Hello, world, here I come!... Hopefully.?

Question

I have found my calling... ACTING! I mean, I have the whole package. I know I'm good, and i have the ability to make everyone love me.

But here's the twist.

My parents aren't exactly fond of showbiz. I mean that like, the thought of me joining showbiz kind of makes them gag.

I can't do much without them... I can't drive, and can't pay for coaches and classes, and have only experience in school plays and community theater.

I have several ideas... I could mail my resume and headshot to agencies behind my parents back, and if the agent agrees to represent me, then that could show my parents that I have what it takes... but the downside: they could get angry.

I need help. I know this is what I want to do. This isn't just on a whim. It's been a problem for two years, and I'm ready to make a stand.

Answer 1

Hi,

To know what you're really getting yourself into as an actor, to see what you will need to do to get off to a successful start and to avoid the pitfalls that many young actors create for themselves AND to answer this very same question that comes up at least 2-3 times a day, I have created a free 28-page ebooklet that you can download on my site. It's called: What It Takes To Become An Actor. Just go to http://www.actingcareerstartup... , sign in and you can download it for free.

Here's an answer I gave to a girl who wanted to know what she could do to convince her mom to support her wanting to become an actress:

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Hi,

what do you think would really make your mom start to take you seriously and support you?

Does she know what actors do? REALLY? Does she know what it's like being an actor? Does she know what you really have to go through to become an actor?

Do YOU know the answers to those questions? Do you know what it's like and what the issues actors face, what it's like to work on set, what your chances are of just getting work, how hard you'll have to work, how much you will have to invest of your time and energy to study, to do mailings, to write cover letters, to submit yourself for auditions, to prepare for auditions, prepare your monologues, bone up on your cold reading skills, take specialization classes, travel, etc.
Do you know what the average earnings are of an actor these days? Do you know how many days on the average an actor works.
Do you know what it takes to become an actor and do you have what it takes?

Have a look at the following links:

http://www.actingcareerstartup.com... to see some of the issues actors face while trying to get work.

http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/worki... to see what it can be like day to day looking for work.

http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/a_wor... to see what it was like for me once on the set of an independent film.

That's a lot of questions I know and I asked them on purpose.

Why?

Because if you can start to answer all those questions, maybe you will be more convincing. I know you're only fourteen(??), but you have to get started sometime. Some fourteen year olds have someone who is an adult and who supports them in their goals. You don't so you can either keep butting heads with your mom or being afraid to approach the subject, or you can start to find out for yourself.
In other words, the more information you have, the more informed you are about what you say you want, the more you can talk about it intelligently and demonstrate that you know what you are talking about, the greater your chances of being able to convince her to support you. If she has just as much information as you do, then you are on an equal playing field. She's your mom, bigger and older and she wins!

Is that the way you want it? No? Then get a move on and start doing your homework! :-)

Does doing your homework mean that you will get what you want in the end? Not necessarily. Your mother is certainly taking into consideration your best interests. But even if you don't get her to support you, you will know a lot more than you do now about the profession you say you want to pursue.

Good luck!

Here's an additional resource: http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/how_t... on how to get an agent.

Keep your parents involved at all times though! There are a lot of scam artists out there just waiting to prey on young kids who don't know anything about the business. Be careful!

Hope that helps!

Tony
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com

Answer 2

You got some pretty unneccessarily harsh answers. Okay, it's very unlikely that an agent will sign you. Believe me, it's VERY hard to get a good agent. Here's what I say, your parents think it's okay for you to act in school plays right? Do that. Is is okay with them if you take a class or workshop? Do that too. They are 100% right about not letting you persue it professionally until you are older. If you are still into it when you're old enough you can do what you want and you'll have had some experience. They probably will support you then. If they don't, do it anyway. It's your life.

Answer 3

Don't go behind your parent's back to get an agent. You should keep acting at community theatre and do school stuff. You can never get enough expierience! Keep doing this until your parents are impressed because you are constantly getting lead roles

practice until you can blow anyone away with your acting skills.

Read up in books or on the internet about different styles of acting and practice them an hour every day secretly in your room

Get scripts and monologes and analyze the characters and become them so that you can act them as if you were them

Keep practicing!!!

Make acting time out of your schedule to research technique and become the best

Finally once you are like really really good. Do a performance for your parents.

Tell them acting is just who you are wether they like it or not and they can choose to be supportive or not, but you will always do it.

But don't go behind their backs to get an agent because they won't like that and they'll be less supportive of your acting.

Answer 4

First of all, what are you, twelve?

Secondly, you're pretty cocky for someone with little to no experience whatsoever. How are you so sure that you're "the whole package?"

Thirdly, it would be absolutely IDIOTIC to go behind your parents' backs. It won't show your parents that you have what it takes; it will show your parents that you are being dishonest and childish.

Lastly, don't try to all of a sudden get this major role in a movie. Go out for a school play or something.

And grow up.

Answer 5

If it is your calling, you have your whole life ahead of you to be an actor.

My suggestion is wait until you are 18, and you can travel, have a job, etc. To support yourself.

Now, if you DO go behind your parents' backs, this is probably bad. They ALWAYS find out (admit it, they do), and that can set you back farther, make them even less supportive than before.

You're really caught in a tough spot, I say, wait 'til you're 18, but you know, you gotta follow your heart, not do what I tell you to do.

Good Luck, whatever you do!

Answer 6

Despite your parents' feelings, you can't expect them to drive you around and pay for classes. There might be time or finance issues. I would sit them down and tell them in a mature way that you want to try to take your acting to the next level, but will not infringe on them any more than they want. Then you can send your resume and headshot out without it being sneaky. If your parents put their feet down and say "no way," then you might be out of luck until you are 18.

Answer 7

My suggestion is to sit down with them and tell them how much it means to you. Ask them to let you try out somewhere and let them be there. Tell them the pros and cons to acting and why you feel it is your calling. If you let them know you have looked at it at all angles, they may side with you a little more. Tell them you would like their support, even if you try and fail, that you really want to do something in showbiz.

Communicating and being honest will gain you more respect than doing things behind their backs.

Answer 8

I suggest waiting until you can drive at least until you try something like that. You could get into an agency, but if you have no way of getting to auditions and things then you're kind of stuck in the same place. Once you can pay for acting lessons on your own and can get to auditions, then you should do what you want.

Answer 9

first, i am glad you have found a passion to work with.If its truly your dream then you should let nobody stop even your parents.do not lie to them,instead show that this your passion and you can be the best you can be in acting,let them know that you try your hardest to live this dream and ask for there support,now, if they dont want to support, find a friend in acting who does and try to get a ride with them and share your dream.if all goes bad,Tell your parents that you are going to try for acting abilitys go to agents when your ready.and your going do it with or without them

by the way how old are you?

Answer 10

Do you know how many times i've heard that exact same line???