Acting is a popular career choice for a growing number of teens. Below are six expert tips for getting started in the fun and challenging world of professional acting.
1. Start at the Beginning Learn acting technique first and master it thoroughly. This is the basis of a long and successful career as a professional actor. The business of acting: getting representation and booking work, is secondary to developing your talent and technique. Join a class or work with a private coach teaching authentic acting technique including relaxation, sensory exercises and their application in monologues and scene study.
2. Read Plays, drama history, theory and criticism are essential reading material for every actor. You can learn pace, style and how to deconstruct a scene from reading the cannon of great and important plays. Many screenwriters begin as playwrights and dramaturges. Understanding their work for the stage or their theatrical influences gives you instant insight when approaching their film and television scripts at auditions.
3. Learn Acting from Actors If talent agents and casting associates could act, they would. Most can't, and found another career, which better suits their talents. They have little of substance to offer student actors except stories about the business and a few do's and don'ts for auditions. Don't waste your time, energy or money in acting classes where the teacher has nothing substantive to offer on acting technique. There's too much to learn!
4. Avoid Career Studios The sole focus of these schools is to make big bucks selling aspiring actors access to casting directors and talent agents. The plain truth is they allow anyone in their classes, regardless of talent or experience, as long as they can pay the fees. Sadly, most of the guest teachers - usually associates from talent agencies and casting offices - know this and are there only to make extra money, with little intention of auditioning or representing anyone in the class. On the rare occasion that an actor is given an audition, it's usually for background or low paying, non-union work or stock photography. An actor is almost always chosen because they matched the physical breakdown. That actor would have done just as well mailing a headshot and resume to that agency office, saving the cost of the class. Staffers and many teachers at these studios work on commission. They use your perceived failure in one class as an opportunity to sell you another class or services they claim will make the difference in your career. Career studios put actors into a cycle of failure and should be avoided at all costs.
5. Consider a BFA degree If you truly want to pursue acting as a profession, apply to the best drama programs and pursue a BFA degree in drama or acting. These programs offer training in acting technique, drama theory and history and the time and environment in which to master the art and craft of acting. Actors with serious training and fine arts degrees from the top programs are sought out by agencies and casting directors because of the quality of their work and their proven commitment to an acting career. A terminal degree will also open doors to other areas of acting such as teaching, development, drama therapy, etc., which can be as fulfilling and creative as performing and help sustain you financially.
6. See EVERYTHING! From the tiniest start-up theatre company to Broadway; short films and low budget indie's to whatever is packing people in at the multiplex. See everything time and your budget allows. This is the best way to develop your critical eye.
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