Nobody has ever become an actor overnight. It requires education, learning new skills, getting in touch with the right people, gaining experience from small acting gigs, and finding the right agent. *Phew!*
So if you have decided to take the acting path, they are glad that you are here! In this post, we share how to become an actor with no experience, where to start acting, how to gain experience, and more.
What To Know Before Starting Your Acting Career?
Being an actor and performing in front of a camera or a large audience is not an easy job. They have to be fully prepared and let the acting come out naturally. If you are planning to become an actor, then you need to be realistic about your goals. Let’s read some important tips that you need to consider before starting your career in acting.
The Ins And Outs Of Auditioning
Always do proper research about the entire research process so that you know what you can expect. You also need to know how many casting directors, directors, talent agents, or decision makers are involved so that you can follow proper research. If you know everything about the upcoming audition, it can boost your confidence.
The Medium You Want To Focus On
You can make a list of productions from commercials, voice-over, theater, or films and choose whichever you want to join. While picking the right area, make sure you are interested in working in that field for a longer period. According to that, you can proceed with the auditions.
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Where Do You Want To Live
This is an important factor because moving to bigger cities with no income can be very challenging. So pick a smaller location where you can easily get great positions in theater and commercial productions to gain needed experience. If you have time and money then you can also join local acting classes.
How You’ll Make A Living Between Gigs
While you are gaining experience while acting in small gigs, make sure you also have a part-time job that can as well so that you can easily pay your bills. In the beginning, it will be tough to manage both, but as time passes by, you will learn to juggle both. So the best thing to do is find a survival job along with your acting jobs that will somehow make you a creative performer.
Where To Start Acting?
You might have read a biography of your favorite actress and noticed that she has learned acting from renowned acting schools and is trained by professionals. You also want to be like her but don’t hold any degree in acting.
We have good news for you! Now, you can become a successful actress onscreen or on stage without any formal education in acting. Learning and training just help you to hone certain skills, but that can be done without attending acting schools as well. Here is where and how to begin your journey in acting.
Take Acting Classes
If you are eager to learn more and exercise your acting skills, then attending acting classes is the best way to do it. For this, you can join any reputed local acting classes, dedicated websites, social media groups, and community forms for beginners to build your confidence and make you a better performer. Doing so will help you to improve your improvisation skills, and memorization, and enhance focus power.
Enroll In A Formal Acting Program
Getting a degree in acting is not necessary to become an actor. If you are a newbie and have an idea about this field, then you can join an acting program, full-time degrees, or night classes where they teach the students how to use their body and voice to communicate and also help you to act with other cast members. Such programs can also help you to increase your network.
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Join A Local Theater Group
Gain confidence and get trained by local theater groups. Here you can also experiment with various roles and see what style you like the most. By joining these amateur classes, you will gain insights into how the production system works and what are the levels.
Research And Practice Acting Techniques
You can find all sorts of acting techniques in various resources including books, journals, media portals, podcasts, guides, and more. Once you have enough material, practice district acting styles regularly. For this you don’t need any audience, you can practice new facial expressions and run lines in front of a mirror to make short videos.
Watch Performances And Take What Resonates
Watch your favorite celebrities’ plays, TV shows, films, and commercials, and note down important points. See how they act as per the different performances and notice their body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions. Also, take notes of producers or casting directors behind the films and shows to use the context.
Consider Taking On Special Skills
Add extra skills not only for your resume but to give you an edge and a plus point above your acting peers while a casting director is looking for a suitable actor. When the d-day arrives, or during the auditions, see what you can add to your skill set to make you a suitable candidate.
Learn How To Audition
If you want to become an actor then learn how to nail your auditions. First learn the process, how it differs, what the casting director expects, and what is the medium. Once you know what they are looking for and you have all the skills in you, then you will crack all the rounds. You can also enroll in specialized courses to break down the audition process.
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How To Book Work As An Actor?
Have you recently worked in a film or a TV show and you liked it? Do you want to continue in this same stream? If yes, then let’s find out what is the next thing you need to do!
Booking work…!
You may have so many questions like what is it and how to book work with no or little experience as an actor? Well, all your queries are solved below:
Know Your “Actor Type”
Before giving auditions, know your actor type. As in, know what roles you can easily get, nerd, girl next door. Handsome lead, family member, etc. Also, understand how the casting teams will perceive you and think about what role you perfectly fit into. Once you know all these things, you can go for such acting roles where the success rate of getting selected is high.
Take Professional Headshots
Headshots are the first impressions of you, so make sure you are looking for the best version of yourself. Show the casting director what you actually look like and how you carry yourself. Also, look for trendy headshots that look approachable yet casual.
Create A Demo Reel
Make your demo reel, aka, showreel, sizzle, or acting reel where you are performing. You can also use self-taped videos or students that should be around 20 seconds to 3 minutes long. Make sure that you are performing in different genres to show your versatility. Before uploading the clip on the casting profile or website, make sure the video is short and recently filmed.
Keep Your Resume Current
Always keep your resume maintained by adding important details about your latest acting gigs. Your resume is the only thing that gives information about your experiences, skills, and training. You can also highly recommend any behind the scene work, other special skills, and other stuff you have done. Your resume should express your seriousness about your career.
Sign With An Agent
After you get experience in the acting field and have already done a few projects, start looking for an agent. In the beginning, go for smaller companies that have a small number of agents that can help you to find the right role as per your abilities and skills.
Network With Industry Peers And Professionals
You can form a network with professionals as well as your industry peers to help them and to get any assistance from them. For this, it is not necessary to attend parties or events, you can create your own network while sitting at home as well. Become a part of big social media groups, join casting sites, and be engaged, interested, and informed whenever you are having a conversation with these people.
Be Active Online
Build your brand of yourself and learn how to market yourself as an actor. You can also create your free professional website and share your skills and talent. If possible, share short acting videos on your social media accounts to get recognized by people working in this industry. One thing you need to remember, the casting team first checks the actors’ social presence before giving them a role.
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How To Gain Experience As An Actor?
Experience is always needed in every working field, be it medical or entertainment.
And those of you who are planning to become an actor with zero experience, then let us tell you, the journey might get bumpy. But you will reach there eventually.
Here is what you need to do to gain more experience in the acting field.
Say Yes More Than No
If you want to gain more experience, then learn to say yes to any roles, even if they are small. The first role you get is not your ultimate goal, but a starting point in your career and gaining experience to move ahead.
Act In Student Films
When you are studying in an acting program or school, be a part of as many acting student films as you can because that will act as a demo reel and be added to your resume. You can also reach other local schools and colleges to share any casting information.
Go To Local Auditions And Casting Calls
Search for open casting calls for commercials online or offline, you can find a lot of paid acting work listed on community forums, newspapers, as well as Facebook groups. Also, make sure to check casting sites and local theater websites for auditions.
Become An Extra
If you want to get some experience in the industry, then become an extra in a TV show or a film. This is a paid job that will not only require fewer credits but will give you insights into a set and production department. This is the best opportunity you can get to learn more about the acting industry.
The Most Important Rule In Acting
In some sense, acting is about resilience. Most of the time, the struggling, as well as famous actors, hear a no or face rejection during the audition phase of the films.
This can affect them and demotivate them to some extent. So the first important rule in the entertainment industry is to learn to accept rejection and think of more future possibilities, instead of taking it personally.
All you have to do is keep moving ahead no matter how hard it becomes. The next important thing is to be in your character instead of playing with words and no actions. The third most important thing is to react but not to act.
Yes, it’s all about that! While playing the role, you are doing the most difficult things in the world and that is being in the “state of being”.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How do I get an acting job without experience?
If you want to become an actor with no experience, then the first thing you need to do is get some experience. You will gain nothing by remaining inexperienced.
If you are serious about making a career in this field, the first thing you need to do is find an acting class or search for professional classes.
It is possible to get some work as a novice. Then create an awesome demo reel and take a killer headshot.
After that, upload and share the content online and invite the agents to your showcases. Then try to get a small but powerful role and connect with the people in the media industry on social media.
After that, go for as many auditions as you can in movies, TV shows, local production, as well as commercials because there are chances of getting selected. Also, try to learn new techniques & trends and attend workshops.
Q2. How can a poor person with no acting skills become a successful actor?
One great news is that you can now find a lot of free or cheap details about acting from various YouTube channels. Search Wendy Alane Wright, Amy Jo Berman, and Bonnie Gillespie on the internet.
We also recommend you read Jenna Fischer’s memoir An Acting Life to educate yourself and develop your acting skills. There is no need to get any degree in acting that will get you a job in acting.
All you need to do is hustle, take acting skills, and act in any good opportunities you get to live your dream life. Nothing comes easier, you need to do hard work to become an artist in the entertainment industry.
You can also join a local theater and build a resume. Once you start earning from your small acting jobs, you can hire an agent.
Q3. How can I become an actor if I’m a 16 years old high school student?
Many kids above 15 years of age aspire to become actors or actresses on the big stage.
Their inspiration comes from child actors like Millie Bobby Brown, Maisie Williams, Sophie Turner, Zendaya, and many others who started acting at a very young age and gained success at a very young age.
If you also want to join acting at a very young age, then first think about why you want to choose this field and whether are you serious about acting.
Then get a professional headshot and join acting classes. Next, you need to build a portfolio and look for the right agents if you want.
Then start going for auditions. You can take help from your parents or any trusted adult in the entire process if you want.
Q4. How can I get into contact with people who can help me?
If you need assistance from people in the media industry to get into acting, you need to first prepare your elevator pitch and engage with the industry.
Then attend events related to films and make valuable connections with the right people like filmmakers, writers, and casting directors.
Then you need to expand your connections and help the ones who are in need. Listen, learn and follow up with the agents.
Social media is a powerful tool, you can use it to gain more fame. Lastly, be patient and consistent because what is yours will come to you if you wait and learn the right techniques.
Q5. How do you start an acting career straight after high school?
There are many ways to begin your acting career after completing high school. And the most reliable and best way is to train yourself for 2 more years in an acting school or a theatre group.
Before jumping into acting you need to build and sharpen your skills, make connections and build your personality. Once you feel confident and strong in front of the camera, then you can start giving auditions and preparing short sample videos and headshots for your portfolio.
In your acting journey, add more skills and learn from your favorite actors by watching their movies. If you want to become an actor, it will take 2 to 3 years but if you want to become a star, then it will take at least 5 to 6 years to reach there.
Create a strong resume and hire an agent. The last piece of advice we want to give you is to do more hard work and don’t try to be something that you are not.
Q6. What are some ways to become a successful actor?
If you have the acting ability to act in whichever role you get, then you will become a superstar someday.
Whether Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, or some other, they would not be successful today if they had not put commitment and persistence into their act. If you want to become a successful actor, then you need to decide and start from today itself.
For that, you need to master the art of acting and start working in theaters. One important thing in this field is to make a timetable, be punctual and practice regularly. If you have spare time then you can join any reputed public school.