Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/Agency? Life question

Advertisement

Expert: - 11/11/2005


Question
  Hey Phil it's your favorite apprentice!  I know I've been asking you a lot of questions but honestly I think your smart and the chance of asking an expert a question doesn't come often so I'm milking every ounce that i can.  Anyway, my question is, what's the best agency to be involved  in?  There are so many, what's the one that you know is very prestiges that will allow me to shoot for the stars.  
        Here's a life question that I hope you could help me out with.  I'm not really asking you what I should do, moreless what would be the best method for my acting life.  I love acting and everything about it.  I'm 19 but I look like I'm 16.  I know this is advantage because I can have the experience of a 25 year old except look like a high school student.  All I want to do is act, whether it's film or theatre.  I'm at a JC college right now and I was wondering if as soon as I  graduate should I move to Hollywood?  I'm ready for it I believe, I'll work my ass off and work at Pizza Hut till I get my break lol.  Which hopefully will come.  Anyway, do you think I should stay an additional two years in school and get my acting degree and then move to L.A.  Or move to LA so not to waste two years of my acting life where my big break could have already happened.  I appreciate you taking the time to answer this complex question.  
                                   
                                       Sincerely,
                                          Eric J. Harlow

Answer
Eric,

Question #1: the best agency for you is the agency that can sell you the best. You want an agent that is going to work FOR you, not wait until you get the job and then he steps in. You want someone who is really going to invest in you and your career.

Question #2: Stay in school and get your degree. Hopefully, you'll learn even more about a lot of things, about your craft, about yourself. That will better prepare you for pursuing your career. You're young, you have time. Finish school and gety your degree. And if nothing else, if you DON'T make it as an actor, at least you'll have a degree on which you can fall back.

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.