Career Profiles Actor
People have seen them on television, in movies and on stage. They evoke all kinds of emotions, from joy to sadness. As the word suggests, an actor (or actress) acts. Their job is to bring fictional characters, or characters based on real people, to life. Some actors make millions of dollars and are known around the world, while others are obscure. The acting business is one of the most demanding fields imaginable, and work can be difficult to find when somebody is just getting started. Natural talent helps, but an actor who wants to get an edge on the competition should get professional training from a drama coach. Here are more details about how these show business professionals learn their trade.
Educational requirements
Strictly speaking, no formal training is required and there are some actors who have done well for themselves on nothing but talent and good looks. However, these actors are few and far between. A degree in dramatic arts will certainly do a world of good, with additional classes in improvisation, directing, and radio broadcasting if voice work is the primary interest. Like other multifaceted professions,college coursescan help acting students focus on what truly appeals to them. Actors follow several career paths and not all of them appear on the big screen.
The audition process
This can be nerve-wracking for actors of all types, but anauditionis the first and most important step in landing a job. It doesn't matter if an actor is going to a scheduled audition or an open casting call. There could be hundreds of other actors waiting in the same room, hoping to get work. To prove that only he or she can play a role convincingly, an actor really needs to surpass the expectations of a casting director at an audition. In a literal sense, the actor has to be somebody else even if the personality traits of the character aren't the same as the actor's. To prepare for a complex role, actors watch plays and films and take notes about the methods used by the particular actor on the screen.
The reality
An actor's schedule can be dizzyingly busy with auditions one week, and totally dead the next. Weeks can go by without a single callback. Famous and lesser known actors have gone down this road before, when they first started at the bottom of the ladder. Actors with a wide range of abilities — such as miming, singing, dancing, and comedic wit — will find that more parts will be available to them. To be successful,actorsneed to constantly network and hone their craft when not attending auditions.
Film and television roles are the most sought after because they can make an actor popular within a short period. Of course, these jobs can be tough to get. Stage acting is challenging in its own right because unlike movies and television, it's in front of a live audience and there aren't any retakes. It's hard to predict how an acting gig will affect a performer's career in the long run. Television programs that nobody thinks will last more than a few months could go on for years, thereby turning an unknown actor into a huge star. Most actors don't reach spectacular heights of fame and fortune, and therefore must take secondary jobs to stay afloat. Dedication, professionalism, and patience will help to advance an actor's career.
