What's Your ACTOR'S IQ?
- Andi Matheny
- Jan 3
- 2 min read
Happy 2026! Want to start the year right? How about a challenge?
Since the founding of the Andi Matheny Acting Studios in 2010, knowledge of TV and film genres has been required learning.
Why?
Because even the best acting on a self-tape audition can fail miserably if the actor doesn't understand the tone and genre of the project they're auditioning for. This is so crucial for actors to understand that Andi's book Act ALIVE: The Essential Guide to Igniting and Sustaining Your Working Actor Career has not just one but TWO chapters dedicated to this topic.
If you had an audition for a police procedural show tomorrow, would you know how the tone
of that genre translates to a self-tape audition? Are you aware of the types of characters that are typically featured on those series, and the acting tone required for each?
You can gauge your knowledge of genres by downloading the Actor's IQ Worksheet. It's not a quiz per se, but it is a conversation-starter for you to solidify what you already know and to do research where you have blank spaces. Many of the questions in Part Two don't have an absolute answer, but are important for you to explore, especially if you are currently auditioning for TV and film.
Dear actors, make this one of your mottos for 2026: KNOWLEDGE IS POWER! The more you know, the more empowered you are, and the more you will be prepared for success. And stay tuned for the next blog entry - it will include sample answers for this worksheet. In the meantime, happy TV watching and know that AMAS roots for your success!
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