How to Start an Acting Career

Looking into how to start an acting career? The performing arts can be some of the most satisfying and exciting work, with new experiences and adventure around every corner.

That being said, if you’re dreaming of making an A-list level salary, you’ll have to start somewhere a little closer to the ground first. Becoming an actor can be quite difficult and there are many obstacles one needs to hurdle past.

If you’re uncertain of how to start an acting career or are unsure of how this kind of work needs to proceed, read on. We’ll walk you through some basic steps that set you down the road towards eventual success.

Take Acting Lessons

You would be surprised how many people want to become an actor but don’t put in the work needed to do the actual work of acting. Building a career requires a lot more than showing up and saying memorized lines.

Creating true reality in artificial surroundings is much harder than many people give it credit for and you’ll need to hone your skills if you want to make an impression.

Taking drama classes in Auckland can help to hone your skills and put you on the path towards real skills as an actor. There are many different types of acting classes out there, so you’ll need to focus on and determine which skills you want to sharpen.

There are also many different price ranges when it comes to these kinds of courses, so you’ll need to find one that fits within your budget.

If you’re very ambitious and can afford it, you might even consider applying to and enrolling in some of the biggest acting schools in the country, such as Julliard.

While these schools can be highly competitive and expensive, they do offer incredible learning opportunities. They also provide direct pipelines to casting agents and other such industry outlets, which can be helpful when starting off as an actor.

Get a Great Headshot

If you want to be able to audition for production companies such as Pitch White Entertainment, you’re going to need to make a solid first impression. The audition process at any reputable company essentially begins with the casting directors receiving a photo of you.

This professional photo, known as a headshot, is an all-important material for the aspiring actor. As we all know, first impressions can matter quite a bit and a good headshot can make that all-important impact on the viewer.

A headshot is also a sign of overall professionalism. It’s generally a high-quality and glossy photo that was taken by a professional. Submitting an iPhone photo that you took in your living room is not likely to put you into competition with other actors.

While it’s a bummer to have to spend more money, you’re going to want to pay someone to take professional headshots that you can submit to casting agents.

It will be advantageous to do a few different ‘looks’ when doing your headshots so that you have options to choose from. This will give you more flexibility when applying to a certain role.

You can offer a photo that feels more like the ‘type’ of character they are looking for.

Build an Acting Reel

In addition to your headshot, at some point, you’ll want to put together an acting reel that can be set to casting directors along with your headshot.

An acting reel is exactly what it sounds like: a video reel of your performances that show highlights and ideally your quality as an actor. An acting reel should be updated as the years go by with new performances.

At the beginning of your career, it can be hard to get the footage you want to make your reel a reality. It might be worth actually hiring someone to tape your half of a scene for use in your acting reel.

No one needs to know where the footage in your reel comes from (unless the source itself is impressive) so creating your own opportunity by recording performance can be a smart idea.

Don’t get too flashy with music or cutting in your acting reel, let your acting speak for itself!

Build Your Acting Resume

While you may have your eyes set on a starring role on some buzzy television show, the reality is your acting career is going to start far away from the central role. At the beginning of your career, it’s important to take whatever acting opportunities come your way.

In the beginning, these opportunities might come in the form of background roles, voice-over needs, or other such job hirings. Working as a background extra, while perhaps not stretching all of your acting muscles, is a great way to grow as a professional actor.

You’ll get the opportunity to see how a set is really run, watch professional actors at work, and network with other aspiring performers.

The hours you spend as a background actor can also contribute to the hours that you’ll need to join SAG-AFTRA, the professional actor’s union. You’ll want to join the union at some point if you are serious about your career, as most big roles are union roles.

How To Start an Acting Career

If you’re looking to get into performing, you’ll need to know how to get your foot in the door. The above information can help you determine how to start an acting career on the right foot. With a little determination and a lot of focus, you might be able to break through and see yourself on the big screen.

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