Finish College or Pursue Acting?

Question

I need some advice from a pro. I am currently going to college in Virginia at a school named Radford University. I realized this year that in fact I want to become a professional actor for the film/television genre. I am doing theatre here at school and I'm currently in a play. I wish to be in High School Musical 3 and wonder how I should go about starting my goal/dream. Also would it be smart to move to LA and live with family to help jump start my career.

Answer 1

The short answer... Finish college then pursue acting. Believe me, taking another year or two to finish college will help you out tremendously down the line, whether you make it in acting or not. If you do make it you will be a more well rounded person, with more experience to draw on. If you don't, your earning potential is significantly higher as a college grad. It is a win, win proposition.

Answer 2

Believe me, I will post the High School Musical 3 audition information as soon as I get my hands on it.

There is an aweful lot of undiscovered talent in this world, and the keyword here is "aweful". There is an aweful lot of already discovered talent in this world. And the keyword here is still "aweful"! DO NOT be an aweful actor. Even professional actors should have some dignity and pride in what they do, and always perform as FANTASIC actors!

I can say that if you are serious about working as a professional actor, and you have family to stay with in LA, then go for it. Getting a college degree is always a VERY wise choice. But pursuing a professional acting career requires living near where the paying acting jobs exist (or have the ability to be there on a days notice). You have to make that choice for yourself. Plus going to awesome acting classes like Cliff Osmond's classes (my teacher... lol) is way more valuable to an aspiring professional actor than a college degree could ever be. My friends Eric Stoltz and Anthony Edwards BOTH dropped out of USC their first year to pursue professional acting. They went to acting classes twice a week with the late Peggy Fuery and became super-successful professional actors ("super succesful" in my personal opinion). So just weigh out your priorities and stick with your decision.
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High School Musical 3 info will be posted here:

http://actinginfo.blogspot.com

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General audition and acting info is posted here:

http://acting411.blogspot.com

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Answer 3

College is a bad place to start a career. It is good that you are in plays there, as you need to build a resume. It will be next to impossible for you to be in HSM3 because there will be all the experienced actors with agents ahead of you. When you finally do get to audition for films, it will probably be for on line, day player contracts at first. You won't get to pick what you want to audition for until you are experienced and known. If there are any open auditions that you can go for there are three valid web sites I know of. Most are scams.
It would be more that smart to move to LA and live with your family to get started. If you are interested in free mentoring for your pursuit of a career as an actor, I am at your service.
read my profile and contact me at my aol address, I all ready have students in LA that I am helping.

Answer 4

study drama there, don't move to L.A. until you are a skilled actor, amateur's are everywhere and are dreamers. you can teach drama if your dreams don't work. if you get a drama degree it is very useful and opens doors for you career wise. a lot of employers like people who have studied drama and performing arts because of their high level of confidence and ability to work under stress. don't go into a second best career, i did that, wasted 2 years and went into acting anyway.

Answer 5

yes go for it...if you believe you will ahieve :)

You need to be in the this atmosphere

if it's really in your heart you will move out here and get yourself an agent ASAP