It includes a brief description of the real working life of actors and actresses, a rundown of the skills one must develop to succeed in this highly competitive field, and a list of steps to consider in pursuit of an acting career.
Take the free Career Quiz. To put it very simply, an actor works to portray a character in a movie, play, television show, theater production or any other variety of performance. Actors audition for roles and, if selected, perform those roles to bring the characters to life.
Their work might be on a movie or television set, in a theater, during a live event or any other place where performance is needed. They might work on any level of the profession, from being an extra in a larger cast to appearing in starring roles.
Some might spend grueling hours on set, while others might tour with a group to perform in many different cities. Some might move across the world to film on location. The work is often not steady — many actors will perform scores of characters during their careers. Where actors happen to make the most money depends greatly upon their expertise, roles and geographical location. Areas where the performing arts are a prominent typically offer higher pay than rural areas, or those far away from production facilities.
This tool can help aspiring actors research average earnings by location. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that acting careers will increase by 10 percent nationally between and Though the field will still remain strongly competitive, some states may offer more roles than others. The job growth for actors is highlighted below. Many different institutions offer actor training and theater degrees. Here are some of them. These dedicated schools are designed exclusively to teach aspiring actors.
Students work closely with seasoned actors, theater directors, producers and others who can show them the ropes and skills they need to stand out during casting calls.
There are classes for actors, dancers, choreographers, singers, comedians and more. Some community colleges offer associate degrees in theater, drama and other performing arts fields. Trade schools, meanwhile, tend to offer more specialized diploma or certificate programs in areas like set or costume design. These programs provide a well-rounded education for students who want to make a lifelong career in the performing arts.
The world of acting is large and diverse, and so are the educational backgrounds of those who work in it. Any of the following degree paths can prepare students to succeed in the acting industry. Students pursuing associate degrees can expect to take two years of coursework, including general education classes along with more targeted classes for actors.
Here are some common courses:. This course fosters appreciation of cinema, including genres, narrative devices, themes, film theory, promotions and more. Students will learn how to design period- and stylistically-appropriate costumes that support character development. Acting exercises, memorization, improvisation, various acting techniques and oral projection are studied in this class. Performing arts schools tend to offer fewer general education courses than colleges or universities, but both options take about four years to complete.
Students will be required to work with various productions, whether on-screen or backstage. Here are some of the more common classes taken at this level:. Physical coordination, proper singing postures, changes in speech and intonation, voice projection, the Alexander method and other techniques are taught in this course.
As the name implies, this course focuses on the unique demands of Shakespearean performance. These courses allow students to perform their own scripts while overseeing production, costume, makeup, set and all other elements. Students will engage in professional casting calls with oversight from faculty while learning interviewing, improvisation and more. Common options include drama, set design, playwriting, film, theater, television, acting, directing and more. Below is a list of courses students might find in the acting track.
Please note that courses will vary widely, depending upon the major. This courses looks at the in-depth history of theater and may include lectures and discussions with award-winning actors and playwrights. This course focuses on the various ways a script can be read and interpreted, the role of direction in creating a vision for the final product and storytelling techniques.
Students prepare for scenes, songs, monologues and other presentations to create a well-rounded performance. This refresher course covers everything that happens off the stage, like casting, auditioning, producing reels, rehearsals and more.
Many curricula require only acting, drama or theater seminars, allowing students to select or design all remaining coursework. Each PhD program also requires a dissertation, which is fairly standard for this level of education.
Many PhD programs encourage students to study a specific aspect of theater or drama that truly interests them, such as various methods, histories of cinema and theater, and cultural roles. They usually require six years of study. Here are some common seminar themes found in PhD theater, drama or acting programs across the nation:. This seminar combines the cognitive sciences with the world of acting, focusing on the psychology of certain pieces such as Shakespeare and the influence celebrity brings to the role.
What cultural influences change the performance? These questions form the basis of this course. Take advantage of this freely available information. This will put your mind into the right perspective.
Training is very important. Make sure to budget wisely and invest into your acting career, and that includes training in acting schools. Make sure to enroll to an on-going acting class as soon as you can afford it. Good acting class will also become a valuable addition to your self-marketing as an actor as you can use it on your acting CV. At this point you know a little about how the acting industry works, who are industry people and how to make yourself known in this business.
How long did it take you? Just a little over a year? Drama school training takes years before you can take that first step. So yes, you CAN become an actor without a degree.
You also need to be prepared to travel, and to change your plans at short notice. There are lots of would-be professional actors and each agent only needs a certain number of actors on their books and wants a range of ages, genders and appearances. A typical route to becoming an actor is to take an acting course at a drama school, and to try to get an agent during or after this process. A good drama school will organise showcase performances for its final-year students and invite agents to come to watch; the more prestigious the school, the more likely they are to attend.
Some students will get an agent via this process, but not all. However, not all actors go to drama school. If you have good contacts or good luck, you may be able to get yourself an agent without going to drama school, or land your first paid part by yourself and take it from there. Drama schools specialise in intensive, practical training courses aimed at training students for a specific career within drama. Many of these are degrees, which are validated by a university and for which normal student funding rules apply.
There are also bursaries and scholarships you can apply for if you need help with the costs. Acting degrees are the most common; some drama schools also offer subjects such as musical theatre, physical theatre, stage management, directing, set design or lighting design. You need to know which course you want to do before you apply.
Most drama schools specify either that you must be over 18 to start a course, or that you need A levels, Scottish Highers or equivalent such as the International Baccalaureate or a BTEC National Diploma. You could get involved in school productions, student theatre at university, youth drama groups, amateur drama groups, community theatre often connected to a professional theatre and short courses or part-time courses aimed at non-professional actors drama schools and local theatres are a good place to start looking for these.
Drama schools typically charge an audition fee. Some have schemes to offer free auditions to applicants who meet certain conditions, such as low household income or being from a particular area. The Federation of Drama Schools is a group of UK-based drama schools that have to meet certain conditions in order to be members.
These include minimum standards for the number of teaching hours provided, the percentage of graduates who get an agent or paid employment, and whether students are taught by staff who work or have worked in the area they teach. Acting degrees at drama schools are very practical courses, designed to train you as an actor. Expect a full-on timetable and prep work for evenings and weekends.
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