After attending the New York Film Academy, what should I focus on?

Question

After I attend the school for acting, what should I be focusing on?

I'm going to be attending auditions for films, movies, tv shows, etc. Is it a good idea to attend a 4 year college to get my BA degree? and what should I major in?

I just want something that will give me enough money to live on while I pay rent, bills, and food and of course the costs to get to auditions and such things.

Answer 1

Most actors have at least a bachelor's degree, usually in theater or something related. But not all do. So, what do you want to do next? Do you want to go ahead and try acting now, or do you want to go on for a bachelors?

Getting a BA or BFA in theater will make you a better actor. At the right school, like Purchase, or NYU, or Columbia, or Fordham, it will help you make connections in the industry. In addition, my husband does casting, and he's told me that, if two actors are roughly equal, they tend to take the one who has the degree, because he knows they've had the training and they'll be speaking the same language.

If you do chose to start acting now, do continue with your training. Take acting classes someplace reputable. Know your craft.

Actors are hired based on their fit for the role, their audition, and who they know. So go on auditions, do workshops, take acting and audition classes, network, and etc.

Most actors have to work other jobs to support themselves. Most of those jobs don't require any college. One friend, who works on a NY-based soap, still keeps his job as a cater waiter, to quote him, "just in case". Another friend does office work via temp agencies. A third only just now makes enough in theater to quit her other jobs, and that's after many, many years of professional acting. So try to find a job, like cater waiter, or office temp, or what have you, that gives you the flexibility to go on auditions, and which you can leave when you get roles and perhaps start again when you're not acting.

Lots of my friends are actors. Some have hit it huge, but none did so without at least a bachelor's degree, either in theater or with a lot of acting training on the side, and a few have their MFA. I *know* that, in Hollywood, a decent number of actors have no degree. But all my NY actor friends do.

So it's really up to you. You could go ahead and try it now, see what happens. Set a time limit for yourself. If, in one year, you aren't working as an actor, perhaps you need more training. Go and get a BA or BFA in theater from a reputable school. Then try again.