Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/Disney Channel Acting

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Expert: - 10/31/2006


Question
Hi!
My sister's biggest dream is to act for the Disney Channel.  I was searching for sites that might have auditions listed, but I could not find any.  She is just starting off (age 10) and that is what worries me.  We do not come from a rich family and we are from Pennsylvania.  Therefore, we have very little travel money or money to pay an agent.  Can you give me any tips? I know very little about this career path but I want to see my sister live her dream. Thank you!

Answer
Lisa,

Thanks for writing. I've never worked for the Disney Channel, so I'm not the best person to ask about this. What I do know is that auditions are held for each project that the Channel produces, so they do not do general auditions once or twice a year. I would also suspect that their auditions are held in Los Angeles with an ocassional audition held in other cities, but that happens only when they are unable to find what they need in Los Angeles.

So if your sister wants to audition for the Disney Channel, she needs to get an agent and then move to Los Angeles. Nine times out of ten they won't even consider someone who isn't in Los Angeles.

Sorry for the bad news.

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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