Expert: Peter Messaline - 6/25/2007

Question
Hi Peter.

When I was seven I wanted to be an actor but my parents, particularly my dad
discouraged me simply because they thought I didn't have what it takes.
However, by the time I was in high school, their perspective had changed.
They saw that I was good at imitating people and performing a variety of
accents. I attempted to join the high school drama department when one of
the students there told me to report to the auditorium after school that one
day, but nobody was around, in other words, I was given the runaround. I
found it suprising that I couldn't find an acting class or group considering
that I was residing in Queens, New York at the time. After high school, I
moved to Florida and finally joined an acting class during my 20's. I enjoyed it
very much and learned what my strengths and weaknesses were. I took two
semesters of acting classes and in my final acting class, my instructor placed
a huge emphasis on improvs. Improvs were my weakest aspect of acting
because I've been conditioned by adults to let go of our spontaneity and think
and feel like rigid individuals. The problem with this is that it blocks creativity
and now at age 34 I was finally able to regain it.

The thing is, I'm aware that acting is a very difficult profession because its not
a financially stable one, however, I am very financially secure, so I don't care
about the money. I want to do this because I love acting and would like to
learn as much as I can about it. I'm interested in becoming a character actor
who specializes in playing complex tortured individuals as well as voice
acting. Today, we live in an age where we don't necessarily have to go
through the normal channels of casting due to such things as youtube and
other opportunities to grow as actors. In fact, I'm considering eventually
creating my own production group using my own money and create things
that I would like to see become a reality as opposed to the Hollywood stuff
that's currently being produced. But first, I'm planning to get back to acting
lessons. The great Lawrence Oliver once said in his book, "Lawrence Oliver On
Acting" that one can become a star at any age, especially if you're in your
senior years as you draw your final breath. But in my case, I'm not interested
in becoming a star, I want to become a serious character actor. My question
is, do you think I'm too old to become an actor?

Best regards,

Julian

Answer
You are not too old to become an actor.

Depending on where you are living, your financial independence will open different doors. If you can get a reputable degree, that will validate you in the eyes of agents and casting directors. It will also plug you in to the business as it now is.

Starting your own production company is dangerous. You may be seen as a dilettante, used but not respected. Start by being part of other people's independent films. The local film college will certainly need actors for their projects. (unless you're in LA, where I imagine that competition for these roles is fierce) Once you have some street cred, you can move on to being in a co-op group and then to being the producer. There is a LOT more to producing than is immediately obvious.

Do take classes, with a range of different teachers, if a college course doesn't attract. Take what you can from as many different approaches as possible.

Don't decide now what sort of parts you want. You can't control that -- it depends on what is being written and how you appear to those casting you. As a character actor myself, I am sorry to say that character acting is on the way out. More and more, theatre is following film and TV's lead and casting to type, rather than using an actor's ability to produce exactly the character needed.

Casting is a matter of giving someone else a measure of trust. The producer is saying to the actor, "I trust you enough to give you the responsibility for part of my investment in the project." No-one ever knows that an actor will be right; they trust the actor's ability and work ethic. Which means that most casting will still be done face to face, in the physical community of performers, from people known to the person doing the casting. Even a big film production coming in to town for location scenes casts through a local casting director, who knows the actors somewhat, and trusts their agents.

Wherever you are, put yourself out into the community, doing the things that you can do. Solve people's problems and they will grow to trust you with stuff nearer your ambition.
Congratulations on choosing the road less travelled
All the best