What is the truth? Breaking into the biz. Good, Bad, Ugly all spelled out!

[N.E.W. School (For Film Acting)]

I've been reading these "Discussions" and "blogs" on here where so many actors are asking... what do I do to make it in the film/tv industry? What's the first step?

Then people throw in their answers that I believe are just not good advice. I don't believe that those giving the advice mean harm or to mislead, but the information I believe does just that, could harm and does mislead.

Ready?

1. Never ever pay to for the chance to stand in front of an agent, manager, casting agent or producer. They do these "Package Deal Casting Workshops" to make money and pump up their egos. The only people in the world who can "Discover & Develop" a talent in all reality (which is what these people promise) are people like "Spielberg, Michael Bay, James Cameron, Michael Ovitz, Universal, Paramount, Weinstein company... you get my point. The reason is because these big names have the legit power to choose anyone they want, have the actually money and control over distribution and there for can control "branding".

2. How do you get "invited in"?
-Answer: a) In order to actually make it into the Hollywood Business someone who is in it and at the top of it must invite you in. It's like any other Trillion Dollar a year industry in the world... people who are at the top of it have worked very hard to get there and will do anything to stay there. "Breaking in" has so many more factors to it than just a head shot, resume and auditioning in front of the right person.
-Answer: b) 90% of all working actors that you know of or have heard of made it because someone referred them for an audition or gig. When that moment came they just happen to have the right look, the right talent and got that casting person on the right day. So, if you plan on meeting the right people and being at the right place at the right time you must do one thing that is non-negotiable - You have to take the leap and move to Los Angeles. You must be here because if you are not in this town (Where everything happens spur of the moment) you will be out of sight... out of mind.

3. When I get to LA where do I go first? What do I do first?
Answer: GET A JOB! (Get a job that allows you to audition during the day - Bar-tending, Waiting Tables are good examples) #1 reason why people don't usually last longer than a year in this town is because they can't afford to stay here. Los Angeles is expensive! They get caught up in the partying and the big lights and glamor of it all and try to hang with the big boys, when they themselves are not big boys, and it breaks the bank. So they are forced to move home with tail between their legs and with a cloud of shame over them the rest of their lives because they told everyone they known back home... "I'm moving to LA and I'm gonna become a star."

EXTRA INFO: 2.9 million people move to LA every year to become actors. 0.0001% ever make it and become "celebrities".

4. If that many people move to LA every year and never make it why should I even try?
Answer: Good question. If you don't already have an answer for that - DON'T MAKE THE JUMP.


******************************************************
THE GOOD NEWS!!!! ---- 99.99 % of all the people who have moved to Los Angeles to become stars don't actually want to become "great actors" they want to become "Rich and Famous" but they tell themselves they are there for the "craft of acting" this is how they fall into a down-ward spiral. If you are coming here to become "Rich & Famous" and your willing to sell your soul to get it.. don't worry, you'll get it no problem, the devil is waiting the moment you get off the plane with opportunities more abundant than you can count. (I personally discourage such a path in life - just my 2 cents)

HOWEVER- if you are coming to Los Angeles to become a high caliber film or tv actor here is the good news, 99.99% of all the people who come here to make something of themselves are not actually willing to put in the work to get to the top. If you can be completely honest with yourself before you get on the plane to come here and can say, "no matter what conditions of living or hardships I have to endure or hours of work I must put in to make it to the top, I'm gonna do it." If you can actually do this and have patients YOU WILL MAKE IT.

EXTRA GOOD NEWS: As long as you never give up and as long as you actually put in the effort that is needed eventually, it might be 100 years from when you arrive but eventually you will make it in the entertainment industry.

FINAL NOTE:

LIST OF THINGS NEEDED TO BREAK IN:

1: Good head shot and Resume (when you get to LA just look at peoples work)

2. A posting/profile on LACasting.com (no I have no affiliation with them)

3. Business Cards with your head shot on it (email/tele at bottom)

4. Website where your resume, head shots and demo reel can be seen

5. **MOST IMPORTANT - you must have a 5 minuted demo reel showing you can actually act

6. You must NOT act like a theater actor - No Stella, No Miesner, No THEATER ACTING TECHNIQUES AT ALL. Get on camera acting classes -
- Please listen to what I am saying right here: Do not take a class that teaches "theater style" acting and just has a small video camera set up... this is NOT "on camera" acting.

7. You must find student or "up coming" filmmakers and get in their movies, take little to no pay if you have to build your demo reels. Dont ever post or show bad acting, it's better to wait until you have a little bit of GOOD footage than to show a lot of bad.

8. Once you have all this send it to a medium size agent or manager to see if they will rep you. You can find which agency or management company is right for you for only $12.00. Go to http://www.samuelfrench.com/store/index.php and buy the SAG "AGENCIES" Book. It comes out monthly.

9. Once you have your demo reel, GOOD head shots, and a resume done, with biz cards, then submit a 1 page letter with these things to the agencies that are looking for your type and level of acting. *(the book will tell you).


There is a lot more to making it to the top than this obviously but you can email me or ask question here and I'll help you as much as I can. NOTE: Yes it's very possible to make it in this industry because as I have stated in this discussion before 99.99% of all actors don't ever get it told to them truthfully and they end up falling prey to the sharks out here.

Hope this helps.

TO LEARN MORE GO TO: www.newschoolfilm.com

[goldilox]

Wow! Nathan, thanks SO much - what a Brilliant post! I so wish I'd heard all of this 20 years ago when I was starting out - I would have made some very different decisions! :) Still, it's great to have the info now. And next step, to save up to move to LA :)

Thanks v much again. x

[N.E.W. School (For Film Acting)]

I'm very glad that you found it helpful. I hope it helps many others.

Let me know when you move to LA... I'll be able to help more.

Keep me posted on things.

[Róbert Krajňak]

Awesome advices , this is really priceless info before starting with your acting career and im glad ive found it.

Thanks a lot

[N.E.W. School (For Film Acting)]

My pleasure... I wish someone would have told it to me before I spent thousands on wasted time.

Nathan

[val senan]

Hey nathan, very practical and insightful post. To be honest i'm clueless when it comes to the bright lights of hollywood. I'm from singapore and in asia the culture is really very different. I would however like to see and experience what it is like in hollywood as i believe it will help sharpen my skills and up my game.

Planning a short trip to scout next year, wondering if we could touch base when i'm there?

[Steve Snyder]

Ok ... so if you really want help ... like really want it there are a couple websites that I can point you to that will get you there.

#1) http://www.acting-guide.com - when i fist came to LA ... only a year ago I knew nothing ... now I have been in 2 pilots, 5 feature films, 10 short films and 6 webseries. This is in addition to all the background work I've done, which thank god wasn't much. These were all legitimate roles, some starring and some supporting. You can see for yourself at http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3638576/ that I'm being completely serious.

I got lucky. I found the Acting Guide at http://www.acting-guide.com and it was awesome. So get that, start there and you'll be way ahead of the game.

#2) There is a great website that offers more help and discount services to actors. That is at http://www.actors-hollywood.com

#3) There is a new major online community that is springing up that is going to be huge. Try it out for free. You can video chat, post forums, get pointed in the right direction, post your videos, post music, play games, newtork ... basically everything that facebook has but even more and its about the industry. You cna register for free at http://www.center-stage.biz

So there you have it. You wanted advice ... I gave it to you. Trust me do these three things and you will be well on your way and have all the questions answered.

-Steve