Starting an acting career

One of my website visitors to ActingCareerStartUp.com, a 20 year old young man from LA wrote to me to tell me that he read my book, he has read through my site, receive my regular emails and read both my blogs and after that he was hungry for even more help to start his acting career. He said he was hoping that I would come up with something that would take the help I was giving him to the next level. And... I did.






Check it out!

Tony
Fellow Actor and
founder of
ActingCareerStartUp.com
and
ActingCareerQuickStart.com

"I wanna be a famous actor!"

This is the cry of many youngsters who want to start an acting career.
There's nothing wrong with it. This video from ActingCareerStartUp.com
will make you think about it in a different way. Check it out.

For information about what the real first steps are to starting an acting career, visit www.actingcareerstartup.com/acting-career-research.html.

I signed up for background work, but they're not calling me

QUESTION: I signed up with an agency in Toronto for background work, but they aren't calling me. Do you know why not?

ANSWER:

If you signed up with that agency for background work, they would know if there is any available. You would have to contact them directly and ask. If they are not calling you, there is a reason. It could be that there is no work for your type, maybe no films are shooting or your headshot and resume are not sufficient or haven't been received. Try and understand why you are not being contacted. BUT, first let some time pass. You should wait at least a few weeks. And then, the question is, "What's your plan for keeping in touch with them?"

http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/marketing-for-actors.html

Good luck to you!

Advice for mothers of child actors

QUESTION: Do have advice for the mothers of child actors?

ANSWER:

The more I do what I'm doing here on ActingCareerStartUp.com, the more I realize that these young kids who come here to visit need the support of their parents. That's one of the reasons why I put together pages like these:
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/child-actor.html
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/acting-career-research.html

I am just about finished building a home study program in which I will walk new actors and their parents through the steps I believe are necessary to be successful. It will be ready soon. If you agree, I will put you on the list so you can see what it is like.

Also, you might find these two video interviews helpful that I did with a youth talent agent and a teen acting teacher, both in Hollywood:

http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/youth-talent-agent.html
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/young-actor%27s-studio.html

And finally, have a look at this page:
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/how_to_become_an_actor.html

I hope this helps. Would love to know how and if this information is helpful to you and/or what other type of information you would find helpful. Thank you and good luck with your child actor!

What should I be doing to start my acting career?

QUESTION:

What advice can you give me with regard to starting my acting career to make sure of having a good chance of succeeding?

ANSWER:

My best advice is that you do research, so that you really and truly understand what you are getting yourself into. Start here.

http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/acting-career-research.html

I've been answering this question for the last three years and I realized that the best possible answer I could give is what I have just created. It's a home-study course that goes over 24 weeks and that, with videos of me explaining and showing new actors EXACTLY what they need to do and EXACTLY HOW TO DO IT. It is designed to have people already working as actors even before the course is finished. It will be ready in about two weeks. I'll put you on the list so that you know when it's ready.

I hope this has helped you.

How can I get Disney Channel auditions?

QUESTION: How can I get Disney Channel auditions?
And can I attend them if I am from another country?

ANSWER:

I believe that any nationality can attend auditions,
but you would have to check directly with the Disney people.
In addition, in order to work in the U.S., even as an actor
you need to be 'legal' and have a certain type of visa.
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/usa-visitor-visa.html

If it's Disney you want then have a look at this page. Maybe you already
saw it. This is my arsenal of information around Disney Channel auditions.
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/disney-channel-auditions.html

Also, you might want to think about this. I would advise you to set up a series of things you want to accomplish in LA when you are there and not just go for one Disney audition. Why do I say that? Because not just for you, but for all of us actors the chances of booking a job when there are thousands of people like you who want the same thing is very low. That's just the way it is. So if I were you, I would not put all my eggs in that basket.

You also mentioned that you will have "completed" you acting classes. I'm not sure how many classes you have taken, but studying to perfect your craft is something you are never finished with.

And lastly, think about your look, your accent (if it is different from an American accent) and what the Disney people are looking for right now in the way of casting. In other words, do you look like you would fit into some of the Disney programs you would like to be on? Do you speak like an American? If not, are you able to turn your accent on and off when you want? Have you learned how to do that? And how much do you know about what the Disney people are looking for? What kinds of types, people, kids are they casting for at the moment and for which shows? What kind of roles? What is your type?

Do you have your marketing materials up to date? Do you have a professionally done headshot that is like a headshot that casting directors in LA would be looking for? Is your resume formatted properly according to LA standards?

While you are there, could you take some other classes, try and get an agent? Do you know how to go about doing that? Are you familiar with LA and aware that you will need a car to get around? Do you have enough money set aside to be able to concentrate on your acting career fully for at least a year without having to work? What is your budget breakdown like? In other words, how much have you budgeted for your entire trip?

There are so many questions to ask Peace and so much to prepare. I think I gave you this page link, but here it is again:
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/acting_classes_in_the_usa.html

How can I make money to pay for acting classes?

QUESTION:

How can I make money to pay for acting classes? I'm looking for residual income opportunities.

ANSWER:

I can highly recommend your having a look at this video. It could literally change your life. Have a look at this page and then the video:

1. How to make money to pay for acting classes.

2. The system I used to build ActingCareerStartUp.com that is rapidly approaching 100,000 visitors per month now at the beginning of 2011.

Good luck!