How hard is it to become an actor?
There’s a huge difference between “How hard is it to become an actor?” and "How hard is it to become a successful actor?"If you love acting, you can be an actor. That’s it.If you want to be a SUCCESSFUL actor .. be forewarned, this is not a field you can succeed in if you are half-assing it.The work required to get an agent is ridiculous.Then, once you have an agent, there's no guarantee that you'll be going out on frequent auditions — the agent SUBMITS you for the auditions, but it's actually the Casting Director who decides if they want to see you read for a part. If you're lucky (and have a great agent, awesome headshots, THE RIGHT marketable look, etc), you'll get to go out on a lot of auditions — maybe a few per week.Auditioning is now your full time job. You get a script, usually within 24 hours of the audition, and have to memorize and prepare a fully developed character. What you have to understand is that most film directors don't adjust the actors that much at all, which is why when you go to YouTube to watch the audition tapes of people who booked parts, they look exactly like they do in the final film. So really, you have 24 hours to prepare a final-edit, cinema-ready character.If you happen to be exactly what they're looking for, you might get the part. Maybe.I’ve heard the number thrown around that a good actor can book one role for every hundred of those auditions.That's if you're lucky. And marketable. And talented. And personable. And hard-working. And in the right place at the right time.That's a basic breakdown. The better known you are, the better your chances. But it is reeeeally fucking hard to actually break into this industry and make a name for yourself. Hell, it's hard to even make a living at this.Now, if you just want to act, and don't care about fame or fortune, it's a much easier bar to reach. Ready?For stage: find local theaters. Audition. You might not get cast the first time. Keep trying.For screen: you have a camera phone, right? Make a web series. Write, direct, and star. Put it on YouTube. Just keep making work.It's a process. Acting, despite what many will lead you to believe, is not an easy field. I recommend not pursuing it unless you absolutely love it, because, as you can see, it takes sincere commitment over an extended period of time.If it's what you love to do? Do it. It's so worth it.Originally answered as: How do you know if you have chance to be an actor?
Is it easy to become an actor ?
First of all its easy to become an actore but not an famous actor.so here it GOES. Becoming an Actor: Find every opportunity in your traveling distance that does Plays or Musicals. Check the schools and community groups as well as professional. Contact them and ask to be notified of any auditions. If you do not get a part, offer to help in any way (paint scenery, usher etc.) Just being around the production you will learn a lot. Study Dance, Music and Acting. You must be able to do at least one great and the others well enough to let the others work around you. Find classes or instructors that have produced talent. Work on your image. You have to be a go getter, with lots of confidence and at the same time come across as humble. Develop work ethics. Never be late. Never be absent. Always be attentive. Always show respect for others, even when you do not think they deserve it. If and when approached by a talent agent or agency. Check them out carefully. If you are too young to sign a contract, remember your parents will need to be very involved. Agents They do not look at your picture and resume and go out and try to find you a job. You should give them enough information about your skills and decent photos of you. Almost all agents know where to find out about casting for theater and movies. When these castings are announced they look through their files to see who might have a chance. If you appear to have a chance they will notify you. Until you have found work several times they are not going to go out and try to sell you to a producer. Read these two web sites http://www.agentassociation.com/ http://www.sag.org/content/find-agent
How can I become an actor if I'm a 16 years old high school student? How can I get into contact with people who can help me?
The first most important thing is to find someone to study with, someone who can teach you the craft of acting, (and it is a craft). You want to find someone who you like and trust, someone who will challenge the hell out of you and help you grow. Sometimes you will hate this person because you must be broken of bad habits and ego and then built back up again. It’s all part of the process.The second most important thing is to act whenever you get the chance. This, from the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman:Finally, if you want to pursue acting professionally, you need to go to either New York or Los Angeles and work harder than you’ve ever worked for anything in your life. Only do it if you absolutely must, if there’s nothing else you can imagine yourself doing in this life. Most people quit when they realize how grueling the life is, how much consistent rejection you will experience. Most people quit because it’s just too goddamn hard. There is a myth about actors who go to Hollywood and ‘get discovered’ and are overnight successes, and while yes, it does happen, it is rare. So what happens is, kids go to Hollywood waiting for the phone to ring, for their big break. But for most people, it doesn’t happen like this. There is no quick and easy way. You can’t bypass the hard work that’s necessary to succeed in this or ANY field. Keep studying, keep acting whenever you can, keep auditioning. If you keep doing it and refuse to give up, eventually someone will take notice. Instead of focusing on the people who can help your career, focus on what Steve Martin once said: “be so good, they can’t ignore you.”
BECOMING AN ACTRESS VS BECOMING A DOCTOR!?
Have you ever considered doing a double major? I'm going to be straight out honest your better off becoming a doctor first and leave acting to the side as a hobby when and IF you have free time. You mentioned your in love with the IDEA of becoming a successful actress, but do you LOVE acting. There is a huge difference. Do you have that passion? If not then your focus should be on becoming a doctor and do acting as a side hobby. Acting is not a very "secure" career. It is filled with A LOT of unemployment There are doctors who do acting on the side. They do exist and I have met them before, but they rarely get time to do any acting. Look it sounds like you have alot on your plate and I don't think this is the right place to be asking this life changing question. Getting into this business is EXTREMELY difficult! The only way to usually make a living out of acting is by being apart of a union and having an agent and those are hard to get because you need alot of training and experience to even land an agent. Even those that came from prestigious schools STILL can't land agents. Your question is realistic and this is a something that I think most young actors are faced with. You can do a double major, but I don't see it lasting for very long. Studying to become a doctor is VERY tedious. Quite frankly, I think more tedious than studying acting. When will you have time to memorize lines or rehearse your monologues or scenes. In some serious acting schools your in a studio from 9am to 5pm. How will you have time to study science and math and possibly do internships if that is a requirement for your major? These are questions you need to ask yourself. Most serious actors sustain themselves by having retail jobs or do other odd jobs to support themselves like being a waiter, do retail, work at a coffee shop. Something flexiable.
Do you have to take drama classes in college to be a actor?
For my Career, i want to be an actor. To me it seems like a nice fun thing for me to do. I've acted in a few plays in school, And overall i think i would be pretty talented in acting. But im not sure if i want to take drama classes in college. Anyways, to the point. Can you become an actor withouth taking drama classes in college and/or having experience( like taking theater class all throughout school)? thanks
How do I survive in mumbai being a struggling actor?
Well to begin with, if you have completed your graduation you can easily get a part time job in Mumbai. Most of the studios are located along the western line according to me, so you can easily rent a house or be a PG(paying guest) at about Rs. 2500.Now about the food, as an actor you need to have healthy food I guess. So I assume you need to spend a good Rs. 6500 on your diet if you’re willing to cook your own food (you should learn cooking if you don’t).Finally you’ll need to travel for auditions, so you can take a railway pass for whole western line for about Rs. 350.As a suggestion I would say try working in some crime dramas like Savdhaan India or Crime Patrol, so as to get yourself noticed.The expenses total would be about 15,000 max I assume. So you can get a job easily as a voice support in a BPO or something. You need to be fluent in 3 languages(English,Hindi,Marathi)- your own mother tongue can be replaced with Marathi here. Or else you can register yourself with some ad agency or film studio and they could give you work. They pay less but you’ll stick around in the industry.