by matthew williams
(tacoma, wa, us)
QUESTION:
I am 19 an currently employed by the us army…but i would like to begin an acting career in movies, commercials… just anything that i could do because i enjoy the art…
What would be the best approach to doing this (getting into a school for acting or courses i can do??) Paying for school would be no problem because the army would pay for it. But what are some other options for jobs while i am trying to support this career?
ANSWER:
Since you don’t have to worry about paying for school, try to apply to the top acting colleges first (you can find a list of some of the best theater colleges here). This will give you the best chances of success. You’ll get to learn every aspect of the profession, make connections, get a lot of experience on stage and participate in a showcase at the end that will help you find an agent or manager.
Of course, it’s tough to get into and you have to commit for 4 years. Otherwise, there are plenty of good acting schools to choose from with programs between 1-3 years. You can start your search here.
In terms of jobs you can have while you try to become an actor, it can be limited because you need to be available for auditions and to take roles when they come along. For this reason, a lot of actors work as waiters or temporary office workers. Anything that has flexibility is good. You can find more ideas for “rent-paying jobs” in this issue of our newsletter.
Good luck with your new career!