2 answers
Mitisha
Student
Hamilton, New Zealand
2
Questions
Asked
400 views
What can I do to get an audition of a film? or How to join any theatre group?
What can I do to get an audition of a film or how to join theatre group or how to get a position of a drama teacher in any theatre group?
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2 answers
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1947
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Mitisha !
I would be happy to provide you with the information about professional Acting as well as teaching Acting.
Your first step for your career plan as an actor would be to get training and education as well as lots of experience. The best place to begin this training would be at your school, whether you are in high school, college or not currently at a school. So training and experience acting is the most important thing to do right now. Once you are involved in performing, you will know how to go out for auditions, but you have to know a lot about acting on stage and in front of the camera.
There are a few ways that actors find out about auditions. You did not indicate what level you are at right now or if you are just beginning and you'd have to have training and experience before auditioning. If you do not have experience or very little, start by attending the auditions at whatever school you go to. This will be a supportive yet focused experience as a beginner. The more you are around other actors, teachers and theatre people the more you will learn what to do in your town of Hamilton, NZ. I do not have enough detail from you to advise you precisely for your circumstances. I think if you start with your school, you'll be guided in the right direction. Each person needs a special and unique path to becoming an actress.
You'll know you are ready to audition when you feel happy and confident with your acting ability and it feels natural for you, comfortable, as if it's what you're meant to do. By being around theatre people at your school, they'll be talking about community acting opportunities and teachers also can let you know, too. So it is worth starting out at school. People at school understand if you do not have experience but your chances are limited for community acting and even less chances at professional paid work auditions, so take your time to learn everything there is to know. Be prepared,
Once you gain years of experience acting, you can teach, either at a school or offer acting classes to the community. For teaching in a school, it's best to get a Bachelors Degree and a Masters Degree in Theatre. You'd take some Education classes as electives or as a Minor in college, then a teaching certification according to where you live. A guidance counselor or college academic counselor can let you know what your locale requires.. To teach in elementary school in Hamilton, NZ you need a Bachelors in Education and a certification. To teach in college, you'd need a Bachelors Degree in Theatre and teaching certification. Definitely verify this with your school. Most acting teachers I know have years if not a couple of decades being professional actors, so consider this competitive aspect when applying for teaching positions at a school or college.
So, you kind of don't "join" a theatre group (unless at your school), you would need to have experience, audition and be chosen to be part of the troupe or cast. You could always form your own performing troupe and perform in the community. This would naturally be something you'd get to know how to do once you obtain experience.
Do not start submitting photos for work until you know the business well. Acting is a process and needs lots of time and patience. You'll need to be very active socially around the acting community, learn everything about acting - theory, technique and what upstage and downstage means and film set terms and be comfortable working on a film or TV set. They will expect you to know everything already, so don't submit your photos and resume until you are sure you can do it. Actors find work online through casting websites. These are not representation agents. For an Acting Agent in your country, ask someone at your school what the process is in New Zealand.
Acting is an intricate career so the best way to learn is by asking specific questions with details for your particular circumstance. Feel free to return here to ask more questions because there is a huge amount to learn about the world of Acting. I do hope that this helps for a start and I wish you all the best moving forward with active steps towards your goals !
I would be happy to provide you with the information about professional Acting as well as teaching Acting.
Your first step for your career plan as an actor would be to get training and education as well as lots of experience. The best place to begin this training would be at your school, whether you are in high school, college or not currently at a school. So training and experience acting is the most important thing to do right now. Once you are involved in performing, you will know how to go out for auditions, but you have to know a lot about acting on stage and in front of the camera.
There are a few ways that actors find out about auditions. You did not indicate what level you are at right now or if you are just beginning and you'd have to have training and experience before auditioning. If you do not have experience or very little, start by attending the auditions at whatever school you go to. This will be a supportive yet focused experience as a beginner. The more you are around other actors, teachers and theatre people the more you will learn what to do in your town of Hamilton, NZ. I do not have enough detail from you to advise you precisely for your circumstances. I think if you start with your school, you'll be guided in the right direction. Each person needs a special and unique path to becoming an actress.
You'll know you are ready to audition when you feel happy and confident with your acting ability and it feels natural for you, comfortable, as if it's what you're meant to do. By being around theatre people at your school, they'll be talking about community acting opportunities and teachers also can let you know, too. So it is worth starting out at school. People at school understand if you do not have experience but your chances are limited for community acting and even less chances at professional paid work auditions, so take your time to learn everything there is to know. Be prepared,
Once you gain years of experience acting, you can teach, either at a school or offer acting classes to the community. For teaching in a school, it's best to get a Bachelors Degree and a Masters Degree in Theatre. You'd take some Education classes as electives or as a Minor in college, then a teaching certification according to where you live. A guidance counselor or college academic counselor can let you know what your locale requires.. To teach in elementary school in Hamilton, NZ you need a Bachelors in Education and a certification. To teach in college, you'd need a Bachelors Degree in Theatre and teaching certification. Definitely verify this with your school. Most acting teachers I know have years if not a couple of decades being professional actors, so consider this competitive aspect when applying for teaching positions at a school or college.
So, you kind of don't "join" a theatre group (unless at your school), you would need to have experience, audition and be chosen to be part of the troupe or cast. You could always form your own performing troupe and perform in the community. This would naturally be something you'd get to know how to do once you obtain experience.
Do not start submitting photos for work until you know the business well. Acting is a process and needs lots of time and patience. You'll need to be very active socially around the acting community, learn everything about acting - theory, technique and what upstage and downstage means and film set terms and be comfortable working on a film or TV set. They will expect you to know everything already, so don't submit your photos and resume until you are sure you can do it. Actors find work online through casting websites. These are not representation agents. For an Acting Agent in your country, ask someone at your school what the process is in New Zealand.
Acting is an intricate career so the best way to learn is by asking specific questions with details for your particular circumstance. Feel free to return here to ask more questions because there is a huge amount to learn about the world of Acting. I do hope that this helps for a start and I wish you all the best moving forward with active steps towards your goals !
Marylou DiFilippo
Actor, Teacher
55
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Marylou’s Answer
Hi Matisha!
I’ve been a professional actor and teacher for over four decades. As Michelle indicated, start at your school, and audition for whatever they are doing that may be right for you. Also, look into community theater in your area. You might find a role there that fits you.
Training is highly important. Experience will give you training. But finding a teacher in your school or in your community is most important, so reach out to your schools guidance counselor. They may be able to direct you in the right direction.
In college, I got a bachelors degree in theater/communications education. That enabled me to get a certificate to teach. I started out teaching high school, and ran a high school theater program for two years. Then, after I gained some experience, I taught at the college level.
As a professional actor, I started in my hometown, Philadelphia. I performed at every theater in Philadelphia. And then I needed to go to a larger market, New York City.
With the résumé I had built, I was able to get an agent. That takes time.. Training takes time. Working in local theater is the best way to start.
To be a teacher, I recommend you get a BS degree, as I got mine.
Then, you will do some research as to where you might find a position to teach. Again, I recommend doing some research in your area., But you do need some education to learn how to teach this specific area.
There are places you can search for gigs. For example, Backstage. Google it. But ‘tis best, again to have some experience so you can build a resume.
It is a long process to do so. You must be patient, and accept the long and difficult process. And you will be rejected many times. What is important is that you cannot accept any rejection as personal. It is not. It is not personal. So it’s important that you let it roll off your back. Because it will happen more than once.
Again, look for community theater in your area. And also what your high school may provide for you to play. What I tell my students is your job is to look for work. And, don’t give up. You will experience rejection. It comes with the territory. Over the decades I have been rejected many many times. You cannot let that bring you down. You simply need to accept that this is part of the process.
So my advice is to train. And if you can’t find good training at your current school, which I assume is high school at this point, reach out and find some good training in your area.
And be extremely patient. Just keep looking for audition opportunities, whether it be for stage or for film.
And, trust me, you will go through plenty of auditions. And part of your training should be learning how to audition. That is one of the things I teach for beginning actors. Learning how to audition is quite important.
You can, again, look online for auditions in your area. I would find out what community theaters are in your area, and go and audition!. But understand that rejection is part of the job.
And then, don’t give up. Just keep trying.
It is a complex business. Just, again, don’t give up. And don’t take any rejection personally. Because it isn’t personal. It’s just part of the business.
I wish you the best of luck. I’ve had many decades as a pro, and I have gotten plenty of rejections.
Just keep on keeping on.
It’s a wonderful business, show business. Overtime hopefully you will find an agent who wants to represent you. Then they will submit you for auditions. Find out the agencies in your area. Should you land a roll that you feel strongly about, then invite them to watch your work. If they feel as if they could use you on their roster, then you have an agent! And that’s the package.
Education with a bachelor of science in education to teach will get you your certificate, and patience and dedication. will begin your career in both as an actor and a teacher.
Keep at it, girl! It ain’t easy to get started. Try not to be frustrated. Except rejection. Get the best training you can have. Reach out to your local theater companies. They may have classes that can help you in this regard.
Again, 40 years as a professional actor as a teacher. I laid the groundwork, to achieve my long and wonderful career.
Rock On! And don’t give up.
All the best, as you go forward.
Marylou. (my stage name is Maggie Phillips.)
I’ve been a professional actor and teacher for over four decades. As Michelle indicated, start at your school, and audition for whatever they are doing that may be right for you. Also, look into community theater in your area. You might find a role there that fits you.
Training is highly important. Experience will give you training. But finding a teacher in your school or in your community is most important, so reach out to your schools guidance counselor. They may be able to direct you in the right direction.
In college, I got a bachelors degree in theater/communications education. That enabled me to get a certificate to teach. I started out teaching high school, and ran a high school theater program for two years. Then, after I gained some experience, I taught at the college level.
As a professional actor, I started in my hometown, Philadelphia. I performed at every theater in Philadelphia. And then I needed to go to a larger market, New York City.
With the résumé I had built, I was able to get an agent. That takes time.. Training takes time. Working in local theater is the best way to start.
To be a teacher, I recommend you get a BS degree, as I got mine.
Then, you will do some research as to where you might find a position to teach. Again, I recommend doing some research in your area., But you do need some education to learn how to teach this specific area.
There are places you can search for gigs. For example, Backstage. Google it. But ‘tis best, again to have some experience so you can build a resume.
It is a long process to do so. You must be patient, and accept the long and difficult process. And you will be rejected many times. What is important is that you cannot accept any rejection as personal. It is not. It is not personal. So it’s important that you let it roll off your back. Because it will happen more than once.
Again, look for community theater in your area. And also what your high school may provide for you to play. What I tell my students is your job is to look for work. And, don’t give up. You will experience rejection. It comes with the territory. Over the decades I have been rejected many many times. You cannot let that bring you down. You simply need to accept that this is part of the process.
So my advice is to train. And if you can’t find good training at your current school, which I assume is high school at this point, reach out and find some good training in your area.
And be extremely patient. Just keep looking for audition opportunities, whether it be for stage or for film.
And, trust me, you will go through plenty of auditions. And part of your training should be learning how to audition. That is one of the things I teach for beginning actors. Learning how to audition is quite important.
You can, again, look online for auditions in your area. I would find out what community theaters are in your area, and go and audition!. But understand that rejection is part of the job.
And then, don’t give up. Just keep trying.
It is a complex business. Just, again, don’t give up. And don’t take any rejection personally. Because it isn’t personal. It’s just part of the business.
I wish you the best of luck. I’ve had many decades as a pro, and I have gotten plenty of rejections.
Just keep on keeping on.
It’s a wonderful business, show business. Overtime hopefully you will find an agent who wants to represent you. Then they will submit you for auditions. Find out the agencies in your area. Should you land a roll that you feel strongly about, then invite them to watch your work. If they feel as if they could use you on their roster, then you have an agent! And that’s the package.
Education with a bachelor of science in education to teach will get you your certificate, and patience and dedication. will begin your career in both as an actor and a teacher.
Keep at it, girl! It ain’t easy to get started. Try not to be frustrated. Except rejection. Get the best training you can have. Reach out to your local theater companies. They may have classes that can help you in this regard.
Again, 40 years as a professional actor as a teacher. I laid the groundwork, to achieve my long and wonderful career.
Rock On! And don’t give up.
All the best, as you go forward.
Marylou. (my stage name is Maggie Phillips.)