Expert: Phil Nemy - 8/7/2006

Question
hi, I just wanted your opinion on something really

I have aspirations of acting, and although am in the very early stages of pursuing it, I know the traditional route like the back of my hand (take lessons, do amdram, get an agent, audition audition audition, get a job, get another, etc etc)

The thing is, that whenever I read interviews with famous/successful actors, very few seem to have taken this route. Its often a case of who they knew, happened by accident whilst doing something else, picked off the street etc. I'm not saying that no one worked for years developing their skills and struggling for parts, but it certainly seems that the majority were just lucky in their opportunities.

I realise that even if the industry were 'fair', still not everyone could be successful. It just makes me wonder how practical this advice is. Maybe I should be spending equal amounts of time trying to network, and get in with the right circles of people. Its always been my view that it would be much more satisfying to make it (not necessarily famous, but just always employed in good roles) off my own back, but is that really possible any more?

Sorry, I've rambled a bit more than I wanted to.

What are your thoughts on this?

Answer
Kate,

Thanks for writing. For every famous actor who says he/she made it by accident, through contacts and without training, I can show you 10 famous actors who would tell you that training is a MUST!

Fame is fleeting. Most famous actors aren't famous because they're amazingly talented, well-trained actors. It's because they have a "look," that indescribable "it" that you either have or you don't have. If you want to work in film or TV, the camera has to love you. If it doesn't, you'll have a tougher time establishing and maintaining a career. But at the end of the day, ask yourself this: do you want to be famous, or do you want to be a well-respected, well-trained actor who works all the time?

If you want to be famous, have a photographer take headshots of you, move to L.A. and start networking and see what comes of it.

If you want to be a respected working actor, learn the craft by getting into acting classes (the best being in training programs in reputable universities across the country), study hard, appear in showcases, get an agent, and then start networking and see what comes of it.

Either way, there is no guarantee you'll be famous OR a working actor. A great deal of it is simply plain ol' luck!

Hope this helps.

Phil