3 answers
Justine
Student
Saint-Georges, Canada
2
Questions
Updated
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What is it like to be an actor?
It's not weird to see you in a movie?How you feel went you play a role?
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3 answers
Angela Cavallin
6
Answers
Updated
Angela’s Answer
It is strange seeing yourself on screen and even embarrassing when you’re recognized (especially for a birth control commercial) but the job is tremendous.
Acting is the easy part of being an actor. There’s a lot of rejection, expenses and time management that is very difficult to navigate. I wouldn’t recommend being an actor to anyone unless it’s a part of who you are. You have a strong passion to perform, you feel like it’s who you are - only then will you succeed and the hard times will be worth it because you love the craft. I would recommend starting in theatre because you’ll become much better faster through the theatre than film/tv.
Acting is the easy part of being an actor. There’s a lot of rejection, expenses and time management that is very difficult to navigate. I wouldn’t recommend being an actor to anyone unless it’s a part of who you are. You have a strong passion to perform, you feel like it’s who you are - only then will you succeed and the hard times will be worth it because you love the craft. I would recommend starting in theatre because you’ll become much better faster through the theatre than film/tv.
Dickson Nwachukwu Jonah
Filmmaker
1
Answer
Lagos, Nigeria
Updated
Dickson Nwachukwu’s Answer
There's really no feeling to being an actor. It's just any career path. It's your profession and you must own it.
It's never weird to see yourself in a movie but only thoughts of things you would have done better.
It's never weird to see yourself in a movie but only thoughts of things you would have done better.
Michelle M.
Actress
3284
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Justine !
I apologize for getting to this late as I am not receiving any Acting question notifications in response to my tags for them. I would be very happy to share my experience in case you are thinking of going into professional acting. It's important that you receive many perspectives on this because each actor's experience is as individual as they are.
The first thing I can say about Acting on stage or street theatre or situational location theatre is that there is this sort of mysterious thing that happens that I recognize. The only way I can describe it is that you ignore 3/4 of yourself and the character takes over. It is so amazing because even if you are not feeling your best that night, or if you're slightly injured while performing, you don't even feel it. It's like you are not aware of your self because you have taken on a different character. I had had a few occasions to recognize this, being slightly injured while performing or having a cold on days I had to perform.
So when I play a role, I am not me, I am the character and I feel like the character. I had wanted and loved that ever since I was a child. For film and video, my experience is different. Depending on the role, I feel more natural and subdued as compared to how Theatre acting feels. It's also sometimes shot out of sequence so there is a focus one must keep even during the short breaks.
When I develop a character, it feels satisfying because it's something that I created and am close to. There's no mysteries about the character - she can tell you anything about herself.
At first when I was younger, the novelty of seeing myself on screen was amazing. I didn't feel weird, rather that I was looking at a finished project that I was a part of. That can be very satisfying. At this time, when video is really so common, it's just a normal part of life to see oneself on screen, so it's not anything strange. I like to see my performance and enjoy the finished product.
I did an intense path - Bachelors Degree in Theatre, doing regional theatre and video and film and also lived in Hollywood and New York City to obtain work also. So it can feel like you get a lot of variety in your life pursuing this career.
I hope that you hear from additional actors because it's fun to explore this career and think about it. Plan to take active steps and try it out soon ! Best wishes in all you do !
I apologize for getting to this late as I am not receiving any Acting question notifications in response to my tags for them. I would be very happy to share my experience in case you are thinking of going into professional acting. It's important that you receive many perspectives on this because each actor's experience is as individual as they are.
The first thing I can say about Acting on stage or street theatre or situational location theatre is that there is this sort of mysterious thing that happens that I recognize. The only way I can describe it is that you ignore 3/4 of yourself and the character takes over. It is so amazing because even if you are not feeling your best that night, or if you're slightly injured while performing, you don't even feel it. It's like you are not aware of your self because you have taken on a different character. I had had a few occasions to recognize this, being slightly injured while performing or having a cold on days I had to perform.
So when I play a role, I am not me, I am the character and I feel like the character. I had wanted and loved that ever since I was a child. For film and video, my experience is different. Depending on the role, I feel more natural and subdued as compared to how Theatre acting feels. It's also sometimes shot out of sequence so there is a focus one must keep even during the short breaks.
When I develop a character, it feels satisfying because it's something that I created and am close to. There's no mysteries about the character - she can tell you anything about herself.
At first when I was younger, the novelty of seeing myself on screen was amazing. I didn't feel weird, rather that I was looking at a finished project that I was a part of. That can be very satisfying. At this time, when video is really so common, it's just a normal part of life to see oneself on screen, so it's not anything strange. I like to see my performance and enjoy the finished product.
I did an intense path - Bachelors Degree in Theatre, doing regional theatre and video and film and also lived in Hollywood and New York City to obtain work also. So it can feel like you get a lot of variety in your life pursuing this career.
I hope that you hear from additional actors because it's fun to explore this career and think about it. Plan to take active steps and try it out soon ! Best wishes in all you do !