Expert: Kenneth D. Plonkey - 7/11/2008

Question
QUESTION: "hi kenneth, my name is jared im 18 years old and im from west virginia, im also an up and coming star haha so keep an eye out for me (jokes aside).. lets be serious for a moment, kenneth i need some career advice me and my mother have talked about my plans upon my graduation from high school,, im dead set on being an actor i have one of two plans !. to move to new york and attend the lee strasberg institue of theatre for 2 years and also do some modeling..and basically staying there a couple years getting my start before making my move to l.a. 2.go ahead and move to l.a. where all the action is and attend acting classes and school there and try to get my break in acting in the largest movie market in the world?? my question is kenneth from your experience which one of these ideas makes the most sense as far as  becoming an actor and being the least expensive plan ..in your overall opinion which one of these makes the most sense to you..thanks best regards..jared"


ANSWER: Hello Jared. I need to know more about you before I can give you my best advice. For example, what is your acting experience so far? Tell me this in complete detail.  Have you done any modeling before? Have you not yet graduated HS? How do you hope to pay for The Strasberg Institute (God forbid) or any other training? Most of thee big name schools will cost you about thirty grand just for tuition> All of the action is not in LA, and it always makes sense to me for an actor to become established elsewhere and then when he is known, go to LA when he has a job there. So neither of your plans make any sense whatsoever.  Have you any idea what it costs to live in LA? Before gas prices skyrocketed, I heard it was $5000 a month! What are you going to do to support your self while looking for acting and modeling opportunities? Well, that is a start. Write to me at kencosp@aol.com with the answers and perhaps we can get you started on the right track without too much agony.  Doc

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks for the answer kenneth, i dont have very much acting experience ive done a few commercials for the ramey automotive dealership here in town, other than that i dont have alot of experience and not so much in modeling i just have a look that would get me a start in modeling but my mom was going to help put me through strasberg is that a good school to your knowledge?? and she was going to help me with money every month but i was also going to work a part time job

Answer
Jared.  I thought I made it pretty clear that I do not think Stasberg is a good school. He was and his Method is a Fraud. It is apparent that you have no experience to speak of as an actor since you do not know how to follow directions, a must for success. Best wishes, Doc