To achieve any goal you are willing to work hard. You set plans to execute them within a time frame. You sit and fine tune everything before you even begin the first step. You visualize the end even at the beginning. The same can be said to rule if you were to set out to be in the career with movies. If that is what you want, there is nothing that should can come in your way, not even your age, gender, status or nationality. It will be hard work and the ability to put up with twists and turns and rejections along the way. Remember Rock Hudson and “Come September?” The great star actor was once kicked out by the gate man at a studio. If he can carry on after that so can you. Here are some tips to help you move along, no matter what…
1. Look at yourself thoroughly. Aim to look your best before every audition both physically and mentally. It will help if you practice and rehearse your dialogue. Imagine yourself in front of a live audience in a theater. Tone up your body. Spruce up your appearance. A fit and confident man should attract a producer more easily. Mentally prepare yourself for the audition guys to bawl at you. I once heard an assistant director yelling at a hopeful ” Be natural man! Who do you think you are? Clark Gable!” It may be days and weeks and months before you even get your first callback. It would be ideal if you can do a job at part time while you are going through the process of being auditioned. It will help you to get along financially and a diversion from the pulls and drags of audition. As we said earlier treat this phase in your acting career as fun. That way you will not take the rejections too hard and too personal. It will also help if you can incline yourself stoically to get up again when you are rejected. This will be your strength when you feel like giving up.
2. Study the ropes. If you really want people to take you seriously as a good actor, you will surely learn to present yourself as a damn good one. Meet the right people, especially an agent to represent you and fix auditions. You have to know where the action is. You do not need to live there. If you can unearth small gigs on the locations where the auditions are going on, it would make it easier for you. Be truly nice and sincere with everyone you meet along the way. The man next could be the one to propel you to stardom. If you really want to know, think of what “Louis B. Mayer” did with “Judy Garland !”
3. Learn the craft of movie making like you are beginning at the kinder garden. Watch a lot of movies and watch carefully how the different actors do their roles. Read everything on making movies. The library should also be your place of work.
4. Be very careful while you are hiring an agent. He could be the one that makes or breaks your acting career. Do not pay the agents before they have found you a job. Their percentage comes only when someone has hired you. They must know everything about you. You should think about you the moment when anything suitable comes their way.
The more you keep doing these ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ in reality while pursuing your dream of an acting career, the sooner you will arrive on the silver screen. It will not be long before you are spotted by Martin Scorsese or Steven Spielberg. And then it will be roses roses along the way!
