How to Break into Acting
Working in the movie industry is not necessarily the lucrative job option that most people think it is. It is a fact that 98 percent of the card carrying members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences earn less than $5,000 per year at their craft, and most often, the word "craft" here can be considered to be superfluous.
Any attractive actor can make a break in the porn industry and many opt for that as an introduction into the entertainment industry. However, that segment of the industry does not require talent, so much as bravado and risk taking, and the possibilities of making it into serious acting from there are minimal. Pornography does not require talent, just appearance and sacrifice. Even if one finds her or himself on the threshold of success that way, it is doubtful that their career will flourish once their background is discovered by the media.
The unfortunate reality is that, as a rule, one cannot simply break into the movie industry as an actor. That is a pipe dream. The best way into finding oneself to becoming a professional actor requires most importantly that one has a real dream. In order for that dream to manifest into reality it is necessary to apply oneself at a very early age and be driven to succeed. That takes a special kind of person.
Begin with dancing classes and early school theater productions as a child. Move into the drama club in high school and, after that, local theater work groups leading to small scale local theatrical productions. Studying acting is also important, as you'll find that most successful actors have taken courses at prestigious academies such as The New York Film Academy, the Beverly Hills Playhouse, the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, the Acting School of South Florida, and especially the Julliard School. There are many, many more of these kinds of institutions world wide. The movie and entertainment industries thrive, and knowing that can only serve to foster one's enthusiasm.
Simply having talent is not enough, if one does not have the knowledge to proceed. Family recognition of that talent and the encouragement and the support that must be given by family members are of paramount importance. That is why there are so many acting families in Hollywood - the Drews, the Barrymores, the Bottoms, the Douglases, the Bridges, the Baldwins, and so on. They understand the work that is required, that the, "Baby! I can make you a star" concept is pretty much a thing of the past. There are any number of discarded wannabe starlets who will attest to that fact. It is not so much nepotism but experience that has taught the scions of those families how to "break" into the business. It takes work, and lots of it, for most aspiring young actors.
Those who think that Hollywood is the land of the beautiful people are naive and starry-eyed. Beauty is owned by the big cosmetics manufacturers, and they promote their philosophy for obvious reasons. Just look at any tabloid at your local supermarket blaring the headline, "Stars Without Makeup!" to understand that. Many of moviedom's most successful actors can't be found among the "beautiful people", and if you knew the truth, you would discover that most of the rest don't consider themselves to be at all "beautiful".
Acting is something that everyone does every day of their lives. To be a theatrical performer requires particular skills that are taught and understood. Those skills must be studied well, and if one is lucky, one might find an opportunity to grab that brass ring and turn it into Oscar gold. Having a great agency behind one doesn't hurt, either.
