Expert: Kenneth D. Plonkey - 9/23/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi,I am Nada.I am 13 years old and i ,love acting.its has always been my life.I have always liked to act in my school plays and such stuff. Recently I was surfing the Internet to try to find some auditions open.after I did it said I had to send my resume and headshot.I had a little problem with that.I didn't have a very good headshot and when I tried to get a nicer one,I didn't find any good photographers where I live.So i send my headshot and my resume and I am sure they wont accept it because I didn't look good in the headshot but,Anyway, I want to become an actress on disney.I can also sing and dance very good.I have tried everything but I always keep thinking of the fact that I wont be accepted because of my headshot..My dad made an arrangement to take me to a very good photographer that could help me but that going to take 2 weeks and i want to audition for a special role in Disney's upcoming TV show "J.O.N.A.S!" and I am just afraid i wont get time to even audition.If you could give me any tips and information about how I can pump my career and land the role.Please ,I need your help.I want to be an actress because it is so much fun being an actress or a singer.I could travel the world..see many things I would have never saw if i was someone else.So please help me
your sincerely
Nada

ANSWER: Hello Nada. !3 years old is very young to try to be on tv. You cannot do it by yourself and you cannot do it through web sites. Are your parents writing your cover letter for you? Can they take you to the auditions no matter where they might be held? And can they do that for as long and as often as is needed?  unless they are very very wealthy or unless you live in LA or wherever the auditions may be held, you have no chance whatsoever of ever being on Disney.  The producers and directors of the Disney shows have their choice of the most experienced, best trained, most talented actors and actresses in the world, do you really think they would prefer to cast someone like yourself who is just a beginner.  TV is a business and they make decisions based on what they think will make them the most money.  Since you have no career, you cannot pump it.  What you have to do is to work hard to be very good where you are and as you mature, work your way up in the profession.  To be a teen start takes the full time hard work of at least one of your parents to make it happen. That is how Miley did it and that is how it is done. Best wishes, and God bless, Doc

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QUESTION: well ok your right if Disney wants to hire an actress they will hire the best!!!but i am moving to LA next year and i was wondering what are the stuff that me and my FAMILY can do to start ....i am not saying i want to become an actress by now i am saying that when i become 15 or 16 i want to have a chance.so what can i do for a start so that when i am 15 i can be ready???and i heard that Demi Lovato's first appearance was on camp rock ..she got the lead role..so i was thinking that i should try till i have what is needed so that maybe when i get an audition i would have a good chance.I am not on this alone.my dad supports me and he is ready to go anywhere so that i can get to do what i want in life.i don't want to give up until i know that i have tried hard enough...can you give me any advice about how i should begin??

ANSWER: Well you need professional dance and voice lessons as well as professional acting classes. You need lots of performance experience. when you have a strong resume, you need an agent. your parents have to help you get all of those things. What you have heard about Demi or anyone else may not be the entire story. Best wishes, Doc

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QUESTION: Thanks a lot for the help.this means i have to get professional voice and dance lessons..which is pretty easy where i live..as well as acting classes...that's going to be easier..but i have another question....see i don't live in America that means if i get performance experience i can get it from anywhere not necessarily America?or it has to be from America?

Answer
You bring up another important question.  If you are not a citizen or if you do not have a green card, you cannot work professionaly as an actor in the USA.  you can study all you want, of course. If you were a star where you live , you could be imported as a star and work in the US. Doc