I want to become an actress but in Ontario, Canada?

Question

Ok, so here is the deal I live in Ontario Canada. But where I live in Muskoka there is no acting schools or plays going on.
I'm 15 years old and this is a huge dream of mine and i'm not going to let where I live stand in the way of my dreams.
I used to go to drama camp all the time every summer for 2 years and had a blast it was so much fun. Then I moved and i'm not able to do that anymore. My mom doesn't have a car and so it's hard to get around so what do I do. I have had my dreams on hold for 5 years now and I want to get them started now.
Any advice?

Answer 1

Hi,

I'm in a hurry, but I did want to give you some food for thought before I log off.

Here is an answer I gave to a guy just not long ago. See if this helps in some way. It has to do with his money issue, but I see some of it helping you also for your situation.

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Hi,

Think outside of the box. If you want different results, you must start to think in a different way. Examine the traditional routes like you are, but go “to the other side”.

Einstein said that no problem can be resolved at the same level of thinking that created it.

When I read your question, I thought to myself that you are not alone. So, so, so many, many, many actors have the same issue: Money! And not just when they are young like you. Many actors fail to realize that before throwing themselves at a career in which it is likely that they will not earn a large income at the beginning at least, that it is essential to get your finances in order first. It is important to create an income stream that will allow you to be flexible and to be able to concentrate on your craft, take classes when you want, get those new headshots when you want, get the reel made or make any other investments in your career you need to make without having to worry about money.

So for you, what to do? Well, you are very young. My advice to you would be to start to think about how you can overcome this issue. One day you will have to think about it all on your own, so why not start planting that seed in your head now?

A few years ago in my first movement acting class, our teacher asked us a question that he invited us to reflect upon. The question was: "How many different ways are there to get someone to do what you want?" The reason he asked us that question was because, as actors if we constantly react to situations in a standard and canned way, and if that way is always the same, we will not be very interesting or compelling in our performances. In life that translates into, if we keep doing the same things that we have always done, then we can only expect to get the same results. Anyway, our teacher had us do exercises around just four of the many possible ways that there are to try and get someone to do what we want them to do. The four ways that we worked on in that class were: to entice, to demand, to plead, to encourage.

I never forgot that class. I consider myself to be a very positive, determined and innovative person. I pride myself in finding new ways, innovative ways to solve issues and overcome challenges, to get the money I need to be able to focus on my career and to promote myself as an actor and to promote my business of educational entertainment.

But I had never quite thought about things in that particular way. Now it is a question that I use not only in my acting, but also in my life when I have to find solutions, that sometimes seem too big or too difficult to solve. And it helps me tremendously!

This issue of finding different solutions is so important, that in my book and in my seminars I dedicate an entire section to it, taking the participants through three structured problem solving methods that can be used to help find different solutions in many different situations. They are part of a bigger section, which deals with developing one’s creativity. Why? In part for questions just like the one you have, but it also comes in handy when we talk about the promotion of one’s acting career!

The following links will give you some specific information and things to think about with regard to your issue of money. If you are too young to apply what you will read, at least I hope that you will be stimulated to think about some possibilities and options that you might be able to execute:

http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/making_money.html
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/money_making_opportunities.html
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/job_ideas_for_actors.html

So since you asked a question, I will leave you with one: How many different ways are there for you to solve your money issue?

Stay away from solutions that will take you down the wrong road and solutions that will get you in trouble. They are not necessary and I would not advise you to seek them out or consider them. Stay away from solutions that will compromise you in anyway. Stay true to you yourself.

Opt for positive, legal solutions and seek help to find answers. There are solutions. You just have to think hard enough, find good people who have overcome such issues and challenges. Find out how they did it. Find the right people. Ask your parents to help you, not just with money, but to give you constructive advice to help you find a solution. That will help you grow and it will set you up to be able to find creative solutions when you are on your own. And don't give up until you get that money! Whether you do give up or not will reflect your true desire to become an actor. If it doesn't work out in the short term, if you stay committed to what you want, it will eventually work out.

Good luck to you! So now, one more question:

Now what are you going to do?

Tony
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/acs-blog.html

p.s. Those who believe they can and those who believe they can't are both right.
Henry Ford

Answer 2

Go to the bottom of this page and CLICK ON THE CANADIAN FLAG. You can get advice from others in Canada.

Did you click on Canada, so Canadians can ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?