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want to act

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No reason to apologise KellyL, such a response was deserved. I just couldn’t resist, anyone who has spent time around actors who call themselves ‘artistes’ will know what I am talking about. No word from cookie yet, hope i didn’t scare him/her off. Sorry. Hope my advice is of some help though, if you are still here. I can remember starting out not so long ago and advice was the one thing I lacked, well that and singing talent. Cookie remember if you act you are on your own until you make it, don’t rely on agents go out and find work yourself; I cannot stress this enough. and I have worked here in New York with companies (porducers) for whom "Noises Off" and "Footlight Frenzy" were their training manuals…

Hey I have been in ‘Noises Off’ Depends on what cookie wants. A lot of non-union work is happening around. Several people I know, who are currently working on stage and consistantly so,  will not join Equity because they feel they will stop working. again an interesting paradox.

Just another bit of information, and I assume it works the same way in the States, if you graduate from a good enough drama college you are given membership to Equity upon graduation. Saves a whole lot of time. The alternative is to work in radio and hang around outside universities and tv studios and hope to pick up work by sheer presence and persistence. There are independant films, adn the University (student film) route. gives one exposure to what goes on on a film set, you get experience working with a camera. How are the student film projects in England?

Put it this way English mainstream films are bad enough; either about clubbing, drugs, football or gangsters. Pick and mix any of these four items add in a few cliches and you have British Cinema. I know there are exceptions like Lock Stock and Human Traffic but these are rare and tend to set the trends. Student films tend to be lower budget ripp offs, however BT – British Telecom, English equivalent of Ma Bell? – are (or at least were not long ago) running a short independent film competition and putting the winners’ films online and at the end of rental films. They were suprisingly good and only about half came into the above categories. If you can’t find any to your liking why not make one yourself if you are interested, Kevin Smith style. Ask your local council about arts grants and the like and you have made the first step. Hope something in here is of some use and sorry once more for my unhelpful introduction to alt.acting. Have a nice life. Adam — "Never miss an opportunity to make others happy, even if you have to leave them  alone in order to do it." – Unknown

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what do i do — Use our news server ‘news.foorum.com’ from anywhere. More details at: http://nnrpinfo.go.foorum.com/

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Buy a polo neck jumper and a silk scarf. Walk around wearing said clothes with the complete works of Oscar Wilde (harback of course) under your arm. Repeat every day for a month. And now my son you are an actor.

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why are you guys so sarcastic?? cookie

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Buy a polo neck jumper and a silk scarf. Walk around wearing said clothes with the complete works of Oscar Wilde (harback of course) under your arm. Repeat every day for a month. And now my son you are an actor.

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Get to know someone very highly connected in the industry and get them to help you be seen by the right casting directors.  After that, it’s a breeze.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – what do i do — Use our news server ‘news.foorum.com’ from anywhere. More details at: http://nnrpinfo.go.foorum.com/

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:why are you guys so sarcastic?? Well, for one, Crowley, as far as I know, isn’t an actor. heck, he isn’t even a good troll He does think he’s witty. he’s not what a pity He’s a wanna be Magickian. : :cookie

: Buy a polo neck jumper and a silk scarf. : Walk around wearing said clothes with the complete works of Oscar Wilde : (harback of course) under your arm. : Repeat every day for a month. : And now my son you are an actor. : : : : — KellyL, AFTRA/Actor/Director "I think if there is a God it’s very important that he has a sense of humour – otherwise you are in for a very miserable afterlife." Rory Bremner

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:why are you guys so sarcastic?? Well, for one, Crowley, as far as I know, isn’t an actor. heck, he isn’t even a good troll He does think he’s witty. he’s not what a pity He’s a wanna be Magickian.

I resent that, I am an actor, just a sarcastic, young and naive one. Hmm some advice about starting acting. It depends on how you old you are. If you under 21 look for national or state youth theatres and audition for all of them. It seems you don’t have any contacts in the business so your best bet is to get some training (highly controversial subject), the thing is, and i hate to be such a pessimist, even if you get nothing out of the learning side of it apart from knowing who Stanislavski and Artaud are, you will meet the right people. Lets face it it’s not what you know it’s who you know. I don’t know much about the American schools but in England if you have 3 years to spare RADA, LAMDA and Guildhall are your best bet if you can get in. I would assume Juliard is the American equivalent? If you cant afford either the time or money (and it takes a lot of both) there are numerous summer courses and suchlike out there you just have to know where to look. Be wary of amateur and semi-professional plays while it may seem like experience it may just teach you bad habits which you will later have to unlearn. Oh and then you have to start dealing with the union, which you should really talk to someone else about, but that is all fun fun fun.Has a niceCatch-22: not being allowed to act if you are not a member but only being allowed membership if you have acted. Hope this is of some help and makes up for my sarcasm – every jest contains and element of truth Adam PS – Aleister was not the only person to have the surname Crowley

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: :I resent that, I am an actor, just a sarcastic, young and naive one. My apologies, "Crowley" The basis of my response was a very snotty answeron your part to a question this group sees often. But it was good, I will admit. : :Hmm some advice about starting acting. It depends on how you old you are. If :you under 21 look for national or state youth theatres and audition for all :o f them. :It seems you don’t have any contacts in the business so your best bet is to :get some training (highly controversial subject), the thing is, and i hate :to be such a pessimist, even if you get nothing out of the learning side of :it apart from knowing who Stanislavski and Artaud are, you will meet the :right people. Depends on where the training takes place. andwho the teacher/coach is. here, in NYC, it’s a small world, so it’s realtively easy to find out who to study with and who to avoid like an anthrax laden letter. T.Schrieber, here is a good place to study, as is Stella Adler and Michael Howard. there are more but cookie needs to talk to people that have studied with the person she is interested. a good coach will not hesitate to give time for a prospective student to audit a class to observe and to talk with students after the class. :Lets face it it’s not what you know it’s who you know. Bingo! :I don’t know much about the American schools but in England if you have 3 :years to spare RADA, LAMDA and Guildhall are your best bet if you can get :in. I would assume Juliard is the American equivalent? Yes, although other schools usually 4 years (undergradute) is the norm and two years for graduate. :If you cant afford either the time or money (and it takes a lot of both) :there are numerous summer courses and suchlike out there you just have to :know where to look. Definitely. :Be wary of amateur and semi-professional plays while it may seem like :experience it may just teach you bad habits which you will later have to :unlearn. Now, here I would agree, but with qualifications. It depends on the amatuer and semi-pro’s attitude towards the work. I have worked with Light Opera Companies in California that showed this  dichotomy in glaring detail. one company has an excellent reputation, has done shows that no one else could get, while the other languished for lack of return talent. and I have worked here in New York with companies (porducers) for whom "Noises Off" and "Footlight Frenzy" were their training manuals… :Oh and then you have to start dealing with the union, which you should :really talk to someone else about, but that is all fun fun fun. Depends on what cookie wants. A lot of non-union work is happening around. Several people I know, who are currently working on stage and consistantly so,  will not join Equity because they feel they will stop working. again an interesting paradox. :Has a niceCatch-22: not being allowed to act if you are not a member :but only being allowed membership if you have acted. There are independant films, adn the University (student film) route.   gives one exposure to what goes on on a film set, you get experience working with a camera. How are the student film projects in England? : :Hope this is of some help and makes up for my sarcasm – every jest contains :and element of truth : :Adam : :P S – Aleister was not the only person to have the surname Crowley I know. :) <lame excuse I was also trying to sooth cookie. </lame excuse And I have saved this post. quite excellent. : : — KellyL, AFTRA/Actor/Director "I think if there is a God it’s very important that he has a sense of humour – otherwise you are in for a very miserable afterlife." Rory Bremner

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T.Schrieber, here is a good place to study, as is Stella Adler and Michael Howard.

Since her passage, the reputation of Stella Adler’s school has suffered.  When she was still running the school, there was an audition procedure, and now acceptance is based on a actor’s ability to pay.  I studied for a month with the grand dame in the 60s…. and I note that her work continues as a block at NYU’s Tisch School. :I don’t know much about the American schools but in England if you have 3 :years to spare RADA, LAMDA and Guildhall are your best bet if you can get :in. I would assume Juliard is the American equivalent? Yes, although other schools usually 4 years (undergradute) is the norm and two years for graduate.

Or 5 years for a good BFA and three years for a good MFA. Break a leg, Bill THE ACTING STUDIO http://gvtg.com/theactingstudio

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what do i do

Pray that your sense returns. Tao te Carl

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up: why are you guys so sarcastic??

And you answered his question…where? Tao te Carl

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Be wary of amateur and semi-professional plays while it may seem like experience it may just teach you bad habits which you will later have to unlearn.

Wow really? Where I live, here in the San Francisco area, that’s where most of the work is done. There are a few professional companies but they get actors often from out of town or from a small pool of often used Equity people. If I didn’t work in these semi-pro places I would never work. Ray

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: Be wary of amateur and semi-professional plays while it may seem like : experience it may just teach you bad habits which you will later have to : unlearn. : :Wow really? Where I live, here in the San Francisco area, that’s where most :o f the work is done. Ray, I’m from the Bay Area, and there area loto fo quality ‘amatuer theatres out there. Check CallBoard. I did some great ‘amatuer’ and semi-pro/pro work out there. and the Conservatory I attended here, was ‘upset’ because I had no bad habits for them to break. ;) :There are a few professional companies but they get actors often from :o ut of town or from a small pool of often used Equity people. If I :didn’t work in these semi-pro places I would never work. SF Bay is known to have a good rep when it comes to semi-pro theatre. Adam, is speaking in generalities not in specifics. Keep working and have you done mailings to the Actor’s Exchange or any of the other agencies there? Craig(Actor’s Exchange) is a cool guy. : :Ray : : : : : : : — KellyL, AFTRA/Actor/Director "I think if there is a God it’s very important that he has a sense of humour – otherwise you are in for a very miserable afterlife." Rory Bremner

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I agree completely! There is tons of oppy in the "low rent" side of theather Jason This post is in no way affliated with my employer. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : Be wary of amateur and semi-professional plays while it may seem like : experience it may just teach you bad habits which you will later have to : unlearn. : :Wow really? Where I live, here in the San Francisco area, that’s where most :o f the work is done. Ray, I’m from the Bay Area, and there area loto fo quality ‘amatuer theatres out there. Check CallBoard. I did some great ‘amatuer’ and semi-pro/pro work out there. and the Conservatory I attended here, was ‘upset’ because I had no bad habits for them to break. ;) :There are a few professional companies but they get actors often from :o ut of town or from a small pool of often used Equity people. If I :didn’t work in these semi-pro places I would never work. SF Bay is known to have a good rep when it comes to semi-pro theatre. Adam, is speaking in generalities not in specifics. Keep working and have you done mailings to the Actor’s Exchange or any of the other agencies there? Craig(Actor’s Exchange) is a cool guy. : :Ray : : : : : : :

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want to act where do I go?

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want to act where do I go?

Where do you live? how old are you? Do you prefer television? film? theatre? performance art? table dances? do you want to act as a profession – meaning earning all income as an actor, or do you have the passion to do it for no pay? Many questions, but yours is quite … generic. First rule of acting – Be Specific in Your Choices. Now apply that to life …….

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want to act where do I go?

well, first off, where are you located? Next, have you ever acted before? if not, then I suggest you look into acting lessons and involvement in the local theater companies. get involved in your school theater department, if sitll in school. take acting, singing and dancing lessons, learn how to fence (for grace and balance (you may never know whenyou will be called on to do a piece ofStage Combat.) read plays, movie scripts, see as much LIVE theater as you can.  a few ‘net recources: DISCUSSION LISTS: The Buzz Lists: Actor_to_Actor buzznyc buzzla buzznyc_staff http://www.theglobe.com GoGreenRoom: http://www.egroups.com/GoGreenRoom ACTPRO: http://www.thegrid.net/virg http://www.americantheaterweb.com/ http://www.bgsm.edu/voice/singing.html if you’re under 18, look into this website. it may not be ideal, but it will give you and your parents some good introductory insights.: FOR PARENTS WITH CHILDREN INTERSETED IN THE BIZ: http://www.minorcon.org/gettingstarted.html keep asking questions here. they will be answered, perhaps not as quickly as you would prefer, but we will respond. There are several of us who will tyr and point you towards the correct answers to your questions. —

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