Question:
Getting started in acting?
chelsea
2008-07-15 14:45:21 UTC
I'm 15 and I aspire to be an actress. I have been in many school plays. I have also tried out at my community theatre and got understudy, I was told(by the director) the reason I didn't get a part was because I was too short.: ) I love being in front of people and the camera. I'm also taking an acting camp this summer. I live in South Carolina, so I don't really have alot of opprotunities. But I really want to be an actress, I know I have to skills to be one. Any help? I dont need any answers that tell me to take more classes and stuff, because I am. I need help getting started though.
Five answers:
Actor and Host
2008-07-15 15:22:30 UTC
You are so not alone. You would be surprised (or maybe not) at how many young girls say almost the exact same things in the same way. Sometimes I'm torn between telling them to start by getting some training and telling them to just go get a headshot and go to some casting website and start submitting. But reason wins over me and I have to tell you that if you really want to be an actress, you should first put your big rush to do it to the side and slow down. Build your base first.

You might have heard in school when you talked about Abraham Lincoln, that he is the author of a famous quote. He said, "If I had three hours to chop down a tree, I would use the first hour to sharpen the axe."



If you don't sharpen your axe first, there will inevitably be a time when you will have to stop chopping and sharpen it, so you might as well do it now.



What does that mean? Get some acting training. Find a good school and a good teacher to help you learn how to act.

While you are doing that, try and understand what it really means to be an actor, what actors do...really while they are trying to get work, how little money most actors make, why actors struggle to make ends meet and how successful actors are able to continuously get work. You need to learn business skills, networking skills, communication skills and a lot more.

When you decide to become an actress, you are making a decision to run your own business. Now I know you are young, but if you can start to grasp these concepts now, WITH THE HELP OF YOUR PARENTS of course, you will position yourself ahead of your competition.



On the other hand if all you ever aspire to is to work background work on Disney Channel, then don't worry too much about all that stuff I just said and just go and try and get extra work. That's fairly easy to get considering that the majority of all acting work is background work and smaller roles. But you have to know that if you really want to make a big splash as an actress, sooner or later you will need some real experience. Extra work is great in my opinion at the very beginning just to start and see how things are on set and how real actors prepare and perform and to see how set directions are given, but it will not make your career.

The thing is, you can do both. You can go to school, take acting classes and still work as an extra while you are learning the craft.

At any rate, have a look at this page on my website for aspiring actors. It has 23 helpful tips on different aspects of starting an acting career including what your first steps should be, 23 benefits of taking acting classes, about getting work on Disney Channel, how to get an agent, how to choose a school and industry resources you need to know about..

http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/teen_acting.html



Good luck!



Tony
Mike P
2008-07-15 14:52:56 UTC
You are doing everything you can now so keep going and be sure to keep doing all the types of plays you are currently doing.



Your next move is college and majoring in theatre. Better go to LA or NYC to college if acting is your goal. That is where the show biz world resides.



If you want to be a child actress, then you got to have mom and dad take you to LA but that is a wild move. Check out Paul Petersen's website on the net--do a google on his name. A good man who runs a website and organization that looks after young people who want to go to Hollywood. Paul was a child actor.
aspiring_chef
2008-07-15 14:51:00 UTC
Well, you're parents should get you an agent. If you get an agent, you could start doing commercials and other small things, but that is how a lot of famous actors and actresses got their start. But you need to research the agent thing, you don't want to fall for any scams.
2008-07-15 18:41:11 UTC
Develope a resume. Try looking for agents around your area. Keep trying out for plays and your local theater. Take classes in acting and dancing. Dancing will put you above others becausde you have another talent. Possibly, try singing. Keep trying to give your self more skills. You need to have training as well as experience.
clovergirl09
2008-07-15 14:50:04 UTC
you need to have a mom (or do this youself) that looks all over the internet and makes calls. i know you can call the cocacola company for info on their comercials


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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