Expert: Rusty Meyers - 5/24/2007

Question
"Hi, i just turned 14 and ive wanted to be an actress since I was really little.
When I was younger I did a few radio commercials and 2 school plays. Ive also
been in the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade for the past 4 years and have done
numerous dance frestivals and shows.
anyway, this summerr im going to ACTeen and I heard tis  really good acting
program, any way im trying to get an agent but i feel like i dont have enoug on
my resume.
All I have is 3 school plays, a featured extra in a short film, 3 radio
commercials and thats it.
Because I heard u cant put the parade, dance shows, or chorus/hoir/singing shows
on your resume..so i had to take those all off. and i live in nyc and my
grandfather is a part-time actor who does mostly community theater but i get
tips form him. and im getting headshots done, and im subscribed to backstage
magazine and always looking for random auditons..anyway, i dont know what else
to do to make this go faster.or quicker..any advice?? tips??"  

Answer
Sounds like you are doing a lot of the right things.
I don't know who said to take those things off of your resume, but since you are only 14 this actually shows that you are well rounded.
So while they might not be films, tv or commercials they are performing and can/should (IMO) be listed somewhere.
Don't try and make it go faster, it'll go fast enough believe me.
Do things right so you don't miss anything.
Stay in school, take as many acting, singing, dancing, band, speech, gymnastics, language courses as you can.
The more things you can do such as juggle, baton twirl, yodel, tight rope walk, stilts, crack a whip, any accents (are especially good) are goin to help.
So you've got lots to do while waitng for your big break.
Yes getting an agent is a major thing and there are a bunch of them (good & bad) in NYC and everywhere else.
ACTeen will or certainly should provide you with a list of people they recommend.
If you are interested in theatre great but realize that film & tv acting is a little bit different (some will say completely different) but nonetheless, you should be able to adjest your performance level to match the media, and that can be tough for theatre actors.
Film & TV actors have a tendency to under play and not be able or have the voice to project to the back wall night after night.
While theatre actors that is built in and when on camera comes across as pushing or over playing it and needs to be toned down.
Depending on what you want to do and what you are best suited for is ultimately going to be what you should look for in your training.
For now do it all and enjoy it.