I'm 17 and I'm looking to become an actor what should be my first steps? I'm a senior in high school.

Answer 1

Alex B said a lot of the same stuff I normally do, so yay I get to shorten my answer!

What he said, except I do give you the info because I don't want you to pay some scammers all that money for nothing.

to get started auditioning without an agent you still need the headshots, the training, the resume, etc but you can start here:

www.backstage.com - do a casting search. You have to subscribe to see the whole listing, but initially it's free and you can at least see if it's worth it for you (or you can see if you can see enough to find out the rest on your own)

www.actorsaccess.com - get a free account, look at the breakdowns (watch out for ads). It costs to submit electronically, but to submit by mail is free so long as that's an option. You can also submit as much as you like for one year with a Showfax subscription $68 per year. That's the service that gives you the sides for our auditions if they're available... totally worth it if there are a lot of auditions for you.

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

Once you get credits and you want to find a legitimate agent to represent you for commercials, TV & film go 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 their info. 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 getting you SAG contracts, not modeling agents or talent managers who take different percentages.

Good lucK!

Answer 2

I normally don't answer questions like this anymore, because people post about 15 of them Each day, but yours is very so simple so I will.
The first thing you need to do is get experience. When it comes time for you to take the step to get an agent, you will need to be able to show your resume (a list of all your experience), and you will need a lot of experience on it. I always recommend theater as a place to start out because it gives you not only credits that look very good on a resume, but also valuable experience as an actor- if you can perform live with no problem, then everything else is a piece of cake. All the best actors get their start in theater, and ones that didn't often wish they had.
So find your local community theater, call them, and audition for the next play they put on. If you are in school, join the drama club or the school play.
Once you feel you have enough experience on your resume (this can be anywhere from 2 to 7 or 8 years. It took me 6), you call up an agent and set up an appointment to join. Agents are like middle-men. When a company wants to make a commercial, movie, etc, they notify agencies, which in turn tell the actors that they employ. This is necessary because it would obviously be impossible for a company to notify each individual actor. And just so you know, 1) agents do not "seek out and discover" talent like some people sometimes say. You have to contact them. And 2) you never have to pay an agent/agency anything. They only make money when they get you work. Only then do they get to take 10-15% of the money you make. So if an agent ever asks you for money up front, turn around and leave.
Becoming a professional actor takes time, but it pays off. Just make sure you get a good start.

This answer I gave to an asker a couple minutes ago applies to you too.

And I also have to say that the answer Vangorn2000 just gave you is exceptional. The best answer I've ever seen to an answer like this- I couldn't have said it better. Listen to the advice we give you. We know what we're talking about.

Answer 3

First off, you don't need to be acting every waking moment of every day. Round yourself out a bit so you can get into a good college. When you go to college for acting, go someplace that has an undergraduate program only. This will give you more expirence since the graduates won't always be taking the best parts and jobs. Also, try to go someplace near NYC or Chciago because they are the main theatrical hubs in this nation. If you want to get into film, LA is better than Chciago. At college, make friends with everyone and keep in contact. If people remember you (and like you) then you have a better chance of finding work.

Answer 4

1) Get yourself involved in every aspect of theater you can find locally. Try out for shows, and if you're not cast in them, volunteer for the crews instead. Help out the theater on weekends and in your spare time. Show your passion for it in all aspects. Get to know people in the profession. Get lots of experience on your resume.

2) Take summer classes in drama. Make sure you join a summer stock company for people your age. Put together a resume and get some professional headshots taken.

3) Find yourself an agent. You'll probably have to try a bunch of them, as acting is a high-demand profession.

4) Prepare to study theatrical arts in college.

and finally, and most importantly:

5) Be SURE you have a backup profession that you could also be happy with, to ensure you'll be able to keep paying your bills while pursuing acting in your spare time.

Answer 5

First off let me say that this question is asked almost ever day in one form or another. So if this answer doesn’t satisfy you feel free to browse through the other 1 million answers already given.

Now that being said, this is the reality. Most of the people who ask questions about getting started in acting on television and in the cinema are fans of the shows they want to work on, and there is NOTHING wrong with that. But you need to realize that being a fan dose not mean that you should be an employee of the show. Too many people have the idea that they are going to go to an open casting call, wow the casting director and get a spot on their favorite show. Honestly your chances are probably better at winning the lottery than this scenario ever happening. There is no magic formula to follow that guarantees you success, if there is this business wouldn’t be this hard to get into to. But what I can show you, is the path to start on if you REALLY want to make a go of this as a career.

You have to figure out if acting is really what you want to do, or if you only want to do it because you are a fan of a particular show or movie or if it’s a passing trend. Would you be just as happy if no one outside of your community knew who you were, but you got to act every week at the local theatre? Or are you after the money fame and celebrity status that might come your way? If your answer has anything to do with the second option, STOP right now and find another line of work.

Start getting training! You can take classes in your school all the way through college. Or if your town offers a professional acting class all the better. You have no idea how many people say, “I love acting and I know I could be great but I have no training and I’ve never acted before.” That’s like asking an airline to make you a pilot but you don’t know how to fly a plane. Obviously foolish! Start with local plays and build your experience. Any actor worth their trade will tell you that you NEVER stop training!

Read! Read! Read! Read books, not only on the art of acting but also the business of acting as well. You’re never to young to arm yourself with information concerning the business and how it really works. Later in life if this becomes your profession the information you’ve gained will be invaluable. You can buy tons of books on-line or check out your library.

Once you’ve gotten to the point where you’ve done the research and got some training you need to get yourself professional headshots, and this is GOING TO COST MONEY! If you want to be taken seriously as a professional you need professional headshots. Digital copies from mom’s camera ain’t gonna cut it, nor will photos from your yearbook or glamour shots. You will need to find a reputable headshot photographer and hire them to book a session. Prices usually range anywhere from $275.00 and up. Make up artists are extra and will range from 50-300 dollars extra. Now you need to get a couple hundred copies made to prepare for your auditions and mailings.

Now a reality check! If you want to make a go of this you will need to be in Los Angeles. LA is the film and television Mecca for entertainment. Likewise if you wanted to work in theatre you need to be in New York. It’s just a simple fact that you will need to adjust too. How many professional surfers have you ever heard of who spend all their time in Iowa?

After you have your head shots you or your parents need to start submitting to auditions. Simply put unless you have a very specific look or talent, no reputable agent is going to take you on with no experience. They need to know that they can sell you and in turn make money. If they can’t, then it’s not in their best interest to represent you. You can find auditions through on-line services such as LA Casting, Actor’s Access and Now Casting. Keep in mind that these sites usually charge a monthly fee for their services. Again this will cost you money up front. We never said getting into acting was cheap!

After you have landed a few jobs you can start to submit to agencies, or invite agents to see you in showcases. If an agent likes what they see, you can structure a deal with them. Keep in mind that a legit agent will never ask for money up front, however they will get, at a minimum 10% of your earnings once you’ve booked a job. Tell the agent up front if you have aspirations to work on a certain show of type of film, but the reality is you’ll have little chance to select the work you go out for initially. A good place to start would be the publications put out by Wolf press or through http://ww.sag.org

So you still want to be an actor/actress? Then YOU have to be proactive about it. Do the research, find the agents and make the contacts. No one is going to do that for you, without you paying for it! Acting as a profession involves long hard hours of training and work, possibly thousands of dollars in headshots, monthly bill fees and training and that’s just to get a CHANCE to audition.

Long answer short: Get your training, read to get yourself informed, do plays locally to get experience, get your headshots, do small parts to build upon to get experience for your resume, submit to agents, then finally you may have your shot.

As fun as it sounds, and from time to time it is fun, acting is still a job! You have to respect it and prepare for it just like any other job. If you think you can stand in front of a camera, repeat a few lines and make millions, then stay in school and look for another profession. On the other hand if this is really what you want to do and you’re willing to make the sacrifice and do the hard work early on, we may just see you on the screen before you know it. Best of luck!