Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/Acting

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Expert: - 8/15/2004


Question
Dear Phil,

My sister wants to get into acting.  What should she do to get started?  How does she find out where auditions are in her city, nearby cities, or LA?

Answer
Dear Kareem,

Thanks for writing. If your sister wants to be an actor, the first thing she needs to do is start by taking acting and movement classes. She needs to develop her talent. I don't know which city you live in, but chances are there is a state or city film commission in your area. Try contacting them for recommendations of acting workshops in your area.

You may also wish to contact a local office of the Screen Actors Guild or Actor's Equity Association which are the unions that represent actors for film, television and theatre. They may be able to recommend some acting classes as well.

Finally, look in the trade papers in your city, like the local casting listings. They often list classes available.

As far as auditions, if you live in a town where there isn't much filming or theatre work, you won't find many auditions. But there is nothing wrong with calling the theatres in your area and asking them when their next production is scheduling auditions.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Phil

Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing

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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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