Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/Age?

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Expert: - 7/2/2007


Question
Is there an age, where it is hard to get acting jobs? I'm 16, but my age range could possibly be as young as 14. I was told by an agent that the older teen years are hard, because usually 20+ year olds play people that age. What is your take one it?

Answer
Sammi,

Thanks for writing. Being young is a good thing in our business. The younger you look, the more you'll work as an actor. Why? Because there are more roles for younger-looking actors than there are for older-looking actors. Producers would much rather higher an actor who is in his 20's who looks as young as 14 because then the Producer doesn't have to deal with minors laws that limit the amount of time a minor can be in front of the camera.

Hope this helps.

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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