So you want to be a world famous actor? Well you're in the wrong place. I'm barely a paid actor right now. An actor is anyone who acts. It's as simple as that. I can't help you with your walk to stardom, but I can help you start your journey. What I have learned so far is that acting is pretty much a lottery. You're in it with a tonne of people, all fighting for an opportunity to win big. The reality is that you're going to lose an unfathomable amount of times before you catch a break and one win probably won't mean instant success. It's a long grind, full of disappointments and absolute spaces of nothing. It's your job to make sure you're always improving on yourself and learning.
No manager. No agent. No one will do the heavy lifting for you. These people will assist you and put you in the right lanes when you're ready, but you have to run the mile. Write and produce your own short films, attend acting classes, get involved in the film community in your town or learn what you can online. Anything to keep you going. You got this!
Now that I've set your expectations as low as possible, let me lift them up for you. Like I said, it's a lottery, alot of luck is involved but you have to be prepared when the luck actually comes your way. When you get asked to do a selftape, you need to be able to display that you have the adequate acting ability for the role. You have to meet luck halfway and because it's a lottery, you can win. The acting industry is far from fair, but it definitely is unpredictable, anyone can win. The thing you'll always have to do as an actor is selftapes, for better or worse, you have Covid to thank for that. I'll help you figure out everything you need to have for your very own nearly professional selftape set-up.
Number 1 on the list is a tripod, if you're going to forget everything I've said here, make sure to not forget how crucial a tripod is. It's probably the first thing you should buy. It prevents shakey camera, caused by trusting your friend, Jim, to have steady hands. It also helps perfectly align the shot to your eyeline and keeps you in control of the shot. In general, you can't expect casting directors to take you seriously if you're balancing your phone on a tower of books. Yes, your phone. If you're starting out, don't bother purchasing a camera, you're phone will do for now. Unless, it's ancient, then scratch that, but most phones have an adequate camera.
Number 2, a selftape is pointless if the audio is inaudible. Casting directors can watch close to a hundred selftapes in one day and one way to easily get pushed aside, is if they can't make out what you're saying. Invest in good quality microphones. I'd recommend the Wireless Lavalier Microphone by Hammer on Amazon. They've worked for me so far.
Number 3 and 4 are less important but will make things way easier for you. A classic sound recorder and a backdrop, incase you can't find a plain white wall. The sound recorder will aid you, if you have no one to practice lines with and a backdrop might come in handy incase you're on the road. I'd strongly advise to just make use of a white wall, it works way better in my opinion, and I have a backdrop.
An honourable mention is to get a plain black selftape shirt. Just a shirt designated for your selftapes and own recordings. Unless, the theme contradicts it. I'd highly recommend the Womens Short Sleeve T Shirt Summer Loose Fit by Florynova on Amazon. Trust me, it will make you look 10 times more professional.
There's so much more to acting than this, but now it's up to you to go and learn more about the profession. Goodluck!
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