisms, guys usually move slower, talk slower, and idk just have less expressions from what i noticed. the only way to really see is to observe and compare to your own self, that really helped me.

and for the voice, idk if you've ever tried the boom your voice thing. you can youtube it, it helped me a little when i was pre t.

but good luck with the class and getting back into acting. how long have you been on t for? because maybe your voice will drop more before the class starts

[GentlemanRDP]

most barber shops dont have a book of haircuts but you could always show them a pic. i get a fade so i just tell them 0 on the sides and 2 on top or whatever length i want. i've heard guys explain what they wanted before without using barber shop lingo, as well as show the barber a pic. i personally would never go to a hairdresser, because cutting female haircuts is what they were trained for reguardless if its "unisex".

as for mannerisms, guys usually move slower, talk slower, and idk just have less expressions from what i noticed. the only way to really see is to observe and compare to your own self, that really helped me.

and for the voice, idk if you've ever tried the boom your voice thing. you can youtube it, it helped me a little when i was pre t.

but good luck with the class and getting back into acting. how long have you been on t for? because maybe your voice will drop more before the class starts

Thanks for the tips. I definitely appreciate it. I think I'm just going to have to try and find a better picture and find a barber shop. Sounds like my best choice right now, I just might end up with some silly cuts for the first bit until I find something that I like.

I haven't tried that voice exercise, I've heard about it. I''ll definitely give it a shot. I've also tried drinking milk before bed, I don't know how exactly, but it makes your voice lower for a few hours in the morning when you first wake up.

Well, I was on T for a solid year, and then was off of it for about eight months (No money) and now I'm 3 weeks back on.

Thanks again for your advice!

[aleon515]

Well I took acting in high school and college. The parts I played were meh (girl parts) but I enjoyed being with acting students as they are some of the more liberal open people in schools. Didn't know all the reasons other kids didn't like me in school back then, but always had a good time with the drama students.

--Jay

[GentlemanRDP]

Well I took acting in high school and college. The parts I played were meh (girl parts) but I enjoyed being with acting students as they are some of the more liberal open people in schools. Didn't know all the reasons other kids didn't like me in school back then, but always had a good time with the drama students.

--Jay

That's comforting :]
I hope that it's the same way here, but I can't help but be a little worried.
I live in a highly religious area with a very conservative outlook.
I always get really worried about being finding out, because I've heard about plenty of violence taking place in my own backyward (Not literally, of course)
Though, I'm more worried about how being trans will effect me getting parts outside of school plays...I'm not sure how other theaters would feel about it.
Wow...rant >.<; Look at me go.

[aleon515]

Part of HS that I actually look back on fondly-- I hated high school.

Anyway, back to hair cuts. I have not yet been to a barber as I do not pass. Feel sort of silly. I came out to my hair stylist and where I go is pretty unisex. I got a male hair cut, but I feel it would help for it to be shorter on the sides. Thing is I am not out at work.

Anyway here is a page that gives you a lot of terminology and so forth and more about barber shops.
http://www.ftmguide.org/haircuts.html

This is a cool site showing various pictures and says what type of cut it is.
http://www.haircutsformen.org/

--Jay

[GentlemanRDP]

Thanks for the links!
I haven't seen the first one before, but it looks very handy,
And the second one is actually where I got all of the pictures that I'm debating between xD

[aleon515]

I really like the second one which I found going trying to find the first one (again). It's really packed with info. I found out what kind of haircut I want when I am free to get EXACTLY what I want. I think it is called a "fade". It looks very male.

--Jay

[AdamMLP]

you mentioned something about your joints, an old friend of mine had hyper mobility and was given a resistance band to use to try and strengthen her muscles, I'm not sure if it will do anything but it might be worth looking into. she could run okay so maybe you'd be alright to do that too.

[DriftingCrow]

My aunt has a condition which might be somewhat similiar to what you have, it's a rare type of Ehlers Danlos and she does yoga since she can't really do much other exercises. I'd also recommend yoga too, because it can help strengthen you up since a lot of the more intermediate/advanced poses uses your body as a weight. I like Gaiam's Strength Building Yoga with Rodney Yee, though you might want to start out with something a little easier if you've never done yoga before.