Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/How do to become an actress??

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Expert: - 11/30/2006


Question
Hi
I am 18 yrs old going on 19 and a college student at the moment a buisness/ communications major.I did some plays when i was younger at camp and i really enjoyed my highschool play production class plus i was in a few plays at school.I would like to know how i could start the process of becoming a professional actress i have really wanted too since i was little?A friend of mine suggested acting classes and then to look for an agency?I live an hour away from NYC how would i start?

Answer
Penny,

Thanks for writing. Your friend is correct. You need to enroll in acting classes. In fact, if you're REALLY serious about an acting career, conside transfering colleges to a college with a top-level acting degree program like Carnegie Mellon, NYU, Julliard, etc.

But you should definitely start by getting into some acting classes.

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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