Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/Being on Disney

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Expert: - 5/15/2010


Question

Myself
Hello, Thank you for your time.
I started to sing ever since I could talk and my dream is to be on Disney Channel, acting or singing. I wanted to know how I could get my start or if you could possibly give me some advice. Im 17 of age and I want to do something that I love and live in out while I can. Thank you so much for your time, again.

Alannah.

Answer
Alannah,

Thanks for writing. If you seriously want to be an actress, and maybe be on the Disney Channel, then you need to enroll in quality acting classes to develop your talent and prepare for a career. Then you need to move to Los Angeles as 95% of all film and TV projects are cast in LA. Including Disney Channel productions.

Once you're in LA, you need to get into some local acting classes, appear in plays and get into some showcases. These are all ways that agents can see your work. You need a talent agent to represent you and help you get into auditions, so you've got start working in something that shows your talent. When you're appearing in something, invite the local agents to attend so they can see you perform. If one of them likes you and thinks you're marketable, then he may be interested in representing you.

From that point forward, you have to work to get as many auditions as you can, say a lot of prayers, and hope that the acting gods are with you as it's a very tough road to stardom, which most actors never find.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Phil  

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.

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