Do you enjoy acting? Even if you are a child, you can have a career as an actor. However, you need help becoming a child actor. By dedicating your life to acting, you will be ready to face any challenges that arise.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Get ready
Step 1. Talk to parents
If you are under 18 years of age, you must obtain parental permission to work as an actor. Therefore, you should tell your parents all your plans to get their support. Explain to them that you really like acting. That way, they will understand your interests and continue to support you. Apart from that, you also have to convince your parents that you will not abandon responsibilities, such as going to school and doing homework, while trying to achieve your dream of becoming an actor.
Don't tell your parents that the reason you want to be an actor is that you want to be famous and rich. Prepare a good excuse. For example, tell your parents that you enjoy storytelling or character building. Thus, they will take your wishes seriously
Step 2. Take an acting course
Even if you have acting talent, taking acting classes can help you hone your skills. Thus, you will have sufficient preparation when auditioning. In addition, if you have never acted before, you can start learning acting by taking courses. However, it's a good idea to take courses or workshops that are specialized in certain areas of acting, such as acting for commercials or acting in front of a camera. Taking these courses and workshops can enhance your curriculum vitae or resume.
- If you don't have free time to take acting classes on school days, you can take courses and workshops during semester breaks.
- If you want to get acting lessons that can be tailored to your needs, you should ask your parents to find an acting coach. An acting coach can help hone your skills by providing private lessons.
Step 3. Gain acting experience
Even if you can't immediately get a professional acting job, it's best if you have acting experience in order to attract the attention of agents and role directors (casting director or the person responsible for selecting actors). Gain acting experience by participating in cabaret shows, theater, and amateur filmmaking. That way, you have experience that can be listed on a resume.
Try to play a variety of roles. This can hone your acting skills. In addition, if you can play various roles, you can amaze the role director
Part 2 of 3: Expanding Connections
Step 1. Get a passport photo
If you want to meet agents and role directors, you must bring a photo. Note that your photos must be taken professionally. Therefore, you should use the services of a photographer who specializes in photos of children and teenagers. Make sure you ask the photographer to shoot you in a commercial and theatrical style. This way, you will be well prepared to apply as an actor in commercials, films, television shows, and theater performances.
If you want to make a passport photo, make sure you choose the right photographer. Ask friends or acquaintances who work in the acting field for recommendations. In addition, you can visit the website (website) and see the portfolio of photographers near your house to find out the quality of the photos
Step 2. Find an agent
While you can ask your parents for help in finding actor jobs, it's best if you have an agent. This is very important if you want to have a successful acting career. Agents know a lot about the film and entertainment industry so they can guide you in the right direction. Apart from that, he also has connections with role directors and producers. That way, you can audition more easily.
- To find an agent, study the talent agency near where you live. Make sure you work with a reputable agency that doesn't ask for a down payment.
- Many talent agencies allow you to apply via the website. However, you should meet directly with the prospective agent before you and your parents agree to work with him.
- If you live in a rural area and find it difficult to find an agent, this will not be a barrier to pursuing your dream of becoming a child actor. Instead of using the services of an agent, you can look for job vacancies through print media, such as Backstage magazine, and role selection websites (casting websites or websites where prospective actors look for auditions and job vacancies). Sometimes, some Indonesian directors offer actor job vacancies on social media. Therefore, you should follow directors who are famous on social media. By using these information media, you can find actor job vacancies.
- In certain cases, the agent will not accept you as his client if you do not have experience working as an actor. It's a good idea to get some acting experience before looking for an agent. You can also ask your parents to help you find a job.
Step 3. Get a work permit if you live or want to work in the United States
If you are under 18, some states require you to have a license to work in the entertainment industry. For example, California and New York, where many auditions are held, have specific requirements that govern how child actors work. Your agent should know the laws of the state in which you live or work. You can visit the state Department of Labor website to find out if you need a permit to work as a child actor or not. If you live or want to work in Indonesia, you need parental or guardian permission and school permission if the picture is taken on school days.
Generally, you have to fill out a form to get a work permit. You must include parental consent as well as other information depending on state law. Medical and academic records are usually required
Step 4. Join the role selection website
When agents are looking for actor job vacancies that match your abilities, you can search for auditions and actor job vacancies yourself. There are various role selection websites to visit, such as Casting Frontier, Actors Access, and L. A. All three websites usually contain job openings for filmmaking held in the United States. Role selection websites provide information on role selection and auditions for film projects seeking actors. You can usually apply for jobs or take auditions offered on the website in person. However, you should first discuss the role you want to get with the agent.
Role selection websites usually require their members to pay certain fees. Therefore, you must inform your parents if you want to join the website
Step 5. Create a YouTube account
Whether you have an agent or not, it's important that you find ways to promote yourself as an actor, especially if you don't live in Jakarta or Los Angeles and New York (if you live in the United States) where actor job vacancies are located. Make a video on YouTube that shows your acting skills. The role director or agent may not see your video. However, the videos you make may go viral and make role directors and agents interested in your skills.
- Videos of you acting in cabaret and theater performances can be good videos for your YouTube channel. If you have appeared in local advertisements or television shows, you can upload the video because agents or role directors from outside the region may have never seen it.
- To show off your acting skills, you can make your own short film.
Part 3 of 3: Auditioning
Step 1. Prepare the monologue
While most auditions will require you to act out certain scenes, you may be asked to perform a script of your own choosing. Therefore, you should make a monologue or two. Thus, you will have sufficient preparation when auditioning. Make sure you choose a script that helps you show your acting skills to the fullest.
- If you're not sure which monologue to prepare, consider showing your favorite movie scene. You may be able to display the scene well because you have watched the film many times.
- You should choose a monologue that is appropriate for your age. If possible, look for monologues performed by film characters who are almost the same age as yours.
Step 2. Learn scripts or sides
In general, companies that make role selections will first send scripts or sides to prospective actors. Sides is the part of the script that contains the dialogue of the characters acted out by you. It's best not to skim through character dialogue when trying to memorize it. Try to understand the character's personality and find the best way to act out the scene.
Many directors won't mind if you hold the script or sides while auditioning. However, you should not act while reading scripts or sides. Instead, skim through scripts or sides in scene transitions just in case you don't forget
Step 3. Take the audition seriously
If you want to have a career as a child actor, you have to audition seriously. Even if you don't necessarily get a role, you must remain professional so that the role director can work with you comfortably. To be professional, you must be willing to demonstrate a scene repeatedly until the results are satisfactory.
Make sure you show a lot of confidence when auditioning. If you are not confident in your own abilities, the role director may not believe in your abilities as well
Step 4. Don't be discouraged if you don't get the role
Acting is a very competitive job, even for children. Therefore, you may fail to land a role when auditioning. However, this should not make you lose confidence in your abilities as an actor. Practice can hone your skills for the better. Thus, the more auditions you attend, the better your acting skills and the better chance you have of impressing the role director.
If you feel uninspired to continue your career as an actor, talk to your parents. You should not continue the work that makes you depressed
Tips
- Remember that acting is just a job. You should continue to pursue hobbies and other interests that are not related to your career. Also, make time to hang out with friends and family.
- Keep improving your skills, even if it's just reading scripts at home while family and friends watch. This can help you become more comfortable and confident when auditioning.
- If you're having a hard time getting to grips with the character's emotions at an audition, try to remember past times that made you feel the character's emotions. In addition, you can also put yourself in the position of a character. For example, if you play a character who has lost his dog, imagine how you feel when you lose a pet.
- When taking acting courses or workshops, you may find it difficult to keep up with the lessons or become discouraged after seeing other people's abilities. However, remember that in the beginning even famous actors have a hard time becoming a master actor. Thus, you have to work hard if you want to become an actor.
- It's best if the main reason you want to be an actor is that you love acting, not want to be a star.
- Acting may seem like a fun activity. However, you may experience various difficulties when learning to act. Therefore, try as hard as you can.
Warning
- Actor may be seen as a glamorous profession. However, you have to work hard to get the job. Make sure you are committed to doing a good job.
- Remember that the entertainment industry is highly competitive. Many adults and children strive to become actors. However, many people have a hard time keeping an actor job as a long-term career. You should work as an actor because you enjoy acting, not because you want to be a star.
