Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/hiring a publicist

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Expert: - 3/26/2008


Question
hi phil, my name is jared im 18 years old and want to be a professional actor, im from west virginia so there's not much i can do about my career until i finish high school, my plans are to hopefully get into usc in los angeles and get a m.f.a. in acting which i think would look great on a resume and would  
allow me open more doors in such a hard and fierce industry. i was wondering if u thought it would be beneficial depending on if i get into usc if i was to hire a publicist? to get my name out there in the city while im in college. do you think this would be beneficial to helping me become a famous actor? ... thank you,
Jared.

Answer
Jared,

Thanks for writing. Employing a publicist at the beginning of your career probably won't help you much. Talent and being cast in roles is the best way to "get your name out there" as you've described. If you're working, THEN a publicist has something to sell. How can he sell you if you're unknown and not doing anything?

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Phil

Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing

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Phil Nemy

Expertise

I am a motion picture and television producer with over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry. I am also the author of the book GET A REEL JOB: Finding Your First Job In The Motion Picture Industry In Los Angeles. I can answers questions on a variety of subjects about careers in film from acting to directing to crew work, getting into the unions, successful strategies for networking, etc.

Experience

Former VP, Production for The Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group Supervised production on such films as ARMAGEDDON, THE PRINCESS DIARIES, REMEMBER THE TITANS, PEARL HARBOR, CON AIR, ENEMY OF THE STATE, THE ROCK, CRIMSON TIDE, COYOTE UGLY, A CIVIL ACTION, ROMY & MICHELE'S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION, NOTHING TO LOSE, EDDIE and others. Worked as an actor, stage manager, director on broadway and regional theater as well as L.A.' Equity-waiver scene. Former Associate Artistic Director of Los Angeles Equity-Waiver theater.

Organizations
Director's Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild, Actor's Equity Association

Education/Credentials
BFA in Acting/Directing from Carnegie Mellon University.

Past/Present Clients
I've worked with such filmmakers as Jerry Bruckheimer, Tony Scott, Steve Zaillian, Scott Rudin, Garry Marshall, Frank Marshall, Michael Bay, etc.

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