How to become an actress?,

Hi there how do become a actress ?

i've been wanting to to acting classes,
for quite some time i want to start small & work my way up.

need advice thanks

Rain,

Like it's been explained more times than we can count, you have to work hard. Do some acting classes, or a theatre course at uni, work with amateur companies, volunteer for professional ones or at festivals, get yourself an agent, and just try, try, try.

hi, well first u need to find urself an agent. i suggest Actors Management. The agent there is Nereda. She's really nice and friendly. the number is 9322 6499. it is in King Street, Perth.

you will also need to put together a resume of all the work you have done and all the training. if you havnt had either, then thats fine. everyoen starts somewhere.
good luck. xxx

It's funny, I heard a professional actor once say that he ended up firing his agent, because he wasn't getting parts he wanted. This isnt to say the agent was bad at their job, but rather that agents often suggest certain people on their books for certain jobs - generally because of looks, their abilities, etc. But he found that he wasn't exploring all areas of his abilities (or testing new areas), and getting typecast a bit. So he fired his agent, and found that he had no trouble getting offers for work. In fact, he said it was the best thing he'd done for his career. This guy is fairly well known, and I was just wondering if anyone out there has had a similar experience, and if this only works for already known actors. I mean, is it always necessary to tell aspiring actors to find an agent, if there is a perfectly legitimate (and maybe more slightly difficult, but nevertheless do-able) alternative?

Just wondering... (not being an actor myself...)

na wrote:
>
> is it always necessary to tell aspiring
> actors to find an agent, if there is a perfectly legitimate
> (and maybe more slightly difficult, but nevertheless do-able)
> alternative?


I worked constantly in Perth for four years (age 19-22) before I got around to thinking about getting an agent.

Now that I have one, I still find I get more than 75% of my work myself. I find I can keep tabs on most of the theatre opportunities and a lot of jobs I get by word of mouth. But the agent gets me opportunities in radio, TV, film and interstate auditions that I would never otherwise have access to, because these organisations only approach agents.

It probably doesn't really make a lot of sense to leave an agent unless you're thinking of employing another one in its place. There's nothing stopping you from seeking the work yourself, in fact you pretty well have to do that anyway...but why not have the added bonus of someone else seeking for you as well? The agent is going to have access to a lot of stuff that you wouldn't normally get near. They have always been well worth the commission they charge whenever they can secure me extra work.

Cheers,
Craig

PS. I still haven't figured out how to become an actress..

Craig,

Your topic has sort of inspired me,
I wanna ask you something, how does an actor get an agent? where does one have to go?
If you could let me know i'd appreciate it
cheers
Dave

G'day David

Depends on where you live....I am in Perth and there are only a handful of agents I know about. I'm with Actors Management.


First step - look up an agent in the phone book or get a reference from another actor...or check the MEAA website www.alliance.org.au for a list of reputed agents.

Second - ring around. Different agents have different services. Some are mainly concerned with models and TV commercial talent, some cast extras, some handle film and TV or radio commercials, or theatre, only some handle everything. Some represent kids as well as adults, or some only want to have a certain number of each age bracket on their books. And they will have different procedures in recruiting new talent.

Some agencies already represent so many actors that they will be selective in who they agree to represent. This may involve an audition, or showing them a CV or showreel of work or inviting them to see you perform. If you look like Brad Pitt but they already have 12 on their books they're not going to be as interested in you...their first priority is representing existing clients. But if you have a certain look or have certain skills, you may be an asset for them to have on their books.
Also, some don't want to invest their time sending you to auditions if they don't feel you meet a minimum standard.

But even though some of them will be screening YOU, remember that in the end you are employing THEM. So you need to be clear in what you require, what you are prepared to do, and what you expect from them.
If you already have a relationship with a director who often asks you to work for them, you might want to stipulate with your agent that they don't receive commission from this work in future...because you would have gotten it anyway. Or perhaps you don't involve your agent in work that you find yourself. (However I often find, even with work I've sourced myself, that I prefer my agent to handle negotiations for wages, times of work, contracts, etc. So I'm happy to pay a commission even on some work I probably would have landed without them). There might be certain work you DON'T want to take, or you may only be available at certain times...or you may want help in pushing your career into a new area. A good relationship with your agent can be very valuable.


Most agents will help you with things like getting professional photos or showreels/voicetapes, and this may cost you...but I would be avoiding anyone who charged a compulsory joining fee. As a general rule the agent negotiates your fee for a job and then takes about 10% as a commission. So they get paid AFTER they find you work.
However, there are obviously administration costs involved in keeping you on their books, telephoning you and lining up auditions, etc, so some can justify charging a bit extra for the work they do on your behalf...even if you aren't passing the auditions and earning them any income. Some agents charge a higher percentage on some jobs (notably TV and radio commercials...maybe 12 or 15%) which compensates them for this. Be wary if you are being asked to pay anything when you're not being sent to auditions...

But a good agent will often be working on your behalf even if you don't finally hear of it. My agent has often done a fair bit of legwork, sending photos, matching me onto lists that casting directors send them, and trying to get me a job even though eventually the director decided I didn't look right so I was never even called about an audition. Occasionally they have done this work and have lined me up a job that I don't even need to audition for.

All of these things need to be thought about and discussed with your agent. Communicating both ways is very important. You need to let them know when you are available or not, and they need to know all of your marketable skills. Hopefully they will be someone who you personally get on with, and can work together well with.

Third - see them personally and talk more about all of the above. You don't need to stick with the same agent forever (maybe you agree to a 6-12 month trial period?)... but it helps if you're happy with the choice you make right from the start.



Cheers
Craig

craig,

thanks mate for all the info, i appreciate it!!
cacth ya later :)

im doing a report in school about a job i am interested in.Im interested in being an actress give me all information like salary are there collage requierments what are other requierments is there a dress code if so what does it look like what supplies do i need what are the hours?
thanks
sincerly
need
info

Read up an all the previous posts, cause there's heaps of advice out there. You can find the standard industry pay rates at MEAA (Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, the industry union), www.meaa.com.au.

There are no necessary college requirements, but doing courses and classes not only give you formal training, but good experience, and show that you're interested. While it's not necessary to do it, it is a good idea, and certainly won't hurt. Having said that, most directors and producers, etc, seem to prefer actors with formal training.

There are no dress codes, as acting requires costumes! However, when going for an audition, it's a good idea to go in comfortable clothes so you can do warm-ups, activities and so forth. Don't go too slobby, but be ready to do physical stuff. When going to rehearsals, again go in comfortable clothes. For performances, obviously you can wear what you want, as once you get to a venue, you will have to wear a costume. In some companies (fringe groups and co-operatives) it is okay to arrive in costume, as often fringe shows rely on their own wardrobe, rather than a costume department.

Supplies for actors range from scripts and industry books, to having a bottle of water during rehearsals, to props (if brought from home), and many other things. A pencil and some paper is always a good idea for taking notes, as is a plastic folder to keep your script and notes in. Generally, bring what you need - food, water, phone, etc. If there is anything specific to the show that you need to bring, the director or stage manager will inform you.

Finally, the hours all depend on what kind of company you are working with and what they expect. Large companies can offer set hours, as they will pay you based on the hours you work. During the rehearsal period you can expect to work during the day, but also in evenings. During performance, you will have to work during the evening, and during the day if there are matinees.

For smaller companies (fringe groups, co-operatives, amateur, etc), you will generally rehearse in the evenings, or whenever people are available. Again, during the performance, you will work at night, and also during the day if there are matinees. You are more likely to work during 'after' hours (5 pm - evening) with these smaller groups.

Because of the nature of the business, expect to work on holidays, public holidays, during school breaks. And there are no set hours (business hours for most companies are 9am-5pm, in theatre, you perform at whatever time is available in the venue, and whatever time is good for an audience).

Hope all that helps.

Na

Hi guys,

I'm very glad to hear that this is being discussed, as it is one of the topics 'do you need an agent to get work as an actress/model' which we are going to cover in a current affairs program which we are putting on Channel 31 that will regularly go to air in melbourne in a couple of months time. If any of you are interested in being interviewed on the subject for the program, and live in Vic, be sure to post me an email.

Cheers,
Tash

When are you interviewing?

How can i become an actress? I have been wanting 2 become and catress since i was 5, when i saw Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen on t.v. I'm now 14 and i wanna start on the big screen as soon as i can.


thanx......~Moe~

Hi,

i was wondering if anyone new the correct courses involved in becoming an agent, as well as how to get your foot in the door.
I would love to be an actress but everyone needs to have a back up career and i figure i cant be an actress why not try and make someone elses dreams come true.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Kayla

There is an old adage that covers most of the esquires about agents1

‘Get yourself an Agent, and stop handling yourself’
I hope this helps!
Chookas

TO NATASHA.when you know of the date that the program will be aired can you please email me or post it on this site, i live in melbourne and am one of thoes people who is looking for work but without an agent.- jenniferh@bigblue.net.au

i really want to be an actress and go on tv shows .e.g neighbours,home and away i need help please email me thanks heaps p.s im 14 years old...

Hi, i'm sarah..i realy want to be an actress and go on tv show... i have been wanting become an actress since i was 8,now i'm 13..i wanna start on the tv as soon as i can....



thanks,
Sarah...

hey, my name is Jess and i really want to be on tv or in a movie even as an extra it doesnt matter...if i have to start small then i will. Can you please email me back with some details. i would also like to do this without an agent. Thanks so much.

If young girls and boys keep posting these sorts of messages, without reading the hundreds of OTHER helpful posts on this site first, then nobody will read these, and nobody will help anybody else.

There's plenty of helpful information on this site, please do a search, and read the others.

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