Expert: Kitty Kavey - 4/23/2007

Question
My name is Jack Farrel, I'm 19 years old From the US.
I have always had an interest in acting and I have no idea if it's possible for me to become anything worth while.
But my question is, what would I do to get involved in that field, how hard is it, where would I start, and do I stand
a chance among the countless others who also try. And I haven't made any steps toward it what soever.
Please help advise.
-Jack

Answer
There are a number of things you could do.  If you already know what type of acting you are interested in pursuing, you could begin by taking a class in that type of acting, or at least take an auditioning class to better familiarize yourself with the terminology.  If you're doing Extra/background work, you won't need a professional headshot/resume - but for most any other type of acting, you will.  You can gain experience on your own by acting in local theater productions, and student or independent films, as well as local television productions/commercials.  
You can also submit your information to the talent agencies closest to you, or if you live close to/in one of the larger markets (such as Los Angeles or New York City) you can submit yourself to professional castings though one of the online services (such as ActorsAccess.com or NowCasting.com) or through audition notices in your local trade paper.  
Of course, if you're not ready to start auditioning or looking for an agent, and are just trying to figure out which type of acting suits you best, you can always stop by your local library or bookstore to pick up a few books about the different types of acting and related subjects such as commercial print modeling or voiceover.  
There are also books and lists available of monologues (some theatrical talent agents audition new talent by asking them to perform a monologue) and commercial copy (some commercial talent agents ask you to prepare a 15 or 30 second spot for your audition with them) - but you can ask what's required from new talent before you submit your information to agents.  
One of the best lists of talent agents (besides those available in your local library or bookstore) is the Screen Actor's Guild list of agencies - go to www.SAG.org, under Resources, Agent Information.  The SAG-franchised agency list is organized by location in the US, and most agencies nowadays have a website you can search for, for additional information.  
As to how hard it is, I'm not sure I can answer that.  I think the level of difficulty someone experiences in the industry is a very personal thing, and depends on many different factors.  Some people have fought and struggled to get ahead, some do so seemingly without much effort at all, and others become overnight sensations without even trying.  My advice is if you feel that you are one of a large number of people who are all trying to reach the same goal, take the time to work on what makes you unique, special and different.  Whatever you choose to do, do it to the best of your ability.  Remember that acting may be just a hobby for some, or something fun to do - but for many of us it is a business, and a level of professionalism is expected.  Show up on time, ready and prepared to work, with a polite and professional demeanor, and you're already ahead of half the people in the industry.
Good luck to you,
~Kitty