Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/small town in iowa

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Expert: - 8/7/2006


Question
How does someone who lives in a small town in a state such as iowa find Film auditions or an agent for that matter?  

Answer
Sara,

Thanks for writing. The answer to your question is, you can't. You won't find many auditions in Iowa. 85% of all film and television roles are cast in Los Angeles. 10% are cast in NYC. The remaining 5% are cast all of the country. Not very good odds if you live in Iowa.

The same goes for agents. You won't find many agents in Iowa. Most agents are based in LA or NYC.

However, the Iowa Film Commission is a good resource for learning what productions will be shooting in Iowa as well as the names of any legitimate agencies in Iowa. Try contacting them for information.

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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