How can I convince my parents that I really can act?

Question

I am a young aspiring actress. Everyone tells me how well I can act. However, one of my parents doesn't believe that I should be able to go into this field. They have barely ever seen me act. Acting is something that I love. I want to respect my parent's opinion, but they don't even understand what I am going through. Acting has helped me through so many things, and it is what I do in my free time. The school that I am going to next year has a drama club, and when I bring up acting they say that I'll try out for the club. Acting is the career that I want to go into for the rest of my life. I really have no other "real job" intrests and I am feeling as if my life is being controlled, because they suggest a field that I don't want to go into. It would be so much better for me to get into acting at a young age rather than when I'm older. How can I show them how important this is to me, and how I should be able to take lessons, or go to an audition? They need to understand!

Answer 1

"Sometimes parents just don't understand" -- Will Smith

Unfortunately to make it in the entertainment business as a minor, you need the full support of your parents not to mention money and you need to live in Los Angeles or NY. Until you are old enough to do it on your own, it's good to hear how much determination you have because you're going to need it. Get into that drama club and everything else you can. The more you do, the better.

See if they will let you do shows at local theatres as well. For audition info go to backstage.com or http://www.actorsequity.org/castingcall/ If you find the audition on the Equity site, you still may be able to go, as long as their not taking appointments from equity actor's only. On backstage.com you have to pay to get all of the info, but the initial search is free and you may be able to see enough info to find out the rest on your own without paying. As long as you can see the name of the theatre, just do a search for the theatre's site on goodsearch.com or google and see if they have the auditions listed there.

Practice can be the best lesson you can get. Do shows! If there's no part for you in the show, volunteer for stage crew as long as your grades aren't suffering for it.

You can also check out actorsaccess.com for film & tv auditions, but depending on where you live the calls can be few and far between. You also have to pay to submit yourself for them, but you can always just keep your eye on it for now. Also do a searck for your local Film Alliance. They keep tabs on what is filming in your area and sometimes list information when a production needs locals for a scene.

Maybe once your parents see you in a few things, maybe they will see the light and support your career endeavors. Let me also say that it's very refreshing to see someone so young who is so well 'spoken'. So many young people ask similar questions on here, but their wording is more like "I wanna be like um a star or sumthin. How ken i do thet? " :-)

Good luck!

Answer 2

Your parents may have different values than you for various reasons. But whether you can really act is subjective to some degree. The important thing to being able to act, you already have. That is, you love to act.

Is there a way to pursue acting and heed some of your parents concern to not put all your eggs into that basket. It is very difficult to earn a good living in that field. Many wealthy actors are not even considered good by most of us. They are celebrities for some reason...and not artists perfecting the acting craft.

Maybe you can work something out with your folks about giving it a few years to develop your craft. I am sure if they see you are able to move to a gainful career, they will feel differently.

They are not that wrong. It's kind of like saying you want to grow up to be an astronaut or professional athlete. Yes, its great, but not a lot of available jobs. On the other hand, you are not that wrong to follow what you love to do while you are young.

On a final note, many successful actors DO have degrees to back them up. Many came out of very good university drama departments. You can do both.

Get an agent, go on auditions, and good luck with your goals.

Answer 3

If you want to be an actor, it takes several years of weekly attendance at a good acting school, singing lessons, dancing classes, and joining a good community theatre to get experience - a short workshop isn't going to be of any value at all unless you're already doing all the rest. If your parents won't support you in this, you'll just have to wait until you're old enough to pay for all your own classes and make your own decisions. But school is very important. You really do have to plan your second career in advance. The most paid work that the vast majority of actors ever get is 2 or 3 weeks a year, so you absolutely must have enough skills and qualifications to get an 'ordinary' job so you can afford to pay your rent, bills, travel, food, etc. Most of the actors I know have free-lance jobs which they do self-employed, so it leaves them free to take time off for the occasional acting job, rehearsals, auditions, etc. Working for an employer means that you'll just keep getting fired! They have such jobs as eBay traders, aromatherapists, proof-readers, children’s entertainers, photographers, copy-editors, writers, website designers, hairdressers, chiropodists, drama teachers, singing teachers, cartographers, jewellery-makers, ceramics workers, researchers, kids’ tutors, dance instructors, personal trainers, etc. Get that sorted out before you go to drama school or university! Good luck!

Answer 4

Come up with a short movie and then get some actors together and have your character really have a serious acting role, like a big crying scene or something and then after it's all done show your parents.

What I would do is make an effort everyday to be an actress and they will get it. Tell them straight on that that is what you want to do.

Look for local theatre groups maybe, or ask people for places for auditions or someting , they'll get it!!

Don't give it up!! I want to see you act in big Hollywood movies!!!! That'll be awesome!!! Good luck!!

Answer 5

I know how you feel. When I was young, I was also a good actor. However, there are thousands of good actors that can not earn a living with their craft. All I could do was prepare for my chance. Study successful actors. Audition for shows, commercials, training films, etc.. Make sure you have at least two monologues ready all the time, one comedy, one dramatic. And practice them. Use your acting skills to be the best you to your parents that you can be. Be sure to have your headshot ready with your most up to date resume. Act like you are already successful, not arrogantly, but confidently in everything you do. Remember that every life experience, positive or negative, adds to your acting repertoire.
Don't give up, but don't be disobedient either.
Break a leg!
STeve

Answer 6

Your parents are probably aware that MOST people never make acting a professional career. They probably don't want to see you disappointed and would rather see you with a great career that pays well.

It's best if they hear it from someone that can validate your talent, such as an idustry professional: Producer, Talent Agent or Casting Director. They may feel more comfortable with your desire to become an actress.

You have to convince, producers, talent agents and casting directors that you can act.

Answer 7

Enter some kind of talent show in school, and let your talent really shine. If people start talking about how great you were, then maybe your parents will see you were cut out for the limelight. That's how I convinced mine to let me take acting lessons, anyway.

Answer 8

wow...its like im hearing an echo (my parents are the same, although..they dont keep me from what i want to do)...what you should do is have a drama teacher/instructor, call or tell your parents straight forward that you have great potential in the acting field, and how well your acting skills are...

Answer 9

You should come home one day tell them you need to talk to them. Tell them your pregnant buy this guy name Butch and he'll be getting out of prison next week and you will be moving in with him into some trailer in the middle of the woods. You will also be drping out of school early to sell avon part time. Tell them you will need to make Some money to get this really cool tatto of His face across your chest, and of a hart that says Butch and your name forever with an arrow going through it. Then tell them you were just acting. Then say arent you a good actor?

Answer 10

Just keep at it, eventually they will see that you can do it. If this is your passion and you pursue it, one day they'll realize it's who you are and what you want to do.