I'm a young actor living in a region where theater is the dominant craft for most actors here. I've trained with an on camera teacher for the past 4 years, and continue to do some commercial/stage work in my area. I would like to spend the summer in Los Angeles to gain knowledge and experience by taking classes, workshops ect.
I have a family friend to stay with, and the funds to do so,
what Im wondering is, is this trip worth my time? I plan to move out to LA full time after school, but would this trip help at all, or should I just continue what Im doing, where I am .
Thanks.

Sounds like a great experience. Do it.

quote:

Originally posted by EmmylouB:
I'm a young actor living in a region where theater is the dominant craft for most actors here. I've trained with an on camera teacher for the past 4 years, and continue to do some commercial/stage work in my area. I would like to spend the summer in Los Angeles to gain knowledge and experience by taking classes, workshops ect.
I have a family friend to stay with, and the funds to do so,
what Im wondering is, is this trip worth my time? I plan to move out to LA full time after school, but would this trip help at all, or should I just continue what Im doing, where I am .
Thanks.

My answer on this is yes you should definately do it......but curb your expectations.

Too often young people come out to Hollywood thinking that things are going to happen quickly......they usually dont.

You say you have place to stay and you have money....that puts you in a very good position to take a good class and even some casting director workshops for some visibility (you dont go to learn.....its mostly to get in front of them)

You have been doing commercials are you Union now?

Thank you both for your replies so far,
and No I'm not union yet, where I currently am union jobs are scarce, especially for the younger ages. I hope to get my vouchers and join when possible, if that makes sense. I'm not one of "those" kind of people who expect a big break or something of that sort, I just want to dip my toes in the water, before making the plunge in about two years to live out there full time .

quote:

Originally posted by EmmylouB:
Thank you both for your replies so far,
and No I'm not union yet, where I currently am union jobs are scarce, especially for the younger ages. I hope to get my vouchers and join when possible, if that makes sense. I'm not one of "those" kind of people who expect a big break or something of that sort, I just want to dip my toes in the water, before making the plunge in about two years to live out there full time .

I am also a young teen actor living outside LA and commute in for auditions and such....

There might be some that might agree with me on this but.....be careful with the idea that vouchers are the way to go for union status.

The problem with people that get union status through vouchers is they are not actually accumulating real CREDITS.

Then there is a point in your career where you actually do get the union status....then become extremely frustrated because they are still not getting out due to the competition of all the other union actors in your range.

People offered me vouchers back when I was doing that and I actually turned them down....continuing to work the non union stuff to gain experience, make contacts, etc etc...and young people get taft hartleyed pretty easy anyway if they really want you for a union job.

I waited until I booked a union gig.....got my sag/aftra eligibility and now I can work on both sides of the fence for a while but I credits....which made me more attractive to manager....which made me more marketable to a good LA commercial agency......

Not telling you what to do....just dont jump to union status till your work warrants it. You have to be able to compete.