All News
Photo Credit: PeopleImages.com – Yuri A, Shutterstock.com
Events , The Daily Roundup

January 2025: Activities for Every Day This Month


January 10, 2025

As the calendar flips to a fresh year, January signals more than just new beginnings — it’s a prime time for actors and entertainment professionals to reset and realign yearly goals. With award season in full swing and casting directors gearing up for upcoming projects, January provides the perfect backdrop for actors to take the necessary steps toward success. While we embrace the winter, it’s time to take actionable steps to kick off 2025!

Advice & Inspiration:

1. Set Clear Career Goals. Start the year by defining specific and attainable goals for your career. Break down your larger ambitions into smaller, manageable steps. It’s okay to adjust your goals along the way. Goal-setting isn’t just about the destination; it’s about creating a strategic path toward consistent growth and development.

2. Update Your Marketing Materials. Refresh your headshots, résumé, and demo reel. Make sure they accurately represent who you are and the types of roles you’re aiming for. If your hairstyle changes during the year, consider getting even newer headshots — you want your “look” to stay current.

3. Join an Acting Class. Enroll in a workshop or ongoing class to hone your skills and stay sharp. This is also a great way to expand your network, wink wink!

4. Revamp Your Self-Tape Setup. With self-tapes now the norm, ensure your lighting, background, and audio are top-notch to stand out in auditions.

5. Network with Purpose. Reach out to industry contacts, including behind-the-scenes crew, casting directors (no phone calls!), and fellow actors. A simple greeting can reignite valuable connections. Ask how their New Year is going so far. Be prepared with something to say about YOUR New Year if they ask.

6. Research Upcoming Projects. This is a labor of love. Stay informed about upcoming productions in your area and industry trends. Knowledge is power, especially during pilot season. Consider subscribing to the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment newsletter. It’s free!

7. Strengthen Your Online Presence. Back in the day, word of mouth was all the rage. No matter what generation you’re from, today’s industry relies heavily on social media, and so should you. Stay connected with X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Linkedin.

8. Focus on Wellness. Physical and mental well-being are important for peak performance. Incorporate regular exercise, meditation or a new wellness routine into your daily life. You can find timed exercises on a smartwatch, cell phone and, of course, in books. There’s even a little something for procrastinators!

9. Practice Gratitude. Show business has its challenges. Nonetheless, you should always be appreciative of opportunities. Reflect on past wins and celebrate your accomplishments, big or small. Express appreciation to others by thanking your mentors, peers, or anyone who has supported you along the way. A handwritten note or a heartfelt email can strengthen relationships. If you want to go a step further, check out this Actor’s Gratitude Journal!

10. Read More Scripts! Be a superhero and expand your understanding of storytelling by reading scripts. Script writing may look simple, but it’s a complicated process. Reading scripts will help improve your interpretation skills for auditions and roles. Did you know there’s a The Batman: The Official Script Book?

11. Plan Financially for the Year. We all say “ugh” when we hear this, but it’s part of the job of an actor to make sure you’re financially secure. And that’s why the book Arts & Numbers: A Financial Guide for Artists, Writers, Performers, and Other Members of the Creative Class was invented!

12. This month’s social media spotlight goes to Khaby Lame. Lame is an Italian TikTok personality who will make you laugh. We all need a laugh, right?

What to watch:

13. The Pitt (first responder series) starring Noah Wyle and Fiona Dourif comes to Max on January 9. The show is a realistic examination of the challenges facing healthcare workers in America as seen through the lens of the frontline heroes working in a modern-day hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

14. On Call (police drama) premieres on Prime Video on January 9. The show follows a rookie officer, played by Brandon Larracuente, and a veteran officer, portrayed by Troian Bellisario, as they patrol Long Beach, California. The veteran officer is struggling “to find her place in the department while training the next generation of officers.” Meanwhile, the rookie is trying to maintain “his optimistic outlook as he realizes the challenges he’ll face in today’s climate,” says the synopsis.

15. Better Man (musical film) arrives in theaters on January 10. Starring Damon Herriman, Jules Daly, and Karina Banno, the film is about the rise of celebrated singer-songwriter Robbie Williams.

16. Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare (spoof horror film) in theaters Jan 13-15 only. Starring Nicholas Woodeson, Philip Philmar, and Megan Placito, the film follows Wendy Darling as she strikes out in an attempt to rescue her brother Michael from “the clutches of the evil Peter Pan.” Along the way she meets Tinkerbell, who in this twisted version of the story will be seen taking the heroine, convinced that it’s pixie dust.

17. Severance (thriller series) Season 2 can be seen on Apple TV+, January 17. Mark leads a team of office workers whose memories have been surgically divided between their work and personal lives; when a mysterious colleague appears outside of work, it begins a journey to discover the truth about their jobs. Starring Adam Scott, Britt Lower, and Patricia Arquette.

18. Under the Crystal Sky (adventure sci-fi) drops on Video on Demand on January 17. In the 1800s, in the American Southwest, an Indigenous family, consisting of a mother, father and daughter; witness a UFO crash near their home. Following the extraterrestrial event, strange occurrences transpire around them. The family must confront their fear of the extraterrestrial while also fending off the encroaching American military. Starring Joseph Williams, John Walker Jones and Matt Hartley.

19. The Night Agent (thriller series) returns to Netflix on January 23. Gabriel Basso and Luciane Buchanan star. Brought together by a midnight phone call, an FBI agent and a cybersecurity expert must unravel an ever-growing web of political conspiracies.

20. Paradise (drama) hits Hulu on January 28. From the This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman, the series is set “in a serene community inhabited by some of the world’s most prominent individuals,” the synopsis reads. “But this tranquility explodes when a shocking murder occurs and a high-stakes investigation unfolds.”

Wellness Activities:

21. Vocal Warm-ups: Practice daily vocal exercises to maintain and enhance vocal health, ensuring clarity and projection during performances. Learn how to stop your voice from cracking.

22. Balanced Nutrition: Maintain a diet rich in nutrients to support energy levels and overall health. Here’s an interesting read — Glucose Revolution: The Life-Changing Power of Balancing Your Blood Sugar.

23. Adequate Sleep: We can all relate to this! Prioritize quality sleep to generate recovery and cognitive function. Being refreshed leads to better memorization and performance.

24. Creative Hobbies: Take up activities such as writing, drawing/painting, or sculpting. This will provide a relaxing outlet as well as a needed break from the daily craziness.

25. Regular Stretching: Stretching can help prevent injuries because you have more flexibility. Keeping your body agile can help secure different roles. Not to mention you’ll feel better!

26. Whip out your crayons and markers and reduce stress and anxiety with an adult coloring book! Check out the Stained Glass Mountain Coloring Book for people looking for something visually striking and different to color.

Live / Virtual Events:

27. The Acting Retreat is a two-day Virtual Acting Master Class presented by The Casting Director’s Cut on January 18 & 19, 2025. Purchase your one-day or two-day pass.

28. URTA Auditions. The University Resident Theatre Association (URTA) conducts auditions and interviews for graduate programs in acting and related fields. In-person sessions are scheduled in Philadelphia (January 10–12), Fullerton, CA (January 18 & 19), and Chicago (January 26–29), with virtual auditions on February 2, 2025.

29. Sundance Film Festival runs from January 23 to February 2, 2025, in Park City, Utah, this premier festival showcases groundbreaking independent films, attracting filmmakers and cinephiles worldwide.

30. Phoenix Concert Series: Throughout January 2025, Phoenix, Arizona, hosts a variety of concerts featuring genres from rock to classical, catering to diverse musical tastes.

31. Washington D.C. Art Exhibitions: The National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. features special exhibitions in January 2025, showcasing works from renowned artists and emerging talents.

Thinking about joining Casting Networks? Sign up for a free trial today!

You may also like:

Ilana Rapp is a media-savvy Generation Xer with instinctive wit, quick humor and a taste for deep human emotions. As a former (child) actress with Broadway, film and television credits, she is adept at, well, lots of things.



Related Articles