Acting

Acting requires specialized training. Most actors and actresses get into acting by getting involved in theatre, dramas, plays and stage productions. Many actors and actresses also get into acting through an acting coach. An acting coach trains you much like an athletic coach does, except the muscle that is trained is your "acting muscle." You're trained in learning improvisation, cold reading, and acting methods. These are generally the basics for a beginning actor.

Once you get into acting, you will also need to know about the two types of productions that exist for actors and actresses.

There is union work and non-union work. Union work is controlled by the Screen Actor’s Guild and the AFTRA. If you're interested in doing union work you need to be signed on with a Screen Actor’s Guild franchise agent. A quick search on the internet on "SAG Agencies" will give you a list of all the agencies that have access to the current job openings in your area.

For acting work that is non-union related, you can use other methods of searching to find work in your area, such as hiring an agent. If you have an agent, he or she will submit potential acting jobs to you. Job opportunities can also be found on websites such as actingcastingcall.com that include both a job forum and message board.

Your agent will need copies of your resume and your headshot picture.

When you're asked to come to an audition, it's usually conducted at the office of the Casting Director. You'll be reading "sides." A "side" is a small portion of the script. You may be able to acquire these small scripts in advance so that you can practice your acting skills.

Then, during your audition, someone opposite of you will actually act the role out while you read the "side." Be sure to ask the Casting Director what your motivation in the particular session will be so that you can put more of natural talent into it. It will help you to read the lines appropriately. There will be lots of other actors waiting to read for the very same role that you will be reading. Show business is competitive. Once you are done reading, then it's a waiting game. Sooner or later, your agent will call with the news.

Another way to break into acting is to become an extra. Many people make a partial living being an extra in movies or film. Extras are paid anywhere from being a volunteer to $200 a day on most movie sets. You can locate jobs as an extra actor by finding union films.

Below are some tips to get you started from the mere beginner to full time acting:

Join your local speech and drama clubs. If you’re in school, join the theatre. Usually, every major city has a theatre.
Brush up on acting skills – join classes, seminars, and events. Gain as much skill and experience as possible.
Read books – your local library will have books on acting.
Start small – don’t try to go for the big parts when you're just starting out. Ask to be an extra or a stand-in.
Leverage the web. Job opportunities can be found throughout the Internet.

With continued dedication and persistence, you can realize your dream of becoming an actor or actress. It takes hard work and relentless determination, but you know you can do it. The business is extremely competitive and the chances of big success are small - but there is a chance.

Here are some additional resources:

On Camera Acting Intensive
Film and TV acting classes in Vancouver, Canada offered by X-Files actor and feature film director. We work in an environment that is a balanced blend of experimental laboratory and the "on set" experience with some of its technical demands. Practice auditions, scenes, monologues and "cold reads" are extracted from feature films, movies of the week and television episodics.

Casting Audition
CastingAudition.com for castings & auditions is the largest free on-line database for up-to-the-minute industry information. At CastingAudition.com you can get a list of all the auditions that are right for you. Get more casting, auditions & resources than all other sites combined. Actors and models find current castings. Create your online portfolio and be submitted to auditions!

Talent Hunter
Talenthunter.com is a portal whose purpose is to provide talented individuals a chance to be discovered by providing producers, talent scouts, and photographers a vast national searchable database of talent. You can count on us to stay true to our values and fulfill on our purpose.

Learning the Principles of Acting
Enjoy acting! The ABWAG-Man has come to your rescue with a web site that is like an acting manual using a database structure to communicate the feel, think, do technique, along with a resource of plenty of useful tips, helpful definitions and related terms of acting. It's all free to study and no sign-in is required.

The Acting Corp
The Acting Corps believes that the purpose of any Los Angeles acting school should be to offer acting classes that quickly and expertly prepare actors to work in today's film and television industry, end of story. We show our respect to the brilliant early and mid 20th century theatre innovators, from Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler to Sanford Meisner, Uta Hagen, and Michael Chekhov by doing today what they did in their time: The Acting Corps gets actors acting.

Acting On The Web
Learn acting for stage and films. On Line! Today! Acting is there for you. Find out if you are ready? Learn the "acting state of mind." Overcome your acting fears. AOW - Acting Class on line. What we teach really works! Learn how the pros think.

Acting Magazine
Acting Magazine is the first national magazine for actors! ActingMagazine.com, the official website of Acting Magazine, is the website actors turn to for news, casting notices, actor resources, tips and more! Now, reaching Acting Magazine readers is easier than ever.

UCSD Theatre and Dance
The body and mind of the actor are synthesized to serve as an instrument of expression. The actor must depend on his or her instrument to perform, and the program places great emphasis on the strengthening and tuning of that instrument. The innate talent of the student is nurtured, coaxed and challenged with individual attention from an extrordinary team of professionals and specialists in actor training.