Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/Finding Jobs/Getting an Agent

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Expert: - 5/6/2006


Question
I am a teen who loves acting, and in July I'm going to be pursuing a career in acting for movies and tv shows, but I don't know how to find an agent, or even how I should go about doing this, I live in Raleigh, NC, and I'm willing to do what it takes to get into the industry.

Answer
Joel,

Thanks for writing. I'm from Raleigh as well! Small world!

I wish you great luck with pursuing your career. But if you're really serious about an acting career in film and TV, then you need to move to Los Angeles, enroll in acting classes, get into a couple of showcases, and invite every agent you can find.

If you're not planning to move to LA, but instead remain in Raleigh, then I can't be of much help as I don't know of any good agents in that area. As far as acting classes, you might check and see if Ira David Wood is teaching a class as he's quite good!

I 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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