I want to pursue a career in acting and would love to be known, how do i start? and where do i find an agent?

Question

im not sure on how to pursue my dream, i live in a small area in australia where i havnt seen anyone become really famous and i would love to be known, i love acting and would want to know where to find an agent or company to help me.

Answer 1

Well, I'd say you're from the right nation--if the acting skills of Kidman, Jackman, and others are any indication.  I think you Aussies have something in your water...

Anyway; acting careers almost never involve fame.  Yes, we all know the Jackmans and Kidmans, but for every one of them there are 10,000 actors who are laboring in minor roles, walk-on parts, the occasional commercial and once in a while a speaking part on TV.  And those people love what they do and it pays well enough.  Then for every one of them, there were 100 others who started out to be professional actors but got discouraged and took their fall-back option.

What you're going to have to do is to educate and train yourself as well as you can--in your small area, your best options probably involve going to library and borrowing books about acting (I recommend Uta Hagan, Robert Lewis, and 'An Actor Prepares' by Stanislavski for starters)--also videos about acting--and do the exercises in them regularly, as Lewis says, these exercises for the actor are like playing scales are for a musician.  Also read about show biz in general, and lots of plays (starting with the classics--ask your librarian if you don't know what the classics are).

And if there are any little amateur community shows or school plays, get into them--if you can't land a role, volunteer backstage.  All experience is good experience.

When you are able, you'll need to move to a metro center where there's a big theatrical industry (Sidney, for you?).  Once there, get a gruntwork job that will pay the bills while you seek formal acting instruction in the best professional workshops and studios that will take you, and hit as many auditions as you can, including amateur productions and the rare professional shows that open auditions to the public.  As you immerse yourself in the theatrical scene, you will network with others who know about show biz and will be willing to help you learn how to find auditions and how to build your career.  Show biz is people biz, so keep professional, keep a positive attitude, be easy to work with, and keep honing your skills.  Those who persist longest and get rejected the most are the ones who make it.