Breaking into Acting For Dummies. Larry Garrison

through Parts 1 and 2 and jump right into deciding how to market yourself or into exploring the different types of acting jobs you could start investigating.

      Of course, not everyone may want to pursue acting full-time, so for readers who are considering acting just part-time or as a hobby, look at Chapter 24. That chapter reveals the abundance of opportunity available to anyone who sees acting as just a really cool hobby that allows them to express themselves in public without getting arrested.

      Consider this book as a gentle guide that you can browse through, skim, and even ignore as you want. Just remember to keep your sense of humor and enjoy your life right now, no matter what your dreams may lead you toward — and you’ll always be happy no matter what amount of success you may ultimately achieve.

The purpose of acting (or any career) isn’t just to make money. The purpose is to enjoy yourself and experience your dream. Armed with the information in this book, you can have fun as you break into the exciting and unpredictable world of acting.

      For more handy information, check out the Cheat Sheet at www.dummies.com; just search for “Breaking into Acting Cheat Sheet” for advice you can refer to again and again.

Part 1

      Figuring Out the Business of Acting

IN THIS PART …

      Understand show business is a business, which is the first rule in show business if you want to succeed.

      Recognize the needs and desires of the people who control the money in the world of film, television, and theater so you can better grasp what your role is as an actor.

      Figure out how to market yourself on a professional level.

      Follow the casting calls that are appropriate for your type.

Chapter 1

      Staying on Top of the Changes in Show Business

      IN THIS CHAPTER

      

Succeeding in show business

      

Comprehending how show business works

      

Preparing yourself for an acting career

      Nearly everyone fantasizes at one time or another about being a star. Who wouldn’t love to see their name on a big-screen marquee or experience the thrill of bowing before an audience that’s giving a standing ovation just for you?

      For many people, the idea of becoming a star in show business will always remain just a dream. This chapter serves as your starting point to guide you; perhaps you can be one of those few who turn their dreams of acting into reality.

      Understanding the two sides of show business is important. On one hand, you have the “show,” which means learning how to act and includes the glamour and fame that comes from being a star. On the other hand, you have the “business,” which includes the money and the negotiations that make a profit for everyone involved. The business side also means treating acting as a business, so you can get paid to act. If you remember nothing else from this book, at least remember this: Acting is a business. The more you treat acting like a business, the more likely you’ll be to succeed.

Here, you get a quick peek at what you need to succeed as an actor, whether you live in London, Los Angeles, or Lima, Ohio. You can see how actors market themselves by using a head shot, a resume, their representation, and the Internet, and how persistence and determination are the real secrets that can help you break into show business faster than you may think. If you ever thought that you could be an actor, you can. And this chapter gives you a brief introduction to that wonderful world of show business.

Understanding the World of Acting

      If you want to succeed in show business as an actor, you need to learn how to act. But you also need to be familiar with the business side of show business.

      Every year, thousands of hopefuls flock to Los Angeles and New York. And every year, thousands of these same hopefuls wind up disappearing into obscurity. The reasons are simple. Many aspiring actors embark on their career without knowing how show business works. So before you quit your job, pack up your bags, and move to Hollywood or Broadway to become tomorrow’s next big star, take a sneak-peek behind the production curtain in Chapter 2. Then take a look at Chapter 3, which introduces you to the movers and shakers of show business who can open doors for you.

What You Need to Succeed

      If the thought of spending years studying acting, working in bit roles, and getting paid sporadically (if at all) depresses you, maybe acting isn’t for you. On the other hand, if you truly enjoy acting for the sake of acting, the previously mentioned obstacles will be nothing more than minor nuisances on your way to success — whatever form that success may ultimately take.

      Every successful actor has to have two skills:

       A certain amount (but not necessarily a lot) of acting talent, which usually comes from a combination of natural ability and constant training.

       Knowing how to market yourself as a product is essential.

As an actor, you’re a salesperson, and the product that you’re selling is you. In order to sell yourself to the people in position to pay for your product (you as an actor), you need a head shot (so people know what you look like), a resume (so people know what experience and skills you have), and the necessary talent to wow a casting director when you audition for a role.

      An attention-grabbing head shot

      Talent and determination can increase the odds that you’ll succeed in show business, but until people know who you are, you’re just another face in the crowd. Because you can’t possibly introduce yourself to everyone who may be able to advance your career, you have to use a head shot instead.

      

A head shot is a photograph that acts as your calling card by displaying your face for others to see when you can’t be present physically. Your head shot should capture your best physical features in order to make casting directors and agents say to themselves, “I’ve got to meet this person!”

      

Have multiple head shots that look like you and represent your comedic (smiling) and theatrical side (serious). Some actors portray different characters that they’re likely to be cast in their head shots. For instance, if you’re going to play a gang member, have a picture showing that different side of you. Not every casting director or producer will have a wild imagination to cast you in certain roles.

      Because head shots can be such a crucial promotional tool, you absolutely must have the best head shot possible, which means finding the best photographer and developing a specific image for your head shot to project. In Chapter