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Acting, what else

Question:

I know many of you here are extensively involved in the acting field.  In fact this is one of the few newsgroups I’ve ever seen were there are genuinely dedicated individuals to their art with limited amounts of spam. My question is simple:  How does someone who is 44 years of age, with no acting experience, just the desire to learn, get started in this field?  I realize that many actors/actresses now a days get started literally out of their cribs.  But is it ever too late to get started? I’ve signed up to be an extra in an upcoming movie being filmed here in the Baltimore-Washington area, Enemy of the State, starting Gene Hackman and Wil Smith.  I decided to get off my duff and go the open casting that was held at one of our local universities.  I know actors and actresses work very long hours.  Heck I’m used to that.  I’m not concerned about working 12-15 hours a day.  Been there, done that for over 20 years. But is it ever too late to get started? Thanks for listening… P.L. Net-Tamer V 1.10  - Registered

Response:

My question is simple:  How does someone who is 44 years of age, with no acting experience, just the desire to learn, get started in this field?  I realize that many actors/actresses now a days get started literally out of their cribs.  But is it ever too late to get started?

P.T. Barnum didn’t start his circus until he was 79. I’ve signed up to be an extra in an upcoming movie being filmed here in the Baltimore-Washington area.

You have a great resource. Each summer in D.C. the League of Washington Theatres holds a week of collective auditions. Either at Arena or Studio. So many theatres are represented. Chat up your fellow extras on the shoot for more info. As far as "getting started" with no experience yet. First! Learn the table numbers and what beers are on tap. :) O.K. Seriously  The following is MY opinion which will have it’s dissenters. (Read them all and go with your gut.) GET INTO A SHOW.  GET INTO A SHOW. GET INTO A SHOW. GET INTO A SHOW. It will probably be at the community theatre level, (Or maybe university,   use your age as a commodity) But before you jump into classes, give yourself the experience of doing a show. Have some familiarity with what it all feels like. Know why your are studying. Driver’s Ed works because we grow up in cars. We have a conceptual understanding of what is being taught. Acting classes are the same way. In my experience and in my opinion. Best Christopher

Response:

Thanks for your input.  I appreciate your ideas.  I’ll check out the auditions next summer. Paul    Newsgroups: alt.acting    X-Mailer: Mozilla 2.0 (Macintosh; U; 68K)    Xref: news.abs.net alt.acting:4717     My question is simple:  How does someone who is 44 years of age,    with no  acting experience, just the desire to learn, get started    in this field?  I  realize that many actors/actresses now a days    get started literally out of  their cribs.  But is it ever too    late to get started? P.T. Barnum didn’t start his circus until he    was 79.     I’ve signed up to be an extra in an upcoming movie being filmed    here in the Baltimore-Washington area. You have a great resource.    Each summer in D.C. the League of Washington Theatres holds a week    of collective auditions. Either at Arena or Studio. So many    theatres are represented. Chat up your fellow extras on the shoot    for more info. As far as "getting started" with no experience yet.    First! Learn the table numbers and what beers are on tap.    :)    O.K. Seriously    The following is MY opinion which will have it’s dissenters. (Read    them all and go with your gut.)    GET INTO A SHOW.  GET INTO A SHOW. GET INTO A SHOW. GET INTO A SHOW.    It will probably be at the community theatre level, (Or maybe    university, use your age as a commodity)    But before you jump into classes, give yourself the experience of    doing a show. Have some familiarity with what it all feels like.    Know why your are studying. Driver’s Ed works because we grow up in    cars. We have a conceptual understanding of what is being taught.    Acting classes are the same way.    In my experience and in my opinion.    Best    Christopher Net-Tamer V 1.10  - Registered

Response:

My question is simple:  How does someone who is 44 years of age, with no acting experience, just the desire to learn, get started in this field?  I

 But is it ever too late to get started? I hope not. I started at 47. Background work is one way to get contacts in the field as well as some experience. I’ve signed up to be an extra in an upcoming movie

Yep. That is what I did, sort of. (Lonesome Dove: The Series, rather than a movie, but same idea. Actually, I suppose Drama in University was the REAL start, but that was a long time back.) I know actors and actresses work very long hours.  Heck I’m used to that.  I’m not concerned about working 12-15 hours a day.

That’s good, because that is not all that uncommon. Of course, it is also a part of the fun. There are many times when you sre not active in a scene, but there is always something going on that makes it interesting. But is it ever too late to get started?

If it is, I may be in trouble. But I don’t think so. I have got a starring role in a dinner theatre production last year and a small speaking part in an upcoming film project, so it looks like things are developing. Slowly, but progress is being made. (Lots of background parts in series and movies so far, but progress)

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Not that you can tell by my career, but a number of agents have told me there is an advantage to being in my 40’s. If you are a female, trying to break into the biz in a major market (NYC, LA, Chi), then starting out at 40 is a definite handicap.   Perhaps in smaller markets (Philadelphia, Atlanta etc), it would be an advantage.

If I was a female, I still probably would be but never have been. Also, as I stated, agents told me, not that I believe it to be an advantage. I assumed my statement would be self explanatory (tell by my career) but perhaps I need to work on my subtext.<g — Gerry Gironda Electronic Knight Errant Dragons Slain (2 Cave Minimum)

Response:

It’s never too late to start! Danny Aiello and Danny Glover started late. That’s the beauty of acting. There are casting directors in your area, Homocide is cast from Pat Moran in Baltimore. Get a subscription to Backstage newspaper of check out the casting on www.backstagecasting.com (I think that’s where it is). Good luck! therealbob

Response:

Not that you can tell by my career, but a number of agents have told me there is an advantage to being in my 40’s.

If you are a female, trying to break into the biz in a major market (NYC, LA, Chi), then starting out at 40 is a definite handicap.   Perhaps in smaller markets (Philadelphia, Atlanta etc), it would be an advantage. By this point aspiring stars and starlets have given up the dream and there is a smaller pool of talent to draw on…

They haven’t really "given up", Gerry.  They got married, took a job — whatever — but they’re still available for acting work if it comes up. I hope you don’t fool yourself into the illusion that a mid-forties start is an advantage.  It’s not.  Getting paying-acting-work is rough under ANY conditions, but it is made more difficult by a late start. This is not to suggest that you should not do it.  I only am urging you not to put on blinders. Ed Hooks

Response:

The bottom line, of course, is that there is no "right" age to come into acting.  The complication for late bloomers is that they enter smack in the middle of the most populated age range.  Talent agents typically have plenty of client/actors in their 30’s and 40’s, so a newcomer has a tough time getting seen and represented. But it’s not impossible, especially if the newcomer manages to get a good showcase role. Ed Hooks

Not that you can tell by my career, but a number of agents have told me there is an advantage to being in my 40’s. By this point aspiring stars and starlets have given up the dream and there is a smaller pool of talent to draw on , so there can be more opportunity for work, somebody must be getting the bookings I’m missing:-) Gerry Gironda

Response:

My question is simple:  How does someone who is 44 years of age…. get started in this field? P.T. Barnum didn’t start his circus until he was 79.

That’s a great piece of trivia, Chris.<g  Seventy nine?  Really?   Wow. Current-day examples of late bloomers would be Danny Aellio, who didn’t start until he was in his 40’s.  He was driving a bread truck before that, I think.  And I remember reading somewhere that Karl Malden was not a spring chicken when he started, maybe in his 30’s. The bottom line, of course, is that there is no "right" age to come into acting.  The complication for late bloomers is that they enter smack in the middle of the most populated age range.  Talent agents typically have plenty of client/actors in their 30’s and 40’s, so a newcomer has a tough time getting seen and represented. But it’s not impossible, especially if the newcomer manages to get a good showcase role. Ed Hooks

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