Expert: Rusty Meyers - 1/31/2009

Question
QUESTION: hello rusty!  
 My name is Andie. I am 13 years old. All my life I have wanted to be an actress/model but I have no clue how to start! I want an agent and I was looking into Charlies talent agency but I would like to see all my options first. I live in the lower peninsula of Michigan. I would like to find an agency in the Livingston/Oakland county area. If you could get some names and websites for me that would be great. also any tips would be highly appreciated!
       love love love! Andie!

         -If you don't know of any agencies please just give me any other information that you know! every little bit helps!!!


ANSWER: All your life, really?
How to start, well first if you have never done this then how is it that you know that you want to, or are even any good at it?
Do a few plays or musicals in your school or community theatre to find out.
Take some acting classes to find out if this is really something that you not only want to do, but HAVE to do.
It is a very difficult business to be in even if you are very good at it.
Getting an agent is something that you should ONLY do when you have something to offer them.
I don't mean money, I mean talent and something for them to market/sell, which is YOU!
NEVER PAY AN AGENT OR MANAGER UP FRONT FOR ANYTHING.
Look up everyone (including me) on imdb.com or google search them.
Don't believe everything you read or hear on personal websites.
Take classes and start networking with others in the business.
Contact your local (or nearby) film commission (if you have one) and ask them these questions.
Stay in school and study your craft, take every acting singing, dancing, band, language classes you can and start working at your craft as soon as possible.
Do local indie films, anything you can to start building up your resume.
Agents only make money when you do, and they want to have someone (or at least they prefer) that has some experience, even at your age.
Good luck.


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

QUESTION: yes, really. ALL MY LIFE!
I graduated from Barbizon modeling and acting. I have been in 2 church plays. I took an acting class at school. I know i love acting. I know I am good at it. I have a profile at nextcat.com it you would like to see it, go to nextcat.com/AndreaManney . I am unique and talented and usually i am very easy to get along with. please just give me some names and websites! I am BEGGING you!I know acting is hard! I am willing to get rejected! I am prepared for anything!
        love love love. Andie.
         -by the way, you remind me of my moms friend Mark. and also, I already know, an agent gets 10%-20% of my paycheck.

ANSWER: I wouldn't start bragging about taking anything from Barbizon.
Look up the coaches name on imdb.com and see what they have done.
Church plays are fine, but they aren't real "theatre".
Look into doing some community theatre in a play or musical that has been produced and on or off Broadway.
Not just some made up story that someone wrote.
I'm just trying to be honest with you.
Go to craigslist.com and look up film/tv or under gig/talent in your area.
Craigs list can be a little tricky because there are people that are out there that will take advantage of you wanting to be a start so badly.
Slow down and do this right and you will work for a long time, do it wrong and it won't.
You need to get involved in some acting classes outside of school too.
Look up your acting coach at school and see what they have ever done.
Why are they teaching and not doing it themselves?
How can someone teach what they can't do?
I also doubt that they are teaching you any kind of camera technique.
It's all about being able to break down a script and a character and bring it to life at the audition.
I know great actors that suck at auditioning, that's what you need to be doing, auditioning.
You should have at least 2-3 monologues that you can do at any time.
Something comedic and something dramatic, and not something you made up or just from some book.
They need to be from a known (or relatively known) play or author.
They could be from a movie too, but you run the risk of just trying to imitate the person that was in the film or tv show.
There has to be an agent near you that can give you more info than I can, I live in Las Vegas, I don't know what there is to offer there in MI.




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

QUESTION: Barbizon is a class. They tell you they are a class and that is exactly what they are. a class.
even though the church play wasnt profesional, they werent made up by some random church members. they were real plays.
no, my acting coach has not done anything besides community stuff but that does not mean that she does not know what she is doing. she is not doing it herself because its not her passion. why wast her time if its not what she loves? funny that you say that about the camera technique because it was 50% video production. maybe you should stop assuming stuff about people that you dont know.
I love auditioning. I am good at it too. I only had one monologue though so I will get more. thank you. the one that I have is dramatic. thank you for trying to help.
why are you teaching and not doing it yourself? how can someone teach what they cant do? hmmm, Im seeing a bit of a hypocrite in you)
         love love love (again) Andie
         
         -Thank you, again, for the information you did give me

Answer
Keep studying with people that have never worked in the business themselves and that's what you will learn.
Have you bothered looking me up on imdb.com yet, if so you will see that I am still (currently) working in the business.
I also happen to coach others that are interested in the business of acting.
Good luck.