What are the steps to becoming an actress?
Posted by admin on Mar.09, 2010, under Riches Books
I don’t mean to sound desperate, but I don’t know where to begin.
I feel like acting is the only thing I want to do.
I live in a small town, I’m not rich, and I feel soooo lost.
It hurts sometimes just thinking about not having my dreams come true.
I want it more than anything else.
I’m 16 years old.
Any help or direction would be amazing.
I think I would really make a great actress.
Thanks a ton!
I choose best answer.
Here’s the cliffsnotes version of what you can do to do to get into acting:
1.EDUCATE YOURSELF FIRST!
READ (check Samuel French, libraries, and bookstores):
Acting business:
-Acting is Everything: Gold Edition-Judy Kerr
-How to Be a Working Actor-Mari Lyn Henry and Lynne Rogers
-Self Management for Actors-Bonnie Gillespie
-How to Get Arrested-J. Wallach Michael and Paul Thurwachter
-An Agent Tells All-Tony Martinez
-One Less Bitter Actor: The Actor’s Survival Guide-Markus Flanagan
-So You Want to Be in Showbusiness?- Steve R. Stevens
-Acting Truths and Lies (purchased at www.info4actors.com)
Acting:
-Book the Job-Doug Warhit
-Intent to Live-Larry Moss
-Acting for the Camera-Tony Barr
-Acting in Film-Michael Caine
-Acting Class: Take a Seat-Milton Katselas
Method Acting:
-Art of Acting-Stella Adler
-Sanford Meisner on Acting-Sanford Meisner
-A Dream of Passion-Lee Strasberg
-Actor’s Art and Craft-William Esper
-The Power of the Actor-Ivanna Chubbuck
-No Acting Please-Eric Morris
-Respect for Acting-Uta Hagen
-Challenge to the Actor-Uta Hagen
-You Can Act!-D.W. Brown
-Strasberg’s Method-Lorrie Hull
Comedy
-8 Characters of Comedy-Scott Sedita
-The Sitcom Career Book-Mary Lou Belli
Improv
-Anything by Viola Spolin
-Steve Book on Acting: Improv
Auditioning/Cold Reading:
-How to Get the Part Without Falling Apart-Margie Haber
-Audition-Michael Shurtleff
-Secrets to Successful Cold Readings-Glenn Alterman
2.GET TRAINING!
Definitely take classes in:
-Cold Reading/Auditioning
-Improv
-Scene study
-Commercials
3. Get GREAT headshots
Here’s is a good place to start:
http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8011031/m/110106342
4. Build Your Resume and Reel Doing Student films and Indie Films. Also do plays to build your acting experience.
Sample Resume:
http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww80/ELDORADO59/scan0002.jpg
In LA, you can find jobs on your own through:
-ActorsAccess.com (Best for film/tv)
-LACasting.com (Best for commercials)
-Nowcasting.com (Best for student/indie films)
NY:
-ActorsAccess.com
-NYCastings.com
-NYCasting.com
-Backstage.com
Other Markets:
-ActorsAccess.com
-Backstage.com
5. Get an Agent
Top Agencies in LA:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AipoAi86mqLUy76e6Lm8np_ty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20091024102446AAYhxqm&show=7#profile-info-g7px8S9raa
To get an agent, you need to get GREAT headshots, a good resume, and training from the best. These are enough to get you a commercial agent at least. Getting a GOOD theatrical agent (Film/tv) takes longer. Most good theatrical agents won’t see you unless you’re SAG, have a polished resume, and a demo reel. Commercial agents are more lenient about that. What the best Commercial agents want to see on your resume are good commercial classes, improv, and cold reading.
You can get an agent multiple ways. Here are a few common ways:
-Mail in an unsealed manilla envelope with a CONCISE coverletter and headshot with the resume stapled on the back. If you have a demoreel include that too.
-Attend a showcase and impress them. By showcase I do not mean scammy conventions like IMTA, IPOP, Proscout, or Best New Talent. I mean legit ones like at Actor Connection, Reel pros, Network Studios, etc.
-Get a referral from a friend who is with the agency that you’re interested in
DON’T
-Email them unless they tell you to. IT’S UNPROFESSIONAL!
-Call unless they tell you to. ALSO UNPROFESSIONAL!
-Walk in and ask for a meeting. UNPROFESSIONAL THREE!
-Sign with them if they ask for upfront money, make you take new photos with THEIR photographer, or take THEIR classes. Agent’s ONLY make money when you do. Agents usually make 10% on film/tv and commercials and 20% on commercial print.
March 9th, 2010 on 9:37 pm
Here’s the cliffsnotes version of what you can do to do to get into acting:
1.EDUCATE YOURSELF FIRST!
READ (check Samuel French, libraries, and bookstores):
Acting business:
-Acting is Everything: Gold Edition-Judy Kerr
-How to Be a Working Actor-Mari Lyn Henry and Lynne Rogers
-Self Management for Actors-Bonnie Gillespie
-How to Get Arrested-J. Wallach Michael and Paul Thurwachter
-An Agent Tells All-Tony Martinez
-One Less Bitter Actor: The Actor’s Survival Guide-Markus Flanagan
-So You Want to Be in Showbusiness?- Steve R. Stevens
-Acting Truths and Lies (purchased at http://www.info4actors.com)
Acting:
-Book the Job-Doug Warhit
-Intent to Live-Larry Moss
-Acting for the Camera-Tony Barr
-Acting in Film-Michael Caine
-Acting Class: Take a Seat-Milton Katselas
Method Acting:
-Art of Acting-Stella Adler
-Sanford Meisner on Acting-Sanford Meisner
-A Dream of Passion-Lee Strasberg
-Actor’s Art and Craft-William Esper
-The Power of the Actor-Ivanna Chubbuck
-No Acting Please-Eric Morris
-Respect for Acting-Uta Hagen
-Challenge to the Actor-Uta Hagen
-You Can Act!-D.W. Brown
-Strasberg’s Method-Lorrie Hull
Comedy
-8 Characters of Comedy-Scott Sedita
-The Sitcom Career Book-Mary Lou Belli
Improv
-Anything by Viola Spolin
-Steve Book on Acting: Improv
Auditioning/Cold Reading:
-How to Get the Part Without Falling Apart-Margie Haber
-Audition-Michael Shurtleff
-Secrets to Successful Cold Readings-Glenn Alterman
2.GET TRAINING!
Definitely take classes in:
-Cold Reading/Auditioning
-Improv
-Scene study
-Commercials
3. Get GREAT headshots
Here’s is a good place to start:
http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8011031/m/110106342
4. Build Your Resume and Reel Doing Student films and Indie Films. Also do plays to build your acting experience.
Sample Resume:
http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww80/ELDORADO59/scan0002.jpg
In LA, you can find jobs on your own through:
-ActorsAccess.com (Best for film/tv)
-LACasting.com (Best for commercials)
-Nowcasting.com (Best for student/indie films)
NY:
-ActorsAccess.com
-NYCastings.com
-NYCasting.com
-Backstage.com
Other Markets:
-ActorsAccess.com
-Backstage.com
5. Get an Agent
Top Agencies in LA:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AipoAi86mqLUy76e6Lm8np_ty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20091024102446AAYhxqm&show=7#profile-info-g7px8S9raa
To get an agent, you need to get GREAT headshots, a good resume, and training from the best. These are enough to get you a commercial agent at least. Getting a GOOD theatrical agent (Film/tv) takes longer. Most good theatrical agents won’t see you unless you’re SAG, have a polished resume, and a demo reel. Commercial agents are more lenient about that. What the best Commercial agents want to see on your resume are good commercial classes, improv, and cold reading.
You can get an agent multiple ways. Here are a few common ways:
-Mail in an unsealed manilla envelope with a CONCISE coverletter and headshot with the resume stapled on the back. If you have a demoreel include that too.
-Attend a showcase and impress them. By showcase I do not mean scammy conventions like IMTA, IPOP, Proscout, or Best New Talent. I mean legit ones like at Actor Connection, Reel pros, Network Studios, etc.
-Get a referral from a friend who is with the agency that you’re interested in
DON’T
-Email them unless they tell you to. IT’S UNPROFESSIONAL!
-Call unless they tell you to. ALSO UNPROFESSIONAL!
-Walk in and ask for a meeting. UNPROFESSIONAL THREE!
-Sign with them if they ask for upfront money, make you take new photos with THEIR photographer, or take THEIR classes. Agent’s ONLY make money when you do. Agents usually make 10% on film/tv and commercials and 20% on commercial print.
References :
LA Actor, Acting Scambuster, and respected contributor to http://bbs.backstage.com
March 10th, 2010 on 11:59 pm
One of my favorite resources for actors just posted this today and it is soooooooo friggin’ true.
You can do this, do that, pay for this, pay for that but you got to tie it all together or you re gonna waste a lot of time and have an aching heart.
The #1 Thing You Probably Aren’t Doing That Should Be The 1st Thing That You Do For Your Performing Career
http://www.PerformerTrack.com
There are coupon codes all over the web and their webinars are THE BEST acting classes (not technique but some amazin’ tips). http://www.performerwebinars.com
I won’t say good luck, I will say get to work!