GETTING STARTED
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I've had a lot of email from people requesting information about how to get started in the acting profession.
While I can't possibly know what the theatre or film community is like where you live, I can help with some general information.
I recommend taking acting classes as much as possible. Classes not only help refine your acting technique, they help you discover yourself and grow as a person. It's also fun to be with others who share your passion.
If you're already in school, take drama as an option. Ask your instructor if there are other schools in your area that he/she can recommend.
Open your local yellow pages. In my yellow pages, acting schools are listed under SCHOOLS-PERFORMING ARTS.
Some theatre companies offer classes too. Sometimes the only way to find out if they do is to call and ask. In my yellow pages, theatre companies are listed as THEATRES-LIVE.
If you have some experience in school or independent theatre productions, list your credits on a neatly typed and formatted resume. You may want to include information on where the production was performed, what school or theatre company put the production on, and what part you played.
Every actor who's actively looking for acting work must have a resume photo. When you're first starting out, you don't have to spend hundreds of dollars. As long as the photo is a good quality 8x10 print, black and white, shows a clear picture of your face, and the picture looks like you (no characters), it's fine to start with.
Any photo lab can do multiple copies of your photo, but they can be expensive. If you find that you're going to a lot of auditions, you'll need to do some further research to find a company who can do prints cheap.
Most major cities have theatre companies who put on theatre productions with volunteer actors. This is the best way for someone who's just starting out to build credits for their resume, network with others, get some exposure to industry professionals, learn the craft, and have fun. Some companies advertise their auditions in a local paper, but you can also phone to enquire if a company does amateur productions and when they do auditions. If they are auditioning, make sure to ask what they require you to prepare for your audition.
There are no hard and fast rules about when to start auditioning for professional theatre companies. If you have a good photo, a resume with at least a few credits, you've had some positive feedback about your performances and class work, and you feel confidant, go for it.
Most professional theatre companies hold a general audition once a year. Call the theatre companies in your area and ask when they'll have their general auditions and what you'll need to prepare for it.
Classes are very important for the film actor. Take them as often as possible.
Keep track of your film credits on your resume. If you have a lot of theatre credits, put some on, but film directors want to see details of your film work first.
Make sure your resume photo is very high quality if you're living in a large center where there is a lot of film work. Competition is huge and your presentation must be perfect.
If you live in a city where there is a great deal of film production, independent film schools and university film departments often need volunteer actors for student films. You'll need to find a school bulletin board for postings unless they advertise in the school or local paper.
Independent film productions may advertise in a local paper when they're auditioning for actors.
Casting agencies, as opposed to Talent agencies, do not represent the individual actor, they work for the film production. Casting agents keep photographs of actors and when a director needs an actor of a particular age or look, the casting agent goes through their books of photos and call people in to audition.
It's often easier to get involved with a casting agency because the casting agent wants to have as many ages and looks as possible in their books. A talent agent can only represent as many people as they have time to promote and they only want to invest their time promoting actors who get regular work.
You'll usually find casting agencies in cities with a limited amount of film production and often the casting agent casts both extras (non-speaking) and principle (speaking) roles.
Talent agencies represent and promote the professional actor. There are talent agencies that represent extras only (non-speaking) and agencies that represent commercial, film and television actors.
When you're just starting out, doing some work as an extra will get you on set and is great experience. It's relatively easy to get signed on with an extra agency.
When you're confidant and ready with some credits, you can then work on getting a principle agent. This is an agent who will promote your talents to major casting directors for commercials, film and television roles. A principle agent, if they're good, are often difficult to get in to see. Networking is super important when shopping around for a principle agent. Most often, it'll be a recommendation from someone the agent respects that will get you in the door. At that point, they may ask you to audition for them.
You can usually find Talent agencies in cities where there is a lot of film production business.
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