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How and where do I audition for movies and shows?

I am a theatre kid and I love acting. I have a big dream of being in movies and shows. I just don't know how and where to do it.

career career-path acting career-development theatre director theater entertainment film-acting actors
Thank you comment icon The top theatres are Berkshire Theatre Group, Barrington Stage, Shakespeare & Co, Williamstown Theatre. These are places that may have educational programs for kids. I don't know your age but you should concentrate on auditioning for shows in your school and in community theatre. Google acting classes for teens. If your school has drama class, take that. In addition take performance classes offered in the community. You'll meet other performers and learn what's going on in the Berkshire acting community. Read and immerse yourself in acting related books (Google acting books, there are tons. Start with "Respect for Acting" by Uta Hagen). Phyllis Gordon
Thank you comment icon If you have a favorite actor maybe read into their career/journey and see if you can't apply some of that info to your own situation. Kessler DuPont-Teevin
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Tara’s Answer

Hi Kayla! Great question. Although there is some good professional work in Massachusetts, it sounds like what you really want to do is be involved in a bigger film and theater scene. I would suggest moving to Atlanta, Georgia after you graduate and trying to make a go of it there. It's got a huge film and television scene, Ozark / Walking Dead/ etc. filmed there, and a thriving theater scene. It's a very welcoming art scene and highly underrated for what it offers. Also, it's much more affordable to live there than it is in New York or LA. I know many people who have full-time jobs acting and teaching theater in Atlanta. Anyway, it's extremely important that you live somewhere where they are actually filming stuff and have plenty of opportunities to audition. It won't serve you well to be somewhere where there is only a handful of auditions per year. Keep doing what you're doing! Just remember: location, location, location. You need to put yourself in the right place, at the right time. There are many great actors who perform in shows that no one sees and then their career comes to a screeching halt, by no fault of their own. It's a good time to take risks while you are young because as you get older it becomes more difficult to move around the country for acting jobs.

Hard-work + Talent + Luck = Successful career in acting
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David’s Answer

Find local theater companies (Google them if you do not know them).
Check their websites for casting / audition information. See if they have Facebook pages, or if your area has a local theater Facebook page (I am in San Francisco and we have several - auditions, backstage work, free tickets, etc.)
Check your school for theater options there.
Look for local acting training classes.
Look for a summer theater camp if you have that in your area.
Take acting, speech, language, clowning, literature (especially Shakespeare) -- all to better prepare you to speak, move, act, and understand why you do what you do on stage.
Practice - pick a monologue and learn it and practice it in front of people and get feedback. You can Google age-appropriate monologues and get many at a library.

David recommends the following next steps:

Find local theater companies (Google them if you do not know them).
Check their websites for casting / audition information. See if they have Facebook pages, or if your area has a local theater Facebook page (I am in San Francisco and we have several - auditions, backstage work, free tickets, etc.)
Check your school for theater options there.
Take acting, speech, language, clowning, literature (especially Shakespeare) -- all to better prepare you to speak, move, act, and understand why you do what you do on stage.
Practice - pick a monologue and learn it and practice it in front of people and get feedback. You can Google age-appropriate monologues and get many at a library.
Thank you comment icon + Community Theater - this shows dedication and teamwork. Plus great way to network because you never know who you will meet! Misti Collins
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Leslie’s Answer

Prepare a monologue The best one represents your acting abilities. Take acting classes at local theaters or with local acting coaches. Facebook has pages for actors, local theater and film groups always looking for free actors or low pay for actors. Get a few shows under your belt and create a resume. Get head shots made. Then look for all local talent agents in the area and contact them. Look up all the local theaters and find out when their auditions are being held. There should be a local extras casting agent you can contact to get more set experience and learn the ropes. Good luck.
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Sherie’s Answer

Hi Kayla,

Make sure you have a monologue that is suitable to your age range that you feel that you can play. Have a few headshots and set up a profile on www.backstage.com and actorsaccess.com for each site to get exposure to start auditioning.
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Marcelius Levites’s Answer

Hello, Kayla I hope my wisdom can help. Well if you are pursuing this career, you should ask your theatric teacher from your school about your interest. I'm sure if you have one in your school they would love to guide you. Second, why do you believe your purpose in life is to be in theater? Do you understand the blood and sweat and sacrifices that you are going to make to succeed in this career? When it comes to this world either it's going to be you or them Success is very hard work and dedication, but first you must acknowledge how far are you willing to go and how far are you willing to do anything that may be asked of you to pertain this success.

Also here is some information that can help if you are unable to get help from your teachers at school who may teach theater.

https://spectrumnews1.com/ma/worcester/news/2021/07/22/pittsfield-viewpoint-dennis-quaid

https://pittsfieldtheatre.wixsite.com/pittsfieldtheatre

https://theatreanddance.appstate.edu/students/prospective-students/25-life-skills-learned-theatre

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/5-ways-theatre-helps-you-in-everyday-life

https://howlround.com/basics-theatre-criticism

https://www.theintervalny.com/interviews/2018/10/mental-health-and-working-in-theatre-a-roundtable-discussion/

https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/best-colleges-for-theater/

https://www.ranker.com/list/best-colleges-for-acting/college-info

https://www.collegeconsensus.com/degrees/acting/

https://www.thoughtco.com/drama-schools-in-the-united-states-3569987

*** Don't Forget No One Will Get in Your Way Of What You Truly Want To Do Beside Yourself.
Also when you fall Don't Forget To Get Back Up Again.

Marcelius Levites recommends the following next steps:

Maker Sure This is Your Passion
Understand The Sacrifices That You May Accounter
Have A Back-Up Plan A, B C, D, E & F.
Win Or Fail You Must Get Back UP and Try-Try Again
Failure IS Not An Option If Your Heart and Tears are in it.
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Michelle’s Answer

I can tell that you probably already have some experience in acting so that's a good start. Try to build up a resume of your acting experience and anything you may do in connection with theatre. You should list classes you've taken on your resume. I am answering this assuming that you are in high school. Audition for everything at your school.

It may be difficult in knowing how and where to audition because perhaps Pittsfield is not filled with talent agencies or television production companies. That being said, New York City is a three hour drive from your area and that is the hub of most work on the U.S. East Coast.

If there are any local community theatres, go to their website and get on their e-mail list. Sometimes they announce auditions. Some of the best advice I ever received about auditioning was, "Give an opening night performance" and I also give that advice to you. Auditors want to see your talent which includes depictions of emotions, range, movement and the sound of your voice. Those are your tools. Always dedicate time to the care of your body and voice. Choose a monolouge suited to your age and type. All auditions are different, however. Most places will specify what you need to do for the audition. Practice reading out loud because some auditions are cold readings.

Sign up with Actor's Access ! You can register there - don't forget about doing Extra work. Extra work is fun, a great way to meet people and gets you used to being around an active film or TV set. Actors Access lists what is auditioning, what is shooting, breakdowns and sides. You can post your resume and vital information on this website which casting agents use.

If there are any Medical Schools in your area, guess what ? You can interview to portray patients for medical students during their exams ! It pays well, by the way. This is great for keeping in the swing of acting. These jobs are scripted and you would play a variety of illnesses and injuries. The recognized term for this is Standardized Patient and you can look on Indeed for such jobs.

Be tenacious, true to yourself, know your limits and be part of a most creative, satisfying career. Like the title of a book I once read states, "Acting Is Believing".

Michelle recommends the following next steps:

https://actorsaccess.com/actor/?view=welcome
www.indeed.com (for Standardized Patient acting jobs)
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