Financing Your Acting Career
A key part of beginning (or transitioning into) your acting career is insuring your financial stability. Make sure that you have a supply of cash in place before you begin, taking into account the higher costs of urban living. Spend some time researching banks and credit unions in the city, noting interest rates and checking fees. Search for affordable housing. Keep in mind that this could take some time as well as trial-and-error situations. Commit yourself to a reasonable budget; you don¡¯t want unpaid bills delaying the start of your career.
Student Films and Your Acting Career
Acting in student films is a valuable way to gain both experience and exposure. Each spring, New York¡¯s film schools offer numerous opportunities for working in student films. Participating actors get to work with the industry¡¯s up-and-coming directors. A role in a student film allows you to practice your acting skills while enhancing your resume. Student films are often shown at international film festivals, providing a valuable opportunity to display your acting talent.
Networking Your Acting Career Online
There are two primary websites that handle networking online in New York City, a must for the acting careers of budding thespians:Actor¡¯s Access (www.actorsaccess.com) allows you to submit yourself for projects within the city as well as Canada and the West Coast. NY Castings (www.nycastings.com) allows you to submit headshots and resumes directly to casting agents and casting directors through their electronic database. Both websites allow actors to submit and host their own video portfolios. There are also plenty of online groups that allow you to network with other professionals. A quick search in any search engine will bring a number of results you can sort throught to find the most appropriate community for you.
The Screen Actors Guild and Your Acting Career
If you want to be a film actor, membership to the Screen Actors Guild is critical to your career. Membership insures that you will receive the optimal wages, as well as payments from producers to your pension and health insurance accounts. As a member of the SAG, you will also be able to collect residual payments from your work. There are several ways to get into the union. Visit their website at www.sag.org for membership information.
Developing Your "Type" of Acting Career
Part of setting up your acting career is recognizing your ¡°type.¡± This means having a strong idea of your identity and the strengths and weaknesses that it entails. Take note of the roles you¡¯ve felt the most comfortable with in the past, and what roles you are currently auditioning for. Don¡¯t be afraid to ask friends, family, co-workers, and past directors about their opinions of your personality. This feedback will help you learn to capitalize on the roles most suitable for you.
Connections in Your Acting Career
A huge part of your career is fostering and maintaining connections. Create an evolving database as you meet acting industry professionals like casting directors, actors, agents, and managers. Be sure to record details about them: where they are from, what they do, and with whom they have worked. Maintaining accurate details helps to strengthen the bond of each connection by making it more personal. If you follow up on any your meetings, be sure to record the results.
Creating an Acting Life
Your foray into life as an actor will be made much smoother if other aspects of your life are in order. If you¡¯re moving into a new city, spend some time setting up a comfortable apartment. Even if you share a space, be sure you have an area that is quiet enough for your private time. If possible, set aside part of your living space for your work as an actor. This ¡°office¡± will help to create a physical focus for your budding career. Join a gym. Involve yourself in the local community, especially in the arts.
Getting Involved in Student Film
How do you get involved in a student film? Check the notices in Back Stage and other industry publications. Check the casting boards at the School for Film and Television and NYU every semester. Online groups are another way to get daily listings of audition notices. The most direct way to get involved in a student film is to call the film departments of local universities and inquire about student films. Follow up your research by sending in your resume and headshots.