You are here:

Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/Moving to the US for a career in acting.

Advertisement

Expert: - 4/29/2010


Question
Hi Phil my names Ben and I'm an 21 Year Old Irish Man. I am currently in my 2nd year of a computing degree. I have always wanted to act but never had the chance to in school or as a past time in my home town either. I continually get asked why I didn't become an actor, but it just wasn't there for me. I am hoping to finish my degree and save some money up by working for a year or two. By this time I will be 25 give or take. My question is, is this early enough to start off?
I have been looking at schools in America also and was wondering about the New York Film Academy, is this a good school?
And also, as an Irish actor, would there be a calling for this and should I be already perfecting more dialects?

Thanks in Advance

Ben

Answer
Ben,

Thanks for writing. It is never too late to begin pursuing an acting career. People in their 50's, 60's and 70's do it all the time! So don't worry that 25 is too late!

Stay away from The New York Film Academy. As I understand it, they do not have a very good reputation. You'd have better luck with the Los Angeles Film School.

Can you work with an Irish accent? Certainly. Colin Farrell does, doesn't he? As long as you can eliminate your accent and sound like an American, then you should have no problem. If you can't do an American accent, start working on it. In fact, try and develop accents that make you sound like a New Yorker, a Southerner, a New Englander, and a Midwesterner.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Phil  

Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Phil Nemy

Expertise

I am a motion picture and television producer with over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry. I am also the author of the book GET A REEL JOB: Finding Your First Job In The Motion Picture Industry In Los Angeles. I can answers questions on a variety of subjects about careers in film from acting to directing to crew work, getting into the unions, successful strategies for networking, etc.

Experience

Former VP, Production for The Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group Supervised production on such films as ARMAGEDDON, THE PRINCESS DIARIES, REMEMBER THE TITANS, PEARL HARBOR, CON AIR, ENEMY OF THE STATE, THE ROCK, CRIMSON TIDE, COYOTE UGLY, A CIVIL ACTION, ROMY & MICHELE'S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION, NOTHING TO LOSE, EDDIE and others. Worked as an actor, stage manager, director on broadway and regional theater as well as L.A.' Equity-waiver scene. Former Associate Artistic Director of Los Angeles Equity-Waiver theater.

Organizations
Director's Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild, Actor's Equity Association

Education/Credentials
BFA in Acting/Directing from Carnegie Mellon University.

Past/Present Clients
I've worked with such filmmakers as Jerry Bruckheimer, Tony Scott, Steve Zaillian, Scott Rudin, Garry Marshall, Frank Marshall, Michael Bay, etc.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.