Expert: Phil Nemy - 9/26/2007

Question
"Hello,

I am a 24 yr old latino female.  I've been acting all my life in
community shows, school shows, and most recently in short films and videos in
college (not that i have any real proof of this since i didn't get
copies).  I've gotten extremely positive feedback from professors who've
worked in the industry as well as fellow students.  I currently have a
stable 9-5 job, but can't seem to get the yearning for acting out of my
system, no matter what i try.

I've recently enrolled in a serious miesner technique acting studio and
have been asked to join as a full member.  I'm working on the craft,
but i need to know, what should my next step be?  I have no headshots
yet (but i've consulted with a photographer that I really like), and i
know that this is a crucial step.  I have no reel, and am obviously
non-union.  how do you recommend getting experience as a new comer to NYC?
 mandy.com/student films?  Since i AM 24 the clock in my head is really
starting to speed up...I'm even considering leaving my current good,
stable job in order to pursue the only thing that has ever really mad me
happy.  Any advice on  how to start from where i am would be much
appreciated, including how to get an agent, and when to start trying for
one.  Thank you!"

Answer
Steph,

Thanks for writing. Getting into a good acting class is a great decision. I don't know where you live, but if you're not in LA, then you need to get to LA to pursue your career. if you ARE in LA, make sure you're in a class that Casting Directors will be familiar with, one they feel is reputable. Otherwise, you're wasting your money.

You also will want to get into a cold reading class, like the one Margie Haber teaches, as well as an improvisation class. Both skills are a necessity for you to master.

Once you have headshots done, get them up on LAcasting.com and Actorsaccess.com, two of the leading online submission websites. And definitely consider subscribing to the Breakdown Service so that you have access to everything that is casting. Other than this, subscribe to Backstage West for ALL auditions weekly (film, TV, theater, radio, industrials, both union and non-union). Since you don't have a resume, you need to generate one.

The way to generate a resume is to work. Appear in as much non-union film and TV work as you can, even if it's student film work. Get copies of your work and cut a reel together. You MUST have a reel of your acting work, and it should not be longer than 4 minutes. Casting Directors won't watch more than than.

Some casting directors will meet with new, inexperience talent, even talent that is unrepresented. Most won't, so get an agent as soon as you can.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Phil