Where Can I Launch My Acting Career?
by John Fisher
Lets talk about which area of acting you would like. Options include everything from what you would normally think about, like feature films and TV shows, to some venues you may not have thought there was, maybe industrial and student films. It might really be a good thing to try all of them. You will be exposed to knew things in each area, and become an all-around actor in the process. Now let us look at the acting venues that are more familiar first and we'll cover the others in another article.
Episodic Television
"Episodics" are shows put on weekly, like shows about detectives or sitcoms. A little character on an episodic may put you in future episodes, or maybe a recurring role. A permanent character on an episodic show is about as close as a professional actor ever comes to having a "regular" job. The hours are consistent, the pay is wonderful, and you usually get weekends off. What I do not like: you usually have to be in Hollywood or New York to even audition. Sometimes, there are episodics that are shot in other cities, like Las Vegas or Miami, and if you are in one of those other cities, you are lucky.
Soaps
Soap opera shows are an area alone. The pay is great and the hours are steady. Theyre also a good way to hone your acting skills. The bad part of soaps is you have to be in Chicago or New York, they can be a little more difficult to get a job with than an episodic.
Television
Many TV shows are a one-time deal, which means that the TV show is filmed once and aired one or more times. These can be easier to get a job with, and are usually filmed in middle sized markets. The pay is decent, but not usually stellar. A job of this type doesnt last too long, does that sound familiar?
Acting on the Stage
Lots of the greatest actors of our timeframe were taught the expertise on the stage. It can be lots of work with grueling hours, weeks maybe months of rehearsing and performing. A part in a great Broadway show could take years. Personally, I do not love repeating the same part over and over, although it is a awesome way to get good at it, and a steady paycheck. I DO love the instant applause from a live crowd. You are given the information whether what you are doing is working or if it is not. Stage acting is the easiest to get into, even in a small town. The pay is not very good but overall, Id recommend stage acting for everyone, especially when first starting out.
Feature Films
There is something about working on magical feature films. For me, you can not beat dressing up in a period costume and stepping on to the feature film set. It is close to transporting in time, having fun AND getting paid for it. Here is where you are a part of something that is more big than any one person could do. The time can be long, usually with 12 or 16-hour workdays, which may start well before the sun gets its first peek at the earth.
Usually a non-union film won't pay very good, between $100 and $300 every day, depending on how important your role is. An "indie" film, or any film on a smaller budget may possibly pay little or nothing, with just a guarantee of meals, credit and your own copy of the movie. A union film usually pays much better, though still dependent on the part you are given. Of course, the A-list actors get paid millions for a feature film, but even not as widely known actors can get paid very well.
Your participation in a feature film could be measured in hours or weeks. Some projects last as long as two or three months. There are always deadlines, mostly because of budget or scheduling conflicts, so shooting is often rushed. Many films are shot on location, which means traveling to that location and many times staying in trailers or hotels during the shoot.
Ok, weve explored the more familiar acting venues, the more obscure ones we'll discuss in another article. And, these topics are also covered much more thoroughly in my ebook, but I do strongly recommend that you try all the avenues to get the greatest variety of education and experience. Stay tuned for the next article and well see you in the movies.
John Fisher is an experienced actor and acting coach. His passion for acting influences his free, tell-all newsletter which addresses everything on how to get into acting from the best way to get headshots, to networking your way into jobs.
