Expert: Phil Nemy - 11/30/2008

Question
Hi Mr. Phil i live in a small town in Mississippi, i am 16 and i am a junior in high school and i would really like to start acting in films. But i do not know what to do i need help so i can make a decision before i go to college. There are no auditions or anything like that in Mississippi, none that i know of. And my school does not offer anything. I do plan to go to college in Los Angeles when i graduate. I do not like theater so i would really like it if you would help me mostly in film and television. And it is long distance to any major city other than New Orleans which is two hours away and Baton Rouge which is one hour away. And i do not have any experience in acting. I would really appreciate any assistance you could offer me.

Thanks,

Taylor

Answer
Taylor,

Thanks for writing. If you wish to be an actor, you need training. Yes, there are some actors who have become successful without training, but that's the exception to the rule. I am of the opinion that the best training any actor can have is the training of a professional stage actor. The foundation of ALL acting is acting on the stage. So while I understand that you don't like theater, you should NOT rule out training in the theater because you believe that it will ONLY prepare you for work on the stage. That thinking is flawed. Training for the theater will prepare you for acting in ANY medium be it film, television, commercials, voice-over, animation, gaming, or the theater.

If you plan to attend college in Los Angeles, UCLA has the strongest theater acting program. I would encourage you to look into that program.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Phil