Should I just give up?

Question

I'm not rich, so it's not like I can just go to a film acting school, or get into the film industry. I have no way of making that kind of money to get there. It's my dream and I can't think of doing anything else. I would be unhappy If I did anything else. I don't understand the meaning of this life. It makes virtually no sense to me. I've always had talent, and have tried to get an agent, but have been scammed everytime I try. I don't know anyone who is famous or that is in the film industry that can help me. I have talent in acting, singing, and screen-writing. But I can't afford to get an agent, and I can't afford to pay thousands of dollars to get into the Screen Writers Guild. So should I just give up?

Thanks guys. I really never thought anyone would care. That's how rough my life has been up to this point. Tears came to eyes, when I got so many caring responses. I wasn't expecting anyone to care. I was expecting negative answers. I'm just so used to getting negative responses. I wish I could list all of you as best answer. Thanks so much! Your caring responses all mean a lot to me.

Answer 1

Never give up, but maybe scale down your scope. There are many worthy local productions that will fill your resume and give you the experience you need without subjecting you to the sharks in the big pool. You can shoot an entire movie with nothing more than a couple of digital video cameras and a decent computer with an editing program. Wrok with your local community college. Do a few local commercials. Get into some of the local drama productions. Volunteeer to do set construction (a crucial skill for anyone who wants to truly understand stagecraft) Start out a little smaller and work your way into the big leagues with your resume. It's worth a lot more than money if you get real experience.

Answer 2

Don't give up on your dream. I understand where you are coming from. Ever since I was little, I had the same dream but kept making excuses of why I couldn't or wouldn't make it. Do you think I've forgotten my dream? No. But my life took a different direction and now I have to put my dream away too make sure my 2 daughters will be able to have theirs. If you are still young and single I say go for it. Find a job as a server at a nice restaurant, so you can make decent money while you pursue your dream. And last but not least don't let anyone get in the way of your dream. Girlfriend, boyfriend whatever. It will only slow you down. Give yourself at least 5 years to really go after this dream and with a time limit you can push yourself more than imagined. Don't let rejection get you down either. Very few actors are successful at the get go.

Answer 3

Don't ever give up if this is your dream. How many actors and actresses have you heard say it took years to get where their at, it doesn't happen over night. If it's meant to be it will be. Some how something will work out. Do you have a local theater in you area, why not try that ! Do you get the paper that has try outs for off Broadway plays, (if not try and get a subscription to one,) I think they call them go sees? As for agents why not try to get one that's just starting out and wouldn't cost as much. Why not try to join an acting club, a lot of little towns have them, Delaware has a place called the Three Little Bakers, a little dinner club that puts on little plays, try and find out how to get involved in something like that. There's that old saying, where there a will, there's a way, so go for it, don't give up, if you have a talent it some how some way will be known if you don't give up !!!!!!

Answer 4

U IDIOT!!! U should never give up on ur dreams!!! It doesnt matter that ur not rich or that u dont kno anybody thats in the film industry!!! All that means is that u hafta try that much harder!!! go out places with ur friends and meet new people. maybe u will get lucky enough to meet sumone that knows sumthing about the film industry. if that doesnt work then move on. it may take awhile to find what u want but when u finally achieve ur dream it will all be worth it. i myself am an artist that is stuck with a dead end job with a very low wage. i want to become a rather well known artist but it will be extremely difficult... just because i cant achieve my dream now doesnt mean i should give up... just give it time and u will be rewarded for ur patience... hope is all u need!!!

Answer 5

You should never give up! Giving up is the worst thing any talented person can do! You should keep trying! YOU WILL GET THERE SOMEDAY!

I believe in you! If you want something so much, you are going to get it! No matter what your life is like right now, if you want to be an actor, a singer and a screen-writer, you will be one!

Just keep trying and I bet someday soon there will be the perfect opportunity for you to make it big!

Good luck!

M. June

Answer 6

I was like this because you get turned down so many times and i have been scammed 1 time but now i got the right audition and am about to be on a t.v series as a main charecter
if you want some tips
just email me

Answer 7

I am a longtime veteran of the professional performing arts. I am now going to slap you around a little bit, but I do so with nothing but benevolence -- and because a kindly soul did it to me years ago. Is your seatbelt fastened? Good. Do you need a drink of water? No? Okay then -- let's proceed.

You need to immediately cease your whimpering. Stop it, cease, desist, quit, and knock it off. The arts are THE most wonderful career one can have -- and as a result also have THE most competition for jobs. If you want to cry into your pillow at night out of sheer frustration, then do so -- we all have, trust me -- but never, ever let your frustration show in public. [Now, read that last sentence until you have it memorized.] It sounds sappy, but happy things come to happy people, so start being confident in public -- would YOU go out of your way to work with a sad and/or bitter person?

Now we'll examine your posting point by point.

If you feel that you absolutely must go to film acting school but can neither afford it nor qualify for loans or grants, then put it off for a few years. Simple as that. Get a regular job and sock away as much money as possible. If it's a low paying job, then never go out to do fun things like movies or drinking, and eat lovely Ramen noodles for at least half your meals. Be a slave to your dream, and make the appropriate sacrifices. You'd be unhappy if you did anything else? Oh, grow a pair and suck it up. If you want a fabulous future, you have to work your butt off now. When you have the money finally saved up, go to school. Alternatively, you could take some film classes with a reputable teacher -- cheaper, and still looks good on a resume, and might just help you get a scholarship if you still insist on going to USC or UCLA.

And now, a positive note. The upshot to all this is that you can still audition for films -- even the lowest-budget student film is still a FILM, and if not money you'll still get a copy of the finished film -- worth it's weight in gold for making a demo reel eventually. So start checking industry publications, like Backstage.

You don't understand the meaning of your life? It makes no sense? Join the club. Life is a wonderful adventure, and part of that adventure is confusion and uncertainty and unhappiness and frustration. Not all the TIME, fortunately, but definitely on occasion. There is no such thing as a perfect, trouble-free, 24/7 happiness kind of life. It's from adversity that we grow, not from leisurely good times. It's a painful truth, but a truth nonetheless. So for your own sanity and a sense of calmness, please stop whining and whimpering -- spend those energies in more productive pursuits.

You've "always had talent"? Terrific! Are you continuing to develop it and learn? If not, start doing so. And I mean immediately. If you can't afford to take a class, hook up with some other actors and form a free class -- even without a teacher, you can each critique the others. Or spend 1-2 hours every night working alone -- tape record a monologue, play it back and critique yourself, then record it again with some improvements. Always, always, ALWAYS do some sort of work -- even established stars don't just coast on their talent without keeping their technique in tune.

Scammed by agents? That truly sucks. But if you used the same technique to find each of them, you need to stop doing that. Aim for an agency that SAG approves of -- give them a call. You wrote that you "can't afford to get an agent" -- what does that mean? You don't pay any kind of registration fees to sign with an agent -- they work for YOU, not the reverse. If, however, they tell you you need new headshots, that is a legitimate requirement, since it's their right to have a certain uniform "look" amongst their clients.

You don't know anyone famous or working in the film industry, but that's the norm for the majority of people who enter the industry. Don't dwell on this. If you don't have a contact, you don't have a contact. Move on.

As with film school, if you want to join the Writers Guild but can't afford it, then save up the money until you have enough. This is not rocket science.

So, should you give up? No. If this is truly your passion -- which it sound like it is. It has not been my intention to be mean, but you really needed some brutal honesty.

The blunt truth is that you do not currently have a film career. You simply don't. Not at all, no way, no how. But the operative word in that sentence is "currently" -- and that obviously does not mean your lack of a career has to stay that way. It's like when Dorothy meets the Scarecrow in Oz -- the road goes off in about five directions. Do they just stand there whimpering? Hell no. They pick themselves up and start walking [well, dancing]. You need to do the same thing -- you need to do SOMETHING that will get you out of your current tar pit and moving forward. Just standing there whimpering and complaining instead of moving your legs is a waste of energy, won't help you, and will prompt strangers on the internet to slap some sense into you. :-)

I said before that someone gave me a similar pummeling early in my career. I was depressed and not moving, like you are now [my feeling was of treading water in quicksand -- slowly and steadily sinking. Oy, I hope you're not experiencing THAT pleasant little mind-f***] He told me that no one is owed a perfect life, that talent does not compel the universe to bestow a perfect career, and that I should "get off the cross because we need the wood." He also said some of the things I've written above, because I had a few similar issues to yours. Oh, and he also advised me to think of myself as a shark -- not in that I should be malevolent, but that I should always remember that if a shark stops moving forward he dies.

I sincerely wish you success as you pull youself out of this rut and start taking action. I don't wish you "luck," because luck is merely when preparation meets opportunity -- and that can absolutely happen for you if you do the work, remain resilient, and be nothing less than pleasant and confident around others.

Answer 8

Don't give up. This is your dream and passion! Try community theater to build experience and make connections in the acting industry.

Answer 9

Try stage acting, it's a start. Work your way up slowly. You will make it in time. Michael J Fox was in your shoes. He didn't even have a phone. He listed the payphone outside his apartment as his homephone and waited there everyday. Look how he turned out.

Answer 10

most famous people go through years of rejection and road blocks. i say do not give up. keep going to open casting calls and make sure you "look" is where it needs to be. go to erinmuir.com and see if you can e-mail her and find out what she's doing to breakthrough. you may need to take a job for a little while to save the money you need to invest in your own career. whatever you do , do not make a sex tape!!!