Acting - My Future Stage Career

What is an actor?
An actor plays a role in an artistic production, most commonly in movies, television and theatre. As well as performing roles, an actor may be called upon to dance, sing perform acrobatics and for radio and animated productions be a voice artist.

?Actor? is a gender neutral term, however, some female actors prefer to be known as ?actresses? (2005, Wikipedia)

School Subjects

If you wish to become an actor, the main subject that you should endeavour to participate in is Drama. Studying Drama will teach you to perform, achieve focus and understand the different types and styles of dramatic acting.

Another almost essential subject to study is English. Almost every actor needs to be literate and able to understand language from a variety of eras. A language other than English [LOTE] subject can also be beneficial as acting is an international occupation.

Other subjects to consider include ancient history, modern history and geography.

Training Required

Formally, becoming an actor requires no qualifications or training. However, to make you seem more qualified and skilled, receiving a qualification from an external Performing Arts school will be beneficial. (2005, Art-Search)

Extra curricular activities such as dance and singing lessons, as well as volunteer participation in community events and performances are a great addition to a portfolio/resume.

In short
Becoming an actor is a long and difficult chore. Sheer determination and natural skill are prerequisites that a ?wannabe? actor cannot be without. Acting is one of the most brutal and challenging careers to pursue, but also one of the most rewarding.

An actor will always have a job in society as humans have a desire to be entertained.

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Ever Think About Taking Intensive Summer Acting Classes?

Total immersion in summer acting classes: A great experience!

I now know the difference between taking classes one at a time and totally immersing myself into the craft that I love for six full weeks of eating, sleeping and breathing acting.

Well, I kinda knew what it was like shortly after I had begun studying acting a few years ago. I first started studying in a theatre company in Milan, Italy. At the time I was working more than a full-time job and could only go to class in the evenings. Class hours were from 9 ? 11pm, three days a week. It was better than nothing, but often I arrived at class and I was tired. I probably could have gotten more out of it if I had had more energy. Nevertheless, I?m glad I had that experience.

Then, I took a ten-day workshop in Italy with an American acting coach and teacher. That was a mini-immersion for the ten-day period. The workshop was five hours a day of instruction for then straight days and then rehearsals. At the time, I had already saved enough money and quit my full-time job to pursue acting full-time.

And then?

I went to New York for a three month period and had put together my own program of all the different classes I needed so that I could totally immerse myself and have a full experience of concentrating on my craft. I put together a schedule of classes, a mix from different schools. I took acting classes in technique, sensory work, scene study, improvisation, audition technique. In addition I took mini workshops in different areas such as corporate videos, soaps, prime-time television as well as yoga classes, and I went to the gym regularly. That was my first sort of real immersion.

My Experience With Intensive Summer Acting Classes

I continued to study and then took the best set of summer acting classes to date. I had met Wendy Ward at the Ward Studio in New York back in 2003 when I was investigating schools to attend. At the time I couldn?t attend her school, because of time constraints on my part. It wasn?t until eighteen months later, that I would be able to take her summer intensive.

It?s sooooo different taking classes in this way. It was a six-week long set of summer acting classes that began in July and went through to mid-August. There were about ten of us in the class that summer of 2005 at the Ward Studio and we became a tightly knit group. Our schedule was as follows:

M/W/F
Meisner acting technique: 3 hrs
Voice: 2 hrs
Movement: 2 hrs

T/Th
Career Mentoring workshop: 2 hrs (This was great too, because we concentrated on what we need to do to get work, something that many programs don't focus on at all!)
Shakespeare: 2 hrs
Text & audition technique: 3 hrs

Talk about intense! There was always something to do for one of the classes. We had scenes to rehearse for, so we had to meet outside of class. There were monologues to memorize and prepare for. Props to acquire for scenes, monologues and class exercises. Homework to do for the career mentoring class, texts to memorize for the audition class. It was non-stop! Taking those intensive summer classes helped me grow as an actor more in those six weeks than I did in the whole year before that. It?s true.

There?s nothing like being totally immersed in your acting craft for a time. Nothing like it! Have a look at an example of a real program at a real school. Shop around for summer acting classes, know what you're looking for, consider pricing. But whatever you do, set some money aside and do it! It could be one of the best investments you ever make in your acting career.Anthony Smith left a successful corporate career as a senior manager in Nike and Levi's after 15 years to follow his dream of becoming an entrepreneur, writer, motivational speaker and actor. While enjoying success in his "new" life, Anthony shares his business insight and acting experience with young actors. Aside from acting work, he has created http://www.actingcareerstartup.com and his first book, Acting Career Start-Up: Four Key Factors For Success will hit the U.S. market in April 2007.

Acting

Acting...

The universe and all of history is your classroom

It takes a very strong and dedicated person to pursue a career
in acting. After all, you are doing it because you love it. You
couldn't imagine doing anything else. And of course, not many
people will understand this.

Some people cannot understand why anyone would want to do
something with such an unpredictable future. But you know it is
you future, it must be.

No one can quiet explain that feeling that you get when you
perform. One of the most exciting things about acting is that
you can be or do anything that you want. All the worries and
sorrows disappear. The stage is a very relaxing place. It's your
home. You learn, grow, and develop there, as an actor and as a
person.

The members of the audience come to be entertained and/or
educated. They are living out their fantasies through your
character. Therefore, your portrayal of the character must real
and truthful.

In order to act, you must be an observer of life. You must watch
people closely: how they talk, the gestures they make, and so
forth. You must observe and then be able to duplicate what you
see. This is real.

This is true life. You also must experience all that you can.
This gives you more knowledge and a broad area to work with for
understanding your character.

Try new things, experience life. Don't be the spectator, that's
not your job. The definition of to act is to do. As Miss Stella
Adler said, "You cannot afford to confine you studies to the
classroom. The universe and all of history is your classroom."


Addicted to acting? Me too! Tap into an ever-growing source of Free articles, resources, and insider career tips, visit my site at http://www.acting-1.com