is there anyway to get into acting proffesionally?

Question

im 18 almost 19 and was wondering if it is possible to make it into movie acting an still study my 3 years in university?

Answer 1

You can, but it's a hard balance to maintain. At this piont I would highly recommend checking into your University's (and neighboring U's) film schools to see if students can make use of your talents for their films. You'll gain lots of good experence working in vastly differing environments (good and bad) and you may get good stuff for your reel. Your education is important so I wouldn't bail on that. You do have summer though and if you're lucky you could find an agent who would respect that and keep you on hold while you are in school. The problem would be if you booked a series or something... Anyway, cross that bridge if/when you come to it.

If you have the training and credits to back yourself up and you want to pursue getting an agent, you can find a legitimate agent to represent you for commercials, TV & film by going to Sag.org. Use the dropdown menu on the right labeled 'resources' and choose 'agent information'. On the next screen, on the left choose 'Find a SAG franchised agent' and follow the directions. You can look up agents all over the US, but there are higher concentrations where the work is (Los Angeles, NY, IL, FL, GA etc.). Another great resource is Ross Reports especially because they update their info so often but not all of the agents they list are SAG and you have to pay for the list. That doesn’t mean they’re not legit, but that’s why I always tell people to start with the SAG list. It’s free and those agents have signed an agreement to put the actor first! www.rossreports.com If you subscribe to backstage.com you can get a combo subscription which can come in handy but can also get quite expensive.

Then you can send the agencies your headshot, resume, and a cover letter stating that you are seeking representation and wait to see if they call you in for an interview. You never call the agencies directly. That is a big no-no! At least it is in LA. Please remember that reputable agents take exactly 10% of your pay AFTER they help you get a job. Not one cent more and not one cent before. Anything else is a scam. This is strictly for talent agents, not modeling agents or talent managers who take different percentages.

Once you have an agent, they will get you the auditions, but until then you can check out actorsaccess.com. You can also see if your state has a film alliance / commission / society or whatever your state calls theirs (some have more than one). Sometimes they post audition information for projects filming locally. For theatre (and other auditions on backstage), you can go to backstage.com or www.actorsequity.com (click on casting call) 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. These websites also have listings for student films and going without an agent means choosing your own schedule which may be more ideal for a student.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Hi,

It is possible, but like Marianne says, it's difficult to balance. You really have to be a master of your time, have strong motivation and be very disciplined. And if you really want to give it your all, you will probably have to sacrifice some of the fun you might normally have as a college student, because of your classes, rehearsals, auditions and possible work.

You'll need to get into a good class first. Don't put your cart before the horse. First study acting, get a handle on a technique you can call your own and then comes everything else. Many youngsters here on answers will say two things that don't fit together, such as:
"I want to be an actor." And then immediately after that they will ask one of the two following questions, "Where can I start auditioning?" or "How can I get an agent?" Between wanting to become an actor and actually getting an agent and starting to audition or, in your case making it into a movie (unless as an extra) come lots and lots and lots of good, solid training. If you want to be a good actor in the long term, that is.

Since many questions of this type come up frequently, I have created a free ebook that you can download from my website. Just go to http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/acs-blog.html and you can download it to your computer.

Hope that helps you and I wish you good luck.

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

Answer 3

You can forget blueleafproductions,it sounds like a scam.

Marianne has a good take on this. Tony wants to sell his book. (So do I, but that pitch will come later)

I have always said that college is a waste of time for anyone who wants to become an actor, and I still believe that with a very few exceptions. So tell me where do you go to university and what are you majoring in? Fill me in on your acting experience and personal situation at [e-mail] after you read my profile. I help young actors like you at no charge.

Answer 4

For Acting, I would recommend

http://www.hollywoodnorth.com