Getting Started as an Actor

Video Transcript

"SCOTT DUPONT: Hi. Scott duPont here, producer of "Acting 101," and we're back to talk about how to get started in the business on behalf of Expert Village. Now, break this down into four quick elements here for you. Number one, the first thing you want to do is take some sort of acting classes. Now, you don't have to pay a lot of money. And most markets around the country, they are reputable acting schools. I would suggest talking to former students that have attended one of the acting schools or see if you can audit a class first before you put down your hard-earned money. But a good acting class for 6 to 10 weeks shouldn't cost more than--usually it's going to $250 to $500. Any more money than that, run as fast as you can. Now, the reason you want to get this acting class or acting classes under your belt is you're going to learn some of the basic techniques even on just how to slate, how to actually just do an audition. So when you go out to do your first commercial audition, you're going to have some of this knowledge about camera technique and how to cheat your head to the camera and hitting your mark, just the basic stuff that you really, really need even to go out on audition to look somewhat professional. Now, the second thing is to get started in the business is to go out and do some extra work. And here's two reasons for this and I tell all my friends this. If you want to get in the business, go do extra work, so one of the first thing or second thing you should do. Because if you go on a set for 12 hours, you either love it, which the acting bug bit me and I still love it to this day, or some people don't really like it at all. It's a very slow pace. I'll just be honest with you. And I don't like just sitting around and waiting all the time while all these lights and everything is being set up. So it's a good way, like I said, just to kinda put your foot in the business, not waste a lot of money. In fact, you usually get paid $75 to $125 just for doing extra work. So it's a little extra money while you're getting the experience. Third thing you want to do is you want to try and think of--oh the third one here, sorry about that, is you want to try to go get some experience on a student film or an independent film. I'm guessing in your town if you live near a big city, they have several different colleges, even a community college, which has a film program, and you don't get paid but it's a great way to get experience in the business. Now, the fourth thing you want to do after you're doing those three things. Eventually, you want to get a head shot and you can start out with a black and white like this, which won't cost you too much money. Or if you have a little bit of extra money, start out with or go to a color head shot, which is becoming much more popular. And here is the general premise of the head shot: It should look something like you. You don't want a radically different glamour shot than what you look like because that will really upset the casting director when you walk in the audition or eventually when you try to get an agent. But we will talk more about that, getting an agent, in another segment. So that's it. For more tips check out ExpertVillage.com."