Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/acting

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Expert: - 4/12/2005


Question
Hello,

My name is Andrea.  I have recenlty moved to NY and I am
interested in breaking into acting/modelling.  If there are
any tips or suggestions you could share with me in order to
begin my career that would be great.  I have expereince in
theatre acting and solo performing.  Here is my website:
www.andreamathew.com

You help is appreciated

Answer
Andrea,

Thanks for writing. So you want to be an actress and model? Well you have your work cut out for you. Pursuing both are very difficult careers at which to make a living.

I haven't seen you perform so I cannot speak about your talent. However, you did provide me with a link to your website with some of your photographs which I've had a chance to look at. Nice photos. You're very photogenic. That's the good news. The bad news, however, is that you are not pretty enough to be a fashion model. Please forgive me if I sound negative or mean, as I don't mean to be cruel, but if you look at the most successful fashion models working today, they are drop-dead gorgeous. You are a pretty girl, truly. But you are not drop dead gorgeous. There are very few women that are. They have what I call that indescribable "it." They have "it" and that's what sets them apart from the rest of the women in the world. And that's why there are so few successful models.

You don't have to agree with me. Mine is only one opinion. But if I were you, I would focus on an acting career. Let your talent be your success and that may lead you to doing some modeling.

As far as talent, I haven't seen you perform so I cannot comment on your talent. Only you will know in your heart if you have talent or not. But if you intend to pursue acting as a career, then consider purchasing a copy of my book, GET A REEL JOB as I am confident that it will help you with starting your career. You can find it at www.reeljob.net or at amazon.com.

If after reading it you still have questions, write to me at pnatp@adelphia.net and I will do what I can to help answer your questions.

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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