Expert: Phil Nemy - 6/23/2006

Question
Hi there,
I'm a actress near San Francisco (moving to LA soon,) and I have only theatre expirence but I want to get work in the independent film industry. Do I need to be apart of SAG to get an audition, and how do I become a member? How do I get an agent? Are nowcasting.com and Breakdown Services worth subscribing to? How can I get film expirence and learn how to hit the marks etc.? (thus making myself more apealing to larger projcts), should I take a class?
I have only headshots no reel.
Thanks again for your help,
Daniela Herman  

Answer
Daniela.

Thanks for writing. You've asked a lot of good questions, so let's go thru them. First, you don't need to be a member of SAG in order to get an audition, but you DO need to be a member of SAG if you want to audition for a SAG film. To become a member of SAG, you must either A) be offered a speaking role in a SAG film, B) obtain a Taft-Hartley from a Producer or Director, or C) obtain 3 SAG Extra vouchers. All of these are explained in detail in my book, GET A REEL JOB (www.reeljob.net).

To get an agent, you need to be performing in something in which an agent can see your work, your talent. Since you do a lot of theatre, invite agents to see your work and then follow up with them in a phone call and ask for a general interview.

The Breakdown Service is a MUST. Nowcasting is okay.

How do you get film experience? By being cast in fllms. You can take acting classes form the camera which will give you some experience with working in front of a camera and hitting a mark. But the best experience is ACTUAL experience.

And by all means, NEVER stop taking classes, Continue to taking acting classes and constantly work on your craft. You want to be the best you can be and be ready when your chance comes along.

You need a reel, but if you don't have anything for a reel, then you obviously won't have one. You'll make one when you've got enough material for one.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

Phil