by Yohanna Farrell

Created on: April 09, 2008

When you just start out in the business it can all get very intimidating. First where do you start? What should you do? How do you get acting jobs? How do you present yourself? These are just a few of the hundreds of questions that beginners ask.

First thing you could do is look around your town for a drama group. This will help you get a foot in the door at least. Look in the newspapers and on-line to find one that fits around your daily life. Many drama groups get together in the evening and weekend. So going to one shouldn't be a problem. This will build up your confidence, teach you a few basic acting tips, and help you on your way to becoming an actor.

Secondly start off small, but dream big. Sitting around waiting to be discovered for a big a-list movie to come along is very, very, very rare. The majority of actors read and try to improve their skills with smaller jobs they have got by themselves. Read novels, plays, and scripts anything you can get your hands on. That way you can explore different characters and story lines.

Join an extra agency to get experience on a set and on stage. Many productions on stage just want a few people standing in the background to make the scene seem more real to the audience. It's the same for films. There are so many actors in short films, TV series, and feature length films etc that are there to get experience. Try this route and you may also get paid.

The fourth step would be to create a resume. All actors need a resume, even if you have no previous experience. Write your name, contact details and any skills that you have. Skills such as horse riding, skiing, Tai kwon doe etc. All these examples will make you stand out. Also include your interests and hobbies as well as your special skills. There are many places on line, which help create a resume.

Lastly get a head shot done. This will be the picture that you send on to potential employers. This is what you are going to sell to people. Try to make sure the head shot shot is just that. A shot of your head full on so the onlooker can see all of you.

So there are your 5 steps, just to sum up
1.Join a drama group
2.Read and get to know different characters
3.Join an extra agency
4.Create a resume
5. Get a head shot done.

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