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Question: Hows the LA acting industry!? Professional actors in LA only please!?
I am an 18 year old professional actress working in the chicago land area for about 3 years now!. I'd like to take it a step further next year by moving to LA and really make my dreams come true!. However, I do not know anything about the LA market!. How many agencies can you have at a time!? I heard its one for commercials and one for everything else!. I'd just like to know about the market in general!. also, i might add that I am asian!. I heard that asians don't do good in LA because they are only sent out for nerdy and kinky roles!. I am no where near a steriotypical looking asian and I am very americanized!. How can I avoid getting marketed as a typicult asian in the LA market!? Because I know I have so much more to offer than that!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Typically speaking you will be locked in with one agency at a time, no freelancing!. Some agencies have multiple departments and you might be signed across the board for commercials and legit and perhaps not!. Most agencies do prefer across the board signing because non star up and coming actors in the tv and film division don't have the same earning power as the commercial/voice over division!.
Being an actor in LA is tough period regardless of which gender or race you belong to but obviously for some groups and women in general, it is much tougher!. For Asians the problem is compounded by homeland Asian actors who are huge stars in their home markets and therefore box office draws!. This is especially true in the action genre where using genuine asian stars like Michelle Yeoh or Ziyi Zhang will guarantee an American movie production a hefty foreign distribution fee in the asian markets!. There are actresses like Battlestar Galactica's Grace Park who seem to be making some good headway!. She went from BSG to The Cleaner and all without doing any nerdy or kinky roles!. There's also Stephanie Jacobsen who is mixed but for all intents and purposes is unmistakably asian looking!. I should also add that both these women came from outside the American market and were working actors in those markets before they ever got to LA!.
Invariably I'd have to say that ones talent or lack thereof combined with hustle is going to determine how you handle the market out here!. The less skilled or talented you are as an actor the more apt you are to end up with the stereotypical roles and it's this way for everyone whether you're a white male jock type or a latino female!. The truly skilled and talented actors seem to rise above and the rest get mired in the muck, which if they are working consistently enough they may not mind at all!.
Lastly, from a business stand point things have been slow in Los Angeles because of the negotiations between SAG and the producers!. The threat of an actors strike has been hanging over everyone's head for months now and while it's still unlikely it has slowed production to a crawl!. Less films are being shot which means more big names actors are competing for roles on tv which in turn means less opportunities for actors down the line!. Do not expect to show up in town and just start working!. Realize that 98% of Screen Actors Guild membership earns less than $5000 per calender year as an actor!. Come with your finances in order and a healthy money cushion so you can get yourself situated with your day job etc while you plan your climb through the ranks!.Www@QuestionHome@Com