Things You'll Need:
- Acting Classes
- Resumé software
- Resumé paper
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Step 1
Decide whether you want to be a professional actor (addressed here) or an amateur. If you want to be a professional, read on.
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Step 2
Move to a major city. Eventually, New York or Los Angeles will be your destination, but as you build your resumé of experience you can work in other major metropolitan areas that have good theater or film communities.
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Step 3
Enroll in acting class. Good actors study their entire lives. To choose a good class, ask trusted, successful professionals for references.
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Step 4
Get a headshot (see "How to Get a Headshot," under Related eHows).
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Step 5
Compose a resumé of all the work you have done so far. As your body of work grows, drop the less professional work (such as school plays) from your resumé.
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Step 6
Send your headshot and resumé with a brief cover letter to all the casting directors and agents in your area. Follow up with postcards every four to six months, updating them on your current acting projects.
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Step 7
Read the trade papers regularly: "Backstage," "Dramalogue," "The Ross Reports" and "Variety," as well as online publications such as newenglandfilm.com, as appropriate. Know what is being cast where, and send headshots and notes directly to directors and producers whenever possible, requesting auditions.
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Step 8
Always accept invitations to industry events and parties, and meet industry professionals whenever possible. Who you know is extremely important.
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Step 9
Persevere.
Comments
niiiikki said
on 2/8/2010 all actress and actors go through schooling or professional help on the side even once they are famous. it don't matter if you are rich or a family member of the any famous person it does help but the real out look is it goes oh how good you could act and experince, experince brings you to the professionals you wanna know. all famous stars are always practicing. if you are a great actress they will see that and you will go shooting up but for now you got to go get some training/experince to bulid up a resume/face shot........to go anywhere. Once you get in to a class you'll learn everything from there good luck
avitoots said
on 1/31/2010 I need to throw a little reality into the mix here for discoverme. What you see on the tube or on the screen is a compilation of hours of work on one scene or even a part of a scene. You need to get training and the reason you need to get training is because you need to be able to re-create the same performance 5, 10, sometimes 15 times when filming. I worked on The Express and each short scene filmed 15 times or more. Each take must have the same emotional intensity as the others. You must be able to bring this skill with you on set. There is no time for anyone to teach you. So, take class, audition for school productions, student films, etc. Acting is hard work. The best actors make it look easy but it takes a lot of concentration, skill and energy to make it look easy and believable. It's a rough business to be in. Only 5% (maybe less) of union actors make enough to sup...
discoverme said
on 1/16/2010 dear elliemary14, i feel the same way girl! i have also had no acting experience but if i was given the chance i am pretty confident that i would know what to do. i closely watch actors and actresses in movies all the time and act out thier parts in my room. i really want to be discovered. help me out anyone!
elliemary14 said
on 1/3/2010 please some one help me, ive never wanted something so much before...
elliemary14 said
on 1/3/2010 this is my dream, i really want to be a actress of my own, im 14 and have had no experince, well part from stage coach, but i love acting, im not sure im good at it, but i pratice in my bedroom all the time, and i enjoy acting, any advice people?