How to Break Into Acting

Dan McGowan is a professional actor who makes his home in Denver, Colorado

Breaking into acting is not easy but, with determination, skill and some common sense, it's more possible than most think.

Things You'll Need

• some stage/theater experience and/or stage presence.
• living in or close to a major entertainment market (and, no, Hollywood is not the ONLY possibility!)
• self-confidence and an honest sense of your skills and abilities.
• A realization of what you have to offer agents, producers, directors, etc.

Instructions

1. YOU NEED PHOTOS - most beginners think, or have been told, that you must have professional photographs (that usually cost hundreds of dollars) before you can ever land an agent. This is not true. What you DO need are well-cropped, recent photographs of yourself that highlight at least a 3/4 view of your body. Headshots are fine, too, of course - but try to gather about 4 - 6 photos that represent the full platter of what you have to offer. You might consider gathering a few smiling shots, some serious, character shots (if that is your strong point), glamour (if that is what you portray), etc.

2. GET AN AGENT - Depending on where you live this will be the full range of very difficult to quite easy. In general, the farther away you live from a major entertainment market (ie: Hollywood, New York, Chicago, Denver, etc.) the more difficult it will be for you to not only land an agent, but travel to auditions. So - get to the phonebook or go online and find the 5 - 10 closest commercial/theatrical agencies that are near where you live. If they are close, call them and tell them what you have done - be honest - and what your goals are. In most cases they will either call you in for an interview or ask you to send photos. Agencies get a lot of photos from wanna-be actors and, to be honest, sometimes they get tossed. Usually they get tossed because you have a look that is very similar to others in the agency. If you are a blonde female with blue eyes and a nice figure and great smile in your early 20's, chances are you will be set aside. There are a lot of that "type" out there. This is why it's a good idea to send a FEW shots that show you in DIFFERENT attitudes, etc.

   If you get invited to submit or interview, dress nice but don't overdo it. Take your photos with you and decide ahead of time that you really are good enough to be an actor. Lack of confidence radiates off of people so believe in yourself!

3. AUDTION - Now that you have your agent (congrats!) you will begin going out on auditions. The number one mistake most beginning actors make is they TRY to "act." Don't do that. Totally be yourself. That is what sells. Don't TRY to BE anyone else. If they wanted Julia Roberts or George Clooney they would HIRE those actors. The world does not need another Matt Damon or Jodie Foster. The world needs YOU and what YOU have to offer that is different than any other actor out there.

   If the script (called "sides" in the biz) call for you to be a nervous mother, don't ACT LIKE a nervous mother - or what you THINK a nervous mother should act like... be YOU, be NERVOUS and be A MOTHER. Own that reality. Fake will always show through. If possible, get the lines early so you can try to memorize them. This is not a requirement and most casting directors are fine with auditioning actors holding script in their hands. But, as in any job interview, the better prepared you are the better your chances of landing the gig.

4. LAND THE GIG - now that you've landed the gig, celebrate! Get to the shoot at least 15 minutes early. You want to be relaxed and set a relaxed tone on the set. Remember that you are, often times, nothing more than A PROP. So this is not the time to be a prima donna - just do what the director tells you to do and enjoy the process. Bring a pleasant, fun, enjoyable attitude to the set. Not only does it make thigs easier for everyone but you will be remembered as someone "easy to work with" which gets you more jobs than you might think. And, the opposite is true - if you become known as a hard person to work with, guess what? You won't work. No matter how talented you are. When you become a big star who is able to demand 10 million for a film then you can strut around all you want. But today, you are selling soap and computer disks so just do that and be happy you get paid to act!

Tips & Warnings

• Learn names! Remember names! Producers, directors, make-up people, grips, sound people - everyone! Be friendly, courteous and pleasant to everyone. Nobody is less important than you - make them feel that.

• Be a positive influence on the set. If the director is trying to work with another actor, be quiet. Don't chit chat with other actors. If you must chit chat, get away from the set but close enough to hear if your name is called for your scene.

• Always ASK FIRST before being "creative" with your dialogue or attitude or wardrobe or blocking etc. Most of the time you will be given the freedom you seek, but NEVER just surprise people - especially when the tape/film is rolling. Nothing frustrates directors more than some "creative" actor "trying somehing" on the director's dime. The best policy is to ALWAYS ASK FIRST. And if the director says no, then accept it and do it his way.

• Be ON TIME to everything! Auditoins, fittings, read-throughs, shoots, etc. don't drag in. Rest up the night before. Come ready to shoot!

• Contact your agent and casting directors CONSTANTLY. As hard as it is to believe, sometimes your name won't be the first on their lips - so, make sure you keep in front of them! Call your agent 2 or 3 times a week just to say hello. Send out a monthly letter or promo card to casting directors in your area. Keep yourself in front of these people - don't assume they wake up and rush to the phone JUST for you - they have many other talented people in the agency so make sure you rise to the top as they check the breakdowns (info on what is shooting).

• Don't speak bad about other actors, directors, producers, craft service people, etc. Just don't do it. The temptation is always there to diss other talent - just don't do it. Stand out as someone who never does that.

• Don't upstage your fellow actors. It comes off as pompous and will gain you a negative reputation.

• Don't give up! YOU WILL GET TURNED DOWN A LOT!!! For every 10 auditions you do, you might land one job. For some it will be less, for others more. You will go thru hot times when you land every audition - and you will have dry times when you can't seem to get any acting job. That's the biz - just deal with it. It does not mean you suck as an actor - if you did, your agent would dump you. They want to make money as much as you do and they work on your behalf. Let them do their job and you do your job and it works out great for everyone that way!

Resources

• Screen Actors Guild