Expert: Peter Messaline - 3/27/2008

Question
Hi there. Well I'm considering to give acting a try. I got no experience yet, and didn't attend any acting school. My question is what to do first? Find an Agent? Post my resume and look for auditions myself online since there are plenty of them? Join SAG or not?

So Agent or not? SAG or not? Thats what my thoughts are about my first steps. Oh, and I'm not thinking about taking acting lessons.

Answer
It's difficult to know where to start.
You don't say where you are based, nor how old you are, nor which sex.
I can give you some definite truths:

You don't just walk into having an agent.
You don't just decide to join SAG.
You don't just get an audition
(because, believe me, there are not plenty of them).

You seem not have had any acting experience, so what will you put on your résumé?
You say you won't take any acting lessons, so what skills do you have?

If you are serious about being an actor, treat it seriously. it's a job, not a hobby. If you're not good at it, you won't work. Even if you are good at it, on average you won't work often.

Here is another pre-beginner, and two very different  answers, both saying, like me, that it's a long, long trail awinding.
Pay special attention to the "Scam" paragraph.
Google .. actor beginner forum blog .., and you'll find many many more people, all saying the same thing.

QQQQQ
   I have never acted in a movie in my life. Im 17 years old and im attending the university of utah. Being a actor was my dream. I have photos if anyone is intereseted. My e-mail is Monsterbho@gmail.com. Im about 5'10" 200 pounds, athletic bulid.

AAAAAAA
   It always amazes me how many people post messages like this. If you want to be an actor then your dream will have to become a reality. You can no longer approach it like a dream. Study, study, study. Work your ass off. Find the best schools, do your work, watch the best actors, the best films, talk about the craft. Move to New York or LA. Meet all the right people, keep working on your craft. Pursue pursue pursue. Keep working on your craft. Make money waiting tables or temping. Realize that everything you thought was true about acting was wrong. Keep going with your new sense of yourself and your place in the world. realize that you cannot be anything else in your life besides an actor. keep repeating the above steps indefinitely and then you will be living that "dream." Just realize that once you get there it sure as hell wont be what you thought it was, you wont be the same person, and that you'll never actually "get there." But in the end, it becomes your life and your live becomes it and you'll never see how it could have been any other way.

AAAAAA
   **********************
   If you are serious about getting into the Acting business, you will definately need a Headshot and a Resume.
   * Headshot
   For starting actors, you certainly don't need a professoinally done headshot. (Unless you have the budget to hire a high-end photographer, or have friends who are photographers) Just make sure that your headshot ends up in 8 x 10, and meets the basic requirement (http://oh.essortment.com/headshotactor_rjfr.htm).
   * Resume
   This is what will "sell" you as an actor. You will have to prove to the casting director (or agent) that you have experiences, and have protrait wide range of characters... and types of works.
   You can slowly build up your resume by working on student films, indie films, spec commercials, pilots... Usually these acting jobs are Non-Paid... But it is the experience and credit that you need, right?
   Once you have established or have enough credits on your resume, you can definately aim for the bigger fish. People will take you more seriously when you are able to present a full credited resume.
   For more information and tips regarding Headshots and Resume, please visit: http://theater.about.com/cs/jobs/a/headshots.htm
   * Auditions
   Mandy.Com and ActorAccess.Com are two good Online resources for finding casting calls. You can also find casting calls in BackStage(BACKSTAGE.COM)paper.
   * Acting Class / School
   It never hurts to further sharpen your craft. Plus majority of the casting calls and agent perfer to hire talents with solid training backgrounds. You can either take courses in School (High School or College) - or at an Acting School/Studio.
   * Agents
   You can find acting gigs on your own, or attending open calls - But down the road, you might want to sign with an agent (or agents, depends on where you at. In New York, it's common for Actors to freelance with several agents). An Agent will provide you more legit audition notice, and will negotiate on your behalf for the payments and filming arrangements.
   There are casting directors who will *only* work with talents though agents.
   You can get a list of the Agents or Casting Directors in your area by doing online search. If you are in LA or NY, you can get a copy of Ross Report from local bookstore. Send your headshot & resume, along with a cover letter to them. And see if you will get a call back.     

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
* SCAMS
   There are non-legit agencies out there who will try to make a fortune off the talents. Whenever you come across an agency,inviting you for an interview. It's always to check the agency's reputation. You can do by checking http://www.bbb.org (Better Business Bureau)

   Make sure you check out the articles on the following webpage:
   http://www.modelingscams.com/
   http://www.easybackgroundcheck.com
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   Actor Parry Shen (Better Luck Tomorrow) has a FAQ site that he shares a lot of information. including getting into the 'business.' It doesn't hurt to read what he has to say: http://www.parryshen.com/faq.htm