ITs funny cause i see these actors....?

Question

I look at all these talent agencies and all these people on yahoo answers and then all these acting camps with kids on the head shots and the tittle reads "succsess stories" and then I realize.. all these people want to be actors.. and frankly I see none of them going there.. so what makes me so different? Why is it that I look at these people and I still say to myself I will make it? Does anyone else feel this way? What is it that makes these people so different from me, put yourself in my position. I see all these people and probably none of them will make it to hollywood. Does anyone know what I am talking about?

Why does all of a sudden people think im being cocky, im not..
so settle the **** down

Answer 1

OK, here's my personal feeling on that. First of all, their definition of a success story may not be yours. It may be someone who got an agent, someone who worked on a show (even as an extra), or someone who simply graduated from their program. Ask them if you believe they'll tell you the truth. If they're real headshots, jot down the names and look them up on imdb.com :-)

Everyone who wants an acting career has to be at least somewhat optimistic. When you go in for interviews the casting director will feel that exuding from you and they want to work with someone like that. If you go in already feeling defeated then of course you're not going to book the job. Look at the audition as your adventure, as fun! You get to go in and not only meet someone new or see someone you haven't seen in a while, but see who else they thought would be right for the part. See who they think you are similar to or who you type up against. It's an interesting process. Take notes. Make a game out of it, but aside from preparation and getting there early, don't take it too seriously. In the end it may come down to how tall you are or your eye color and not your talent so do not take it personally. If you're not even getting callbacks however it's time for your agent to ask CDs for feedback. They might get notes about your demeanor when you go into the interviews, your wardrobe, yu not looking like your headshot, self deprication, lack of preparation, lack of timliness, etc. Or (gulp) lack of talent or grasp of material. You could also just have the personality of a door knob... so learn how to make small talk, go in with a short story to tell (real or not) and be a fun person to be around (not obnoxious).

Go to class, gain some confidence, and give it a shot!

Answer 2

Yes, I know exactly what you are talking about. This road is a bumpy one with lots of ups and downs and sometimes, if you go through a string of unsuccessful auditions, it can be hard to get out of those "actor blues".

I have learned 3 things on the way:

1. Success is not determined by fame. Frankly, just because you haven't heard of the people of those headshots you're seeing doesn't mean they aren't successful. A working actor is someone who makes their living acting. That might be through commercials, industrials, U5's here and there for tv, and regional theatre. A very small percentage of aspiring actors become working actors and an even smaller percentage of working actors become "stars".

2. You have to love to act. It HAS to be your passion. If someone in it for just the money or fame, they won't last long at all because it's HARD WORK. There's a lot of rejection. You HAVE to have a tough skin or you will not have the confidence to keep auditioning. A lot of people seem to think that you can wake up one morning and decide to be an actor and that's it, it will happen. Nope, sorry. There has to be a driving force behind all this madness, all the money spent on headshots, training, mailings, having to do temp work or waitress to pay the bills and keep your time flexible for auditions, be willing to travel across the country for months at a time to do summer stock or non-equity tours to build your resume, deal with parents/friends/etc who think you should have a stable job. This is the reality of it and the only thing that will keep you going is the true love of doing it. If you don't love it, quit right now because most likely you'll give up anyway in a year or two when you haven't "made it".

3. Kind of goes along with #2, but there is no equation for success in the business. There is no "right way". You ask "will I make it?" Who knows? There are some "stars" in Hollywood, who if success was only determined by talent, have no business being there. There are also some very talented people who never make it. Those kind of doubting questiong are normal and asked by every aspiring actor all the time - "is it worth it?" Only you can decide.

The 2nd most important trait for an aspiring actor (talent is #1!!) is determination.

Answer 3

Everyone thinks they are special. While everyone is unique no one is "special." Everyone who has an acting career had to work hard to get it. The reality is you probably won't make it either. Doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a shot. Just don't build your whole life around the premise that someday you will be famous. Learn to live happily with or without money and fame.

Answer 4

Gee, Big R, if he can live happily without money or fame, an acting career might be just right. But of course you are right that every one of the ones the asker sees thinks the same thing that they are special and that they will make it. Helps to have a plan and a mentor.

Answer 5

Gee, I guess all of these other actor wannabes are just delusional and you really are God's gift to the performing arts.

Or perhaps, these other people are willing to do the best they can in hopes of becoming the next Tom Cuise or Julie Andrews, but they are willing to work at it just for the love of the art even if the best they ever do is a chorus part in a community theatre musical, while you are a concieted *** that doesn't really know what you're talking about and probably have vastly overestimated your talent.

Let me give you a clue; people with attitudes like yours don't get a lot of callbacks.

Answer 6

You can have that attitude, but to make it, you'll have to have a ton of talent to back it up. No one wants to work with a cocky, talentless actor.

But cocky, talented actors are generally tolerated (though not fun to be around).

Answer 7

I do feel that way. IM just like im not going to get a job in math science etc. im going to be famous i feel like i will make it is that what you mean

Answer 8

we had to do reports on presidents in the fifth grade. my friend looked hers up on the internet and it said. "..when he was young he chased little girls named darby and we killed at age 9 when he was hit in the head by a flying apple-grape fruit sent from the god of happy ducks. he then grew up to be the president of the united states." we died laughing