Expert: Peter Messaline - 5/24/2008

Question
I don't know whether or not to take performance arts classes in college, would I be wasting my time? Whats the first thing I should start with to become an actor.

Answer
First of all, my apologies for the delay: my Internet connection has been down for a week.

If you are serious about becoming an actor, performing arts at college is a good start.
It's a very specialist field of teaching, so you want to look carefully at as many colleges as you can, to see who has a real performer-oriented course, not just some fun for English majors. The better courses are not easy to get into, and you'll need some signs that you are already active and reading in the area.

If you are already in college, do add all the performer courses you can manage, plus anything to do with stage and film technicalities like production and scenery, but look seriously at getting casting in student films, with your college or others, and join whatever performance-related clubs there are. You will gain some skills, and make some contacts who may be very useful to you when you graduate and start beating the bushes in independent film and theatre, looking for someone to take a risk on you.

Well done, to be planning instead of just drifting along! Stay in touch and ask new questions coming out of this first set of choices.