Breaking into acting?

Question:Ok so, obviously from the title, that is my question.
Right now I'm homeschooled, live in a small town (that doesn't have community theater) I'm moving within the next month or so close to L.A.
I've done acting classes, when i was in public school i did some plays, so I have experience. Obviously I'm willing to start small.

For the people that have done interviews with agents, how do you get them?? Oh and if you've been to a tv/movie audition how does the process go?

Could you please point me in the direction of some books worth reading about this?

Any other advice is welcome.

and i'm 16 if that matters.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Ok so, obviously from the title, that is my question.
Right now I'm homeschooled, live in a small town (that doesn't have community theater) I'm moving within the next month or so close to L.A.
I've done acting classes, when i was in public school i did some plays, so I have experience. Obviously I'm willing to start small.

For the people that have done interviews with agents, how do you get them?? Oh and if you've been to a tv/movie audition how does the process go?

Could you please point me in the direction of some books worth reading about this?

Any other advice is welcome.

and i'm 16 if that matters.

Many people who speak of wanting to start an acting career don't really know what it really entails. They see actors on television or at the movies and think, "That's what I want to do!", which is a natural way to become interested in something, but many don't realize all the hard work that it takes to get to that point.

I answered this and similar questions just like many of us who visit Answers regularly. As a matter of fact, after reading my answer, you might want to go and do a search here on Answers for similar questions. You might be surprised at the large number of answers you will find.

At any rate, try answering or finding the answers to these and other questions. If you find these answers, you will be well on your way to understanding what becoming an actor is all about. To find the answers, you will want to ask successful working actors and struggling actors alike. If you don't know where to find them, find out! You will also want to read some books:
Sanford Meisner on Acting by Sanford Meisner and Dennis Longwell
The Art Of Acting by Stella Adler
or other acting method books by
Uta Hagen, Lee Strassberg, Stanislavski and there are others
Acting As A Business: Strategies For Success, by Brian O'Neil: an excellent book about the business of acting which takes you through what your strategy could be to become an actor and actually get work, resumes, getting an agent and how to get through the agent interview.

And finally before I get to the questions, here is a link to a page on my website for new and aspiring actors that you might find helpful. On it there are 23 links. Among them you will find just about every facet of starting an acting career that you can think of including steps on exactly how to go about getting an agent. Here's the link:
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/teen_... .

Here are the questions:

Why do you want to become an actor?
What will that do for you?
How will it make you feel?
What kind of actor do you want to become?
How far are you really and truely and honestly willing to go for your acting career?
Do you know what it's like to work as an actor?
Do you know what actors do when they are looking for work or in between jobs?
Do you know what kinds of different acting careers you could have?
How hard are you willing to work? Honestly. (I ask that question, because you openly declared that you feel lazy and bored. If you become an actor, your days should never be that way.)
What do you think having an acting career entails?
What do you think an actor does day to day, when he's not working?
Do you know anything about business? Do you realize how important it is to know how to promote yourself and to be able to get your work seen?
Have you taken any acting classes yet?
What acting method are you studying?
What other acting methods are you aware of?
Do you know what the benefits are to taking acting classes? In other words, do you know what they can do for you, other than teaching you how to act?
Do you know how you can tell if a class is right for you or not?
Do you know how to choose an acting school?

Do you know of at least ten different ways that you can promote yourself as an actor?
Do you know how to go about finding a talent agent?
Do you know what agents look for in an actor?
Do you know your type and why knowing that is so important?
Do you know how to do a mailing?
Do you know how to use post cards?

How about head shots? Do you know what the disadvantages are of getting head shots taken before you are ready?
Do you know the right questions and what to look for when selecting a head shot photographer?

Do you know what the industry formats are for an acting resume?
Do you know one of the first places agents and casting directors look when they look at your resume?

If you were further along, I would ask you other questions like:
How did you get your agent? In other words, what were the exact steps you took?
What do you do while you are waiting for your agent to call you for an audition?
Did you ever go through a period where you went on a lot of auditions and didn't get called back very much? If so, what did you do to remedy the situation?
Or
How did you choose your monologues? Do you know the most common mistakes actors make when performing a monologue and how to avoid them?
Or
How do you prepare for your auditions?

What method of acting are you studying and why does that method speak to you?

Do you know how to build a character?

If you really want to be an actor, then get to work and answer all those questions and look for others to answer as there are many more. If you start with those, you should have a pretty good idea what it means to become an actor and what you will need to do to become one yourself.

Good luck.

Tony

The fact that you are home schooled is a big plus point in the business. First and foremost, find a good agency in Hollywood that works with teen actors. Second, LOTS of money talks. Expect your college fund to go to workshops, auditions and other expenses trying to get a role. Those who make it are the most persistent and not the most talented. Good luck.