AboutKenneth D. Plonkey Expertise Questions about acting and directing. Questions about getting started in a careeer. Questions about training and schooling for actors.
Experience I am a retired film actor. I am a retired university theatre program director and professor. I am the author of "The Tao of Acting, Mentoring for the Aspiring Actor" to be published this summer.
Organizations SAG
Education/Credentials BA, MA, PhD in Theatre
Post graduate study with certificate in Media Acting
Awards and Honors John Golden Traveling Fellowship
Question QUESTION: i want to act/sing on the disney channel. ive already seen their official website for auditions. right now i am a junior in new jersey. my parents want me to get a degree in something though. right now i've taken one acting class, i take singing classes from my music teacher, and i do plays. so this is my plan: move to CA at the end of senior year, enroll in a college there for business adn acting (major/minor) and continue auditioning fro disney channel. how is the plan? and how can i make my resume if ive only taken one acting course and singing from my music teacher?
ANSWER: HI Hiral, Well your plan is not as crazy as most that are sent me. By the time you are out of college (even high school really) you will be too old for Disney Channel. I think your time is past already, but there are other acting endeavors for someone who is extraordinarily talented, has the right personality, knowledge of the business of acting and who is very very lucky. Business major, PR especially, is important for an aspiring actor, so I approve of you major. I am doubtful that there will be a really decent acting minor anywhere, but no matter, because the course work is of no consequence anyway, You want to carefully choose a small college where you can participate as an actor in the plays without being a theatre student. Then if you want to take any of the classes, you can, but you will not be saddled with mandatory stagecraft labs and so on. Your resume may be quite fine with the training you have. Write me at kencosp@aol.com and I will send you a guide to making a resume and we can see what it looks like. I will also send you my ebook on how to prepare to be an actor. And I encourage you to read the posts on my blog about the nature of show business and an acting career before you do anything else. The reality is far different than the illusion on the screen. My blog is http:theatredoconacting.blogspot.com I have written several posts on what the acting career is like. I look forward to your questions. God bless, Doc
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QUESTION: i know i'm past the age already but i dont want to work in any movies till im out of college. thats why i'd rather work with disney channel during college and since its popular, i'll be known everywhere and will be able to get jobs easily.
Answer Dear Hiral, Well, getting a part on Disney is not that easy. IT is, in fact, quite unlikely that you will do so while you are attending college. The auditions, should you get one, and the filming, should you get cast, will take you out of your classes at the college. I see that for whatever reason, you have not contacted me regarding my book on how to prepare for an acting career nor about my blogs. May I also encourage you to read Acting Professionally by Robert Cohen? It was been the source of info on being a professional for several decades. I think your moving to Los Angeles is a huge mistake when you are so close to NYC which has both film and stage opportunities for actors. Also there are few schools with as good an acting program as Rutgers, but you would not be able to study business at the same time, as it is too demanding an acting major. Well, You asked my help and I have, I think, generously responded with information and sources of information which you badly need. The rest is up to you. Best wishes, Doc
