Expert: Kenneth D. Plonkey - 7/6/2009

Question
QUESTION: Dear Mr.Plonkey,
My name is Adrienne, a 12 year old female. I have a passion for acting, but I'm not really sure how to start! I also don't have much experience, but I'm positive that I want acting as my career. To make this easier for you, I should tell you what I already know: I need an agent and I need to audition for one. They also get 5%-20% of the profits I make. I need to make a resume about myself, and I need a headshot for directors. Directors will accept me if they actually like the headshot. And that's pretty much it...I actually want to know more about agencies that aren't a scam. Around the experience area, I want to know if I should take acting/drama classes/camps, or auditioning for community plays. I also like to know about what I should put in my resume. That's pretty much it...Oh, and I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA. So it's much easier to recommend agencies around here, OK...THANK YOU!
~Adrienne

PS Sorry, if I'm asking too much

ANSWER: Hello Adrienne, Acting seems like an exciting career when you are young and it is easy to get overly enthused about it, get in a hurry to make it happen and get scammed.  Some of the things you already "know" about becoming an actor are not true. For example agents get 10% to 15% of the gross you make, not profits. What you  may not know or realize is that professional acting is a business and like other businesses requires investment and know how. You also kind of have experience and training mixed up. Training is classes, camps and workshops. Experience is plays, films and commercials.   Now, to be a professional actor before you are 18, your parents have to make it happen. Because of child labor laws you cannot do anything professional without them actually being with you and signing for you. You do not need professional headshots before you have an agent and you do need to have a great resume before you seek an agent. Directors do not accept you from a headshot, they may give you an audition from your headshot or cast you as an extra from a headshot. To build a resume you need to be in all the plays and non union films you can. Except for the ones at school that you will hear about, your parents have to go out in the world and find you others. Once you have a few good things on your resume, your parents need to find you some good acting classes, summer camps and so one. when you have a good resume (this will take a few years) your parents can seek an agent for you. You will have to contact me at kencospWaol.com and ask for my info on making a resume so I can attach it to my reply as it is too lengthy to write here. Do not get in a hurry to become a professional actress, that is how people get scammed. Avoid such companies as JR Powers, Casablanacas and Barbizon or anyone else who tries to sell you lessons or photos in order to be  your agent. Preparation is everything in becoming an actor. You can't expect to succeed if you do not prepare.  Best wishes and God bless, Doc

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

QUESTION: Thanks Mr. Plonkey,
I read some other questions and answers about acting, so I got mixed up a lot. My friend Lizzy is actually auditioning for an agency and she is also 12. Is it ok for her and/or myself to audition for an agency right now?

Answer
Of course it is ok to audition for a legit agency, which one is she auditioning for?  Of course your parents have to take you and if you are accepted sign for you. Make sure the contract has a way for you to resign from it if you want to and make sure it is only for a year or two at most. Doc