Tips to pursue acting on film?

Question

Im 16 and I've taken acting/theatre classes, but want to do more with acting on film. Obviously I could take some film classes but is there anything more that I should do? Also, how do I find auditions and agents? A lot of agents that I find and try are basically scams.

Oh! And also, I've taken piano for around 12 years and violin for around 5...would that benefit me in anyway?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Continue studying acting until you feel confident enough to begin trying to find an agent (TVI studios has some great classes).  Once your ready to begin looking, send your headshot and resume (both up to date) to agencies along with a cover letter explaining why they should set up a meeting with you. You can also go to agent showcases at local acting schools and conservatories. And yes any type of musical and/or dancing skills (such as playing piano and violin) will benefit you and can be listed on your resume under special skills.

Answer 2

If u want to go in this field u are sure too find such scams!!!

cont ur theatre and try to find out some reference of ur know ones some or the othere must be knowing such people.Its very imp in this field!!!!

also try in some talent shows u can find it on net and tv

ur music talent will surely help u

best of luck u will surly get ur dream if ur truly talented

if this helps u then help me out

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 3

I got a best answer for a similar question the last time someone asked what you are asking. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

So here is what I wrote before :

The Hollywood Reporter, Backstage West, Breakdown Services

http://www.sidesexpress.com/se_index.cfm

in regards to what "actress_for_eternity" wrote below :

You don't need experience to find an agent. If an agency or management company thinks a person has potential to be a successful actor, meaning they think the person has a marketable look and appearance that can translate into a paycheck, then the agency will sign the actor and get them into acting classes and other training. Any actor that has been training in acting classes for many years and who still can't find an agent is either :

1) not looking hard enough

or

2) no agency or management company thinks the person has potential to be a successful actor, and thus they don't want to waste their time in trying to promote an actor that nobody wants to hire

You can find out where most of the auditions for commercials, television pilots are being held by looking in the trade newspapers for the television and motion picture industry, trade papers like Backstage West (remember what Eva Mendes's character in "Stuck on You" said?). The city is filled with agents who promise their actors that they will find them work, but most of the actors that I have known said they fired their agents or quit because they were finding more work on their own. Don't pay anyone a dime who says you have to give them money in order for them to represent you, there are a lot of crooks in this business.

You don't need an agent to get work. I've known a lot of people who fired their agents because they were finding more work on their own. Unless you're signed to William Morris Agency, there isn't much out there that you can't find and apply for on your own. There are countless agencies all over Los Angeles, many are willing to sign anyone who is halfway decent looking and has even a chance to make any money. An agency like William Morris is extremely, extremely selective.

It also depends on where you live. If you're already in Southern California then you can get started immediately. If you live out-of-state you might consider moving out here.

Try not to spend too much time on acting classes, I know actors that have been wasting their time for years doing exactly this. You don't need to train for years to be able to land parts, think of all the child and teenage actors out there in commercials, on the WB, and on Disney. Acting classes on a resume mean nothing to casting directors or agents. You could be taking acting classes for 5 years and still completely suck at it if that's just the way it is. Sadly, the struggling actors that I know that have been trying to land a tv sitcom for years with no success, they are the ones who continue to take more acting classes in hopes that it will improve their chances, not realizing that their life and their career's potential are passing them by while they are trying to make big plans for it.

Take some acting classes if you need to, try to get any experience in front of the camera that you can, watch yourself on video and see what you're doing correctly and what needs work. A lot of actors I know will do independent short films as practice, but usually these projects are written and directed in an amateurish style, so it's an uphill battle to even be able to distinguish what you are doing right and wrong in the first place. Pick a favorite movie, and try to act out some of the dramatic scenes in it with another actor, and get someone to videotape it so you can watch yourself and see your own performance. If you were trying to pursue a career as a recording artist, you would want to try to sing already published songs by another artist who's musical genre you want to be a part of. Like if you wanted to make music like Alicia Keyes then you would try to sing some of her songs, have someone record it, and then play it back for you to hear yourself to make sure you are singing the right notes. Don't take too many acting classes continually year after year, do 1 or 2 years of training and practice on your own, develop your own techniques and do what works for you (for example, what helps you to cry on cue), and then after the 1 or 2 years of classes go out there and try to get work, but if you can't get work don't start taking more classes in hopes that you will improve as an actress and that will help you get more parts. If it gets to that point you're probably just looking for someone to blame, I've seen many others do it before. Some people just can't accept that the reason they cannot get parts in commercials, tv pilots, or movies is not because they don't have acting skills, it's simply because they don't have the raw talent, raw talent is basically the look and appearance of the actor. Casting agents, producers, and directors all know raw talent by experience, if they feel an actor is the wrong race, nationality, or is just too plain looking or unattractive, they move on and find someone else. From what I have seen it is more difficult for girls. After about age 30-35 it becomes very difficult for female actresses to find work in starring roles. Their teenage years to their late 20's are their prime working years as actresses, after age 30 they usually just play mothers.

Answer 4

most agents would be at theatre performances so if your good enough they'll find you. also try for short films that might be shown on tele. instruments always help and if all else fail travel to hollywood