Successful actors can earn up to millions of dollars a year.
Breaking into acting as a teenager is a difficult but potentially very rewarding path if you have a strong passion for acting. Actors work in various visual media, such as magazine photos, theater work, commercials, films and even video games. To prepare, convince your parents the acting path is right for you and then save up some money. Start your career by learning basic acting techniques through classes, finding openings in your area and hiring an acting agent.
Instructions
1. Work a part-time job to earn enough money to fund your acting career. Acting lessons, classes and sending letters to agents quickly adds up to thousands of dollars per year.
2. Take acting classes to learn basic techniques, get familiar with accessing your emotions on stage, observe other actors working, earn valuable experience and get constructive criticism from your teacher so that you can improve your skills. Make sure the acting class is tailored to the specific type of acting you're interested in.
3. Improve your acting skills at every opportunity. Pay attention to actors on TV, new people you meet at school or even people you pass by on the street. You never know when a random person's behavior or speech will give you a new idea to incorporate into your acting skills.
4. Check the local newspaper's arts section for plays and shows upcoming in your area. Subscribe to any specialized magazines and newspapers in your area that contain acting information.
5. Contact your Regional Theater Directory and film departments at your local university for openings in any upcoming films and student projects.
6. Contact Equity and Non-Equity theaters in your area for free information about acting, such as lessons, teachers and guidance on start acting.
7. Obtain an agent by sending letters to the acting agents in your region who target your specific type of acting. Trade magazines such as "Show Business Weekly" and "Ross Reports" offer agent listings. Send an industry-standard head shot, resume and a cover letter. Send a follow-up letter in a few months if you don't receive a reply, as the agent may have a new opening.
