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!

How do I know if an acting school is a good school or not?

QUESTION:

How do I know if an acting school is good or not?

ANSWER:

I never heard of the acting school you mentioned. I did visit their website, however. There is basic information, but difficult to tell if they are a good acting school or not. Try contacting them and setting up an appointment together with your parents or one of them. Make sure you have a look at this page first that talks about how you can choose an acting school that's right for you:
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/acting-class.html

When you talk to them, ask for some names of some of their students that you can talk to privately together with your parents and let your parents and theirs talk too.

Also, here is an interview I did with actor an acting teacher Jeff Alan Lee who has a Hollywood acting school for teens. It might help you in your decision on choosing the right school and help you to understand what you can expect:
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/young-actor's-studio.html

I hope that answers your question.

How do I send mailings to casting directors?

QUESTION:

First of all, great website thanks so much for this info. I would like to sent mailing to casting directors for my two children but now sure what to write in the cover letter. Also is it fine to send to production companies as well or do they get upset. One more question, thanks about the thank you letters never thought of that, but I will get started, is it okay to say something like: Thanks for the great experience it was fantastic meeting you/

Thanks again for all your help!

ANSWER:

First of all, here is a guide that I put together for parents of actors. You might have already seen it, but I'll give it to you again anyway.
Have a look at these two pages:
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/child-actor.html

http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/child-actors.html

Secondly, have a look at this page with regard to cover letters:
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/acting-cover-letter.html

And absolutely yes on sending mailings to production companies! That is something that many don't think of. You can use my 12-Steps for that too:
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/get-a-talent-agent.html

Thirdly, here is a video interview with a Hollywood youth talent agent that you might find interesting:
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/youth-talent-agent.html

Lastly and again with regard to the cover letter, I would say that comments and thank you notes from you are good, which lets casting directors know that your children are well looked after. I would also say, however, that once your children are "old enough", which is something you have to decide, you might want to involve them in these things as well and have certain messages and thank-you's come directly from them. Why? For one it helps them begin to understand what they will have to do for their own careers. Secondly, in the eyes of the casting director I would think that it shows them a certain maturity in the child/teen, which could be an extra added bonus. It might influence them even if just a little bit more than the audition performance that they will be professional once the book the job. That will make the casting director look good in the eyes of the director.

I hope that answers your question.
Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions.

What is the audition process like for actors?

QUESTION:

What is the audition process for actors like from start to finish.

I like the way you think! That's a very intelligent question. I asked this very same question about the audition process five years ago in a question and answer session with a noted casting director in New York.

Last year I went to LA and interiewed a casting director and I asked her the same question. Here is the entire interview for you!
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/casting-director-gabrielle-evans.html

I hope that answers your question.

Good luck!

How can you get auditions without having proper acting training?

QUESTION: Hi I was just wondering, can you get auditions without having proper training as an actor? thanks for your help:)

ANSWER:

You can get auditions without proper training, but there are some things for you to take into consideration. One thing is that in order to be able to do a good job auditioning, you will have to know HOW to audition. Another thing is that unless you are just a natural talent, the casting director will be able to see that you are not trained and if so, there is a good chance you will not be chosen for the job. The third thing to know is that before you get called in for an audition, the casting director will want to see on your resume either that you have experience and/or that you have been training as an actor. If they don't see either, there is a good chance that you won't even be called in for the audition UNLESS it is for an extra job.

Here are more than 20 reasons why you should consider taking acting classes:
www.actingcareerstartup.com/taking_acting_classes.html

I hope I have answered your question.

Good luck!