“I’m anxious to get started. I’m calling an agent tomorrow” – Lesson 6 Do Not Waste Their Time!!

Tags

acting, talent agent, casting agent, Actor, Headshot, Johnny Depp, Cast, Résumé, High school, casting director, actress, community college, community theater

Have you ever gone out to a fast food restaurant and stood behind a person who seemingly had never, in their lifetime, stepped into a fast food restaurant?  They stand there, staring blankly at the menu board, with their mouths open saying, “Ummm . . . I think I want . . . no . . . let me get. . . wait!  Wait, I changed my mine.  How about a . . . . “

Frustrating, right?  Well, that feeling of wanting to get in that persons face and scream, “GET THE NUMBER 5 AND GET THE HELL OUT OF THE LINE!!!” is the exact level of emotional distress agents feel DAILY!

Think about this.  Their job is to find the best talent in their area to market to varied industries (local, national and sometimes International) for consideration of work.  They are skilled enough to know which novice talent can take direction  until they can receive classroom training and which individual who walks into their office off of the street may have what it takes, but will not be as marketable because they don’t have the look.  So, when someone contacts them with the “I think I want to be an actor” speech, it makes their blood pressure go through the roof.  Here’s an example of one of those conversations  -

AGENT: So, do you have A headshot?

POTENTIAL ACTOR (age 28): Oh, my graduation pictures are awesome!  Would you accept those?!

AGENT: Are you talking about high school graduation pictures?

POTENTIAL ACTOR: Yes!  Everyone tells me I haven’t changed a bit since high school.  They were taken at . . .

<click>

POTENTIAL ACTOR:  Hello . . . Hello . . . .

Get the picture!  If you are 28 years old and are still talking about high school stuff then you need to go back and re-read Lesson 1 of this blog.  You cannot waste an agent or agency’s time!  You may just be getting started.  But you have to fake being professional in order to catch their eye.  For the love of Pete!  You’re an actor!!!  Acting PROFESSIONAL is your first gig.

Bottom line on the right time to get an agent – “WHEN YOU ARE READY”.  No, that’s not sarcasm.  That’s a direct quote from an agent to me during one of my first classes.  That was followed by, “and here’s what you need to do to get ready” –

TAKE ACTING CLASSES

If you don’t know the craft then you can’t be taken seriously.  You are not Johnny Depp!  He is a genius who can pull a character out of his butt and make it look easy.  YOU need to take some classes because your intentions for wanting to become an actor may not be the most honorable.  “They get free stuff and I want some free stuff” is the extent of it for some people.  I’m not judging!  But those who are serious about the craft know that training is on-going.  Those who want “stuff” . . . well . . whatever!

GET SOME WORK

Community Theater, sign up with a casting agency to become an extra (re-read Lesson 4) student film projects, volunteer to read to small children and act out the book characters with sock puppets!  Those are legitimate gigs that you can put on your resume.

PUT TOGETHER YOUR RESUME

Once you do SOMETHING you can then start pulling together your resume.   You will need one to show the agency that you are, at the very least, making an effort to become an actor.  They need to know your range and ability in order to know how to sell you.

GET QUALITY HEADSHOTS

Your headshot must look like you.  Sounds odd but many people think since they are actors their headshots must be taken while in character.  No.  Your headshot must look like you and you must be in character when you arrive for the audition!

Once you are trained, have something for your resume and a decent headshot then (and only then) are you to contact an agency.  DO NOT CALL THEM!  Go to their website, look for the words SUBMISSION GUIDELINES and follow those directions to the letter!!!  Do not deviate from their guidelines.  Why?  Well, if you had to answer 300 letters a day which ones would you read?  The ones that look as if they cut and pasted your directions and followed them by the numbers (allowing you to read all of their work in under a minute) or the packet that looks like the recipe for building a spaceship, neatly packaged in some weird wrapping with colorful duct tape holding it together?!  This, by the way, takes a team of 5 to open because YOU think you’re worth the suspense so you want them to savor the moment of opening the packet to get to your information.  BE PROFESSIONAL!!

TO DO LIST

• Acting Lessons
• Resume
• Headshots
• Find agency submission guidelines
• Constantly be professional

BREAK A LEG!!

“Sit Down and Shut Up!!” – Lesson 5 How to take advice (the good, bad and ugly)

If your feelings hurt easily now is the time to rethink being an actor.  This is not a career for a sensitive spirit.  Time is money and money is time and when the camera’s start rolling you better know what you’re doing.

In a recent Dallas Morning News article (totally unrelated to acting – but a good point) a young man by the name of Paul Gudmundsson talks of how he “Won by losing”.  He states he ”grew accustomed to success as a right . . . success was far more common than failure.”  Paul talks of how being in an environment where everyone celebrated “mediocrity” was a hinderance.  I applaud Paul for outlining this subject.  Because, outside of your parents living room, you will not get an affirmation with everything you do.  Therefore, here is a compilation of good “firm” advice I’ve received over the years as it pertains to acting.  I will not name the sources.  But I am thankful to them all – the good, bad, ugly and (seemingly) clinically insane!

DO NOT PISS OFF THE RECEPTIONIST

Janitor, gardener, extras or anyone else, for that matter!  Whether it’s an audition, seminar, training session or a meet and greet at Starbucks – HUMBLE YOURSELF!  You have no idea who those people are, who they are related to or what they are trying to accomplish in this business.  Many casting directors will have their children work for them during the summer months.  So, if you walk into an audition and the person checking you in doesn’t seem really professional. Understand that mom or dad is probably making them “earn their keep” and they probably have no interest in the business to begin with.  Meaning, it may not seem professional.  But, you are not there to make friends. Walk in, get directions, sit down, shut up and listen for your cue!

YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SMILE – USE IT

Translation: Use your assets in the affirmative.

Many years ago, during one of my first auditions; I slated, delivered my lines and glared at the camera without smiling.  It was a commercial for a bank and since I hadn’t read in the script that I was supposed to smile, I didn’t.  The casting director (immediately after the words “Cut”) said, “Gail, you have a beautiful smile.  I’ve seen it!  Why won’t you use it?”  My feelings were a little hurt.  But, I learned that day that during a slate (when you say your name to the camera) you smile – a BIG one too!  I learned years after that, while doing radio, that a smile can be “felt” in your voice through the radio and on the telephone.  Smile during your slate.  Smile at the end of your audition.  Heck, smile when you walk into the audition!  It let’s people know you’re not taking yourself too seriously.

YOUR MOTHER DOESN’T (nor any other member of your family) WORK HERE!

Again, you can’t be overly sensitive and work in this business.  If you are dealing with the personal issues of family members who did not support you or an issue with having had your feelings crushed in the 4th grade – get a therapist now!  The rejection (re: guidance) you will get from this business will sting briefly.  You should not internalize it.  Again, you need to use it as a means to strengthen you.  Your cousin telling you you’ll never make it has a totally different meaning from a casting director saying, “Get some more training and then come and see me in 6 months.”  Your cousin has probably been a jackass all of his life.  The casting director, on the other hand, is letting you know that you just need to get polished before they invest their time, efforts and money into you!  I heard the words “stupid, fat and lazy” associated with my desire to act for many years.  I have never forgotten how useless I felt thinking that my desired career seemed like an epic failure to people around me.  Luckily, I now recall those feelings when the audition requires me to be pissed off, sad or worthless!  It’s all advice . . . guidance . . . structured criticism (for lack of better words.)

IF YOU WERE A PROFESSIONAL YOU’D HAVE THAT!

I once went to an audition wearing jeans and a t-shirt.  I know that doesn’t seem like an unprofessional move.  Afterall, I went right after work on a Friday (which was our casual day).  But, the character I was auditioning for was not having a casual Friday.  The character was a professional woman and should have been in a suit.  It is rare (especially in the Dallas market) that you will not get ample notice before your audition.  Therefore, if you know you will have to leave work to go directly to an audition you should have your clothes in your car and be ready to change – in a parking lot if need be!

Being in the Dallas market I have had to travel 3 hours north (Oklahoma) and 3 hours south (San Antonio/Austin) for auditions.  I now have an audition pack in my trunk.  What is an auditon pack, you ask?  Well, who might you need to be during your audition?  Will you need to be make-up ready?  I guarantee you will not look fresh after those 3 hours in your car trying to find the audition location in a town you’re not familiar with.  Get a garment bag, suitcase or dufflebag and pack it as if you’re going to work in corporate America (a really nice suite), on a cruise (yes, ladies – a gown/fella’s the penguin suit) and to a festival (something casual and comfy).  You do not need to keep it in the trunk of your car.  But you need to keep it somewhere where you can grab it, quickly, as you head out – especially if your audition is late in the day.  Do not show up looking like a bum if you’re supposed to be a CEO!

So, sensitive is not a good emotion unless the character is supposed to be and dress appropriately for which ever emotion is needed.

BREAK A LEG!!!

 

 

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT – May 2012

There are days when I feel like a professional auditioner.  To my knowledge, there is no actual career that pays to just audition.  If you have 20 auditions a year and book at least one count it as success!  Use the energy from the lost to motivate you to work on your skills!

Every down moment should be a fed with training!

Break a Leg!

“Agents – when, where, how?” | Lesson 4 – EXTRA EXTRA!! Do not put the cart before the horse!

Okay, you’ve taken 1 class and three seminars.  Now what?

The first thing would be to look into more training.  Training will be on-going.  Therefore assume that taking more classes will be a given with all lessons.

First – you do not want to attempt to contact an agency until you are ready.  Second – You must be confident in your ability to execute the craft.  Third – Your focus should be on getting your resume together.  Meaning, you need to find work!  It’s a catch 22 – you have to have something on your resume before you can get work.  Makes sense, right?  So, how do you go about this magical trick – EXTRA EXTRA!!! 

If you are over 18 and totally new to acting then you do not have those high school productions to put on your resume.  Yes, you can start a resume with your high school work.  Your ACTING resume must include acting gigs – high school plays and musicals, kindergarten production of “I’m a little Teapot”, church Easter pagent, your role as baby Jesus in your churches Christmas production.  It’s acting.  But that is the stuff you list if you are still in high school!  If you have graduated high school then you will need to get gigs via the route of community theater or as an EXTRA!

Now, in respect to getting gigs as an extra.  I got my first extra gig after taking a class at Beau Bonneau’s studio in San Francisco in 1995.  Sure, I had high school productions to list on a resume.  But I had been out of high school for quite a while at that point.  Actually, I was still fresh out of the military.  My high school info would have been a joke on a resume at that point.

After the class, I signed up with the Bonneau studio and booked my first extra spot on a commerical for a bank.  No, it was not necessary to take a class to get registered with them.  But it just made sense to take classes with a casting agency (not to be confused with a talent agency - lesson coming soon) that casted extras! 

So, here’s what you need to do.  Type CASTING AGENCIES and your city or state into a search engine.  You should get a list of casting agencies that are in close proximity to you.  Most agency’s prefer that you be within a 100 mile radius of their office.  This is mainly so that you can be on set ON TIME if you are booked. Many agencies now allow you to register on their website.  For example: Check out Glorioso Casting in Sherveport, LA.  The “get into the sene” tab is the link to registering as an extra.  Follow the guidelines listed on the casting agencies page.

ALERT ALERT ALERT – -  NEVER pay a casting agency, talent agency or anyone claiming they can make you famous!!!!!!  IT IS A SCAM!  Reputable agencies are normally listed with the Better Business Bureau, have a list of credits on their website – Heck, HAVE a website!! and legitimate contact information on their site.  DO NOT CALL THEM!!  Follow the instructions for the registration.  This will be your first test with them.  If you can’t follow basic instructions, trust me on this, they will not want you on their set.  And should you happen to get on a set and act as if you were raised by wolves, you will never be asked back.

Here’s your homework:

• Study actor’s resumes.  Check IMDb, ActorsPage and other sources to see how resume’s are formatted.
• Start compiling your work in the correct format.
• Never done this before?  Search for CASTING AGENCIES in your area.  Hopefully you are near a major Metropolitan area.  Most small towns just have community theater.  I’m in the Dallas Market.  Dallas has gotten a lot of work lately.  Over the past 3 years we have had several major network shows (The Deep End (Fox), The Good Guys (Fox), Chase (NBC), GCB (ABC) and the newly revamped Dallas series (premieres June 13 on TNT).
• Find an acting class and start building relationships

Until next time . . . Break a Leg!

Several Sites You Should Bookmark

If you’re not a working actor you should be an actor working on your craft and educating yourself on the industry.  To many it seems like a hobby.  But as with any profession, if you do not keep up with the trends and techniques of the industry you will be overlooked or eliminated.  Therefore, here is a list of websites to commit to memory.

Break a Leg!

Screen Actors Guild-AFTRA (SAG-AFTRA)

The nation’s largest labor union representing working actors.

BACKSTAGE Espresso

Entertainment-industry news and analysis for professional actors.

BACKSTAGE Unscripted

A popular and insightful blog about acting careers and the lives of actors, written by real working actors.

BACKSTAGE BlogStage

A top source for casting news and entertainment-industry insights for actors and performers.

Actors Access

Provides resume services, articles, audition monologues and links.

Casting Networks

Nationwide database for casting professionals, agents and talent.

Mandy

Film TV Broadcast Production resource: film television production jobs, casting calls,
facilities listed by territory, equipment classified ads, film sales.

On Location Casting

A full service casting company which provides extras, stand-ins, crowds, real people, models and principal actors to the entire entertainment industry.

Now Casting

Services for the entire entertainment industry.

Voices.com

The industry leading website that connects businesses with professional voice talents.

“I’ve taken some classes. Now what?” | Lesson 3 – Get Organized!

So, you’ve taken some classes, you’re feeling confident, you think you’re ready for your close up and then you realize most projects ask for headshots and a resume.  “Aauugghhhh!!!  What do I do now?!”

First, never panick.  This is a process that calls for a bit of repetition and some pre-planning before you run out to get headshots and format a resume.

HEADSHOTS

Type the word “TALENT AGENT” in a search engine.  Find one that is closest to you.  Check their page to see what the talent they represent look like.  Some agencies are gracious enough to list photo resources.  That is normally in smaller markets.  I found the photographer who did my 1995 headshots through a seminar I took.  When I moved to Texas I volunteered for our local PBS station to help with pledge drives.  One of the women on the set had an agent.  So I asked her who did her headshots.  She emailed me the names of her photographers and stated who her favorite was.  I spoke with the photographer prior to the shoot to discuss dates, poses, clothes and fees.

Now, I am not going to list photographer fees.  Here’s why.  It varies from state to state and you really do not want to invest a lot of money in photos until you get an agent.  Agencies know how they want to market you.  So, if you go out and get an avant-garde photographer to take pictures of you so that you look like Lady Gaga, I guarantee you will be using those photos as coasters.

Again, visit the sites of TALENT AGENCIES in your area (or an area you would like to work in) and glean from their pages.  Look at their SUBMISSION GUIDELINES and then pay close attention to what their represented talent looks like.

Your first photo should be a real photo of you.  Kinda like one you would take with your phone.  Seriously!  They need to see every pimple, cut, bruise and hair (ladies, please pluck your facial hair – facial hair only applies to men).  Agents have eyes that are trained to see if you’ve got it of if you don’t.

Also, depending on the market and area, you may need a full body (more like 3/4) shot.  This shot would be from your shins up.  The Ford Modeling Agency has a great example of how to take and correctly submit a photo.

RESUMES

Rule #1 and the most important rule for a resume is never lie!!  If you want your career to end shortly after it begins, lie on your resume.

“Why?” you ask.  Well, let’s use the cautionary tale of  . . . we’ll call him “Sam”.

Sam has a very impressive resume with many blockbuster movies.  Sam does not list himself in any starring roles.  But he lists roles that were still played by C list actors.  Sam gets an audition with  . . . let’s say Jerry Bruckheimer.  Sam talks about his speaking role on one of Jerry’s shows from fall 2010.  Jerry immediately knows that Sam is lying because the role Sam states he played was actually one given to Jerry’s cousin.

Producers and Directors know who they work with (or have people on staff who know).  Most actors immediately update their information on the IMdB page to validate who they have worked with.  This should be done by the production company. You will not get away with a lie in this business and you will not live long enough to live it down.  Just don’t do it!!!

If you want to start building a resume here are some places to get work

• If you’re still in high school you can put your school productions on your resume.
• Community theater is a fantastic way to get started, get credits and start networking.
• Your local PBS station.  I did on-air commentary during pledge week and was able to use that experience for host credits.
• Volunteer!  Find local non-profits who need story tellers or performers for their community events.  There’s a fantastic non-profit organization in Dallas called the Reading and Radio Resources.  They produce audio materials for the deaf and hearing impaired.  Many voice actors contribute to this resource.
• Here’s the big one.  Work as a background performer (extra).  Find the Film Commission in your area.  Any movie productions being filmed have to get permits through the film commission.  The commission page normally will have contact information about the production and guidelines for getting involved.  This is also when you will look into CASTING AGENCIES in your area.

Casting Agencies do not represent you.  Casting Agencies will find extra/background work for you.  Some times they list it on their websites.  Some of the roles will be unpaid.  But you still get to list it on your resume.

So, your homework for this lesson is to -

• Research Talent Agents (I’ll explain Casting Agents in a later lesson)
• Review the SUBMISSION GUIDELINES on the pages of Talent Agencies (LEARN THEIR PROCESSES until you can recite them in your sleep)
• Volunteer or find a production where you can become an extra to start building your resume.
• Research Casting Agents.

BAL!!!

“How much does it cost to start an acting career?” | Lesson 2 – Classes

Tags

acting, Angelina Jolie, beau bonneau, casting agent, dallas, Jerry Bruckheimer, Louis Gossett Jr, Mass communication, san francisco, Solano Community College, talent agent, Texas, voice over

I am very thankful to have had a mother who, when I asked questions, would immediately respond, “Go to the library and look it up.” She wouldn’t yell. She wouldn’t be curt. She just knew that she had to prepare me for the world and her methodology was to make sure I was sincere about my pursuits and would follow through on what I desired for my life.

Now, you can tell it was a different time. When I was a teenager the Internet was something only Captain Kirk had access to and it wasn’t called the Internet at that time. I would literally walk to the library and look through the periodicals for the reference to where I would look for my answer.

Unfortunately, even with the advent of the internet, you will get bogus information about careers in entertainment (by the thousands). But, here’s a rule of thumb. If someone asks you for money to get your acting/singing/voice over/dancing career started or makes the statement “I can make you a star” RUN! Do not worry about hurting their feelings. Because what they are planning for you is going to hurt much worst financially, emotionally and (depending on their level of insanity) physically.

Times have changed since I took my first seminar in 1983 as a high school senior. I found an ad in one of the publications I had gotten from the little theater group I volunteered with and was ready to jump in head first. I was finally going to get my break!!

The organization was called Faces International and although they charged a fee, I rationalized it to my mother by pointing out they offered a seminar, on camera audition training and head shots. Normally she would have had me use my paper route money. But, since we were new to California, I did not have the cushy job I once had when we lived in Indiana. It would be on her dime. So I had to make sure it was a legitimate operation and she needed to talk with people before handing over her check.

First professional head shot - 1983

I think I (my mom) invested at least $200 in that project. And for all intents and purposes, it was a good experience. The classes helped me get rid of some fears about being in front of a camera, there were quite a few people in the class who were older than me (so I felt safe) and I had my first experience with getting head shots taken.

Currently there are agencies and even photographers who offer these types of packages. But, if you are just getting started, you need to know what an agent is looking for or what the production calls for. So, you really shouldn’t get head shots or anything else until you start working. I know that sounds upside down. But it’s the truth. This business can be costly depending on what you want to do. But it will be an investment. So be prepared for that.

One year to the date of my high school graduation my mom passed away after a lengthy battle with Lupus. Not only did I sideline my acting, I dropped out of college. I know she would not have wanted me to do either of those things. But, I was barely 19 and an emotional mess. Therefore acting took a back seat to my pity party . . . but not for long!

Fast forward to 1993. I was fresh out of the military and ready to feed the bug again. I began by revisiting the junior college in my area. I focused on getting an Associates degree in Mass Communications (radio/TV broadcasting). I choose broadcasting because it allowed me to understand aspects of the world of entertainment I had not considered as a high school student. The Mass Communications program (now the Film and Television program) at Solano Community College (SCC) in Fairfield, CA introduced me to script writing, vocal techniques for radio, script analysis and understanding the various areas of media. Also, being less than an hour away from San Francisco, I also received audition notices, newsletters and (most important) seminar information.

My first seminar was at the Beau Bonneau studio in San Francisco. It was, to this date, the best seminar I have ever had. I’m sure that’s because I was in total awe of being there and it was all fresh. But, I still tap into my memory reserve to recall lessons I got directly from Mr. Bonneau. After almost six, very interesting years in the military, Beau helped me figure out how to smile again.

After that seminar I decided to throw my hat in the ring and try to find an agent. Do you know I had the nerves enough to use my 1983 head shots! Yes I did. Guess what? It worked.

I got a call from BOOM! Models and Talent for an interview in 1995 (the year I graduated from SCC). Through them I booked commercials, voice over, television, film and stand in gigsfrom 1995 to 1998; when I relocated to Texas.

Back then to get seen by an agency you would need to send them a photograph of your face and a full body shot. Your grandmother could take this picture. As long as it was a true picture of you, it didn’t have to be professional. That still holds true today.

But, where as it seemed to be a very easy process in California, it wasn’t so much in Texas. It took literally 10 years to get representation in Texas. So, understand the demographics of areas where you will live and if you want to continue pursuing acting once you move. I almost lost hope. But, in the 2 years I have been with my Texas agent I have booked several commercials, a speaking role on Jerry Bruckheimer crime drama – with credits, a speaking role on a movie (also starring Jason London and Louis Gossett Jr) – with credits and some voice over gigs.

Here are the steps to getting an agent in 2011 -

1. Find the websites of talent agencies (not to be confused with CASTING agencies) in your area.
2.  Check their page for SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
   Follow their requirements
3. That’s it! But, here are several things you SHOULD NOT do when it comes to finding an agent.

• DO NOT contact an agency until you are ready and have studied the craft.
•  DO NOT send your information to an agency and then call them every week to check on the status. If you do not hear from them in six months (yes, I said MONTHS) keep taking classes and resubmit.
•  DO NOT call an agency asking for a list of classes. You can get those resources by Googling/Bing/Yahooing the words ACTING CLASSES NEAR (your city here).
•  DO NOT show up at an agency thinking you will be discovered.
•  BELIEVE THEM if they say they are not representing new talent!!! Unless Angelina Jolie is your 1st cousin and has called in a favor, thank them for their time and move on!
•  Be as kind as you can to the office assistant because she has more power than you could EVER imagine!!!
  Again, do not give a dime to anyone who suggests they can make you a star. You already shine brightly in the eyes of someone who cares about you. And trust me, they want you to be safe and happy. So, learn this craft if you desire it to be your career. It’s up to you to know as much about it as humanly possible so that you can make rational decisions about your future career.

BAL!!!

“I want to be an actor!” | LESSON 1 – Classes

I’m happy for you.  I want to climb Mt. Fuji in Japan!

Sarcasm is an unfortunate part of the creative spirit.  But, there’s a method to the madness.  So hear me out.

You want to be an actor.  Now what?

To be successful at anything you must know what that “thing” is.  To just say you want to be an actor is a pretty broad statement.  Do you want to do stage, film, video, or commercials?  Will your acting style be comedic, dramatic or real person (not to be confused with reality TV)?  Are you willing to be background or is your goal to have only principle roles?

Here is your first lesson -

TAKE A CLASS - You must learn the craft first!  I don’t care if Meemaw and Peepaw think you’re the next best thing since sliced bread.  Being an actor takes so much more than a really good personality.

Are you familiar with terms such as “staging“,  ”background” and “principle“?  Have you ever seen a “callsheet?”  If you were told to “Get on your mark” would you crouch down in a runner’s position?

I hate to be the bearer of bad news.  But, if any of those terms are foreign to you then you are not ready for film or TV.  And if you crouch down when someone tells you to get on your mark, I am so certain they will ask you to leave – unless, of course, you look exactly like Brad Pitt and can take direction really, really well!

There are millions of people who want to be an actor.  Most successful actors I’ve heard being interviewed say they studied people whose styles appealed to them, they took classes to enhance their delivery and hone their style, and they surrounded themselves with books, films and other materials that would give them insight into all aspects of the business (e.g., technical, theatrical, financial).  So, before you pack up and move to L.A or New York in hopes of being the next big star, get cracking on your homework.

Familiarize yourself with resources that will help you learn your craft.  Do not <repeating> DO NOT JOIN A UNION!!!!!  Learn their guidelines and familiarize yourself with their offerings.  You will learn about unions in a later lesson.  That lesson comes after you learn about agents.  Right now you need to learn what this acting thing is.

So my first suggestion is that you take an Intro to Acting class.  Community colleges are your best (and most economical) bet.  If you live near a major city there will be reputable facilities that specifically teach all things acting.  Check RESOURCES tab on the SAG website.  They have their offices listed by division.  You’ll need to find the office closes to you.  They can guide you to classes and seminars near you.  You must gain the knowledge of this business before jumping into it.

BREAK A LEG (BAL)

* I really do want to climb Ft Fuji.  It’s a bucket list thing.

RESOURCES

• http://communitycollegesusa.com/
• http://www.sag.org/
• http://www.aftra.org/
• http://www.backstage.com
• http://www.theactorslife.com/business/publications_for_actors.html

Scene!

Tags

acting, ambition, career, determination, Education, employment, high school drama

1981 High School adaptation of "The Night of January 16th"

I knew at the age of five I wanted to be an actress.  I didn’t know what it was called or even what it meant.  I just knew I liked doing the stuff the people on TV did.

One day while making my lunch, my mom asked if I wanted a PB&J sandwich or tuna.  I said, “Tuna“.  She asked again (knowing that at that age my mind changed in nano seconds).I recall, with my Barbie doll in hand, throwing my head back, and with my little chubby hand on my forehead saying to her, “Yes mummy.  Ralllly I would!” (a la Gloria Swanson).I’m sure my mom was very amused - once she determined she wouldn’t have to put me in special classes. But, at five years old, I knew nothing about acting.  My mom knew nothing about acting.  Meaning she would have hours of free entertainment and I would have to figure out (on my own) how to make my dreams come true.Fast forward several years (long before the internet) and there I am; on stage performing in my school play.  I understood why they called it a “bug“.  It gets down under your skin and eats away at doubt, hesitation and apprehension.  I had no fear when I stepped onto that stage.  That bug had me.  But, I still had questions.Now, after many years of trial and error and a miniscule degree of acting success, I am creating this blog to answer questions I often get from people wanting to get into the business, are new to the business, or are thinking about getting their children into the business.  So, stay tuned while I pull some things together.In the meantime, what do you want to know about starting an acting career?  Have you decided on one area (commercial, film, voice over . . .) or have you done it all and are trying to pull together a portfolio?  Who should you trust to do your demo?  Do you even need a demo?These questions and more to be answered soon.  Until then – read this HOW TO GET INTO VOICE OVER.  It’ll blow your mind!!  Well, it’ll be informative at the least. Break a Leg!!