How to make the leap from amateur theatre to TV

Ever wanted to step off the amateur theatre stage and into the loving arms of an Agent, Producer and hit TV series? Helen McFarlane, Australian actor, spoke to me about what she did and why.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Courage
• Persistence
• Networking savvy
• Acting skills

1. Begin by joining an amateur theatre group that offers you training. Helen says "I started in amateur theatre at the Oxford Children’s Theatre which was a training theatre for young actors".
2. Discover and perfect the art of 'being there'. Helen says "Live in the moment as a character; it’s the difference between good and bad acting and it took me a while. Before I learnt how to do it I was acting – acting; ouch!"
3. Find a professional gig, this will enable you to attract an Agent. Helen says "I was lucky enough to get a job in a national touring puppet theatre after finishing up at ‘The Oxford’ and this was the professional job I needed to be able to score an agent."
4. Then network; contact people, make industry friends , go to events, get your name out there - encourage your Agent to have you at the forefront of his or her mind ... this will take effort and hard work. If you succeed, it will pay off. Helen says "The first big thing was a TAC ad – I thought it would lead to much bigger things – sadly it didn’t really. That’s one thing about this industry it really is all about who you know – networking is vital".
5. Finally if you consistently network and develop your craft, your dream will be realised - but only if the market is there for you. Helen says "Go to the UK or USA there is more work there. In terms of professional theatre, the way into it for me was through people I knew … again, you must network in this industry."

Tips & Warnings

• Become a networking guru - talk to people about your dreams, where you see yourself next and make yourself available for THEIR next fabulous new project
• Develop your craft, practise being 'in the moment' that's what method acting is all about. Study this carefully and make it work for you.
• Find supportive friends and family, there will be many rejections. Each one leading to a final acceptance and it's nice to have someone to lean on a little.
• Accept that you may not become famous - but you may have great fun in the process!
• Find a mentor, an acting coach or a famous friend - have aspirations and dreams
• Don't listen to nay sayers; they don't have your courage or your dreams
• Don't be afraid to ask
• Don't take criticisms to heart - everyone has their own opinion, some right some wrong
• Don't think you have failed if you don't make it onto a big time TV show, it's all about the process and having fun. You never know, you may meet your soul mate, a life long friend and have life changing experiences along the way.