The biggest hurdle for an aspiring actor is breaking into the industry. Sheer talent alone will not get you there. You must be proactive and not just rely on your agent to source work for you. It is, however, good policy to call your agent once every few weeks to remind them that you are still out there and hungry for work. Keep your chat brief and remember to ask your agent if there is anything coming up that you may be suitable for.
There are many online resources at the modern actors’ disposal. You Tube is an excellent platform as you can add video streaming scenes of your on-camera work – be it professional work from film or television or scenes from acting class. You Tube, My Space and Face Book have become a worldwide phenomenon and a well placed clip could be your ticket to success.
There are also online sites that advertise professional acting opportunities for their members: sites such as AT2 and DTA. Membership is relatively inexpensive and being a member allows you to pick and choose from the available opportunities.
Gain experience wherever you can.
Applying and auditioning for roles in student films is another good way to gain exposure. Who knows, a film student’s short film that you acted in could win an award at an influential film festival, thereby exposing your talents to a wide audience.
But when it comes to student films pick and choose wisely. Don’t do more than one or two a year until you begin to establish yourself, otherwise you may get a reputation as someone who works for free. Student filmmakers, although unable to pay for your services, will usually feed you on set and further lure you to their production by promising a DVD copy of the program for your show reel.
Make sure you follow up on the DVD as student filmmakers are notorious for failing to deliver a copy of their film.
Most actors I know who have worked for student filmmakers have had to chase them up repeatedly for a copy.
Try to network as much as possible: This year’s film student could be next year’s Peter Weir or Ridley Scott.
And finally, remember to practice, practice and practice some more! Screen acting is a craft, and like any craft, the more you practice it, the better you’ll get.
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