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I try to find my way….

Question:

Just a little side note here on the perils of giving advice to someone you never met. There actually was somebody online that I wrote to who had dreams of coming to NYC and becoming a working actress.  As her dreams were not of stardom, I felt that that would probably be a realistic goal.  Also, she had mentioned that she had been in several community theater and college productions, had a degree in theater, and was comfortable singing.  So, naturally I told her to ignore the nay-sayers and give it a go. Well, I eventually met this girl, and OH BOY! It turned out she actually had Down’s Syndrome.  She had no range of facial expressions, couldn’t read and comprehend a simple script by herself, didn’t have a real degree, and the parts she had been in had been "created" for her to have simple walk-on roles.  And she may have been comfortable singing, but nobody else was!  The only way she ever would get empliyment would possibly be portraying someone with Down’s Syndrome. I’m just mentioning that to illustrate how difficult it is to get a fair picture of a person’s abilities over the internet, and how general any advice has to be. Old Cape Cod

Response:

That you have family in areas that are related to the business is a huge asset, and you should exploit them as much as possible, as much as you feel comfortable with (even if it means getting kicked out of the family reunions :) )

interesting…I know a few actors (and a director) who came to theatre late largely because most of their family were in the business and it was easier to do something totally different if it is in your blood then go with it…just find some amateur acting and see what happens…you’ll soon know if it’s something you have to do as soon as you look ONLY at the effect it has on you — eric "live fast, die only if strictly necessary"

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello NG, I am thinking of to stop with my studies of economics as I am not pleased at all with what I am doing… Since many years I am thinking about acting, but I never had the courage to go this way… How can I find out, if I am talented or not? Is it a good idea to go to a highschool for acting? Should I go to an agency right away? Go to a theater? Am I to old (24)? As all members of my family are artists (Fashion- Fotographers, Kameraman, Advertisers) I am used to the world of kameras, models etc… I have been modelling and participating in some tv-commercials in my youth. My "body-scills" are: – Karate – Windsurfing – Snowboarding – Parachuting – Horsebackriding – Scubadiving – Driving in a very "stunty" way (Car and Motorbike) will they help me? – I speak german, greek and english fluently…. and a very little french.. – I enjoy speaking infront an audience (although it makes me anxious)… – I like to perform. – I can’t sing (I will never learn, since I have no singing- voice) – I can’t dance (but I think I can manage to learn) Are any of the scills important, or not at all? What are the most important things you have to know/ be able of, so you succeed as an actor? And where/ how can I find out, if I am ok for it or not? Thanx, Tom.

First off, Tom, you’re in Germany, correct? Most of us here are American or at least North American, so keep that in mind as you read responses. (Bo-Chen? You out there?) Now, first of all, no matter where you are, 24 is not too old to start in this business. Next, what type of acting are you interested in, and what type of experience do you have? I would suggest, since from your note you seem to be just starting out, that a couple of classes either at your school (assuming your school gives drama classes) or an accredited acting school might give you some of the answers you are looking for. See, for all the words we can post, we can’t tell you if this is right for you. You might enjoy it, you might not. You probably *won’t* make a living at it, so you should continue with your economics study, even while you simultaneously study acting. All of us here, no matter how successful or unsuccessful we have been in our careers, have at one time or another needed a steadier source of income than the occasional low-paid acting job. You ought to know that going in. That you have family in areas that are related to the business is a huge asset, and you should exploit them as much as possible, as much as you feel comfortable with (even if it means getting kicked out of the family reunions :) ) Your skills are practically meaningless, until you come across a job that actually requires windsurfing, and Baywatch is going off the air… Carl

Response:

Hello NG, I am thinking of to stop with my studies of economics as I am not pleased at all with what I am doing… Since many years I am thinking about acting, but I never had the courage to go this way… How can I find out, if I am talented or not? Is it a good idea to go to a highschool for acting? Should I go to an agency right away? Go to a theater? Am I to old (24)? As all members of my family are artists (Fashion- Fotographers, Kameraman, Advertisers) I am used to the world of kameras, models etc… I have been modelling and participating in some tv-commercials in my youth. My "body-scills" are: – Karate – Windsurfing – Snowboarding – Parachuting – Horsebackriding – Scubadiving – Driving in a very "stunty" way (Car and Motorbike) will they help me? – I speak german, greek and english fluently…. and a very little french.. – I enjoy speaking infront an audience (although it makes me anxious)… – I like to perform. – I can’t sing (I will never learn, since I have no singing- voice) – I can’t dance (but I think I can manage to learn) Are any of the scills important, or not at all? What are the most important things you have to know/ be able of, so you succeed as an actor? And where/ how can I find out, if I am ok for it or not? Thanx, Tom.

Response:

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