Expert: Rusty Meyers - 11/27/2008

Question
QUESTION: I WAS THINKING ABOUT GOING TO MOUNTCLAIRE STATE OR DREW UNIVERSITY FOR FILM AND THEATER BUT I WANTED TO KNOW IS THAT A GOOD CHOICE BECAUSE I LIVE IN NEW JERSEY. I WANTED TO BECOME AN ACTOR BUT THE ONE DISADVANTAGE I HAVE IS THAT I LIVE IN NEW JERSEY AND I MOST GO TO A COLLEGE IN NEW JERSEY ANY ADVICE.......... P.S WILL MY SUCCESS IMPROVE AS AN ACTOR IF I GO TO A COLLEGE IN FILM OR THEATER OR WILL IT BE THE SAME...... WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO MAKE ACTING A CAREER SHOULD YOU GET AN AGENT OR DO IT ON YA OWN. AND WHICH IS BETTER AS A CAREER BROADWAY OR HOLLYWOOD ECONOMY WISE BECAUSE I LOVE ACTING SO MUCH IT DONT MATTER TO ME WHAT I DO BUT I PREFER HOLLY WOOD I HOP YOU CAN ANSWER MY QUESTIONS!!!!

ANSWER: Studying at a qualified school is really important.
But more important is studying with a coach that is or was in the business themselves.
Look EVERYONE up on imdb.com instead of just believing that their own personal websites.
I suggest that you get as much work on everything film, tv, commercial, stage... that you can to build your resume, BEFORE you go out in the real world.
Not that Hollywood is the real world, but it is an option, just like NY is.
Getting an agent (a good one) is HUGE, but not that easy unless you have a great resume or look.
It's easier of course if you have a connection to an agent to get one.
Good Luck.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks for the advise but do you think mountclaire state and drew university is a good school? plus can you answer this two which way should i try to go broadway to hollywood or hollywood to broadway please answer?????

         p.s far as economy wise which is better broadway or hollywood because i love acting no matter what it is but i also want to support an family so i want to be in which ever make the most not seeming nto money but this the real world money talks

Answer
I don't know either of them, sorry.
Look up the Alumnis and see what they have accomplished.
Look up the professors too.
I assume that you sing, dance and act?
If not don't even bother with Broadway.
NY is great if you actually have real talent not just some talent but real talent.
Hollywood you can get away without as much talent but looks or connections.
NY is a little more expensive. but you don't need a car.
CA. is a much better climate and that is where most of the film, tv are out of.
You realize that you want to get paid for doing something that you probably have never been paid to do, right.
Well when someone thinks you are worth paying for, that's when I would move to CA or NY and NOT before.