4 answers
Milo
Student
1
Question
Asked
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How could I break into the acting industry in highschool?
Hello! I’m a Highschool theater student and I was wondering how or even if I could go into the big time acting industry in highschool! I think I’m ok at acting so maybe it’s possible!
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4 answers
Jennifer Jackson
31
Answers
Updated
Jennifer’s Answer
Hi Milo,
It is wonderful to see young individuals with such passion and drive for the arts.
One of the first steps I would recommend is to explore opportunities within your school. I suggest you check to see if your school has a theater group or film group where you can gain hands-on experience and develop your skills. Being a part of such groups can provide you with valuable exposure to the world of acting and help you build a strong foundation in the field.
Additionally, I would advise you to participate in acting workshops, classes, or summer programs that are specifically designed for young aspiring actors. These programs can offer you the chance to learn from experienced professionals, own your craft, and network with others who share your passion.
It is also important for you to start building a portfolio of work. Start going to audition for school plays, local theater productions, or student films to gain practical experience and showcase your talent. Having a portfolio of your performances can be beneficial when you starts applying for acting opportunities in the future.
Furthermore, I would recommend that you research reputable acting schools or programs that offer formal training in acting. Attending a respected acting school can provide you with the necessary skills, knowledge, and connections to pursue a successful career in acting.
Lastly, I would emphasize the importance of perseverance, dedication, and hard work in the pursuit of a career in acting. I encourage you to stay focused on your goals, continue to practice and improve your craft, and never give up on your dreams.
I hope these suggestions are helpful in guiding the you on your journey to becoming an actress. Please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions or need additional advice.
Warm regards,
Jennifer
It is wonderful to see young individuals with such passion and drive for the arts.
One of the first steps I would recommend is to explore opportunities within your school. I suggest you check to see if your school has a theater group or film group where you can gain hands-on experience and develop your skills. Being a part of such groups can provide you with valuable exposure to the world of acting and help you build a strong foundation in the field.
Additionally, I would advise you to participate in acting workshops, classes, or summer programs that are specifically designed for young aspiring actors. These programs can offer you the chance to learn from experienced professionals, own your craft, and network with others who share your passion.
It is also important for you to start building a portfolio of work. Start going to audition for school plays, local theater productions, or student films to gain practical experience and showcase your talent. Having a portfolio of your performances can be beneficial when you starts applying for acting opportunities in the future.
Furthermore, I would recommend that you research reputable acting schools or programs that offer formal training in acting. Attending a respected acting school can provide you with the necessary skills, knowledge, and connections to pursue a successful career in acting.
Lastly, I would emphasize the importance of perseverance, dedication, and hard work in the pursuit of a career in acting. I encourage you to stay focused on your goals, continue to practice and improve your craft, and never give up on your dreams.
I hope these suggestions are helpful in guiding the you on your journey to becoming an actress. Please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions or need additional advice.
Warm regards,
Jennifer
Deborah Unger
actor
9
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Deborah’s Answer
Study and practice your craft as much as you can. Check community theaters. Are there TV shows or films being shot where you live? Do some research and see if there are casting directors who work in your region. Talk to people who are in the industry to get advice. Most of all, never stop studying or looking for opportunities to be seen.
It is hard work so loving your art is important. Find others like you and combine resources. And don't be afraid to create your own content.
Best of luck!
It is hard work so loving your art is important. Find others like you and combine resources. And don't be afraid to create your own content.
Best of luck!
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1184
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Milo !
It is so great that you are involved in theatre and learning acting right now. You are considering a professional career as an actor at this present time and I can give you some advice that I'd like for you to think about. Since you are a theatre student, you're probably getting feedback from your teachers, too, so that is a very important aspect of learning the skills for acting -feedback and experience.
If you are in high school, you would have to quit school in order to pursue acting professionally full time. You would have to be available all day and everyday for auditions, call backs and projects and you would need substantial experience before reaching the professional level. Also, acting is not something that people "break into", rather you are chosen based on many things. My advice is to stay in school, audition for all the plays and graduate high school. You can then consider taking an academic route, majoring in theater, film or communications with a concentration in Acting. But I would not advise trying out for professional main stream roles while in high school or when you haven't sharpened your skills to the utmost and there is so much to learn. It won't hurt to take it slow.
Something that you can try is perhaps creating a series or any type of video for your own You Tube channel. Some of your fellow classmates may be interested in collaborating with you on this. This will give you experience and an opportunity for people to offer you feedback. The business is not about how good we think we are, it's what others see in us. Also, most people who begin a professional career go where the work is in Los Angeles or New York City and I think it's very important for you to finish high school. You can also get experience in community theatre and local college student films, but you might not get every project you audition for or submit yourself for, so you really have to have a strong understanding and resolve about that.
There are also limitations if you are under 18 years old. The entertainment industry is a business and it will be very daunting for you if you try to start and do not know what the industry people are talking about, so it is a process like any other career. You need to learn the business end too and that will take a lot of reading, meeting professionals and making contacts in the business.
You can also look into summer theatre camps for an experience that will immerse you in acting. There are summer theatre camps all around. Do a search for "Summer Theatre Camps in . . ." and put your town or city in the search. Consider this experience that will boost your acting skills as well as give you more of an awareness of the business.
But do not worry - you have a lot of time ahead of you. I started at 18. I went through a very rigorous program at a University and while I was a college student I had opportunities to act in the community, as an extra as well as did an industrial film and an independent film while I was in college. I had a car and didn't have to work full time. Those are two necessities that enable a person to be able to pursue the career. Transportation and not having full time commitments so that you are available when you are needed. So for these reasons, I say keep doing what you are doing, keep your grades up and think about what you want to do after you graduate high school. Embrace the process and learn as much as you can.
I hope that this sheds some light on the career and I wish you all the very best. Do not give up !
It is so great that you are involved in theatre and learning acting right now. You are considering a professional career as an actor at this present time and I can give you some advice that I'd like for you to think about. Since you are a theatre student, you're probably getting feedback from your teachers, too, so that is a very important aspect of learning the skills for acting -feedback and experience.
If you are in high school, you would have to quit school in order to pursue acting professionally full time. You would have to be available all day and everyday for auditions, call backs and projects and you would need substantial experience before reaching the professional level. Also, acting is not something that people "break into", rather you are chosen based on many things. My advice is to stay in school, audition for all the plays and graduate high school. You can then consider taking an academic route, majoring in theater, film or communications with a concentration in Acting. But I would not advise trying out for professional main stream roles while in high school or when you haven't sharpened your skills to the utmost and there is so much to learn. It won't hurt to take it slow.
Something that you can try is perhaps creating a series or any type of video for your own You Tube channel. Some of your fellow classmates may be interested in collaborating with you on this. This will give you experience and an opportunity for people to offer you feedback. The business is not about how good we think we are, it's what others see in us. Also, most people who begin a professional career go where the work is in Los Angeles or New York City and I think it's very important for you to finish high school. You can also get experience in community theatre and local college student films, but you might not get every project you audition for or submit yourself for, so you really have to have a strong understanding and resolve about that.
There are also limitations if you are under 18 years old. The entertainment industry is a business and it will be very daunting for you if you try to start and do not know what the industry people are talking about, so it is a process like any other career. You need to learn the business end too and that will take a lot of reading, meeting professionals and making contacts in the business.
You can also look into summer theatre camps for an experience that will immerse you in acting. There are summer theatre camps all around. Do a search for "Summer Theatre Camps in . . ." and put your town or city in the search. Consider this experience that will boost your acting skills as well as give you more of an awareness of the business.
But do not worry - you have a lot of time ahead of you. I started at 18. I went through a very rigorous program at a University and while I was a college student I had opportunities to act in the community, as an extra as well as did an industrial film and an independent film while I was in college. I had a car and didn't have to work full time. Those are two necessities that enable a person to be able to pursue the career. Transportation and not having full time commitments so that you are available when you are needed. So for these reasons, I say keep doing what you are doing, keep your grades up and think about what you want to do after you graduate high school. Embrace the process and learn as much as you can.
I hope that this sheds some light on the career and I wish you all the very best. Do not give up !
Ana Josefa Martinez Perea
5
Answers
Updated
Ana Josefa’s Answer
Ana Josefa Martinez's Answer
Hi Milo,
Hello Milo, I advise you to think about what your purpose is and why you want to do it. After this, it is important that you start by developing a business plan. This should include, for example, the name of your project and value proposition, that is, what benefit people will have with what you will do, etc.
From my experience. I worked for more than 10 years as an actress for a publishing house. This publisher sold its encyclopedias in schools, through a Parent School program and had work groups made up of 7 people each. In each group there was a psychologist who gave the lectures, a salesman who offered the encyclopedias in relation to the topic of the family, a coder who arranged the events in the schools and 4 actors.
I was part of the actors and our mission was to act in sociodramas about the theme of family. This was done in the middle of the talk that the speaker was giving. These talks were given in secondary and primary schools to groups of parents who attended Parent School in schools.
Finally the salesperson came in and the four actors acted as sales closers, after the salesperson finished the sales talk.
I hope this is of great help to you, congratulations!
Hi Milo,
Hello Milo, I advise you to think about what your purpose is and why you want to do it. After this, it is important that you start by developing a business plan. This should include, for example, the name of your project and value proposition, that is, what benefit people will have with what you will do, etc.
From my experience. I worked for more than 10 years as an actress for a publishing house. This publisher sold its encyclopedias in schools, through a Parent School program and had work groups made up of 7 people each. In each group there was a psychologist who gave the lectures, a salesman who offered the encyclopedias in relation to the topic of the family, a coder who arranged the events in the schools and 4 actors.
I was part of the actors and our mission was to act in sociodramas about the theme of family. This was done in the middle of the talk that the speaker was giving. These talks were given in secondary and primary schools to groups of parents who attended Parent School in schools.
Finally the salesperson came in and the four actors acted as sales closers, after the salesperson finished the sales talk.
I hope this is of great help to you, congratulations!
Hi Ana, thank you for sharing your story! However, it doesn't directly answer the student's question. Can you please share more about how you got that acting role? Was it your first one? If not, how did find those acting jobs?
Gurpreet Lally, Admin