2 answers
Kiri
Student
Princeton, Texas
1
Question
Updated
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Actors, Can you share with me your journey?
I'm an aspiring actress interested in knowing how someone else got their big break. Tell me everything: What class did you take? What inspired you to act? What special skills do you have? Anything and everything is welcomed!
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2 answers
Ashley Faus
Marketing
3
Answers
Mountain View, California
Updated
Ashley’s Answer
I started college as a musical theater major, but I did not end up getting my big break. However, I still regularly perform in musicals in community theater. I know a few people who have made a career in the performing arts.
First, it's less about specific classes, and more about the number of auditions. Audition for EVERYTHING. Look at summerstock theaters when school is out, and be willing to go spend the summer in a smaller locale where the talent pool is less competitive if you're not getting traction in larger markets. There's a ton of viable theater scenes outside of New York for stage work and LA for screen work.
Second, be clear on what kind of acting you want to do, as acting on stage vs. acting in a TV series vs. acting in a movie are quite different. Most schools have a degree for theater performance, but you might need to find specific offerings for TV/Film.
Third, attend/participate in local improv nights, go see local theater, etc. to make more connections with directors, other actors, producers, etc. You never know when someone might see you at an open mic night, have a lead on an open audition call, etc.
And finally, have a backup plan, even if it's waitressing/admin assistant, etc. while you're auditioning.
First, it's less about specific classes, and more about the number of auditions. Audition for EVERYTHING. Look at summerstock theaters when school is out, and be willing to go spend the summer in a smaller locale where the talent pool is less competitive if you're not getting traction in larger markets. There's a ton of viable theater scenes outside of New York for stage work and LA for screen work.
Second, be clear on what kind of acting you want to do, as acting on stage vs. acting in a TV series vs. acting in a movie are quite different. Most schools have a degree for theater performance, but you might need to find specific offerings for TV/Film.
Third, attend/participate in local improv nights, go see local theater, etc. to make more connections with directors, other actors, producers, etc. You never know when someone might see you at an open mic night, have a lead on an open audition call, etc.
And finally, have a backup plan, even if it's waitressing/admin assistant, etc. while you're auditioning.
Michelle M.
Actress
3284
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Kiri !
I would be happy to provide advice to you as you are an aspiring actress. The more you learn about the career and the business the better off you will be and with knowledgeable insight, you'll be able to make the right moves towards your goal.
Other people's acting careers are very different and no one's journey will be the same as yours will be. This career takes talent, life experience, being in the right place at the right time and for someone to say "yes". You must experience where you are at every step of your training and career.
Since I took an academic route, I also advise others to do so, majoring in Theatre (with an emphasis on Acting) in college and obtain a Bachelors Degree in it. Those four years will shape you into the professional you want to be. Mindset is EVERYTHING during this career.
If you look at it as having a series of "small breaks", you will be able to enjoy each project, be focused and collaborative. I had opportunities for acting my first semester in college, one play in college as well as work outside for professional film and TV companies. This was also many decades ago and times are different now. Because you mentioned "big break", does that mean you want to be famous ? If that's the case, you'd need to move to Los Angeles and wait till you get cast in a TV series as that's one way people become famous. But this is not an advisable way to approach an acting career.
If you decide to go to college, you can decide and make plans in your Junior year as to whether or not you want to remain local in Texas. move to Los Angeles or New York City. Although it was easier back then, I chose to move to Los Angeles after graduation as that was a lifelong dream - to live in Hollywood. I wouldn't have been able to do it smoothly if it weren't for the friends I made in college that greatly helped in making it happen.
It helps to always be around people in media and the performing arts. It's easier these days to learn of what is auditioning because there are websites for Actors at which you can register to keep up with what is casting. Build your resume locally and during college or decide if you want to travel further for work. Believe it or not, some casting people, directors, etc. feel better casting actors that have substantial experience as it's an indication that they know how everything works.
You should take any performance classes that are available to you, in school and in the community. I took beginning, intermediate and advanced acting, improvisation, singing (both in college and private lessons), dancing, television acting, pantomime (which outdates me, no longer a popular performance), and as a theatre major did a lot of practicums and mostly work in the community and some of it for pay. My college was very heavy on theatre literature, theatre history and tech so I took many of those courses, too, including playwriting for a year. This all gives one insight about the career.
What triggered my love for acting was watching movies and television, actors and actresses, during my childhood and thinking "that's what you do when you grow up !" I participated in the shows in elementary school and a variety show that a classmate friend and I put together in fifth grade. Then it laid dormant until I was 18 and in college. I was not around actors or the entertainment business, in a small town, an acting desert. As far as special skills, I am basically an actress that sings and I can and have worked with deaf actors and I can portray a deaf character. I have also been an actor standardized patient, portraying illnesses and injuries for medical students during their exams.
The most important advice I can give you is to never compare yourself with anyone else, enjoy each project as you do it and stay in touch with the cast and crew, network heavily in your local theatre/acting community and try not to project how you want your career to go - just let it happen.
I hope this helps and I wish you all good things in one of the best careers you can choose !
I would be happy to provide advice to you as you are an aspiring actress. The more you learn about the career and the business the better off you will be and with knowledgeable insight, you'll be able to make the right moves towards your goal.
Other people's acting careers are very different and no one's journey will be the same as yours will be. This career takes talent, life experience, being in the right place at the right time and for someone to say "yes". You must experience where you are at every step of your training and career.
Since I took an academic route, I also advise others to do so, majoring in Theatre (with an emphasis on Acting) in college and obtain a Bachelors Degree in it. Those four years will shape you into the professional you want to be. Mindset is EVERYTHING during this career.
If you look at it as having a series of "small breaks", you will be able to enjoy each project, be focused and collaborative. I had opportunities for acting my first semester in college, one play in college as well as work outside for professional film and TV companies. This was also many decades ago and times are different now. Because you mentioned "big break", does that mean you want to be famous ? If that's the case, you'd need to move to Los Angeles and wait till you get cast in a TV series as that's one way people become famous. But this is not an advisable way to approach an acting career.
If you decide to go to college, you can decide and make plans in your Junior year as to whether or not you want to remain local in Texas. move to Los Angeles or New York City. Although it was easier back then, I chose to move to Los Angeles after graduation as that was a lifelong dream - to live in Hollywood. I wouldn't have been able to do it smoothly if it weren't for the friends I made in college that greatly helped in making it happen.
It helps to always be around people in media and the performing arts. It's easier these days to learn of what is auditioning because there are websites for Actors at which you can register to keep up with what is casting. Build your resume locally and during college or decide if you want to travel further for work. Believe it or not, some casting people, directors, etc. feel better casting actors that have substantial experience as it's an indication that they know how everything works.
You should take any performance classes that are available to you, in school and in the community. I took beginning, intermediate and advanced acting, improvisation, singing (both in college and private lessons), dancing, television acting, pantomime (which outdates me, no longer a popular performance), and as a theatre major did a lot of practicums and mostly work in the community and some of it for pay. My college was very heavy on theatre literature, theatre history and tech so I took many of those courses, too, including playwriting for a year. This all gives one insight about the career.
What triggered my love for acting was watching movies and television, actors and actresses, during my childhood and thinking "that's what you do when you grow up !" I participated in the shows in elementary school and a variety show that a classmate friend and I put together in fifth grade. Then it laid dormant until I was 18 and in college. I was not around actors or the entertainment business, in a small town, an acting desert. As far as special skills, I am basically an actress that sings and I can and have worked with deaf actors and I can portray a deaf character. I have also been an actor standardized patient, portraying illnesses and injuries for medical students during their exams.
The most important advice I can give you is to never compare yourself with anyone else, enjoy each project as you do it and stay in touch with the cast and crew, network heavily in your local theatre/acting community and try not to project how you want your career to go - just let it happen.
I hope this helps and I wish you all good things in one of the best careers you can choose !