I want to become an actress, but I live in Virginia not L.A. and I can't move to L.A. because I'm only 13.

Question

Please give me your advice.

Answer 1

What you need to do is explore acting possibilities in your state.

Local commercial work (commercials for local stores, industry informercials, medical infomercials), theater, etc.

Starting small at first can garner attention. If you can get permission from employers to use the commericals or other work you do for a bio website and or YouTube release.

Search out agents in your area or look into ones based out of NY. You may find some commercial and other work there which is far closer than LA.

The best advice is to just get the foot in the door and work hard. Network and market yourself.

Answer 2

First of all, relax. You're right, you can't do anything major until you're at least 18. Second, start by honing your talents. Join the drama club at school, get started in local thespian societies and ask your parents if you can take acting classes. The more you practice and hone your craft and skill, the better your odds are. Also, go to college and have a back-up plan.

For right now, enjoy your teenage years, have fun in drama clubs and don't worry about becoming an actress in Hollywood because, honestly, most people don't make it. They end up waiting tables or washing cars while wasting their entire lives looking for that "big break." That back-up plan will come in handy if that big break doesn't materialize.

Answer 3

Join any little public theatre you have nearby. Here in Madison OH, we have Rabbit Run theatre and anyone can try out for parts in the musicals and plays they put on. Get your experience there and join the plays at school. Join an acting club, take classes. Get into it as much as possible. You don't have to wait until your 18 to start acting but you can't run away from home and move to LA now :-) When you think you're talented enough or if by some crazy off chance you've been "discovered" and you still want to move out to LA, you'll have some good experience under your belt to make people take you a little bit more seriously

Answer 4

If you're at all near the DC metro area, join the Actors Center. That is the single best thing you can do in this area to get casting notices (both paid/non-paid for film/tv/theatre), free workshops, lists of agencies and casting directors and a lot of other great resources. Don't bother with Backstage, they don't have listings for DC (well, every now and then they do, but not enough to make it worth a subscription.)
A 1 year membership costs $60 and if you join after July 1, it's $40. I believe it may be even less if you're a student.

www.actorscenter.org

btw, The Artist Agency doesn't represent actors and they are by no stretch the "only reputable "agency in town.

Answer 5

Fortunately, if you do plays, independent films,and industrial films, or student films you are an actress. Maybe not well know, but you are one. Unfortunately if you want to go big, then you have to move to the big cities where the entertainment industry dominates. That is it. Many many children and teens have parents who for the sake of their childrens careers give up their jobs and move to L.A and N.Y. You would have to find out if you parents are willing to make that sacrifice. If you want to find out what is in your area,

Try this
www.backstage.com
they may charge a fee to see all the info, or you might be able to read and get what you need.
click on casting and then click casting notices and click on non union stage or union stage whatever you want to look through personally I would highlight everything, and your state .....you will probably have to bring a pic and resume

p.s don't do anything without your parents permission. Way to many bad people in this world

Answer 6

Wow, why would you think that you would have to do that? There are so many actors that have never done that. If you don't want to do that then you tell your agent right off the bat that you won't do nudity. Then the producers know that if they hire you they would need to hire a body double if they plan to show certain body parts because it's in your contract for you not to be exposed. Your agent would also know what auditions NOT to send you on in the first place...

Answer 7

You build up to an actress, not get right to it. You need to start out small and first start in a drama club or something close to that. Then as you build your confidence you can go to more public plays and stuff like that. When I figured out that I want to be an actress I started in the school Drama Club right away.

Answer 8

Get involved in your school's drama program, if it has one. If it doesn't, many small towns have a local theater group that puts on plays, and you could audition for those. Remember, most of the actors and actresses you see on TV and in movies came from situations just like yours...Any experience you can get on a local level will help you get jobs later. Good luck!

Answer 9

You don't have to live in Los Angeles to be an actress. Go to acting classes in Virginia, audition for plays at your school.

Answer 10

Im also 13. get into plays and musicals in your hometown. believe it or not, becoming famous isnt about how good and actor or singer you are. Its all about networking. Become involved in every play you can in your community, people will start to recognize you and tell people who tell people who tell people about how good an actor your are. Hopefully someone will come and see you preform and remember about this audition for a movie or a TV show. You never know. i was an extra in CSI,Hannah Montana, and Drake and Josh and im currently working with people from Disney to get me into a movie of my own. good luck!