Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/first experience...then what?

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Expert: - 6/19/2008


Question
Hi, I'm Alexa and I was wondering if you could answer a few questions. Ok, I have been reading your advice and I got experience. I am attending an acting High School in the Fall. Everyone says I am great, and need to further my career in acting. My dad was an actor in Califonia for many years and did hundreds of comercials and movies. So, my dad gives me advice sometimes, and now he says I need an agent to get auditions, but where do I find an agent? I am fourteen, which my dad says is a perfect age, because I want to be on Disney Channel, and I want an agent that knows something about Disney Channel, and how to get me to guest star on one of their shows (Hannah Montana, The Suite Life, etc.). How do I get an Agent like that?
I hope you can answer my question. Thank You!
Alexa

Answer
Alexa,

Thanks for writing. If you don't live in either Los Angeles or New York City, you're going to have great difficulty finding a reputable agent to represent you. 95% of all casting for film and TV is performed in these two cities. You need to be permanently living in one of these cities to have a real genuine chance.

If you ARE living in one of these two cities, once you are cast in something (a film, commercial, play, showcase, etc.) that shows your talent, that's the time to reach out to talent agents. If they can actually see you at work, they have a much better idea of what your talent is and whether or not you are a commodity they can sell.

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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