Expert: Kenneth D. Plonkey - 4/29/2009

Question
Firstly, thank you very much for looking at my question!
I am wanting to go into acting on a masters course as I have just finished a degree in a different subject.
Acting has always been my first love, and I managed to even get with a professional company for a play about 4 months ago, I seem to be stuck however for acting possibilities; Finances and a lot of saving will hopefully allow me to try to audition for the MA acting course in about a year and a half's time, however, despite having been pretty frequent with acting roles, I fear that the drought im suffering currently may knock me back as a candidate. I'm sure you have this type of question all the time, but in your opinion, would a situation like this knock me back? would amateur theatre be just as good a cv builder as the last job I did 'professionally'? and of course, nothing else compensates for talent, but would, in your opinion, a candidate who has completely funded herself for the subject she wants to do come across as being serious about their work? By the way, I live in the North East of England, so it is a little like a ghost town where acting jobs seem to be concerned!!
Thank you very much!

Answer
Hello Carlie, This is a difficult question, but I am happy to attempt an answer. You managed "to get" with a professional company. Does that mean you were hired as a professional actor and paid union wages?(And made eligible for membership in the union?}If so, I would try to take that to the bank, by getting to London and auditioning for other companies.  As a former educator, I mistrust most academic preparation for acting, and would like to see you build your CV with both professional and amateur acting (the important thing is that you are acting). It certainly would be better to have several roles on your CV when you  audition for anything. I think the best thing to do is to get your finances together and move to London and get serious about acting.  In order to best continue our discussion of your situation, please write me at kencosp@aol.ocm and answer my questions and we will continue.  God bless, Doc