Expert: Taylor Sheppard - 1/19/2010

Question
I am now 15 and for as long as i can remember i know that i have wanted to act, there are just a few problems, the biggest is that i live in a small town in Warwickshire, England and there are no oppourtunities to do anything acing related out of school, i was cut from the GCSE drama class due to over subscriptin but after that happened it has only made me more determined to achive my dream. I have now been accepted on to a performing arts A level course for when i leave school in a few months time. i really would like to know how to enter the acting world once i leave college and achieve my dream.

Answer
Hi Ella,

Well, as my Aussie friends would say: "Good on ya!" for not giving up!

Things are a little different in different countries, but basically, you would approach starting the same way there. You would want to move close to a big market/city where there would be opportunity. From there, you would get "headshots" -photographs of your head and shoulder area- done by a pro photographer. The better the quality, the better to market your face...literally.
Then you would need to make a resume of your training and experience so far, and whatever talents you have. When I say talents, it could be skydiving to turning your eyelids inside out or blowing a bubblegum bubble with another bubble inside it, or simply different dances. ANYTHING! Sometimes they are looking for something strange for a film, or maybe not, but by piquing their interest, casting remembers you from your demonstration of the skill! Just be sure if you put "Russian accent" that it is good!

Once you have the photo which you staple the resume (facing out) on the back of it, you write a brief letter stating you seek representation in the market and would like to meet if possible, to determine if it would be mutually agreeable to have them represent you. Short, polite and to the point. No blathering on about your dreams, etc. Save that for later. If they like the look and your personality (be yourself!) then they will let you know. If you mail off to 10 agents and only 1 or 2 reply, that is normal. You also want to look in a local directory (avoid the internet) to locate their addresses for post. Here we have part of the telephone book with yellow pages where businesses take out long term ads for their services. As they are several months -if not a year in duration before a new book arrives to replace them, scam "agents" tend to not use them. (When scams come to town, they leave quickly too!)

I would also highly recommend continuing classes elsewhere once you leave school, as an actors education never ends, it is practice, practice, practice!

You can look up "sample resumes" on the internet to view typical formats. Just avoid putting your statistics (weight, height, age, hair colour) on the resume. Also write your address and email and phone on the letter, NOT on the resume, because when you have an agent, all contact goes through them. It also keeps you safer. Just have your name at the top of the resume, and once you get on with an agent, the agency's contact info and logo under your name.

Best,

Taylor