So You Wanna Be A Star?

Becoming an Actor or Actress

Actors play a key role in the interpretation of a writer's script. Although most famous actors live in Los Angeles or New York, there are thousands of actors that work in local television studios, theatres, or film production companies. This article contains the job description, working conditions, necessary qualifications, salary range, and promotion opportunities for actors. Please read on to find out more.

A career in theatre or film is one of the few vocational paths that offers the possibility of amazing financial opportunity and fame without requiring extensive education or book-smarts. Frequently actors are trained through an acting conservatory or university, but it is quite common for actors to find work based solely on their experience and talent. So, it is best to start preparing for a film or stage career at a young age.

Two of the most frustrating aspects of the acting profession are the intense competition and the continual rejection (both are common occupational hazards.) Although some people assume that all actors live the 'Hollywood lifestyle,' there are lots of actors that live perfectly normal lives. The majority of actors make a living by performing in television, radio, video, stage, or motion picture productions. Furthermore, fledgling actors gain experience by performing in local cabarets, nightclubs, theme parks, commercials, and films for training or educational purposes.

Salaried actors earned about $23,470 in 2002, though the top 10% of actors made over $100,000 a year.

Acting is mostly a labor of Love. The joy of performing and the process of working with a cast on a production is a very rewarding experience. Making a living solely on acting is a challenge for most artists. Most have other jobs to maintain there life while practicing their craft. Hard work, determination and persistence are key to the growth of the actor.

Just a word of advice if you wanna be a star. There are millions of actors competing for a handful of TOP paying acting opportunities. So understand the playing field. In other words, don't quit your day job.

The Acting Grind Or I Love Rejection

THE ACTING GRIND

or

I LOVE REJECTION

"I found this commentary from a newbie actor. I reminded me that we as artists all go through the same pains no matter what decade we did it in pursueing our dream. I found that facinating..."

Acting.

There's such a weird mystique about acting. Landing a role depends on whether you're tall enough or have the right skin color. You need to accept yourself as an artist and be who you are. Accepting that is a huge thing."Networking. "

Networking

Is too impersonal of a word. It's more about fostering meaningful artistic relationships with people. Get involved with the right people. Who you know can really step up your game. "Meeting people in The Acting Company has been terrific because there are a lot of people into the kinds of things that I'm doing. Having someone there backing you up can be really great."

Accepting criticism.

"Criticism is so essential. You have to keep developing, and you need your peers to tell you when something isn't working."

Auditioning. "It's such a weird Catch-22. You have to go into a room and offer up your soul and crack open your heart. Then you have to turn all of that off, and say 'it's work, and this is who I am,' and if you like it, that's fine. You have to walk out and leave it at the door."

Choosing roles.

"It's my first year out (of graduate school), so I'll go for anything: film work, commercial work, all of it. At some point, the industry is going to accept you for who you are. My fiancee is doing a lot of TV work, she's been on "Gossip Girl" and "Lipstick Jungle," and I seem to be getting a lot of theater work."

The down side of being an actor.

"You're always wondering when the next job is coming. Do I have enough money to pay the rent? And it puts a real strain on relationships."But every day I wake up and say, 'today I am an actor. I am an artist.' If you don't do that, you go nuts."

Emmitt Says....

As an artist you have to feel the need to do what you do. Yes their are many rewards at the top in the financial sense and the notariety sense, but the real value is the jackpot you hit by working at perfecting your craft. The exhilaration of audiences responding to you the artist. That, you can't put a price on. The value of those moments are what we as artists work long and hard for. The war stories we all have about the process as we develope are just that. Battle scars that we are proud of. When Theater actors say we have paid our dues you really understand what they mean. You respect what they have endured just for the opportunity to practice their craft and give their gift.

There is something to be said for fame. But their is more to be said for enduring and surviving as an Artist, GOD smiles at your creations even when no one else even see them. Trust your work and believe in yourself. Don't fool yourself into thinking there is a short cut. There are NO shortcuts in a process. Short Cuts are by it's very meaning a short version of something more meaningful. Don't try to drink the water without first getting a cup. You may be able to drink out of your hands but you never know what else you may be drinking that is on your hands. Instead use your hands to applaude for the Artist that has done the work and continues to do the work trying to be in the moment, for only a moment.

THEATER ARTISTS UNITE

Join ArtistMagnet.ning.com

Emmitt Thrower

Theater Networking In The 21st Century

The Business of Getting Business

By Emmitt H Thrower

Does Theater Networking Need A Facelift?

For aspiring theatrical actors, networking, mailing out hundreds of headshots to casting directors and agents, looking through showbiz newspapers like Back Stage for auditions the coming weekend and week, keeping involved in a theater circle of friends to get the latest auditions and info , then grinding it out in long lines trying to get into auditions and see those Producers and Directors that hold your theatrical life within their grasp. This has been a way of life in theater since forever. It was and still is a full time job even if the pay is like part time employment at best most of the time.

But you have that passion and desire that keeps you forging ahead hoping and praying that your big break is just an audition away. If only you could connect with the Producers, Directors, Writers who are looking for you. You are so Talented and Special. They could hold the keys to your acting success. That has and still is the weekly travails of the average theater Actor Union or Non Union. Trying to find and connect with other Artists, Technicians, Producers, Writers and Directors to try and do some type of collaboration or employment is a monumental task. Everywhere things are moving at the speed of light but theater seems to be just strolling along. It just doesn't seem fair that connecting with the very ones that need and want you is such a difficult task to accomplish.

Film has IDGb, Musicians and the like have Myspace, Business people have Linkedin, Everybody has Craigslist or is it craigslist has everybody. What about Theater? Well until now there was nothing dedicated to theater on a worldwide basis with a mission to connect the industry online in ONE location. That was until David Mack an Artist and a few other concerned Artist friends decided to change that and Launch Theater Networking Into The 21st Century. After a year of planning they are moving forward with this revolutionary concept. Time for a little Technology Magic for theater. Here comes the Drama!

Imagine a world in which millions of artists and venues everywhere are virtually connected - a 6 degrees of separation for the theatre world in one online collective community......this is the dream of Artist Magnet - a new online theatre community that will connect actors, directors, producers, managers, designers, playwrights, dramaturgs, crew, instructors, audiences, fans and more through shows and venues in your communities and around the world...

On ArtistMagnet.com, you will be able to build your own customized hyperlinking resumes, instantly connecting to fellow artists in your past, present and upcoming shows, which in turn will instantly connect to all the shows in your theatre venues, connecting to all artists in those shows, and so on...

We will also offer Artistplace: a marketplace for artists to post and find work, casting notices, classes, and other theatre related products.Best of all, Artist Magnet will be FREE for artists, and we will provide a comprehensive search engine, allowing members to find information about artists, shows, and venues anywhere in the world. It's like IMDb, MySpace, Craigslist, and Wikipedia all in one, customized for YOU as an artist.Although Ning and similar websites do not have the technology to offer this new community.

So they have taken on the challenge of developing the technology and to build exactly what they need from the ground up. NO COMPROMISING! And it will be FREE for Artist! Now that is a novel idea i can support. Again I will say it. It will be FREE for the Artist! They have set out to Lauch the website later this year with the help and support of Artists and Theater lovers just like you.

They have a temporary support site that is active. It currently has wonderful audition and networking opportunities with Producers, Directors and Venues and other Artists who have already joined and seen the possibilities as they build the ArtistMagnet.com International Theatrical Networking site with YOUR help. I have only one thing to say. Stop Letting Theater and the Big Boys Give You The Business. Join us in fighting them and Building our vision for Artist!

Get a Networking Facelift. BRAVO!!!

Sign up FREE at

http://artistmagnet.ning.com/main/authorization/signUp?

Emmitt can be reached at

et@wabisabiproductions.com

My Website

http://www.wabisabiproductions.com/current.htm