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Expert: - 7/26/2007


Question
Hi Phil! My son Alvin SantaMarina is 9 years old and he is very talented. He has a wild imagination and can act it out for me. I would like to know what steps do I need to take finding him an acting career. His number one interest is Disney acting. I know that is a big step but I need to know where to start?

Answer
Keila,

Thanks for writing. The best thing you can do for your son is enroll him in quality acting classes. While YOU may believe he is very talented, those who work with actors every day are the REAL judges of talent. If he auditions for them, they'll be able to see the level of his talent and can determine the level of acting class in which he should begin.

Once he's gotten some good training under him, you then need to get him in some stage productions so he can be seen performing by agents. Invite agents to see his work and then ask if any of them are interested in representing him.

Once you've got an agent, your agent will help get Alvin out on auditions that he may be right for.

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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