I Want To Be An Actor... Please Help :)

[Bella5684]

Ever since I was six I have been wanting to be a lawyer and then a judge, when I turned twelve I turned againest the idea because it was something I wanted to do for the money. Now I am almost 14 years old and just this week I started thinking about acting. I am obssesd with Home and Away and is my dream to act on that show. Now I know I'm still young but there are young actors I just dont know where to start. Do I need an agent? Where do I even start? My parents are still stuck on the idea of me being in the law industry and its like they've planned out my life for me. When ever I tell them I'm not sure what I wanna be yet they tell me that when i finish school I'm gonna go to the university of law in wellington and i will have to study for 5 years and then be a lawyer for seven and then be a judge. That's just not what I wanna do anymore? How do I tell my parents this? And how do I get into the law indrustry. Thanks to all who read this and please answer below and feel free to comment any advice you have x not hate please love you all xxx

[Bella5684]

Update: I went acting indrusry not law sorry haha x

[Cloverjo]

I think you're think your parents are being rather ambitious by saying you're going to a judge. No one can tell how good you will be as a lawyer yet. If you want to get into acting, do as much of it as you can; in school plays and local groups. go to as many auditions as you can. Buy an acting magazine where they have adverts for auditions. In the UK, it's The Stage, but it sounds like you're in NZ, so don't know what the equivalent is there.
Also, the acting profession is very hard to be a success at. It would be a good idea to get a decent education, too. Good luck.

[Marshwarble]

Also many magistrates are now unpaid. Just work out what you want to do.

[CheekyChops]

You could try joining local amateur dramatics societies to get some acting experience.

[Peter Pedant]

Uni at Wellington rather give the game away that you are in NZ

anyway you start at acting school
which you apply to, just like university

Your parents are correct in saying do law rather than acting because the pay is better.

Everyone has the problem that their parents want them to do things they dont - you just tell them

Good luck

[atalanta]

As far as I recall, acting has always been the profession with the largest proportion of its people out of work. It is hopelessly overcrowded, and even some hugely talented people do not get regular work. It is unpredictable, not well paid on the whole, does not suit family life, involves uncomfortable hours in difficult places, and a very great deal of disappointment. For instance, I know for a fact that a recent show in the provinces attracted over a thousand applicants for ten parts. You have to be Very Very sure that you will be one of the ten before you go in for acting. You really should get a profesional qualification under your belt and do amateur stuff in your spare time. The moment may just come when you get "spotted" and turned into a star. It probably won't, but then you'll still have your profession in order to keep the wolf from the door

[Buenchico]

This page refers to the UK but you might still find some good general advice:
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/actor.aspx

Nearly all of the young actors who appear on TV, or who get film roles, (certainly here in the UK) attend specialist performing arts schools. Many of those schools are full-time (and it's usually those schools which casting directors look first to recruit from) but there are also evening and weekend schools as well.

Even if you weren't able to get a TV or film part as a juvenile (and probably only about one in a thousand young actors ever do), joining a local drama group is almost certainly a very important thing for you to consider.

For example, if you were to later apply for a performing arts course at university you'd almost certainly be asked what experience you'd already had.

If you could list the parts you'd played in your local amateur dramatics productions and tell the university admissions staff about the associated work you'd done helping out as stage crew and with lighting, as well as mentioning things like dancing and voice training, you'd be in a far better position than simply having to reply 'None at all'.

[pixie373]

Look for a local stage school. They aren't cheap, but often are approached first with acting jobs. You could do that in the evenings, so your parents might be happy with that to start with.

[TWR]

Educate Hard
Listen to you heart
Do not be Swayed be your Friends
Listen & concentrate on the words
listen to advise
take your time
do not try to be clever!!!!
Follow your dreams
Good Luck with your dream.

[atalanta]

Further to my last message : I have just discovered that a provincial production now in rehearsal required a cast of 4, and recieved over 3 and a half thousand applications. That's something approaching a thousand applications per part. Do you really fancy odds of that kind ?

[pixie373]

Worth a try...my friend's daughters have been in adverts and on TV, approached through the stage school. My daughter has done other shows through the same one.

[atalanta]

It also helps to live near a stately home or other place often used for locations for filming. There happens to be just such a place near here, and I recall the local dramatic societies being invited by a Hollywood company to send members to provide extras for big wedding scenes. Everyone who had the right clothes/hats was invited to turn up to be looked over for a background/non-speaking part. You never know . . .

[Peter Pedant]

or move to Broadchurch ?

that is West bay down in Dorset - same thing

actors who dont work are called resting - 95% at any time are resting.
95% are also in the category of low paid ( below the national average of £24 000 )

[grasscarp]

You say just this week you are started thinking about acting. Next week you may have gone off the idea and want to do something different.