4 answers
Dewitt
Student
Greensboro, North Carolina
2
Questions
Asked
567 views
Am I wasting my time being at job corps if I want to become a actor
im at job corps trying to get a auto mechanic certification but constantly feel like Im wasting my time on doing something I don't see my self doing for the rest of my life.
I want to be part of the entertainment industry. I also make videos on Tiktok and have 87.k followers on there. I really just want to get to the next level and do something I love instead of feeling like im being trapped and moving away from plan A #acting #job #career
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4 answers
Jan Moore
Business Development Manager
6
Answers
Louisville, Kentucky
Updated
Jan’s Answer
I don't work in neither the auto mechanic field nor the entertainment industry but I do know that 1) the entertainment industry is competitive and may take more time for you to make it and earn enough money to live on and 2) auto mechanics are in high demand. Auto mechanic is a field in which you can branch out on your own after gaining some experience and contacts. Meaning that you could do this on the side while pursuing your acting career.
While I agree that you absolutely need to love what you're doing, you also need to earn a salary while pursuing your dream.
While I agree that you absolutely need to love what you're doing, you also need to earn a salary while pursuing your dream.
Demetrius Mapp
Health and Wellness Engagement Assistant
7
Answers
Roseville, Michigan
Updated
Demetrius’s Answer
Although I am not in the mechanic field or entertainment industry but feeling like you are in a dead end job can be frustrating, but it can also teach you something. Look for things you like about what your doing and why you choose this career to begin with. Write them down, research the field, think about how you can grow your skills and network with others in this field. Look into Mechanical Engineering, the entertainment industry needs people with mechanical skills and this could work in your favor.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
Matthew L. Tuck, J.D., M.B.A.
CEO/Managing Attorney, Greater Detroit Area
64
Answers
Lansing, Michigan
Updated
Matthew L.’s Answer
Hi Dewitt.
Great question. I would echo the answers that Jan and Demetrius provided and add this.
In real life I own a law firm, but my passion (like yours) is more artistic. I love writing stage plays, screenplays and making movies. My law firm job pays the bills and get to write at night and on weekends. I know a number of people in the entertainment industry, including a number of actors. It is very competitive and only the most dedicated and diligent people make it.
It is great that you are getting a real skill (auto mechanic) that is in high demand. There is an old quote that says, "Hollywood is populated by a bunch of waiters, carpenters and drivers who are trying to be actors." So having a skill that can pay the bills while you are finding roles is really important. And with a mechanic job, you could easily work at night and go on auditions all day (one reason there are so many waiters and waitresses in the acting biz).
Becoming a successful working actor is a lot like becoming successful at other jobs. Here are some key components.
1. Work on Your Craft - A key component of being an actor is really working hard on your craft for a long time. Acting is a skill that you can better at. Work on it like it's your job. Not for weeks or months, but for years. You need to get as good at it as you possibly can and then get even better. You can never learn everything there is to know about acting. Learn the business. Understand how plays, movies and videos are produced. Learn to talk the entertainment talk. If you can carry on a two hour conversation with the 3rd assistant sound guy about sound gear or lighting or whatever, he'll remember you as a real industry pro, not some want-to-be. Learn other parts of the process. Practice writing. Direct your own short films with your friends. If you can get almost 100k followers on TikTok, you understand how to tell a story (even a tiny one) and understand how to engage people. You don't need to go to college to be a theatre major, but take classes for sure. There is a science to it all that you need to learn. Many actors also suggest you figure out what your competitive advantage is. If you are going for roles against a bunch of guys that look and sound just like you, the odds are against you.
2. Network Like Crazy - Most of making it big in the entertainment field is based on networking. Work on your network constantly and get good at making and nurturing relationships with people. You never know: that girl you helped work on her fist little student film in North Carolina could be the next writer or director on a $100 million Hollywood movie someday. And she will remember you. Maybe not for her big movie, but maybe for the lead in her best friend's next movie. Network, network, network. Go to industry events. Even if you can't get to Hollywood or New York, there are lots of networking opportunities in North Carolina (or whatever state). Hang out with entertainment people. Get a job as an intern at a local theatre or on an independent movie. You'll learn the business. Go places where you will meet industry people and talk to them. Your generation is lucky because social media makes it much easier to network with people in the industry across the country and around the world. Don't rely on your agent or manager to get you auditions. They have tons of clients who all want work. Make your own work. Get your own auditions. Don't wait for it to come to you. See #3.
3. Develop a Super-Strong Work Ethic - As much as networking, even if you have talent, it's still a numbers game. Actors who make it, don't go on 1 audition a week. They go on 10 auditions a week, or whatever. Go on as many auditions as you can. The chance of landing a role after 1000 auditions is 100 times more likely than if you only go on 10.
4. Set Goals - Set goals for your acting career and meet them. Set goals for auditions you go on. Set goals for acting classes. If you get the lead in a film school short, set your next goal as being a supporting part in a no-budget independent movie, and so on. Always be moving forward toward bettering your craft and getting bigger roles.
5. Act! - Act as much as you can in everything. Student films, improv, stage plays, local commercials, voiceovers, whatever. Learn you craft, but actually practice it every chance you get. Don't worry about getting paid, do it for free.
6. Find a Mentor - Find people who are doing (or used to do) what you want to do. Find out how they did it. What they did, the mistakes they made, what they did right. Find mentors at each stage of your career who are doing (or did) what you want to do.
Think out of the box, too. One of the most important things you should focus on in the entertainment industry is networking and connections. And if you were a BMW or Mercedes mechanic in Hollywood, you likely would meet a ton of (successful) agents, actors, producers, cinematographers, directors, casting agents, etc., etc. And if they like their mechanic who is also an actor, who knows where that could lead? Become a great networker. Average actors get great parts many times as a result of connections rather than talent. That happy BMW owner will pass your headshots or reel to her casting director friends, and so on.
And even if you never make it as an actor, your mechanic skills are your plan B. If you truly hate the work, then you should find another plan B that you like (like welding or accounting or teaching or video editing or writing or whatever), but it's always easier to have a real trade to fall back on. And there are a TON of plan B options that will let you work in the industry and keep a hand in. Become a mechanic who fixes the stunt cars or tanks or motorcycles or whatever. Think outside the box and don't give up. If you truly love it, it will happen.
Practice your craft. Take classes, act as much as possible even for free in every play, student film and no budget project you can. Get really good and then get better.
Develop a super strong work ethic. Go on as many auditions as you can. Then go on some more.
Network like crazy. The guy who wrote the student film you were in 10 years ago could be the next James Cameron or Kevin Smith. And stay in touch with everyone.
Set Goals - When you get a bit part in a play, next time go for the lead. If you go on 3 auditions this week, shoot for 4 next week.
Find Mentors - Find people are are doing or have done what you want to do. Talk to them and find out how they did it. Don't reinvent the wheel if you don't have to.
Great question. I would echo the answers that Jan and Demetrius provided and add this.
In real life I own a law firm, but my passion (like yours) is more artistic. I love writing stage plays, screenplays and making movies. My law firm job pays the bills and get to write at night and on weekends. I know a number of people in the entertainment industry, including a number of actors. It is very competitive and only the most dedicated and diligent people make it.
It is great that you are getting a real skill (auto mechanic) that is in high demand. There is an old quote that says, "Hollywood is populated by a bunch of waiters, carpenters and drivers who are trying to be actors." So having a skill that can pay the bills while you are finding roles is really important. And with a mechanic job, you could easily work at night and go on auditions all day (one reason there are so many waiters and waitresses in the acting biz).
Becoming a successful working actor is a lot like becoming successful at other jobs. Here are some key components.
1. Work on Your Craft - A key component of being an actor is really working hard on your craft for a long time. Acting is a skill that you can better at. Work on it like it's your job. Not for weeks or months, but for years. You need to get as good at it as you possibly can and then get even better. You can never learn everything there is to know about acting. Learn the business. Understand how plays, movies and videos are produced. Learn to talk the entertainment talk. If you can carry on a two hour conversation with the 3rd assistant sound guy about sound gear or lighting or whatever, he'll remember you as a real industry pro, not some want-to-be. Learn other parts of the process. Practice writing. Direct your own short films with your friends. If you can get almost 100k followers on TikTok, you understand how to tell a story (even a tiny one) and understand how to engage people. You don't need to go to college to be a theatre major, but take classes for sure. There is a science to it all that you need to learn. Many actors also suggest you figure out what your competitive advantage is. If you are going for roles against a bunch of guys that look and sound just like you, the odds are against you.
2. Network Like Crazy - Most of making it big in the entertainment field is based on networking. Work on your network constantly and get good at making and nurturing relationships with people. You never know: that girl you helped work on her fist little student film in North Carolina could be the next writer or director on a $100 million Hollywood movie someday. And she will remember you. Maybe not for her big movie, but maybe for the lead in her best friend's next movie. Network, network, network. Go to industry events. Even if you can't get to Hollywood or New York, there are lots of networking opportunities in North Carolina (or whatever state). Hang out with entertainment people. Get a job as an intern at a local theatre or on an independent movie. You'll learn the business. Go places where you will meet industry people and talk to them. Your generation is lucky because social media makes it much easier to network with people in the industry across the country and around the world. Don't rely on your agent or manager to get you auditions. They have tons of clients who all want work. Make your own work. Get your own auditions. Don't wait for it to come to you. See #3.
3. Develop a Super-Strong Work Ethic - As much as networking, even if you have talent, it's still a numbers game. Actors who make it, don't go on 1 audition a week. They go on 10 auditions a week, or whatever. Go on as many auditions as you can. The chance of landing a role after 1000 auditions is 100 times more likely than if you only go on 10.
4. Set Goals - Set goals for your acting career and meet them. Set goals for auditions you go on. Set goals for acting classes. If you get the lead in a film school short, set your next goal as being a supporting part in a no-budget independent movie, and so on. Always be moving forward toward bettering your craft and getting bigger roles.
5. Act! - Act as much as you can in everything. Student films, improv, stage plays, local commercials, voiceovers, whatever. Learn you craft, but actually practice it every chance you get. Don't worry about getting paid, do it for free.
6. Find a Mentor - Find people who are doing (or used to do) what you want to do. Find out how they did it. What they did, the mistakes they made, what they did right. Find mentors at each stage of your career who are doing (or did) what you want to do.
Think out of the box, too. One of the most important things you should focus on in the entertainment industry is networking and connections. And if you were a BMW or Mercedes mechanic in Hollywood, you likely would meet a ton of (successful) agents, actors, producers, cinematographers, directors, casting agents, etc., etc. And if they like their mechanic who is also an actor, who knows where that could lead? Become a great networker. Average actors get great parts many times as a result of connections rather than talent. That happy BMW owner will pass your headshots or reel to her casting director friends, and so on.
And even if you never make it as an actor, your mechanic skills are your plan B. If you truly hate the work, then you should find another plan B that you like (like welding or accounting or teaching or video editing or writing or whatever), but it's always easier to have a real trade to fall back on. And there are a TON of plan B options that will let you work in the industry and keep a hand in. Become a mechanic who fixes the stunt cars or tanks or motorcycles or whatever. Think outside the box and don't give up. If you truly love it, it will happen.
Matthew L. recommends the following next steps:
Thank you some much for your timeeee!! Your amazing I’m so glad I got this message. You helped me visualize my future on what I’m doing next. Never thought about all the stuff you said and now you gave me the knowledge to know what to do next. I promise when I win my Oscar award 🥇 you will be mentioned as the MAN who made this vision for me and encourage me to keep going💯 Because right now I’m at my lowest on becoming actor but u brought it up to a 100% THANKSSS!! Seriously.
Dewitt
So glad you found it helpful! Can't wait to read about you someday soon. Find what you love and come up with a plan to make it happen. You'll be awesome.
Matthew L. Tuck, J.D., M.B.A.
Anthony V. Crivello
With ANTHONY CRIVELLO as LOUIS PRIMA at Hershey Felder Presents: Taylor Hackford's "LOUIS AND KEELY: Live at The Sahara"
18
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Anthony V.’s Answer
What is your passion? Pursue your passion and activities that can propel your passion.
If you also love editing and making TiKTok videos, pursue editing and directing films. Go to a Film Arts college ---CAL ARTS, USC ! Combine that with acting. Act in your own films. If you are close to getting a Mechanic’s Degree/Ceritfication, get it !! BUT AIM HIGHER!! COMBINe YOUR LOVES! Start a TikTok and YOU TUBE series on AUTO MECHANICS starring YOU and POST IT!
Go see “FORD VS FERRARI” and see how your knowledge of cars can SERVE YOU in FILM!
Write and Direct a FILM ABOUT CARS and CAR CHASES! (SEE “FORD vs. FERRARI” Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard’s early films that involved cars and truck chases... and the entire Vin Diesel car series films. Steve McQueen Car chases, See “The French Connection” ... auto stunt work.
You can combine your passions and create a career.
If you also love editing and making TiKTok videos, pursue editing and directing films. Go to a Film Arts college ---CAL ARTS, USC ! Combine that with acting. Act in your own films. If you are close to getting a Mechanic’s Degree/Ceritfication, get it !! BUT AIM HIGHER!! COMBINe YOUR LOVES! Start a TikTok and YOU TUBE series on AUTO MECHANICS starring YOU and POST IT!
Go see “FORD VS FERRARI” and see how your knowledge of cars can SERVE YOU in FILM!
Write and Direct a FILM ABOUT CARS and CAR CHASES! (SEE “FORD vs. FERRARI” Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard’s early films that involved cars and truck chases... and the entire Vin Diesel car series films. Steve McQueen Car chases, See “The French Connection” ... auto stunt work.
You can combine your passions and create a career.