New to acting, need advice!!! - Actors Forum is the Community to Talk, Learn and Study Acting.

GREGTAP · 03-12-2006, 10:01 AM

Hello,

I will try to give you the readers digest version. Well, after 27 years, I finally took a big step in taking acting classes. And just what I had feared, I love it. If only I pursued it sooner. But, these last years were very rewarding with school in a sense that I gained a better understanding of the world, and people, all which I could draw from a series of emotions that I have experienced including being lonely, happy, sad, just to name a few. I really want to pursue this seriously. Go figure, I will be finished college in May, but I realize that I have to do what makes me happy, despite how far fetched it may seem. Besides, their are tons of actors who didnt start till their mid twenties. I think I have a raw talent that could be shaped. This has been afirmed by my acting teacher and many in the class, who were surprised that I have no prior experience. What do yo advice. I am not vain, but based on what males and females tell me, spaning from all parts of the globe, I would consider myself above average for looks, and fairly smart. I know I am just one in a pool of millions, but subtle hints over the years suggest that this may be my calling. Thanks

Light · 04-04-2006, 09:43 PM

My advice? Go for it.

This bull**** about people saying millions of actors...it's...well...bull****. Most of these people who claim to be actors are people who happen to live in New York or Los Angeles, who have a headshot or something, smoke weed all day long, and have as good of a chance of getting cast as Jimbo Jimmy Jim-Jim who lives in Montana and has never taken an acting class in his life.

The biggest audition I ever went to (professionally) was 25 people. That's it. Not millions. You think you have the talent, you think you have the looks...then first off all the last people who's aproval you should be looking for are some folks on the internet, and second of all you shouldn't care what ANYONE says. You want to do it, really want to do it? You willing to not hold down a job in exchange for an audition...you willing to eat rice patties and PB&J for a week...you willing to wait, scratch, claw, and work your way up to a point were you act for a living? Then what does it matter what we or anyone else says. Do what your heart tells you to do. If you REALLY feel this is your calling, you'll go...and either you will make it or you will over time discover this isn't for you, either way, what is the worse that could happen? You waste a few days, weeks, months, maybe even a few years trying to do something you want. At the end if nothing else you have some fun stories to throw around the office and tell the kids. Go for it if you really are passionate about it, and to hell what anyone else says.

carcmrossi · 07-27-2006, 04:25 AM

ammmmmmeeeeennnnnnnn

SWK78 · 07-27-2006, 12:44 PM

I so agree with Light, you apparently LOVE the acting....so got for it, step in the doors that are open to you and cast open a couple hundred more. Ive had lots of negative criticism over the years for my career choice, but acting and writing and directing are my calling. and i am doing what i love. thats the important thing. there are always people that say "i want to be rich and famous" and those are the ones that will NOT go far, because they're only in it for the money. You have to love acting to get far with it and become great. But hey man, Im totally for it. Get in the acting pool and get yourself in some auditions! Get the breakthrough role of your dreams. But you're not gonna get it sitting on your butt!!!

So go out there and make it happen!

SWK78

Living the dream · 08-06-2006, 09:07 AM

im having the same problem of self doubt.i dont believe in myself enough to take such a huge leap.i need a back up plan.i know it doesnt say much of who i am but hey thats just me... its who i am!what im afraid of is that acting wont work out and then i will have waisted my life persueing something which was out of reach.im still in high school here in ireland and still dont know what to do.will i go to college or head straight to LA.??i wud love to study acting studies in trinity college but im consumed by self doubt!! the old problem of needing a back up plan is back again!! so what im considering doing is getting a degree in english literature and philosophy so as to have something to fall back on.whilst getting my degree i wil join the acting society there and hopefully do a summer course at RADA.then i will move to america,without any worries because i will always have my degree to fall back on. i know a lot of you reading this will probably think that my heart isnt in acting but thats not true!! i have never had the confidence to do anything without the guarantee that it will work.so has any1 any advice!!

SWK78 · 08-06-2006, 09:37 PM

a backup plan is never a bad idea. you're afraid to fail. i know i am too. im 17 and im still just writing screenplays and novels without any attention and no publications. backups are good. and you're still going to go for the acting dream. this setup sounds like it could prove prosperous. BUT. if while your in an acting group, and you perform something and you are seen by some big-body to do a paying gig, but maybe it will interfere with that college backup plan....You must be ready to say no or yes. Opportunities CAN come knocking but sometimes you must find the opportunities for yourself instead of waiting for them to crawl to you......

SWK78

Living the dream · 08-09-2006, 04:17 AM

Thanks.But what im afraid of then is that i will let crucial years go by.years where i could be trying to get my big break.im constantly changing my mind as to whether i should get a back up plan or just persue my dream straight away!!

SWK78 · 08-09-2006, 09:04 AM

Ok I'll tell you what i want to do. I want to go straight for it. i dont want to go to college, but my mum is making me. Because like you said, we never know when our big break may come. But since my mum is making me go to college, I shall be majoring in the Arts [Drama and Art]. College, then, actors always need to experience new things, and this opportunity could add to that. Experiencing new things, and being exposed to new ideas.

Personally I say though, that your big break only comes but maybe once if ever, college is always there. So, by that, which would you choose? See what i mean?

Well, so as i said a back-up is never a bad idea, but it can be the factor that you have to choose between finishing your education or going for the big time if you're discovered. I would go for teh latter, because acting opportunities never stay there forever, college does. You can always get into a college, you cant always have the acting opportunities, because if you pass it up, execs will go to the next actor in line.

Acting is your passion i can see, make the right decision. Im not trying to tell you what to do, but we actors and filmmakers must make decisions that are crucial in our lives and choices that some of our relatives or friends may look down upon. If you anger a friend or family member in your decision, i advise you to pay no mind to them. They should not try to divert you from what you want in this life. Do what your heart and your soul tells you...... Listen to it.

SWK78

cenobitehell · 08-10-2006, 04:27 AM

i do agree you should go and act when you can. dont wait until you can.

i left school after studying drama, and didnt have the confidence to do more. i went onto college to become a graphic designer. which i really really enjoyed. and it got me working with some famous organisations, (jim henson workshop etc). but then i moved to ashton, then i got a job in a hospital, then i got a bar. and its only recently ive had enough tim eto live it . ites been nearly ten years and i so regret no doing it sooner. but i had so much going on in my life.

im glad now i have enough time to pursue it, even though i have so many people who are important in my life who are are trying to put me off. i dont know why.

but ive done so much work in the past 6 months, im really glad about it. nothings gonn astand in my way this time

adrian1lj23 · 08-20-2006, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GREGTAP

Hello,

I will try to give you the readers digest version. Well, after 27 years, I finally took a big step in taking acting classes. And just what I had feared, I love it. If only I pursued it sooner. But, these last years were very rewarding with school in a sense that I gained a better understanding of the world, and people, all which I could draw from a series of emotions that I have experienced including being lonely, happy, sad, just to name a few. I really want to pursue this seriously. Go figure, I will be finished college in May, but I realize that I have to do what makes me happy, despite how far fetched it may seem. Besides, their are tons of actors who didnt start till their mid twenties. I think I have a raw talent that could be shaped. This has been afirmed by my acting teacher and many in the class, who were surprised that I have no prior experience. What do yo advice. I am not vain, but based on what males and females tell me, spaning from all parts of the globe, I would consider myself above average for looks, and fairly smart. I know I am just one in a pool of millions, but subtle hints over the years suggest that this may be my calling. Thanks

if it makes you happy and you love i dont see anything that should stop you from doing it and yeah a lot of actors start in there mid twenties and looks shouldnt be what youre supposed to be concerned about if you love this craft its more of your knowledge about the craft and developing and honing your tools as an actor even if you dont get into big time films or movies theres alway the theater which is also a good place to hone ones skills good luck to you and your acting career.