Acting is a tough profession. Not only is it hard to be a good actor, breaking into this competitive industry can be a difficult thing to do. When it comes to a career in film and TV, you want to prepare yourself before you even get started. This will make it easier for you to keep searching for the big break and it’ll ensure you fully know what you’re getting into.
So, before you start contacting recruitment agencies full time, here are the top eight things you should know about starting a career in film and TV.
#1: Big your ‘type’
You don’t want to just be typecast all your life, but you definitely will have a ‘type’. Even Tom Cruise and Dame Judi Dench have a type. If you don’t know what your type is, you’ll end up running in auditions that are not worth your time. You need to be honest – ask yourself, your friends, your colleagues, your teachers and anyone you’ve worked with to give you an honest opinion of your type. Use the feedback to figure your strengths and the kind of roles you’d be most suited for.
#2: Schedule time to ‘work’ every day
You can’t just wait for the perfect role to land in your lap. You need to be prepared to work hard – look for roles, making connections, and learning to be a better actor. Consider your acting career in film and TV as a business and treat it like that.
Go to work everyday. Set aside time for browsing agency websites and scouting for casting events. When you’ve done that, spend a bit more time networking. Connect with directors, actors– anyone in the industry. Join forums and attend industry events. In addition, don’t forget to improve your own skills. Eat healthy, see plays, take courses, and follow the news with the use of various options and resources available online. You can also rely on HotUKSavings.co.uk for great cinema and theatre related retailers to stick to a budget while expanding your knowledge of the industry.
#3: Be a professional
A career in the film and the TV industry is not just down to your ability to act. You need to be a professional in many levels, not just in terms of putting on a show. What this means is that you can’t be a jerk. Just as an office clerk has to be a decent person, show up on time and do things that might not always seem the most enjoyable, you need to do the same as an actor. You can’t show up late or throw temper tantrums just because your talent is so good. If you’re a nice person, you’ll start getting a lot more roles.
#4: Be prepared to work for free –just not all the time
In an ideal world, no one should ever work for free. But to think you can be in the competitive industry and never accept a free job; well, you are probably really lucky. Working for free doesn’t mean taking leading roles without a pay or committing to something huge without any prospect of a salary. Be smart and know when you’re just being used.
However, it isn’t a bad idea to occasionally volunteer to help at a local theatre, work as an extra for lunch at a TV set or cover for an actor for free for one night or two. This gives you exposure and puts your feet through the door.
