Your Acting Career - 101

(or) How to Become Famous

by Laura Interval

OK… this is what I get asked the most:

How can I be on TV?

How can I break into Broadway?

How can I get a career in film?

How can I become a famous actor??!!!

There’s only one thing for sure in the acting business… Nothing is for sure in the acting business!

There is not just one answer to these questions. There are no easy ways, magic tricks or short cuts. In fact, unlike most careers or occupations, where if you get the proper college degree or training you will most likely work, you have absolutely no guarantee that you will make a living as a professional actor. There are no “entry level” positions or starting salaries.

Make no mistake, you must study and train to achieve a level of success. You won’t skip this step and go straight to stardom. Except for a very, very few… the term” overnight success” is a myth. Look up your favorite star on the Internet Movie Data Base (IMDB.com) and see the work they did before they were “famous”.

Believe it, understand it and prepare yourself to work hard.

If you still want to pursue acting, know that the absolute best you can do is to make sure you are prepared for every opportunity that comes your way. Decide there are no short cuts for you. Why should there be? Every one else in every other career works their way up. NASCAR drivers start with go-carts, right? You need to build a foundation. Develop your craft.

So, let’s get started!

The foundation:

Prepare, prepare, prepare… did I say that already? Ok… then, practice, practice, practice! As an artist, an actor, you can never do enough to prepare. Understand that everything you do, every adventure you have, every experience in your life, adds to who you are as an artist. So, don’t hold back! You will find that every skill that you learn will enrich your artist.

Work on your “instrument”:
Understand that what you have to offer as an actor is YOU. This is your instrument, your tool of the trade. Your voice, your body, your image, your presence . . . this is your art. The better you get to know it and develop it; the more valuable you are as an actor. So, begin now to work hard everyday – on at least one aspect of your artist.

How?

Classes:
Acting classes and workshops are really important especially in the beginning. There are many different acting styles and techniques to learn and experiment with. You must find what works for you and what you are comfortable with. It’s also vital that you see what other artists are doing, how they are doing it… and allow them to see you. Get used to being in front of and working with other people. Classes are a great way to learn about yourself… a great platform to make all your big mistakes and learn from them! Don’t be afraid. Push yourself to enroll and show up! Local theatres often have classes or workshops for adults and kids. Get involved.

Dance classes are also important. Yes, even the boys/men! You must have a sense of your body and how you move. This is vital on stage. Challenge yourself to take a dance class and move that body! Hip hop, tap, ballet, jazz… whatever it takes to get you more in touch with your physical self.

Vocal training is key. Actor’s are often recognized and identified by their voices. You must be heard! Whether you’re planning to pursue singing or not, you must be in touch with your voice and learn how to use it. If you aren’t in some type of formal training, make sure you are reading out loud even to yourself everyday.

Any other kind of performing arts or art classes are valuable to you as an actor. Music, musical instruments, painting, sculpting… any form of art will allow you to express yourself and develop your skills and talents.

Your Image:
Begin to understand what your image represents.Put yourself of camera in your own space. Film yourself doing a monologue, singing a song, or just having a conversation. Watch it back and get comfortable with your image.

Understanding your casting is a very important part of being an actor. Begin to identify yourself with other actors. Who do you think you are like? What actors play the roles that you would play? When you watch film, TV, theatre, be aware of the characters and actors that you feel are similar to you. Begin to make a list of the roles you would like to play… the characters that you think a director would hire you for. This will give you a good beginning of a list of material to work on for class and eventually auditions.

Get working:
Don’t get in a hurry. Don’t skip this step! Perhaps local theatre is not your ultimate goal, but it is the best place for you to start. You may be great in your living room, but it’s a whole different story with an audience. Don’t wait until “something bigger” comes up. Get prepared for when it does! Check out your local community theatre. Is there a local casting agent? Are there local TV commercials shooting? Grab your camera and produce your own short film with a few friends! Just get working. Put your actor to the test, everyday.

Get evaluated:
This site is here for you to get professional feedback. It’s easy and painless… just do it! We will work with you to help you develop your craft. It’s all a part of preparing you for your pursuit. We will coach you and help educate you on your career possibilities. Get started on the express yourself page.

Define your goals:
I encourage you to write your goals down. Make a business plan for your acting career. Decide why you’re doing it… and just what you want out of it! This will help motivate you and remind you why you are persisting. You will only hit what you aim for.

The biz:
Don’t get ahead of yourself. Stay in the process of developing your actor!! Don’t spend a lot of money on headshots or websites at this point. There are a lot of scams out there… promising you jobs… promising you attention. If it sounds too good to be true, then it is! The majority of “casting websites” that ask for money to post your pictures are worthless. If you want to pay money to have your picture on the web for your mom and auntie to see, then by all means do it. But, legitimate agents/directors/producers are NOT looking at these. You’re better off on YouTube or My Space for that matter.



Be patient. Be persistent. Be part of the process of becoming the best artist you can be. That will bring you work. That will bring you a career. And if the stars are aligned just the right way, that will bring you fame!

Look for more info and tips on acting and the biz in Your Acting Career - 201

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