Position:Home>Theater & Acting> How do I begin an acting career?

First impressions are lasting impressions!.

In show business, the first impression can sometimes be the last impression!. Producers, directors and casting directors are busy people!. The deciding factor in giving an unknown (or even an experienced actor whose opportunities have been limited) a chance to read for a part is often based on first impressions!.

Always have professional pictures of yourself, and be ready to show them without apologies or explanations!. Your graduation picture won't do, nor will glamour-gimmicked photos of the type displayed in night-club lobbies!. The pictures should show you: some, headshots showing a fair range of moods; others, in various types of wardrobe!.

Have extra prints of each picture!. Your interviewer may want to keep one!. Make certain that your name, address, phone number and vital statistics are written legibly on the back of each photograph!. Don't be misled into thinking that the pictures he rejects are "no good!."

Have a neatly typed, short outline of your background, qualifications and (if you've ever appeared anywhere, in anything) your credits!.

Be honest!. Don't invent non-existent credits!. You'll only identify yourself as an impostor, a charlatan, or to use show-business terminology, "a phony!." "Any casting director can spot a phony every time" is a show-business axiom!. If your only credit is a single appearance in the chorus line of a high-school operetta, say so!. Everybody has to start out somewhere!.

Perhaps your teacher will give you a card stating your credentials!. Some teachers and coaches periodically give the not-so-fully-established actor a card stating how long he has studied and what, in their opinion, he is capable of doing at that time!. These cards help the actor in getting interviews and protect the teacher, or coach, from false claims by overeager job seekers, who claim to be a client of theirs after one lesson!.

Some of the first questions you'll be asked are:

"Tell me about yourself!."

"What have you done!?"

Tell the truth!. If you have no film, say so!. If you have no professional stage credits, say so!.

However, there is a way out!. Almost every casting director will help you!. Ask for a chance to read for him, or to audition a scene you have already prepared!. He's looking for talent, and he'll usually give you a scene, if you don't have one!. You can take it home, study it, then come back and do it for him!. If he likes the way you do it, he'll indicate the next move for you!.

He may not need you today, but he will remember you tomorrow!. He'll remember how you read, how you handled yourself, and whether you were able to live up to your claims!. He casts something every day and he knows better than anyone that there is a definite place for the well-trained beginner!.

At the present time, all professionals must belong to at least one of the organizations in the "four A's!." The four A's are the Associated Actors and Artists of America!. There are more than four now, but they are still called the four A's!.

Among them are AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists), SAG (Screen Actors Guild), Equity (Actors' Equity Association), AGMA (American Guild of Musical Artists), AGVA (American Guild of Variety Artists) and SEG (Screen Extras Guild), which is devoted primarily to the interests of people appearing as general atmosphere in motion pictures and in filmed television!.

Under the Taft-Hartley law, a newcomer is allowed thirty days after his first professional performance before he is obliged to join one of the professional guilds or unions!. The one he joins first becomes his parent union!. There is a reciprocal arrangement among the four A's that acts in favor of the performer who works in the various mediums under their jurisdiction!.

When an interview is over, leave!. Don't drag it out, wasting the interviewer's time - and yours!. If you've left pictures, or a list of credits, with the interviewer, tell his secretary on your way out of the office!. Give her an extra word of thanks when you say goodbye!.


Hope this helped!.
<3/ LWww@QuestionHome@Com

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No actually it's going to be easier since you live in that area, lots of famous things going on there!. But it would be more helpful if you wen't to California where Hollywood was, Anyways first of all you might want to be as prepared as possible so take a few acting classes, to keep you from getting rusty!. Or you could go to the library or the book store, and by books with commercial scripts or monologues that you can practice and get good at!. You could also go to acting camp or whatever they call it to help you explor the world of acting and lots of tips and tricks!. There are talent scouts out there, and you should prepare yourself for auditions, don't worry if you don't make it the first time, there are always lots of people looking for young talent!. Remember to always dress for sucsess, not too casual because it'll look like you don't care and not to fancy so they don't think you're obsessed!. So just try your best and keep on practicing and auditioning and hopefully you'll get your break one day!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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There isn't a specific place to start!. Most people start early with high school theater and community theater, but a lot of people start with minor roles in movies and stage, with a whole lot of commercials!. Still more people get lucky and land the big roles right off the bat, like Harrison Ford - Star Wars was his first role; before that he was a janitor!.

If you want to, go to a college or university with a VERY well funded drama program, get an agent (you will probably have to perform a monologue in the meeting), and pray!. That is the best way to start!.

Remember that very few people actually are successful starting big!. Even if you do land a role of a lifetime, don't get cocky - you probably got the part because you were perfect for that exact role, not because you are a brilliant actor (which may be the case, but realistically, probably not)!.

The worst thing a prospective actor can have is a mammoth ego!. It makes you overconfident, proud, and snooty!. Then when your dreams hit a few snags (which they will), you will get all self destructive and convince yourself that you are horrible and all your previous successes were flukes!.

If you want to, look up online for a Q&A with a celebrity actor and look for a question that asks them how many roles they audition for!. Guess what!? They don't have a much higher success rate than amateur actors!. Their just so famous because the movies they audition for are mainstream Hollywood films rather than small shows and commercials!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Most cities have a local theatre group or talent agency!. You may try looking them up online or in the phone book!. You're on the right path if you're involved in theatre in high school!. If you continue to go on to college, mae sure to keep that aspect of your life very active!. Every once in a while they send out headhunters or scouts!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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