Acting is my all-time dream, and I want to start while I'm in my teens. The problem is, I live in a small town and I'm not sure where to go with my dream. Any advice?
2006-06-13 10:41:16 · 8 answers · asked by Courtney the Loser 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
fifteen! wow!!! you are in the best place in your life to start!
check in your area to see if you have a community theater with a youth theater training program. start by researching your United Way affiliated agencies. they usually have money allocated for youth programs.
the reason why i know is because i have been contracted by youth after-school programs that were funded in whole or in part by grants from the United Way. these programs offered everything from script writing & storyboarding to technical design - from the basics of theater production (acting, singing & choreography) to mounting full scale productions.
if your parents are agreeable & got your back, start taking individual classes, particularly if the first suggestion doesn't pan out, or in addition to it. learn to sing - or make your singing better by getting a vocal coach. if s/he teaches speech & diction as well you got two for one, & you along with your parents get more bang for your buck as well.
get in good with your english teacher. quiet as it is kept, most english teachers have a secret passion for the classics: Shakespeare, Ibsen, Wilde as well as contemporary playwrights like Miller, Wilson and Baldwin. s/he will be able to put you on with an acting coach, if s/he's not one already. read plays - as many as you can get your hands on. learn the terminology for breaking down scenes, learn the plot & theme of all of the plays you read.
attend theater events & movies. talk to your parents & mentors about what you liked & didn't like about your observations. read about movie premieres, theater openings, reviews. one day someone will be sitting in the audience paying to see YOU...what would you want them to say?
take a dance class. in this culture, ballet is the foundation to build from, but learn it all - modern dance, jazz, tap, afro-cuban-caribbean. an actor who can sing, dance & act is considered a "triple-threat" & is more likely to not only get work, but stay working.
in other words, if you are serious about becoming an actor, know that it takes tremendous work & discipline. be prepared to put in a lot of work, but remember - you are working hard at something that brings you great joy. don't forget to have fun every step of the way.
i commend you for having the foresight to know what you want to do. break a leg!
2006-06-13 15:39:36 · answer #1 · answered by jakiterry 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋
To make you the best actor you can be while still in a small town, I recommend learning to dance and sing. Triple Threats are so much more marketable and in case one venue doesn't work out.
For dance I recommend Ballet because it's the fundamental root of all dancing. Then Jazz, Hip Hop, Etc.
Like some of the other people said, getting involved in all the productions in your area at school, church, etc. is a great way to start.
2006-06-13 12:31:48 · answer #2 · answered by ballerina_kim 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I also live in a small town How small you ask? 198 students in all of High and Middle school! Every spring we have a school musical and almost 1/4 of the school participates and it's great every year. get a group together and talk to the principle. It's a great fundraiser and alot of fun and a great bonding time w/ ur friends
Good Luck
God Bless+
and Remember...."DANCING IS NOT A CRIME!"-Ren mccormack (footloose)
2006-06-14 08:39:35 · answer #3 · answered by California 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first thing I would recommend is getting experience with either school plays or a community group. If you live near a city with a film school nearby you could get experience by acting in student films. After you have some experience you can post resumes online and answer posts from spaces such as myspace. My husband is in film school and he gets most of his actors and actresses from myspace. Good luck.
2006-06-13 10:48:09 · answer #4 · answered by Lisa 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most high schools offer drama classes. I got my start there and in local community theatre. Also check around with local churches as some of those have drama groups. (I would give more ideas, but I have to head off to rehearsal for "Once Upon a Mattress" ). Good luck
2006-06-13 10:46:37 · answer #5 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Start with school drama if any if offered. They will teach you a lot of the foundations of theatre.
2006-06-13 10:46:31 · answer #6 · answered by Wendy B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try out for a community play. Or hang out somewhere where you could "get discovered"...like the mall?
2006-06-13 16:12:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
hm....my guess you would have to wait till college, otherwise it would be pretty tuff to start now.
2006-06-13 10:45:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋