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Tuesday, 07 September 2010 |
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How do I become an actor is a question I am frequently asked by (seemingly) younger people who email me, despite that fact that my email form states that I do not answer these sorts of questions as it all comes down to the individual finding what works for him. Following is a conversation I had on Facebook with Robin, it reads as a good interview actually and I cover a lot of the points that you'd needif you wanted to know how to become an actor.
Games of Thrones yeah lol, I was just wondering if you were up to anything at the moment. lol
21:19Me
2 auditions on friday and a bunch of meetings on thursday, now emailing stuntmen, helping another actor friend get in contact with an agent here I know, etc
21:19Robin
Ahh your'll pee them auditions mate :) And meetings for what?
21:20Me
publicist and an wealthy business man to discuss future opportunities for the "Conan Stevens" brand
21:20Robin
I'm joining a amateur dramatics place in september. :) Wanted be an actor since i was a kid. Just never knew how to get into it, I think I'm quite good at acting now. I just wanna be awesome, and know everything about it :')
21:21Me
acting sucks a lot
21:21Robin
why does it?
21:22Me
but I hate working a regular job
so its better than that
the work is good and I enjoy the people generally but i don't like always waiting (20 years so far)
there are some articles on my site in the acting section that go into details
waiting is the main one that sucks
low pay until you become a 'star' is the second one. Being permanently broke isn't much fun
21:23Robin
I dont care about the money, It's the passion about it. And hopefully one day to be amazing at it and be like You and Daniel. :)
And your'll defo become a star conan
21:25Me
i'd suggest you treat it as a business rather than a passion
you'll go further that way
that's something I learned from Wrestling
bad wrestlers can top the ranks in popularity and make the most money and get the most work
acting is a little different but the basics are the same, wrestling is overacting on stage with a lot of improv.
21:26Robin
What do you mean by treat it as a business?
21:28Me
you need to learn sales and marketing (direct response is best)
21:28Robin
..For acting? Whys this?
21:28Me
you need to learn negotiation
you need a USP (Unique Selling Point - what makes you a Unique product)
you need to become the CEO of corporation YOU
until you get some good jobs yourself no agent is going to work for you, he'll just present you with a bunch of other people
you need to look into everything, like a business with YOU as the sole product
21:28Robin
..For acting? Whys this?
21:28Me
you need to learn negotiation
you won't get anywhere without doing all this
21:29Robin
ahhh!!... Woah i never looked at it like that :s
21:29Me
what makes you better than the other 5000 guys your age who dream they are actors?
what is your target niche?
why would the casting director hire you over someone else?
I recommend learning to do stunts too, it helps
21:30Robin
I do stunts already. Like i enjoy freeruning and stuff i aint scared of heights or anything like that .
21:30Me
you don't have to be a great actor but you have to get noticed and recognised
21:31Robin
And youve got a amazing point on what you said before that :/
Is there like .. schools or places where they teach you to do stunts? cause im starting capoeira and gymnastics
21:32Me
get to know a good stunt team, and get into acting later if that is easier for you. Do your acting lessons and whatever you can do but stunt actors aren't cast in auditions they are recommended by the stunt team
I taught myself, there was nowhere available for me, there is a post on my website about it too
21:33Robin
How do i get in contact with a good stunt team? .. Websites?
21:33Me
no idea, look where you live
21:34Robin
Stoke-On-Trent :(
21:34Me
The stunt team will invite you if they like you and could use your skills and you do not threaten anyone elses job
21:35Robin
what do you mean by threaten anyone else's job?
21:35Me
there is a stunt register in the UK, you have to get a dozen different skills to get registered then if you are serious you'll have to move to London or elsewhere where films are made or cast frequently
if there is another guy with the same skills they wont hire you
21:35Robin
Like martial arts? and gymnastics? stuff like that
21:35Me
stunt teams are groups of friends who call each other into jobs
get a hold of the stunt registry, maybe a part of the actors union. I dont have time for specific questions I have 8 pages of lines to learn in 35 hours
there is enough info for you to start on
there is years of work if you follow my advice, you dont worry about getting hired until you get the skills and get accredited
that'll take 3 years minimum
1.5 years if you know someone and have ALL the skills already
21:38Robin
Thanks alot Conan! Your so amazing and down to earth! And i have all the time in the world, good look with your lines :) and ill look forward to speaking to you soon
But serious.. Thanks like amazingly loads im going to follow every bit of your advice
21:38Me
Do you mind If i copy this conversation and put it on my site as a n article?
21:39Robin
No not at all!
Ofcourse you can :)
21:39Me
Thanks, it'll save me time and let me use this info over again for those interested.
21:40Robin
:) No. Thank you Conan :)
Now I have delayed long enough to work with me, 2 auditions this week, need to be focused so the lines are printed out and the laptop is going off until I get it down pat in several different characters. I hope some of you find this exchange useful, a little disjointed as Internet chats are but useful for anyone serious about a full time acting career.
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