Feb
14
Thousands of people come to Los Angeles or New York with the hopes of becoming a star. The reality is that only a select few succeed but this hasn’t stopped many from trying. If you are considering this, you should ask yourself if you have what it takes to have a successful acting career.
If you don’t get the part in a television show, try to get a part on stage, on the radio or on motion picture productions. You may not be given yet the starring role but only be given a supporting one which isn’t that bad when you are just starting out.
While waiting for someone to call, you should also find work in independent films, in commercials, night clubs and theme parks. There are also ads for requiring some actors to do some voiceovers in animated features, audio books and other electronic media like computer games.
For those who have been in the industry for quite a while and have not yet received any new projects, you should see if you can land a teaching position in a high school or university drama department or a job in an acting conservatory.
Since television shows are shot on a seasonal basis and movies are finished in a matter of months, the job of an actor is short term ranging from a day to a several months. One of the things that you have to deal with sometimes is the undesirable and unpleasant working conditions as well as stress that go with the territory.
This may include working long and irregular hours, traveling across the country and shooting a scene under adverse weather conditions. You won’t always get the chance to sleep in a hotel so most of the time you will have to bunk in a trailer. If there is a break, you can go back there or just wait in the dressing room until its time to perform the scene.
If you happen to have a part in a television show, you have to be able to memorize your lines quickly because this may change within minutes. This is more challenging when you are performing this live in front of a studio audience.
If the scene you are shooting is done out of town or out of the country, don’t expect to see your family often or have a social life. You will just have to make up for this when everything is finished.
Aside from wearing make up and putting on costumes, you should always be in good physical condition to be able to perform a part so you will be able to take cues and work around complex technical sets and still be able to project your voice audibly.
Before the director or producer can say cut and print, you will have to do a lot of rehearsals and a lot of takes so everyone will get it right. If you are worried that they will work you like a dog, don’t bother because there will always be breaks in between so you avoid experiencing dehydration or heat exhaustion.
The reality of an acting career is that it will take a lot of blood, sweat and tears for you to succeed in this business. You may not always be nominated for an Oscar or Academy award for everything you have done but at least you have a job.
Feb
13
Whatever you decide to become in life should be thought about very carefully so you don’t look back and regret having wasted your time and energy. The same goes if you decide to pursue an acting career when there are probably other things you should have been doing.
But because we are living in an edge where we are glued to the television set almost everyday, the employment of actors is expected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations. The challenging part which aspiring actors should know is that competition is going to be fierce.
While you are sending out head shots and resumes to agents, directors and producers, there are numerous auditions held all across the country even if you are already living in either New York or Los Angeles. So, you may go to one knowing that there is another one happening a few blocks from where you are right now.
Some people get lucky when they seen walking on the street and an agent walks up to them and offers them a chance to stardom. Naturally, these are things beyond your control and you just have to accept it. For a lot of actors and actresses who have been in this business for quite some time, the only advise they will tell you is to be both patient and be persistent because it is only those who don’t give up will be able to land a job.
If Hollywood is not meant for you but you have other talents, perhaps you should start your acting career elsewhere like in Broadway or in a theme park or resort. Just like working in a studio, the prospect of finding work in these venues is variable as it fluctuates due to economic conditions.
You could also find work by performing in a commercial or industrial film that is used for training and educational purposes, in an animated feature, audio book or a computer game. With a few shows or films under your belt, you could get a teaching position in a high school or university drama department so you can share your experience with the students.
But your acting career can also take you to other positions within the entertainment industry. One good example is Clint Eastwood who first started out as an actor and then produced films later on like “The Unforgiven” and “Million Dollar Baby.” Both films were acknowledged and given awards.
Ron Howard is another who was a child actor and then later on directed such films as “Ransom”, “Apollo 13”, “Backdraft”, “Cocoon” and “A Beautiful Mind.”
If you don’t have money to make a movie, try making a show for a network and if you are able to sell them the idea, you could get a contract for a number of episodes. Should the ratings go well the network will tell you to prepare a new script for the succeeding season.
But the truth of the matter is there are so many actors and actresses around that there are not enough spots to give to everyone. This means that you have will have to endure long periods of unemployment and frequent rejections during auditions. While formal training can help, many directors choose to get the individual who has more experience and talent. These are the ones who can look forward to a great acting career.
Feb
12
The Perks and Controversies Surrounding Child Acting Career
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Most kids are naturally adorable. But as parents, before you even think about how to start a child acting career, you have to think hard if you really want to subject your tots to the harsh realities that the showbiz industry may bring their way.
Why do you want your children to be stars? Some might say that it is because of the glitz and the glamour. But most people think that it is for the money. If fate would allow your child to be part of a good production, whether it is on film or TV, the financial aspect is going to be truly rewarding. But you must know the facts that surround a child’s career in acting.
The Regulations
Child actors should abide the labor union codes. They should also be regulated both by the state as well as federal laws. Before a kid can get to work, their parents must first make sure that they have the proper work permit. This will also be vital for them to obtain their salaries. Different states impose different rules. So one’s guardian must understand what they will be faced with before committing into anything solid and final.
Undying Controversies
Through the years, there have been many issues regarding such career that still resurface from time to time. Most of these revolve around money, the psychological effects of the work on children and how such career affects their childhood in general.
1. There have been many talks about the issues regarding money. Who will handle the child actor’s earnings? Their guardians are the rightful ones to keep and save them. But unfortunately, there have been many incidents wherein a child’s actor money had gone to waste because of mishandling. This may not be felt by the child on their younger years. But as they grow old and learn to reflect on everything, they will question what happened to the money that they have worked so hard for.
This was the inspiration for the original Coogan Law. Based on the facts that happened to a former child star who earned millions at a young age, Jackie Coogan, this law was enacted in California in 1939. It states that a portion of the child actor’s earnings must be preserved in a blocked trust or a savings account especially made for such purpose.
2. Child actors are believed to lose a very big part of their childhood by working and earning at such a young age. Although productions nowadays allow them time to study and play while on the set, this cannot alter the experiences that a kid will get from having a normal life, away from the light, the cameras and the directors yelling, action.
They experience the pressure to perform, to deliver according to what’s expected from them. And they are being asked to play characters that may be sometimes hard to be understood by young minds.
3. These actors should be guided accordingly as they grow older. In most cases, no matter how successful they are as a child actor, a transition period will come wherein they would not fit right into any roles. As a result, they may lack the jobs that they need to augment income or to sustain their popularity.
Their guardians must prepare them for such occurrence. They must prepare these kids that there are a lot of possibilities that they may not be as popular or may not have the kind of a child acting career that they used to enjoy as they age.
Feb
11
What does Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Hayden Panettiere and Vanessa Hudgens have in common? The answer, their acting careers or their singing careers started out with a little help from Disney.
Unlike other casting auditions, what makes Disney so different is that there is room for just about anybody who wants to become famous. There is a separate audition for singers, dancers, actors, stunt artists, musicians, bands and Disney character look alikes.
Whatever you choose to pursue, it is best to get an agent because you are more likely to be noticed with this person helping out. But this doesn’t mean you won’t have a shot if you go in alone without an agent by your side because it has happened.
For an actor, what you will need during an audition to prepare is a one minute comedic monologue. You better practice your timing and don’t forget to remember the words. There must be emotion behind what you are saying and while you are playing the part because you are not reciting in class but trying to capture the moment. You should also be ready to go up there and use additional material that will be prepared by the judges.
Aside from your skit, you should have with you a few great headshots and of course your resume with your contact information. This will make it easy for the casting director to get back to you after everyone was screened during the audition.
The moment you walk in, you should be relaxed and ready to execute your number because the production people are keeping on a tight schedule when there are others waiting their turn.
Similar to American idol, all auditions are closed which means family members and friends are not allowed to watch. They can wait in the holding area so they can meet their child once their number is over.
If you make it, you now have to get an entertainment work permit because this is required by law. This should be signed by your parents and at times your school principal since education is still a priority given your age. This has to be shown every time you report for work and renewed after 6 months.
In time, your acting career will flourish from a television show to maybe even a movie. Take for example High School musical which people did not expect to be so popular and within months, the High School Musical 3 will be shown in the theaters.
Your acting career does not end the moment you leave Disney because you will always take this with you wherever you go. Take for instance Hayden Panettiere who is now part of the hit show Heroes. She started with Disney in 1998 with a small role in the movie “The Object Of My Affection” and lent her voice talent in “This Bug’s Life.”
So it starting your acting career good with Disney? The answer is definitely yes. You just have to make it to the audition and hope the judges liked what you did so that from there, the world will be yours for the taking. If things don’t work out, try again elsewhere because there are also auditions in Los Angeles and New York that will need someone as talented like yourself.
Feb
10
Quick Tidbits about Johnny Cash Acting Career and Music Legacy
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To know about Johnny Cash acting career, first you have to ask well, who is Johnny Cash? He was first and foremost known as a singer. He was a Grammy Award-winning musician and songwriter who was hailed as one of the most influential in his field of the 20th century.
Hello, I’m Johnny Cash
This line was how he used to start his acts whenever he was performing onstage. He was born J. R. Cash to parents Ray and Carrie in Kingsland, Arkansas. It was said that the name was formed because his parents couldn’t agree what his name should be. It became a dilemma when he entered the United States Air Force because it wouldn’t accept the initials J.R. as his real first name. That was when he used John R. Cash to be his legal name.
Most of his songs were inspired by the life his family led when he was growing up. He has six siblings. Tommy Cash, a younger brother, also made it as a country artist. J.R. started working in the cotton fields by the age of five. This was where he got the inspiration for the song ‘Five Feet High and Rising’.
He also had dealt with depression in 1944 when his older brother Jack met a tragic accident at a whirling table on the mill where he was working. Jack suffered for a week before he finally succumbed to death. J.R. felt guilt over the incident. He cited that the family had premonitions that something bad was going to happen that fateful day. But his brother ignored it because the family needed money. J.R. said that he had always been looking forward to the day that he’d meet his brother in heaven and that he had seen him a lot of times in his dreams.
Record Deals
He adopted the name Johnny Cash when he signed a deal with Sun Records in 1955. Through time, he became known as The Man in Black as he always wore black ensemble, which was a lot different from how most country music stars dress up. Some of the songs that made him a household name include ‘I Walk the Line,’ ‘Cocaine Blues’ and humorous pieces like ‘A Boy Named Sue’ and Dirty Old Egg-Sucking Dog’.
Through time, he became involved with drugs that almost ruined his life. His first marriage had gone bad and his star started to lose its shine. In 1968, he married his second wife, June Carter, who influenced him to revert to Christianity and a drug-free life.
Different Career
Aside from being good in music, Johnny Cash had his hit TV show during the latter part of the 60s entitled The Johnny Cash Show. He even paved the way to the likes of Bob Dylan to penetrate the scene.
Cash also made guest appearances on Jane Seymour’s TV series, ‘Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman’. He dubbed a cartoon cameo for an episode of ‘The Simpsons’.
The Legacy
Johnny Cash died at the age of 71 on September 12, 2003. He had almost 90 million copies of his albums sold. He had a collection of awards from the Grammys and Country Music Awards. He was even inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame, Songwriters’ Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Although his music career surpassed Johnny Cash acting career, he has proven a lot and has left a legacy that industry insiders could learn a lot from even up to this day.