Does Anyone Know Of A Good State To Act In Or A University?

Question

I Want To Go To The University Of Minnesota And They Have A College Of Liberal Arts And I Can Major In Acting But I Don't Know Many People That Came From Minnesota..I Also Know LA Is A Good Place To Go.New York To But That Is Mostly Broadway And I Want To Do Stuff Like Television Fil So Can I Please Have Some Suggestions..Thanks

Answer 1

Well. The BFA acting looks fairly good on paper, but it doesn't look like it has any film acting in it. If you want to be a movie/tv actor, a university education may not be the best idea. There are many good cities to go to to get started in film acting, including, Dallas, Denver, Atlanta, and San Diego.
I discuss the advisability of going to college for actors in my free book, The Tao of Acting, Mentoring for Aspiring Actors. Read my profile and write me at my aol address for more info.

Answer 2

Theatre Doc and I disagree on this one. I believe everyone should go to college if they can. Most great actors have their training rooted in theatre so while college classes may have very limited training for tv and film, how is earning a degree ever going to hurt you? If you have a real shot as a tv and film actor, I believe it depends on which stage in your life that shot may come. If it's when you're 18-22 then maybe you should take a year or two off and see if Hollywood is for you, but you could still attend college and go on auditions and if a career sweeps you away from academia then so be it. There are resume building opportunities in college, not the least of which are student films especially if your own campus has a film department. Even schools within a certain amount of miles radius would be great. If you're good, the student director will likely use you and you will get reel material and good experience out of it.

I think actors need to be educated. I love that the more successfull child actors / transition to adult actors all went to college. They may not all have finished, but they went. If your career takes off, but suddenly ends what are you left with? If you go to college you at least have an education. I would suggest taking classes like marketing, accounting, business management, anything that relates to that because as an actor you are your own business and you are marketing yourself. If by any chance there's a course in entertainment law, that would be awesome.

I just don't think anyone should be discouraged from going to college. You could even go to a community college while auditioning. For TV and Film, ultimately Los Angeles is where it's at, but you can likely start wherever you are. Do a websearch for Minnesota film and see what you get. You should get an assortment of state film alliances, commissiions, etc. all dedicated to the film and tv industry in your state. They may have casting info there, even where to take classes locally, etc.

Otherwise you can try loking on backstage.com and actorsaccess.com but I doubt they'll have much if anything for your area.

good luck!