15 yrs old in CA. How do i go about pursuing an acting carrer w/ no prior experience?

Question

absolutely no prior experience

15 yr old in CA

Answer 1

Hey Uhhhh,

Start learning all you can. The internet has great sites for free. Use some that are below, and find some on your own. You will need to join the Screen Actors Guild to get work. Site below too.

Start studying. Practice in front of a mirror, video camera, and play back. Join theater groups that are local. Take acting workshops. Get parts in commercials if you can. Take any and all (morally acceptable) work you can find. Have fun!

Answer 2

As an actress myself, here's how you do it! Not sure where you live, but Los Angeles is where it starts. NY is okay, too...but that's mainly for theater. First, you NEED experience, which you say you have...so you need to write up an Acting resume, which is different from a regular work resume. You attach that resume to the BACK of your black and white 8x10 headshot, which needs to look natural, with minimal make-up, above the shoulders. It can't be model-y, because they need to see what you really look like. You send these out to SAG affiliated agents, who are legitimate. SAG stands for SCREEN ACTORS GUILD which is the actor's union and you must belong to the union before you can work as an actress. If an agent likes your headshot and the experience you have, they will ask for your demo reel. Which is a tape or dvd of all your performances. If you do not have one, try to make one or keep this in mind during your next performance. They will also ask you to come an audition for them. You will need an impressive monologue under 3-4 minutes. Even if you're the best actor right now, you NEED to get into acting classes so that agents can see that you are serious about your craft and will feel more assured that you are skilled enough and have been trained and pampered enough by a professional coach to get you ready to audition for producers and casting directors for film, tv, and commercials. TAKE EVERY JOB YOU CAN! Unless you get an agent right away, you will be doing a lot of no or low pay jobs. But, this will only be beneficial to you so you can build up your professional resume and you will have credit to your name and they will give you copies of your work in a tape or dvd. Try local commercials, student/indie films, any community theater. Craigs List, Backstage.com, SAG.com, Read acting books on how else to get an agent. NEVER pay anything. Agents ONLY get paid when YOU get paid. They get a 10% cut of what you make. DO NOT get a manager. Managers can NOT get you jobs or auditions. You only need a manager once you become famous or working regularly as a performer. Agents will reccomend which managers to use. They also take a cut, usually 15%. Wait as long as you can to get one, though. They don't do much for you, unless you are a celebrity. Your grade point average won't help you in this, though. Agents and producers don't care. Perfect your talent, keep learning as much about acting and your talent as you can. Videotape yourself doing scenes and see what you can improve on.

Answer 3

With no prior experience, how do you even know you are qualified to act (for money)? Are you taking classes in drama or acting?

You should know, you are heading into a very competitive field where thousands apply and only a few get selected. Among those few that are selected, only a small percentage can make enough money to sustain themselves. Among those people, only a very small minority make it BIG.

To make the matters worse, being GOOD is no gurantee that you will be successful. You will need to know the right people, associated with the right group, etc... unless you want to leave your future up to a pure chance.

I would suggest, you'd seriously reconsider your carrier choice. After that, if you still want to pursue, get experience. Take classes, go to small local theaters, talk to people, see if you can be stage hand or other misc. workers to get some exposure. Audition....

You can't jump from absolutely no experience to having a carrier.

Answer 4

Well obviously you need to get out there and get some experience. But it depends on what kind of acting you are talking about. If it were for the satge I suggest signing up for acting class and joining drama club asap.( People in these classes tend to be either really hyper,random, and friendly, or pugnacious, snobbish queens.) If it's for film you need to do this and start creating your image. Camera's not going to fall in love with an ugly face or body. Finally, think about this. Create a plan A and B. The cold truth is alot of people pursue this career and fail. Those who never give up have a second job. For example my friend Tony Chiofalo(www.chiofalo.com for more info.) Does stage and works for IBM. So don't limit your career path to 1 possibility. And lastly good luck.

Answer 5

Join theater groups in your area would be a good first step. Then from there if you are any good you can get recommendations on agents, etc..
Remember acting is a hard business to get into it could take years before you start to see the benefits of this career choice. Make sure this is what you really want before you start making any plans and not just the possibility of making a lot of money which is attracting you to this particular career. Your still young explore new things.

Answer 6

Everyone has to start somewhere, with acting age makes no difference at all. First off, get a video resume made, spend the cash and get it done professionally. Pick some scenes that you really like, you will be more natural, they don't have to be complicated scenes, they just have to show your range. Send copies out to acting agents, SAG can tell you reputable ones to contact. Send some to production companies as well, be proactive with this, and don't let rejections get you down, it doesn't mean they don't like your acting, just that they can't use you at the moment. They will like your go-ahead attitude, and will call you if they need you. It's a tough business to be sure, but when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Good luck, I hope I get to work with you in the future.

Answer 7

First and foremost, GET SOME EXPERIENCE. And find a reputable agent-look up "talent" in the phonebook or local yellow pages. If an agent tries to charge an upfront fee, walk away. That's fishy and unethical.

But mostly-GET SOME EXPERIENCE. Audition for stage productions and local commercials. Good luck!

Answer 8

Being 15, most agencies want to see acting classes on your resume, rather than actual work. Looking into classes, community plays and student films.

Answer 9

Start getting experience by auditioning for plays in community theaters.

Answer 10

i don't know where you live but if you want to be an actor i assume you live in southern california. i know in laguna beach there are these cute girls about your age that go to libraries and act out books for children.