fifteen year old wanting to be an actress...how do i get started?

Question

i live in minnesota and i want to become an actress... how can i get started... im joining theater, but how can i get a shot at the silver-screen?

Answer 1

In places like Minnesota (where I am from by the way) the roles are cast in Los Angeles and then the actors are flown to MN, with the exception of bit-parts. Film and television productions do not travel around the country casting actors. It is done in Los Angeles.

Many people in here seem reluctant to take the good advice about studying your craft and becoming a skilled actor before embarking on a professional career. But you could always try doing some extra work and see if you like being on a set, can handle the ego-maniacs, working conditions, long hours day and night in any kind of weather, did I mention ego-maniacs? It can be a wake up call for sure!

Anyone can be an extra in Film and Television.

Unlike actors, extras do NOT have agents who take a 10 percent commission. You simply register with extras casting companies and call in each day on their casting lines to get work. Unless you hire a "booking Service" for about $30 -$50 a month to "call-in" and get you the work. Of course these "calling or booking services" really do not "call-in" to get you the work, they simply know people at the extras casting companies and get lists of what they need, and act as "sub-casting agents". Think about it, why would the extras casting company individually call each and every person, when they can just call a "booking service" and say, "we need 120 people for a party scene". Then the "booking service" does all the work and calls each of their clients themselves! SAG is trying to regulate these companies at some point, but the fact remains that these services can get you much more work than you can on your own just calling in on the casting lines all day trying to get through the busy signals.

The Screen Actors Guild does have jurisdiction over backround actors, however, the contracts only require a small number of union extras to be hired for a given union production, and the rest of the extras are non-union. This is part of the contract that production companies sign with the union. There is a publication called "Extra Work for Brain Surgeons". It truly is the Bible of Extra work. I am NOT one to try to sell books for anyone. But I am in the know about this subject.

Central Casting in the biggest extras casting company, followed by Bill Dance Casting. You simply register with these places, and then you work. There is a huge amount of work for non-union extras, and just a small amount of union extra work. As a matter of fact, one can work every day as a non-union extra, but if you are a SAG member, it is much harder to get union extra jobs. This is because a given TV show for example, only has to hire 10 union extras, and the rest can be non-union. If you sign up with a "booking service" or "calling service" as they like to call themselves, you can literally work every day. But the pay is not much more than minimum wage for non-union, although overtime is usually the norm as well as "wardrobe allowance" and sometimes "mileage allowance". You also can get paid extra for using your car, pet, or props in a scene. There are many SAG members secretly doing non-union extra work simply because there just is not enough union extra jobs to go around.

You must live in LA of course, get a "Thomas Guide" map book, and have a cell phone and a car. But if you do your homework, you literally can work every day, no matter your experience or looks. You can be young or old, tall or short, overweight or underweight, some one-armed dude, or whatever. There is plenty of work to go around, and Hollywood needs all types of people. You don't even need headshots or a resume, they take a digital photo when you register with all of those extras casting companies. Just stick with the legit companies. There is a nominal $25 or so fee to register. Even SAG member have to pay a "photo fee" to register.

So there it is.

Don't take bad advice. Just register with the big extras casting companies and follow the rules of working as a fim/tv extra. As I said, I am NOT out to sell that book, you can do some research and find out all you need, but be careful as there are tons of bottom-feeders scamming people who want to work in film/tv as extras.

If you are lucky, you can even become "SAG Eligible" from doing non-union extra work, but that is a whole other long story.

Here is a link to HollywoodOS (the company that publishes that book "Extra Work For Brain Surgeons").

http://hollywoodos.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=37&Itemid=80

Peace Out,

Alan

PS AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) has jurisdiction over Soaps and Sitcoms among other videotaped and radio broadcast productions. This is a whole different story, and anyone can walk into AFTRA and join for about $1,250

Answer 2

You have to be exceptional in what you do. Just keep working in the theatre. No point in going tto Hollywood as every man and his dog goes there for acting jobs. You have to look inth trade papers if you want work. Have a look in Variety magazine for audition parts, and go for that. You would be surprised how a lot of the top actors had ver poor jobs before they became famous.

Answer 3

Alan's info is good, if wordy. The rest, forget. You get started in school plays and community theatre, you read a lot, you take acting classes, and eventually, when you are ready, you get an agent. and between you and the agent, you may get a shot at the silver screen. Read my profile, by clicking on my name and then contact me at my aol email address for more info.

Answer 4

you can look for drama clubs in your area and perform every chance you get. you can add in many other skills too since many actresses are models and you could try modeling too. when auditions come up then try to try out. most auditions are in california in different parts but they can be in many places. you can also get "discovered" if you show your talents to others. who knows maybe one day you will hit the silver screen. you could go here for casting companies in your area:http://www.castingdirectors.us/

Answer 5

take dance classes.. sing... research what other actresses did to get on top... always keep your eyes open if there are any movies being filmed around your area... you can always be an extra and start working your way up.

Answer 6

have someone or yourself send a video of you singing or dancing or doing a playor something to a person who makes movies and stuff.

Answer 7

make a resume first so u can promote ur self

Answer 8

take classes and find an agent or somebody who can help you get going..........oh and go out and go to auditions and stuff.

<3good luck :]]]]]

Answer 9

audition for stuff and find an agent

Answer 10

stop eating and learn how to be a waitress... and then your half way there.