How to become An Actor

• Artist
• Performer
• Thespian
• Movie Star
• Entertainer

What do Actors do?

An Actor would typically need to:

• Perform in a studio or on location for film, television shows, advertising, internet or the radio, or perform live on stage in a theatre to provide entertainment, education, training or therapy to the audience
• Network with agents and relevant professionals in the performing arts industry and identify well-paying assignments
• Prepare for and attend auditions in the presence of directors, producers, and casting directors
• Read scripts and meet with agents and the production team before accepting a role
• Research the character’s personality and situation to understand it in depth and breadth in preparation for an authentic portrayal
• Memorise and rehearse lines; rehearse performance on stage or facing the camera with the cast
• Improvise the reactions of a character to suit a situation; improve their own and the overall show performance, discussing the delivery and interpretation with the director, producer, cast and crew 
• Perform their role live in a theatre or for recording or filming in studios or on location abiding by the director’s instructions and in collaboration with co-performers and the production team
• Do voice-overs or record narration for advertisements, audiobooks, video games and animations; work as a walk-on or an extra for television or film as per the role
• Acquire new skills or use existing talents, such as horse riding, stage fighting, dancing, singing or playing an instrument, if needed for the production
• Help the production team and crew liaise with staff at the venue and accommodation, manage the performance area, costumes and props and keep records, if needed
• Undertake tours with theatre companies or for promoting television shows and films; assist with related activities as required, such as driving a van or setting up (get-in) and dismantling (get-out) the equipment and props at the venue
• Work with repertory companies in several productions, each that runs for a specified period during a season or commercial theatre companies that put up long-running or touring plays or musicals 
• Play a role in videos recorded for promotional or training purposes or facilitate role-play for participants in corporate training sessions
• Inform, engage and entertain visitors to historical sites or museums by working as living history interpreters who role-play famous personalities or represent a period, event, place, profession or community
• Participate in fringe theatre that puts up niche performances based on a particular genre, era or playwright
• Guide school tours to educate students through curriculum-based productions and workshops or entertain them 
  

Working conditions are diverse since the assignments vary enormously, from live stage performances of the classics and community theatre to film parts, shows in theme parks, soap operas, radio work, television, and advertising. Actors usually work indoors in theatres or television and film production studios. Some contracts require Actors to work outdoors on location. Actors must often cope with the heat of stage lights and the stuffiness of studios while working indoors or in unfavourable weather conditions at outdoor locations. 

Theatre Actors may travel with a touring show to different towns and cities across the country. Actors may also travel within the country or overseas to work on location for film and television roles. Costume changes and makeup are an integral part of an actor’s job.

Actors may choose to work part-time or full-time. Work contracts for specific film, TV or radio productions are usually of varying lengths, ranging from a day to a few months or longer. Work hours are extensive, irregular, and unsocial. Actors may have to work early in the morning, late at night, and over the weekends and holidays.

If you work for a repertory company, you would likely be employed for a season during which you may act in several plays that run for a specific duration. On the other hand, if you perform in a play or musical put up by a commercial theatre company, you will likely be busy for a long stretch and may go on tours as well. Tours would require you to spend time away from home and family. You will likely help the company put up sets during the day and perform at night at each venue.

The majority of Actors work freelance or are self-employed for tax purposes. Signing up with an agency to secure small parts in television programs or advertisements or working as an extra can be a sound way into an acting career. Some Actors may also find long-term employment in touring companies. You will need to be proactive and establish a network of contacts, as few vacancies are advertised.

Actors are generally employed by:

• Commercial Theatre Companies 
• Fringe Theatre Companies 
• Film, TV & Radio Companies
• Touring Companies
• Colleges, Universities & Professional Schools

Generally, Actors have a higher percentage of workers who belong to a union than workers in all occupations. Union membership can help set work rules and assist Actors in receiving benefits and more significant parts for more pay. Union members must pay yearly dues, which can be expensive for Actors beginning their careers.

Professional associations and organisations are crucial for Actors interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Performing repeated auditions to land a role; attending auditions held in major cities at short notice
• Finding any assignment or one of your choice being dependent on a combination of various factors, including talent, experience, effort, perseverance and an element of luck
• Maintaining composure and confidence, whether you are accepted or rejected or given a part that you didn't want, whether you are degraded or praised, and even when you feel hurt and angry
• Difficult to find steady work and achieve recognition; lack of job and income security due to the unpredictability characteristic of the career; the frequent need to hold another job or run a side business to make a living
• Working indoors under hot stage lights and in stuffy studio conditions or outdoors in uncomfortable weather
• Tolerating the discomfort of wearing or changing elaborate and uncomfortable costumes and sitting through extended makeup application sessions
• The impact of makeup, lights and weather on skin health
• Time spent away from home, and the consequent disruption to home and social life

Any academic program that a potential Actor takes up typically requires a period of supervised experience, such as an internship. You will gain optimal benefit from your tasks outside of the classroom when they line up perfectly with your lessons inside it. You may get to hear countless stories from more experienced professionals and obtain valuable hands-on experience when they manage to turn seemingly routine incidents into unique learning moments.

Aspiring Actors often make their earliest forays into the world of performing arts by participating in annual school plays or local youth or community amateur theatre productions. You may also seek work experience backstage in a theatre. Through these avenues, you can acquire invaluable experience, skills and confidence. You may also engage in film-making at school or college. 

Find short-term paid or voluntary work to improve your prospects of getting a job while gaining valuable insight into how a company or institution operates. It may also help you determine whether the public, private or voluntary sector is best suited to realise your ambitions. Summer internships or part-time work at an entry-level position offer you a taste of the work and help build useful contacts. 

Your educational provider’s career service department can provide information about viable opportunities for work placements, internships and voluntary work in diverse sectors.

Another helpful way of acquiring confidence and experience in public speaking, acting and engaging audiences is to work as an entertainer or tour guide at camps, resorts, museums and tourist sites.

University drama societies are a valuable avenue to gain acting experience no matter the degree program in which you may be enrolled. Attend various theatre performances, including Shakespeare, to learn from observation. You may also participate in workshops held by museums, associations or sites related to literature, theatre, television or film-making.

Performing at showcases and major festivals can be highly valuable to budding Actors, as they can get noticed by directors and casting agents often present at such events to scout for fresh talent.

Enrolling at an agency may land you minor roles in commercials or as extras in theatre, film, television shows, advertisements or independent movies, which, in turn, may help you springboard to more significant roles in prestigious productions or at renowned venues.

Read about the profession and interview or job shadow experienced Actors to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.

Post-secondary qualifications are typically not mandatory for aspiring Actors. However, they may prepare for the profession by learning the craft through courses in acting, filmmaking, media studies or visual arts, whether online or at community colleges, acting conservatories, theatre companies and private schools. You can extend your versatility by taking classes in other performing arts, such as dance and music. Remember that specialised performing arts schools typically offer vocational courses.

Consider joining summer or other short programs to help you hone specialised acting skills, including effective dialogue delivery or stage combat. 

Since formal education fosters your skills, a bachelor’s degree in theatre, while not required, may increase your chances of landing stage roles. A postgraduate diploma or master’s degree in acting is not essential but beneficial to refine your skills and build a network. 

Remember that completing a particular academic course does not guarantee your entry into the profession. Be that as it may, your professional qualifications and transferable skills may open up more than one door.

Do your homework and look into all available options for education and employment before enrolling in a specific programme. Reliable sources that help you make an educated decision include associations and employers in your field. 

Actors do not need a certificate or licence to ply their trade. However, voluntary certification from an objective and reputed organisation demonstrates an Actor’s competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, the passage of an examination, or some combination of the three. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

If you work with children, you will likely undergo an employment background check that can include but is not limited to a person’s work history, education, credit history, motor vehicle reports (MVRs), criminal record, medical history, use of social media, and drug screening.

Aspiring Actors typically launch their acting career in minor roles in films, television shows and independent movies, climbing the ladder to arrive at more significant roles and productions as their reputation and popularity grow amongst the audience and industry.

Career progression for an Actor is not a straightforward or well-defined path. Finding steady work that provides job security can be a challenge for most Actors, and becoming a star may be a goal that only a few can achieve. Some continue to work as “extras”, while others switch to narrating or doing voice-overs for animated productions or electronic media, such as audiobooks and video games. Providing acting classes can work as a supplementary source of income. 

Moving from one acting contract to another and between different media, such as theatre, radio, television and film, is common but may not yield significant gains in the diversity of your roles or a pay increase. Besides, one successful assignment does not guarantee the success of the next one. However, learning new skills, such as singing, dancing, playing an instrument, stage fighting or horse riding, or branching out into different areas or genres of performance, such as playing a comedian or the antagonist, may help you in your career progression. 

You may also diversify into related production areas and become a Theatre Manager, Scriptwriter, Producer or Director, or even launch your independent theatre or film and television production company. 

Keep in mind that assignments may be spaced out with intervals of unemployment in between. You may need to fill the gaps with non-acting jobs for economic security.

The desire to accelerate career growth and personal development has an increasing number of millennials choosing to job hop and build a scattershot resume that showcases ambition, motivation, and the desire to learn a broad range of skills.

Studies prove that job hopping, earlier dismissed as “flaky” behaviour, can lead to greater job fulfilment. Employees searching for a positive culture and interesting work are willing to try out various roles and workplaces and learn valuable, transferable skills along the way.

Given the intense competition for major and minor roles, Actors with a bachelor’s degree in theatre may have better prospects of landing a role in a production.

While it takes years of practice for Actors to hone their skills, they can hardly ever claim that their training is complete. Each role demands something different, and Actors may need to refresh or expand their repertoire of skills, such as by learning to sing or dance, play a specific sport or speak in a particular accent. Therefore, they must continue to foster their acting skills throughout their career by participating in workshops and rehearsals or receiving mentoring from a drama coach. The director may arrange for the training sessions.

A master's degree is not essential but may be a helpful way of gaining more skills, experience, and contacts as an Actor. Entry is competitive, and courses are intensive. Several institutions offer a one-year master's degree in arts/a post-graduate diploma in acting. 

Summer schools or short courses focus on a particular element of Acting, e.g., accent and dialogue coaching. You may also consider postgraduate courses in related fields such as directing, drama therapy, scriptwriting, and teaching.

What Should Your CV Include?

An Actor’s CV should include a list of production credits and details of any skills. You must also include a headshot, which is a head and shoulders picture, usually in black and white, taken by an accredited photographer. Although word-of-mouth recommendations are standard in the industry, testimonials and professional recommendations can strengthen your CV.

Current Scenario

The employment outlook of a particular profession may be impacted by diverse factors, such as the time of year (for seasonal jobs), location, employment turnover (when people leave current jobs), occupational growth (when new roles are created), size of the occupation, and industry-specific trends and events that affect overall employment.

Due to microphone technology, Actors can wear tiny mics camouflaged as skin-coloured headsets or hidden in their hair. The mics project the sound from strategically placed speakers in a theatre.

Actors choose to act for different reasons. However, most continue on the exciting yet arduous path simply because they love performing and want to experience it all. They want to sing, dance, laugh, cry, soliloquise, and entertain an audience. Little comes close to being part of a show and sharing the successes and failures of the performance with other Actors and the audience.

Study the craft and practise every day. Prepare your resume and headshots and audition as often as possible. Market yourself and get an agent when you are ready. Don't be afraid to fail. It's the first step toward learning something and getting better at it. On a different note, make sure you have accurate record-keeping skills or hire an accountant. .