I just realized i loved acting 2 years ago! i always loved to dance and sing but just found the love of acting! I have danced for 5 years and ive been in plays and have done two workshops in new york with a character from the chorus line and a character from spamelot (sp)
would it be hard to find an agent?

and im from virginia, could anyone recommend great agencies that work with disney, nickoloden etc. ( or is that all agencies?)
and could i send my resume and headshot to LA agencies or no?

Thanks!

by the way im 16

quote:

Originally posted by Aehoy92:
I just realized i loved acting 2 years ago! i always loved to dance and sing but just found the love of acting! I have danced for 5 years and ive been in plays and have done two workshops in new york with a character from the chorus line and a character from spamelot (sp)
would it be hard to find an agent?

and im from virginia, could anyone recommend great agencies that work with disney, nickoloden etc. ( or is that all agencies?)
and could i send my resume and headshot to LA agencies or no?

Thanks!

IT'S ALWAYS HARD TO FIND AN AGENT.

You have the typical resume of the young aspiring actor, primarily a few theater productions and apparently some dancing experience. If your goal is Broadway, it's a start. But evidently you want to break into the LA market which is just the opposite -- nearly zero opportunities for ex-chorus boys and nearly exclusively geared to the film and television industry. The fact that all of your credits involve unknown theaters in essentially a non-market state will make your agency hunt even more difficult. You simply don't have any of the legitimate credits that would be of any value to any working agency that I know of, at least not yet.

My experience would suggest a temporary/permanent move to either coast to build your career and resume. You must be "where the action is." If acting is indeed your career path, you need to be in the thick of it, not observing from the sidelines. But at your age, this would probably be inappropriate, if not impossible. For now, just concentrate on building your experience level and getting the best training available in your area, then when your old enough to strike out on your own, get out of Roanoke.

Please read the teens getting started thread. Here's the link. It's possible a NY agent would be interested, but you are in the "dead zone," an age when many try to hire actors 18+ to play younger. It's a lot cheaper for production to go that way. This means fewer roles for your age range, especially for someone without anything heavy hitting on your resume. But do not be discouraged. All sorts of things you'd never expect happen in this biz.

Here's the link to the teens getting started thread:

http://bbs.backstage.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9611031/m/6061061/p/1

quote:

Originally posted by Robert Kim Photography: But at your age, this would probably be inappropriate, if not impossible. For now, just concentrate on building your experience level and getting the best training available in your area, then when your old enough to strike out on your own, get out of Roanoke.

Absolutely. It sounds as if your experience is very limited. Take some more time to be sure this is the path you want to follow before worrying about moving. Unless your parents are on board to move you to NY or LA and devote plentiful time to your career, you should begin with local VA opportunities and learn what you can while you finish high school. You know, even if your parents WOULD want to move and spend all their time trying to get you into movies, I'd still suggest you finish high school and be sure it's what you want to do. Acting is absolutely wonderful but there are many, many fantastic things a person can do with his or her life. Enjoy the exploration!!

Here's an excerpt from a 2006 column of mine with suggestions for someone in VA...

Dear Jackie:

I'm 21 and have had an interest in acting my whole life. I passed up theatre classes in high school, but I have taken classes at my local junior college. I went in knowing I would not be the most attractive or most seasoned person there, but simply with the goal of having fun. I had so much fun that I've taken all the classes offered at this school.

I have a very flexible job and have been trying to get accepted to a four-year university. What can I do to get more experience? I always wanted to do film but was told I should start with theatre.

— Looking for Advice
Northern Virginia

Dear Looking:

Don't worry about theatre versus film or whether you're as good as the people playing the leads at your junior college. There are many acting opportunities out there, especially if your goal is simply to have fun and explore. Although states like Virginia don't offer the bang for your buck of California and New York, they can provide a friendlier, less competitive environment in which to gain experience. You mentioned exhausting your junior college's acting class offerings, but have you gotten all your acting teachers have to offer? Speak to your favorites and see whether they have any local ideas for you. Maybe one of them teaches privately or works with a summer company you could audition or volunteer for.

Next, check out your state resources. Start with the Virginia Film Office (film.virginia.org). Its website is full of information on festivals, screenings, and local organizations. Click on the "Hotline Online" link for updates about industry jobs and auditions. When I checked, there were auditions for a grad student thesis film, several nonunion films, and a Hallmark Channel spot. Festivals and screenings are great places to rub elbows with others in your local market, and a visit to the film commission office might do you good. Many opportunities are never publicized. Casting is often based on whom you know and whether you're in the right place at the right time. Get out there and begin meeting people who work. To that end, you just missed the 19th annual Virginia Film Festival. Mark your calendar for next year.

Another resource is the Virginia Production Alliance. Although this group is targeted toward filmmakers, it recently held an audition showcase to hook directors up with promising actors. All an actor needed to do was sign up for an audition slot, and he or she could be seen for many projects.

On the theatre front, Virginia has no shortage of venues. Local nonunion, community, and dinner theatres, as well as summer stock companies, are great places to learn the ropes. When you're ready, look into Equity's Membership Candidate Program, in which nonunion actors get a chance to work with more-seasoned performers. You can go to the Equity website at www.actorsequity.org and choose "EMC" in the "Membership" drop-down menu for more information and a list of specific theatres, often with Web addresses. Many of your state's theatres participate, including Barter Theatre, MetroStage, Shenandoah Shakespeare, Signature Theatre, and the Virginia Stage Company.

You also mentioned applying to four-year colleges. I contacted Judith Reagan, assistant professor of drama at the University of Virginia, for localized feedback. I will leave you with her input:

"Participate in all production opportunities offered in [your college's drama] department. In addition to 'mainstage' productions, this could include volunteering to read new works by playwriting students or acting in scenes directed by student directors. If not cast in a production, see if there are openings for crew work. Getting to know the theatre community aids the process of hearing about [and] being involved in future productions.

"Talk to drama faculty at high schools and community colleges when searching for a program that fits your interests if you plan to complete your B.A. Get additional information online, and follow up with phone or on-site interviews. Go to auditions such as those sponsored by Southeastern Theatre Conference to find summer work or to audition for college programs.

"See a lot of theatre. Sometimes you can see shows for free if you will usher. Audition for and volunteer at community theatres where you've seen productions you admire, and at professional theatres when there are opportunities for people from the community to participate along with professionals, such as in productions of A Christmas Carol.

"Short films by student directors can be a good learning experience, either as actor or crew. Look for notices on bulletin boards and e-lists of drama departments and theatres, and notices in newspapers. [But] always be [cautious] when working with people you don't know.

"Send a picture and résumé to any casting agencies near your area. Follow up by phone to see what informational sessions they may offer to people beginning in this work. Don't pay for classes unless you've researched them and are convinced they're valuable, rather than 'pay for audition' setups."