Uplevel Your Acting

Booking network-level speaking roles all depends on one, critical factor: Great acting ability.

When your acting technique is on point, you'll get invited to bigger auditions, book higher-paying jobs, and get an agent/manager WAY faster.

Martin Bentsen has been featured in:

"Why am I stuck only booking student films and indie projects?"

It can feel almost impossible to get past a certain point as an actor, especially if you're not in SAG-AFTRA yet.

Sure, you might have no problem booking indie roles through online casting websites, but when it comes to booking your first major speaking role in a network-level production, things become WAY more challenging.

Not only is it really hard to find those roles, but actually booking them is a different story entirely.

Have you ever tried any of the following?

Doing background work in hopes of getting three SAG vouchers... But they rarely hand out vouchers anymore so this method is actually way harder than most actors expect.
Looking for an agent who can submit you to major productions... But it feels impossible because most agents won't even reply (or at least that's how it feels if you're non-union).
Meeting casting directors in workshops... But they almost never reply to any of your followup messages, making each workshop feel like a waste of time and money.

When you've been doing everything right for years but the word "non-union" is still stuck next to your name on Actor's Access... it can be easy to consider giving up and focusing on a more traditional career path (while continuing to "act on the side").

But being a "weekend actor" isn't what you had in mind.

"A yes or no can take just 7 seconds."

According to many industry experts, network casting directors take less than seven seconds to determine if an actor should be invited to audition (or submit a self-tape).

If your headshot, resume, and reel haven't convinced them within that time frame, most will simply move onto the next actor.

In fact, 99% of all actors never get callbacks – only 30 are typically chosen out of 3,000.

And the most unfortunate part?

Most of those actors never find out why they weren't selected, leaving them wondering things like:

"Do I need a new headshot?"
"Should I update my reel?"
"Was my cover letter not strong enough?"

And then those same actors spend months (and sometimes even YEARS) fixing things that were never broken.

But there is one thing that major casting directors DO care about. And they care about it above all else:

Your acting ability.

That's why, even if you're able to book student and indie films, it doesn't mean major casting directors will consider you for roles. They are WAY more discerning than indie filmmakers are.

If you're not getting invited to major auditions (or you're auditioning for them frequently but rarely getting callbacks), chances are you can change it by just focusing on your technique.

Your acting technique is EVERYTHING.

When it comes down to it, major agents and casting directors really only care about two things:

How much you look and sound like the character they had in mind
How easy you'll be to work with on set

The first is something that's difficult to change.

But the second? That's doable.

Think of your acting ability as the foundation of your entire career.

If they don't like something about your technique, it won't matter how good your headshots are, how professional your footage looks, or how well-connected you are.

They will keep questioning how easy you'll be to work with on set (i.e. "Will this actor need a lot of coaching or help, meaning production will be slowed down?"), and you'll frequently find yourself being passed over for someone else.

The 4 Levels of Acting

One of the problems with improving acting technique is that it's difficult to judge our own performances and get a realistic sense of how casting directors or agents might see us.

That's where The 4 Levels of Acting comes into play.

The 4 Levels of Acting is a framework that allows you to quickly judge your own performance BEFORE submitting so you know right away whether your self-tape/audition will be received well.

The four levels give us an idea of where we are now, along with what might need to change to move to the next level:

Level 1: This is where we all start. At Level 1, there are technical issues with the performance such as not pronouncing words clearly, doing something called "indicating" (over-playing certain emotions), having trouble memorizing lines, and more. It's not bad to be at this level, but unfortunately I see too many actors get stuck here for a long time, not knowing how to improve.
Level 2: This is where many actors get to after studying what works and what doesn't. This is where your performance is natural and there are almost no moments of "overacting" or melodramatic performances. However, it's also easy for the viewer to get lost when watching Level 2 performances because the choices made by the actor are often not clear enough.
Level 3: At this level your performance is truly on point. Every choice is clear and the audience is easily able to follow the scene without getting lost or losing interest. Casting directors appreciate actors who perform at Level 3 and frequently book them for co-star and occasional guest-star roles.
Level 4: This is the highest level of performance. This is where the audience watching deeply experiences what the character is experiencing, and they're on the edge of their seats the entire time. These are the rare performances that leave casting directors feeling "goosebumps.

Casting directors only hire Level 3 and Level 4 actors when it comes to union, network-level productions.

There can be no technical mistakes in auditions for major motion pictures and television/streaming shows.

The moment a casting director sees a technical problem, whether it's a level 1 issue (lines not memorized, indication, etc.) or a Level 2 issue (unclear choices, misunderstanding of the scene, etc.), they will automatically move onto the next actor.

Hi, I'm Martin Bentsen and I believe EVERY actor deserves a shot.

You might have seen me speak at NYU, Actor's Connection, or The Actor's Green Room. Or you might have taken headshots at my 5-star rated photography studio called City Headshots.

As someone who has coached thousands of actors via Zoom, in-person classes, and live on set since 2011, I've gained a deep understanding of how to help actors quickly understand what's working and what's not in a scene, and how to fix problems fast.

Even though I teach a lot about marketing for actors, my specialty is directing & coaching actors, having majored in film directing at NYU Tisch (and having directed two feature-length films).

I love to simplify complex subjects into easy-to-understand, actionable tasks. This allows my clients to quickly wrap their heads around a concept and get the result they want.

Booking bigger roles and getting a great agent all starts with strong acting ability.

In order to consistently improve your acting, you'll need to be able to do three things:

Analyze your performance and know whether it's good or not. This is the most basic level of understanding. Without knowing if your performance is strong, natural, and authentic, you'll always be "shooting in the dark" so to speak, hoping at random that your audition will be received well.
Understand WHY your performance is good or not. This is more advanced. The 4 Levels of Acting framework will help you quickly gauge WHY something is or isn't working. Without this understanding, it's almost impossible to improve over time.
Know exactly HOW to improve it. This is by far the most advanced level of analysis and understanding, but it's the one that will help you most. Knowing how to improve your performances yourself will not only lead to more bookings, but will actually save you money in the long term – since you won't need to run everything by an acting coach first.

My intent is to help you master all three areas... in just four weeks:

Uplevel Your Acting is a carefully crafted, 4-week masterclass series, where we'll work together to analyze, break down, and refine your acting technique.

This is a screen-acting focused program specifically for actors who are trying to book their first co-star or guest star role in a major union production.

The goal of Uplevel Your Acting is to take your acting up to consistent Level 3 & Level 4 performances, where everything is extremely easy to follow, engaging, and keeps the viewer hooked.

Level 3 and 4 performances are what major casting directors look for in the actors they hire (especially when it comes to network-level roles).

The program is a mixture of four deep-dive masterclasses, along with four 1-1 private Zoom coaching calls with me, where I personally help you implement what you learned in the masterclasses to improve your acting technique.

Here's just some of what you'll learn:

How to quickly break down a script so you understand all the beats and important moments that casting directors care about
What to do when you're not given enough info in a character breakdown and have to make choices yourself
How to remove moments of indication from your performances, and how to know when to it's actually OK to include them (plus how much is too much)
How to memorize lines more effectively & easily using techniques like The Comprehension Method & The Variance Method
How to make yourself more adaptable and "directable" so that casting directors feel like you'll be easy to work with on set
How to fully immerse yourself in the scene & character so your performance becomes more believable and natural
How to take any performance from OK to deeply memorable and emotional by "raising the stakes" – this is what gives casting directors goosebumps (and they absolutely LOVE it)

This 4-week masterclass series is for serious actors only who are looking to start booking more on-camera work.

If you get auditions and occasionally book small, indie roles... but you feel stuck when it comes to booking your first legit speaking role (co-star or above) in a major production, this program is for you.

Watch a sneak peek of the program below:

A Layout of the Program:

Uplevel Your Acting is broken into four deep-dive masterclasses, along with four live 1-1 Zoom meetings with me (Martin Bentsen).

Each week you'll learn specific lessons, and in our 1-1 meetings we'll focus on actively implementing those lessons into your monologues and auditions.

Take a look at the breakdown below to learn what the program includes:

Masterclass #1: From Level 1 to Level 2
The Foundations of Great Acting

The first and foremost step to improvement is to build a strong foundation. Knowing how to record proper self-tapes, memorize lines quickly, and get out of your own head are all essential building blocks to stronger performances.

Masterclass #1 Covers:

Self-tape technicalities, including how to set up a professional self-tape studio so you're taken seriously in all submissions (we'll discuss equipment and resources you can use for minimal cost)
Tactics to memorize lines quickly & easily – learn five different "shortcut" methods that make memorization WAY faster and easier
Understanding and removing indication from performances – indication is the single most common pitfall actors face when it comes to being taken seriously by casting directors and agents – you'll learn how to nip it in the bud forever
How to get out of your own head – it can be hard to stop thinking about the camera, lights, and microphones (not to mention all the eyes staring at you), but there are a few key tactics you can use to get past this effectively
Zoom Coaching Session #1 – After the first Masterclass, your homework will be to choose and record a monologue (guidance will be sent on how to find the right monologue for you). You'll perform it using what you learned in Class #1, and together via Zoom we'll analyze your recording. You'll receive direct feedback on how to improve it for Masterclass #2.

Masterclass #2: From Level 2 to Level 3
Specificity of Character & Scene

Masterclass #2 is focused on how to make clear choices and get a complete understanding of every scene. The clearer you are on everything within the scene, the more natural your performance will be and the easier it will be for the audience to watch and follow it.

Masterclass #2 Covers:

100% understanding of the scene – learn the exact questions you'll need to ask and answer before any performance to come across as authentic and natural
Breaking down a scene and making choices – most casting directors will not give you specifics when it comes to casting calls; we'll discuss why that's a GOOD thing and how you can use it to your advantage by making your own decisions
How to take direction – learn how to take direction better during the audition so casting directors recommend you more highly for the role
How to analyze your own performances – you'll learn how to grade your own performance from Level 1 to Level 4, and how to pinpoint exactly what needs to change to improve
Zoom Coaching Session #2 – After Masterclass #2, you'll re-record your monologue, and together we'll analyze it again. You'll receive direct feedback on how to improve it further, taking it up to Level 3.

Masterclass #3: From Level 3 to Level 4
The "Goosebumps" Factor

Once you're clear on choices and your performances are free of basic errors, it's time to take things up a notch by "raising the stakes" for a much more compelling performance. Masterclass #3 is all about taking a performance from good to great.

Masterclass #3 Covers:

Making stronger choices - while it's true that there can be many "valid" choices for a scene, some choices are better than others, producing more emotional, interesting, and engaging performances
Capturing your Pride Words in a scene – you'll learn three personalized, easy-to-remember words that can be used before ANY audition to ease nerves and help you feel more grounded in your performance. These three words will make your performance uniquely YOU, capturing your unique personality or "brand"
Delivering deeply emotional performances - learn what constitutes a truly great performance, and how to know when your performance is "emotional" enough
How to cry on command - most actors find crying on command to be extremely tough, which is why we'll cover 3 simple tricks you can use to make it significantly easier
Zoom Coaching Session #3 – After Masterclass #3, you'll re-record your monologue a few times, and in different ways. We'll analyze it again during the Zoom coaching session, covering specific tips on how to bring it up to Level 4 for the final class.

Masterclass #4: Consistent Mastery
Preparing for Bigger Roles

In Masterclass #4, we'll cover how to take everything you've learned and consistently apply it to each and every scene you do. You'll create an audition checklist and work on some mental shifts needed to start feeling ready for bigger acting jobs.

Maserclass #4 Covers:

The Audition Checklist - this simple but easy-to-follow checklist will ensure every performance you do consistently reaches Level 3 or Level 4 status (hint: some auditions should actually NOT be Level 4)
Feeling ready for bigger jobs – we'll cover a few key mindset shifts that will help you feel more prepared and ready to take on higher-paid acting work and bigger roles
Next steps to continue growing your acting career - beyond improving your acting technique, what's the best way to go about growing your career? We'll cover some essential steps towards getting an agent and booking bigger roles
Zoom Coaching Session #4 – After Masterclass #4 we'll compare TWO different monologue versions you'll have created and discuss which one is better and why. Together, we'll decide on which one you should start using for submissions going forward, so you walk away with one finalized, high-quality monologue that will be taken seriously by network agents and casting directors.

So what's the difference between an "OK" performance and one that's truly great?

In an "ok" performance, you might watch it and find your mind start wandering. You may suddenly realize you weren't paying attention and didn't follow what was being was said.

On the other hand, in a truly great performance, you don't lose focus. In fact, you get so wrapped up in the scene that you start feeling what the characters are feeling!

Before you know it, the scene is over and you're in a totally different state of mind than before you watched it.

A fantastic performance is one that makes the audience deeply feel something.

Watch this truly OUTSTANDING audition tape by Henry Thomas for the character of Elliot in the 1982 blockbuster E.T: The Extra-Terrestrial:

Henry Thomas gave us a true Level 4 performance, where just about everything was on point:

No technical problems like forgetting lines, mispronouncing words, or "indicating."
Clear choices were made, meaning he understood the meaning of every line he said, who he was talking to, and what his character wanted at each moment of the scene.
A deeply emotional performance, one that caused us to really FEEL something for him as we watched.

Imagine giving performances like that for all your auditions.

Imagine giving casting directors and agents goosebumps every time they watched you.

And imagine knowing how to analyze your own self-tapes and recordings to instantly know where you went wrong and what was missing... so that you can fix it right away.

That's what Uplevel Your Acting is all about.

"You will physically see the improvement from your first monologue to your last by the end of the program."

It was an easy decision to take the "Uplevel Your Acting" course because it offers more than the average one-topic focused acting class.

The monologue meetings had a big impact on my acting skills because I was able to receive personalized critique from an outside perspective that I wouldn't have received anywhere else. There is also a 2 in 1 benefit to this: The advice I receive on my monologues also helps me improve my self-tapes. Not only do I receive direction on my acting skills, but also the self-tape set up and what casting directors and agencies look for.

This class is here to set you up for success. Martin is very hands on and he answers any and every question thrown at him.

Before joining Uplevel Your Acting, I was hoping to learn everything about how to deliver a great monologue because I've never done it before. Luckily this was an online class because my hands were sweaty having to watch myself and get critiqued. If you are someone like me and you also avoid watching yourself on-screen, this class is definitely for you.

The most important tool I've gained is the courage to critique my own work and go through my checklist of what level of performance I'm on. I can ask myself, what makes this a level 4 monologue? What makes it a level 1? Why did I make this choice?

Being forced to watch yourself and to critique your own work is hard but you find things that are important to either change or enhance. One of my favorite parts about class was being encouraged to try something new and make new choices. The reason I wasn't afraid to make a new choice away from something I was already comfortable doing was because of something Martin said. He said to have fun. It was a super quick comment but it stuck with me because making different choices should be fun.

But it doesn't end there, Martin asks "why" I made that choice and makes sure it still falls under who I am as a person and my Brand and Pride Words. The new choice should still feel like me. And every time, I preferred my 2nd choice. It brought out a new side of me on screen that I didn't think I had.

After taking this class I am very confident in my ability to give a great performance. The class is set up for you to learn as much as possible and then incorporate those learnings into your monologues and to ensure that you are giving the best performance that you can. You will physically see the improvement from your first monologue to your last by the end of class.

Even if you are a strong actor, there is still something new you can learn and even discover about yourself.

– Amanda Keaton, professional actress

"As someone who has previously taken many intensive acting classes at Barrow Group, HB Studio, and elsewhere, I highly recommend this program to experienced and inexperienced actors alike."

Martin's "Uplevel Your Acting" classes were exactly what he said they would be - providing very practical, detailed, and specific courses of action, tailored to each participant's acting level, very similar to one-on-one coaching. Each of us can now store and use these insights going forward to make our auditions much, much better than before.

I really appreciated the detailed explanation on how we can evaluate our own performances, along with tricks of the trade that I would have never thought to use. This approach not only helps spot a poor level 1-2 performance, which I now know not to submit as an audition, but also teaches how to take any audition from a level 3 to a level 4 performance.

As someone who has previously taken many intensive acting classes at Barrow Group, HB Studio, and elsewhere, I highly recommend this program to experienced and inexperienced actors alike.

The dissection of the self-tapes down to each sentence, and understanding the level of performance of each sentence, was invaluable. Being able to know what is a good or not-so-good performance on my own is empowering.

The amount of time spent with each of us exceeded my expectations. The very encouraging and easy-to-understand practical tips make one's self-tape auditions much better instead of flying by the seat of one's pants.

– Mark Meissner, professional actor

"I have gained SO much confidence."

"From my first session working with Martin, I have gained SO much confidence in my acting.

Not only is he a great acting coach (he gave me the most helpful insights that INSTANTLY improved my performance, significantly), but he gave me so many resources that I now feel confident analyzing my own self-tapes to keep improving by myself.

If you want to improve your performance FAST, even if you're starting from zero, then Uplevel Your Acting is a no brainer. Honestly, run and grab your spot before they're gone, you don't want to miss out on this program!

– Marie-Pier Portier, professional actress

"The improvements I've seen in my acting have been big..."

"Before I started these classes, my goal was to learn how to perform in film and TV since I've only done theater so far. This class was even better than I thought it would be and taught me a lot about how to act for camera.

Getting feedback every week on the scenes I did was super helpful. It showed me what I needed to work on to improve.

Additionally, I didn't expect to get so much help from Martin, but he was always there to answer my emails if I got stuck on something between our classes. And at the end, he gave us all the notes from the class in PDFs, which was very helpful.

I'd tell anyone who's thinking about doing this class to just go for it. The classes are really fun and interesting, and the improvements I've seen in my acting have been big (especially considering the time frame of just 4 weeks)."

– Charlie Julian Stull, professional actor

"I was hoping to improve my auditioning skills, and I feel I learned a tremendous amount about that..."

I noticed Martin was running a course called "Uplevel Your Acting," and it seemed like it was addressing the very issues I was questioning about my audition submissions. I signed up, and the assignments were based on doing a monologue of your choosing and working on different ways to improve the performance each week. Not only did I get to see the exact mistakes I was making, but I also got to learn where some of my strengths are.

I really feel that having Martin there to analyze my performances line by line and show me exactly where I could improve made a huge difference. He provided specific feedback on how to enhance my performance, and maybe most importantly, he had me do an improv exercise that truly showed me a lot.

I was hoping to improve my auditioning skills, and I feel I learned a tremendous amount about that. I left very happy with the results. I would totally recommend this to anyone looking to tighten up their skills, particularly for auditions. This is a fantastic class, especially if you're new to acting or coming back to it.

Thanks, Martin! Looking forward to doing more work like this with you in the future!

– Dennis Marmon, professional actor

"Uplevel Your Acting was even better than I expected..."

"Uplevel Your Acting was a big step for me. The part that really changed how I see acting was learning to really feel what my character was feeling. It made my acting more real and less about performing.

Before I started, I wanted to work on getting into films or TV shows and finding an agent. I realized I was rushing things and this program helped me see where I was skipping important steps.

Uplevel Your Acting was even better than I expected. It showed me how to bring my characters to life and not just do the same old thing. Thanks to Martin, I'm not scared to bring more life to my roles now.

If a friend was thinking about joining, I'd say go for it! It's a great starting point for anyone's acting career. You learn how to move from being a beginner to acting like a real pro, around level 3 or 4. It's a game-changer."

– Preferred to remain anonymous

"I didn't think, going into the start of the series, that I would be able to learn and retain such helpful information."

"I think the 1-1 analysis and advice during the sessions was the most significant, along with the great info on the slides each week. I was feeling stuck and wasn't sure what I could do to improve. After this program, I feel like I have a better grasp on how I can keep practicing effectively and improve every time I do a self-tape or audition. The whole program far exceeded my expectations. I didn't think, going into the start of the series, that I would be able to learn and retain such helpful information.

If I ever feel stuck again in the future, I know exactly where to look for some guidance. The detailed feedback and structured lessons have given me the confidence and tools I needed. I would say Uplevel Your Acting is worth the time and effort. You learn so much, and every week you really do improve. The supportive environment and practical tips make it invaluable. I would tell anyone considering Uplevel Your Acting to just go for it because I had a great experience!

– Preferred to remain anonymous

"This masterclass is a solid choice..."

"Uplevel Your Acting was a game-changer. The most eye-opening part was in week three, when I realized my acting was coming off a bit too forced and not real enough. Now, I'm using the tips to tweak my auditions and I'm a lot more confident.

I didn't really have any big expectations when I signed up, but Uplevel Your Acting was so much more than I thought it would be. I learned a ton and really enjoyed every part of it. The focus on making our acting more natural, getting monologues right, and improving our self-tape auditions was spot on.

If you're trying to level up your acting or just want to get better at auditioning, this masterclass is a solid choice. I'd tell any friend of mine to go for it if they're serious about their career.

– Preferred to remain anonymous

More Kind Words

"I just booked my first speaking role in Law & Order: SVU and my manager is FINALLY listening to me. Thank you!!"
- Mya Carter

"Since working with Martin, I've performed at the Apollo theatre with rapper Drake, I've become eligible and joined SAG-AFTRA (a long-term goal of mine), and I've even worked as a CORE background actor in numerous TV shows including The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Law & Order SVU."
- Ronald Barshop

"Because of you I have landed my two FIRST EVER roles in the last week. Both are leading roles in two short films."
- Richard P.

"I booked a supporting role in a Lifetime movie 12 Days of Christmas Eve starring Kelsey Grammer. Being on Lifetime was a life-long goal of mine."
- Lucinda C.

"Yesterday a casting director reached out to me with an invite to audition for the lead in a commercial. Absolutely thrilling, this is my first paid, professional speaking role!"
- Dennis M.

"I am getting more requests than ever for auditions and self tapes. Before I worked with you, I got none. Just this morning, I got another request for an audition."
- Andrew Ogelsby

"In less than a month of working with Martin, I was offered the role of King Agnarr in Disney's 'Frozen' on Broadway. And two weeks later I got signed by a highly regarded film & television agency in New York!"
- Tyrone L. Robinson

"After just a few weeks of working with Martin, an agent offered to represent me. A week after that I received a direct invitation for a casting call of a Netflix series!"
- Aser Garcia Rada