do you think i could be an actress?
so here’s the deal. a LOT of background info: i’m a 17 year old girl, mixed race, not bad looking, in california. no professional acting experience, but i have taken drama and theater in 2 high schools and naturally am great at entertaining people. since i was a child, i’ve always had a passion for the art, and always could imagine myself taking on acting as a professional career. i’ve always struggled in school, and only excelled in the “arts”. these past couple months, ive been pressured by my parents on choosing what i want to do with the rest of my life, and ive been looking into underwater photography because im really intruiged by marine life and also would love the adventure. once i saw the requirments for a degree in marine bio., i was completely discouraged, knowing realistically, i’m not the one with the smarts to take that on. im still considering that career though, but not going the extra mile for a degree in marine bio. can dock me point when competing for a job vs. one with a degree. (even though its not required). sooo what should i do? i constantly think about the exciting adventurous life of an actress, persuing my dream an fulfilling my passion with full confidence. but then i think of whats realistic, something more stable. help me please! im very overwhelmed. any advice?
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You have to be fearless & confident in the theatre/film industry!! You have to focus upon your assets & strengths… always be willing to accept constructive criticism. If you have ever heard the saying that nice people don’t make it in this industry, they are wrong! Never be cruel to someone or harm someone just to better yourself because you won’t.
Pray to God! He provides & blesses… ask Him to help you to fulfill your dreams! He will! No matter what, He will… if you feel very strongly that you should be an actress, then pray that He will help you to achieve this!
Be yourself!! Practise accents, monologues, & have headshots of you captured by a photographer to begin your resume. Find an agency!! Always have a monologue memorized because at any moment, you can be called to audition. Always practise your speech talent… speak clearly, enunciate! In the theatre, you must be very theatrical & dramatic with your expressions. But, in film, you can be more natural. Remember that!!
As an actress, you must be passionate about all you do!
Something that I do to practise is by taking bits & pieces out of films, plays, & books, then I recite them by myself over & over till I find the perfect balance in the words…till I find myself in the words. You must learn to become your character <3
Be confident & fearless, pray, put your dreams into action by finding an agency & practising, & never forget your dreams! No dream is too wild to be fulfilled so long as you trust in God, believe in yourself, & follow your heart.
Always remember that in order to play someone else, you must first find yourself. Never lose yourself just because you have to become another character... find YOURSELF in the CHARACTER.
Never be set on one thing... you'll be bored... be passionate about many things <3
Don't worry about the stability in life!! Go for the adventure & the excitement!!
Jesus didn't die upon the Cross to have you let your dreams pass you by... He died so that you could live the life you want!! He will help you!!
Good Luck!! & I'll be praying to God for you!
P.S. There are websites where you can post your resume for free & it is very safe. A reputable site is http://www.newfaces.com.
Also, you can take private drama lessons to help you to free your inner passion & spirit!!
I’m sure it’s really overwhelming! I’m majoring in musical theatre in college, and trying to figure out what I’m going to do when I get out of school is very stressful!
What I’m trying to do right now is have backup plans, so if i’m not a successful actress, my life isn’t over! Try to find as many things that you enjoy doing as possible– any one of those could become a career in the future!
I’m so sorry this is really stressful– I know it’s tough!!
I have confidence that you will make the right decision… and remember, decisions can always be changed! You don’t have to figure out your entire life tonight or tomorrow or even next year… all you can do is make the choice that seems best at the moment, and see what happens!! <3
Well, the one who said that Jesus will provide you a successful acting career may be overly optimistic. He may, yes, nevertheless, “many are called, few are chosen.” There are a great many homeless people on the streets of Hollywood and New York who dreamed of an acting career and loved the Lord and prayed for that “big break” ignoring all else. And there are a few, very few, of those who made it.
I am all for positive thinking and belief. It is important to believe in your passion, your dreams, etc. Still, being an aspiring actor in places where everyone and their mother have a passion for being an actor upon the stage, the small screen or the big screen — can prove to be very unstable.
If you want stability, you will want to go for something more guaranteed than a dream career such as acting. You certainly can gather skills in other areas, and work a “day job” or other jobs while you dream and pursue your acting desires. It may, very well, pay off early . . . it may not ever pay you a cent.
Yes, there’s a million or more stages where you can live your passion; evening and weekends for community theatre, while doing your “day job” that pays money.
You’re smart enough to what you set your mind, too. Thus, if you love Marine Biology, you can succeed in doing it.
The “exciting, adventurous life of an actress” isn’t always so exciting or adventurous. If you don’t have rent money or gasoline money, you really cannot live much adventure — except homelessness or moving back in with Mom or going to a shelter. Thus, that’s probably not the kind of adventure you seek. And it’s the kind of adventure most actors live each day.
” A joint agreement between the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) guarantees all unionized motion picture and television actors with speaking parts a minimum daily rate of $782 or $2,713 for a 5-day week as of June 2009. Actors also receive contributions to their health and pension plans and additional compensation for reruns and foreign telecasts of the productions in which they appear. … of the nearly 100,000 SAG members, only about 50 might fall into this category.
The average income that SAG members earn from acting is low because employment is sporadic and most actors must supplement their incomes by holding jobs in other occupations.”
To make it more understandable . . . there are about 100,000 members of the Screen Actors Guild [and you must be a member to do those tv shows and movies -- and you have EARN you way into SAG. Last check it cost about $2,500.00 to join once you earn it]. So, of those 100,000 members; 97% earned LESS THAN $5,000 A YEAR as an actor (male or female). That is POVERTY LEVEL.
Thus, realistic . . . learn business or get a teaching degree. No, teachers do not make much, BUT, they often make more than actors. In fact, I would say 95% of the time, teachers make more than actors on a regular, yearly basis.
If you want adventure and excitement, become a Flight Attendant or Pilot. You will travel the world and visit all sorts of places. Or become a Travel Agent, or Zoologist, or Oceanographer.
If you want stability, work in the medical field. We always will need doctors, nurses and hospital personnel. EMT’s, as well.
Do you want to be an actress? If Yes. Then do it. Do what you want really want to do. I am an actor and writer/director. Both is a passion of mine. Some days I act, other days I write/direct.
Most actors don’t just act, they have other jobs too. Take Natalie Portman. She’s an actress, and a brilliant one I might add, and she’s got a degree in Psychology.
In the end it all comes down to what you want out of live.