fame, hello! Options

[chinke3xcuti3]

I have questions about acting...

Okay, well, I really like acting =] I do plays in front of myself...but I've never tried out for any sort of plays....

Well..I really want to act..not for the fame or the money (im serious), it's just because I think it's fun when you act, because you get to be somebody else..you get to be a different person, it's pretty cool. =]

I know I shouldn't get overly excited, because a lot of people want to be an actor/actresses, but a lot of them don't succeed in the acting industry..

well..i'll worry about that later..

But what I'm worried about is..my parents..=/

My parent's don't like 'publicity' a lot.....but they say they will support me in whatever I want to do....I want to talk to them about my 'dream'..but I grew up telling them different stuff like..I want to be a writer/teacher (those simple jobs)..so they wouldn't freak out or anything...

If I talk to them about this 'dream'..How should i start the convo..i can't just randomly talk about this...and...their reactions r what worries me..i'm not sure if they really mean it when they say they support me in EVERYTHING..u know how asian parents r..they're just..overly protective...at least most of them..

then the second question is

I'm not sure if i even ACT that good..i just really like it..I can make myself cry..but it takes me awhile...-_-...i can portray strong emotions sometimes..

if i act..i have to practice..so..how should i practice WITHOUT getting professional lessons (because i dont want to tell my parents yet..i want to learn how to act before i tell them about this dream..they'll be like...)"..

and then the third question is...

HOW DO YOU GET NOTICED BY Movie producers/tv producers nd stuff?!?!

PLEASE ANSWER ALL OF THEM! and answer it all in a way i asked you too..sorry if it sounds rude..i'm just....i dont know...this is what i've always wanted to achieve since i was little..i've just never told anybody..i've always bottled it up inside..and told them a different story..>.<

[dahding]

1. "Well..I really want to act..not for the fame or the money (im serious), it's just because I think it's fun when you act, because you get to be somebody else..you get to be a different person, it's pretty cool. =]"

even if it's not for the fame and the money, u need cash to pay off bills and what not. breaking out as an actor/actress is very difficult, and u'll end up broke. always have a fallback plan. that way, u can be prepared, and ur parents can have less to worry about.

2. "If I talk to them about this 'dream'..How should i start the convo..i can't just randomly talk about this...and...their reactions r what worries me..i'm not sure if they really mean it when they say they support me in EVERYTHING..u know how asian parents r..they're just..overly protective...at least most of them.."

simply be honest. tell them u want to talk about ur career choices. tell them how u really want to be an actress and explain to them your love for it, except in great detail. hopefully, they'll support you. if they ask, "Whatever happened to becoming a writer/whatever?", u can tell them either the truth or maybe u lost interest, whatever.

3. "if i act..i have to practice..so..how should i practice WITHOUT getting professional lessons (because i dont want to tell my parents yet..i want to learn how to act before i tell them about this dream..they'll be like...)".."

practice in school plays. like SING, different productions, etc etc. look for local theatre productions who are looking for people your age. ask around. write plays and pratice them out. roleplaying helps too. just think outside of the box.

4. "HOW DO YOU GET NOTICED BY Movie producers/tv producers nd stuff?!?!"
sweetie, u have to be good first in order to be noticed. secondly, u will need an agent who will help u book auditions for certain roles. you'll need to start out in small stuff, like commercials, skits, plays, ads, etc etc. maybe land a role in small films. slowly build up ur resume and actual name in the business. then hopefully one day, you'll land a big catch and become famous and cast in a big movie. it takes a long time, a lot of hard work, and a lot of effort.


good luck with ur dream. i hope you make it and i hope this helped.

[chinke3xcuti3]

any suggestions to practice my acting skills besides practicing with my peers and stuff?!?! lik..practicing just by myself?!?!

[o0olaalaa]

drama club in skool =) and tell you parents all you wrote up there ^ they'll understand =)

[chinke3xcuti3]

drama club in skool =) and tell you parents all you wrote up there ^ they'll understand =)

^um..like BY myself...so no drama clubs..my parents dont really like me to take after school stuff cuz i usually have no rides...

i usually learn how to do stuff by myself (breakdancing, piano, guitar..i learned all of that by myself..-_-)...

[chinke3xcuti3]

i'm also only 13 (im trying to bump up this topic...sorry for double posting)

[sprezzatura]

Since you are 13, don't worry about this for now, you still have time.
Take theatre classes and ask your teacher to analyze your acting skills and let your teacher decide whether you are capable of it or not. If yes, then tell your parents about your "dream" and use your teacher's words as an "evidence." If not, discover a new talent and move on. Besides, it is hard to practice acting BY yourself.

[ParanoidAndroid]

Just tell your parents...my mom wants me to be a nurse or a doctor but when I told her I either want to be a teacher, or a brain surgeon, or a musician, or a lawyer... she said she'll pay for everything I need to achieve it

[cLinT_wEStw0oD]

It's not really that big of a deal. Just tell them it would be cool to be an actress, then slowly work your way up from there. I used to do some commercials and such so at least I know how you can get noticed.

First of all, get a portfolio. This should include your resume, some of your work (magazine ads and such), and most of all - your headshot. Try to get this done by a pro photographer, makes it look a helluva lot better.
Second, send this portfolio to an agent in your city. Once you get all that worked out, he/she will start sending you out to auditions. These are all around, so you will need your parents to drive you or something.
Third, good luck from there. You'll start out small no doubt, but hopefully one day you'll bag a big movie audition and get international recognition. Just don't foget us little people, especially me =).

[topsyturvy]

^um..like BY myself...so no drama clubs..my parents dont really like me to take after school stuff cuz i usually have no rides...

i usually learn how to do stuff by myself (breakdancing, piano, guitar..i learned all of that by myself..-_-)...

No matter how good you are with learning, acting comes with practice. Yes you can practice with yourself but it's impractical. Someday when you're working in a big movie, it'll be just like drama club. So if you don't want to go to drama club just because you want to isolate yourself, that won't work. If your passion for acting is really that strong, something as small as no rides after school shouldn't stop you.

[chinke3xcuti3]

No matter how good you are with learning, acting comes with practice.  Yes you can practice with yourself but it's impractical.  Someday when you're working in a big movie, it'll be just like drama club.  So if you don't want to go to drama club just because you want to isolate yourself, that won't work.  If your passion for acting is really that strong, something as small as no rides after school shouldn't stop you.

^thankyou...

but im only in middle school..they dont have drama clubs at my school..

and they spring musical..i can't try out for that at my school anymore..because try outs were like....in novemeber?

suggestions?

[maddi.]

I'm 13 as well. And an actress. Well, interested in becoming one, anyway.

As dahding said, you must have a back-up plan. I plan, personally, to go to college and get in a degree in something other than drama, before or at the same time I get an education in drama.

See if your parents will pay for some acting classes at a local creative arts center; if not, organize a drama club yourself. Try to find others who enjoy acting. Together, you can find some scripts/monologues and practice. A good way to practice expression: your mirror. You can find a bunch of monologues or quotes that express a strong emotion and watch yourself as you do them. That way, you see exactly how you look.

Always be on the lookout for opportunities to audition, even if you know you'll never get in. Because a) you might, and b) an audition in and of itself is a great opportunity to get experience. The creative arts center I take classes at is having auditions for its theatre company soon, and though I don't think I'll get in, I'm planning on auditioning anyway.

Is there a talent show at your school? Audition!

And K!$$, I don't believe that practicing with yourself is impractical. Oftentimes, when I have a monologue or a play to perform, I practice in front of a mirror dozens of time, or alone. I also like recording myself so I can hear what it sounds like to others. Usually, the ratio of practicing to myself then to a live audience of friends/family is about 3:1; three times to myself for every one time to another person. Feedback - from yourself and peers - is critical in growing as a young actress.

I wish you luck in your dreams! See you in Hollywood! (Har, har, har. Just kidding.)

[FoxBandCutie08]

Try joining a drama club-type thing at your school. Tell your parents your friends said it was a fun class or club.

I agree, try out for the talent show doing a skit with some friends or something. Have your parents come and see you, then it may break the ice a little bit, plus people will let you know if you're any good or not.

[chinke3xcuti3]

i have another question..

in acting auditions..what kind of questions do they ask you!?!?! and during the interview and stuff.what do they ask?

[chinke3xcuti3]

please answer ;]

[misoshiru]

don't double post. afterall, what's the edit button for.


i've never been to an acting audition or whatnot. well, i think you should have at least a decent answer to a question similar to "why do you want this part?" or "what makes you want to pursue a career in acting?" just questions like those.

[ecargnmyst]

lol..u sound like me when i was 10..yeah..i went through the same thing..and when i finally did tell my parents they called me stupid and naive and dismissed it as a phase..my mom also made fun of me in front of her friends

but yeah..i agree with everything dahding said..and also..it helps if ur in NY ..or california ..i live in ny and go to school in the city.. so there r tons of theatre experiences here both outside and inside school...u should really try to practice in front of a live audience..thats the most authentic experience u can get ..there has to be school plays for u to participate in..and does ur school have acting class as an actual school day class?

b/c currently..i am in advanced acting class ..and it really helps b/c ur performing in front of an audience so u see their reactions and can get critique for ur work. but acting really is a tough path to follow..even my acting teacher...who is an actress and a NYU Tisch graduate (i just found out she was friends with Ang Lee at nyu too ) hasnt been "discovered" yet . the only acting students she taught that became famous (that i know of) are Lucy Liu and Kelly (one of the lead roles in Rent the bdway show) but many of her other students are still struggling

so yeah..its pretty hard trying to pursue an acting career especially w/ a very narrow-minded asian family ..but i think my parents have given into me..since i first started being interested in acting in 5th grade..and now 12th grade..im still interested in it..i think theyre kinda not minding it as much..ive already had a lead role in a NYFA short film, extra in a movie, i even auditioned for the movie Memoirs of a Geisha last summer

for auditions ..no questions really..everything should already be in ur resume..past experiences and such.. so you just have to perform in front of the casting director..thats what i had to do for the Memoirs of a Geisha audition ..they gave me a few lines to see how i would do as the character

[*iNyCxShoRT*]

Try joining a drama club-type thing at your school. Tell your parents your friends said it was a fun class or club.

I agree, try out for the talent show doing a skit with some friends or something. Have your parents come and see you, then it may break the ice a little bit, plus people will let you know if you're any good or not.

^ Agreed. That's my best advice for you at the moment. I'm interested in acting as well. Join the drama club. Don't question if you know how to act or not, if you love doing it then do it.

[chinke3xcuti3]

well..my friend told me during the audition...they will ask you to do a monologue?!?!

so basically..what's a monologue?!?!

sorry im asking so many questions..-_-.

yeah..theres a school play at my school. but auditions are already over, and they already have the cast, so i can't try out. and its more of a school musical, and its starring today, and tomorrow.

[Mikael]

why is everyone so afraid to talk to their parents? like everyone was born into a family that their parents want to say no on purpose. hahaha wtf is that about lol. um, tell em, what are they gonna do? they'll be like ok... worse thing they can do is be like... youre dumb, no. and the end.

you get noticed by auditioning, in cali, new york. and stuff. or the unorthadox way of doing something really funny or unique on the street and a movie producer just happened to walk by and see you.

when youre 18, you can do what you want. you have your whole life time.

[voguelove]

hmm..well, just start the convo casually. you could start off saying.."i think i know waht i want to do with my life." and keep going on.


if you dont want a pro to help, you could get involved with school productions.


and three..to get "noticed," you have to have..whats it called..kind of like an agency..to get you to auditions. if they have open auditions, then anyone can try out. but if theyre closed, you have to get..kind of like a sponser. i forgot what theyre called.

[xXMomoBubbleTeaX...]

AWWWWWWWWWWW!!.. Just tell them how you feel sweetie.. they'll understand.. they were once a teenager.. They should know they can't make the decisions of what you want to be for.. All they have to do.. is help be there && support you.. && when worse comes to worse.. they'll be there first!!.. && hopefully they'll be the parents that'll be there that'll help you up when you fail instead of putting you down && telling you I told you so. Well good luck with that dream.. && I wish you all the best!.. ;)

[chinke3xcuti3]

Wow, kind of an old topic..but....
Thanks for the advice everyone.
I'm planning to take this class at Barbizan (I think that's how you spell it), and they basically help you in modeling (taking pictures), and boost your confidence and help you prepare for auditions/interviews (they give examples of what the people miight ask).
But, is it true that if you don't live in New York or California or something you won't get recognized as easily? Because I live in Virgina. 0.o?

[*This Confession*]

okay i didn't read a lot of it
but most of it

Just talk to your parents about it just tell them you want to talk about your dreams of wehn you become older. Always have a back up if the first thing doesn't work out like you want to become a writer or teacher always have those at heart as well.

The whole acting thing you don't exactly need lessons I mean here in new bern we have theatres. Kids try out for these and you either make the cut or not and if you don't then you still work at it. If you look around I'm sure you could find some. And it doesn't matter if their perfessional lessons or not your not going to get a ton people at your back if your just taking lessons And if you have it then you go to additions and stuff and see if you get casted if not then you move on.

Its not true if you live in some other state you won't get noticed quickly i mean if your in some good theatres or a part of them then you get people coming to see it then who knows i mena theres talent agencies all over the place. Living in virgina isn't bad. the only thing bad there is the drivers -__-

I live in North Carolina, we have model agencies oddly enough here which is rather odd and im sure theres a talent one somewhere. I mean if you want to be something then you need to search around in it. Go on the internet and look around for different places like acting lessons and stuff. I mean a lot of people do become models before actors as well..
May want to do that.

[Gypsy Eyes]

What your parents are worried about is the fact that less than 18 percent of actresses make enough alone to support themselves