Expert: Peter Messaline - 10/31/2009

Question
Hello,
I am Steffi Michael from India. I write songs and compose music. I am doing it from 8th std and now I am in 12th.
I write poems too and many of them have been published in my school magazine.
I can sing as well.
I would like to make my music know to all. In what way should I do it. It's my dream to perform before milions of people and I don't just want it to be a dream.
I hope you won't mind helping me.
I have worked in my school plays and music related shows like annual day etc.
Does walt disnep give chance to new comers. I am 16 yrs old and would like to work in the entertainment industry.

Answer
Hi Steffi
You have a useful school history, and your skills are impressive,
but you are a long way from being a professional.

Walt Disney does audition young people, but they are generally young professionals, with some experience and professional-level training. W.D. sees thousands of people each year, from the tens of thousands who apply, and hires only a handful.

When somebody is hired as a performer, even if they are well-known, even if the part is small, someone has to take a gamble that it'll work out. Because the competition for any job is so high, engagers have to cut down on the people they can see. Sometimes this is down by auditioning quietly, strictly by invitation, sometimes by asking trusted talent agents for their recommendations, having an assistant look at that list, and cut it down.

Having a résumé of work you've done professionally means that a number of people have not been let down by you. This generally means that an agent can take you on with some confidence that you'll make some money and pay some commission. Now you are ready to start the hunt for serious casting.

Most teenage characters in film and TV are played by much older actors, so you have some time to work with. Wherever you are in India, there will be local opportunities to start performing seriously, and getting some serious training.
Google your city or area and <actor> or <performer>
and you'll find training studios that might be useful. By checking them out, without paying any fees, you'll learn a lot about the sorts of people in our business. When you find a class you like, don't book for a whole bunch of classes in advance. You might not like how things develop.
If you get a contact for someone actually hiring actors, find out what sort of thing they are doing, and write to tell them about yourself. Just a one-page letter telling them how good they are and what you think you could do for them. Keep in touch with them, don't expect a reply until your latest letter happens to land on the desk just at the right time.
You may find discussion groups or websites giving you contacts with local people like yourself. Use them to get the local rumours and answers to your questions, but also to learn that everyone has ups and downs, just as everyone has big dreams.

Hang on to your dream of major stardom, but concentrate now on building the foundations for that magic. Without a whole army of people trusting your work, you will never persuade anyone to hire you for anything really important.

Have a successful journey, and enjoy the scenery you're going through, as well as your view of the stardom on the horizon.